Hi all,
just back from an epic ride, touching Thailands north (Dec.25-31). I did it a bit in a rush because it was a spontaneously decision, but probably it gives somebody a good idea for a similar short-trip…
Thanks to GTR for the great MHS loop map and all the tips, I got from several threads over the past weeks !!
Here´s a short summary of my trip:
Pattaya to Lom Sak (basically a boring ride, just to get there…)
3, 315, 3200, 3051, 33, 1, 21
Lom Sak to Chiang Mai –> Puh Hin Rongkla NP is great, but expect road conditions changing from smooth, new tar to gravel…
2372, 2331, 1143, 1245, 1244, 1047, 11
Chiang Mai to Khun Yuam -> unbelievable, stunning road – its hard to keep the safety margin for potholes and the usual challenges on Thailands roads…
107, 1095, 108
Khun Yuam to Mae Sot-> when you think it can´t get better, the 105 comes along and you are completely stunned – just beautiful !! Again – offroad experience helps but then there are stretches of brand new tar and it feels like on a race track J
108, 105
Mae Sot – Thi Lo Su Waterfall and back -> Wow this is again an absolutely amazing stretch – tight, twisty and potholish… The great thing is – you have to do it twice – no way out even though the Berndtson Thailand map suggests… Unfortunately they didn´t let me drive in the NP and I had to waste time in one of the slow 4WDs…
1090, 1167, 1288
Mae Sot to Kanchanaburi -> by avoiding the main roads it was at least a bit of fun and very relaxed…
105, 1108, 1110, 1109, 1116, 1139, 1117, 1072, 3504, 3456, 3282, 3011, Soi´s west of the 333, west of the Krasiao Dam (sometimes gravel), 3086
Kanchanaburi to Pattaya -> FH didn´t know that you aren´t allowed on the toll roads with a bike !!! Hence BKK was a bit of a shitter – definitely not recommended !!
Apart from the last day, this was an extremely enjoyable and great ride !!!
Especially in the north I met a few bikes – a few in groups as well. Unfortunately they were all traveling in the opposite direction. Probably that´s the way ??
Still can´t get around the fact that I´ve even seen groups with choppers – why would you spoil your day on roads like this ???
Except one, I booked all other accommodations 1-2 days in advance via Agoda which worked pretty well. The only accommodation I didn´t book with Agoda was the “Ban Farang Guesthouse” in Khun Yuam. I got the telephone number of the MHS map from GTR. After one night I know why they aren’t on Agoda. Not that they are bad – its just overpriced for what you get. The upside is that all biker seem to stop there and hence you have at least interesting company…
Any comments questions – please feel free…
Cheers,
Martin
just back from an epic ride, touching Thailands north (Dec.25-31). I did it a bit in a rush because it was a spontaneously decision, but probably it gives somebody a good idea for a similar short-trip…
Thanks to GTR for the great MHS loop map and all the tips, I got from several threads over the past weeks !!
Here´s a short summary of my trip:
Pattaya to Lom Sak (basically a boring ride, just to get there…)
3, 315, 3200, 3051, 33, 1, 21
Lom Sak to Chiang Mai –> Puh Hin Rongkla NP is great, but expect road conditions changing from smooth, new tar to gravel…
2372, 2331, 1143, 1245, 1244, 1047, 11
Chiang Mai to Khun Yuam -> unbelievable, stunning road – its hard to keep the safety margin for potholes and the usual challenges on Thailands roads…
107, 1095, 108
Khun Yuam to Mae Sot-> when you think it can´t get better, the 105 comes along and you are completely stunned – just beautiful !! Again – offroad experience helps but then there are stretches of brand new tar and it feels like on a race track J
108, 105
Mae Sot – Thi Lo Su Waterfall and back -> Wow this is again an absolutely amazing stretch – tight, twisty and potholish… The great thing is – you have to do it twice – no way out even though the Berndtson Thailand map suggests… Unfortunately they didn´t let me drive in the NP and I had to waste time in one of the slow 4WDs…
1090, 1167, 1288
Mae Sot to Kanchanaburi -> by avoiding the main roads it was at least a bit of fun and very relaxed…
105, 1108, 1110, 1109, 1116, 1139, 1117, 1072, 3504, 3456, 3282, 3011, Soi´s west of the 333, west of the Krasiao Dam (sometimes gravel), 3086
Kanchanaburi to Pattaya -> FH didn´t know that you aren´t allowed on the toll roads with a bike !!! Hence BKK was a bit of a shitter – definitely not recommended !!
Apart from the last day, this was an extremely enjoyable and great ride !!!
Especially in the north I met a few bikes – a few in groups as well. Unfortunately they were all traveling in the opposite direction. Probably that´s the way ??
Still can´t get around the fact that I´ve even seen groups with choppers – why would you spoil your day on roads like this ???
Except one, I booked all other accommodations 1-2 days in advance via Agoda which worked pretty well. The only accommodation I didn´t book with Agoda was the “Ban Farang Guesthouse” in Khun Yuam. I got the telephone number of the MHS map from GTR. After one night I know why they aren’t on Agoda. Not that they are bad – its just overpriced for what you get. The upside is that all biker seem to stop there and hence you have at least interesting company…
Any comments questions – please feel free…
Cheers,
Martin
