GOLDEN TRIANGLE & MAE HONG SON LOOP

This 6 day tour in Northern Thailand gives you the chance to ride one of the true 'bucket list' motorcycle loops (MHS Loop) + The famous region of The Golden Triangle.

Thailand

6 riding days

1,400 KM

From $1,840

Start/Finish in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai Airport

180 - 300 KM Daily

95% Paved

SCHEDULED DEPARTURES

  • Choose your own dates !


INQUIRE / BOOK

HIGHLIGHTS


White Temple Chiang Rai, Phu Chi Fa, Golden Triangle, Mekong River, Mae Sai, Doi Tung, Mae Salong, Road of 1,864 curves, Long Neck Hill Tribe, Highest mountain in Thailand, 2,565 meters, Doi Inthanon

MAP

Tour OVERVIEW


This self guided motorcycle tour of Thailand provides an outstanding opportunity to experience the uniqueness of Northern Thailand while riding some of the best motorcycling roads anywhere in the world. The roads are mainly rural two lanes, all on tarmac and wind through areas of spectacular mountainous beauty.


Among the highlights is the White temple outside Chiang Rai. The mountain area of Phu Chi Fa is remote and offers great motorcycle riding. You visit the legendary Golden Triangle at the Mekong River and the main border crossing between Thailand and Myanmar at Mae Sai. Further riding the spectacular roads to Doi Tung and Doi Mae Salong.


After those first exciting days, there are more mountains ahead with its scenic beauty like the road between Mae Taeng, Pai and Mae Hong Son. Here are 1,864 bends or twisties which gives everybody a great opportunity to improve your cornering skills, whatever your level of expertise.


You will visit the Long Neck Women of the Karen Tribe, famous for the brass rings that they wear around their necks. Before returning to Chiang Mai you ride up to the highest mountain in Thailand (Doi Inthanon) at 2,565 meters.

Day by Day Schedule

Day 1 / Chiang Mai - Chiang Rai

Welcome to our service Centre in the morning for a tour briefing, motorcycle & GPS hand over etc. We are at your disposal as of 8 am.

The first day of riding is rather short and easy on your solo motorcycle tour of Thailand. It’s a great way for you to get familiar with your motorcycle and the local riding environment. Roads you are riding are in good shape with normally low traffic density. In the morning you start from Chiang Mai and drive northeast on Road 118.

On your way, first, stop at the hot spring, dip your toes in the warm water….., enjoy a coffee, maybe even buy some souvenirs. During the early afternoon when getting close to Chiang Rai you take some back roads to Wat Rong Khun (White Temple), the remarkable temple which is today recognized as one of the main attractions all over Thailand. Park your motorcycle and take a stroll inside the temple. There are plenty of coffee shops around the temple. From the temple, there is a short 30 minutes ride to your hotel downtown Chiang Rai which is the end destination of the day. Take a stroll to the clock tower where you can enjoy a local dinner. Take the opportunity to visit the night market in Chiang Rai. Overnight in Chiang Rai.

(200 km/124 miles)

Day 2 / Chiang Rai - Chiang Khong

A great riding day full of beautiful bends, scenery and roads less traveled awaits you. 


From Chiang Rai you head in the eastern direction towards the mountain of Phu Chi Fa. Take a coffee break at one of the many villages you pass. Stop at the Phu Sang Waterfall and hot springs, dip your foot and give it a try. From here the road starts to climb up to Phu Chi Fa which is located on the border between Thailand and Laos. It’s a great ride up there, scenery is spectacular, and lots of photo opportunities. Road is local and not much traffic, take your time and enjoy your ride. Since Phu Chi Fa is fairly remote, there are not many tourists who make it to this part of Thailand. Enjoy lunch at Sawan Resort, the restaurant's terrace has a great view. 


If time permits and weather is clear, ride up to the view point and walk to the cliff on the border to Laos, enjoy the valley in front of you. Descending from Phu Chi Fa towards the mighty Mekong River. Stop at the View Coffee, a beautiful spot. Continue along the Mekong river to Chiang Khong, our end destination for today. Enjoy a sunset drink at the hotel bar overlooking the Mekong River and Laos on the other side. Overnight in Chiang Khong.

Day 3 / Chiang Khong -Thaton

This is a great start to the day. Breakfast at the mighty Mekong River. If you wake up early you will most likely experience the mist lifting from the river. There is a walking / cycle path along the riverside.


On your motorcycle and a short ride to the famous Golden Triangle where the rivers form the borders between Thailand , Laos & Myanmar. Ride up the steep road to the Golden Triangle Viewpoint (the sign is a great photo icon) and take in the aerial view of the ‘intersection’ 

Ride back down to the main street and visit the small but interesting Opium Museum (Entrance: 50 THB per person) to learn more about Khun Sa and the opium trade in the past. The Pier is within walking distance.

