12Go Asia: How to affordably travel Southeast Asia by bike
It’s easy to fall into the habit of heading out to the same handful of cycling-friendly destinations in Spain, Italy and France each year. However, there’s a world away from Continental Europe waiting to be explored by two wheels. To add a little adventure and cultural discovery into your cycling holiday, Southeast Asia could be the ideal choice.
To help with this, 12Go compiles transport options, reviews and prices across Asia to give you an extensive travel overview on all major routes in the region. With affordable prices, it’s the ideal tool for budget travellers looking to tackle Southeast Asia, whether that be by bus, train, plane or taxi.
The platform caters for all kinds of travellers, regardless of your holiday goals. Whether it’s an hour-long transfer, a sleeper train or overnight bus journey, travelling light or not, there’s a travel solution for everyone on 12Go.
It’s tough to know where to start when planning a cycling holiday in Southeast Asia. 12Go gives you the low-down on train, bus and plane baggage policies and allowances, however, you still need some routes and destinations to tick off the list. Here are some cyclo-tourism pointers in Southeast Asia to whet your appetite.
Thailand is the most visited nation in Southeast Asia. With its blend of cultures, stunning scenery and vibrant cuisine, Thailand is the perfect place to experience the core essence of the subcontinent.
To experience a real mix of landscapes – beaches, limestone karst formations and lush hills – southern Thailand may be of note. The tourist hotspot of Krabi is a fitting place to start, with its lush beaches and busy night markets. Head inland on a ride and you’ll soon find yourself within limestone creeks and rolling valleys.
If you’re looking to part ways with the mainland, you can take a boat across to the tropical islands to the east. Try cycling in the rolling hills of western Phuket, for instance.
A sleeper train ride away from Bangkok in the northern Thailand, Chiang Mai is nestled right within the mountains. The city – locally known as the ‘Rose of the North’ – is on the doorstep of Thailand’s toughest climbs and offers a vibrant cultural scene much less well-trodden than that of the capital Bangkok.
Within a 40km ride from the city centre, you can climb up to the hidden gem temple of Wat Pha Lat or look out over Chiang Mai from the gold-clad temple of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep.
However, Chiang Mai’s scenic 100km Samoeng Loop is a bucket list ride for any cyclist. The route starts in the city centre before winding up hairpins deep into the Samoeng Forest, past elephant sanctuaries and gold-wrapped Buddhist temples over the course of the day-long ride.
If you’re looking for a more extreme challenge, Thailand’s highest peak Doi Inthanon is not far from the city centre. The 39km-long test averages 5.8% in gradient, cresting at an impressive 2,565m above sea level – similar to that of the Stelvio Pass in Italy.
For confident cyclists, the Ha Giang Loop is one of the toughest cycling routes on offer in Southeast Asia. To reach the starting point of the loop in the city of Ha Giang – described by some as the most beautiful city in Vietnam – you can take a six-hour bus ride from Hanoi.
An adventurous circuit tailored towards bikepacking, the loop covers a mountainous 300km route in northern Vietnam, not far from the Chinese border. It’s popular among experienced cyclists and motorbikers who enjoy the breathtaking climbs, rugged gravel paths and stunning creeks. Keep an eye out for the remote switchbacks of the Chín Khoanh climb especially.
Taking in over 7,000m in altitude gain, the loop offers a real physical challenge amongst a fascinating cultural backdrop of the Ha Giang Province. Due to weather conditions, it’s best to tackle the loop between November and March as to avoid extreme heat and rainfall.
Laos is the least visited nation in Southeast Asia. Although, in the past decade it has become one of the most raved-about destinations on the whole continent.
The landlocked nation is diverse in landscape due to its elongated shape. The roads in the north are more suited to gravel and road riding. One multi-day route (around 250km) sees you set off from Vang Vieng, a short train ride to the north of the capital Vientiane, to take on the scenic Route 13 through the Laos Highlands. Passing over the Phu Khoun Viewpoint, the route concludes in the charming ancient city of Luang Prabang.
Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Luang Prabang is a must-see in the region. The city, rich in Buddhist culture, is situated in a valley that offers some adventurous off-road rides through jungle-like terrain and remote villages.
To the south, the nation is flatter in terrain. If you follow the Mekong River southwards, you can visit two of Laos’ most popular destinations. Firstly, the World Heritage Site of Vat Phou – a complex of ruined Hindu temples from centuries ago. Then, if you carry on around 100km downstream, you can enjoy some island hopping through the river archipelago of the Si Phan Don Islands. Picturesque and flat, the south is ideal for cyclists of all abilities.
The island of Bali has a growing cycling ecosystem. Road bikes are available to rent on the island and there’s a growing number of bike shops, local cycling guides, and cycle-specific lanes on this well-trodden Indonesian destination.
The quieter mountain roads can be found towards the north of the island. There you can find the volcanic lakes, or Danau in the local language, particularly the crater-filled lake atop Mount Bautur.
If tamer gradients are more your thing, the Jatiluwih rice fields and coffee plantations in the centre of the island provide a picture-postcard insight into rural Indonesian life. These central roads can also be negotiated on rougher gravel tracks if you’re looking to test out the less-trodden tracks.
There’s no point in travelling to Southeast Asia if you’re going to get barraged by downpours and windy weather while you’re there. We get that enough here in Northern Europe. Luckily though, the European winter months provide the best chance to enjoy dry daily temperatures of around 30°C in much of Southeast Asia.
Broadly speaking, the prime weather conditions to enjoy the roads of Thailand, Laos and Vietnam are from November until March. This also coincides with the busiest tourist season, so keep an eye out for that affecting accommodation and flight prices. Regardless, 12Go compares all the options available to guarantee you the best price all-year round.
As is customary in the region, the wet season dominates the period from April until August. The weather can also come close to the 40°C marker during the hottest months. Also bear in mind that humidity can prove a real problem for cyclists during certain times of the year, especially in coastal areas.
That said, the weather can vary by region and country, so be sure to check out 12Go’s guide to each area to be sure of the weather and what to expect any given time of year.
With the routes sorted and dates shortlisted, it’s now up to you to make this Southeast Asian adventure a reality. Your companion for booking it all? 12Go.
The platform is the only travel tool in Asia focused on budget travel and it has the most extensive coverage of Asian buses, trains and taxis.
For extra peace of mind, the site shares reviews from previous travellers and it offers a detailed overview of each carrier’s baggage allocations, including whether you can take a bike on board. However, booking your tickets in advance secures your preferred options and ensures a smooth journey – especially if you’re planning on bringing a bike with you.
