4WD Tours
7–8 hours
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Chiang Mai Mountain Biking & Kayaks
Chiang Mai Mountain Biking & Kayaks
Chiang Mai Mountain Biking & Kayaks
4.5
Bike ToursWater SportsHiking & Camping ToursStand Up PaddleboardingKayaking & Canoeing
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Monday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Tuesday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Wednesday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Thursday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Friday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Saturday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sunday
7:00 AM - 10:00 PM
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About
Mountain Biking in Chiang Mai is the perfect way to experience beautiful nature trails winding through the closely lying National Parks such as Suthep National Park a 1650 meter high Mountain west of the City. The valleys of Northern Thailand offer beautiful rivers and kayaking is the best way to explore this scenic and untouched landscape. Chiang Mai Mountain Biking & Kayaks will get you there, professional english speaking guides are at hand to make it happen. So if it is a gnarly downhill ride, a cross country bike tour or a day kayaking through Thailand's beautiful scenery this is the place to start.
Tours and Tickets by Chiang Mai Mountain Biking & Kayaks
Climbing
6+ hours
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Plantation Tours
6+ hours
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Recommended by 96% of travelers
96% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Hiking Tours
3 hours
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$52
per adult
On the Water
5 hours
Free cancellation
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Recommended by 96% of travelers
96% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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chris lane
24 contributions
Feb 2019 • Solo
First of all: This will be grueling for novice hikers and inexperienced bike riders. (Let me explain)
Bring a backpack, although they have loaners. No need to bring bottled water, they provide plenty. A bandana or scarf for under your bike helmet is a good idea. We were given a chance to stop at 7-Eleven and stock up on trail snacks (not sure if that's routine).
The hike immediately puts you into some dense jungle terrain, ducking and climbing over felled trees that block the path. It's a lot of uphill/downhill where footing is to be taken cautiously. Bring bug spray, ideally the sweatproof kind. I'm still a fairly novice hiker of North America parks; the trails here are comparatively intense. I found myself scrambling on all fours at times. Our guide at the front and his aide at the rear ensured we didn't wander or fall behind.
Our group actually went on to complete the trail in record time... a sweaty endeavor that yielded no real reward besides bragging rights here on tripadvisor.
The views were decent, with cloud cover occluding the furthest details in the distance. At the top of the mountain, the hill tribe village was remarkable. We were served a delicious meal but didn't have the chance to explore the village. It wasn't exactly a tourist attraction. Farmers really live up there.
The guide was prepared with pads and gloves for the biking portion of the tour. The bikes were in good condition and they had tools on hand to make quick repairs as needed.
I grew up riding mountain bikes around a city, and as an adult ride a single speed a few times a month. I'm otherwise inexperienced with downhill mountain biking. I went cautiously at my own pace and was nervous for a lot of it. Some amazing views on the the southern face of the mountain, all though most of my time was spent staring intently at the bike path.
Gravel, jagged rocks, ruts in the road, dust and sand, and stretches of inexplicable cement tiles made the bike path a non-stop challenge. Our group endured several falls during the trip. Padding and tenacity were the best defense. We frequently stopped to regroup and assess the road ahead. Our guide knew it well and was able to keep us vigilant and safe. Note: road was also open to cars. We encountered maybe four.
After a punishing six-hours of exertion and apprehension, the sense of achievement is real. You're greeted with a meal at the edge of a lake, and genuinely feel like you've conquered a mountain. Take pictures when you get the chance, or wear a GoPro. You'll leave with a story to tell, guaranteed. Get a massage the next day.
Bring a backpack, although they have loaners. No need to bring bottled water, they provide plenty. A bandana or scarf for under your bike helmet is a good idea. We were given a chance to stop at 7-Eleven and stock up on trail snacks (not sure if that's routine).
The hike immediately puts you into some dense jungle terrain, ducking and climbing over felled trees that block the path. It's a lot of uphill/downhill where footing is to be taken cautiously. Bring bug spray, ideally the sweatproof kind. I'm still a fairly novice hiker of North America parks; the trails here are comparatively intense. I found myself scrambling on all fours at times. Our guide at the front and his aide at the rear ensured we didn't wander or fall behind.
Our group actually went on to complete the trail in record time... a sweaty endeavor that yielded no real reward besides bragging rights here on tripadvisor.
The views were decent, with cloud cover occluding the furthest details in the distance. At the top of the mountain, the hill tribe village was remarkable. We were served a delicious meal but didn't have the chance to explore the village. It wasn't exactly a tourist attraction. Farmers really live up there.
The guide was prepared with pads and gloves for the biking portion of the tour. The bikes were in good condition and they had tools on hand to make quick repairs as needed.
I grew up riding mountain bikes around a city, and as an adult ride a single speed a few times a month. I'm otherwise inexperienced with downhill mountain biking. I went cautiously at my own pace and was nervous for a lot of it. Some amazing views on the the southern face of the mountain, all though most of my time was spent staring intently at the bike path.
Gravel, jagged rocks, ruts in the road, dust and sand, and stretches of inexplicable cement tiles made the bike path a non-stop challenge. Our group endured several falls during the trip. Padding and tenacity were the best defense. We frequently stopped to regroup and assess the road ahead. Our guide knew it well and was able to keep us vigilant and safe. Note: road was also open to cars. We encountered maybe four.
After a punishing six-hours of exertion and apprehension, the sense of achievement is real. You're greeted with a meal at the edge of a lake, and genuinely feel like you've conquered a mountain. Take pictures when you get the chance, or wear a GoPro. You'll leave with a story to tell, guaranteed. Get a massage the next day.
Written February 16, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WOW, Awesome description of this adventure ,
thank you for sharing, you sure know how to bring things alive with words
Happy trails
Aidan
Written February 16, 2019
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Mandy O
Noordhoek, South Africa56 contributions
Our family group of 5 were part of a rather big group of 19 on our tour which for a complete novice such as myself was a bit intimidating when we were all in the water trying to find our way but once the group spread out and I found my space and pace it was better.
In all we had an amazing time and were well looked after by the guides who were there to get us out of tight spots and give some advice through the faster water.
I do think though with such a big group it may have been better to have divided the bunch up into smaller groups and set off at intervals as there were some pile ups and that's where I found it most stressful trying to avoid hitting into others or being hit.
In all it was an unforgettable day and would recommend a trip with Chiang Mai mountain biking and kayaks.
In all we had an amazing time and were well looked after by the guides who were there to get us out of tight spots and give some advice through the faster water.
I do think though with such a big group it may have been better to have divided the bunch up into smaller groups and set off at intervals as there were some pile ups and that's where I found it most stressful trying to avoid hitting into others or being hit.
In all it was an unforgettable day and would recommend a trip with Chiang Mai mountain biking and kayaks.
