Welcome Your Suggestions Re Trip Phitsanulok, Nan, Chiang Rai

We are planning to ride from Phitsanulok to (North of) Chiang Rai in 2 days, stay 1 day and then back in 2 days (next month).
What scenic routes do you recommend? We have a road bike and would prefer to ride mainly paved roads.
Our base camp will be Phitsanulok (I will take our bike there on our pick-up truck from Chanthaburi) and we were thinking of staying one night in Nan, next day to Chiang Rai.
I read the post "A mountain loop West of Nan" by DavidFL, inspiring, but how about going North taking roads East of Nan?
BTW, we don't like altitudes where it gets chilli in day time.
Your suggestions are very welcome.
 
Apr 2, 2008
331
78
63
Phuket
www.bmwoverlander.com
At this time of the year there are hardly any places along the route that is cold in day time. Even nights are pleasantly fresh, not cold.

Here is my suggestion, 700km of exhilarating ride thru some of the best routes in entire country. I intentionally skipped R1155 because you pointed out ride ends in Chiang Rai and I don't think you would made it due to time restrictions.

goo.gl/3dHmjM


map.jpg


Enjoy the ride!

17555348_10154170851087084_87262761_n.jpg
 
Thank you so much Goran.
This is what I hoped for. It looks great. 700 km in 2 days seems relaxed but we will add a day to our trip not to feel hurried.
Chiang Rai was just to set a goal, we may not enter the city but ride to places near the border.
I will study the route you suggested a bit closer these days and post my experiences when we are back home sometime next month.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Goran Phuket
We were thinking of skipping Chiang Rai altogether and find a resort along Mekong. Chiang Khong looks fine too. We could take the 1093 on our way back South. Anyway still looking for a different route back to Phitsanulok, lots of possibilities. Planning is part of the fun, even if it works out completely different sometimes....
 

DavidFL

0
Staff member
Subscribed
Jan 16, 2003
14,428
5,260
113
70
Chiang Khong
www.thegtrider.com
If you're coming in from Phrae then I'd say hit the Khun Satan road R1216 first.
1216, a hidden Pearl in Nan?

The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen Go To Nan

this will bring you back into Na Noi & then you can start on some of the roads to the east of Nan.

VDO - Nan Backyard Race Track

You don't actually have to stay in Nan either
You have options in
Bo Klua
Pua
& if you do the big Doi Phukha R1081 ride then Thung Chang & Chiang Klang; but if you're in Chiang Klang, Pua is not far & a much better option.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DutchMike

DavidFL

0
Staff member
Subscribed
Jan 16, 2003
14,428
5,260
113
70
Chiang Khong
www.thegtrider.com
If you're looking for a special spot for a night overlooking the Mekong & the Golden Triangle, check out The Mae Khong riverside
IMG_4670.jpg


Golden Triangle - Sop Ruak Accommodation

located exactly at the GT
IMG_4678.jpg

& if it is your first time there, it certainly has a special feel; sleeping right at at the GT
 

Attachments

  • IMG_4670.jpg
    IMG_4670.jpg
    70.1 KB · Views: 155
  • IMG_4678.jpg
    IMG_4678.jpg
    56.8 KB · Views: 153
  • Like
Reactions: DutchMike
Thanks. Certainly worth a visit, if time allows. If not, I saw a resort at the Mekong and the 1155 that we will probably ride.
From next week on we will start our trip if the weather looks more promising. We have heavy rains here almost every day. We went to a Cambodian border market this weekend, it was a miracle the way we rode between the showers.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DavidFL