Mae Hong Son loop twice

[Harrisfan]

Bikers said do it twice. Anti then clockwise. You will love it.

 

What say you?

[JonnyF]

I've done it three times, although each time was a couple of years apart.

 

It's a great road, but do it in the dry season. No fun and pretty dangerous in the wet. Last time I did it on my MT09 in constant, torrential rain and it put me off touring for years. 

[PoorSucker]

Do the Doi AngKhang loop instead

[Harrisfan]

17 minutes ago, PoorSucker said:

Do the Doi AngKhang loop instead

I've heard good things about that area

[Rimmer]

 

[scubascuba3]

I did it in a mini van, everyone was trying not to be sick. On a motorbike twice sounds good

[roo860]

4 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

I did it in a mini van, everyone was trying not to be sick. On a motorbike twice sounds good

A manual bike is a must, there's sections where overheating of brakes is very common and dangerous, I've seen tourists stopping to cool the brakes down, I've done the loop quite a few times, both ways.

[Harrisfan]

21 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

I did it in a mini van, everyone was trying not to be sick. On a motorbike twice sounds good

Minivans are no fun. Packed with bags and people. Bad driver.

[PoorSucker]

2 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

I've heard good things about that area

https://touringthailandblog.wordpress.com/fang-doi-angkhang/

I have a house along that route, the village with waterfall and hot spring.

Aronathai has amazing Yunnan noodles.

Friday market 6am until noon in Aronathai is amazing.

 

Try to find the strawberry fields in Doi AngKhang.

[Harrisfan]

15 minutes ago, PoorSucker said:

https://touringthailandblog.wordpress.com/fang-doi-angkhang/

I have a house along that route, the village with waterfall and hot spring.

Aronathai has amazing Yunnan noodles.

Friday market 6am until noon in Aronathai is amazing.

 

Try to find the strawberry fields in Doi AngKhang.

Strawberry farm right on border

[PoorSucker]

14 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Strawberry farm right on border

There's military outpost nearby where you can see the Burmese counterpart across the valley

[sometimewoodworker]

I’ve driven it once a number of years ago, I did the CM to Mae Hong Song (through Pie) in 1 day. Though only 245km it took about 8 hours, probably ⅓ of the road was under construction so just a laterite surface and the 1,800 curves and hairpin bends ment that at times 5 KPH was the fastest safe speed.

I wouldn’t advise doing it that part in 1 day 

[freedomnow]

55 minutes ago, PoorSucker said:

Try to find the strawberry fields in Doi AngKhang.

Taking some mushrooms should swing it.

 

Go ask The Beatles.

[Agusts]

Don't miss Doi Inthanon, highest point in Thailand, must go viewpoint.. 

 

Done half of it on Forza no problem with brakes at all, depends if speeding downhill to the bends and then brake hard will cause overheating on anything, Forza has enough engine brake to cope with down slopes ..., with reasonable safe riding... 

 

I can imagine problem with 2 x 100kg tourists and luggage on a Click, speeding downhill, out of control, could be a problem - damn dangerous ...! 

[Harrisfan]

1 minute ago, Agusts said:

Done half of it on Forza no problem with brakes at all, depends if speeding downhill to the bends and then brake hard will cause overheating on anything, Forza has enough engine brake to cope with down slopes ..., with reasonable safe riding... 

 

I can imagine problem with 2 x 100kg tourists and luggage on a Click, speeding downhill, out of control, could be a problem - damn dangerous ...! 

We will use a car to be safe.

[Agusts]

2 hours ago, Harrisfan said:

We will use a car to be safe.

 

Haha..., really, a car, and you posted this question in motorbike forum...!!!? 😎

 

Not much fun with a car, get stuck behind a van or a truck for hours, no easy way to overtake.. 😜

[Harrisfan]

3 minutes ago, Agusts said:

 

Haha..., really, a car, and you posted this question in motorbike forum...!!!? 😎

 

Not much fun with a car, get stuck behind a van or a truck for hours, no easy way to overtake.. 😜

I posted it in the pub forum. It was moved. Stuck for hours? No, just overtake. I drove to Pai before. It was a fun drive.

[NorthernRyland]

This is a road I'm very interested in. Starts at 200m up to 1400 and some wide 1200m regions on top which is very rare, maybe the largest 1200+ area in Thailand. 

 

Problem is it's hard to get to for most people. Between  Phitsanulok and Phetchabun. Long drive from Chiang Mai and you'd need to stay a couple nights.

 

That 40k stretch is top of list of places to bike. Looks like you gain some good elevation and stay up there for quite a while. Looks epic.

 

[papa al]

Nice variation from

MHS loop CM to Pai

is south to 1269

1349

Ban Chan

1265 down to Pai.

Well paved, little traffic, views.

 

[Harrisfan]

11 hours ago, NorthernRyland said:

This is a road I'm very interested in. Starts at 200m up to 1400 and some wide 1200m regions on top which is very rare, maybe the largest 1200+ area in Thailand. 

 

Problem is it's hard to get to for most people. Between  Phitsanulok and Phetchabun. Long drive from Chiang Mai and you'd need to stay a couple nights.

 

That 40k stretch is top of list of places to bike. Looks like you gain some good elevation and stay up there for quite a while. Looks epic.

 

Loei to Uttradit is a beautiful drive.

[Harrisfan]

15 minutes ago, papa al said:

Nice variation from

MHS loop CM to Pai

is south to 1269

1349

Ban Chan

1265 down to Pai.

Well paved, little traffic, views.

 

I see that one. Windy rd. Well paved is good.

[MangoKorat]

On 4/21/2025 at 3:43 AM, JonnyF said:

I've done it three times, although each time was a couple of years apart.

 

It's a great road, but do it in the dry season. No fun and pretty dangerous in the wet. Last time I did it on my MT09 in constant, torrential rain and it put me off touring for years. 

Yes but is it beautiful in the dry season?  I was up around Nan and Chiang Mai a couple of weeks back and the place just looks brown and desolate. Nan to Uttardit via the Sirikit Dam was much the same although a lot of 'burning' had also been going on making it worse.  Apart from locals the only foreign bikers I came across on the entire trip was a couple of guys on CRF's that lived locally. 

 

That's the first time I've been around there - I need to go again when there's greenery around. I came to the conclusion that January to April isn't the best time to tour much of the North.

[papa al]

the rainy season is best

not really too much rain normally

papa has a big poncho,

covers whole bike

clean air

greenery & flowers

[Harrisfan]

9 hours ago, MangoKorat said:

Yes but is it beautiful in the dry season?  I was up around Nan and Chiang Mai a couple of weeks back and the place just looks brown and desolate. Nan to Uttardit via the Sirikit Dam was much the same although a lot of 'burning' had also been going on making it worse.  Apart from locals the only foreign bikers I came across on the entire trip was a couple of guys on CRF's that lived locally. 

 

That's the first time I've been around there - I need to go again when there's greenery around. I came to the conclusion that January to April isn't the best time to tour much of the North.

Smoke season is bad. June to Dec is best.

[Tom100]

Great trip.

Can I safely do this on a Honda Lead 125? What size of bike is best? Thank you.