11 Days Loop
Overview
You’ll love the warmth of the Thai people, their laid-back attitude and impeccable hospitality. The culinary experiences are sublime. There are plenty of the ancient ruins and ornate temples that pepper our journey, and best of all – the stunning roads through lush green forests that twist and turn at every opportunity.
Summary
- Start and End in Chiang Mai ( Chiang Mai international airport )
- Ride on asphalt trails – good quality, narrow and a lot of curves
- We will average 250km / 6-7 Hours of riding per day
- Recommended for riders with some experience
Highlights
- Plenty of cornering on the thrilling “Road of 1864 Curves ” between Mae Hong Son and Mae Taeng, an incredible route of swooping bends through the lush green jungle of the North.
- Visit the highest mountain in Thailand (Doi Inthanon), 2,565 meters
- Go for a swim in a waterfall at the national park
- Take a boat to see the Long Neck Women of the Karen Tribe, famous for the brass rings that they wear around their necks.
- Explore the Golden Triangle, the region where Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet, and made famous by Khun Sa, once one of the world’s most infamous drug king.
- Visit the Opium Museum
- Venture to the remote province of Nan, which for centuries remained cut off from the outside world and take a look at the unique village of Bo Kluea with its ancient Salt Wells.
- Ride the mountains and valleys along the Salawin River, marking the border between Thailand and Myanmar.
Itinerary Breakdown
Pre-Ride Briefing & Welcome Dinner
On Arrival Day we’ll check into our Chiang Mai hotel and gather for a riders’ briefing and bike handover, then dive straight into the local cuisine with some of our favourite Northern Thai dishes to get you started on your Thailand adventure!
Our hotel centrally located on Nimman Road, a few minutes walk to night markets, spas, and live music venues.
The famous Mae Hong Son Loop!
Flexible kms – 4 hours
Santhichun Village – Kho Ku So Bamboo Bridge – Canyon hike
We start our morning with a traditional Chinese breakfast at Santichon Village then ride out to Pai Canyon for a hike. Later close to sundown, we go out for a cocktails and listen to live music. There are plenty of activities to fill the day!!
Along the Golden Triangle
290km – 8 hours
The ascent out of Pai – through paddy fields so green they almost glow – is wonderful. The turnoff out of Pai and route 1095 is where the real bikers’ paradise begins – 762 bends wind their way through the steep mountain trails, over hills, and through river valleys.
The curves are tight and often slippery, so we won’t be getting much speed. We deviate through Chiang Dao, a sleepy town nestled amongst a ring of vast limestone cliffs, is well worth the effort. Finally we make our way to the Golden Triangle, the area where the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar (Burma) meet at the Ruak and Mekong rivers.
Chiang Rai Loop
Chiang Rai province is best known for its tea plantations – as we make our way north towards Mae Salong, we stop into the Choui Fong tea plantation for a taste. Continuing north still , there are some steep ascents and descents as we make our way to Doi Tung botanical garden and Royal villa. Home to all sorts of flora and fauna, we kick back and cool off for lunch.
As we turn south towards the city of Chiang Rai , we stop into a small village known as Union of Hill Tribe Villages inhabitated by the more commonly known tribe, Karen Long Necks, to understand a piece of Thailand’s tribal heritage.
Tonight you get a night to relax at the Legend Chiang Rai.
Cherry blossoms and misty mountain views
We turn towards the northern highlands towards the border of Thailand and Laos.
Enjoy the beauty of blossoming wild Thai Sakura cherry trees along the way.
Towards the end of the ride, we stop and hike up to a stunning vantage point to watch the sunset.
Phu Chi Fah – Nan
350km – 7 hours
We start the day with local coffee, sweet fried bread, and savory Thai rice porridge. Enjoy the misty morning dawn and light tropica frost. We stop into a little local school called Banpot Wittaya School where they have cultivated and grown these beautiful Thai Sakura trees. You might even meet and get to interact with some of the local students there.
Today will be a mixture of tight bends as we make our way through several national parks and wide curving fast roads – a fantastic day of riding !!
Nan Explore day!
What might first appear to be a rural backwater is actually a fantastic place to dive in and experience authentic Thai culture. Nan preserves many beautiful remnants of its ancient past, from the distinct Lanna/Burmese-style temples to the Thai Lue’s traditions that originated from China, not to mention the natural wonders surrounding the city.
Explore Wat Phumin, boasting some of the most beautiful and well-preserved murals in Thailand, take a walk through the Nan National museum which contains all kinds of historical artifacts, or ride up to Sao Din Na Noi geological park. There is plenty to do!
Samoeng Loop & Mae Sa Valley
Mae Sa Elephant camp
Book your flights out of Chiang Mai at anytime!
Price calculator
Suitable bikes are 300cc+
What’s Included
10-Nights Shared Room occupancy from the night before tour departure to the night we arrive back to Chiang Mai
Boutique & 5-Star Hotel, with one night at campsite along the Laos border
Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be in restaurants with the local Thai cuisine
(not including alcohol)
Experience Lead Rider and Guide
Recent and well maintained big bikes
Fuel , Full Luggage & Accessories
Accident & Theft Insurance
Group size: 4-6
Pre-ride briefing & advice
Airport transfers
Entrance to National Parks, Royal Projects, Elephant Camps, Hilltribe Villages
Not Included :
Riding gear: Full-face helmet, protective jacket, pants, boots, gloves & rain gear
Preferred communications system: Cardo
Security Deposit for Bike Rental: Passport
Airfare and Visa to Thailand
Alcoholic Beverages
FAQ
You will require at least one large (70L) duffel bag to transport your riding gear. Which you will then wear. You will also need a smaller (40L) pack to transport your personal items. ART will be supplying a 40L North Face dry backpack that will mount on the luggage racks of your bike.(China Eastern allows 2 pieces of checked baggage free of charge)
Dry bags or dry duffels are recommended. Some bikes will be outfitted with Givi hard/waterproof/detachable saddlebags for convenient transport of roughly 15kg of on board cargo capacity. For most persons this is more than enough. ART will offer storage of any excess baggage not deemed necessary for your tour.
We recommend getting a local SIM while travelling in Vietnam; they are affordable, USD $10 per month gets you unlimited data and calls.
There are several carriers to choose from Viettel, Mobiphone and Vinaphone are the most popular. You will need to show your passport in order to purchase a SIM, although there are services at the airport that waive this step. A.R.T recommends Viettel as having the most coverage.
Don’t forget to unlock your phone prior to leaving your home country. Cell phones in general are affordable in Vietnam.
- Google Maps
- Maps.me (Google maps alternative, provides offline maps)
- Currency Converter (XE Converter)
- Google Translate
- Skype – Calls, messaging
- WhatsApp – Calls, messaging
- Messenger
- Rever – Motorcycle Maps, GPS, Navigation Planner
- Geo Tracker – GPS Tracker for distance travel
- Viber – Calls, messaging
We recommend no more than 15kg of gear. Your guides will carry most of the safety equipment, personal items should easily come in under that weight. We will provide storage for extra gear at A.R.T base of operations.
If you’re planning a one-way trip, please contact us in advance, shipping can be arranged.
Each tour has it’s dynamic and flexibility is what we strive for. If unforeseen circumstances arise, we will discuss our options and bring them to the group. Every circumstance is different and has a solution.
Anything is possible.
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