This trip was done in Dec 2014 and Jan 2015 and I would share it with likeminded people on here

Sorting out the trip was not much of a problem as I had a lot of time on my hands whilst working in Iraq
I booked the bike through Rider's Corner Bar & Restaurant - Chiang Mai Bikers Hotel Thailand they are on email [email protected]. All detail on the site
Flights were booked direct with Emirates
My train from BKK to CM was booked through Royal Exclusive Travel - Thailand Travel, Hotel Bangkok, Cambodia Travel and have an email address if anyone wants it. I found them really helpfull and my ticket was waiting for me at my hotel in BKK today

The bike I have booked is a CRF250 L with a rack on the back. I intend on using straps/bungies to fasten my bergan to the back. I brought all my own riding gear with me as I know I can get on with it. I also brought my own tools as there are non provided. But only taking the basics.

For photographing and videoing the trip I will be using my Nokia Lumia and my donated Apple 4s ( so I can use locals sim cards as well as keep my UK one going). I have also got the GoPro Hero 4 with I have used before on many occasions (quality I find to be good) but now I have the Apple I can remote operate it also, tried it and it was good.

I have got the Thailand maps downloaded on my Nokia but can’t get any for Laos. I do have paper maps of Thailand, Laos and Cambodia (in case I go) and I will be taking my Silva compass so there will be a bit of old school navigation.
Also got myself a Garmin Montana, using it with Free worldwide Garmin maps from OpenStreetMap which I have found to be great detail, time will tell when I am on the road.

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Edited May 22, 201610 yr by Caps

Arrived at the Bangkok train station in good time as I need to get my ticket for the return journey back to Bangkok on the night of the 18 Jan 2015, managed to get the same type of compartment I have got for this journey. Whilst at the station I passed the time away talking to folk…as you do! Some German girls, but its been along time since I used any German and a couple from the UK. It was a good time and it passed the time.

In typical Thai train times we set off late, but only by 20 mins so that was not too bad. The compartment was ok but a little cramped and there was no way to lock the door once you left. Once we set off I went to the restaurant car for some food and it was very nice, ‘seafood spicy platter’ had it with a coke and a smile. No beer allowed on the train due to an incident previous. If you need anymore info on trains in Thailand then I suggest The Man in Seat Sixty-One - the train travel guide...
as the website to use, its very informative. I went to sleep at about 2230hrs and was awake again at 0230hrs shaking like a rabid dog, what with the temperature drop further up north and the aircon in the compartment I was freezing, I could not find a way to turn the aircon off so back on with the trousers and my fleece which I had on me with flying from the UK, problem sorted and eventually awoke again at 0650hrs. Coffee time!

I am sat on the train still as I am typing this in note form ready to do an update as and when I can, using the time wisely, how long will that last?! Looking out the window the scenery is great and I am looking forward to getting the bike tomorrow and setting off.
Arrived at Riderscorner, got my room 380Bht for one night with aircon
Time to chill and sort out the kit ready for tomorrow.

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Hua Lamphong Station, BKK

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Japanese Rail carriage and my compartment

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Rider's Corner Bar & Restaurant - Chiang Mai Bikers Hotel Thailand

I went to pick up the bike in the evening so I could get it ready for the morning and then I could get an earlyish start
Its brand new, only of 500km on the clock.......Not a good idea just in case i drop it ...I can see the Baht signs now
Got him to swap out the fairing for some older stuff so it won't matter if I scuff it little.
Took the pics in the place where I got it from.
Roll on the morning and I am setting off for Phrae on my first leg
Also got all my paperwork to get into Laos

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Day 1 Chiang Mai to Phrae

Well, had a good if not long day today, although I did more miles than I had planned to do. Scenery was great and I travelled down some narrow roads through a National park. I got to the Ghost Canyon at about 1530hrs so it gave me time to look around before it closed at 1800hrs
Got to the hotel at about 1830hrs, showerd and out for some food, Hotel not too bad although it was 490 Bht which was more than I intended to pay. The hotel is the Namthong in the middle of Phrae, wouldn't say they were bike friendly as I had to leave it in the carpark with the rest of the cars, they did assure me that there is security on all night, we will see!
The Canyon was quite good, the rock formation are a bit weird as you can see by the photos below
Only had about 6 near misses today so thats not too bad for a starter
You need eyes in the back of your head

