A Trip To Nan And Beyond...

[IanForbes]

I live in Chiang Mai where we have several good local tours, but occasionally I like to go further afield. I just got back from a trip to Nan and beyond and have to say it was enjoyable. But, too bad I wasn't a bit more prepared... map wise. I was using my Garmin gps most of the way but it doesn't always show the side roads or what they are named. It is about a 5 hour ride from Chiang Mai to Nan... give or take an hour depending on stops and traveling speed. It's about 320 km from Chiang Mai over mostly good roads. The 90 km from Chaig Mai to Lampang is mostly double lane hwy and rather busy and a bit boring. A broken down bus in one of the lanes in the only mountain pass can make things interesting.

Beyond Lampang it is another 85 km to Den Chai and climbs through a scenic pass where much of the hwy is only one lane, and with many tight, blind corners where many vehicles like to pass other slower vehicles. Den Chai is the turn off to Uttaradit and hwy 11 south to all destinations south. Turning north on hwy 101 it is another 20 km to the small, lively city of Phrai. I heard recent reports of some interesting night life in Phrae. It is a further 125 km to Nan.The landscape is rather boring from Den Chai to Nan, with just the typical Thai farm land for scenery, and just the occasional bit of forested areas. We stayed at the City Park Hotel for 500 baht a night. It is a huge hotel complex that seems out of place for such a sleepy area. there is a swimming pool and tennis courts that nobody uses. I think we were one of about 10 guests in a hotel that could hold a convention. It would be interesting to know the story behind a hotel that looks to be turning seedy for lack of occupancy... even though the rooms were clean and everything worked.

After an evening of riding around town looking for somewhere to eat and maybe have a beer we finally just went back to the hotel. I'm sure there must be SOME nightlife, but nothing that we could find. I'm sure the Thais know where to go. The next day we started off early and crossed the Nan River bridge in town.

Just after crossing the bridge we turned left on a slightly hidden side road that is actually hwy 1169 and 1080. The road follows the Nan River north and goes through several small villages. We turned right at the junction onto hwy 1169 and the road started climbing into the mountains. From there onward the scenery was truly worth the trip. The road climbs upward in a series of smooth curves and follows a ridge top. On both sides the landscape dropped off steeply into rather open terrain. I don't know if the hill sides originally were timbered but now there is nothing but tiny little huts and steep dirt trails leading down to them. We eventually learned that it has mostly been planted in corn. I though corn was a valley bottom produce that needed lots of water, but apparently it grows well on mountain tops during the wet season.

And there IS some highway construction happening...

Edited February 12, 2012 by IanForbes

[IanForbes]

Nan trip part 2

After dropping down to the valley bottom again we came to a junction at 1081. The road turned either left or right and we went left north. At the next junction, also 1081 we turned right towards Bo Klua and the hwy started climbing again into similar terrain as hwy 1169.

Hwy 1081 is even more scenic than 1169... with the same little corn huts on open hillsides, mountain scenery in the background, and a great curving road to ride.

A ridge top dirt road leading down to dozens of little corn shacks..

There is also some construction on Hwy 1081

[villagefarang]

Nan is an easier trip for those of us who live in Chiang Rai. It is about the same distance as driving to Chiang Mai but we get to travel over the lovely 1148.

There was a lot of construction when I was there this season but there were still some beautiful sections of road.

[IanForbes]

Nan trip part 3

The section of hwy 1081 we were on also started back down and we came to another junction where I made a mistake in judgement. I took the fork to the right onto hwy 1257 instead of continuing on towards Bo Klua. hwy 1257 was on my list of places to explore, but I should have left it for later. I wanted to explore hwy 4016 that is not listed on most maps, and neither is it listed on my gps. We stopped at this Bailey bridge to take photographs and didn't realize it was the southern exit from hwy 4016.

Hwy 1257 was even more interesting and scenic than both 1169 and 1081, but it was taking us back to Nan.

Anywhere there is a reliable water supply there seems to be a small mountain tribe village nearby.

Hwy 1257 is very twisty with many hairpin turns and sharp corners where you REALLY have to pay attention. There isn't much traffic but I'd hate to drive off the road anywhere.

[IanForbes]

Great photos, villagefarang. It's hard to be critical of pictures like that. We are truly blessed if we want to leave the city and explore a bit.

[IanForbes]

Nan trip part 4

Like all mountain roads, hwy 1257 eventually winds down to the valley bottom again where streams are murky, the soil is rich and the corn grows tall.

Hwy 1257 joins hwy 1225 where we turned south through rich farm land and stopped by a small, dammed stream where we had lunch...

