Chiang Khong - Kuchinarai Talai UFO Rocket Festival & Return - 2026

[DavidFL]

Chiang Khong - Kalasin / Kuchinarai Talai UFO Rocket Festival & Return - 2026.

The most exciting mysterious "rocket" festival in N E Thailand.

Rider: David Unk

Bike: The Vstrom 650

Kms: 2,600 kms
Dates: 12 - 24 May 2026

A start more to come:

 

[DavidFL]

Chiang Khong – Kalasin / Kuchinarai = 1,029 Kms.

I took my time with overnight stops in Chiang Rai, Phitsanulok, Chumphae & Kuchinarai.

1. Chiang Rai: to fix the horns on my bike before departure. I don’t like riding down the highway at 120-140 with no horns on the bike. And as luck would have it Andy F ambushed me coming out of Kong’s Mc service after fixing the horns. So we ended up have a big night in Chiang Rai that ended up with Any sleeping upstairs at Okanes & parking his bike for the night in their beer garden. I was impressed & under my supervision, Andy excelled himself that night drinking Guinness, beer & double shots of various Irish whiskies. Had not he been fooled the attractive lady-boy at the start of the night it may have been a tame evening.

The 42 kg San Miguel PG at Okanes claims she can do a box of 12 before she's fully inebriated.
There's a challenge there for some punters.


2. Chiang Rai - Phitsanulok: 428kms
Routes 1 - 1154- 103 - 101 - 11
Departure time: 9.30am
Arrival Time: 4.50pm

The PTT Amazon gas station on R1, just North of the police checkpoint & Ngao turn off, must be one of the best organised in the North.

Google Maps

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The riding highlight of the day was R1154 through the Mae Yom national Ngao – Song. I opted out of riding the quicker R103 due to fear of slimy mud on road works through the mountains, where 103 is being made into a 4-lane highway. It will be an amazing ride once completed, but not in the wet while under construction please. Even riding 1154 in the wet was a joy such was the beautiful nature of the winding road and the forest.

A quick pit stop followed in Phrae to check up on friends at the Gingerbread.
They have renovated their coffeeshop & are doing well selling Phrae hooch.

Back on R11, getting nicked for 124kph 30 kms north of Phitluk was another highlight of the day. 500 baht. I should know better, but thought the “danger zone” was about 15 kms north of Phitluk, not 30 kms.

(Speed Cameras For Bikes)

2nd night on the road - Phitsanuluk.
I'd not had a night in Phitluk for 10+ years; had thought about aiming for Lomsak, but at 5pm in the afternoon I didn’t fancy riding R12 with heavy rain around.
The excellent Room Residence, was my place of stay in Phitluk; and carrying on from the previous night gender frivolities I noted that hotel reception was indeed a gender bender.

(Phitsanulok Accommodation)

The Phitluk city highlight was the discovery of the Morning Bliss Cafe for brekky. Their coffee was absolutely superb for a kick start to the day.

(Phitsanulok Restaurants)

To be continued.

 

[DavidFL]

3. Phitsanulok – Chumphae = 249 kms
Route 12. Up & over the mountains twice.

It rained on the east side of the two mountain crossings.

Departure time: 10.28am.
Arrival Time: 4.15pm.

R12 from Phitluk is a favourite racetrack for many of the kingdom’s bikers, but for me it isn’t that much fun, just put it in top gear and away you go flat knackers – the Vstrom doesn’t have enough power? You also need to slow down for the many roadside bike photographers & give ‘em a smile. Or at least that’s what I do.

The Save One Hotel was my convenient place of stay in Chumphae.

Undercover parking.

Nice rooms at ground level via a side entrance.

(Chumphae Accommodation)

The masterplan for the night was to hook up with Wayne66 & his missus for the night, plus to see the dynamic Ms Dada, owner of Number One Bar.

We were successful & Ms Dada obviously still has the goods.

Wayne66 & wife left earlier than me & much later on I wandered back to my abode alone yet again. 55 I should know better.

The discovery of Proof Croissants the next morning made for a great start to the day.

(Chumphae Restaurants)

So impressed I was, I lingered longer than I should have & finally got away from Chumphae at 11am.

4. Chumphae - Kalasin /Kuchinara- = 242 kms

I'm not sure about the elevation spike 40 kms out of Kuchinarai.
The last 40 -50 kms ride into Kuchinarai was devastating storm- torrential downpour with strong winds buffeting me.
It as absolutely epic to ride through, such that I arrived at the hotel like a drowned rat.
And hence all the unclear blurry photos at the hotel.
Even at the hotel they had suffered a leak from the top floor!

The hotel was incredible - Michael Jackson's Neverland I thought.

(Kuchinarai Accomodation)

I recalled the incredible Panthawee Hotel in Nong Khai, owner by a Miss Thailand Ladyboy, who has since passed away;
and noticed a gay guy organising an event for the Koon Ban Mae Boulevard & asked if he was the owner. Yes indeed he was.

Do you know he Panthawee in Nong Khai? Yes I do, that was owned by my good friend. He has died, the hotel demolished, and the family is fighting over the estate.

Welcome to Kuchinarai for the next few nights.