Written January 18, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
James_5_2014
Brisbane, Australia1 contribution
May 2014 • Solo
Probably the highlight of my time in Chiang Mai. I did the 'easy level 3' course which proved challenging enough. They give you a bit of a test out on the tracks so you can decide which course is best for you.
Our guide was called Jane and he was an absolute legend. He helped us through all the tricky parts of the course and was a font of local knowledge and jokes. Just ended up having a great time hanging out with him for a few hours.
They really prioritise safety. They supply knee and elbow guards; the gear is really high quality and the bikes are great. The guides will even set up your front and back breaks for left or right handlebars depending on where you are from and what you are used to.
There are lychees you can pick and eat along the way. Jane took us a bit off the course to show us a waterfall which was awesome.
Jane checked all of our equipment for us and gave plenty of advice about what was coming up. At the end is a delicious lunch as well. Definitely do this if you are in Chiang Mai. The view is awesome and it's just a lot of fun. I'm not sure how much of the payment the guides actually get, so do consider tipping them - they do an amazing job.
Our guide was called Jane and he was an absolute legend. He helped us through all the tricky parts of the course and was a font of local knowledge and jokes. Just ended up having a great time hanging out with him for a few hours.
They really prioritise safety. They supply knee and elbow guards; the gear is really high quality and the bikes are great. The guides will even set up your front and back breaks for left or right handlebars depending on where you are from and what you are used to.
There are lychees you can pick and eat along the way. Jane took us a bit off the course to show us a waterfall which was awesome.
Jane checked all of our equipment for us and gave plenty of advice about what was coming up. At the end is a delicious lunch as well. Definitely do this if you are in Chiang Mai. The view is awesome and it's just a lot of fun. I'm not sure how much of the payment the guides actually get, so do consider tipping them - they do an amazing job.
Written May 22, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
marklaurenpdx
marklaurenpdx10 contributions
We called Chiang Mai Mountain Biking when we arrived at our hotel and said we were looking to do a half day road bike the following morning. Immediately, the owner of the company with great confidence said that the Mountain Bike Tour is what we should do and we have folks at all levels complete every day. We were told we'd be picked up at 8:30 at our hotel and be on our bikes by 9:30.
We were picked up promptly at 8:30, but then we didn't leave the bike shop until 10am. Lots of waiting around. After driving 5 minutes, the drivers decided to take a detour at a gas station for 10 minutes. An hour later we made it to the top of the mountain. So it's after well after 11am. It still took another hour+ to get organized. Again, if I'm told I'd start my riding at noon, I'd be fine... but not after being told with great confidence, "you'll be on your bikes by 9:30". Then they gave me a bike where you couldn't see the gear numbers. The guide told me "it's fine", which is complete laziness on their part. After arguing they gave us a new bike. So now it's past noon and we're just getting started. We were told the night before we'd be back at our hotel by 3pm as we wanted to enjoy our afternoon. Once we got going, the guide said it would well after 5pm at the earliest before we got back.It seemed like this was the standard... not exactly what was shared the night before.
We started down course one and it was quite challenging to say the least. The guides shared that it would only get tougher. Can it be done, absolutely. But at this point, it was not enjoyable and we didn't want to spend another 5+ hours doing something not enjoyable, so we cut our losses and was asked to be taken back. I was impressed that within 20 minutes, the driver picked us up to take us back. Frankly, that was our highlight.
The owner apologized for getting so long to get going. He said, he didn't quite know why it took so long. For starters, not leaving 90 minutes until after picking you up would be one reason. There's paperwork and insurance to fill out, so I understand why it would take time, but then why would we be told "we'd be on the bikes by 9:30. Also, it wasn't until 9:30 that they even started loading the bikes onto their trucks. Again, if you have patience great.... but "being on the bikes by 9:30" was a complete fabrication. Further, the drive up the mountain is almost an hour. So you can see our frustration as there was no way the owner was being candid with us, but rather tried to sell a couple rides.
The owner refunded half our money, which we thought was BS since he's the one that "sold us on the trip". Moral of the story, if you have LOTS of patience, I'm sure it's a great trip. But don't think this is a trip where you will be back at your hotel at 3pm or go on a semi-challenging ride. Also, the owner was conveniently not at the office when we returned.
While there are positive reviews on TA for this, I notice most reviewers have only one contribution, which I find strange after the fact.
We were picked up promptly at 8:30, but then we didn't leave the bike shop until 10am. Lots of waiting around. After driving 5 minutes, the drivers decided to take a detour at a gas station for 10 minutes. An hour later we made it to the top of the mountain. So it's after well after 11am. It still took another hour+ to get organized. Again, if I'm told I'd start my riding at noon, I'd be fine... but not after being told with great confidence, "you'll be on your bikes by 9:30". Then they gave me a bike where you couldn't see the gear numbers. The guide told me "it's fine", which is complete laziness on their part. After arguing they gave us a new bike. So now it's past noon and we're just getting started. We were told the night before we'd be back at our hotel by 3pm as we wanted to enjoy our afternoon. Once we got going, the guide said it would well after 5pm at the earliest before we got back.It seemed like this was the standard... not exactly what was shared the night before.
We started down course one and it was quite challenging to say the least. The guides shared that it would only get tougher. Can it be done, absolutely. But at this point, it was not enjoyable and we didn't want to spend another 5+ hours doing something not enjoyable, so we cut our losses and was asked to be taken back. I was impressed that within 20 minutes, the driver picked us up to take us back. Frankly, that was our highlight.
The owner apologized for getting so long to get going. He said, he didn't quite know why it took so long. For starters, not leaving 90 minutes until after picking you up would be one reason. There's paperwork and insurance to fill out, so I understand why it would take time, but then why would we be told "we'd be on the bikes by 9:30. Also, it wasn't until 9:30 that they even started loading the bikes onto their trucks. Again, if you have patience great.... but "being on the bikes by 9:30" was a complete fabrication. Further, the drive up the mountain is almost an hour. So you can see our frustration as there was no way the owner was being candid with us, but rather tried to sell a couple rides.
The owner refunded half our money, which we thought was BS since he's the one that "sold us on the trip". Moral of the story, if you have LOTS of patience, I'm sure it's a great trip. But don't think this is a trip where you will be back at your hotel at 3pm or go on a semi-challenging ride. Also, the owner was conveniently not at the office when we returned.
While there are positive reviews on TA for this, I notice most reviewers have only one contribution, which I find strange after the fact.
Written December 1, 2010
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear person reviewing, thank you for your interest in mountain biking.
We are very sorry we couldn't make it work for the folks above. We usually are not in the business of promising things we cant keep. The issue is not 9:30 am or 8:30 am (we pick up at 9:30 am for those who are interested .) but that they just did'nt get to ride. The day was to short , we took a risk trying to get them back at 3:00 pm and it didn't work. (trying to please everyone sometimes gets you. ) It didn't help that Mark couldn't ride a bike down the hill very well but that we didn't figure that out until it was to late ( 3pm schedule), so we transferred these nice folks onward to their Luxury hotel by car so they wouldn't be late , refunded money , paid the commission to the agent (who booked them) and all should have been well, but not so... the scorned ego returns and puts everybody and everything in a shady light .
