The Famous Mae Hong Son Loop

ITINERARY

Road

Off-Road

This short motorcycle tour covers the best roads in Thailand if you only have a few days, but want an adventure you will never forget! A frequent question we get is: “We have never been to north Thailand, we only have a couple of days time, what can you recommend to us? Our answer is always the same, “Ride the famous Mae Hong Son Loop”. This itinerary covers one of the best ridings in Thailand. It is a three-day tour with endless curves, good paved urban roads through spectacular scenery passing through endless villages, rice paddies, hill tribes etc. Not known to many, the mountains you are riding during this tour belongs to the Himalayan mountain ridge. Known as the Mae Hong Son Loop this trip begins and ends in Chiang Mai and is most famous for having 1,864 bends along a 300 km stretch (don’t worry – there are countless more corners to ride during those three days). Among the landmarks is the road less travelled to Pai. The town of Pai with its night market, endless bars and restaurants, a backpacker magnet. A Chinese village up in the mountains next to the Myanmar border named Ban Rak Thai. A boat ride to a village of the Long Neck Karen hill tribe. Riding a motorcycle to the peak of Doi Inthanon which at 2,565 meters is Thailand’s highest mountain before returning back to Chiang Mai. Every day we will feast on local Thai cuisine. Western dishes are available at dinners.

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START / FINISH:	Bike Tour Asia
NEAREST AIRPORT:	Chiang Mai
DURATION:	3 riding days
ROUTE:	680 km
DAILY ROUTE:	180-300 km
ACCOMMODATIONS:	Carefully selected quality hotels with leisure facilities
HIGHLIGHTS:	Famous 1,864 curves to Mae Hong Son, the small town of Pai, Ban Rak Thai (Chinese village), along the Myanmar border, Long Neck Hill Tribe, Doi Inthanon, endless curves and stunning scenery

DAY BY DAY

1. Day / Chiang Mai-Pai
In the morning we will pick you up from your hotel and bring you to our Service Center for a tour briefing and motorcycle hand over etc.
Once on our motorcycles, we start our short motorcycle tour of Thailand and quickly leave Chiang Mai behind and start our first mountain riding towards Samoeng, our first destination for today. The road to Wat Si Witchan is snaking its way over hills and mountains and was just recently fully paved. At Wat Si Witchan we have lunch and visit the "Ray-Ban" temple.
From here we still have two hours enjoyable mountain riding to Pai. Before reaching our hotel we stop at an elephant camp were we feed those majestic animals and even get a hug from them.
In Pai, we dine on delicious local or western food in a restaurant by the river. In the evening after dinner, you can enjoy the delights of the Walking Street market. We stay overnight in Pai.
(200 km/124 miles)
2. Day / Pai-Mae Hong Son
Today is a very scenic riding day on our short motorcycle tour of Thailand. Even if the distance is not that much, there are plenty of mountains and switchbacks to negotiate, don't worry, you will need the full day. This is also the second part of the road famous for its 1864 bends of varying sharpness. We will pass two mountains with 2 great scenic View Points en route.
The journey takes us through some beautiful mountainous scenery. Around mid-day, we arrive at Ban Rak Thai where we have lunch in one of the local Chinese restaurants by the little lake. They serve delicious Chinese specialities. Ban Rak Thai means literally "the Thai-loving village", built around a lake on the Myanmar border. About 800, mainly Chinese settled here after the communist takeover of China and some of the buildings have a distinctively Chinese appearance.
After lunch, we continue to the pier of the Nan River where we park our motorcycles. Enjoy a scenic boat ride on for about 20 min to the Karen Long Neck village (http://www.huaypukeng.com/info_visitor.htm). The Karen, a tribal minority, historically lived in the hills on the Myanmar side of the border. Some of their women wear heavy brass rings around their necks, forearms, and shins. Many ideas regarding why the coils are worn have been suggested. Some have hypothesized that the rings protected women from becoming slaves by making them less attractive to other tribes. Another theory is that the coils originate from the desire to look more attractive. Why don't you ask them and find out the real story?
We return by boat to the pier and ride to the nearby Resort. Enjoy first a drink at the sunset bar overlooking the rice paddies. Overnight in Mae Hong Son for the last night of our short motorcycle tour of Thailand.
(180 km/112 miles)
3. Day / Mae Hong Son-Chiang Mai
In the morning we ride Road 108 from Mae Hong Son to Khun Yuam. It is a great winding road with wide twists. In Khun Yuam visit the local War Museum. The Imperial Japanese Army troops were stationed in Khun Yuam during the construction of a highway intended to cross Burma to India.
Besides the museum, there is a Coffee Shop and a 7/11 store. From Khun Yuam continue to Mae Chaem on Road 1088 and 1263 on nice twisty back roads. Here is a little local restaurant where you can have lunch. Ride Road 1192 and turn left on Road 1009 up to the top of Doi Inthanon, which at 2,565 meters is the highest mountain in Thailand. Park your motorcycles and walk up to the absolute peak and the little museum. Next stop is the Wachiratharn Waterfall - an impressive and powerful 80 m high waterfall. Continue on Road 1009 until reaching the intersection 108. The last 50 km or so, drive on Road 108 until reaching Bike Tour Asia Service Centre where you end our short motorcycle tour of Thailand. Expect to be back at no later than 5 pm. Transfer to the hotel.
(300 km/186 miles)

