Thailand's Royal Coast by Bicycle: Amphawa to Ban Krut — 8 Days
A coastal cycling route from Amphawa through salt flats, temple highlands, and a Thai Air Force base to the quiet beaches of Ban Krut.
This eight-day cycling tour follows Thailand's western Gulf coast from the teak-canoe markets of Amphawa south to Ban Krut. The route travels between 55 and 77 kilometers daily on secondary roads, through salt-farming flats, past fishing villages, and along a handful of beachfront stretches. Riders visit Phra Nakhon Khiri Palace on its hilltop at Petchaburi, feed Dusky Langur monkeys at a Thai Air Force base, and visit Tham Phraya Nakhon Cave—a limestone cavern that has hosted Thai royalty for 150 years. Accommodations are mid-range beachfront resorts; support vehicles travel behind each day's riders. The tour includes two rest days: one in Hua Hin (a century-old beach town with a historic train station) and one in Ban Krut, where a half-day snorkeling trip or waterfall visit is available.
Highlights
- Damnoen Saduak Floating Market: shopping by teak canoe in pre-dawn conditions at a working marketplace where vendors trade fruit, souvenirs, and dry goods from small wooden boats
- Maeklong Railway Market: a market operating at an active train junction, followed by long-tail boat travel at sunset through the Amphawa canal system
- Phra Nakhon Khiri National Park (Khao Wang): cable car ascent to a hilltop palace built by King Rama IV, with views over Petchaburi city and coastal salt farms
- Gulf of Thailand salt flats: observation of sea salt harvesting, collection, and storage operations along the coastal plains south of Petchaburi
- Hua Hin: a beach town with a railway station, elephant camp, and evening night market; optional visit to Hua Hin Hills Vineyard
- Tham Phraya Nakhon Cave: a limestone cavern accessible by private boat and short climb, featuring a sunlit chamber with a history of royal visitation
- Khao Sam Roi Yod National Park: limestone peaks and undeveloped coastline, including a stop at Wat Khao Daeng (Red Mountain Temple) and viewpoint climbs
- Dusky Langur monkey observation at Wing 5 Thai Air Force Base: hand-feeding sessions with a local Dusky Langur population; optional hilltop climb for extended views
- Ban Krut: a coastal town with limited foreign tourism infrastructure, featuring Wat Tang Sai hilltop temple overlooking coconut plantations and white sand beaches
- Optional activities on rest days: snorkeling at Koh Talu island or guided visit to Huay Yang Waterfall in the inland forest
Day by day
1Bangkok to Amphawa: Floating Market, Railway Crossing, and Firefly WatersDamnoen Saduak Floating Market · Wat Bang Kung · Mae Klong River · Maeklong Railway Market · Amphawa canal system · Amphawa night market
We collect riders from Bangkok mid-morning and transport them to Damnoen Saduak Floating Market, where the scene unfolds much as it has for generations—vendors in small wooden canoes call out their wares, selling fruit, flowers, and souvenirs through narrow waterways while the market pulses with activity. After bikes are fitted and adjusted, the day's first ride takes us through orchards and rural countryside to Wat Bang Kung, a temple worth the detour. Lunch is taken on the banks of the Mae Klong River, a quiet break before the afternoon's ride continues through fruit-growing areas toward Samut Songkram and the Maeklong Railway Market. This is no museum piece: a narrow-gauge train still passes through the market several times daily, vendors clearing their goods from the tracks as it approaches. Back in Amphawa by late afternoon, there's time to rest at the hotel, shower, and prepare for evening. The night market here carries a distinctly local character—Thai visitors and families rather than tour groups—with food stalls and vendors lining the canal offering snacks and regional specialties. As dusk settles, a long-tail boat carries us through the Amphawa canal system, where fireflies nest in trees overhead, their lights reflecting on the water as the sun drops. After the boat returns, dinner and live music wind down the day. Note: This itinerary works best beginning on a Saturday or Sunday.