So please take the above review with a "grain of salt" and for what its worth you now have to prove beyond any question that you are a competent rider before we agree to this tight schedule. We recommend that you keep the afternoon open so you can enjoy the beautiful nature on the Suthep National Park routes and don't have to worry about the gas station stop on the the way to the mountain .
Happy trails
Aidan
MTb Coordinator
.
Written December 7, 2010
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
AutumnGA
Chicago, IL12 contributions
Dec 2011 • Couples
I have mixed feelings about this trip and struggled between giving it a poor or average review. I do think there are some facts that potential customers should be aware of before they join a tour, so here are the pros and cons from my trip:
Pros: Pickup at my guesthouse was right on time. Incredibly scenic ride on a little-trafficked road in a national park. Friendly and helpful guides with lots of patience and good humor. All equipment provided and in good shape; they have a mix of bikes in terms of quality, so try to grab a good one early. All bikes are well-serviced, and its obvious they care about providing good equipment. Excellent meal provided at the end of the ride.
Cons: The description of the trip said it would last from 9:30-3:30, but we didn't return to Chiang Mai until after 6:00. Worse, we actually didn't get on our bikes until 1:00 in the afternoon! We left Chiang Mai after a lot of disorganized waiting at the shop around 11:00. After traffic and an unnecessary "coffee break" at a tourist-oriented coffee shop outside the park, we finally got out of the trucks and picked out our bikes, then stood around with them for 30 more minutes while everyone got situated and those who didn't know learned how to shift gears. After a 3 hour ride, we got to eat our "lunch" at 4pm. Nearly everyone in my group was famished and weak because, by the time we finished, we had ridden 25 kilometers without eating anything since breakfast. This is unacceptable for a tour operator that claims that water and food is provided. Either provide packed lunches that can be eaten earlier, or have snacks to hand out to customers throughout the ride. (Also, I asked my guide if finishing so late was customary or if it was a one-time thing, and he said our trip never finishes by 3:30. Why couldn't we have been told this when we booked so we could have avoided making plans for the evening?).
Additionally, the owner assured everyone before we left Chiang Mai that the trip was for all ability levels, had a few "ups and downs" but was acceptable for beginning riders. This was a blatant untruth. Within 10 minutes of riding, there were three people sitting in the back of a pick-up truck where they had to spend the rest of the very long day. The trail we were on may have been technically easy, a sometimes paved and mainly dirt road with bumps and some fast, curved downhills, but it was far too strenuous a workout to be considered anything close to "beginner." I completed the ride, but I felt very bad for those who couldn't and felt deceived by the owner's assurances. And they were indeed deceived--this man has been operating the company and working with tourists for many years; I can't imagine he honestly believed everyone would be able to do this ride and that it should truly be classed "beginner."
Finally, the group doing my ride was far too large (I didn't count, but there were definitely over 20 people). They divided us into groups based on ability, which is a good idea, but they made the faster group stop at designated points along the route to wait for the other groups to catch up before continuing. This made for a much slower ride than necessary, very stop-and-go. I don't know why they ran the trip this way, since the guides are more than capable of keeping track of smaller groups on their own. Had our group been allowed to ride at a speed comfortable to us without all the stops, we could have been back to Chiang Mai much earlier and gotten to eat much earlier as well.
Pros: Pickup at my guesthouse was right on time. Incredibly scenic ride on a little-trafficked road in a national park. Friendly and helpful guides with lots of patience and good humor. All equipment provided and in good shape; they have a mix of bikes in terms of quality, so try to grab a good one early. All bikes are well-serviced, and its obvious they care about providing good equipment. Excellent meal provided at the end of the ride.
Cons: The description of the trip said it would last from 9:30-3:30, but we didn't return to Chiang Mai until after 6:00. Worse, we actually didn't get on our bikes until 1:00 in the afternoon! We left Chiang Mai after a lot of disorganized waiting at the shop around 11:00. After traffic and an unnecessary "coffee break" at a tourist-oriented coffee shop outside the park, we finally got out of the trucks and picked out our bikes, then stood around with them for 30 more minutes while everyone got situated and those who didn't know learned how to shift gears. After a 3 hour ride, we got to eat our "lunch" at 4pm. Nearly everyone in my group was famished and weak because, by the time we finished, we had ridden 25 kilometers without eating anything since breakfast. This is unacceptable for a tour operator that claims that water and food is provided. Either provide packed lunches that can be eaten earlier, or have snacks to hand out to customers throughout the ride. (Also, I asked my guide if finishing so late was customary or if it was a one-time thing, and he said our trip never finishes by 3:30. Why couldn't we have been told this when we booked so we could have avoided making plans for the evening?).
Additionally, the owner assured everyone before we left Chiang Mai that the trip was for all ability levels, had a few "ups and downs" but was acceptable for beginning riders. This was a blatant untruth. Within 10 minutes of riding, there were three people sitting in the back of a pick-up truck where they had to spend the rest of the very long day. The trail we were on may have been technically easy, a sometimes paved and mainly dirt road with bumps and some fast, curved downhills, but it was far too strenuous a workout to be considered anything close to "beginner." I completed the ride, but I felt very bad for those who couldn't and felt deceived by the owner's assurances. And they were indeed deceived--this man has been operating the company and working with tourists for many years; I can't imagine he honestly believed everyone would be able to do this ride and that it should truly be classed "beginner."
Finally, the group doing my ride was far too large (I didn't count, but there were definitely over 20 people). They divided us into groups based on ability, which is a good idea, but they made the faster group stop at designated points along the route to wait for the other groups to catch up before continuing. This made for a much slower ride than necessary, very stop-and-go. I don't know why they ran the trip this way, since the guides are more than capable of keeping track of smaller groups on their own. Had our group been allowed to ride at a speed comfortable to us without all the stops, we could have been back to Chiang Mai much earlier and gotten to eat much earlier as well.
Written January 4, 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Reviewer and review readers,
Happy New Year ! I just wanted to say there was no need to feel bad for the three people in the truck , 1 of them was a parent, her kids 2 (teenagers) had a great time and finished the ride like all the other beginners (the once that learned how to shift in the beginning) and the other mother wanted to sit with her young daughter . All three had a free day (No charge) and both mothers thanked me personally for taking so well care of their kids who had a great ride. So no harm done. Having said that just for the record we did have special circumstances this day , New Years Eve. the road had been closed to our regular trail heads due to extremly heavy traffic up to Doi Suthep so we opted to take care of aprox 100 riders over 2 days at the Shangrila Ride 1 1/2 hrs out of town where we could expect to escape 1/2 of Thailand on holidays. And we were right, I counted in total 3 farm trucks on the whole trip 25km.
