Thailand12 days
Thailand & Cambodia: Bike, Kayak & Trek — 12 Days
Bangkok to Siem Reap via Chiang Rai and the Golden Triangle, combining city navigation, river paddling, mountain trekking, and temple archaeology across two countries.
This 12-day itinerary moves through Thailand and Cambodia by bicycle, kayak, and foot, linking urban centers with rural regions and archaeological sites. The route begins in Bangkok with guided transit across the city's waterways and streets, then shifts north to Chiang Rai province, where cycling and kayaking connect working farmland, tea plantations, and hill tribe settlements. A mountain pass on the Thai-Myanmar border and the Golden Triangle region mark the Thailand portion before flights bring the group south to Siem Reap and the Angkor temple complex. The final days combine cycling and boat travel through floating villages on the Tonle Sap Lake and trekking in Phnom Kulen National Park. Throughout, the itinerary pairs outdoor activity with cultural and architectural access—meeting monks, visiting schools, learning about opium eradication efforts, and moving through temples and carving sites that span centuries.
Highlights
- Navigate Bangkok's five landmark temples (Golden Mount, Grand Palace, Wat Pho, Wat Arun) by ferry, tuk-tuk, taxi, rapid train, and boat
- Paddle the Mae Kok River for two hours past hill tribe villages and rice fields to a riverside lodge
- Trek through Doi Mae Salong's terraced Oolong tea plantations—former opium country—with visits to a mountaintop temple and local school
- Cycle 65 kilometers along a border road straddling Thailand and Myanmar, passing military checkpoints to reach the Golden Triangle
- Visit Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom by bicycle, including the Bayon temple (54 towers) and Ta Prohm temple (tree-overgrown ruins)
- Trek to the Valley of 1,000 Lingas riverbed carvings and a 16th-century reclining Buddha in Phnom Kulen National Park
- Boat through a medieval floating village built on 7-meter stilts and cruise the Tonle Sap Lake to Chong Kneas floating village
Day by day
1Arrive in BangkokBangkok's international airport · your hotel · Bangkok's streets
Upon arrival at Bangkok's international airport, a BikeHike Adventures representative will meet you and transfer you to your hotel. After checking in, the remainder of the day is yours to spend as you wish. Depending on your arrival time and energy levels, you might rest and recover from travel, take a swim, or visit Bangkok's streets.
2Bangkok City Transit: Five Temples and Urban WaterwaysGolden Mount · Grand Palace · Wat Pho · Wat Arun · canals of Bangkok Noi
After breakfast, you will visit five Bangkok temple sites while using the city's transport network: taxi, ferry, tuk-tuk, rapid train, and longtail boats. The route includes the Golden Mount, the Grand Palace, Wat Pho's reclining Buddha, Wat Arun, and the canals of Bangkok Noi. Lunch is included. The evening remains free to wander.
3Ayutthaya's Royal Palace and River Ride to Chiang RaiBang Pa-In Royal Summer Palace · Ayutthaya's countryside · Bangkok airport · hotel on the Mae Kok River
The day begins in Ayutthaya, the former Siamese capital (1350–1767), with a visit to Bang Pa-In Royal Summer Palace. You will then cycle 25 kilometers through Ayutthaya's countryside on paved roads and rural trails. The terrain is flat with minimal elevation change. Local Thai lunch is included.
After Ayutthaya, you will transfer to Bangkok airport for an evening flight to Chiang Rai, typically departing 7–8 PM (subject to schedule change). Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel on the Mae Kok River. The remainder of the evening is at your pace.
4Chiang Rai Cycling and Elephant Peace ProjectElephant Peace Project · farmland, villages, and valleys · night market
You will cycle 20 kilometers through farmland, villages, and valleys on a mix of paved and dirt roads with small manageable hills. After lunch, you will walk alongside elephants through bamboo groves, forest, and grasslands at the Elephant Peace Project, a sanctuary with stress-free habitat design. Time for photography and feeding is included. Return to the hotel in late afternoon. Evening includes dinner and a visit to the night market.
5Mae Kok River Kayaking: Thaton Temple, Hill Tribe Villages & Riverside LodgeMae Kok River · Thaton · Thaton Temple · hill tribe village · riverside lodge
After a leisurely morning, you will drive toward Thaton, a riverside town near the Thai-Myanmar border. You will climb to Thaton Temple, perched on a hilltop at the south end of the Mae Kok River.
Following lunch, you will board sit-on-top kayaks for a two-hour paddle down the Mae Kok River. The route passes through hill tribe villages and agricultural fields with low-grade currents for most of the year—stronger flows occur only August–October. You will paddle directly to your riverside lodge. Depending on group energy levels, an optional short hike to a nearby hill tribe village and plantation is available before dinner. Note: If water levels are too low for kayaking, the day will be spent biking instead.
6Doi Mae Salong: Tea Plantations and Hill Tribe VillagesDoi Mae Salong · mountaintop temple · local school
You will spend a full day exploring Doi Mae Salong, a region now home to terraced Oolong tea plantations and a Chinese population who arrived after the Cultural Revolution. The area was historically opium-producing and has since transitioned to tea production.
