Biking in Thailand
Why Bike?
By Dan Kaplan
Biking is the ideal transport in Thailand. Bikes are cheap, eco-friendly, and used throughout the country as basic transportation, especially in the countryside. If you're on the roads, drivers will usually move over for you, and if you're off the roads, the locals don't look at you like you're from Mars.
Thailand's natural beauty
Nearly all of Thailand's 79 national parks are easy to get to, yet only 5 percent of their visitors are non-Thai. Most charge a small entry fee (up to 25 Bhat; approximately $0.60) and offer lodging accommodations that range from bungalows to long houses, with prices from 100 to 200 Bhat. You may still want your own sleeping bag, mat, and basic camping gear.
Camping facilities are primitive in comparison to those in the United States but are more than adequate for a backcountry ride, and many parks will even rent tents for around 60 Bhat a night (check their condition before paying). All but four parks allow camping: Doi Suthep/Doi Pui (Chiang Mai Province), Hat Jao Mai (Trang Province), Nam Tok Phliu (Chanthanaburi Province), and Thap Lan (Prahainburi Province). Camping fees are usually around 10 Bhat per person per night, and advance booking is needed only in the more popular parks, during holidays, and on the weekends.
The parks of central Thailand have some of the best biking in the country, plus they're not as well-traveled as the hills in the north and beaches in the south. The flat plains and rolling hills that served as training grounds for the Ayutthaya kings and soldiers during long years of war with Burma make for excellent rides for all levels of cyclists.
Because it's so out of the way, central Thailand is the kind of place where you may find yourself pleasantly surprised. Kamphaeng Phet, for example, a midsize town in the region, has only one guesthouse. By chance, it also has a fully stocked bike shop with parts to repair most any international bike.
Cycling Season
Thailand's monsoon pattern varies from south to north, and from year to year. The heavy rains usually come between about May and October. Most visitors prefer the dry season, between November and March, when temperatures range from 68 to 100 degrees during the day and can drop to 58 degrees at night, depending on altitude and location. Some people even prefer riding just after the monsoon in October or November. With the cloud cover it's not scorching, and it's easy enough to cool down in the afternoon rain showers.
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Article and photos © Dan Kaplan, 2000.
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