OPINION | by ASEAN NOW

With the Thai hospitality industry keen to lure more international vacationers, most promotions are focused on Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya and Koh Samui.

Certainly, there is a noticeable rise in tourists staying in hotels, so maybe now is the time, especially for those of us that call Thailand our home, to avoid these areas and look further afield.

Car hire is still relatively cheap, but with rising fuel costs perhaps it makes sense to rent a reliable motorbike and head for the open roads.

Of course, you can avoid the expressways by first taking a local budget airline to the region and then rent locally.

With google maps, it is relatively easy to plan a trip these days.

Golden Triangle road trip

A couple of years ago I flew to Chiang Mai, rented a car, and drove the circle route past Pai and then returned via to Chiang Mai by Mae Hon Son.

Although the roads are quite windy at first, the trip to Pai is only 130kms and once you are there the Pai market is well worth exploring.

The next section from Pai to Mae Hon Son was fantastic and well worth driving slowly to take in the incredible views.

Mae Hon Son is famous for its temples which is another 2 hrs. 20 mins trip from Pai, but we took our time.
I remember seeing a sign for a café, so ventured off the main road and enjoyed a coffee overlooking miles upon miles of mountains.

 

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Up there sunrises and sunsets are stunning so worth getting up early.

Driving back to Chiang Mai we decided to take the rural route on the 1263 which showed 5-6 hrs. in total.
We were incredibly lucky as the area was celebrating a festival and we came across hundreds of northern hill tribes all walking to the festival.

 

All dressed up in their Sunday best…. amazing costumes!!

Traditionally the hill tribes are subsistence farmers who grow rice and crops. 

Their major source of income was growing opium until it was outlawed in the 1960's. 

With the help of the royal project, the hill tribes switched from Opium cultivation to growing cash crops such as coffee and strawberries.

Their Strawberries were excellent.

The whole trip took us three days and two nights; however, I would have liked to take an extra few days just to absorb the peace and quiet and the country smells.

I am sure many of you will also have a few off-the-beaten-track stories to share too.

 

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Sounds great. I definitely need to look into that. Good idea for the local expats to see the country and it’s beauties not just the tourist hot spots. 

7 hours ago, webfact said:

Car hire is still relatively cheap, but with rising fuel costs perhaps it makes sense to rent a reliable motorbike and head for the open roads.

????

I hope the 'author' isn't claiming that hill tribe photo as his own..........

Agree 100 % with OP, and most of our out & abouts are OTBT.

 

 

I can attest to the great sights and oh so enjoyable north western corner of LOS. The Mai Hon Song Loop (start in pretty Chiang Mai) an easy and wonderful to ride or drive. I've ridden it a few times on 350 ADV and 750 ADV and its such lovely countryside. I have been so lucky as I/we did it post lockdown in later 2020 and the roads were almost empty so truly a magical time to be there. You can drive around and explore take a detour to Chiang Rai and many other spots. 

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

Agree 100 % with OP, and most of our out & abouts are OTBT.

 

 

Been here five years and still haven't seen much, due to a divorce and the nonsense afterwards, but I do want to see north Thailand, Chiang Mai, etc while I still live here. Been to Kanchanaburi and the war sites around there and they were nice.

1 hour ago, Tropposurfer said:

I can attest to the great sights and oh so enjoyable north western corner of LOS. The Mai Hon Song Loop (start in pretty Chiang Mai) an easy and wonderful to ride or drive. I've ridden it a few times on 350 ADV and 750 ADV and its such lovely countryside. I have been so lucky as I/we did it post lockdown in later 2020 and the roads were almost empty so truly a magical time to be there. You can drive around and explore take a detour to Chiang Rai and many other spots. 

Photo of rice (Doi Inthanon, CM) was early lockdown, and travel frowned upon, and as noted, roads virtual empty.

 

Youngins was Sangkhlaburi - Mon Bridge & 3 pagoda pass area.

Along with Refugee village, as noted, along Myanmar border (MHS) pre-fire, pre-c19, quite some time ago. 

10 hours ago, webfact said:

off-the-beaten-track stories to share too.

When I lived in Thailand, I was resident in the Chiang Rai/Phayao region where I was a Tourist Police Volunteer. May I suggest visiting these three locations which I am sure will be of interest:

 

DOI MAE SALONG with its tea and coffee plantations.

 

 

 

 

DOI TUNG - with its magnificent gardens and Royal Villa

 

 

 

 

PHAYAO - a lakeside resort with its promenade and views across to the mountains

 

Interesting thread for me because I have some family visiting Thailand later this year and we plan to travel this area. What are the road gradients like? i.e. are there very steep inclines?

Took similar route … rented motorcycles in Chiang Mai from big bike rentals 400/500 cc three of us around the loop 5 days taking it easy enjoying the sights. Rental shop told of places / hotels to stay 

all accommodations were good ..  I think most expensive was $25 USD (750 ish baht). A lot of off the road trails … really a great trip would do it again…. 

3 hours ago, HauptmannUK said:

Interesting thread for me because I have some family visiting Thailand later this year and we plan to travel this area. What are the road gradients like? i.e. are there very steep inclines?

All roads are quite good, and I've done the trips in entry level Vios & Mazda2 (1.5L) with no issues.  Many do it on 125cc scooters, slow going but no issues.

Pai is hardly "off the beaten track" , its a tourist town , full of businesses to cater for tourists and full of Thais there from places other than Pai .

   Most of the town has been built in the last 20 years and it seems to be non stop resorts along the roads

10 minutes ago, Mac Mickmanus said:

Pai is hardly "off the beaten track" , its a tourist town , full of businesses to cater for tourists and full of Thais there from places other than Pai .

   Most of the town has been built in the last 20 years and it seems to be non stop resorts along the roads

Agree, pre c19 and you'd see more non, than Thais doing the 'loop', CM, Pai MHS.  Would describe as more 'out of the metros'.

Yup. Escape from the touristy walking street to the great unexplored Soi Yodsak much further north. Car hire for the trip is optional but those on a budget can take a local songtaew and hop of at the top of the soi. The locals are very friendly and can often be seen in their exotic costumes.