Tiger Head Mountain Loop

When to go

To ensure you have the best possible experience riding in Thailand, it’s essential that you take notice of the following points.

RIDING SEASON/TRAIL CONDITIONS

• In Thailand, we have a three-month weather window, dubbed “winter” (November to end of January), which is perfect for bikepacking in the mountains. The season brings cooler temperatures, dry weather, and early sunrises that make for dreamy riding conditions.
• If you plan on riding Tiger Head Mountain Loop (or any route in Thailand) we strongly suggest you come during this time. December and January are the very best months, with dependable conditions and clean, clear air.
• In Northern Thailand we have both a smokey season (Late February – June) and a rainy season (August – October), and during these months, WE STRONGLY SUGGEST NOT RIDING IN NORTHERN THAILAND.
• In the smokey season, the air quality becomes the worst in the world, and it can be very dangerous to ride with the fires in the mountains. In the rainy season, the dirt roads are too wet and slippery to ride safely (trust us, we’ve tried many, many times). Therefore, please only come to ride the route in “the riding season,” or consider riding in the South of Thailand.
• The riding season in Thailand directly follows the rainy season. Therefore, depending on the severity of the rain, the trail conditions are likely to change dramatically. In 2024, for example, Northern Thailand has experienced the worst flooding since records began, meaning the trails are likely to be rougher and rutted than when we originally scouted them.
• If you’re on a MTB and don’t mind a bit of mud and roughness, then you’ll probably be okay from November 1st. But if you’re planning on tackling the route on a gravel bike, we recommend beginning the route mid-November to give the trails some time to really dry out.
• Check the comments section as regularly as possible for trail conditions.

The Hill Tribes

There are a few important cultural things to consider when you’re up in the hill tribe communities:

• Firstly, you may find it hard to find someone who can speak English in some villages (like San Din Dang), meaning you’ll need to have google translate downloaded with Thai ready to go.
• Secondly, if you’re vegetarian, you may need to make sure you have some of your own food provisions, as most communities in the mountains eat a meat and fish-heavy diet, and you may only find a few vegetables and rice. Booking well ahead and notifying villagers of your dietary requirements is essential.
• Thirdly, a lot of the villages you’ll stay in are Catholic and quite conservative, so be mindful and respectful of that.

Logistics

• Booking in advance: (Mandatory) Though fairly straightforward, due to bookings with the various hill tribe communities, planning and booking ahead is essential if you’d like to stay in the villages on Tiger Head Mountain. Some of the homestays require 7 days’ notice before accepting guests, and without pre-booking, they will not be able to house and feed you.
• Please be aware that some of the homestays you’ll be staying with have been created specifically for this bikepacking route, so the villagers need time to prepare for your arrival. We ask that you respect these timeframes and spend the time to plan your trip carefully.
• The relevant contact information for all bookings is all noted in the Camping and Lodging and Trail Notes tabs of this route.
• Getting to Chom Thong: The city of Chom Thong is a one-hour drive south of Chiang Mai, where you’ll likely be staying. To get to the start of the route, you can catch a yellow truck (public taxi) from either of these locations in Chiang Mai (Location One or Location Two). We have pre-agreed a fixed rate of 150 Baht per person, including bike transport.
• When you are at the bus stop, tell the driver you want to go to Chom Thong or look for this sign above the truck.

Dangers and Annoyances

• Mosquitos: With the route being deep in the jungle, mosquitos are more than just an itchy annoyance. Although the risk of Malaria and Dengue is fairly low in this area, it’s still high near the border of Myanmar. In turn, cases do pop up. We recommend completely covering up and taking a good quality mosquito spray.
• Khoon (Black Fly): These tiny insects may be small, but their bite is incredibly itchy and can cause allergic reactions in some people. Similar to mosquitos, the best way to mitigate bites is to cover up. Mosquito repellent also does a pretty good job.

Travel basics

• Visa Requirements: Tourism in Thailand is a big part of the country’s overall GDP. Therefore, short-term travel/tourism visas are easy and simple to obtain. Sixty and 90-day visas are common, as are visa extensions if you’d like to stay and ride longer.
• Money Matters: Thai Baht is the currency in Thailand, and here, cash reigns king. Outside of the cities, paying for anything with a debit/credit card is generally impossible. So, make sure to take ample cash with you on the ride (depending on your daily budget) and try to favour smaller notes where possible, as some of the villages will simply be unable to break larger bills.
• Beat The Heat: Your best bet is to wake early and beat the heat of the day. When we’re riding, we set our alarm for 5:30 a.m., eat breakfast, and aim to leave for 7:30 a.m. By 9 a.m., it’s hot.
• The Mountains Can Be Cold: Don’t make the mistake of assuming that it’s always hot in Thailand. During the day, temperatures will be 25-30°C (77-95°F), but once the sun cools off, mountain temperatures can get down to 6-12°C (42-53°F). Packing a shell and a summer sleeping bag/quilt is smart.
• Download Thai on Google Translate: Up in the mountains, network can be patchy. So, it’s best to download the Thai language offline on Google Translate so you can communicate with some of the villagers. Better yet, learning some basic Thai phrases, including numbers, food, drink, etc., will really take you far here.
• Emergency Bail Out: If you experience a major mechanical or fall, flag down a passing pickup truck/scooter rider, and they’ll help you get to safety in the next village. From there, you should be able to contact a yellow truck or pay a small fee to one of the villagers to help transport you and your bikes back to Chiang Mai if needed. Note: This should only be done in emergency situations.

