Scorching hot, great to leave Chiang Mai and head out on a Thailand motorcycle tour into the mountains around the Golden Triangle. Smokey, real smokey as you get out into the rural areas, Phu Chi Fa below: A water break between Phu Chi Fa & Thoeng at the Laos border Then onto the big dipper, one of the most unusual, fun roads in Thailand. No matter who takes you on a motorbike tour of Thailand, make sure you get to see this road, its very unique. The Dragon Lake was a little empty, rainy season the dragon would be 1/2 submerged Into Chiang Saen for lunch, … [Read more...]
Archives for November 2015
Laos motorcycle tour to the CIA base that never existed, Long Cheng, Laos – “The most secret place on earth” (LS 20A)
This Laos motorcycle tour takes you to what might be the most special place in Laos. Riding south towards Long Cheng is on a stone and hard packed sand 4WD road. The base is pretty sandy, I can recall 3 areas of red clay with some gradient to them that would be tricky in the rain 20km North of Long Cheng and houses made of war scrap 5km away, headed south, you come around a mountain bend & there it is - The Most Secret Place On Earth! Looking south, the north end of the LS 20A runway is just the other side of those two pointed mounds 2km north of … [Read more...]
Thailand off road motorcycle tour – 7 days
12 Bikes, 12 riders, a big group for a Thailand off road motorcycle tour. 1,200km off-road north to Chiang Mai, this could be asking for more drama than we wished for. A quick rest before the jungle and getting some luck from the Monk In we go an conditions are great Trying to avoid the bamboo walking bridges, many get destroyed by the enduro bikes More deep river crossings with some "minor" drama This KLX had a quick bath This chap got through ok The full throttle option Then another deep crossing, everyone lining up in … [Read more...]
Borneo motorcycle tour into the Virgin Rain Forest
This "planned" Borneo motorcycle tour route, would involve logging trails, muddy trails, rocky trails, single track trails & a bit of tarmac here and there on the way back to civilization. December, January & February, tend to be the rainiest months on the north coast of Borneo, so we needed to treat this new route with some respect. Bikes were all prep'd, saddlebags intelligently mounted, they just need dry bags in each, with all your gear and you're ready to go. You want small bikes for this kind of riding, ideally low, light, to deal with the wet, muddy … [Read more...]
A Yunnan, China motorcycle tour
We checked the bikes over that were to be used for this China motorcycle tour all looked fine. Long range tanks installed so no fuel worries. Managed to get the Garmin Montana GPS mount all taped on -- it seems to be fine so far for this China motorcycle tour. Then say good bye to all that helped us and off we go. Gotta love the danger notice around a huge hole Beautiful, old, traditional Chinese house south of Kunming Finally out of the city, the driving in China is terrible, makes Thailand look safe. Now on the beautiful roads through the … [Read more...]
Thailand to Mongolia motorcycle tour
A wondrous Mongolia motorcycle tour through Laos, China, 6,000 km to untouched Mongolia. This is the tour itinerary next time we go, flying the motorcycles back to Bangkok, Thailand from Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. Day 1 Chiang Mai, Thailand / Luang Nam Tha, Laos We will cross Mekong River & enter Laos riding the curvy road to LNT Day 2 China Mohan-Jing Hong (180KM) Arrival, met by guide, clear customs, drive to Mengla. Getting licenses and push to Jing Hong. Day 3 Jing Hong - Kunming(550KM) Ride to Kunming on highway. Day 4 Kunming to Zhaotong (366KM ) Ride … [Read more...]
Thailand off road motorcycle tour – Sangkhlaburi to Umphang – Myanmar border jungle trail motorcycle tour
This is a really unique Thailand off road motorcycle tour. These two Karen locals on the banks of the Suriya River (Myanmar border) seem quite focused on some drama? They're watching to see if Bob's KLX 250 will fall through the raft before it reaches the Thai-side of the river. Looks like she enjoyed the entertainment? 0700am & a chilly morning to head off into the border jungle for sure Despite the cold weather everyone pretty keen and ready I wonder if they're headed in the same direction? A very cute child at the … [Read more...]
Myanmar motorcycle tour including Bagan
Finally open, Myanmar motorcycle tours are truly special. Bagan, truly gob-smacking beauty A quick BBQ pork brick in Mae Sariang on the way down there Early morning start, everyone ready for the border crossing into Myanmar Exit Thai Customs paperwork had all been processed the night before to speed up our Thailand exit A bit of jumping through hoops and we all exited Thailand pretty quickly and onwards to the Mywadaddy, Myanmar international border Our Myanmar fixer, lets hope he's got it all under … [Read more...]
9 motorcycles – North Thailand motorcycle tour to the old drug lords base
This Thailand motorbike tour took us to some of the most sensitive areas of Thailand. Where the drug baron's were once based. Lots of riders, so re-grouping needed at the R 118 junction out of Chiang Mai. The magical R 1150, then south onto R 118 & the skies opened. Snuck into the new Train Coffee Waing Pa Pao on R 118 between R 1150 and R 120 junctions on the west side of the road (marked on the map above). Just enough roof to keep the bikes dry too Its nicely done, worth a visit Refreshments north of Thaton and a chat with La Ota Sweet Mae … [Read more...]
Thailand border motorcycle tour
A motorcycle tour around the Thailand border - border soldiers. Some spectacular roads & views from R 1314 west of Mae Ai A stupa on R 1314 Stupa on R 1314 - Beautiful Coffee break north of Mae Ai on R 1089 Herman's Cagiva was smoking downhill (burning oil), so regular oil checks were needed Next, north-bound up R 1089 to R 1234 through Doi Mae Salong to another Myanmar border road Map copyright ©www.RideAsia.net - Permission to copy required When you get to this border road, you really are on the Myanmar border with nothing in the way, … [Read more...]