Hello,

I'm planning a Motorcycle tour, this April (Songkran) 2017.

Roughly going from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai and back.

I worked out a basic itinerary already but would like to know suggestions from you guys.

Especially for the 1,5 days I not planned yet.

Any advice is welcome!

Thank you!

Day 1, April 13

Arrive by Train at morning in Chiang Mai

Get bike at rental

Driving to Doi Angkhang via 107, 1178, 1340

159km, 3.5 hrs

Free time around Doi Angkhang

Day 2, April 14

Doi Angkhang to Mae Salong

Route via 1249, 107, 1089

Make diversion to 1314, is it worth?

Back to 1089, 1130

131km, 3 hrs

Free time around Mae Salong, 101 Tea Plantation, Temple, View Points

Day 3, April 15

Mae Salong to Golden Triangle (Sob Ruak)

Route via 1130, 1338

Stop at Doi Tung

Continue at 1338, 1149, 1290

102km, 3 hrs

Stay at Golden Triangle area

Day 4, April 16

Suggestions please!

Day 5, April 17

Suggestions please!

Train leaves in Chiang Mai at 6pm

If I might add, I figured out a route back for day 4 and 5

Chiang Saen to either Doi Chaang or directly Phrao.
However, I would like to avoid riding on Hwy 1.
I see there is a route on 1016, 1089, 3044/4037 to Doi Chaang and eventually continue to Mae Suai, Wiang Pao, Phrao, Chiang Mai via 118, 1150 and 1001.

How is the road condition of the 3044/4037?

What are you planning to hire? The bike makes a big difference to what you can achieve.

A trip is supposed to be fun - half the fun is taking the path less travelled. Know which route you would like to take but stay loose on time and be prepared to stop and turn off your route if you see something interesting; or to change routes if weather, traffic or road conditions change. Being so specific about which roads to take and so exact about how long each leg is going to be make your tour sound somewhat anal already - and you haven't left yet!

Stay loose - don't over-plan things and stay off the bike for the key dates of Songkran! No fun being hit by a bucket of water with full kit on (you will be fully kitted out I hope)!

Ride safe.

Hope you have a good trip.

Whilst not what you are planning this may have some interesting info as it includes some of your route.

 

https://www.tripline.net/trip/2016_The_Not_Quite_the_Last_of_the_Summer_Wine_Bike_Trip%2C_North_Thai_Loop.-5160700324101012B55F9C0BBFD4FA55 

 the map is interactive use the arrows > to advance etc 

Edited February 17, 20179 yr by alant
duplication

Its all good.

CLW, I like your plan.  Maybe take Chiang Khong - Phu Chee Fah in the last days,

 

But there is one BIG Problem. The weeks before and the week after Song Kran are dangerous on the roads in Thailand and on a motorbike very dangerous.

You will have people, sometimes quite drunk, everywhere standing beside the road throwing water on you. And the worst are the pickups with 4-8 drunk guys throwing buckets on meeting bikes, sometimes with blocks of ice.  Very dangerous and lots of accidents.

 

Me and my friends are on bikes year around except these weeks.

Quote

Arrive by Train at morning in Chiang Mai

 

Last time I took the train it was 4.5 hours late.

 

Stop to eat in Aronathai, road 1178 before the mountains on the Burmese border.

Amazing Yunnan noodles there.

Throw your original post up on RideAsia.net.  THE source for MC trip planning, GPS and paper maps in the Chiang Mai area and beyond, and great first hand advice.  Good people.

 

http://www.rideasia.net/motorcycle-forum/forum.php

 

 

My recommendation to stay one night and get super professional advice is to talk or write to Ian Smith at Viang Yonok in Chiang Saen:

 

http://www.viangyonok.com/

 

He is British and an absolute expert when it comes to Northern Thailand, the best bike trails, and Triumph bikes - he owns many of the forties and fifties. We have been there many times and he knows the smallest and most exciting roads, such as the 1346 from Phrao to Fang. Another of my favourites is the 1150 deviating from the 118 back to Phrao - it's a permanent up and down which must be fun for each biker. Enjoy!

