From the mountains to the north to the beaches of the south, more mountain bikes are available for rent in Thailand than ever before. While along the beach towns of southern Thailand a mountain bike is an environmentally friendly way to explore different beaches and get some exercise (many islands have substantial hills), Northern Thailand is the epicenter of the kingdom’s mountain biking scene.

Particularly between the months of November and February, when the weather is cool and the rains infrequent, single and multi-day mountain biking excursions explore the lush forests of northern Thailand. A mountain biking adventure is an amazing way to get up close to Thailand’s exotic natural environment, and multi-day adventures can combine biking with bamboo rafting and even elephant riding. Most rewarding perhaps is visiting Thailand’s unique hill tribe villages and spotting some of Thailand’s exotic animals, including birds and primates.

A variety of tour operators provide various levels of activity, from challenging ascents and extreme downhill riding, to more leisurely pedaling across cross-country terrain. Ask about trail conditions and difficulty, inspect the quality of bikes prior to setting out, and inquire about combining biking with other activities in order to select the best adventure for your ability and desires; there is likely to be a tour operator that meets all your needs and exceeds your expectations!