Riding in the Land of Smiles –
North Thailand Motorcycle Tour
Our Northern Thailand motorcycle tour is the ultimate adventure for riders looking to discover the tropical beauty and rich culture of the mountainous north of Thailand. Experience the thrill of riding on unique mountain roads that are unparalleled in Asia and explore sleepy towns, remote villages and adventurous routes. Be mesmerized by the jungle-covered hills and mountains, misty tea and coffee plantations, and the mighty Mekong River, the lifeline of Southeast Asia. Northern Thailand offers a pure blend of stunning tropical landscapes, roaring waterfalls and winding rivers. This tour is a dream come true for any rider!
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The famous “Road 1148” in Nan, with its hundreds of rapidly following curves, is one of the best motorcycle roads in Thailand and is just as much a part of our program as the famous “Mae Hong Son Loop”. Discover the culture and temple metropolis of Chiang Mai, located in the mountainous triangle of Thailand, Burma and Laos, where our journey starts and ends. These curvy experiences through dreamy landscapes will be unforgettable!
The Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet, is steeped in myths and legends due to its turbulent past, when vast poppy fields were primarily used to produce opium. However, in recent years, Thailand has managed to replace the poppy seeds with coffee beans and tea plants, and has developed the Golden Triangle as a tourist highlight.
On our Thailand motorbike tour through the north of Thailand, you will also get a unique insight into Southeast Asian culture. Taste local specialties, enjoy great hotels and resorts, experience boat trips, explore the Sukhothai UNESCO World Heritage Site and get up close to mountain peoples (including the Long Neck Tribe) and their customs. Be inspired by the magnificent temples and a mystical religion and immerse yourself in the moving history of the country. Experience the Golden Triangle on an exciting Thailand motorcycle tour and discover all the highlights of the north!
Our Northern Thailand Motorbike Tour starts at Chiang Mai International Airport, which has many connections to Bangkok, Asian countries and Europe. After a night in a wonderfully located resort in the city’s countryside, we jump on our bikes and head towards the Golden Triangle. An exploration ride takes us through the unique landscape of the Golden Triangle, where we soon come across the Mekong – the border river between Thailand and Laos, which we follow a good way after Phu Chi Fah. Here in the early morning, you will have a fantastic view of a cloud valley filled with fog. Around Nan, we enjoy one of the most beautiful streets in Southeast Asia, the “Road 1148”. In Nan, we take a rest day, which we can either spend relaxing or exploring the salt mines of Bo Klua. Then it’s on to Sukhothai, an important era in Thai history that has greatly influenced Thai culture and Buddhist art. The former glory of Sukhothai still shines through the many impressive ruins that we can visit in the Sukhothai Historic Park, a Unesco World Heritage Site.
Fantastic mountain roads on the Mae Hong Son Loop lead us through lush green rice fields to the Burmese border. We find ourselves in the middle of the jungle and enjoy the tropical surroundings before continuing to Doi Inthanon, Thailand´s highest mountain standing 2565 meters above sea level. The road leads us across wild mountain ranges. A journey to the ethnic groups of Thailand and the diverse culture of the country, makes this tour truly unforgettable! Finally, we will end the tour with a visit to the charming “Hippie town” of Pai, known for its laid-back atmosphere and vibrant nightlife before reaching Chiang Mai again. Join us for a North Thailand motorcycle tour of your dreams, where you’ll experience the perfect blend of adventure and culture, breathtaking landscapes and unique mountain roads, all while immersing yourself in the fascinating culture of the Land of Smiles.
AT A GLANCE
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On request | ||||||||
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14 days / 13 nights / 11 riding days | ||||||||
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Overnight stays in good mid-range hotels & resorts, often boutique-style with pools |
Thailand Motorcycle Tour Highlights
- Ride to the legendary Golden Triangle, visit the most famous temples with fantastic views
- Ride on the famous Route 1148 with wonderful views of Thailand’s highest mountains
- The mountain roads and landscapes near Nan and a visit to the Bo Kluea salt mines
- Mount Inthanon (2,565m) and its vast highlands
- Visit the picturesque ruins of Sukhothai, a UNESCO World Heritage Site set in a historical park
- The gorgeous Mekong on the Laotian border
- Chiang Mai, northern Thailand’s metropolis and historic temple city
- The unique Mae Hong Son Loop, perfect roads with well over 1,000 curves
- Rafting in Pai and Soppong
- Excellent mid-range hotels and resorts, often boutique style with pool throughout the tour
- Visit WWII Japanese base and museum at Khun Yuam
- Excursion to the Karenni Minority (Long Neck Women)
- The Temple of Thatom with a magnificent view of the Kok River valley
- Guided tour of the mountain village of Lorcha, of the Akha minority
- Visit to the Thoed Thai army barracks and its Burmese war history
The route is mostly well-maintained and paved. Two-lane roads alternate with small, sometimes single-lane mountain roads. Drivers should be accustomed to safely navigating hairpin turns and narrow, quickly changing curves. Highways are not taken.
