Exploring Thailand on a Bicycle
Thailand has always been the most talked after travel destination globally and in recent times it has seen surge in number of adventure travellers heading to explore the country with a different perspective.
Thailand has always been the most talked after travel destination globally and in recent times it has seen surge in number of adventure travellers heading to explore the country with a different perspective. In the past few years I have extensively explored South East Asia on a bicycle and in this article I am going to highlight things which will make your Bikepacking trip to Thailand a memorable experience.
It all started with my love for exploring places in slow motion, one place at a time, on a bicycle. Thailand is always among the most sort after destination for its diversity, rich culture, tropical weather, beaches, great food, amazing people, low cost of travel, land connectivity and relaxed visa norms for Indians which makes it easier for plan and head there.
Here are the top things which will guide you through making a perfect Bikepacking trip to Thailand
Places Top Stay
Spinning Bear Hostel & Cafe: If you are starting your trip in Bangkok, don’t think much and head straight to Spinning
Bear which is a Hostel cum Cafe for the cyclists and by the cyclists. The owner Immu & Py Py are bicycle tourer themselves and loves hosting cyclists. Immu specially knows Thailand like back of her mind. Please take her recommendations on routes and places to see, they are going to be incredible. The hostel has space to store your bike box, repair your bike in the workshop, can buy accessories for tour and you get to meet other cyclists as well which is always fun :)
Beside this, while you are on tour, finding a guesthouse and hostel wont be difficult at all and most of the time they are pretty cheap. For me, when I am not camping, these guesthouses are the best luxury of the world.
Camping
It is incredible to camp in Thailand with so many options everywhere. Thailand has classified every small and big forest as National Parks and each National
Park will have its own camping ground. You can camp in their tent or can pitch your own for a small fee. Pro Tip: Most of these camping grounds have beautiful views worth falling in love with and while you decide to pitch your own tent, just buy the ticket for camping which is pretty nominal. You don’t need to buy the entry ticket for the National Park while you are camping. Beside National Parks, you can camp for
free in Temples and Police Station. You just need to go and ask them and they will not take much time to show you the place where you can camp. Pretty easy, right? I did camped in Police Station once and it was pretty cool. They even offered me food, water and made me feel at home ;)
Food
I love Thai food and they are simply incredible. The best part is that Thai people don’t know how to mess up with their food so whatever you are offered in café, restaurant, streets etc, be rest assured that those will be some incredible Thai Food. From Noodle Soups to Pad Thai and Pappaya Salad. Love them all. Here are some basic Terms in Thai which will help you understand Thai food better and make your life easier. Fish = Pla = ปลา
Pork = Moo = หมู
Chicken = Gai = ไก่ Beef = Neau = เนื อวัว I’m vegetarian = Chan gin mang sa virat =
ฉันกินมังสวิรัติ Spicy = Phed = เผ็ด Not spicy = Mai phed = ไม่เผ็ด
Beside that, it might sound awe full, but you have 7/11 literally everywhere in Thailand and they have the best Chicken and Ham toasties. They are just divine. Do try them while you are there. Pro Tip:
Thai people love vegetarian food and vegan food. You just need to know some basic Thai phrases which will help you immensely in getting great veg food.