This ride is not published but from time to time we ride through this beautiful Valley as the opportunity arises, It is one of my favorite rides but the long drive out makes other rides more attractive. If one had to rate the traffic on those days it would be less than poor. But untill we controll the traffic lights I guess on New Years eve we are going out of town. All riders had been alerted of this fact in advance and at the briefing in the morning with help of Google earth
the trip was outlined. We still consider this ride for beginner mountain bikers with reasonable fittness, and have so for many years but we do realize that there are people that might not make it , such the support vehicles allways with xtra water etc...
The impression that your group had 20 riders is amusing since you actually got handed back from group to group as you got more tired, also those stops are exactly there for this situation where we feel one should join a slower group to stay safe. And that for an activity operator is the most important thing, your safety and enjoyment. In summary I am happy that everyone that rode completed the ride and the numerous compliments about the trip at our late lunch confirms that making this ride available was the right thing to do. o ja, that bathroom break at the coffee shop, there is at least a dozent people that would have had my head if we hadn't stopped.
Happy trails
Aidan ( your instructor)
Written January 7, 2012
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
inspectorjavert70
Colombia, S.A.290 contributions
Jun 2011 • Solo
First a few things: I don't work for the competition (didn't know there even was) and even though I am giving it 2 stars, I still recommend it, but I DON'T recommend Luis, the guide. If you are unlucky enough to get him, switch, please.
I was picked up at my hotel at 9:15 and got to the office at around 9:35, left the office around 10:15 and got to the step off sight around 10:20. I had chosen the hike and bike, as I am not a super-strong mountain biker, and description in the brouchure states clearly "The easy feeling of riding down a hill in contrast to the strenuous hike up adds reward to the experience." I'll come back to this later.
When we got to the step-off sight, the guide wasn't there, apparently there had been a mix-up and the guide would be delayed. No problem, I got to meet the couple I would be going with, there was a total of 3, plus Luis, the guide, and Sam, a guide trainee. We were given a bottle of water and we stepped off.
I was US Marine Corps infantry for 6 years, so I think I can tell the difference between a forced march and a nature hike. This was a forced march up a slippery, rooted, rocky mountain - almost running. At the first break, I hinted to Luis that this was just too fast, the others I know agreed. He didn't get it, so at the second break after 30 minutes of more running, and after a minute to catch my breath, I told Luis flat out I wasn't going to run up the mountain any more, but I didn't want to hold him up, and I would meet him at the top. I explained I wanted to enjoy the nature of the walk, look at other things without having my head down, just trying to avoid tripping - he replied "you can look when we get to the top" The couple with me, after catching their breaths, agreed that it was just too fast, unnecessarily (the 3 of us weren't in a rush) and simply unsustainable.
When we stepped off again, Luis had gotten it. He slowed the pace, and actually began stopping at points of interest and explained different things about the flora and fauna of Thailand, very interesting. I can tell he was annoyed with me for questioning his job, as when I asked questions I got a short "yes" or "no", or sometimes ignored, but when the couple asked, the answer was much more in detail. No problem; I learned alot of interesting things anyway.
I ran out of water about an hour from the top (you will need more than one or 2 bottles, it is a strenuous but worthwhile hike, so don't believe them when they say one bottle is enough). We finally made it up and switched to the bikes. This is where things turned ugly.
After a safety brief, we began riding. The bike is supposed to be 27 speeds, but mine shifted after every TWO clicks, so it was more of a 13.5 speed. That wasn't the main problem, the rear brake was. There were 2 positions for it: open and locked. That, the bike being so high and me being tall, as well as my relative lack of experience in mountain biking - the high center of gravity as well as it not being an "easy feeling trail" (see pic, I wish I had taken more, as this was the least difficult, but I was trying to focus on the trail) made for a miserable ride. I felt sorry for the 2 others with me, as they had to stop all the time to wait for me. I told Luis to carry on and have Sam make sure I make the right turns, Luis got very upset, sarcasticly saying things like "sorry if I can't make you happy" and other nonsense. It was very uncomfortable, as now I had to go faster than I felt safe going so as not to hold up the others, and flipping over the handlebars for relying so much on the front brake. I hated the ride - the trail was full of rocks, roots, gullies, and very slippery mud. It was almost funny watching the rear tire coming up the side, perpendicular to the front wheel because it was locked, full of mud, and slidding without control. Funny until I crashed multiple times. The protective gear I can vouch for, it works well!
The bizarre ending was when we finally got to the lake. I laid my bike down, took off my gear, placed it on the ground next to the bike, walked over to apologize to the couple for ruining their ride, and began walking back to Chiang Mai. I just didn't want any more problems and was embarrased for having held them up. As I was walking away, Luis got VERY agressive, walking after and following me, shouting things like "Hey, you have a problem with me? If you do, let's fix it right now." Not in a "hey let's talk about this calmly" manner, but in a "let's throw down" manner. I hadn't said anything at all to or even about him. Having been in Thailand long enough, I understand "saving face", and just wanted to let it go. I walked the 16 or so kilometers back to my hotel. It was very embarrasing and a huge surprise to see a Thai respond like that out of no where. It was a first for me, and I have been to Thailand many times.
Like I said, I think Mountain Biking Chiang Mai has a good business, but if I had to ask them one question, it would be why would they have a guide who clearly doesn't want to be there? I like talking to guides, learning about them and the culture, but he gave us little opportunity to ask him anything and asked almost no questions of us and, like "so how long have you been here?" nothing at all, very impersonal and unfriendly, and clearly unstable.
I am sure the company will respond to this saying I am a difficult person or I work for the competition, none of that's true, I just want to make sure that if you do go here, and you should, make sure you don't get Luis.
I was picked up at my hotel at 9:15 and got to the office at around 9:35, left the office around 10:15 and got to the step off sight around 10:20. I had chosen the hike and bike, as I am not a super-strong mountain biker, and description in the brouchure states clearly "The easy feeling of riding down a hill in contrast to the strenuous hike up adds reward to the experience." I'll come back to this later.
When we got to the step-off sight, the guide wasn't there, apparently there had been a mix-up and the guide would be delayed. No problem, I got to meet the couple I would be going with, there was a total of 3, plus Luis, the guide, and Sam, a guide trainee. We were given a bottle of water and we stepped off.
I was US Marine Corps infantry for 6 years, so I think I can tell the difference between a forced march and a nature hike. This was a forced march up a slippery, rooted, rocky mountain - almost running. At the first break, I hinted to Luis that this was just too fast, the others I know agreed. He didn't get it, so at the second break after 30 minutes of more running, and after a minute to catch my breath, I told Luis flat out I wasn't going to run up the mountain any more, but I didn't want to hold him up, and I would meet him at the top. I explained I wanted to enjoy the nature of the walk, look at other things without having my head down, just trying to avoid tripping - he replied "you can look when we get to the top" The couple with me, after catching their breaths, agreed that it was just too fast, unnecessarily (the 3 of us weren't in a rush) and simply unsustainable.