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The route taken from the Garmin Montana 600

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Ghost Canyon, Phrae

Day 2, Phrae to Sukhothai

Got an early start today, up at 0600 and on the road for 0700 thanks to a bus load of Chinese tourists that were making a noise in the hotel I stayed in as I was close to the dining area I could not help but hear them, never mind it gave me an excuse to get up and get going. Phrae to Sukhothai

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It was a good trip and very scenic, I didn’t have breakfast, thought I would get some miles under the belt before I stopped to eat. Riding from one village to the next was good and all the smells of food which was cooking at that time in the morning was making me really peckish. So I decide to pull in, I was also thinking about fuel and lucky the place I decided to pull in to was also selling fuel, so what with the little bit of Thai I have managed to learn and a lot of pointing and gestures I got fuel for the bike and fuel for me….sorted.

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Breakfast

Time to hit the road again and get to Sukhothai, on the route I kept stopping to play with the Gopro and try and get used to using the app I have for my iPhone, it allows me the use it wirelessly. I eventully got it to work and took a bit of video on the route.

The route I took was a mixture of rolling hills and flat rice paddy fields with a few villages (towns) thrown in for good measure, so all in all it was a good journey

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I got to Sukhothai for lunchtime, about 1200 and stopped at a coffee house with wifi so I could look at Rideasia.net and the HUBB to try and find some recommended digs. Found the Garden house..coords N17.00484 E99.48989, very nice little bungalows, paid 300 Bht with a fan, you could pay extra for aircon…but being a Yorkshire man….

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Once I was sorted out and had chilled for a bit it was time to do a bit of sight seeing. I went a visited the Sukhothai Historical Park…coords N17.01816° E99.70673°, it was a really nice place and in my mind well worth a visit. It cost 100 Bht to get in and an extra 20 Bht if you want to ride round on your bike…so guess what?….The bike it was!

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Spent a bit of time talking to this lady using ThaiEnglish and gestures

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Day 3 Sukhothai to Tha Song Yang

Yet another early start today, was on the road for about for about 0745, stopped off at a petrol station which had a 7/11 shop, got a 6 litre of water and filled up my CamelBak and binned the rest so I could fill it up with petrol. Only got a 7 litre tank and was crossing some big hills today.
So better to be safe than sorry, as it happens I didn’t need it.
The route to start off with was pretty long and mundane although the scenery was fine the road was not, then I got on to the 1175, now that was fun

Day 3 Sukhothai to Tha Song Yang by Wayne 66, on Flickr

Google Earth Elevation shot by Wayne 66, on Flickr

I did about 80 odd K’s then decided that I needed food so I stopped in Tak, food was great and cheap. That was the boring bit of the road done also.

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Next up was Tak to Ban Mae la, don’t know why I went there? It was up near the Myanmar Border and it gave me a good route to do over the mountains on some more interesting roads, just what the Doctor ordered.

Saw some great sights/scenery on route and had some good roads to ride on. About 2 thirds in to the 1175 I was in need of a break so I just stopped off at the next little village I came across and went to the little shop, had a cold Nescafe out of a tin and a Red Bull type drink, what a pick me up

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Refreshments

During the very early stages of the 1175 I saw a big white budda, had to go check it out, although when I got up there I could not find a way to get to the front to take a pic so had to make do with one from a distance but I got the Temple close up instead.
Even managed to get in a traffic jam of cows and a lone woman trying to keep them in check

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Went over those mountains in the distance

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The temple where the White Budda was

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White Budda in the distanc

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Eventually made I it to Ban Mae la and decide that I had been and seen and it was time to move on, nowt much happening. So I re-joined the 105 and headed for Tha Song Yang. Only a small town but had a 7/11 and some local eateries. Stopped off in one of the eateries and in my best Thai for hotel I was pointed in the direction of the place where I will lay my head tonight, which is the BP Resort, coords N17.24866° E98.21464°. Nice little bungalows, 400 Bht with aircon…because boy I needed it and the bike is parked right outside, sorted

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The room for the night

Popped back into Tha Song Yang for evening meal and now to plan for tomorrow, a long boring route up to Mae Hong Son where I think I am going to stay of a couple of days and do a ride out.