No off-road sections. Gravel roads are only taken in exceptional situations or due to road construction. Occasional potholes, dirt on the road and in curves cannot be ruled out.
Including breaks, photo stops, and sightseeing, but excluding a lunch break, which lasts about one hour. On regular days, we start in between 8-9am and arrive at the tour hotel in the afternoon. Average times: Approximately 6-7 hours per day
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Thailand Motorcycle Tour – Itinerary
Day 1: Chiang Mai Arrival Day
Arrival at Chiang Mai airport. Our guide will be waiting for us at the exit of the customs and baggage hall and will then take us to our hotel on the northern outskirts of Chiang Mai. Welcome dinner with the crew and tour briefing.
Day 2: Chiang Mai – Doi Mae Salong
Our Thailand motorbike tour goes north on a wide and busy main road. Soon we turn off and find ourselves on a beautiful country road with little traffic, which takes us through a beautiful forest landscape to the small town of Phrao. Although the place is only 90 kilometers from Chiang Mai, this sleepy little town is hardly known and still looks like many other places in northern Thailand 20 years ago. We follow the road to Thaton, close to the border with Burma.
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Arriving in Thaton, we first visit the temple above Thatorn, from which we can enjoy a wonderful view of the Kok River valley. Lunch in Thaton. In the afternoon we stop in the mountain village of Lorcha, the poorest Akha minority. Here we can experience cultural life up close; a guide will tell us the stories and customs of the minority. Then we go up into the mountains and to Doi (mountain) Mae Salong and to the famous Chinese village of Santi Khiri. Here, too, there is a lot of history about opium traders, mule caravans and heroin. If time permits, we drive up to the golden pagoda that towers high above Santi Khiri and from which you can enjoy a wonderful view of this mountain village and the surrounding mountains. Dinner in a local specialty restaurant with local specialties.
Distance covered: approx. 265 km
Day 3: Doi Tung & The Golden Triangle
After breakfast, a winding road takes us from Doi Mae Salong down to Thoed. This place is located in an area that was practically inaccessible before 1985, as the area was under the control of the Muang Thai army under its leader Khun Sa. We visit the army barracks that served as Khun Sa’s headquarters for his army of several thousand soldiers and learn a lot about the fascinating Burmese history. Then we take a lonely winding road to Doi Tung. Doi Tung was notorious for opium cultivation, but today coffee and flower cultivation is practiced here and the products produced here are known throughout Thailand.
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We visit the unique “Mae Fah Luang” garden before we continue over the mountain top and drive down into the valley along a very narrow and steep but paved road that runs directly along the Burmese border. Our destination is Mae Sai, the northernmost city in Thailand, where we have lunch. Then we drive to the Golden Triangle where the borders of Burma, Laos and Thailand meet at the Mekong River. Not far from here is Chiang Saen, Thailand’s most important port on the Mekong River. Immediately after Chiang Saen is the Wat (temple) Phra That Pha Ngao on a hill. From here we can see not only the town of Chiang Saen, but also the Mekong River and neighboring Laos. Just below this viewpoint is the Ubosot, which is a jewel of a temple and with its wood carvings and paintings is reminiscent of a typical temple in Luang Prabang in Laos. We travel along the Mekong River to Chiang Khong, a border town with Laos and the most important crossing from northern Thailand to Laos over the Mekong River.
