10 Day Motorcycle Tour (Amazing Thailand) from Chiang Mai

The best part of this 10-day ride is the road itself. You move from Chiang Mai’s northern mountains to Pai, Mae Hong Son, the Golden Triangle, Nan, Sukhothai, and back again, with long bends, high passes, rice fields, tea country, and border views along the way. I especially like the excellent mountain roads and the way the route reaches places many short Chiang Mai tours skip.

I also like the practical setup: motorcycle, riding gear, meals, hotels, luggage transport, and a support van are all included. Guides such as Pong have earned strong praise for their care and leadership. The catch is simple: most days are planned as roughly seven hours on the bike, and the one rest day in Nan is built into the schedule rather than offered as a choice.

The best parts of the route at a glance

• Doi Inthanon and Mae Hong Son: Start with Thailand’s highest peak, then ride through some of the country’s most satisfying mountain roads.
• Pai and Tha Ton: Enjoy local markets, a World War II memorial bridge, temples, and a slower northern rhythm.
• Golden Triangle and Doi Mae Salong: Visit the long-neck Karen village, tea-growing country, Doi Tung Royal Villa, and the meeting point of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar.
• Nan’s motorcycle roads: Ride R1148 and R1081, two of the tour’s major road highlights, with a full rest day in Nan.
• Sirikit Dam and Sukhothai: Cross a reservoir by wooden ferry and finish with Thailand’s famous historic park.
• A fully supported ride: You receive a Road Captain, backup vehicle, unlimited mileage, meals, hotel stays, and airport pickup.

What the $3,750 price really covers

At $3,750 per person, this is not a cheap motorcycle rental with a few hotel nights attached. It is a guided, supported tour with nine nights of accommodation, nine breakfasts, nine lunches, and nine dinners.

You also receive a motorcycle with unlimited mileage, third-party liability insurance, motorcycle insurance with a deductible of up to $1,000, and riding equipment including a helmet, jacket, gloves, and knee guards. A support van carries luggage and has room for a few riders if arranged in advance.

That package matters in northern Thailand. You are not planning each hotel, moving bags between towns, or stopping to solve a mechanical problem on your own. The guide leads from the front, while the support setup gives the group a practical safety net.

The price does not include airfare, visa costs, alcohol, personal expenses, or your own travel insurance. The motorcycle insurance deductible is also worth reading carefully before booking. Travel insurance is recommended, and it should suit a motorcycle trip rather than only a standard holiday.

Accommodation is described as carefully chosen hotels and resorts with leisure facilities. That gives the trip a pleasant rhythm: ride hard during the day, then have a comfortable place to eat, rest, and use the pool where available.

Day 1: Chiang Mai to Doi Inthanon and Mae Sariang

The tour begins at 8:30 a.m. at Big Bike Tours on Ragang Road in Chiang Mai. Airport pickup is included, so you can arrive in Chiang Mai and have the operator handle the first transfer.

The opening ride heads south toward Doi Inthanon National Park. At 2,565 meters, Doi Inthanon is Thailand’s highest peak, and it gives the first day a real sense of scale. The route includes winding mountain roads and long highway sections, useful for getting comfortable with your motorcycle before the more technical roads arrive.

The overnight stop is Mae Sariang. The day is listed at about seven hours, so this is not a gentle orientation loop. You should arrive ready for a full day in the saddle, with breaks and meals included as part of the tour rhythm.

Day 2: Mae Sariang, Khun Yuam, and Mae Hong Son

Day two moves into narrower, twistier roads toward Mae Hong Son. This is where the tour begins to feel less like a transfer between towns and more like a proper mountain ride.

Khun Yuam provides a break and a visit to a World War II museum. In Mae Hong Son, Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu gives you a high viewpoint over the town and surrounding hills. The temple is a welcome change from the motorcycle seat, but the day still carries about seven hours of riding.

This is a good example of the tour’s balance. You get culture and history, but the road remains the main event. If you are a new rider, the constant bends and full-day schedule deserve honest attention.

Day 3: Pai, the memorial bridge, and the road to Mae Ai

Day three begins early in Pai. You have the chance to offer food to monks along the streets near the local market before breakfast. It is an optional cultural moment that works best for people willing to get up before the main day begins.