2Amphawa to Petchaburi: Salt Flats and Royal PalaceAmphawa to Petchaburi · salt farms · Phra Nakhon Khiri National Park
The ride south opens with shaded country roads, then transitions to coastal plains where salt farms extend in geometric white rectangles—the Gulf of Thailand's traditional salt-harvesting zone. Riders observe the collection and storage process before arriving at a beachfront resort by midday. An afternoon excursion by van ascends Khao Wang via cable car to Phra Nakhon Khiri National Park, where a palace built by King Rama IV over 150 years ago sits on the hilltop alongside a scenic temple overlooking Petchaburi city. Evening returns to the resort for rest and dinner.
3Petchaburi to Hua Hin: Elephant Camp and Vineyard ViewsCha Am · Hua Hin Elephant Camp · Hua Hin Railway Station · Hua Hin Hills Vineyard · waterside restaurant · Hua Hin Night Market
Secondary roads and salt-farm routes lead south through the small beach town of Cha Am, where a shaded beachfront road provides respite before heading inland across the main highway to reach the Hua Hin Elephant Camp. After elephant feeding and lunch, riders visit the Hua Hin Railway Station, the town's architectural centerpiece, followed by a brief downtown tour. The afternoon at the beachfront resort allows swimming and rest. In late afternoon, a van carries riders to Hua Hin Hills Vineyard, where views extend across vineyard rows; visitors sample cheese and grape juice while watching the sun move across the landscape. Dinner takes place at a waterside restaurant before riders are directed to Hua Hin Night Market, where the evening remains self-directed—massage, shopping, or simple wandering through the market's food and merchandise stalls are options; riders return to the hotel independently.
4Rest Day in Hua HinHua Hin
A full day off the bikes allows swimmers, market explorers, and shoppers to set their own pace in Hua Hin. A Thai cooking class is available for those interested. Hua Hin's food scene spans Thai, French, Italian, German, American, Mexican, and Indian cuisines. Bikes are washed and serviced during this time. Lunch and dinner are self-selected.
5Hua Hin to Dolphin Bay: Tham Phraya Nakhon CaveTham Phraya Nakhon Cave · Khao Tao, Pak Nam Pran, and Khao Khalok · Bang Phu Beach
Beachfront and secondary roads carry riders south through Khao Tao, Pak Nam Pran, and Khao Khalok (where a nature trail climb is optional) to reach Sam Roi Yod Beach by day's end. A van transports riders to Bang Phu Beach for lunch before transferring to a private beach access point. From there, a climb leads into Tham Phraya Nakhon Cave, a limestone cavern large enough to hold natural light and open space—a site visited by at least three Thai kings over the past 150 years. The cave's chamber features sunlit stone and a sense of scale unusual in coastal cave systems. Return to the resort follows, with evening rest and dinner.
6Dolphin Bay to Prachuap Khiri Khan: Khao Sam Roi Yod National ParkKhao Sam Roi Yod National Park · Wat Khao Daeng (Red Mountain Temple) · beachfront hotel · Wing 5 Thai Air Force Base and Ao Manao Beach (Lime Bay) · hilltop temple
Riding through Khao Sam Roi Yod National Park for approximately 20 kilometers leads to Wat Khao Daeng (Red Mountain Temple), where red-painted structures stand against limestone peaks. Riders may dismount for a climb to a viewpoint offering panoramic views of the park's limestone mountains and undeveloped coastline. Arrival at another beachfront hotel precedes a van trip to Wing 5 Thai Air Force Base and Ao Manao Beach (Lime Bay), a working Thai military installation with beach access. Swimmers may remain on the beach; others return to the resort's pool. Late afternoon offers an optional climb to a hilltop temple with 400 steps for further coastal views. Dinner overlooks Prachuap Bay, small islands, and fishing boats at sunset.
