Cycling Trip Hua Hin down to Chumpon or Krabi

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Looking at doing a cycling trip with visiting family from Hua Hin to Chumpon, Koh Phangan, Surat Thani, Krabi areas. Any advice from anyone who has done this trip before would be most appreciated. We are looking at cycling down over a period of a week and potentially catching the train back, as we are limited by time and want a few days exploring down there - 10 days.

*Hiring bicycles with saddle bags for my family members
*must see places
*good cheap places to stay on route
*Difficulties on this route
*any advice

Thanks,

[Dannie Boy]

Looking at doing a cycling trip with visiting family from Hua Hin to Chumpon, Koh Phangan, Surat Thani, Krabi areas. Any advice from anyone who has done this trip before would be most appreciated. We are looking at cycling down over a period of a week and potentially catching the train back, as we are limited by time and want a few days exploring down there - 10 days.

*Hiring bicycles with saddle bags for my family members
*must see places
*good cheap places to stay on route
*Difficulties on this route
*any advice

Thanks,

Hope you're all fairly fit as Krabi is almost 600 km's from Hua Hin.

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Yeah we are fit, but I think Krabi might be pushing it with our limited time. Thanks for your reply, I welcome any other feedback.

[Gérard]

Is it possible to hire good bicycles with saddles bags in Huahin ?
I live in Prachuap and do not know.
I usually make 2 or 3 trips like that every year (BKK-Phnom Penh last nov.) and plan to ride to Langkawi next february (700 km from Prachuap). I rode to Malaysia and Phuket a few times in the last years.
I avoid main roads as much as possible, keeping next to the seaside, no traffic, no noise, 70-100 km every morning starting early.
In Thailand, no need to take a lot of water or food, and you will find many guest-houses and hotels on your way. I don't see any difficulty, although I am 65 and I suppose you are younger.

From Huahin, you could cross Sam Roi Yot, beautiful landscape.
Surat Thani is 460 km from Huahin and Krabi is out of range, all the more so if you plan to go to Koh Phangan.

[redzonerocker]

I usually make 2 or 3 trips like that every year (BKK-Phnom Penh last nov.) and plan to ride to Langkawi next february (700 km from Prachuap). I rode to Malaysia and Phuket a few times in the last years.
I avoid main roads as much as possible, keeping next to the seaside, no traffic, no noise, 70-100 km every morning starting early.
In Thailand, no need to take a lot of water or food, and you will find many guest-houses and hotels on your way. I don't see any difficulty, although I am 65 and I suppose you are younger.

I think you would put a lot of the younger guys to shame with the effort put into those road trips. Fair play to you.

[Gérard]

Quoting :
I think you would put a lot of the younger guys to shame with the effort put into those road trips. Fair play to you.

Thanks for your input.
Really not much effort when the terrain is flat and you are not in a hurry.
The problem for the O.P. will be the time limitation.
Wish him good luck and much pleasure !

[buksida]

Once you get past Thap Sakae you can take coastal roads all the way to Chumphon, its around 140km between the two towns. Try to avoid the death highway wherever possible!

Bangsaphan is worth a stop, more info here (plenty of photos of the area on the forum): http://www.bangsaphanguide.com

[Gérard]

Once you get past Thap Sakae you can take coastal roads all the way to Chumphon, its around 140km between the two towns. Try to avoid the death highway wherever possible!

Bangsaphan is worth a stop, more info here (plenty of photos of the area on the forum): http://www.bangsaphanguide.com

Yes, Bangsaphan is really worth a stop. Discovered it on my first bicycle trip to Malaysia in 1995 and spend a few days there from time to time every year since then. And the coast roads from Thap Sakae to Chumpon are wonderful.

[usual suspect]

I'm not sure, but I think a few members of the 'Hua Hin bicyclists' are at present doing a Chumpon ride this week..?
If this is the case I'll tax them for any info after the weekend for you.

(Yes, well done Ge'rard..it may be a flat road, but how much does your bike weigh fully loaded..?)

[Gérard]

[quote="usual suspect" (Yes, well done Ge'rard..it may be a flat road, but how much does your bike weigh fully loaded..?)
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It could be less than 10 kg of luggage if I did not take a 17" computer, and all the gear for coffee and tea, very important !
So, the bike is around 15 kg and with luggage and water, not far from 30 kg. The first day, you feel the difference, especially when it gets a little hilly...
Here attached a picture of a real champ, still able to ride 27 km in one hour... a fellow countryman !

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Thankyou so much Gerard and Buksida! Gerard the maps are great, thankyou. We'll take your advice and stick to the coast off the main road where possible. We had planned to stop at Bang Saphan, and I'm keen to go through Sam Roi Yot also.

I found one place that I can hire bikes for my family members, however it may be cheaper for them to buy bikes here and then sell them. Still leaves the issue of finding saddle bags.

Gerard we were aiming for a more modest average of 50km per day, but you say it is flat most of the way?

We will be one 32 year old, one 28 year old and one 63 year old

I appreciate your feedback!

[STEVE G]

I've noticed over the last year or two that they're slowly building some cycle tracks in these areas, there are already some down Chumpon way and last month I noticed one being built from South of Pranburi down towards Dolphin Bay and also along the seafront there. They've also built a small car park at the north end of Dolphin Bay which would be handy for anyone into less adventurous cycling as you could drive the bike there and then cycle along the coast for an hour or two.

[Big Boy]

They've also built a small car park at the north end of Dolphin Bay which would be handy for anyone into less adventurous cycling as you could drive the bike there and then cycle along the coast for an hour or two.

That's my type of cycling

[jingjoe]

I've noticed over the last year or two that they're slowly building some cycle tracks in these areas, there are already some down Chumpon way and last month I noticed one being built from South of Pranburi down towards Dolphin Bay and also along the seafront there. They've also built a small car park at the north end of Dolphin Bay which would be handy for anyone into less adventurous cycling as you could drive the bike there and then cycle along the coast for an hour or two.

the bikeways are completed now,i ride from khao kalok to sam roi yot and back most sundays,roads are flat and hardly ever see a car on the beach roads.
Takes about an hour and a bit each way at a sight seeing pace,often stop in sam roi yot for breakfast then ride back.
This is the route me and sarge(r.i.p) used to ride