PRICES

Vehicle	Single Rider	Pillion	Single Room Supplement
BMW GS	(sharing room)	(sharing room)
700/750	1,269,-	529,-	100,-
800/850	1,319,-	529,-	100,-
1200	1,449,-	529,-	100,-

(all prices are in USD incl. 7% VAT)

Remarks

A deposit of USD 1,000,- per rider and USD 500,- per pillion is payable upon booking. Rest payment is due the latest 60 days before departure. For Tours with Tour price less than the deposit, the full amount is due upon booking.
Motorcycle Security Deposit applies upon handover of the motorcycle (see “Terms & Conditions”)
The above prices are based on a group of 5 riders, if fewer riders please contact us for a tour price offer
The price for a single rider in a sharing room requires another single rider booking with the same request in your group
Choose your own desired Tour dates – all year round
We are pleased to assist you with a booking of additional nights in Chiang Mai or any other services in connection with the tour
Prices listed above are based on this tour’s itinerary and its inclusions. Should you like to amend the itinerary and /or inclusions just let us know and we will tweak according to your needs

INCLUSIONS / EXCLUSIONS

Included
Not Included

Hotel to Bike Tour Asia’s Service Center with return transfers in Chiang Mai
2 nights with Breakfast at carefully selected quality hotels and resorts with leisure facilities
3 Lunches and 2 Dinners
Water, soft drinks, coffee/tea in connection with the meals
Late-model BMW GS Motorcycle rental with unlimited mileage and fuel
Panniers and top box if desired, basic motorcycle crash protection bars, etc.
Motorcycle Damage & Loss Coverage (see “Terms & Conditions”)
Experienced Tour leader on a motorcycle
English speaking licensed Tour guide
Support vehicle
Transfer of luggage in the support vehicle
Entrance fees
Tour description
Highway map & Bike Tour Asia T-shirt
Travel Accident Insurance (see “Terms & Conditions”)

Tour pre & post hotel nights in Chiang Mai
Flights
Alcoholic beverages
Riding gear (helmet, jacket & gloves can be rented at the Service Center. We do not provide pants and boots). We do recommend to bring your own.
All services not mentioned

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The Famous Mae Hong Son Loop

TOUR MAP

START / FINISH:	Bike Tour Asia
NEAREST AIRPORT:	Chiang Mai
DURATION:	3 riding days
ROUTE:	680 km
DAILY ROUTE:	180-300 km
ACCOMMODATIONS:	Carefully selected quality hotels with leisure facilities
HIGHLIGHTS:	Famous 1,864 curves to Mae Hong Son, the small town of Pai, Ban Rak Thai (Chinese village), along the Myanmar border, Long Neck Hill Tribe, Doi Inthanon, endless curves and stunning scenery