From here a short ride to the charming lunch restaurant (Ban Kid Ngern) amongst the fields.


Continue to Mae Sai, the main border crossing between Thailand and Myanmar. Mai Sai is also the most northern part of Thailand. Ride the narrow and windy road up to Doi Tung. This is a military road, snaking its way along the Thai – Burma border. There are some steep and narrow switch backs, be careful. Stop at the view point platform, which is a military post, enjoy a coffee and the spectacular view of Myanmar in front of you. From Doi Tung, continue over the mountains towards Mae Salong now descending 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. Make a visit to the Choui Fong Tea Plantation complex and enjoy sampling the many tea varieties while looking over the huge plantations. The last stretch of the day is along gentle hills through rice paddies and farm villages on Road 1089 towards Thaton and your resort. Thaton is a small town on the banks of the Kok River (bordering Myanmar). Enjoy a cold drink and stretch your legs by the pool. Overnight at Thaton.

Day 4 / Thaton - Pai

Another great riding day is ahead of you. From the resort ride couple of kilometres to enjoy the splendid view from Wat Thaton over the valley, Kok river and the vicinity. Make the effort and visit the Wat. (It’s well worth taking off 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 we reach your hotel stop at an Elephant Camp near Pai. Once in Pai, enjoy the pool at the resort. After the sunset stroll down along the walking street, taste food from the street food stalls or enjoy dinner at one of the many restaurants.


Note:

Pai is the hippie capital of South East Asia. It’s a town full of diversity and contradictions. There are backpackers, 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 this unique stopover on your solo motorcycle tour of Thailand! Overnight in Pai.

(260 km/162 miles)

Day 5 / 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 switchbacks to negotiate.

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 specialities. 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, you continue to Mae Hong Son and up the hill to visit the Wat Phrathat Doi Kongmu. From here you have a great view of the city and its surroundings.


Next destination is the pier where 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 (http://www.huaypukeng.com/info_visitor.htm). 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.

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 as the last stop on your solo motorcycle tour of Thailand.

(180 Km/112 miles).

Day 6 / 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 history (approx. 10 min, included). Besides the museum, there is a Coffee Shop and a 7/11 store. From Khun Yuam continue to Mae Chaem on Road 1088 and 1263 on nice twisty back roads. Here is a little local restaurant where you can have lunch. Drive on 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 Centre where you end the ride. Kindly arrive at our Service Centre no later than 5 pm, wrapping up your solo motorcycle tour of Thailand.

(300 Km/186 miles).

Tour Gallery


PRICES


All prices in USD.

Single Rider* Pillion* Single Room
Triumph Tiger Sport 660 / 850 1,840 700 300
Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro 1,905 700 300
BMW R1250 GS 2,170 700 300

NOTES:

  • *Shared twin room
  • A deposit of USD 1,000.- per rider is payable upon booking. Rest payment is due the latest 60 days before departure. For Tours with Tour price less than the deposit, the full amount is due upon booking.
  • Motorcycle Damage Liability & Rental Agreement acceptance required upon handover of the motorcycle (see “Terms & Conditions”).
  • The price for a single rider in a sharing room requires another single rider booking with the same request. If there is no other request for room sharing we will have to charge you the single room supplement
  • We are pleased to assist you with the booking of additional nights in Chiang Mai or any other services in connection with the tour

INQUIRE / BOOK

Inclusions / Exclusions


  • 5 nights accommodation with breakfast at carefully selected quality hotels and resort with leisure facilities
  • Transfers in Chiang Mai
  • Late-model Motorcycle rental included 300 km / day, (additional km USD 0,5 / km)
  • Motorcycle Damage and Loss Coverage (see “Terms & Conditions”)
  • GPS, pre-programmed day by day itinerary
  • Introductory itinerary briefing by an experienced tour guide
  • Comprehensive tour script, detailed day-by-day itinerary, tips of activities and highlights en route, a hotel list and important contacts
  • Panniers and top box if desired, basic motorcycle crash protection bars etc.
  • Tools & tire repair kits

Not Included

  • Flights
  • Hotel nights in Chiang Mai (pre and post-tour)
  • Riding gear (helmet, jacket & gloves can be rented at the Service Center. We do not provide pants and boots). We do recommend to bring your own
  • All services not mentioned as included and all items of a personal nature

INQUIRIES & BOOKINGS


Golden Triangle & Mae Hong Son Loop

FLEXIBLE TOUR OPTIONS


Book this tour how you want!

SCHEDULED RIDES

Check out the calendar.



TOUR CALENDAR
SELF-GUIDED TOUR

Do this tour on your own!



SELF-GUIDED TOURS
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