Several times now I've seen a convoy of 10-12 or so tuktuks escorted by 5-6 police motorcycles.

The first two times I saw them coming out from the yard of Wat Chedi Luang, and yesterday there was a convoy driving south on the east side of the moat.

Anyone know what this is about?

Tourists on a tuktuk tour with police who want to make some extra money.

I've seen that at least a dozen times. Always older farangs. Like the other poster said, tourists checking out the sights with police escorts.

That's what I thought at first, but it felt unbelievable. What are they paying extra for? Protection from the 35 kg ladies shouting "Masaaas?" Or possibly the dangerous frogsaleswomen.

I've seen a similar convoy, leaving Plub Pla Kantoke, all US-tourists who were clearly having the time of their lives ! I would imagine that the tuk-tuk drivers were also 'on a nice little earner', but so what, harmless fun which will be described time & again when they get back home ! And excellent publicity for Chiang Mai !

Perhaps the 3-row de-luxe tuk-tuks should offer a 'champagne-tour' of Chiang Mai by night ?

If you fancy a police escort for anything, all you have to do is apply and pay the money. In case of higher-end tours, there may be some value in keeping roads clear and keeping the drivers somewhat in check.

I've seen them too. I guessed they were probably on a 'Chiang Mai by Night' tour run by the Mandarin Oriental or 4 Seasons or some other top end place. probably advertised in the hotel's travel agency as 'a real bargain at only $150 a pop!' I'm probably completely wrong, but that's what I''d like them to be!!!

I've seen them too. I guessed they were probably on a 'Chiang Mai by Night' tour run by the Mandarin Oriental or 4 Seasons or some other top end place. probably advertised in the hotel's travel agency as 'a real bargain at only $150 a pop!' I'm probably completely wrong, but that's what I''d like them to be!!!

I saw them Wednesday nite and asked the waitress at a restaurant. She said exactly that, it is arranged by an agency for a high end tour group. It actually sounds like it would be fun to do if you came to Thailand/Chiangmai in a group for the first time and then went off to see the night life. Way better than climbing in and out of an impersonal 2-decker bus. And how many tourists have ever had a police convoy stopping traffic so they can get where they want to go easily?

when i used to live by the night market, this was almost a daily occurance during the high season

nothing special really, esp when you see the pollution in noise and smoke created by them, tourists probably think its great thou