Up to now I am averaging about 1000 Bht a day, give or take a bit, so about 20 quid, not too bad for fuel, food and bed.
Still got another 13 days or so before I head in to Laos

the road between Mae Sot and Mae hong son is anything BUT boring

Very nice and detailed report. Thanks.

Have to agree with Phuketrichard, road to Mae Hong Son is one the best biking roads in North Thailand. Enjoy.

the road between Mae Sot and Mae hong son is anything BUT boring

Yes I know that now...but I didn't when I was doing the trip, as you will see on my next post

Very nice and detailed report. Thanks.

Have to agree with Phuketrichard, road to Mae Hong Son is one the best biking roads in North Thailand. Enjoy.

Thanks Scott, and yes I agree with Phuketrichard now

Day 4 Tha Song Yang to Mae Hong Son

Wow what a day, long but great. So much for me saying that the road was going going to be long and boring….far from it. It was a brilliant ride, it was 200 mile of so off twists with a bit of loose stuff thrown in for good measure, it would be worth doing again another time.

Tha Song Yang to Mae Hong Son by Wayne 66, on Flickr

Tha Song Yang to Mae Hong Son1 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

Set off again at about 0745hrs and decide to stop on route for breakfast as per the norm. It was really misty for the first couple of hours and I was forever wiping my goggles so I could see where I was going. Also got to a point where i was thinking I needed some fuel and doing the gravel dirt road and going up and down the hills/mountains was zapping the juice. Came across a construction team who were working on the road (loosely speaking of course) and point at the tank, they looked blank at first then cottoned on, they pointed back the way I had came, Ummmm not a good move going backwards when you need fuel, anyway it was only about 2 k’s back down the road, I didn’t see it the first time due to mist and a lorry.

Some scenes from the day, although didn't stop much for photos, I was enjoying the road

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Breakfast came about 1000 at a place called Sobmoei, food was the usual, fried rice with pork and veg, 'I will soon look like a bit of rice’, but hey if you eating local!

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Breakfast spot

The scenery was great, the road awesome, and after a couple more stops to refuel the bike and me I finally got the MHS at about 1415hrs
Found a coffee house with wifi, sat with a Expresso Frappe and looked for a place to stay.
Found the Friends House, coords..N19.30019° E97.96727°, talk about basic haha but at least its a bed, 300 Bht for the night, 6 quid so can’t grumble.

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The room for a couple of nights

Probably going to stop a couple of days and do a ride out, want to visit Ban Rak Thai and some other places

Day 5 Mae Hong Son to Ban Rak Thai, staying local

Decided to stay local to Mae Hong Son today and visit a village I had planned to do and what people on here had said go visit. So off I went...
Thought I might get a lay in but the Cockerels were making a right racket at 0600 this morning...not amused

Day 5 Mae Hong Son to Ban Rak Thai by Wayne 66, on Flickr
It was a good climb, glad i was on the bike

But it was still around 1000hrs when I set off, I just chilled in my 5* accommodation till then.
It was a good ride to the village of Ban Rak Thai which I a village of Chinese Decendents I think and they grow and do their own tea, very nice it was too, I tried the Ging Sing and the morning tea, all free which was nice, also had some grub. I purposely didn't order any rice but it came with it any way
But it was very nice, I had Yunnan style fried pork done in Chinese herbs and honey

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Tea and roasted almonds, Ging Sing on left

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Good Food

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The village market area

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Were I had food

Stayed there for a while and on the way back I stopped of at the Pha Sua Waterfall, quite disappointed actually as there was not much water.

