If you’re looking for something a little different there is some great mountain biking in Lamphun province, just 45 minutes south of Chiang Mai. In the foothills of Mae Takri national park there is a myriad of single track enduro trails rarely used except by the odd motorbiker that stretch on for miles and miles over relatively gentle terrain.

The trail featured here is just one of many routes that can be taken, it is strongly advised to contact an experienced local guide as it is very easy to get lost in the forest and a phone signal is intermittent. We actually started from the Kruba Sivichai Monument and Wat Doi Ti, a huge monk statue overlooking the number 11 highway and cycled a few km south before heading left onto a dirt double track. The trailhead on the map starts at the the dirt track. The monument is a nice place to start for a bit of sightseeing and an easy reference point on a map, there is a nice coffee shop as well. The first 7km is along a gentle double track through some nice scenery before the track narrows as it snakes its way through the mountains. The ascent is never to difficult until the 10km mark where it is likely you will need to push some sections to reach the highest elevation of 580m.

Depending on the season some sections after the high point will be overgrown, again a guide is a must but the trail gradually descends and undulates as it reaches Mae Tuab reservoir, which is a nice place to take a break. The offroad for this particular route ends here and it was a 15km ride back to Wat Doi Ti along quiet country lanes, again its easy to opt to be picked up or continue on another off road section if preferred.