{"id":11174,"date":"2023-03-21T16:19:27","date_gmt":"2023-03-21T15:19:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/?p=11174"},"modified":"2026-10-05T07:43:48","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T07:43:48","slug":"bikepacking-trip-in-a-foreign-country","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/en\/verhalen\/bikepacking-trip-in-een-vreemd-land","title":{"rendered":"This is how to plan a bikepacking trip in a foreign country"},"content":{"rendered":"

Planning a bikepacking trip in a foreign country can be quite a challenge. Making an estimate involves determining routes, accommodations, the number of days, and safety is sometimes complicated when you\u2019re far away. Especially when it comes to a destination where you can\u2019t find much information online. That\u2019s what Nynke faced when preparing for a bike trip through Thailand. In this blog, she tells how she tackled it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Bikepacking in Thailand \u2013 (c) Thomas Hester<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Making plans<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It's October when we're on the road in a crowded car heading east of the country. We're on a family weekend and hope there's some time left to go for a bike ride over the Lemelerberg<\/a>. As the Dutch landscape rushes past us, we discuss our upcoming vacation in January. We haven\u2019t yet decided on a destination, but we\u2019re definitely going backpacking for three weeks. My boyfriend Thomas would like to go to Asia, Thailand<\/a> For example. A picture comes to mind of full moon parties, 18-year-old backpackers and pingpong shows. Not really the authentic experience I\u2019m looking for when I go traveling. But I\u2019m open to it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Thomas and Nynke on the road in Thailand<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Cycling in Thailand<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

How I ended up there, I don\u2019t remember anymore. But suddenly I exclaimed: \u2018Can\u2019t we spend part of the vacation cycling through Thailand? That would be really cool!\u2019\u2019 Thomas reacted somewhat hesitantly, but not negatively. The drive will still take a while, so I immediately started Googling. And what turns out? Thailand is a really great cycling country! There are even several tour operators offering organized trips. Among all the search results, I also found the audio book \u2018Cycling in Thailand<\/a>\u2019From Peter de Ruiter. Since we\u2019re still going to be in the car for a while, we decide to listen to him. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

See also: our basic packing list <\/a><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A hoarse voice sounds through the speakers: \u201cWe are heading to Thailand, because that\u2019s where we\u2019re going to cycle for two weeks.\u201d<\/em> Peter takes us into the world of cycling holidays and teaches us a lot. The only experience we have, after all, is A weekend of mountain biking in West Brabant<\/a>. Although we sometimes feel like we\u2019re listening to Jort Kelder reading a Jip and Janneke book, we are nevertheless excited by Peter\u2019s story. So excited that we decide to actually make a plan out of this crazy idea. But where do you start when you know almost nothing about the country and want to make a bike trip on your own? Here are our tips for a bikepacking trip in a foreign country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. Check the websites of tour operators<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    One thing is certain when you look at tour operator bike holidays; someone has put a lot of time into compiling a route. A second factor is that tour operators want to turn a profit and they will generally compile a route that is accessible to a large group of cyclists. The photos on the website also say a lot about the public. What types of bikes do people ride? What do they wear? Are they super athletic? Furthermore, you can assume that a tour operator does not offer a bike trip along dangerous roads. Based on this, we discovered that there is a lot of cycling in the northeast of Thailand and that a bike tour along the Royal Cities is a very common option. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. Become a member of the Facebook group \u2018<\/strong>The World Cyclist<\/strong><\/a>\u2019<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Why would you invent the wheel yourself when there is a Facebook group with more than 7000 bike enthusiasts who have created the coolest bike tours around the world? Ask your question on The World Cyclist and there are certainly a few friendly members who will answer it. I asked myself earlier if anyone had cycled in Northern Thailand before, if anyone knew a nice route, and if there is an organization where I could buy a route. Several members suggested the travel agency AWOL, but unfortunately they only sell full bike tours including flights. One member, Gerry, replied that he was currently cycling in Thailand and that I could follow him on Strava. And that gave me a few useful facts that gave me the courage to further develop this plan. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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      1. Ask your network<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

        Who knows, that one aunt might have been quite adventurous in her youth and you\u2019ll find out that she has seen the coolest places by bike. Or there might be a colleague who can help you further. That\u2019s how I came across De Wereldfietser through a colleague from the journalism field. A friend of someone I follow on Instagram had cycled a route I was unsure about and even had an address for a bike hotel. Great! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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        1. Build your routes using altimeters and accommodations<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

          I don't think I need to tell you this, but don't be blinded by the number of kilometers you run in a day. Instead, pay attention to the number of vertical meters when you're building a route. That way, you'll avoid building routes that aren't suited to your fitness level. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

          Keep in mind that you might have to spend the night somewhere else. There are plenty of places where there are no accommodations. This will mean that you\u2019ll have to make your stages a little shorter or a bit longer than ideal. No accommodations available through Booking.com? Check the Google Maps map and click on \u2018Hotels\u2019 in a search area. That\u2019s how I found a homestay in a village where there were clearly no tourists. A special overnight stay with a lovely Thai lady who cooked delicious for us! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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          1. Don't be in a hurry<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

            Biking in a foreign country is a fantastic adventure. Therefore, don\u2019t just focus on the cycling part; take the time to explore the surroundings and look around. Have a cup of coffee in a beautiful spot, take a photo of a beautiful building, and enjoy the view. Therefore, don\u2019t make the stages too long. Instead, choose a shorter route or take a day longer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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            1. Be creative<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

              After doing some serious Googling, it became clear to me that the Mae Hong Son Loop is a fantastic route in the northwest of Thailand. It is a loop of about 660 kilometers that winds through pristine nature. It is listed in the book \u2018Most epic bike rides in the world<\/em>\u2019According to Lonely Planet, it is still relatively unknown to cyclists. Not surprisingly, considering that it has 13,000 meters of elevation gain and 4,000 turns with gradients ranging from 20% to sometimes as high as 30%. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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              On the internet I read that people can cycle it in 5 or 6 days. That would be too hard for me and lead to a fiasco. Therefore, I initially dismissed it and looked for other routes. \u201cBut what if we cycle half the route in that same time?\u201d I suggested to Thomas. The mountains don\u2019t get any steeper, but the stages are more bearable. And so we ended up going for this one after all. epic bike ride<\/em>So think in terms of possibilities when planning a route and dare to take a different approach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

              If you want to know more about the Mae Hong Son Loop, read on for tips and stages below. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Bike rental and bike hotel<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

              The most logical place to start the Mae Hong Son Loop is Chiang Mai. There is a night train from Bangkok. You can also fly there. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Vanilla Residence<\/a> It is a good base to stay before you start your journey. It is a real bike hotel; you can park and clean your bike and there are tools to tinker with. The Dutch semi-professional Adne van Engelen rents out good bikes at this hotel and is always there to help you with his company. Chiang Mai Cycling Buddy<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

              Route and accommodations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

              In this route collection you will find the routes that Nynke and Thomas have driven in Thailand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n