What bike?

• There’s no perfect bike for the route as you will encounter a variety of terrain. However, in a bid to make the route as bike-inclusive as possible, we scouted the route on a mix of different rigs; from gravel bikes with 700 x 38mm tyres to rigid MTBs with chubby 29 x 2.6” tires. In reality, the route can be ridden on either a gravel or mountain bike, but unless you’re a confident rider, we’d suggest running a minimum tyre width of 44mm. The chubbier the better.
• Thailand is STEEP AF: Pack your climbing legs and the appropriate gearing to match, because the gradients in Thailand are no joke. No matter the rider, you will push some of the route as gradients in places are 34 percent with low traction. But don’t worry, a little walking is good to stretch the legs.
• Low, low Gearing is essential: With the steep climbs, we’d suggest you bring the widest gearing available on your bike. For example, Sam and Bec rode SRAM Eagle 1 x 12 (10-52 rear/30T front) and Pele 1 x 11 (11-40 rear/36T front).
• Rigid is cool, but suspension would be fun too: although we completed the route on rigid bikes, a hardtail would also be fun on the route. Don’t ride on a full-sus though; it’ll be overkill.
• Rental Bikes at Triple Cats Cycles: Our friend and co-creator of The Lanna Kingdom route, Nu, owns the best bike shop in Chiang Mai (Triple Cats Cycles) where alongside the usual bike maintenance and custom builds, he also has a small fleet of rental bikes (Hardtail MTBs) that can be rented, complete with a range of bikepacking bags. 

• To camp or not to camp? As discussed earlier in the route description, we’ve purposefully designed the route so that riders don’t (necessarily) need to bring camping gear. With homestays placed at strategic points on the route, as long as you follow our day plans AND BOOK AHEAD, you could leave the tent at home and lighten your pack up for those steep climbs.
• Want to bring your tent? No worries! We’ve also organised with all the homestays to accommodate riders who want to pitch a tent on their land. We’ve got you covered, friend.
• The mountains can be cold: So don’t make the mistake of assuming that, being Thailand, it’s always hot. During the day, temperatures will be 25-35°C (77-95°F) but once the sun cools off, mountain temperatures can get down to 6-12°C (42-53°F).
• Tent, Bivvy or Hammock: If you decide to camp and not use the homestays, we’d suggest you choose either a lightweight freestanding tent (some of the campsites are on platforms or concrete), a bivvy, or a hammock. But be sure to pack something with good bug protection (unless you like being eaten by mozzies).
• What to pack? Generally, long-sleeved shirts/tees and shorts are your best friends in Thailand. Irrespective of if you’re camping or using the network of homestays, we’d suggest you bring a cotton or silk liner to sleep in plus a lightweight puffy for night times. If you’re planning on camping, alongside your liner, we’d also suggest you bring a summer sleeping bag/quilt with a rating in the 6-12°C (42-53°F) range.
• Homestays are inexpensive and awesome: In line with our route building philosophy, we’ve deliberately included small, local homestays on this route. For 700 baht ($20 USD) per person, you’ll receive a comfortable place to sleep, plus dinner, breakfast, and a packed lunch for the next day. But the real beauty of these homestays is the experience and access you’ll receive to remote hill tribe cultures. Plus, you’ll be enabling small families, communities, and new shops to prosper.