When we stepped off again, Luis had gotten it. He slowed the pace, and actually began stopping at points of interest and explained different things about the flora and fauna of Thailand, very interesting. I can tell he was annoyed with me for questioning his job, as when I asked questions I got a short "yes" or "no", or sometimes ignored, but when the couple asked, the answer was much more in detail. No problem; I learned alot of interesting things anyway.
I ran out of water about an hour from the top (you will need more than one or 2 bottles, it is a strenuous but worthwhile hike, so don't believe them when they say one bottle is enough). We finally made it up and switched to the bikes. This is where things turned ugly.
After a safety brief, we began riding. The bike is supposed to be 27 speeds, but mine shifted after every TWO clicks, so it was more of a 13.5 speed. That wasn't the main problem, the rear brake was. There were 2 positions for it: open and locked. That, the bike being so high and me being tall, as well as my relative lack of experience in mountain biking - the high center of gravity as well as it not being an "easy feeling trail" (see pic, I wish I had taken more, as this was the least difficult, but I was trying to focus on the trail) made for a miserable ride. I felt sorry for the 2 others with me, as they had to stop all the time to wait for me. I told Luis to carry on and have Sam make sure I make the right turns, Luis got very upset, sarcasticly saying things like "sorry if I can't make you happy" and other nonsense. It was very uncomfortable, as now I had to go faster than I felt safe going so as not to hold up the others, and flipping over the handlebars for relying so much on the front brake. I hated the ride - the trail was full of rocks, roots, gullies, and very slippery mud. It was almost funny watching the rear tire coming up the side, perpendicular to the front wheel because it was locked, full of mud, and slidding without control. Funny until I crashed multiple times. The protective gear I can vouch for, it works well!
The bizarre ending was when we finally got to the lake. I laid my bike down, took off my gear, placed it on the ground next to the bike, walked over to apologize to the couple for ruining their ride, and began walking back to Chiang Mai. I just didn't want any more problems and was embarrased for having held them up. As I was walking away, Luis got VERY agressive, walking after and following me, shouting things like "Hey, you have a problem with me? If you do, let's fix it right now." Not in a "hey let's talk about this calmly" manner, but in a "let's throw down" manner. I hadn't said anything at all to or even about him. Having been in Thailand long enough, I understand "saving face", and just wanted to let it go. I walked the 16 or so kilometers back to my hotel. It was very embarrasing and a huge surprise to see a Thai respond like that out of no where. It was a first for me, and I have been to Thailand many times.
Like I said, I think Mountain Biking Chiang Mai has a good business, but if I had to ask them one question, it would be why would they have a guide who clearly doesn't want to be there? I like talking to guides, learning about them and the culture, but he gave us little opportunity to ask him anything and asked almost no questions of us and, like "so how long have you been here?" nothing at all, very impersonal and unfriendly, and clearly unstable.
I am sure the company will respond to this saying I am a difficult person or I work for the competition, none of that's true, I just want to make sure that if you do go here, and you should, make sure you don't get Luis.
Written June 17, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Reviewer,
Our goal is to provide an interesting and challenging day for our guests. We do offer a veriety of mountain biking and hiking combinations of different grades. When our reviewing guest switched from an intermediate level ride (cross country biking) that he was schedulled for to Hike & Bike in the last minute, the schedulling person made the wrong assumption that he was actually an intermediate rider ( familiar with mountain biking) and ended up on a much tougher trail than the Marine had bargend for. Again my apologies, we do have a informal 100% satisfaction guarrantee, unfortunately we obviously all had comunication difficulties with this particular person and we weren' t able to set things right. We have since had a long talk with Luis (a licensed mountain guide) and avid mountain biker with a spotless record (until this review). I also like to point out breaking technics in slippery conditions, the front break actually does provide 60% of your breaking power when going downhill since a lot of the weight is on the front wheel, the lock "feeling" on the rear break that our Marine experienced was rather a over breaking and initiated the sliding of the rear wheel. We uses special 2.5 tires (xtra wide and knoby tires) that handle off road conditons well. Finally to adress all valid points in the review we proud ourselves in providing avid and qualified manpower so you can ride at your own pace and make this challenging sport a safe and rewarding experience. Thank you for your candid interest in mountain biking and we hope to see you soon.
Happy trails
Aidan
MTB Coordinator
Written June 23, 2011
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
roseHouston
Houston12 contributions
Mar 2011
I booked what was listed as a 90km tour through Suthep National Park. I called the day before to advise I had my own pedals and needed to be back at my hotel by 2 or 3pm instead of 5:30. Given that I cycle regularly, I know that I can handle 55 miles of road biking in 4 hours. Since the tour was scheduled to start @ 8:30, I should have been done by at least 1:30pm.
Well, I was picked up late and then take to their shop while I waited for them to pepare a bike with proper wheels and gears. I feel this could have done the day before and we could have just done a quick seat adjustment while I waited.
Then, as i reminded them of when I needed to return to my hotel, I was told it was not possible for me to complete this route in that time frame. First off, I know what I am capahble of, but secondly, if the route is truly that hard, then why is it listed as a leisure ride and why was I not advised of this the day before when I had time to adjust my plans???
So my response was that its fine to shorten it a bit, or make other changes. I am the only one on the tour this day so it should be easy to just accomodate what I need., I really just want 3 or 4 hours of great biking so distance is not important. So I thought we were on the same page but as it turns out, we were not.
We left from the shop and went through town to a major highway. After riding along the highway for 30 mintues I inquired on when we would reach the national park. I was told we were not going to the national park.
When I told my guide that this is not what I booked, and the brochure said this was in the Suthep National Park I was told 'my boss wrote the brochure, not me'.
Well, that's just terrific.
So we rode basically on highways and main roads to the point where I just asked that we get back as fast as possible instead of more riding. I did not come to Thailand to ride in freeways and breathe exhaust fumes. So much for a great day of biking in Chiang Mai.
Well, I was picked up late and then take to their shop while I waited for them to pepare a bike with proper wheels and gears. I feel this could have done the day before and we could have just done a quick seat adjustment while I waited.
Then, as i reminded them of when I needed to return to my hotel, I was told it was not possible for me to complete this route in that time frame. First off, I know what I am capahble of, but secondly, if the route is truly that hard, then why is it listed as a leisure ride and why was I not advised of this the day before when I had time to adjust my plans???
So my response was that its fine to shorten it a bit, or make other changes. I am the only one on the tour this day so it should be easy to just accomodate what I need., I really just want 3 or 4 hours of great biking so distance is not important. So I thought we were on the same page but as it turns out, we were not.