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Think you can just see the water

From there I came back into Mae Hong Son and visited Wat Phrathat Doi Kong Mu (Temple on the hill in Mae Hong Son). There was a great view from up there over looking Mae Hong Son and the Airport

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Back to the room and out to the bar I was in last night for a well earned Beer

Some other pics from the day

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Its not complete without a selfie

Day 6 Mae Hong Son to Pai

Had a steady ride today from Mae Hong Son to Pai.


Day 6 Mae Hong Son to Pai 1 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

Set off about 0815hrs and took it nice and easy stopping to take some photos and my daily on the road ritual at stopping somewhere on route and grabbing breakfast….bonus, no rice had noodles instead, it was really tasty. It was done with beef and spices

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Breakfast spot and food

The roads were up to there usual standard of lots of bends and curves to keep you concentrating. Also lots of scenery and great views

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Got myself a room, like a little Chalet type thing, quite nice and managed to get it for 400 Bht with a fan a night, staying for two nights. Pichai House, coords from the Montanna N19.21421 E098. 26402.

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Going to ride local tomorrow as there are lots of things to visit in and around the area, Hot Springs, Waterfalls and Pai Canyon.
So I should have a good day

Day 7 Pai area.

Set off for a bit of a look round at about 0900hrs.

Day 7 Pai area by Wayne 66, on Flickr

Day 7 Pai area 1 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

On route I passed a Elephant Village on some back road, the village was a Karen Tribe village. I was good to see the Elephants out and about.
I took a few track on my route but some were dead ends and others were blocked by Elephant tours but it was good to get off road for a bit to have a play.

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First stop was the World War 2 Memorial Bridge just to the south of Pai, it was a good sight to see and a little bit like the Bridge over the River Kwai.

Coords from the Montana, N19.17869 E098.27890

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Then it was a sorted to Pai Canyon, very nice and scenic. There were some narrow paths to walk along with some very steep drops at either side of you. Good place to visit. Coords from the Montana N19.18283 E098.27185

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After walking into the Canyon I was getting a bit hot with wearing my bike gear so it was off to Pai Hot Springs, as I pulled up I suddenly became very popular, 3 women accosted me in the car park, not that I minded, they wanted their photo taken with me, its not the first time but it was the first time I got them to return the favour

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It was really good and once I had spent a bit of time walking around I went in the water for half an hour or so. The water was about 36 degrees C, very relaxing. I looked like a prune when I got out Cost was 200 Bht, Coords from the Montana N19.18432 E098.2856.

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Allegedly you're not allowed to boil eggs in the water

I have spent a fair bit of time in the Pai Pub, which is about 2 doors down from where I am staying and is where I am sat now doing this report. Music food and internet are great

The bar is owned by a Aussie guy called Rowan, he has made me feel very welcome and would recommend to anyone. He also does rooms although I only found out after getting mine. He is a biker and easy to get on with.

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The Pai Pub

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Nice little 125 Cafe Racer, think he said it cost him about $60

Day 8 Pai to Fang, but then a change of plan

Set off today with the intentions of going to Fang for the night before moving on to Chiang Rai
Things did not go according to plan.

Day 8 Pai to Fang, then on to Chiang Rai by Wayne 66, on Flickr

Day 8 Pai to Fang, then on to Chiang Rai1 by Wayne 66, on Flickr

I set off at about 0815hrs towards Fang. The road was up to the usual standard of twists and turns with great scenery. Some of the switchbacks were that sharp my Montana was having a fit and thought I was turning round therefore it was shouting in my ear ‘Recalculating, Recalculating’. There was a lot of mist this morning and it was cold, that clod my hands were going numb. As I climbed higher I came out off the mist and it to the sun, although it was warmer it was still a bit nippy

As you can see from some of the photos the mist looked like a thick blanket of cotton wool in some place as I was looking down on it

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As I started to drop down a bit further I came a across a nice looking coffee stop. Had a Latte to warm me up and Strawberry fruit slice, very nice indeed. Then the woman behind the counter gave me a free cup of tea, she must have thought I needed it……I did

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