{"id":26744,"date":"2026-06-04T16:09:55","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T14:09:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/?p=26744"},"modified":"2026-06-04T16:09:58","modified_gmt":"2026-06-04T14:09:58","slug":"chiang-mai-de-fietsbestemming-in-thailand-waar-niemand-aan-denkt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/cyclingdestination.cc\/en\/verhalen\/thailand\/chiang-mai-de-fietsbestemming-in-thailand-waar-niemand-aan-denkt","title":{"rendered":"Chiang Mai: the cycling destination in Thailand that no one thinks of"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thailand and cycling. Two words you wouldn't expect to hear in the same sentence. Certainly not me. My image of Thailand consisted of heat, humidity, Full Moon Parties and ladyboys. Plus delicious food. But cycling? No. Until we spent a few weeks in Chiang Mai <\/strong>doorbrachten en moesten concluderen dat dit een van de beste plekken is die we ooit op de fiets hebben ontdekt. Chiang Mai is met recht de beste fietsbestemming van Thailand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Text and photos: Gijs Louter<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Unexpected asphalt<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first thing that strikes you: the roads are good. Not \u201cgood for Southeast Asia,\u201d just good. In many places, better than what you encounter in Europe. Smooth, wide, well-maintained. Yes, there are sections where you need to pay a bit more attention, but that applies to any destination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s the variety of routes that makes it really interesting. From Chiang Mai, you can head in any direction. Long mountain rides with serious climbs to the north and west. Relaxed loops through the countryside past villages, temples and rice fields. Or Doi Inthanon, Thailand\u2019s highest mountain: over 30 kilometres of climbing, sections of 17%, and at the summit you stand at 2,565 metres with legs that feel like jelly and a smile that won\u2019t go away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Chiang<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Chiang
Cycling in Chiang Mai on lovely tarmac (c) Gijs Louter<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Chiang
There's always someone to cycle with in Chiang Mai<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Flat whites with a view of the rice paddies<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The coffee and cake in Thailand are better than in Italy. That sounds like a ridiculous claim, but it's simply true. In the most remote places, halfway up a climb, there's a little cafe with a perfect flat white and a cheesecake that makes you forget you've just spent an hour trudging uphill.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\"Flat<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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\"Flat
Flat White, anyone?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"Flat<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Thailand is sowieso een land waar je als fietser verwend wordt. Pad thai voor niks, smoothies die je meerdere keren per dag bestelt, en na elke rit een massage voor een paar euro. Het klinkt als een clich\u00e9, maar je went er zo snel aan dat terugkomen in Nederland een beetje pijn doet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The six o'clock in the morning cyclists<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Thailand heeft een Cycling culture<\/strong> which has grown significantly in recent years. Between seven and eight o'clock in the morning, it's already busy around Chiang Mai: groups of cyclists head out into the mountains, riding out ahead of the heat. It's an open, relaxed scene, and you can easily join in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The ultimate route in the region is the Mae Hong Son Loop<\/strong>. Over 600 kilometres through the most remote part of Northern Thailand, with around 14,000 metres of elevation gain. Little traffic, spectacular nature, villages where tourists are a rarity. The sort of route that renders a cyclist speechless.<\/p>\n\n\n\n