Spanish · 5 years on Samui
Spanish cycling enthusiast and eco-travel advocate on Koh Samui for 5 years. Carlos covers all bicycle and e-scooter content with a focus on sustainable exploration.
Updated: May 2026
I left the Chaweng rental shop on the Trek Marlin 5 at 6:05 a.m. last January - the road empty, temperature 26 degrees, light just cresting the hills to the east. The full ring road circuit is approximately 50 kilometres with 650 metres of total elevation gain. Starting from Chaweng and riding clockwise - north coast first, then west coast, then south coast back to Chaweng - puts the hardest climbing on the Nathon mountain pass in the cooler mid-morning hours before turning back toward Chaweng on the south coast road. This clockwise direction is my consistent recommendation for solo ring road attempts.
Reaching the Mae Nam beach road junction at kilometre 12 - flat coastal cycling, fishing boats at anchor in the Gulf, the road nearly empty - I stopped at the Mae Nam market for a small coffee and a banana. Mae Nam to Nathon runs approximately 18 kilometres along the north coast with minimal gradient before the ring road climbs inland toward the Nathon junction. The Nathon climb - 2 kilometres at 6 to 8 per cent gradient - begins at kilometre 28 of the circuit. In the Shimano Altus low gear, the Trek Marlin 5 climbs at 9 to 10 km/h without requiring excessive effort.
Cresting the mountain pass above Nathon at kilometre 32 last January - coconut plantation on both sides, the Gulf visible between the trees - I stopped for 5 minutes to take photographs and let my legs recover. The mountain pass section between Nathon and the south coast is the most technically demanding part of the ring road: a sustained climb followed by a fast descent with two tight corners that require controlled braking. The Marlin 5's RockShox fork maintains front-wheel contact on the descent's rough surface; the hydraulic disc brakes provide confident stopping on the corner approach.
Turning east at Hua Thanon onto the south coast road last January at kilometre 38 - the road narrowing through a fishing village, longtail boats pulled up on the beach - the Trek Marlin 5 was at its most comfortable. The south coast road is the flattest section of the ring road, with coastal views and the island's most authentic fishing villages. Kilometre 38 to Chaweng covers approximately 12 kilometres of easy terrain. I reached the Chaweng rental shop at 9:10 a.m. - three hours and five minutes for the full circuit, including two stops. Total distance: 50.3 kilometres.
Five years of guiding cyclists around the Koh Samui ring road on the Trek Marlin 5 has produced standard practical advice: carry 1.5 litres of water minimum; stop for food at Mae Nam market at kilometre 12 and at the Nathon convenience store at kilometre 28; carry a puncture kit or confirm the rental shop's roadside support policy. The full circuit takes three to four hours depending on fitness and stops. The morning window closes between 10 and 11 a.m. as heat builds. Starting at 6 a.m. provides four hours of comfortable cycling - enough for the full loop with two stops and without rushing.
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