After breakfast, the route visits Pai’s World War II Memorial Bridge, then returns to winding roads toward Mae Ai. Pai is one of northern Thailand’s best-known stops, but this trip uses it as part of a larger route rather than as a long stay.

That makes the stop useful for riders who want variety. It also means you should not expect much free time in Pai. The schedule keeps moving.

Day 4: Tha Ton, the Karen village, and the Golden Triangle

From Tha Ton, the route heads to a long-neck Karen village near the Thailand and Myanmar border. This visit gives the day a strong cultural focus, though you may want to approach it with respect and curiosity rather than treating it as a quick photo stop.

Next comes Doi Mae Salong, known for Chinese mountain tea farmers. The tour includes a tea tasting, which gives you a chance to pause and connect the mountain scenery with local work and food.

The day continues to the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet. This is one of the tour’s most recognizable locations, and it also shows how sharply the region shifts from highland roads to border country.

The overnight stop is Mae Ai. The route remains a full seven-hour riding day, so keep your pace comfortable and save energy for the final approach.

Day 5: Chiang Rai and the road to Nan

Day five starts through scenic farming areas toward Chiang Rai. The central stop is Wat Rong Khun, better known as the White Temple, one of Thailand’s most striking modern religious buildings.

The temple is visually unusual, and it breaks up the long run of mountain scenery with a very different kind of sight. Lunch is served at a local restaurant before the ride continues toward Nan.

This day combines one of northern Thailand’s most famous attractions with another substantial motorcycle transfer. If you want extended temple time, you may find the schedule brisk. If you prefer to keep the wheels turning, the mix works well.

Day 6: A full rest day in Nan

Nan is where the tour wisely slows down. Day six is set aside for the pool, shopping, laundry, or optional bicycle exploration of the town’s historic and cultural sites.

I see this as a useful part of the design, especially after five consecutive riding days. The downside is that it is not really optional in the advertised schedule. You can choose how to use the day, but you do not appear to receive an alternative organized ride.

For many riders, that will be welcome. You can wash gear, catch up on sleep, and enjoy a proper meal without immediately checking the time for the next departure. Riders who want maximum time on the motorcycle may find the enforced rest day less appealing.

Day 7: Nan, Bo Kluea, and Phayao

Day seven brings one of the tour’s biggest road highlights: R1081 toward Bo Kluea. This road is presented as a motorcycle paradise, and the route through winding mountain country gives experienced riders plenty to enjoy.

Bo Kluea’s salt wells add a local touch to the day. The stop shows that northern Thailand is not only about viewpoints and temples. Small-scale production and village life are part of the route too.

After Bo Kluea, you continue through Doi Phu Kha National Park before heading toward Phayao City. The day offers excellent riding, but it also demands concentration. Curves, elevation changes, weather, and road conditions can make seven hours feel like a long time.

Day 8: Phayao to Uttaradit by back roads and ferry

Leaving Phayao, the route first uses some main highway before turning onto back roads through Mae Yom National Park. The change in pace is part of the attraction. You are not simply following the fastest line between two cities.

One of the day’s unusual features is the crossing of the Sirikit Dam reservoir by wooden ferry. It is a small but memorable break from the motorcycle, and it gives the route a strong local character.

The overnight stop is Uttaradit. The day is built around back roads, mountain riding, and open views, so you should expect another full saddle day rather than a sightseeing-heavy schedule.

Day 9: Uttaradit to Sukhothai Historical Park

Day nine is shorter and easier by comparison. The route passes through large rice fields on back roads before reaching Sukhothai.

That shorter ride creates time to visit Sukhothai Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site. This is one of the trip’s major cultural stops, and the slower afternoon pace lets you explore without trying to squeeze the park into a hurried lunch break.

Sukhothai works particularly well after several days in the mountains. The broad fields and historic ruins give the tour a different visual rhythm, and the stop adds depth to what could otherwise be only a road-focused holiday.

Day 10: Sukhothai back to Chiang Mai

The final day heads north toward Chiang Mai on R101, known here as the Columnar Mountains road. The route passes Den Chai, where you visit a large reclining Buddha, then continues through winding mountain roads toward Lampang before returning to Chiang Mai.