Distance covered: approx. 220 km
Day 4: Phu Chi Fah – Nan
Breakfast on the hotel terrace with a view over the Mekong and Laos opposite. We drive south along the Mekong River to Wiang Khaen. In Pang Hat we turn left and drive steeply up towards Doi Patang. We drive up to the highest parking lot from which about 200 steps lead to the highest point. Doi Patang, also called the ‘gateway to Siam’, offers a unique panorama over the impassable mountains of Laos and on a clear day we can also make out the Mekong River in various places in the distance.
After a short descent we follow the road along the ridge to Phu Chi Fah Mountain. After a final steep section, we park our bikes and if you want, you can walk the last 700 meters up to an impressive rock terrace. The view from here is also breathtaking: the view is best early in the morning when the mountain valleys below us fill with fog. Our journey takes us along all kinds of back roads from Phu Chi Fah down into the valley and then along the famous road 1148, which many motorcyclists consider to be the best route in northern Thailand, through alternating rice fields and hills to Nan.
Distance covered: approx. 310 km
Day 5: Nan & Bo Klau Salt Mines
Breakfast at the resort and no check-out, we will spend two nights in Nan. Today there is the option of going on a city tour or taking a motorbike trip to the salt mines of Bo Klua. Nan was an independent kingdom for centuries and only came under the government in Bangkok in 1931, after a long period of semi-autonomy. This small provincial town is hardly known in Thailand, but has a lot of charm. We first visit Wat Phumin, the most famous in Nan.
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The interior wall paintings are the most beautiful paintings of the Thai Lue (minority) that can be seen in Thailand. The National Museum of Nan is located almost directly next to this temple. The building is an old teak palace that was built in 1903 and was the seat of the last two feudal lords of Nan. If you want, you can set off on a 200 km tour through the wild mountain region northeast of Nan in the course of the morning. Our route takes us through Doi Phu Kha National Park and a beautiful pass to the Bo Klua salt mines, where salt is still extracted from the ground using traditional methods. Simple lunch on the way. Dinner in a local restaurant in Nan.
Distance covered: approx. 200 km
Day 6: Nan – Sukhothai
Breakfast at the resort. Today’s ride on our Thailand motorbike tour includes many kilometers of beautiful mountain driving. Our day begins with the well-developed but also busy road that leads south from Nan. We stop several times to take breaks and have lunch in a local restaurant along the way.
Our road takes us over wide, wooded hills to the travel plain that surrounds Sukhothai, the old royal capital of Thailand.
Distance covered: approx. 290 km
Day 7: The Ruins of Sukhothai
The era of Sukhothai was one of the most important in Thai history and has forever shaped Thai culture and Buddhist art. The former glory of Sukhothai still shines through the many impressive ruins that we can visit in the Sukhothai Historic Park, which has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Perhaps the most beautiful way to visit this park is with your own bike and we would like to invite anyone who wants to explore the park and the ruins on their own by bike. Particularly interesting are Wat Mahathat, the royal temple with its immense stupa, which contains Buddhist relics from Sri Lanka, and Wat Sri Chum with its gigantic, seated Buddha.
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In the afternoon we have enough time to relax, enjoy the swimming pool in the hotel or a massage. In the evening we take the minibus to the nearby town of Sukhothai, where we enjoy dinner with live music on the roof terrace of the Chopper Bar.
Distance covered: approx. 290 km
Day 8: Sukhothai – Tha Song Yan
Today’s journey takes us through vast rice fields in a westerly direction until we reach the main north-south axis of Thailand and cross it. In Tak we cross the Ping River and shortly afterwards find our restaurant for lunch right on the river. The afternoon brings us many kilometers of beautiful mountain driving with only minimal traffic. We cross an important mountain range and then find ourselves right on the Burmese border. We now follow this north to Tha Song Yang, a small town that lives from border traffic with Burma. Today’s driving day is the first day of driving and the start of the famous Mae Hong Son Loop.
Distance covered: approx. 320 km
Day 9: Doi Inthanon – Thailand’s Highest Mountain
Our day today consists of beautiful mountain rides. Immediately after the descent we head straight into the mountains and along the Burmese border to the town of Mae Sariang where we turn off and cross a mountain range on a fairly busy road and then drive down to the gorge. From here we drive north to a sleepy town and have lunch. After eating we drive up the back side and on a sometimes extremely steep and narrow road to the highest mountain in Thailand, Doi Inthanon (2565 meters above sea level). However, we skip the summit today and drive to a village of the Hmong minority where we spend the night. Today is characterized by fantastic and wide panoramic landscapes. Over the mountainous country there are views almost as far as Burma, and as far as the eye can see there are endless mountain ranges to the horizon.
