In April, I wrote in this column about a mountain-biking trip to Pa Kia in Chiang Dao district, some 70km north of Chiang Mai city. Last week I got to ride in that beautiful area again.
Unlike the previous visit, this time I went with a tour company. Trailhead, a newcomer in the northern province's growing bike tour business, has set itself apart from existing operators by offering a premium service, which of course comes at a higher price.
Instead of using a pickup or van for shuttling bikers to the trails, Trailhead uses an SUV. That means the group is small, no more than six riders with two guides already included.