It is another seven-hour day, so the finish is not a quick ride back to the shop. That is worth keeping in mind if you have an evening flight. The tour ends back at the original meeting point on Ragang Road, and you should allow extra time before making onward travel plans.

Motorcycles, equipment, and group size

The tour includes a motorcycle with unlimited mileage, but the supplied information does not specify the exact models available. If your choice of bike matters, ask Big Bike Tours before paying.

Riding gear includes helmets, jackets, gloves, and knee guards. That saves luggage space, though you may still want to bring personal riding layers and any gear that fits you better.

The maximum group size is 10. That is small enough to keep the group manageable, while still large enough for a mix of riding speeds and personalities. The support van carries luggage and can take a few passengers if arranged in advance, a useful option if fatigue, rain, or discomfort catches up with you.

The most important question is experience. The route is designed for motorcycle riding, not for a chauffeured sightseeing holiday. One detailed account praised the roads and guide but also raised concerns about safety, and another suggested that riders might benefit from being grouped by experience. I would take that seriously. Ask how the group handles different speeds, wet roads, overtaking, and riding order before departure.

Food, hotels, and the daily rhythm

Nine breakfasts, nine lunches, and nine dinners are included, along with water, soft drinks, coffee, and tea in connection with meals. That is a strong convenience on a route where finding the next suitable restaurant is not always your problem to solve.

The food receives especially warm praise, with generous portions and good local meals mentioned repeatedly. If you prefer complete independence at mealtimes, the fixed meal plan may feel restrictive. For most riders, though, it keeps the day simple.

The hotels and resorts are selected for quality and leisure facilities. Pool time matters here because the ride days are long. You are paying for a trip that gives you a comfortable base after the road, not the cheapest available bed in each town.

Who should book this Thailand ride?

You should consider it if you:

• Have solid motorcycle experience and enjoy long days on winding roads.
• Want northern Thailand beyond Chiang Mai, including Nan, Phayao, Mae Hong Son, and Sukhothai.
• Prefer a guided trip with luggage support and planned meals.
• Like a mix of mountain riding, temples, border areas, villages, and historic sites.
• Value a small group and a professional Road Captain.

You may want a shorter or more flexible trip if you are a nervous beginner, dislike seven-hour riding days, or want several unscheduled days in Pai and Chiang Rai. The tour is also not ideal if you want to choose every hotel and restaurant yourself.

The overall rating is 4.8 from 45 ratings, with 96 percent recommending it. The strongest praise centers on the roads, well-maintained motorcycles, food, hotels, organization, and guides. Pong is singled out as an exceptional guide, though guide assignments can change.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if your main goal is to ride northern Thailand’s best mountain routes while leaving the practical work to a local operator. The combination of Doi Inthanon, Mae Hong Son, Doi Mae Salong, the Golden Triangle, R1081, R1148, Sirikit Dam, and Sukhothai gives you a wide view of the country in 10 days.

Before booking, confirm the motorcycle model, your insurance coverage, the deductible, and how the group manages different riding abilities. If those points suit you, the price is reasonable for a fully supported trip with meals, hotels, equipment, airport pickup, and unlimited mileage.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the local start time. The meeting point is Big Bike Tours, 134 Ragang Road in Chiang Mai, with an 8:30 a.m. start.

FAQ

How long is the motorcycle tour?

The tour lasts approximately 10 days, with nine overnight stays and a return to the Chiang Mai meeting point on day 10.

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts at Big Bike Tours, 134 Ragang Road, Chang Khlan, Chiang Mai. The tour ends back at the same meeting point.

What time does the tour start?

The listed start time is 8:30 a.m.

Is airport pickup included?

Yes. Pickup service from Chiang Mai Airport is included.

How many people can join the tour?

The maximum group size is 10 travelers.

Is motorcycle rental included?

Yes. Motorcycle rental with unlimited mileage is included, along with a helmet, jacket, gloves, and knee guards.

Are meals included?

Yes. The package includes nine breakfasts, nine lunches, and nine dinners, plus water, soft drinks, coffee, and tea with meals.

Is travel insurance included?

No. Travel insurance is not included. You are strongly advised to arrange suitable insurance in your home country.