Bikepacking Through Southern Thailand

Marie and Lukas embarked on an unforgettable journey through southern Thailand. In this guest article, they take you along on their adventure and share their exciting experiences. Get inspired!

A cycling trip through southern Thailand – sounds exciting, right?

For us, it was exactly that. What started as a mere idea quickly turned into one of the most adventurous experiences of our lives. For three and a half weeks, we cycled through breathtaking landscapes, met fascinating people, and experienced daily life in a country that surprised us in many ways.

Here, we would like to share some of our impressions and experiences that made this trip so special.

Cultural shock in Phuket: The first day in Thailand

Our journey began in Phuket, specifically in Patong, a city known for its lively nightlife and bustling beaches. After a long flight from Germany, arriving in Phuket was an immediate and intense cultural shock.

From the airport, a taxi took us straight to Patong, and we were immediately overwhelmed by a cacophony of sounds, smells, and colors. Patong is a place that never sleeps. The streets are crowded with people – both tourists and locals – and there always seems to be something to see or do. We remember sitting in a street food stall on our first evening in Thailand, enjoying a bowl of “Pad Thai” while trying to process the impressions around us. It was loud, chaotic, but also fascinating. Despite the hustle, we could feel the friendly and welcoming atmosphere that lingered in the air.

Traffic in Thailand: Chaos with method

After spending a few days in Patong, mainly getting accustomed to the surroundings, preparing our bikes, and storing our luggage in a nearby storage space, we set off into the Thai hinterland. Before departure, we were quite nervous about the traffic.

When you think of traffic in Thailand, you often imagine chaotic streets clogged with honking cars, motorcycles, and tuk-tuks. And indeed, it looks exactly like that at first glance. However, what may seem like pure chaos to outsiders turned out to be surprisingly safe and orderly for us as cyclists.

On Thailand’s roads, there seems to be an unspoken rule: everyone looks out for each other. Drivers, motorcyclists, and even bus drivers were always considerate and drove carefully past us. In fact, we felt safer than on some European roads. We quickly learned that the apparent chaos is actually a well-coordinated interplay of all road users.

Hospitality on two wheels: Encounters with locals

Once we left the bustling tourist streets of Patong behind, a completely new world opened up. The landscape became greener, the air fresher, and the traffic decreased. But the highlight of this trip was undoubtedly the encounters with the locals.

Thailand is often called the “Land of Smiles,” and we can now say from our own experience that this title is absolutely accurate. During our ride through small villages and remote roads, we interacted with a wide range of locals in various situations. An elderly lady welcomed us warmly in her small grocery store and offered us water for our bottles. A man, on his way home, escorted us on his moped until we were back on the correct route after a pack of dogs blocked our path, guarding their property. We’re not sure what we would have done in some situations without the help of the locals. Speaking of dogs, what raised our heart rate the most were encounters with dogs and cows during our rides. We started avoiding remote roads after some dogs chased us, and we were never quite sure if the next one might snap at us.

The climate: A constant challenge

Besides adrenaline-pumping encounters with the country’s dogs, one of the biggest challenges was the climate. The hot and humid temperatures in Thailand are particularly felt by cyclists. The sun burned relentlessly, making it hard for us to get enough water and nutrients given our consumption. Lukas felt this especially on our way from Surat Thani to the ferry in Donsak.

Despite these conditions, cycling was also incredibly rewarding. There were moments when we were completely exhausted, only to be rewarded with a breathtaking view of the sunset over the sea or a mountain landscape. This was also the case after we finally reached the ferry in Donsak and arrived on Koh Pha-ngan.

Accommodation and flexibility: Tips and tricks

Another aspect that made our trip through southern Thailand so enjoyable was the availability and flexibility of accommodation. We decided not to book our accommodations in advance but to decide spontaneously where we would spend the night. This decision turned out to be perfect. Through common platforms, we could easily find accommodations that had no problem with us bringing our bikes and bags into the room.

A tip we would give to any cyclist traveling in Thailand: Pay attention to the photos of the accommodation when booking. Especially regarding bike accessibility, it’s important to choose accommodations that do not require long stairs or ladders. A simple, not too modern guesthouse was often the best choice. Modern hotels can sometimes be less flexible when it comes to storing bikes in the room.

Spontaneous day trips: A secret tip

A special highlight of our trip was the stay at Khao Sok National Park. We had read a lot about the park’s famous lake in advance and knew we wanted to go there. Instead of booking the tours online, we decided to arrange them directly on site. This turned out to be a smart move.

At our accommodation, located right at the entrance of the national park, we were able to easily book an overnight tour on one of the floating houses. The tour included a jungle hike, a visit to a cave, and an overnight stay on the lake in a floating house. The price was more than three times cheaper than what we had seen online, and the experience was simply unforgettable. Booking on-site not only allowed us to save money but also to be flexible with our needs and plans.

Conclusion: An adventure worth it

The four-week cycling trip through southern Thailand was in many ways an adventure we wouldn’t want to miss. From the initial chaotic impressions in Patong to the warm encounters with locals, the challenging climate, and the surprisingly harmonious traffic, to the spontaneous decisions that gave us some of the best experiences – each experience contributed to making this trip one of the most valuable of our lives. If you want to experience Thailand in a way that goes beyond what ordinary tourists encounter, we highly recommend a cycling trip. You’ll not only discover the country in all its diversity and beauty but also experience a sense of freedom and adventure that you won’t soon forget.

Thank you, Marie & Lukas, for sharing these exciting insights!
If you want to follow them on their next adventures, you can find them on Instagram: @withluki @__marie_k.