GREATER MAE HONG SON LOOP

This 4 day tour in Northern Thailand gives you the chance to ride one of the true 'bucket list' motorcycle loops!

Thailand

4 riding days

830 KM

From $1,235

Start/Finish in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai Airport

120 - 250 KM Daily

95% Paved

SCHEDULED DEPARTURES

  • Choose your own dates !


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HIGHLIGHTS


Famous 1,864 curves to Mae Hong Son, the small town of Pai, Ban Rak Thai (Chinese village), riding along the Myanmar border to Mae Sariang, Long Neck Hill Tribe, Doi Inthanon (Thailand’s highest mountain), endless curves and stunning scenery

MAP

Tour OVERVIEW


If you have four days at your disposal, ride the “Greater Mae Hong Son Loop”. This self-guided 4-day motorcycle tour covers some of the best riding roads in Thailand and can be customized according to your preferences. The daily distances are just right, meaning enough time to explore and enjoy scenery, sights and hotels.


Not known to many, the mountains you are riding during this tour belongs to the Himalayan mountain ridge. Known as the Greater Mae Hong Son Loop this tour begins and ends in Chiang Mai and is most famous for having 1,864 bends along a 300 km stretch don’t worry – there are countless more corners to ride during those three days).


Among the landmarks is the road less traveled to Pai. The town of Pai with its night market, endless bars and restaurants, a backpacker magnet. A Chinese village up in the mountains next to the Myanmar border named Ban Rak Thai. A boat ride to a village of the Long Neck Karen hill tribe. Along the Thai/Myanmar border to the local town of Mae Sariang.


Riding a motorcycle to the peak of Doi Inthanon which at 2,565 meters is Thailand’s highest mountain before returning to Chiang Mai. Every day you will feast on local Thai cuisine. Western dishes are usually available at dinners.


Day by Day Schedule

Day 1 / Chiang Mai-Pai

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.


Once on motorcycles quickly leave Chiang Mai behind and start mountain riding towards Samoeng, the first destination for your motorcycle tour of best roads in Thailand. A well-deserved coffee break and leg stretcher and back on the motorcycle again. The road to Wat Si Witchan is snaking its way over hills and mountains and was just recently fully paved. Lunch at Wat Si Witchan, and visit the “Ray-Ban” temple. From here enjoy remaining two hours mountain riding to Pai. Before reaching the hotel, stop at an elephant camp, feed those majestic animals and even get a hug from them. Once in Pai, 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.


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! Overnight in Pai.

(200 km/124 miles)

Day 2 / Pai-Mae Hong Son

Today is a very scenic riding day on your motorcycle tour of the best roads in Thailand. Even if the distance is not that much, there are plenty of mountains and switchbacks 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, an unmissable experience in your motorcycle tour of the best roads in Thailand. 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. 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.

(180 km/112 miles)

Day 3 / Mae Hong Son-Mae Sariang

In the morning we ride the Road 108 from Mae Hong Son to Khun Yuam. It is a great winding road with wide twists. Short break at the lovely scenic place, great photo opportunity and something to drink.

Before Khun Yuam, we turn right and follow a remote winding road into the mountains. Stunning scenery all the way to the Mexican Sunflower Fields (Bua Tong) which are blooming in November and December.

We follow the road to Khun Yuam and 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. Next to the museum there is a Coffee Shop which also serves lunch and a 7/11 store.


From Khun Yuam we continue on roads less traveled to Mae Sariang, the final destination for today. Mae Sariang is a small town alongside the Yuam River, located near the Myanmar border. Overnight Mae Sariang.

(201 km/125 miles).

Day 4 / Mae Sariang-Chiang Mai

The early risers may visit the local morning market and give alms to the monks. The idea of the alms giving is for the Buddhist monks to make merit and also to collect food for their one meal of a day. It is a wonderful opportunity to experience an ancient Buddhist tradition. Since you are already up, take the opportunity to visit the local wet market, quite an experience. After breakfast back on the road in east direction towards the top of Thailand, Doi Inthanon, which at 2,565 meters is the highest mountain in Thailand. Park motorcycle and walk up to the absolute peak and the little pagoda.

Next stop is the Vachiratharn Waterfall - an impressive and powerful 80 m high waterfall. Continue on Road 1009 until we reach the intersection. The last 50 km or so ride on Road 108 until reaching Bike Tour Asia Service Centre were this beautiful tour is ending. Kindly arrive at our Service Centre no later than 5 pm, ending your motorcycle tour of the best roads in Thailand!

(250 km/155 miles)

Tour Gallery


PRICES


All prices in USD.

Single Rider* Pillion* Single Room
Triumph Tiger Sport 660 / 850 1,235 450 180
Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro 1,280 450 180
BMW R1250 GS 1,455 450 180

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

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Inclusions / Exclusions


  • 3 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 details (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


Greater 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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