7Prachuap Khiri Khan to Ban Krut: Monkeys, Temples, and Coastal RidesPrachuap Khiri Khan to Ban Krut · Thai Air Force Base · beachfront resort · Wat Tang Sai · Kasama's Café
This 77-kilometer ride ranks among the finest on the Tour de Thailand route, carrying you along sun-soaked coastal roads and through landscapes that define southern Thailand's quieter character. The day's centerpiece arrives at a Thai Air Force Base, where Dusky Langur monkeys roam the perimeter. You'll hand-feed these gentle, curious primates—a rare and intimate wildlife encounter. For the exceptionally fit, an optional mountain climb behind the monkeys rewards the effort with sweeping views across the region.
From there, the route passes the Waghor Aquarium, winds through coconut plantations heavy with fruit, and crosses fishing villages before arriving in Ban Krut, an unspoiled beach resort town that remains refreshingly undeveloped.
Once settled at your beachfront resort, a short van journey takes you to Wat Tang Sai, a hilltop temple positioned above the landscape like a lookout. From its vantage point, the eye travels across deep green coconut plantations and empty white sand beaches stretching toward the horizon—among Thailand's most beautiful temple views.
Lunch brings you to Kasama's Café, a modest establishment serving Italian and Western dishes drawn from the recipes of Byron Bailes, a novelist and private detective. The afternoon offers time to rest and swim at the resort pool. Evening arrives with Thai seafood at dinner, followed by drinks and conversation with Byron and local friends—a fitting close to a day that captures why Ban Krut holds such appeal for those who know Thailand well.
8Rest Day in Ban Krut: Snorkeling or Waterfall VisitBan Krut · Koh Talu island · Huay Yang Waterfall
A final day without cycling includes a half-day snorkeling trip to Koh Talu island or, if weather prevents, a guided visit to Huay Yang Waterfall in the inland forest. Lunch and breakfast are included; dinner is self-selected. The afternoon allows rest, swimming, and packing before an evening departure or overnight stay.
Where you go
- 1Damnoen Saduak floating market
Included
- Comfortable 2 ½ to 4 Star Accommodations with Air Condition, Hot Water, and Swimming Pools from
- the afternoon of Day 1 through the morning of Day 9.
- All boat fees (2 – 3 boat rides) and aquarium entrance fee
- Food for Dusky Langur monkeys and elephants (elephant riding optional, not included)
- The opportunity for Thai Massage should be available almost every night (not included).
- All meals from pick-up to drop-off are included except for Lunch and Dinner on Day Off in Hua Hin and Dinner on Day Off in Ban Krut.
- Ice cold bottled water, electrolyte mix, and fresh fruit (watermelon, pineapple & bananas) will be served at water stops every 18-28 KM during the ride.
- All Transportation and Support Vehicles from your hotel in Bangkok (support vehicle with A/C if too tired or not feeling well enough to ride, and return van back to Hua Hin or Bangkok after tour). Assistance in finding transport further north or south is also available. There will always be a support vehicle behind the last cyclist.
- All Park Entrance Fees (Phraya Nakhorn Khiri & Sam Roi Yod National Parks)
- Quality Marin Hybrid bicycles that are perfect for this tour, helmet and water bottle, basic bike maintenance, replacement tubes, spare bike, and bike cleaning on day off.
- Licensed Tourism Authority of Thailand Tour Guide and Thai/English translators.
- Support Staff to help with handing out ice cold water & chilled fresh fruit, repairing flats, and squirting riders with cool water (optional) etc.
- First Aid Kits and basic tools in support vehicle.
- Basic Thai Tour Insurance
Not included
- Airfare to and from Thailand
- International Travel Insurance (required)
- Accommodations before and after the tour itinerary (we are happy to help)
- Transportation to places other than Hua Hin or Bangkok (we are happy to help)
- Special Bike Accessories like pedals for special shoes, personal saddles, bike computers, etc. (if you bring we are happy to install)
- Alcoholic Beverages (we occasionally buy a round)
- Massage
Activities: Adventure Cycling Thailand