Over 2000 curves along the asphalt roads of Northern Thailand. A true motorcycle adventure for every two-wheeler fan.
Places filled: 1/8
Forget the dark and bleak autumn – Northern Thailand is waiting for you winding mountain roads, with a colorful culture and a tropical climate. A motorcycle tour in Northern Thailand is not an enduro challenge, but enjoyable ride on paved roads, which takes you through beautiful nature and exciting places. The motorcycle tour is suitable for both experienced riders and those who have just recently discovered cycling for themselves. There is no need to rush here, the goal is to enjoy the motorcycle ride, discovering the local culture and nature step by step.
On our way, we will experience powerful waterfalls, where you can cool off in the middle of a day of driving. We will drive through a Chinese-style village, hidden among the mountains, where tea terraces and architecture tell the story of the diverse history of Northern Thailand. In the evening, we will discover lively night markets, where delicious street food, crafts and music intertwine into one colourful mix. We will see Buddhist temples, whose tranquility offers a contrast to the adrenaline of the mountain roads. We will take on a hiking trail in the cloud forest, where the air is cool and humid and the vegetation is noticeably primitive. The crown of the journey is the highest peak of Thailand at 2500 meters.
Overview
Goal: Explore Northern Thailand on motorbikes
Dates: Oct 31—Nov 07, 2027 (plus flight time)
Starting point of the trip: Chiang Mai, Thailand (flight tickets not included in the price)
Adventure guide: Tanel Tilk (language skills: Estonian, English, Spanish)
Physical difficulty: 1/5
Group size: min 6, max 8 (including guide)
Discounted price until 31.03.2027 — €1690 (passenger price €1490)
Registration 01.04.2027 - 06.08.2027 — €1859
Late registration from 07.08.2027 — €2028
NB! Elamus+ community members get a 5–10% discount. Read more and check your discount eligibility. community members page.
Travel cost
Price includes
Entire trip organization and on-site guidance
Adventure Guide (who has previously driven in the area)
All accommodations, including breakfast
Motorcycle - Honda NX500 or similar with a top box
Fuel for the motorcycle
Motorcycle helmet
Costs related to activities specified in the plan, entrance fees:
Mok Fa Waterfall Entrance
Nam Lod Cave Visit with Boat Ride
Pha Sua Waterfall Entrance
Entrance to the Thai-Japanese Friendship Memorial Hall
Ang Ka Cloud Forest Trail Entrance
Visit to Wachirathan Waterfall
Visit to the sandstone cliffs of Phachor (Mae Wang National Park)
Stylish Elamus+ motorcycle shirt for each participant
Group pharmacy
Price does not include
Flight tickets to Chiang Mai, Thailand and back (from ~ €900)
Visa application costs (60 days are visa-free for Estonian citizens)
Insurance (travel insurance and MANDATORY motorcycle insurance or additional coverage)
Personal riding equipment (summer jacket, pants, gloves, boots). Certain items can also be rented on site.
Most lunches and dinners
Extracurricular activities and transportation for them
Personal hygiene products and medications
Internet and data packages
Costs of applying for an international driving permit (state fee €33)
Registration for the trip
Before registering, please read travel conditions. To secure your place on the trip, you must pay a deposit of 20% of the trip cost within 3 business days of receiving the confirmation and invoice by e-mail. If there are less than 30 days left until the trip, the total cost (100%) must be paid. Read more: frequently asked questions ja package tour information sheet.
NB! We recommend that you take out travel disruption insurance immediately after paying the advance invoice so that longer-term health problems are also covered.
Schedule and activities
DAY 1: Arrival
The starting point of the trip is in Thailand, Chiang Mai.
There are several options for getting there. It should be noted that it takes over 16 hours to get to Chiang Mai from Estonia, depending on the flights.
Must be present On the evening of October 31th or at the very least the next morning.
Accommodation in twin/double rooms in a 3* hotel.
