Gone Bikepacking: Thailand -- The Impact of Building a Bikepacking Route

In February 2023, we co-created Thailand’s first bikepacking route with our friend Nu. Dubbed The Lanna Kingdom, it weaves riders through nearly 400 kilometres of tropical terrain, from dusty dirt roads and vibrant forest trails to banana plantations and elephant grazing grounds.
When we first released the route on bikepacking.com, we thought the it might attract 30 or 40 riders in its first season. But by early November, when the 100th completed the route, we quickly realised we had vastly underestimated its popularity.
In this film, we explore the social and ethical impact of building a bikepacking route in rural Thailand. And, how a sudden influx of tourists can affect a region and consider the importance of communication, cooperation and community in building bikepacking routes.
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Directed, Produced, Filmed & Edited by Second Breakfast (secondbreakfastagency.com.au)
Featuring: Sam Rice (@adventuresbycycle) + Bec Norman (@becbycycle)
Original Route: bikepacking.com/routes/the-la...
Co-created with Nu: ‪@triplecatscycle‬

[@TailfinCycling]

Loved every minute of this and the inspiration is hitting HARD! Great work team :)

[@gonebikepacking]

Thanks TEAM! So glad to hear you enjoyed the film ❤️

[@VeloObscura]

Nu is such a legend. First saw him in a video back in 2018 and I'll finally be heading to Chiang Mai later this year - maybe August/Sept.
Hopefully I get to ride the Lanna Kingdom while I'm there! So Stoked!
Great video guys.

[@AdBENture]

Such a beautiful video. Honored to have met Sam, Bec and Nu at Triple Cycles while we were in ChiangMai before heading off to the Lanna Kingdom bikepacking journey. Met great people along the way and made some new friends, especially Ping at Tung Yung Homestay. Really love the serenity along the route and all the beautiful viewpoints @ Doi Dam and also the Royal Project Camp. Waiting for Lanna 2.0! Cheers!

[@LetsRideOn]

Cool ride!

[@Karamintheworld]

Goosebumps!!! The message of this little doc is so important. Honestly you guys are so inspiring, you’re doing such cool stuff all the time and it’s so nice to see that you are also looking out for others around you while you do it. Great story and it’s so beautifully told also! Great job everyone involved 💛

[@C0ug4r_On-Pawzz]

Splendid project, gorgeous film!

[@VishnuRajendranAmboo]

First time to your channel, love the hugs given. It shows a lot ❤

[@timhobin8490]

You guys are amazing your route was amazing and how your inspiration has inspired others and changed the life of the beautiful people of the Lanna Kingdom .....a huge thankyou.

[@AtelierDope]

Love the video. Been looking at Thailand for a year or two now and just recently decided to get a bike to get outdoors to improve my well-being. Getting way ahead of myself but this vid was definitely food for thought as both Chang Mai and Bangkok are in my bucket list. Until then I’ll fall back on my homemade Pad Kra Pao at home here in the UK 😊👍

[@raysmith9324]

May ride it next year. My wife and I rode from Bangkok down to Penang Malaysia and back up. Currently in Hua Hin will train back as its HOT now and we’ve already seen the way back. We’ve been using the walking route on google maps and mapsme to find smaller paths and dirt roads as much as we can. Definitely makes for more enjoyable days even when it adds plenty of miles. We we’re already thinking about North next year. Chiang Mai to Nan probably. Just now heard about your route. Thanks and have fun out there!

[@tdcab8974]

Great video - I love the way you and Nu approached creating this bikepacking route. It also brought me back the good memories from when I toured in this beautiful (and super hilly) part of the world last year. Great to see Nu has not changed at all (yes, he is always busy!). What's next for you?

[@mnvideography]

It´s great to see that there´s more to Northern Thailand than just Chiang Mai and the Mae Hong Son Loop. Nevertheless it´s very important to mention, that riders should check the air pollution in this region on a daily (!) basis because of the burning season. We just have been there and being outside without a mask was very harmful.

[@grahamambridge2856]

Magical story guy's.... Hope to do some of bikepacking soon! ❤ Sheffield England 🇬🇧

[@gonebikepacking]

Thanks graham, appreciate it!

[@ohjajohh]

Great video! Thailand traffic scares me though

[@FonGomez]

This is SO beautiful! Wow

[@gonebikepacking]

Glad you enjoyed it Fon! When are you coming to visit us?

[@FonGomez]

I gotta get my legs stronger if I wanna tackle that route! Haha ASAP though@@gonebikepacking

[@TheSampawesee]

🎉❤

[@here1251]

Long time no see.

[@gonebikepacking]

Good to be back and on ya screens

[@tristanrid]

Loved this, and the production quality on this video is SO GOOD 🤌 can't wait to ride your route one day guys!