Cycling Around the Countryside with Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle

Nestled in what is one of the most splendid of all natural locales within Thailand, Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle can be described as a "destination within a destination." The Golden Triangle with its proximity to the mighty Mekong and its twisting tributary, the Ruak river, is rife with reasons to explore. Triangulated between the cultural departures of both Laos and Myanmar just across the borders, the region has a fascinating history.

Picture-Perfect

The best time to visit the Golden Triangle is just after the "green season" as the landscape is lush and teeming with life. With daytime temperatures rarely exceeding 21 C (70 F), and night time lows hovering around 10 C (50 F), December-February is the ideal weather for outdoor activities. “We are blessed with impossible blue skies and radiant sunlight during this season, so whether it is an early morning ride out to see the birds nesting at Chiang Saen lake or a sunset escapade along the Bua Luang lake circuit, you are sure to have stunning vistas and photo-ops around every bend,” shares Naipaporn Panlamoke, Assistant Camp Manager.

The Route

The best way to explore the Golden Triangle is by bike, and the Camp’s Hillside Bicycle Tour is an easy, customised experience for individuals, families and even small groups. Typically a two-hour experience, this off-the-beaten-path cycling expedition into the countryside is ideal for nature lovers as well as culture enthusiasts.

The routes follow trails of “grammable” vistas, where pineapple farms and paddy fields give way to ancient temples and natural lakes. “Encounter the local way of life, enjoy the bird-life as this is the nesting season in Chiang Rai,” shares Naipaporn. With so many narratives interwoven into the tour, the fabric of Chiang Rai and its people reveals itself through the vivid and colourful terrain.

Meet the Camp Guides

The enthusiastic Camp Guides tailor-make cycling routes to match interests and pedalling abilities. From leisure and beginner routes across the countryside through cultural sights, to more advanced excursions across tracks into the hilly topography, there’s something for every cycling enthusiast.

With more than 15 years of experience, Camp Guide Somkid Riyawaree (Khun Nueng) is an expert at gauging what distance and which direction to take while planning a tour. Thrilled to have patrons of all ages, he is happiest when a guest sights something they have never seen before. Ask him what keeps him motivated after all these years, and he says, “It is a happy guest at the end of a tour!”

Chamrat Uthha (Khun Rain) is a fitness fanatic, and spends most of his time either hiking or biking around the countryside in search of new routes and excursions. A proud local, he is passionate about sharing his knowledge with guests. Very adept at bird-spotting, he is sure to point out a mallad, or milky stork or even a greater kingfisher while on tour.  “This is a season of gushing waters and flocking birds, when many migratory patterns converge upon the grassy plains and jungle canopies of South-East Asia,” he explains.

With more than three decades of experience in the region, Khemthit Phetthong (Khun Nok) is the consummate adventurer. Patient and encouraging, “I like to motivate guests to go around the next corner and onto the next hill to be rewarded with an unexpected sight.”

Hill tribes have populated this difficult terrain for centuries, and they remain a defining feature within the region, their way of life still colourful and conspicuous, amid more modern development. “We invite you to discover this captivating landscape with us,” shares Naipaporn, “where our Hillside Bicycle Tours venture beyond the obvious.”