Day 2: We get the bikes and explore Chiang Mai
After breakfast, we will get our motorcycles - Honda NX500 or Honda CB500X. The bike has a top box. If that's not enough, you can also rent side cases. It is also possible to strap your luggage to the back seat. It is reasonable to pack lightly. You can leave excess items at our hotel in Chiang Mai, where you can pick them up when we return from the tour 5 days later.
We will explore Chiang Mai and make some drives to get used to the new bikes and left-hand traffic. We will ride for half an hour to the beautiful Wat Phra That Doi Suthep temples for beautiful views over the city.
Accommodation in twin/double rooms in a 3* hotel.
DAY 3: Chiang Mai - Pai (190 km, 4-5 hours)
Let's pack our bags and start enjoying the winding roads of northern Thailand, nature and culture. Driving days are generally of reasonable length, and we take time for breaks. We make regular stops at scenic spots, viewpoints and delicious eateries. The time indicated in the title of the day is pure driving time.
By the end of the first day we will reach Pai, where we will discover the red sand cliffs at Pai Canyon. It is also possible to visit Tha Pai Natural Hot Springs. After checking in at the hotel, we will walk along Pai Walking Street to find some delicious food.
Accommodation in a 3* hotel or guesthouse in twin/double rooms.
Day 4: Pai - Mae Hong Son (190 km, 4-5 hours)
Today is one of the longest days, if not in terms of distance, then in terms of the amount of activities. An hour after leaving Pai, we arrive at Nam Lod Cave System. This interconnected cave system is filled with impressive stalactites and stalagmites, and through which the Nam Lang River flows. We reach the caves by bamboo raft along the river. There is no artificial light inside – our path and the stone forms adorning the cliffs are illuminated only by the warm glow of oil lamps, which makes the sight even more mystical and magical.
The second longer stop of the day comes next the Myanmar border in a Chinese village, called Ban Rak Thai. This peaceful and idyllic village of bamboo houses is located between the mountains by a beautiful lake. Here we will enjoy a lunch break with traditional Chinese cuisine.
To make the most of the day, before reaching Mae Hong Son, we will also visit Pha Sua Waterfalls ja Su Tong Pae Bridge over the rice fields.
Accommodation in a 3* hotel or guesthouse in twin/double rooms.
Day 5: Mae Hong Son - Mae Sariang (170 km, 3 hours)
The pure driving time to Mae Sariang is 3 hours. However, there will be the Mai Sang Nam Waterfall for pleasant cooling down. We will stop for lunch at Khun Yuam village, where it is also possible to visit Thai-Japanese Friendship Memorial to understand more about the history of the country we are visiting.
During the day, it is possible to do a couple of “side quests” to the village of the long-necked Karen, an ethnic community from Myanmar, and/or to the beautiful fields of blooming sunflowers. We will decide together on the spot whether to go there.
Accommodation in a 3* hotel or guesthouse in twin/double rooms.
Day 6: Mae Sariang - Doi Inthanon (160 km, 3-4 hours)
Along winding mountain roads we drive into the altitude, until we reach the highest peak in Thailand. Located at an altitude of 2565 meters above sea level is the highest point of Doi inthanon. Here, near the peak, we will take a short hike on the Ang Ka Cloud Forest Nature Trail.
We will stay in a homestay/guesthouse with beautiful views, and those interested can also visit more waterfalls in the area.
Accommodation in a homestay or guesthouse in twin/double rooms.
day 7: Doi Inthanon - Chiang Mai (130 km, 2-3 hours)
We will start driving downhill, but there is no shortage of waterfalls here. We will stop at one of the most powerful waterfalls, Wachirathan.. And as the last attraction on our motorbike trip, we will visit Mae Wang National Park and a place called Phachori with sandstone cliffs. From here, it's only an hour drive back to Chiang Mai, where we'll return our faithful steeds and enjoy our last dinner together.
Accommodation in twin/double rooms in a 3* hotel.
Day 8: End of the program
The end of the itinerary in Chiang Mai is planned November 7 until morning.
If you are interested, you can also extend your trip before or after the event, for example to explore Bangkok or the paradise islands of southern Thailand.
