Northern Thailand - Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Northern Thailand - page 910

TOP OF CHAPTER
Around Chiang Mai
North of Chiang Mai the province becomes mountainous and rugged as it bumps against
Myanmar's frontier. Among the highlights are the beautiful Mae Sa Valley and the fores-
ted peaks around Chiang Dao. This region is particularly apt for some self-guided explor-
ation.
EASY RIDER
One of the increasingly popular ways of exploring northern Thailand is from the saddle of a rented
motorcycle. Despite the obvious risks of driving in Thailand, motorcycle touring is one of the best
ways to explore the countryside at your own pace, and provides the opportunity to leave the beaten
track at any moment.
Unless you're specifically intending to go off-road or plan on crossing unpaved roads during the
wet season, it's highly unlikely you'll need one of the large dirt bikes you'll see for rent in Chiang
Mai. The automatic transmission 110cc to 150cc scooterlike motorcycles found across Thailand are
fast and powerful enough for most roads. Rental prices in Chiang Mai start at about 200B per day for
a 125cc Honda Wave/Dream, all the way to 1500B per day for a Honda CB1000.
A good introduction to motorcycle touring in northern Thailand is the 100km Sa-moeng loop,
which can be tackled in half a day. The route extends north from Chiang Mai and follows Rtes 107,
1096 and 1269, passing through excellent scenery and ample curves, providing a taste of what a
longer ride up north will be like. The 470km Chiang Rai loop, which passes through scenic Fang and
Tha Ton along Rtes 107, 1089 and 118, is another popular ride that can be broken up with a stay in
Chiang Rai. The classic northern route is the Mae Hong Son loop, a 950km ride that begins in Chiang
Mai and takes in Rte 1095's 1864 curves with possible stays in Pai, Mae Hong Son and Mae Sariang,
before looping back to Chiang Mai via Rte 108.
The best source of information on motorcycle travelling in the north, not to mention publishers of a
series of terrific motorcycle touring-based maps, is Golden Triangle Rider ( www.gt-rider.com ) . Their
website includes heaps of information on renting bikes (including recommended hire shops in Chiang
Mai and Chiang Rai) and bike insurance, plus a variety of suggested tours with maps and an interact-
ive forum.
Mae Sa Valley & Samoeng /
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One of the easiest mountain escapes, the 100km Mae Sa-Samoeng route makes a good
day trip with private transport or a country getaway with an overnight stay in Samoeng.