Motorcycle Touring in Thailand

Mae Hong Son Loop, Northern Thailand The 600-kilometre loop from Chiang Mai through Pai and Mae Hong Son is the definitive Thai motorcycle ride and a bucket-list route for riders worldwide. With more than 1,800 curves winding through misty mountains, it packs in hairpins, hill-tribe villages and jaw-dropping viewpoints. In the cool season, Mexican sunflowers blanket the hillsides in gold, and the laid-back towns along the way make ideal overnight stops.

Pai, Mae Hong Son A shorter run from Chiang Mai delivers you to bohemian Pai, roughly halfway along the Mae Hong Son Loop. The road climbs through forested mountains on a famously twisty stretch that riders love, opening onto the same big northern scenery. Pai itself is a great place to break the journey, with quirky bars, riverside bungalows and hot springs nearby.

Nan, Northern Thailand Remote Nan, near the Laos border, feels a world apart and demands more than a day’s riding to appreciate its scenery. Routes 1256 and 1148 on the Chiang Mai-Nan run, including the celebrated switchbacks known as the “sky road”, are widely held to be the finest motorcycling roads in Thailand. Light traffic and immense mountain views reward those willing to make the trip.

Golden Triangle, Chiang Rai Usually launched from Chiang Rai, a ride through the Golden Triangle is as much a cultural experience as a scenic one. The route skirts the borders of Laos and Myanmar, passing hill-tribe villages, remote temples and the quirky Opium Museum. Legendary mountain scenery and a strong sense of frontier history make it one of the north’s most memorable rides.

Doi Mae Salong, Chiang Rai An excellent half-day loop from Chiang Rai climbs to the mountain village of Mae Salong, settled by descendants of Chinese Nationalist soldiers. The road begins on the highway before veering onto a narrow, snaking mountain route lined with tea and coffee plantations. The cool air, distinctive Yunnanese culture and hilltop views make it a rewarding detour.

Phayao, Northern Thailand The scenic ride to Phayao can be launched from Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai or Lampang, either as a day’s ride or a multi-stop tour. The roads wind through forested mountains before opening onto the shores of Phayao Lake, the north’s largest freshwater lake. Overlooking the water, Wat Si Khom Kham and its unusual Buddha statues make a worthwhile stop.

Samoeng Loop, Chiang Mai The Samoeng Loop is the easiest and most popular day ride out of Chiang Mai, ideal for a relaxed few hours in the saddle. The route curls up into the hills to the village of Samoeng before dropping into the pretty Mae Sa Valley with its waterfalls and gardens. At a leisurely, sightseeing pace the whole circuit takes less than half a day.

Doi Inthanon, Chiang Mai A ride up Doi Inthanon, Thailand’s highest mountain, is a classic day trip from Chiang Mai on smooth, well-graded roads. The route climbs through cloud forest past waterfalls to the twin royal chedis and the summit, where temperatures can drop dramatically. Cool air, misty viewpoints and Karen and Hmong villages en route make it a superb half or full-day loop.

Chiang Khan and the Mekong, Loei In the north-east, the old riverside town of Chiang Khan is the gateway to a beautiful ride tracing the Mekong along the Laos border. Route 211 hugs the river past sandbars, farmland and small towns, offering a quieter, gentler alternative to the mountainous north-west. The wooden shophouses and relaxed atmosphere of Chiang Khan make a charming base.

Mae Sariang, Mae Hong Son On the western, less-travelled arm of the Mae Hong Son Loop, Mae Sariang offers a peaceful riverside stop amid teak forest and Karen villages. The roads here carry far less tour traffic than the Pai side, making for relaxed, scenic riding along the Myanmar border. It is an ideal place to overnight and refuel before tackling the next mountain stage.

Umphang and the “Death Highway”, Tak The road from Mae Sot to Umphang, notorious as the “Death Highway”, is one of Thailand’s most challenging and spectacular rides. Its 1,200-odd curves twist relentlessly through remote jungle mountains to reach isolated Umphang, gateway to the mighty Thi Lo Su waterfall. Demanding and thinly trafficked, it is a route for confident riders chasing genuine adventure.

Khao Kho, Phetchabun For a taste of mountain riding within reach of the centre of the country, Khao Kho in Phetchabun offers cool air, pine-clad hills and sweeping switchbacks. The winding roads climb past viewpoints, flower gardens and hilltop temples that draw comparisons with the far north. Its relative proximity to Bangkok makes it a popular weekend escape for Thai riders.