Around Chiang Mai then the Mae Hong Son Loop, Thailand on our Ducati 821, Dec 2025

[Shawn in Wichian]

OLD user, FIRST post
thought it was about time to post something, hey David(FL) ?
so just a "Little" video



- Chiang Mai -
I've known the two David's Unk(FL) & Lek for a year or two
make that nearly 40 for Uncle Unk, I remember Jason in nappies at his Library Service
Caught up with the "Lek" there but Unk was stranded in Chiang Khong with electrical problems
bloody Jap bikes, give me Italian spaghetti electrics any day ?

- VIDEO MENU -
0-44mins - around Chiang Mai

44mins-2.28hrs - The Mae Hong Son Loop via Doi Inthanon
bits of the ride + ALL stops/breaks
1.04hrs-1.15hrs - Pai
1.39hrs-2.03hrs - Mae Hong Son
2.13hrs-2.24hrs - base to the top of Doi Inthanon

2.35hrs-3.01hrs - Sukhothai

3.19-7.20hrs - COMPLETE ride + stops, Route 109 to Mae Hong Son

7.20-9.45hrs - COMPLETE ride + stops, Route 1263, 1088, 1192 & 1009 to the top of Doi Inthanon

---------------

Around Chiang Mai then the Mae Hong Son Loop, Thailand on our Ducati 821, Dec 2025

Chiang Mai, met my wifey there 37 years ago
she was 23, me 24
she was a hairdresser by day & a bartender by night
I've spent a combination of at least a year there, she has spent a lot more
It was "sort of" home to both of us before

We haven't been back that way for 12 years
decided to give it a break & see other places instead
we thought it was time to revisit it
see old favorites & find new places

Chiang Mai -

The South Gate area seems the better place to stay around now
plenty of guesthouses, restaurants, bars & live music
& the Nimman area has got a LOT better
prefer that area any night to the Night Bazaar/Loi Kroh area, that hasn't changed much really

I've done the loop before when I was 24, she hasn't
did it in 12 hours with breaks & a bit of sightseeing
I was on a Jap import V4 Honda VFR400, was the ideal small/light bike for those corners
wasn't planning on doing it in one day, I had luggage ready !
but was having FUN & got to Mae Hong Son at noon & decided to keep going
The Loop's major towns then were SMALL & nearly deserted in the middle of the day

We took our time with the Loop this time
as we both had backpacks on so had to keep the speed down
& made sure we did all the lookouts & plenty of drink/food/have a stretch breaks
Decided to miss Mae Sariang & go up & over Doi Inthanon instead
it's bloody steep from this other side

Conclusion -

We had a GREAT 6 day/5 night trip

 

[DavidFL]

Gday Wichian Shawn good to see ya on GTR.
When I get more financial, I will motor back down your way again to look at a few more ruins.

Enjoy the Phetchabun Hmong beauties at New Year.
There really are some stunners out there for new year nowadays.

 

[DavidFL]

I'm confused. The viewpoint at 3 minutes - is that the one south of MHS - Pha Bong

Pha Bong Viewpoint · 5XCQ+HVR, Pha Bong, Mueang Mae Hong Son District, Mae Hong Son 58000, Thailand

★★★★☆ · Scenic spot

maps.app.goo.gl

I "almost" don't recognise it - they've done some work on it there.

BTW the Riverside bar looks the same.

 

[Ughetto]

I am near the loop too
Today wiang heng to Pai off road

First fhoto Fang
Second Piang Luang

 

[Moor66]

One very nice dirt stretch is from Wiang Haeng to Ban Sop Kai via the narrow suspension bridge some 6 km south of PTT. That bridge brings one from west to east side of Mae Taeng river. The southern suspension bridge located more downstream is repaired now too, last year it was just remains left.
After Muang Khong there is one river crossing, then the trail continiues down to Sop Kai.
I see in pic it looks worse than it was, but not more than half wheel deep.

These suspension bridges I have seen on a few youtube videos, but as usual very secretive about location, it took me a few trips from bkk to find out.

 

[Ughetto]

Sleep in Panghampa last night
Today direction Mae Hong Son

 

[Ughetto]

In the past the best restaurant in Mae Hong Son was Fern. Restaurant
They have also resort where the dirty street go direction Chiang Mai off road.
The best one now is this
Only one problem they closed 16 pm

 

[Shawn in Wichian]

I'm confused. The viewpoint at 3 minutes - is that the one south of MHS - Pha Bong

Pha Bong Viewpoint · 5XCQ+HVR, Pha Bong, Mueang Mae Hong Son District, Mae Hong Son 58000, Thailand

★★★★☆ · Scenic spot

maps.app.goo.gl

I "almost" don't recognise it - they've done some work on it there.

BTW the Riverside bar looks the same.

Yeah, the viewpoint is the one just south of MHS
I think it is the most stunning one on the loop

The climb up Doi Inathon to the ticket office from the back way from Khun Yuam on the 1192
nearly killed my bike
even though it was about 15deg temp going up the motor & pipes were cooking & stunk
I really should have stopped half way up & let it cool down a bit
at least there's no residue left in the pipes/mufflers now

Only had 3 problems on the whole trip
1st one - Lampang 4 lane city overpass, me doing 120kmh half way in the left lane
dickhead in a clapped out car passes me on the left & forces me into the right lane
result, proceed through the city doing 150kmh with the wifey on the back till an electric car decides he wants a drag, I let him go
2nd one - nice rear wheel drift going around a corner near Pai for no apparent reason, asked the wife after "did you feel that?"
3rd one - soi dog in a small soi in Sukothai deciding he wants to eat us while riding pass, he's never going to catch a Ducati

The loop was great on a V2 821 but that little 400 a long time ago did it a lot faster/easier

I'm confused. The viewpoint at 3 minutes - is that the one south of MHS - Pha Bong

Pha Bong Viewpoint · 5XCQ+HVR, Pha Bong, Mueang Mae Hong Son District, Mae Hong Son 58000, Thailand

★★★★☆ · Scenic spot

maps.app.goo.gl

I "almost" don't recognise it - they've done some work on it there.

BTW the Riverside bar looks the same.

 

[Shawn in Wichian]

Gday Wichian Shawn good to see ya on GTR.
When I get more financial, I will motor back down your way again to look at a few more ruins.

Enjoy the Phetchabun Hmong beauties at New Year.
There really are some stunners out there for new year nowadays.

You don't have to go that FAR
we can meet up around Nan one day
& do a few loops
there must be some hill-tribe girls up there you HAVEN'T photo yet !