NB! The schedule and planned activities may be subject to minor changes depending on the traveler's wishes or the weather.
Thailand
Capital: Bangkok
Currency: Thai Baht (THB) (1 € ≈ 37.07 THB, exchange rates may fluctuate)
Traffic: left
National language: Thai language
Population: approx. 66 million
Area: 514 000 km²
Neighbors: Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia, Malaysia
Thailand is a safe, friendly and well-organized destination for travel. As always when traveling, you should keep an eye on your valuables for possible pickpockets. However, you need to be especially careful in traffic! We will be riding motorbikes along winding roads, where locals may also come up on you in the opposite lane on dark corners.
Price level:
Street food / simple local meal: €1–3
Average restaurant: €3–7 per person
Beer at the bar: €2–3
Coffee: €1–2
In Chiang Mai and Pai, you can also pay by card in restaurants, but in other smaller villages during our tour, you will need to have cash on hand to buy food/snacks/drinks.
Tipping is not mandatory, but it is a nice way to show appreciation for good service. If you feel the service was particularly good, leaving a small tip will make everyone feel good.
Traveling to Thailand
Estonian citizens can travel to Thailand visa-free for 60 days.
We recommend vaccination against hepatitis A. Further information can be found at vaktsineeri.ee and travel medicine offices.
You can consult with the travel agent regarding flight tickets. It should be noted that it takes over 16 hours to get from Estonia to Chiang Mai, depending on the flights.
Must be present On the evening of October 31th or at the very least the next morning.
See more also https://reisitargalt.vm.ee/sihtkoht/tai/
Travel documents and footnotes
The participant is responsible for the validity and condition of their travel documents. For this trip you will need:
passport (Estonian citizens do not need a visa — 60 days visa-free);
Category A driving license;
international driving license. In Estonia, available from the Transpordiamet (Transport Administration) while on standby. State fee €33. NB! Must be in accordance with the 1968 Vienna Convention on Road Traffic;
additional travel insurance coverage suitable for motorcycling (read more on the FAQ page). A suitable medical insurance policy must be carried and is a prerequisite for participation in the motorcycle tour. Check the terms and conditions of your insurance provider.
travel insurance. Please note: We recommend that you take out travel insurance immediately after receiving confirmation of your travel registration so that you are covered for longer-term health problems.
Read more also travel conditions or feel free to ask the adventure locomotives.
FAQ
How skilled and experienced motorcycle rider do I need to be to participate in the Northern Thailand motorcycle tour?
We mostly ride on winding asphalt roads, but you don't have to be a track racer to take the turns. In Asian countries, the pace of travel is rather more leisurely. It must be taken into account that we sit on a motorcycle for several hours a day, while taking breaks at reasonable intervals.
On these roads, you may encounter both daring locals as well as tourists who are riding a scooter for the first time in their lives. So you have to be very considerate and attentive to your surroundings.
In general, if you have a motorcycle license and have ridden for at least a season or two, you will be fine on a motorcycle tour in Northern Thailand.
What clothes and equipment should I pack?
Mandatory personal safety equipment for riding: shoes, pants, a summer jacket, gloves, helmet. The price of the trip includes a motorcycle helmet, but we recommend bringing your own if you have one. Some items can also be rented on site. We will specify this with the participants of the tour.
Weather at the end of November: daytime temperatures in cities 25-32 °C. The rainy season is over, but it can be cooler in the mountains and the chance of rain is not zero, so bring a raincoat that you can wear over your motorbike clothing.
Besides driving, we will also enjoy other aspects of life and nature, so don't forget your usual clothes - shorts, swimming trunks, light shoes (flip-flops), a travel towel, and a warmer midlayer for Doi Inthanon.
What happens after registration?
After filling out the registration form, we will send you an invoice for prepayment. After the payment, you are registered for the tour. 30 days before the tour, we will send you an invoice for the total cost of the trip. We will create a common chat between the trip participants, where you can discuss everything you need with each other.
Read more also frequently asked questions.