We left from the shop and went through town to a major highway. After riding along the highway for 30 mintues I inquired on when we would reach the national park. I was told we were not going to the national park.
When I told my guide that this is not what I booked, and the brochure said this was in the Suthep National Park I was told 'my boss wrote the brochure, not me'.
Well, that's just terrific.
So we rode basically on highways and main roads to the point where I just asked that we get back as fast as possible instead of more riding. I did not come to Thailand to ride in freeways and breathe exhaust fumes. So much for a great day of biking in Chiang Mai.
Written March 20, 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Reviewer,
We do cater to many different biking levels and programs, and spend time to interview each rider the morning of the event to make sure the right trip had been chosen .
There is an exact copy of the trip description below... I am sorry the Rider missed that, what about the time when road tires were mounted on the bike ? Changing rides is usually not a problem especially between different levels of off road rides but in this case it would have been impossible to change (trip11) into an off road ride once on the way, since the schuddle into the park ( to do a proper off road ride) would have left by then from the shop . I also recommend that one tries to stick with the proposed timing and keep the day available for the schedulled riding adventure. We welcome the reviewer back to join a proper off road ride when her schedulle allows , may I sugguest trip # 3 " The Old Smugglers Route" .
Happy trails
Aidan
MTB Coordinator
TRIP 11 The Smoeng Loop
The fit cyclist will long after this 90 km (45 km of that uphill) ride remember the challenging loop around Doi Suthep with its superb countryside and interesting cultural aspects.
TRIP DESCRIPTION ROAD RIDE
When: Daily 8:30 am-5:30 pm. All year rain or shine
Trip: Maesa Valley past Samoeng to Chiang Mai
Location: Around Doi Suthep National Park
Biking time: Approx: 5 hrs or more, 90 km
Elevation change : 2000 feet (600m)
Riding Conditions: 50% uphill, 50% downhill on tarmac
Flora: Lowland jungle to highland pine forest
Levels: Intermediate
Personal fitness : Above average
Instructions: Yes
Written March 23, 2011
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Gustan-Mc-Gus
Hobart, Australia32 contributions
Jul 2015 • Solo
It was a long day, but good fun. I did trail #3, which was great. Mostly down 4wd trails, some steep hill climbs, and then a small amount of single track riding at the end. We had rain, sunshine & plenty of mud. Us 3 had a blast on the trail.
The good :
*A variety of routes on offer ranging in difficulty.
*Google-Earth tour of our route
*Lunch (at the end).
*Knowledgeable guide about the route
*Pick-up & drop off at your hotel.
*Free drinking water.
*Guide tried to keep the group together.
*Recent bikes in good condition.
Please be aware, when you read my comments below, I am a trained Mountain Bike instructor and have facilitated countless Mountain Bike adventures.... This company has been operating since 2003!
A few things came to my attention :
*9:30am pick-up! It's too late in the morning to start a full day activity.
*An extra 150 baht for National Park entry fee - why isn't this included in the original booking?
*We didn't depart the office until 11am! They were changing bikes & tyres... How is it that it took 1:15hour to outfit 10 people with a helmet, gloves and a small brief on which trail you'll be doing via Google-Earth? We sat around waiting for 1 hour!
*When I booked, they said they'd be lunch. Lunch happened to be at the end of the ride, at 3:30pm! When I asked what time we would return, they couldn't say.
*Safety briefing? Marginal at best
*Instructions for the beginners on how to ride safely? One attempt each at going over a log - nothing else. It was evident that other guests could not ride and had minimal control, but the guides just went off with little care in the world.
*First Aid Kit & Mobile Phone? No... These two items are very important when operating mountain biking tours. Without either of these, if we had had a serious accident, there was no way of helping quickly.
Summary:
Great fun riding, but spoiled by the way the company operates
The good :
*A variety of routes on offer ranging in difficulty.
*Google-Earth tour of our route
*Lunch (at the end).
*Knowledgeable guide about the route
*Pick-up & drop off at your hotel.
*Free drinking water.
*Guide tried to keep the group together.
*Recent bikes in good condition.
Please be aware, when you read my comments below, I am a trained Mountain Bike instructor and have facilitated countless Mountain Bike adventures.... This company has been operating since 2003!
A few things came to my attention :
*9:30am pick-up! It's too late in the morning to start a full day activity.
*An extra 150 baht for National Park entry fee - why isn't this included in the original booking?
*We didn't depart the office until 11am! They were changing bikes & tyres... How is it that it took 1:15hour to outfit 10 people with a helmet, gloves and a small brief on which trail you'll be doing via Google-Earth? We sat around waiting for 1 hour!
*When I booked, they said they'd be lunch. Lunch happened to be at the end of the ride, at 3:30pm! When I asked what time we would return, they couldn't say.
*Safety briefing? Marginal at best
*Instructions for the beginners on how to ride safely? One attempt each at going over a log - nothing else. It was evident that other guests could not ride and had minimal control, but the guides just went off with little care in the world.
*First Aid Kit & Mobile Phone? No... These two items are very important when operating mountain biking tours. Without either of these, if we had had a serious accident, there was no way of helping quickly.
Summary:
Great fun riding, but spoiled by the way the company operates
Written July 17, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Reviewer
" Great Ride , bad hair day"
Thank you for the great trip review , but whats up with the rest .
Thank you also about the phone and 1st Aid Kit comment , I made a surprise inspection this morning and found all guides had their kit as required .
I obviously appreciate ALL suggestion for improvement, but with so much GOOD in this review I am surprised of the poor rating. So what was the the real problem, waiting for everyone to get ready , thats what it is ? That we start at 930 am ? We do actually have a number of trips that start earlier and for those who seek that special fast service , private tours are also available . For the rest as a Mountain bike Instructor one would think you would be especially sensitive to the delicate task at hand at the start of the day. For example the Briefing, To make sure that everyone is on the right trail we have displayed some of our trails on Google Earth for viewing .How belittling "trails via google Earth." Not appreciated. We rode these trails well before G.E. Safety : On the mountain we test ride and instructors confirm ability levels., and correct we do accept beginners who expect help and the instructors DO care, as they spend the better part of the day coaching and guiding their beginner groups . But then our advanced person couldn't have known that as he was correctly placed with other advanced riders going on a harder trail, as he expected . I am quite proud of this operation and the team that is running it and frankly I don't see anyone running faster, even the copy cats .