You will trek 15 kilometers along dirt footpaths through terraced plantations and hill tribe villages. The route passes a mountaintop temple and a local school. You will sample Oolong tea directly from local producers. Breakfast and lunch are included. The evening is free to wander.
7Golden Triangle: Doi Tung, Border Road Cycling, and Mekong OverlookGolden Triangle · Doi Tung · Mae Sai · cabin overlooking the river · Doi Chang Mub to Mae Sai · Mekong River
An early shuttle ascends to Doi Tung, a community development project where the Mae Fah Luang Foundation has documented opium eradication efforts. A 65-kilometer challenging ride follows, climbing to Doi Chang Mub and along a road between Thailand and Myanmar, passing military checkpoints. The terrain is hilly with paved and back roads and dramatic descents into Mae Sai, Thailand's northernmost city. Lunch and market time are available. The final ride crosses flat farmland to the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos meet. A motorboat cruise on the Mekong reaches a Laotian trading port before check-in at a cabin overlooking the river.
8Transfer to Siem ReapSiem Reap · Chiang Rai airport · Phnom Bakheng
After breakfast, you will transfer to Chiang Rai airport for flights to Siem Reap via Bangkok. Upon arrival, a BikeHike Adventures representative will meet you and transfer you to your hotel in Siem Reap. The remainder of the day is yours to wander. In the evening, you may visit Phnom Bakheng for sunset views of the Angkor ruins.
9Angkor Temples by BicycleAngkor Wat · Angkor Thom · Ta Prohm · Banteay Kdei · Srah Srang
An 18-kilometer cycling route connects principal temple sites of the Angkor complex. You will begin at Angkor Wat, the world's largest religious building, constructed in the 12th century by King Suryavarman II. The temple stretches nearly one kilometer with intricate carved reliefs. You will ascend to the upper sanctuary with steep steps to the temple's center.
Late morning brings you to Angkor Thom, the walled city built by King Jayavarman VII. Within it stands the Baphuon, an 11th-century temple. The Bayon features 54 towers crowned with four carved faces of Avalokiteshvara. You will enjoy a picnic lunch near the temple.
You will cycle to the Gate of the Dead and Victory Gate, then to Ta Prohm, where tree roots have fractured stonework. Weather and time permitting, you may visit Banteay Kdei or pause for a sunset drink at Srah Srang. The evening is at leisure.
10Phnom Kulen National Park Trek: Lingas, Buddha, Waterfalls, and CavesPhnom Kulen National Park · Valley of 1,000 Lingas · Preah Ang Thom temple · local restaurant · bat caves · Srah Damrey · Wat Preah Kral · Siem Reap hotel
After breakfast, you will transfer into Phnom Kulen National Park. The trek begins with an ascent of stairs to a panoramic lookout. The route continues to the Valley of 1,000 Lingas, riverbed carvings along the Stung Kbal Spean River dedicated to the god Shiva. At Preah Ang Thom temple, you will see a reclining Buddha carved in sandstone. The trek passes nearby waterfalls before reaching a local restaurant for lunch. The afternoon path leads to bat caves, Srah Damrey, and Wat Preah Kral, where you can meet resident monks. The full trek covers approximately 25 kilometers. You return to your Siem Reap hotel with the evening at leisure.
11Kompong Phluk: Rural Biking, Floating Villages & Phnom Krom SunsetKompong Phluk · Phnom Krom · rural back roads and villages · Bakong temple · Ruluos town · Ruluos River · local wat · Chong Kneas · flooded forest and Tonle Sap Lake
You will spend a full day in Cambodia's water-bound communities, beginning with 20 kilometers of cycling through rural back roads and villages. The route passes Bakong temple before reaching Ruluos town, where a local market offers views of everyday commerce. After a refreshment stop, you will follow the Ruluos River to a boat launch for Kompong Phluk, a floating village where houses perch on stilts up to seven meters above water. You will visit the local wat, then transition to a larger boat for the cruise through flooded forest and across Tonle Sap Lake. The route culminates at Chong Kneas, an expansive floating village anchoring over 1,000 houseboats, complete with a floating church and police station. You will travel to Phnom Krom, the holy mountain, for a short hike with sunset views. Return to your Siem Reap hotel; the evening is yours to rest.
12Siem Reap DepartureSiem Reap airport
After breakfast, you will arrange your transfer to Siem Reap airport for your international flight home or onward travel through Southeast Asia.
Where you go
- 1Wat Pho
- 2Wat Arun
- 3Doi Mae Salong
- 4Golden Triangle
Included
- All accommodation (twin shared), meals as indicated, internal transportation excluding flight from Chiang Rai - Siem Reap, all equipment (mountain bikes and kayaking gear) and English-speaking guides.
- MEALS:
- 11 Breakfasts, 9 Lunches, 2 Dinners
- ACCOMMODATION:
- Hotel: 11 Nights
Not included
- International airfare, flight (Chiang Rai - Siem Reap), airport taxes, gratuities and items of a personal nature.
Activities: Biking, Hiking and Kayaking