Gee, what a horrific time to do a bike trip. The year before last I almost got ran over twice - in my lane near the shoulder by  speeding fanatic drunk drunk Thai's with their lady friends - driving in MY lane. Last year, just stayed in my village. Sabaii sabaii. Same this year. Do you know how many people get killed every year during Songkhran in Thailand due to drunk driving / road accidents? I'm not one of them. By the way, this was in Chiang Rai province.

 

 

Edited February 17, 20179 yr by TerrylSky

Don't do it unless you want to go home in a box or urn.

Check uv on the days you are out. I got badly burned doing a loop up north.

I rented in CHIANG Mai a Ninja 250 but the rental place English guys had no gas in the bike...didn't seem to care much. Got totally lost riding out of the city but fortunately found gas. Brakes were not very good. Got back to my Ninja 300 and nearly went over the handlebars. Fun ride to Chiang Rai and the Golden Triangle. Never saw another big bike the whole way there and back. Songkran is a bad idea for riding in any city you may be knocked off the bike especially when they realize you are a farang. You become the target of the day. Good luck.

Just done a similar trip, chaing mai, Doi ang khan, back to chaing mai then out to Doi inthanon. Some great roads out to angkhan, some really bad corners, l mean u bends, inthanon better some really long curves where you can keep the power on and sweep the bends. As mentioned songkhran not a good time due to reckless (more than usual) drivers. I hired a Suzuki v-storm 650cc, a really forgiving bike, easy to ride and does everything you will need it to do. Get out there and enjoy yourself. Just remember most bike hires insurance only covers the bike and maybe  third party, so have separate insurance to cover yourself. Good luck

I would not plan to rent the day of arrival by train.  The train will be late & you'll get stuck paying for a day you don't use (or they will give away your rental bike to someone else).  Plan to check into a hotel the day of arrival, and rent the bike the next day. 

I have to say I agree with the above , you will get soaked on the 14th even before you rent a bike , I know many of the places you want to visit but from Monday 10th 'til 12 days later most riders on anything bigger than a Wave stay indoors including myself and Doi Maesalong is no fun by car.

As already mentioned from Mae Sai follow 1290 along the river edge to Chiang Khong, Wiang Kaen and roads 1155 and 1093 to Phu Chi Faa. Walk to the top. Continue to Chiang Rai and depending on time south on 118 and right at Mae Suai 109 and left at the 107 to Chiang Mai via 1346 or keep on the 118 to Chiang Mai. 

OP not drive on Songkhran days - no fun and dangerous.

 

Can recommand all mentioned roads in that Link, special around Nan very good and deserted but good paved.

Some roads under renovation or are widened. Over all = Super driving.

http://www.bestbikingroads.com/motorcycle-roads/motorbike-rides-in-thailand-/thailand-__10720.html

Edited March 3, 20179 yr by ALFREDO

1 hour ago, ALFREDO said:

OP not drive on Songkhran days - no fun and dangerous.

I have to second that and want to add that you have to be careful with the Songkhran dates since they are different for different cities

 

I did it several years ago, when it only cost 400 THB to have my HD loaded on the night train to CM from Bangkok and off loaded the next morning

 

No problem with the holiday in CM proper but when you come around those mountain curves and  some mountain kids with a bucket of water see you as a great target;  days before the scheduled start of the festivities

 

Most times it is too late to slow down, so if the wet pavement doesn't get you their is always the thought of what that cold water is going to do to your hot 1,450 cc engine 

Hi All, my own experience on driving my Jeep from Chiang Saen to Chiang Kong, during Songkhran, was 4 youths threw a bucket of water at the Jeep, some thing in the water smashed my windscreen. My Thai GF suggested we stop at the road side police station, they rounded up the youths and made them pay 1000 Baht each, by 4.30 pm, or be arrested.

So the out come was not so bad. Phoned my insurance company and asked where could I get a screen, this being Songkhran. All ended well.

Tom