Thanks for passing through and happy trails
Aidan
Written July 18, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
ck10138
Chicago, IL2 contributions
Feb 2015 • Friends
We had signed up for the 'Above Chiang Mai Oxygen Ride', but upon arrival to the office were convinced to go with the Eagles Route (#1) as no one else had signed up for the other ride. Even though we had no mountain biking experience, we were told the trail was easy. I am in my 20s and healthy and thought it wouldn't be a problem.... however I was VERY wrong. It was steep downhill with lots of rocks, ditches and debris. The majority of our group took a spill off the bike at some point, and one person did a 180 degree flip in the air (not on purpose) and sustained bloody scrapes and wounds. I flew over the top of the bike and landed on my arm, and was unable to straighten or bend it. I went to the hospital later to learn that my elbow was fractured and would require surgery. I also was told after the fact that someone had broken their collar bone the day before. I cannot not believe this trail is marked as easy if these are the type of injuries that are sustained from it! I'm shocked the company encouraged my friends and I to do this trail knowing we had no mountain biking experience. I wish they had been more upfront - If we had known bones had been broken on this "easy" course, we certainly would not have done it!
If you have no previous biking experience, stay away!! This turned into the most expensive bike ride of my life - thousands of dollars of medical bills and wrecked the rest of my Thailand trip. Please learn from my mistake and do not go if you have any hesitations!!
If you have no previous biking experience, stay away!! This turned into the most expensive bike ride of my life - thousands of dollars of medical bills and wrecked the rest of my Thailand trip. Please learn from my mistake and do not go if you have any hesitations!!
Written March 1, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello Reviewer
In behalf of our team and mountain bikers everywhere , sorry you hurt your arm and we wish you a speedy recovery . Going over the handle bar as you describe your fall is the result of an abrupt stop. This can happen a few different ways ,
1. You are traveling at a speed higher then you are comfortable, and you apply your hydraulic brakes to hard, resulting in an “over the handle bar” .
Solution : Ride at a comfortable speed . Keep 2 fingers over your brake levers at all times so you don’t have to reach for your brake leavers and make an uncontrolled squeeze. Hydraulic brakes are very powerful and need only little input. It is also advised to start a descent with the brakes all the way in and then release them slowly as you feel comfortable to increase your speed.
2. Again you are riding at a speed higher then you are comfortable, you enter a rut, feeling out of control you are reacting by pulling your brakes hard resulting in a “over the handle bar”.
Solution : Ride at a comfortable speed, when entering into a rut know that the additional rocks in the rut will slow you down such as sand and mud would, so rather then pulling brakes a quick release allows you to maintain the safe speed before you entered the rut .
3. You are entering a rut , you turn your wheel sharp, to get out quickly and you lock your wheel side ways and the bike comes to an abrupt stop.
Solution: Ride at a comfortable speed and when entering a rut keep your wheel straight , keep following the rut, and slowly with a small angle, exit .
The overriding skill to avoid “over the handle bar “ is weight shifting. On a down hill course the rider is acutely aware of any speed changes, when slowing down for any reason the riders weight must be shifted back to lighten the load on the handle bar. Standing up on “plat form “ pedals makes it quite easy to shift the lower part of your body behind the seat. If you can still flex your arms you have shifted enough weight off your handle bar. As you cant be expected to stand all the time, sitting down and pushing forward against the lower pedal on a downhill will shift your weight back also. Ride at a comfortable speed so you can deal with unexpected situations.
Frequent stops help regain “concentration” and is good way enjoy the nature you came for.
Riding off road (jeep tracks) and downhill for beginners and advanced alike is an exciting way to experience the great outdoors, but it comes with some responsibility, choosing a professional outfit or riding with an experienced friend to keep you out of harms way and be there when assistance is needed is crucial.
At Chiang Mai Mountain Biking we take great care to provide this service, a wide program of trails, experienced guides, a mandatory orientation at base camp , a safety briefing and “ role by” at the start to brush up on basic MTB skills for our beginners is standard. In addition we provide all the safety gear and well tuned bikes .
Obviously “easy” is relative, but 12 years of experience riding Doi Suthep National Park here in Chiang Mai has coined The Eagles Route # 1 as a ride perfect for the beginner mountain biker and sight seer . Children from 10 years up to seniors 75 have successfully braved this route ( from another reviewer) but I can detest to that. This jeep track winding its way through the forest and plantations from the summit offers a verity of “mild” challenges, great views, no traffic and a touch of hill tribe culture with a spectacular ending at the lake at the bottom of the mountain
“Chicago” thank you for taking one for the team, although your elbow injury is very rare I will keep working on improving safety measures on the hill . Your fall is well noted . Keep up your adventures spirit , heal quickly and …. Never give up.
Happy Trails
Aidan
Written March 4, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Crystal K
Kaiserslautern, Germany5 contributions
Dec 2014 • Couples
Review for Trip #2 (which became Trip #3 without any explanation...more below)
Initial Correspondence: Superb! Aidan was extremely expedient and detailed in all e-mail correspondence.
Hotel Pick-Up: N/A (We resided at the Fern Paradise in San Sai, outside Chiang Mai city limits)
Pre-Ride Fitting/Receptionist: TERRIBLE! Here's where things began snowballing.
-Receptionist was miserable. Her demeanor was less than complimentary to the experience. Very curt, unhelpful & just a poor attitude towards customers, as though it were an inconvenience for us to pay her. Odd...
-Gear: Pads & helmets are VERY used & in dire need of replacement. Our truck had to actually stop en route to the ride start to purchase additional helmets, thus delaying our ride & overall unprofessional.
-Safety Brief: Art, the staff mbr who performed the briefing, although I believe he was making an ill-attempt at injecting humor into his safety brief, had an evident sexist undertone. I work in a predominantly male environment & am usually very lenient about slight verbal cues, but Art blatantly questioned female riding abilities more than once & added sly remarks about how not to correct females about their riding techniques, etc. When I told him that I mtb ride regularly, he questioned this multiple times with little regard for my comment.
-Transportation to the Ride Start: As previously stated, we had to make an unscheduled 10-minute stop to purchase additional bike helmets. Not only did our driver not inform us about this stop, but it also caused for a delayed start--not until approx 12:45 p.m.
-Mountain Bikes: Worst mtb I've ever ridden. Not only did my husband and I have to switch bikes multiple times, professional the ride, several individuals experienced SERIOUS maintenance problems which would have been easily prevented with proper regular maintenance. The bikes are 3+ years old according to a fellow rider in the group who had ridden with the Chiang Mai Mountain Bike Company three years ago.
SAFETY CONCERNS!!!
The following problems happened during the ride & caused unnecessary safety issues & delays:
-Right bike pedal detached from mtb (no more thread & had to be replaced with the guide's);
-Lost brakes/pads (had to switch bikes with the volunteer 2nd guide & MINIMAL to no brake pads)
-Brakes appeared to have never been bled;
-Cable stretch/drive train issues.
Guide: Bored, did not regard his own group. At one point, 7 of 10 riders were lost. We waited 10 minutes and luckily e second 'volunteer/unpaid' guide searched for our guide. We were instructed to wait in the last known location, but our guide never came back. UNPROFESSIONAL!!! No apology, no regard...
