Hey, everyone! I’m a solo female cyclist from the Philippines who’s currently cycling across Thailand.🚴🏽♀️❤️
I’m almost at the end of my visa in Thailand. I got a 60-day visa exemption + 30 day visa extension from the immigration office.
I kinda expected to be done with my route for Thailand, finishing at Ubon Ratchathani to cross into Pakse and do the Boloven Plateau by bicycle, but since I’m cycling during rainy season, the weather’s quite unpredictable and sometimes heavy rainfall and storms take away precious cycling time. ⛈️
I’ve also realized my body’s tired from this nearly 5-month cycling trip and I need to slow down a bit on the bike.
I was thinking of going into Laos for a border run to get another 60-day visa exemption. Ideally, I would like to cross from Nong Khai because of the train services there that can take my bicycle. For other borders, I need to cycle and I have until August 28 to leave Thailand, but I’ve also heard so many notorious things about Nong Khai visa runs. 🚲
This will be my first border bounce. I’m not opposed to staying in Laos for a day or even a week / few weeks then head back to Thailand to complete my ride.
However, I’ve entered Thailand by land twice this year already.
First, during March just before Songkran via Nong Khai land border. Second, during May via Ban Phakkad just before they closed the Cambodian border.
For my first entry, I stayed 60 days in Thailand. My boyfriend came to visit so we traveled together, then I used the remaining 2 weeks to cycle to Cambodia.
I spent 3 weeks cycling in Cambodia before coming back to Thailand again (second land border entry) to recover because I was hit by a drunk driver, so it wasn’t really a border run but a cycling loop. (Thailand - Cambodia - Thailand)
My question is:
1️⃣ Will I be allowed reentry to Thailand given the circumstances and situation?
2️⃣ Will I get a higher chance of getting back to Thailand if I take my bicycle with me and show it to the border / IO? (proof I’m really traveling in Thailand)
Or will it be better to leave the bike with a friend who lives close to the border?
3️⃣ Will I get a better chance of getting back to Thailand if I go with a visa run agency or if I take a flight and come back to the country? This means I have to leave the bike, regardless.
4️⃣ What’s the best course of action? Should I take the chance for the border bounce or just move forward to the next country and abandon the loop?
If it helps, I understand my Philippine passport is weak, I have extensive travel history (7+ years of full-time travel, 35+ countries), so my passport has plenty of proof I’ve traveled to different places.
When the immigration officer asked for my return flight for the visa extension, I told them I was cycling and came to the immigration office with my bicycle. They were very friendly and even went to check out my bike at the parking lot. They thought the trip was actually cool. ☺️ They were even worried I was doing it solo as a woman.
This helped me dodge the return flight requirement, since I wasn’t really planning on staying in Thailand, and since I really came here to cycle. I still had to book a hotel, but that can be done if the officers inquire at the border. Bank statements won’t be an issue, but since I’m traveling by bike and solo, also camping outdoors and in national parks, I prefer not to carry the 20,000 THB they might ask to show at the border.
My experience with Thai immigration, police, and other officials while cycling has been lovely, and all of them have understood what I’m trying to accomplish with the trip. 🙏🏽
It’s my first time doing a “border bounce”, so I would appreciate any guidance towards the less riskiest option. ☺️
Thank you for your help and safe travels! ❤️
[ I originally didn’t want to post a photo of me with the bike due to privacy reasons and not drawing attention.., but apparently some people think this fake?? 🤣 Like seriously??
So yes, here you go, here’s the bike, she’s actually a cute, strong, unassuming little trike, and yes, I’m a real person, an actual tourist cycling in Ayutthaya ]
