THAILAND MOTORCYCLE TOUR

Nan – Chiang Rai

Leave Nan and make your way through the hinterland first north bond on the main road and soon on small back roads in south-eastern direction. This is another great motorcycle riding area. Great roads, endless bends, not much traffic, stunning scenery. Road taking you to the lunch restaurant is probably one of the best motorcycle roads in Thailand. Lunch at a local restaurant by another river bank. Your ride continues north-eastern direction. For the next hundred km or so you pass countless rice fields and fruit plantations and cruise through small farm villages bends through yet more beautiful landscapes. Just before reaching you hotel in Chiang Rai you will visit the remarkable Wat Rong Khun (White Temple) which is today recognized as one of the main attractions all over Thailand. Park in front of the temple. Take your time to explore this unique and fairly recently build temple. Your hotel is centrally located, plenty of restaurants within walking distance. Overnight in Chiang Rai.

Exploration Day at Chiang Rai

This is a rest day. Enjoy a healthy breakfast in the hotel and spend the day at the hotel pool or in a Spa. You may also take a walk exploring the town to visit some of the many markets and temples. A walk is likely needed after all the great riding hours. Overnight in Chiang Rai.

Chiang Rai – Golden Triangle – Thaton

From Chiang Rai, short ride to the mighty Mekong River at the legendary Golden Triangle where the three borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet. First stop is the view point at Wat Phrathat, from here you have the Golden Triangle in front of you. In the small but interesting local Opium Museum you can learn more about Khun Sa and the opium trade in the past. Leave the motorcycle at the museum and walk to the boat pier by the Mekong River. Here you swap your motorcycle for a boat and explore the river region. Taking a short break in Laos (no visa needed, only bring your passport) before returning to your motorcycle.

From the Golden Triangle, lunch at a local restaurant located on a rice field. Continue to Mae Sai, the most northern point of Thailand and one of the main border crossings to Myanmar. At Mae Sai, take a stroll and explore the busy border market. Typical this part of the world, most trade is done by people carrying goods cross the border. From Mae Sai ride up the mountains to Doi Tung where the former king’s mother spent her final years. There is also a beautiful botanic garden there. Be careful, the road is narrow and steep. Continue to Doi Mae Salong on yet more amazingly twisty mountainous roads. Doi Mae Salong is a Chinese settlement which was built by a division of the Chinese Nationalist Army that refused to surrender to Chinese communists after the Nationalist Kuomintang government was routed in 1949. Today the village still offers a native Chinese cuisine, lovely houses with flowers and countless tea plantations as far as the eyes can see.

The final part of today’s route will take you along gentle hills through rice paddies and farm villages. Follow the Kok River for a while before you turn left to your resort at Thaton. Enjoy a cold drink and stretch your legs by the pool. Enjoy dinner at the hotel restaurant and a night cap at the bar by the pond. Overnight in Thaton.

Thaton – Pai

Another great riding day is ahead of you. From the resort ride couple of kilometers to enjoy the splendid view from Wat Thaton over the valley, Kok river and the vicinity. Make the effort and visit inside the Wat. (It’s well worth taking of your riding boots.)

From Wat Thaton you follow the main road Nr. 107 and have a coffee break at the Hua Luk Royal Project. Lunch can be held at The Nest Resort with a beautiful view at the Limestone Mountains in the back.

At Mae Tang turn right on 1095 and cross the mountains to Pai. This is the beginning of the road to Mae Hong Son, famous for having 1864 bends of varying sharpness. Before you reach your hotel stop at an Elephant Camp near Pai, spend some time and feed the elephants. Once in Pai, stop at the PTT gas station and fill up your motorcycle, better to do in the afternoon, gas station is very busy in the morning. Enjoy the pool at the resort. After sunset stroll down along the walking street, taste food from the street food stalls or enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants.

Pai is the hippie capital of South East Asia. It’s a town full of diversity and contradictions. There are back packers, tourists with suite cases, people who once came and never left. Mixed from all corners of the earth, all walks of life and age groups. This little town is full of bars with live music. Enjoy! Overnight in Pai.

Pai – Mae Hong Son

Today is a very scenic riding day. Even if the distance is not that much, there are plenty of mountains and switch backs to negotiate, don’t worry, you will need the full day. This is also the second part of the road famous for its 1864 bends of varying sharpness. You pass two mountains with 2 great scenic View Points en route. The journey takes you through some beautiful mountainous scenery. Around mid-day arrive Ban Rak Thai where you have lunch in one of the local Chinese restaurants by the little lake. They serve delicious Chinese specialties. Ban Rak Thai means literally “the Thai-loving village” built around a lake on the Myanmar border. About 800, mainly Chinese settled here after the communist takeover of China and some of the buildings have a distinctively Chinese appearance. After lunch continue to Mae Hong Son and up the hill to visit the Wat Phrathat Doi Kongmu. From here you have a great view over the city and its surroundings.

Next destination is the pier were you park your motorcycles. You can leave helmets, jackets etc at the ticket office. Enjoy a scenic boat ride on the Pai River for about 20 min to the Karen Long Neck village. The Karen, a tribal minority, historically lived in the hills on the Myanmar side of the border. Some of their women wear heavy brass rings around their necks, forearms, and shins. Many ideas regarding why the coils are worn have been suggested. Some have hypothesized that the rings protected women from becoming slaves by making them less attractive to other tribes. Another theory is that the coils originate from the desire to look more attractive. Why don’t you ask them and find out the real story. Return by boat to the pier and ride to the nearby Resort. Enjoy first a drink at the sunset bar overlooking the rice paddies. Overnight in Mae Hong Son.

Mae Hong Son – Chiang Mai

In the morning ride the Road 108 from Mae Hong Son to Khun Yuam. It is a great winding road with wide twists. In Khun Yuam visit the local War Museum. The Imperial Japanese Army troops were stationed in Khun Yuam during the construction of a highway intended to cross Burma to India. Tip: Ask the museum staff to show the video about the history. Next to the museum there is a an 7/11 store where you can get snacks, coffee etc. From Khun Yuam continue to Mae Chaem on Road 1088 and 1263 on nice twisty back roads. At Mae Chaem there is a little local restaurant, run by a French guy with his Thai wife. The food is great, both Tahi and Western, the deserts are the best in this part of the country, enjoy! Ride Road 1192 and turn left on Road 1009 up to the top of Doi Inthanon, which at 2,565 meters is the highest mountain in Thailand. Park your motorcycles and walk up to the absolute peak and the little museum.

Next stop is the Vachiratharn Waterfall – an impressive and powerful 80 m high waterfall. Continue on Road 1009 until reaching the intersection 108. The last 50 km or so, drive on Road 108 until reaching Bike Tour Asia service center were you end the ride.

Depart from Chiang Mai

With a head full of happy memories and a phonebook full of new friends, we say goodbye to Thailand.