My Journey Cycling in Thailand: From Bangkok to Chiang Mai
The Idea
Nine months before my cycling trip from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, I was in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Mexico. While working at a hostel, I met Jewels from Scotland. He had bought a bicycle in San Diego and cycled thousands of kilometers across deserts, mountains, and coastal terrain in Mexico.
I’d never met anyone who’d taken on an adventure like this, especially across areas which may be viewed as ‘dangerous’. I found it inspiring and fascinating of the sense of freedom, the unique adventures, and the novel experiences that come with cycling across a country. From then on, I always had it in my mind to embark on a similar journey.
The Problem
Fast forward 9 months, I found myself In Bangkok. Having spent a month visiting the beautiful areas in the South of Thailand, such as Koh Lipe, Koh Mook and Koh Lanta, I felt in two minds about the experience of travelling in Southeast Asia.
Thailand is undoubtedly a beautiful country, with a unique and interesting culture, incredibly friendly locals, and all at a fraction of the cost of existing in the UK.
However, I felt that parts of Thailand are superficial. Mass-tourism has dramatically changed areas, such as Krabi or Phuket, into areas devoted entirely to extracting as much money from foreigners as possible, in turn losing the authenticity of Thai culture along the way.
I was looking for a different experience and I wanted to avoid these typical ‘backpacker/tourist spots’, and experience the rest of Thailand without vegetating solely in ‘must-visit’ places, Ganga shops and hostels surrounded by fellow Brits 24/7.
Back In Bangkok I remembered Jewels, and the idea of travelling by bicycle. I’d spoken of this idea only in a hypothetical sense, ‘yes perhaps I will ride my bicycle across South-East Asia’. A statement thrown into a conversation in a similar demeanour as ‘do you want to get a pad thai?’ (yes, always, yes).
I felt travelling by bicycle would be the best way to delve into the remote and lesser seen places. To see vast swathes of land that’d otherwise forever be amiss to me!
I’d be able to travel at a slow pace (my favourite way to travel), to be highly active everyday, and to have the freedom to go whenever and wherever the road will take me.
In a sense, that’s the original way that travelling should be, before Tik-Tok recommendations and social media influencers.
The Promise
Two days before I set off, I received a message from my close friend from England asking if I’m in Bangkok. We met up and spent a hazy night hopping between bars across Bangkok. During our time together, I shared my idea with him, and it dawned on me what an extraordinary opportunity this was that I needed to grasp upon.
Not everyone has the chance to leave their daily routines behind, pack their belongings onto a bicycle, and embark on a random adventure into the unknown. At 4 a.m, after countless bottles of Leo, I made a promise to Kian that he would see me documenting and sharing my journey.
So, Kian, here I am fulfilling that promise, putting my journey out there. Hopefully, this can inspire people to embark on their own individual journey, whatever that may be.
Check out my next blog post to read how I managed to prepare and set off on my bikepacking trip across Thailand and Southeast Asia!