Special thanks to Eddie though, as he was unpaid and volunteered to assist. He was the true leader of the group, assisting less experienced riders and helping us find navigate our way!
This company could be great, but needs to seriously monitor its staff & maintain its bikes/equipment before somebody gets hurt!
Initial Correspondence: Superb! Aidan was extremely expedient and detailed in all e-mail correspondence.
Hotel Pick-Up: N/A (We resided at the Fern Paradise in San Sai, outside Chiang Mai city limits)
Pre-Ride Fitting/Receptionist: TERRIBLE! Here's where things began snowballing.
-Receptionist was miserable. Her demeanor was less than complimentary to the experience. Very curt, unhelpful & just a poor attitude towards customers, as though it were an inconvenience for us to pay her. Odd...
-Gear: Pads & helmets are VERY used & in dire need of replacement. Our truck had to actually stop en route to the ride start to purchase additional helmets, thus delaying our ride & overall unprofessional.
-Safety Brief: Art, the staff mbr who performed the briefing, although I believe he was making an ill-attempt at injecting humor into his safety brief, had an evident sexist undertone. I work in a predominantly male environment & am usually very lenient about slight verbal cues, but Art blatantly questioned female riding abilities more than once & added sly remarks about how not to correct females about their riding techniques, etc. When I told him that I mtb ride regularly, he questioned this multiple times with little regard for my comment.
-Transportation to the Ride Start: As previously stated, we had to make an unscheduled 10-minute stop to purchase additional bike helmets. Not only did our driver not inform us about this stop, but it also caused for a delayed start--not until approx 12:45 p.m.
-Mountain Bikes: Worst mtb I've ever ridden. Not only did my husband and I have to switch bikes multiple times, professional the ride, several individuals experienced SERIOUS maintenance problems which would have been easily prevented with proper regular maintenance. The bikes are 3+ years old according to a fellow rider in the group who had ridden with the Chiang Mai Mountain Bike Company three years ago.
SAFETY CONCERNS!!!
The following problems happened during the ride & caused unnecessary safety issues & delays:
-Right bike pedal detached from mtb (no more thread & had to be replaced with the guide's);
-Lost brakes/pads (had to switch bikes with the volunteer 2nd guide & MINIMAL to no brake pads)
-Brakes appeared to have never been bled;
-Cable stretch/drive train issues.
Guide: Bored, did not regard his own group. At one point, 7 of 10 riders were lost. We waited 10 minutes and luckily e second 'volunteer/unpaid' guide searched for our guide. We were instructed to wait in the last known location, but our guide never came back. UNPROFESSIONAL!!! No apology, no regard...
Special thanks to Eddie though, as he was unpaid and volunteered to assist. He was the true leader of the group, assisting less experienced riders and helping us find navigate our way!
This company could be great, but needs to seriously monitor its staff & maintain its bikes/equipment before somebody gets hurt!
Written January 1, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dear Reviewers, Happy New Year
With so many things apparently wrong with this company why are people still come to mountain bike in Chiang Mai and have so with us for 11 years ? Because its awesome ! A better question would be why would someone run a business that produces apparently so much anguish ? Because it doesn't. We run into thousands of happy faces. This husband wife team are probably locked into some very stressful jobs that allow for NO personal freedom, and the Thai way in the tour industry is got to be a thorn in their eye.
A lot of first time travelers can not believe how things are done here and sit in groups moping and groping how their waiter got the wrong order, the receptionist wasn't friendly or they were simply ignored .Having been in business for 11 years in Thailand, and in the Tour industry my entire life I have met all walks of life and some are carrying a huge load of self and expect the rest to follow suit. But isn't that what travelling is all about learning about other behaviors, when I ran a water sport business in Hawaii (after moving from Europe) it took me a while to understand that the Japanese face not smiling wasn't ,stink eye but underneath a compassionate person .
I find all the references to our staff understandable but this quick judgement for people that I have known for years and I know would give their left arm for you in real need is ludicrous.
But here to the real gripe Trip # 2 versus # 3 I explained on your husbands review , we have to be very careful who we send on this trip as it is advanced, difficult single track etc...
At years end and through the 1st week of January all of Thailand descends on to Doi Suthep mountain, so the road gets closed and traffic is still bad going up to our trail heads. Us stopping to pick up xtra helmets has very little to do with your late start time, but the time of the year you choose, see us in April. 7 of 10 riders lost ?! In a large group the "lead" may well split up with the "tail" who then takes the slower group. I spoke with the guides involved and I did not see any irregularity, Regarding the equipment, expect failure and repair on the mountain, the stripped pedal is very rare, but change of pads, a snapped chain, a flat tire, a seat that came loose, a derailleur that had to be adjusted, a dropout that broke, a soft brake (from changing leavers) that needed more oil and so on are real and so are the mechanics that work for us at night getting the bikes ready for you the next day. Someone that rode 3 years ago with us recognized a bike, How do you come up with this stuff ?, All bikes are 2014 and 2015. The bikes are used and what better way to get attention pointing out a loose bearing and show that you know what the perfect bicycle should look like, like the one in the garage that you work on all week and then use it for 3 hrs on the weekend. IN conclusion I really appreciate the effort that went into this review and I got the point and I am off to make the world a better place, or maybe just find that bike where the brakes appeared to never have been bled . Love to all , happy 2015
Regards
Aidan
Written January 8, 2015
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hello, I am interested in the hike/bike tour. Me and my partner have never mountain biked before, after reading some reviews we are unsure of if it okay for beginner riders. Is it safe and can we go at our own pace?
Written November 17, 2022
Cherie W
1 contribution
Is this suitable for children?
Written October 31, 2022
Cherie W
1 contribution
Is this suitable for children?
Written October 31, 2022
Hi. I would like to book a ride for Saturday morning 10 March. Who do I contact?
Written March 6, 2018
Sorry for my late reply , please email , see our website info
or call 0810247056 We are happy to ride with you on the 10th
include your hotel info we pickup at 930 am
Hear from you soon
Aidan
Written March 8, 2018
Hi!
I'm interested in the hike/bike tour.
I would like to know if the mountain bikes are full suspension?
Will there be either a small or medium frame, as I'm 5'2". what size are the bikes? 26/27.5/29?
Do you have clipless pedals?
Do you have water backpacks? Two hours seems a long time to go without water!
Also, what conditions are the trails the second week of January? Rainy? Muddy? Slippery?
Thank you!
Written December 9, 2016
Hello
1. The ride down after the hike is a mild double track and we supply front susp. bikes (hard tails)
2. yes a small bike is available
3. Yes we can provide clipless or platforms
4. we provide water bottles, carry 2 lit. hiking and refill at the top 1l for the dh ride
5. January is the cool , trails are dry.
Hope this helps , see you in January Aidan.
You can reach me at info@mountainbikingchiangmai anytime for further questions. Please note your height so i reserve a bike for you :)
Written December 9, 2016
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.