I saw a lovely green snake about 4 feet long in the river, but as soon as it saw me it disappeared under water. It didn't come close enough for me to identify it, but it was probably a water snake of some type, but All snakes seem to like water.

After lunch we returned the 32 km to Nan along hwy 1168

That evening we spent walking along the Nan river and having supper in a small, Thai restaurant. Just three old farts enjoying a Thai holiday with wives and girl friends left at home.

Edited February 12, 2012 by IanForbes

[villagefarang]

Bike pictures Ian. In this forum you have to have pictures of bikes. Bikes in parking lots. Bikes at gas stations. Bikes in front of hotels or restaurants. It doesn’t matter where but you have to have bike pictures.

I like your stories. They are closer to what I write but much more detailed and informative than mine.

[IanForbes]

Bike pictures Ian. In this forum you have to have pictures of bikes. Bikes in parking lots. Bikes at gas stations. Bikes in front of hotels or restaurants. It doesn’t matter where but you have to have bike pictures.

I like your stories. They are closer to what I write but much more detailed and informative than mine.

For what ever reason my friends didn't take a photo of me on my bike. I'm only allowed to post scenic picutres on thaivisa. But, even those traveling in a car in scenic Thai territory would be better than a post of a bunch of bikes parked beside a road in some city.

[villagefarang]

By traveling a little late in the season you missed some of the really spectacular washouts that occurred during the rainy season.

[BigBikeBKK]

Fantastic ride report!

[IanForbes]

Geat shots, villagefarang... as per usual. That is EXACTLY why a superbike is not needed for touring Thailand. With all that power there is a tendency to travel faster than your field of vision. It was one thing my father kept stressing when I was young and learning to drive. I might have had the quick reflexes and abilities to handle a vehicle, but I didn't have the knowledge of what might happen in any one of a thousand emergencies.

Thailand's road system is extensive, but they failed to lay down a proper base and account for what seasonally happens. Even late in the season I've encountered missing portions of the highway with little or no warning until you are right on top of the spot. It's not so good when you meet one of the idiots driving silver vans that won't yield for anyone, and have taken up the only safe portion of the road.

[villagefarang]

Geat shots, villagefarang... as per usual. That is EXACTLY why a superbike is not needed for touring Thailand. With all that power there is a tendency to travel faster than your field of vision. It was one thing my father kept stressing when I was young and learning to drive. I might have had the quick reflexes and abilities to handle a vehicle, but I didn't have the knowledge of what might happen in any one of a thousand emergencies.

Thailand's road system is extensive, but they failed to lay down a proper base and account for what seasonally happens. Even late in the season I've encountered missing portions of the highway with little or no warning until you are right on top of the spot. It's not so good when you meet one of the idiots driving silver vans that won't yield for anyone, and have taken up the only safe portion of the road.

Yet you do encounter some spectacular BIG bikes in some unlikely places. I ran into a group of Thai riders from down south, on the top of Mae Salong the other day. The Hayabusa and the like probably made good time on the highways heading north but couldn’t imagine them feathering their clutch in 1st through the mountains. They were traveling in style, however, with their gear and an entourage of girlfriends in a support vehicle. That makes more sense to me than riding 2up.

[Fishenough]

Geat shots, villagefarang... as per usual. That is EXACTLY why a superbike is not needed for touring Thailand. With all that power there is a tendency to travel faster than your field of vision. It was one thing my father kept stressing when I was young and learning to drive. I might have had the quick reflexes and abilities to handle a vehicle, but I didn't have the knowledge of what might happen in any one of a thousand emergencies.

Thailand's road system is extensive, but they failed to lay down a proper base and account for what seasonally happens. Even late in the season I've encountered missing portions of the highway with little or no warning until you are right on top of the spot. It's not so good when you meet one of the idiots driving silver vans that won't yield for anyone, and have taken up the only safe portion of the road.

Great pictures and report Ian - I know there's no forth coming fishy pictures.

Always thought a full dressed Gold wing would be a fun way to tour Thailand, but I can't afford one here. On my second to last trip to Nan last year, I rounded a tight up hill corner at a comfortable speed, was hugging tight to left as it was a blind left hander - and just past the apex a cow's head is right smack in front of me. More speed with a tighter line there would have been a head on collision, ah heck even snagging a horn would have been a pain in the side.

Love this picture, reminds a person of good times on the 1148!

[KRS1]

Beautiful pictures from everyone, love these kind of trip reports with pictures of the land and scenic areas.

Makes me want to get out and ride.

[moe666]

Great photos guys ride safe