HOMESTAY BOOKING INFO

• Baan San Ding Dang Homestay: Please send a message on Facebook (here) with your name, date of arrival, and any dietary requirements you have. Than will respond with confirmation of your booking ASAP. Booking Requirements: Minimum of three days booking in advance. For more information, check out our day-by-day itinerary in the “trail notes” section.
• Baan Tin Tok Homestay: Please contact Moosei on Facebook (here) if you’d like to stay in Tin Tok Homestay. If you’d like to camp at the campground there, no prior booking is required, just a donation (something like 200-300 baht) on the way out. Booking Requirements: Minimum of seven days booking in advance. For more information, see our day-by-day itinerary in the “trail notes” section.
• Lao Ya Campsite, Tin Tok: Please contact Moosei (here) or (here) if you’d like to pitch your tent at the campsite. For more information, check out our day-by-day itinerary in the “trail notes” section.
• Khun Tea Farmstay: Please contact Poon Chai on Facebook (here) if you’d like to stay at the farm. Booking Requirements: Minimum of seven days booking in advance. For more information, consult our day-by-day itinerary in the “trail notes” section.
• Khun Tea Homestay: Please contact Nid on Facebook (here) or call (080-057-0719) if you’d like to stay at the Homestay. Minimum of three days booking in advance. For more information, check out the “camping and lodging tab”.
• Khun Pea Homestay: Please contact Kalamea on Facebook (here) if you’d like to stay at the farm. For more information check out our day-by-day itinerary in the “trail notes” section.

• Thai food is awesome and inexpensive: Whether you’re buying food in the larger cities or remote villages, one thing we can guarantee is flavour. Thai food is incredibly varied, and up in the mountains, very different to what you may have experienced in Thai restaurants abroad. Dishes like Sai Oua (spicy sausage), Banana blossom salad, Pla Gapon (fish stew) Pad Pak Boong (Morning Glory) are common and delicious. But you’ll be hard pressed to find a green curry or a Pad Thai up here.
• Shops along the way: Small shops are stocked with basic supplies, including fresh fruit and vegetables, and you can always pick up staples such as rice and a variety of packet noodles. Hot tip: Tom Yum is the nation’s favourite!
• Water capacity: You should have enough capacity on your bike to carry three litres of water at a time. There are a few slightly longer stretches without resupply on the route, especially on day two. So riders should pack three litres to be safe.
• A water filter is up to you: The tap water in Thailand is not safe to drink. So, most of the water you will drink will be bought in shops or sourced from restaurants along the way. A lot of the time, you won’t need to use a big gravity filter (or equivalent), but we see the utility in something like a Steripen just to be super safe.
• Vegan riders should bring some extra food: Although we have arranged with the homestay owners to provide both vegan and non-vegan options, it’s a good idea to bring some of your favourite vegan snacks with you. The bigger cities are full of vegan cafes and restaurants, but the reality is, up in these small villages, vegan food options will be more limited.
• Hydration is more than H2O: In the tropical conditions of Thailand, it’s important to keep hydrated with more than just water. You need to get salt, sugar, and electrolytes too, so we’d recommend looking out for drinks like Pocari Sweat, Sponsor (small yellow bottle) and, when available, fresh coconut water.

For the best experience on the Tiger Head Mountain Loop, we suggest you split the ride over three days (two nights). Although the total distance is relatively small, trust us when we say the route packs a punch, and although it’s technically doable in two days (one night), to truly enjoy the experience, a slightly slower pace is best. But of course, the choice is yours. Below, you’ll find a suggested day-by-day itinerary for the three-day route, including all contact details and booking notes again.

location Chom Thong – Baan San Ding Dang

Day 1: (26km/750m/2460ft)

Assuming you’re starting from Chiang Mai, you’ll want to catch an early yellow truck (7 a.m. to 8 a.m.) to Chom Thong on day one. The ride will take roughly 1.5 hours, and you’ll arrive outside the beautiful Wat Chom Thong monastery and international meditation centre. From there, perhaps you’ll want to grab some breakfast (marked on the map) before you start the ride up to Baan San Ding Dang.

Breakfast over, you’ll begin the route by cruising on the local gravel paths. Vivid green rice paddies will surround you, and within the first five kilometres, you’ll feel a million miles away from the city. You’ll then join the road and begin the climb up to the first village. In some places, the road is smooth and clean. In others, it morphs into cracked pavement and dirt. Look out for the small stream detour (marked on the GPX) and spend some time swimming and splashing in the water – it’ll be hot!

Once you make it up the climb, you’ll enter Baan San Ding Dang village. The first thing you’ll see is a ginormous tree that stretches out, creating a natural canopy of shade. This is a sacred tree and the main meeting point for the village. The community here is Karen people, and their village is renowned across Thailand for their organic cotton clothing and 100% natural dyes. Once you’ve checked into the homestay and cooled down a little, feel free to explore the village, take some photos, and see if you can spot some of the ladies han- making the clothes.

Homestay Booking Information:

Baan San Ding Dang Homestay is owned and run by Than. For 700 Baht ($20 USD) per person, you’ll receive lodging in a comfortable room, a big dinner, breakfast, and a packed lunch for the next day. The homestay also has a warm shower, plus beers, snacks, and specialty coffee to purchase. What legends!

