Welcome to the 'Rose of the North'! We meet in the afternoon after check-in for bike fitting and for an overall briefing of our trip to get you excited! The evening is yours to discover the city, the famous Chiang Mai night market and its myriad of food hawkers.

The start of today is common to one of local cyclists' favourites, the Samoeng loop. We circumnavigate Doi Suthep to the tranquil and fertile region of Samoeng that grows fruits, vegetables, and flowers aplenty. Climbs and downhills are many, as we pass through lush green forests, farmlands and charming rural villages. We will stop at a local market to enjoy a traditional lunch, before we get back on our saddles for a challenging climb and then down to Mae Rim.

Once again, the peaceful warm-up through rice paddies on easy flat roads is only an illusion, as the climbing starts soon after. We go up steadily on a nice, wide, winding road to a pass as high as 1,420 meters of altitude. We take a break at the top to enjoy the scenery, regroup and snack on local delicacies, and then it's down down down to the valley on a fast and curvy road. We reach our hotel in downtown Pai, where you can have a stroll by the river or stop at one of the many cafes before dinner.

We set out early today. After waking up the legs slowly comes our first and longest climb of the day: 13 kilometers with 840 meters of ascent. It's a long winding road typical of the region. We dive into the next valley and the rest of the day is essentially downhill. We reach the multicultural town of Mae Hong Son, where you'll be able to visit the amazing market where farmers from surrounding villages come and sell their produce daily.

We have an easier day ahead of us today, and we will take it easy to keep our legs fresh as can be before tomorrow. Starting at low altitude we soon get higher up in the hills, passing local communities that are a fascinating blend of many tribes. We will finish the day at a beautiful little hotel overlooking rice paddies for a quiet afternoon. You may walk around and see local farmers go about their daily life and in season witness the great moment that is rice harvesting.

We continue our progression towards the south today in the direction of the town of Mae Sariang. We will lose 300m of altitude on this stage, but we will always be on a succession of solid climbs and exciting descents throughout the day. Once arrived and after a good refreshment, we can admire the Burmese temple of Wat Jong Soong with its magnificent Mon-style buildings and its numerous pagodas, or visit the Mae Sariang Museum.

After a morning visit to see the Mae Sariang market, we make like it and get on the road for what will be our hardest stage, with more than 3,000 meters of positive elevation. The challenge begins right out of town with a 20km and 900 meters of elevation climb, followed by a well-deserved coffee break. We ride among hills covered by jungle for the next 50 kilometers, until a long 10km descent that takes us down to the valley through peaceful farmland. We pass near refugee camps where Burmese minorities have settled. Further along the road, we stop by the river before attacking our last major climb of the day to enter the small town of Mae Chaem.

We cover today a short distance, but don't expect it to be a rest day as we embark on the ultimate Thai climbing challenge. The first 20 kms right out of our hotel door are a long steady climb. The real test start at the junction where will turn right towards the Roof of Thailand, Doi Inthanon, for the last 10 kms and 880m of ascent. It sure gets tough but the rewarding views and the pagodas at the top are well worth it. It's then all downhill from here on the amazingly smooth winding road out of the National Park. We regroup and have the option to continue all the way to central Chiang Mai in the van or keep riding the last flat 60 kms to town. Freshen up, relax, tonight is time to celebrate what we have accomplished!

The day is yours to visit the charming town of Chiang Mai and all the culture it has to offer, chill by the pool, have a massage or catch your next flight to the Southern beaches. Or go on one more ride to the nearby Wat Phra That Doi Suthep, a revered Buddhist temple dating back to the 14th century and overlooking the whole city of Chiang Mai.