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In our destination we have the opportunity to get to know a small and authentic Hmong village. During a walk through the village we get an impression of what life is like on Thailand’s highest mountain: from coffee cultivation to local house construction, there are interesting insights.
Distance covered: approx. 330 km
Day 10: Doi Inthanon – Mae Hong Son
Today we first visit the summit of the mighty Doi Inthanon. The national park of the same name on top of the mountain is a Mecca not only for motorcyclists, but also for ornithologists and is also home to an incredibly rich fauna and flora. After a stop at the top of the mountain, we drive down the front of the valley, but soon turn off again to stay in the mountains and drive on never-ending mountain roads to Khun Yuam. During the Second World War, Khun Yuam was an important base for the Japanese Air Force, which sent its bombers into Burma from here.
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The grass runway is still visible today and we visit the small museum dedicated to the Second World War. At the end of today, many kilometers of beautiful driving on good roads follow to Mae Hong Son, where we find our resort not far from this small town in a pretty little valley.
Distance covered: approx. 250 km
Day 11: Relax & Ride in Mae Hong Son
After breakfast in the morning, we take a boat trip on the Pai River. Our trip takes us to Ban Nam Pian Din, a village of the Padaung (giraffe women). The Padaung belong to the Kayah or Karenni tribe, who live in Burma. Over the years, and due to the constant military conflicts between the Burmese army and most minorities, hundreds of the Padaung have fled across the border to Thailand and live here in so-called “long neck camps”. The term “long neck” comes from the fact that the women of this tribe put copper-colored rings around their necks. These press down the shoulder muscles with their weight and additional rings are put on again and again when the neck allows it.
This is why these women are also called “long neck” or “giraffe women” in Thailand. Lunch in a local restaurant. We spend the rest of the afternoon either relaxing by the pool in the idyllic resort, located in a cool little river valley, about 10 km outside the city. From here we can not only explore the small town, but also explore the wild natural landscape on a very interesting “jungle trail”. Mae Hong Son is a melting pot of different ethnic groups. In the afternoon we visit the typical Burmese temples Wat Nong Jong Kam and Wat Jong Klang, which are located in the middle of the city on a pretty lake. Later we will stroll through the small night market. Dinner in a local restaurant by the small lake in the city.
If you also want to ride a motorbike today, we will come with you on a trip to Ban Rak Thai, which is located in a remote valley and close to the Burmese border. Ban Rak Thai is a KMT (Kuo Min Tang) village. The journey there first takes you over a bamboo bridge that stretches over half a kilometer over the rice fields. After that, we head straight into the mountains and climb steeply until we reach Ban Rak Thai on the border with Burma. After a good break and a refreshing drink, we head back to Mae Hong Son.
Distance covered: 0-110km
Day 12: Mae Hong Son – Pai
Today we experience 1048 curves on two mountain stages, via Soppong we go to Pai. In Soppong we turn off and drive to the deep caves of Tham Lot. Here we float down the river on a raft and through one of these caves. Afterwards we go back to the main road and have lunch in a local restaurant. In the afternoon we head straight back into the mountains. We stop at a market where women from the Lisu minority sell their wares and from where we have a wonderful view of the mountains. We arrive in Pai and our resort just outside of town in the afternoon. Pai is a pretty little town with lots of flair, where different minorities (Shan, Lisu, Lahu, Haw Chinese and even Muslims) live together peacefully.
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Pai is the meeting point of the art and music scene in the north, there is a flea market on the main street every evening, with live music and cocktail bars; it is best explored on foot. In the late afternoon we travel by bus into the city, which we can now explore on foot. Dinner in a local restaurant and then the opportunity to have a drink in the center. Overnight stay at the Hotsprings Resort (Mountain View Room).