Language
If you really want to experience the hinterlands of a foreign country, understand it’s people and culture and savour it’s food to max, you should learn some very basic local language which helps you in making conversations with people. Because that is when soul connects with the place and people. Here are some basic Thai words and phrases which will be helpful to you while you go touring there. Hello = Sawasdee = สวัสดี Thank you = Khob khun = ขอบคุณ Please / End sentence politely = Krab (for
men) & Ka (for women) = ครับ/ค่ะ
Goodbye = Bye bye / Laew pob gun / Lagorn = บ๊ายบาย / แล้วพบกัน / ลาก่อน
Good night = Rati sawas = ราตรีสวัสดิ์ Good luck = Chok dee = โชคดี You’re welcome = Mai pen rai = ไม่เป็นไร Yes = Chai = ใช่
No = Mai chai = ไม่ใช่ Sorry/ Excuse me = Koh tod = ขอโทษ
I don’t understand = Mai kao jai = ไม่เข้าใจ
Nice to meet you = Yin dee tee dai roo jak = ยินดีที่ได้รู้จัก
Delicious = Aroi = อร่อย Bicycle = Jakkrayan = จักรยาน I love you = Chan rak khun = ฉันรักคุณ Where’s the toilet? = Hong nam yoo tee
nhai = ห้องน ้าอยู่ที่ไหน
Where’s the hotel / guesthouse? = Rongram / guesthouse yoo tee nhai = โรงแรม / เกสต์เฮ้าส์อยู่ที่ไหน
How much is it? = Tao rai / Raka tao rai = เท่าไหร่ / ราคาเท่าไหร่
Can you reduce the price? = Rod raka dai mhai = ลดราคาได้ไหม
Can we tent here? = Gang tent tee nee dai mhai = กางเต็นท์ที่นี่ได้ไหม
Any bicycle shop near here? = Taew nee mee raan jakkrayan mhai = แถวนี มีร้าน จักรยานไหม
For me even the translator option in the Hostel World mobile app does wonders. It lets two people talk as if they both understand each other languages precisely.
Routes
The two most common routes in Thailand are from Bangkok to Krabi in the south and from Chiang Mai in north
to Bangkok. The route to Krabi is all about beaches as you ride through both west and east coast of southern Thailand covering approximately 800 kms wherein the ride from Chiang Mai is all about mountains, main land and culturally rich provenience of Thailand covering approximately 800 kms as well. I recently rode from Bangkok to
Trat in this east which is also a beautiful route to ride on with a bit of coastal route, mountains and paddy fields. People generally use this route to enter into Cambodia from Southern border at Had Lek, Trat which is approximately 600 kms from Bangkok. This section of Thailand is little untouched with tourism and that adds to the beauty of the place and people.
Bicycles on Rent
There are plenty of bicycle travel companies which gives bicycles on rent but I would highly recommend Velo
Thailand in Bangkok and Hua Hin Bike Tours in Hua Hin. Velo Thailand rentals are the cheapest in Bangkok and they give away decent bikes for weekly, fortnightly and monthly rentals. You can even rent pannier bags, tool kits and allied spares from them as well.
Hua Hin Bike Tours is a touring company but also gives away bicycle on rent which are pretty cheap. There bikes they offer are of well known brands and are always well maintained with regular upkeep. They have a fleet of 75+ bikes and they regularly sell there old bikes to bring in new bikes in there fleet. The old bikes are worth buying and which can
easily be sold of at the same price by the end of your tour. I recently purchased by Marin Larkspur CS3 from them and am totally loving it.
Beside that, there are plenty of Second Hand Bike Stores in and around Khao San Street, Bangkok. You might just get lucky there with some decent bikes and good deal.
Mapsme
I’ve a love hate relationship with Mapsme. If you tend to be more adventurous, stick to the routes suggested by mapsme. It will avoid highways as much as possible, take you through smaller city and village lanes, sometime through farm lands, waterfalls and beaches too. Since Mapsme is an open source Map, you will find plenty of recommendations on it through other travellers and cyclists which is a big one.
Dogs
I love dogs but Cycling and Dogs in Thailand never goes together. I hated them. At some point, event a sense of them being in close proximity would give me goosebumps. They will chase cyclists for at least half a mile and nothing works on them. From keeping a stick, to dog food to stones, to me barking back. Nothing works. Not even if I go slow.
So just beware of them while you are cycling in Thailand. Every time I would come across one, I would slow down and the moment they start chasing & barking fiercely, I would race off.
Connectivity
There are plenty of options to stay connected and most telecom company would have huge amount of data for a small price. ACS is perhaps the most recommended one while you are in smaller places and gives good data and calling options. Other one I would recommend is True SIM which great with Wifi in big cities.