Contact: Please send a message on Facebook (here) with your name, date of arrival, and any dietary requirements you have. Than can support vegetarian and vegan diets. You will need to book a minimum of three days in advance.

location Baan San Ding Dang – Khun Tea

Day 2: 35km/1500m/4760ft)

After a good night’s sleep and a big breakfast, you’ll be raring to go for the next day’s riding. Day two starts with a small singletrack section out of the village (two kilometres), then you’ll rejoin the main track and weave through the jungle on a mix of smooth dirt roads and rugged jungle tracks.

Today, Tiger Head Mountain will be in full view. Check out its face etched into the hard rock, its eyes and stripes visible in the morning light. A couple of hours deep in the dirt later, you’ll arrive at a medium-sized coffee plantation growing high-quality Thai arabica beans. From there, you’ll enter the small village of Baan Tin Tok, where (depending on your plan) you can either sleep the night at Moosei’s Homestay, camp at the campsite we built, or continue riding to Khun Tea. The choice is yours, but remember to decide and book in advance, please.

Homestay Booking Information: (Baan Tin Tok)

If you’re planning on stopping in Tin Tok, you’ll need to have booked with Moosei seven days in advance. Assuming you’ve done that, the setup is the same as last time: for 700 baht ($20 USD) per person you’ll receive lodging in a comfortable room, a big dinner, breakfast, and a packed lunch for the next day.

There’s a small shop in the village where you can pick up basic supplies and beers if needed. Your host (Moosei) is incredibly friendly, and he and his family speak a little English. But please note, Tin Tok doesn’t have electricity, though it does have solar which will be enough for charging phones and GPS units etc.

Contact: Please contact Moosei on Facebook (here) if you’d like to stay in Tin Tok Homestay or campground. You’ll need to book seven days in advance. If you’d like to put your tent up at the campsite, no prior booking is required, just a donation (something like 200-300 baht) on the way out.

Homestay Booking Information: (Khun Tea)

If you decide to continue riding, you’ll have two sleeping options in Khun Tea. You can head straight to the Farmstay or the Khun Tea Homestay.

Option One: Khun Tea Farmstay

The Farmstay is owned by The Royal Project (Thai government agency) and therefore cannot charge for stays. Instead, Poon Chai, who runs the farm, accepts donations (400-500 baht) from guests staying there. This goes towards maintenance of the farm and the surrounding areas.

There are some important things to note about the Farmstay before you decide to stay or not.

• There’s no hot water at the farm, so it’ll be cold showers only. Though, after the day, you’ll likely be stoked with a cold shower.
• There’s no food onsite. So if you choose to stay, please ensure you eat dinner (or pack it for later) at the restaurant in town (see GPX) before you reach the farm. Failure to do so will mean another climb out of the village (likely in the dark), and trust us, you won’t want to do that.

Contact: Please contact Poon Chai on Facebook (here) if you’d like to stay at the farm. Booking Requirements: Minimum of seven days booking in advance.

Option Two: Khun Tea Homestay:

If you decide not to stay at the farm, your next best bet is Northa Homestay, conveniently located on the route. This homestay is a nice place with a stunning view of the valley and the village below. They have multiple rooms available, and like the other homestays in the area, 700 baht gets you dinner, breakfast, and lunch for the next day. There’s also the opportunity to camp at the homestay if you’d like.

Contact: Please contact Nid on Facebook (here) or call (080-057-0719) if you’d like to stay at the Homestay. Minimum of three days booking in advance.

location Khun Tea – Chom Thong

Day 3

The final day and one to remember. From Khun Tea, you’ll continue riding on the dirt roads until you hit Khun Pea, a charming little village with multiple homestays, a good coffee shop, and a few little restaurants. Spend some time in the village soaking it all up. Then, jump back on the bike and begin the ride back to Chom Thong.

After spending most of the last days climbing, today is the day you GO DOWN! At around kilometre 86, you’ll rejoin the road, tackle one small climb, and then you’ll descend all the way down the mountain on a beautiful ribbon of smooth asphalt. After days on the rough stuff, this will feel like heaven as your freehub whirls in the wind and pedalling becomes a distant memory. But don’t get too carried away: there are some tight turns and a sharp left hand back to the dirt before you make it to Chom Thong.

The last 30 kilometres of the route see you wind along the mighty Ping River and through rice paddies, farmlands, and fruit orchards until you rejoin the road and land back at the yellow truck stop where you started two days prior. Tired, sweaty, and ready for some air-con, you can either catch a truck back to Chiang Mai or stay another night in Chom Thong. We’d recommend staying and checking out the waterfall (marked on the GPX) if you have time.

Congratulations, you’ve ridden Tiger Head Mountain!