Distance covered: approx. 140 km
Day 13: Pai – Chiang Mai
Immediately after breakfast, after leaving Pai, we head into the mountains. We drive on a road with very little traffic to the isolated village of Wat Chan, high in the mountains, where we make our first stop. From here, the road leads over a plateau towards Chiang Mai, the final destination of our tour. We have lunch in a local restaurant en route. On a very winding road, we reach the vicinity of Chiang Mai and feel how the traffic becomes increasingly dense and chaotic. We reach the city in the late afternoon and leave our motorbikes behind to reach our hotel by bus. Dinner and overnight stay in a very stylish hotel in superior rooms, right in the middle of the old town, the center of Chiang Mai.
Distance covered: approx. 210 km
Day 14: Goodbye Thailand
Breakfast at the hotel and individual transfer to Chiang Mai airport. It’s time to say goodbye to Thailand. Alternatively, you can extend your stay individually, as Chiang Mai has a lot to offer: shopping, culture, a lively pub and bar scene. If you want, you can take a trip to Chiang Mai’s local mountain, Doi Suthep. High up on this mountain is the Wat (temple) Doi Suthep. According to an old legend, the monk Sumana gave the then king a relic of Buddha. He tied the relic to the back of a royal elephant, which then wandered through the forests for days until it settled down in a certain place and died. The king and the monk Sumana then decided that Wat Doi Suthep should be built on this very spot.
Don’t Miss Out On a Wonderful Experience
Book your Tour Now – The North Thailand Riding in the Land of Smiles Motorcycle Tour
We can accommodate only 14 motorbikes on this tour.
Since our tours get filled up fast, please book our Biking in the Land of Smiles Thailand Motorcycle Tour now to avoid disappointment.
Our Next available tours are as follows:
On Request
- 13 nights in good mid-range hotels and resorts, often in boutique style with pool and in bungalows
- Meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner), dinner very often in selected specialty restaurants or in the hotel resort
- German/English speaking motorcycle tour guide on his own motorcycle
- German-speaking, professional and licensed Thai guide
- Experienced motorcycle mechanic on the whole tour
- Motorcycle of your choice
- Gasoline for your own motorcycle
- All visits and entrance fees as described in the detailed tour program
- Private A/C minibus for passengers and main luggage transport; guide and driver take care of luggage transport
- Each passenger has a guaranteed seat in the support vehicle
- All fees, taxes, service charges, room taxes and baggage handling fees
- Compulsory liability insurance in Thailand
- Airport Transfer Service with AC
- Snacks and drinks
- Domestic flights and international flights
- Personal expenses such as tips (optional), souvenirs, telephone, laundry, minibar etc.,
- Travel insurance package with accident, hospital and repatriation insurance, luggage and liability insurance (it is strongly recommended to take out such a package before the trip)
Questions & Answers
The tour is guaranteed from a minimum number of 6 motorcyclists. The maximum size of the tour is limited to a total of no more than 14 motorcyclists (plus guide).
With the registration for the Thailand motorcycle tour we need a scanned copy of the passport of the participant with the personal details. A condition for participation in the tour is an internationally valid driving license for motorcycles over 500 cc.
The motorcycles are covered by liability insurance according to Thai law, but not fully comprehensive insurance. The participant bears the risk of a maximum of USD (ask us)- in the event of total damage to the motorcycle (current value). He is not liable for technical failure or wear of the machine in the event of engine or gear damage.
The participant has to pay a deposit of € 500 in cash before accepting the motorcycle. The deposit will be refunded after the accident-free journey when the motorcycle is returned. The deposit must also be paid if the participant has opted for limited comprehensive insurance.
American Express, Visa and Master Card are widely used in Thailand. Cash is only accepted in baht (Thai currency). However, it is relatively easy to change euros or US dollars at a exchange point in the larger tourist areas in Thai Baht.
Most European nationalities do not require a visa to visit Thailand and receive a visa-free stay of up to 30 days upon arrival in Thailand.
Tour Concept by RC Hendrik
Discover the Golden Triangle with Road Captain Hendrik and enjoy the endless curve tango on grand mountain roads in the former Lanna Kingdom. On this discovery tour, selected hotels with pools, remote mountain peoples, smallest mountain roads through jungle and highlands and the Thai culture are the highlights. Thailand’s highest mountain Doi Inathon (2,565m) and ancient and half-forgotten temple cities add spectacular views and cultural experiences to the program. Hendrik, who lives alternately in Tibet and Thailand when he is not riding around the world on one of his Overland tours from Germany to Lhasa, guides the tour and shows you his adopted country in all its facets.
