7 Day Road Tour - Thailand by Tarmac

New for 2009/10, we are introducing a road tour of northern Thailand. Based on our popular Dragon’s Tail enduro tour, visiting many of the same sights, this is tarmac all the way. We ride 400cc supermotards, bikes that are ideally suited to the mountain roads, as well as the Thai road and traffic conditions. They make the ride that much more fun, and that much more relaxing, than more ‘traditional’ touring bikes, and reflect our approach to touring in Thailand - we want you to become part of the country, to let it get under your skin.

Tour highlights

The royal mausoleum at Doi Inthanon, Thailand’s highest mountain, with the requisite spectacular views
Largest caves in Southeast Asia
Dramatic waterfalls
Chiang Mai night market
Tribal villages only reachable by narrow trails
Varied terrain from steep mountain mud trails to gentle stony tracks and river crossings

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Chiang Mai. We will meet you at the airport and transfer you to our tour hotel. The rest of the day is for you to relax and unwind, sightseeing, shopping or relaxing by the pool. In the evening we’ll have a welcome dinner in a riverside restaurant, with maybe time to visit the famous night bazaar. THAI-3

Day 2 Chiang Mai – Mae Malai (150 km). We pick up the supermotards, and head out into the hills just outside Chiang Mai. This will give you the opportunity to familiarise yourself with the bike and the local riding conditions, and we can modify the bike’s set up if needed. We visit the famous Doi Suthep temple and a hill tribe village, and introduce you to the excellent Thai mountain roads, ending the day with a barbecue at our base in Mae Malai, about 30 km north of Chiang Mai.

Day 3 Mae Malai – Mae Cham (160 km). After breakfast we set off up into the mountains again, this time heading southwest out of Chiang Mai. Our lunch stop is a roadside restaurant in Doi Inthanon National Park, and it’s then an enjoyable twisty tarmac ride to the top of Doi Inthanon, Thailand’s highest mountain at 2565 m. On a clear day the views from the top are spectacular, and we spend some time at the twin mausoleums built by the present King and Queen of Thailand on two small mounds near the top, known as the Royal Chedis. After taking the road back down, we arrive at our comfortable hotel in Mae Cham.

Day 4 Mae Cham – Pai (200 km). Today is a long day in the saddle, with fantastic mountain roads and countless curves. Our destination is Pai, a small town famous for its hot springs, and for being one of Thailand’s best beauty spots.

Day 5 Pai (100 km loop). And because the riding around here is so good, we spend today riding around Pai on the narrow local roads. The town is surrounded by the scenic Huai Nam Dang National Park, which stretches to the Burmese border to the north and west. We take in a visit to the largest cave in southeast Asia, with it’s magnificent stalagmites and stalactites, and have the opportunity to visit some beautiful waterfalls, gorges and mountain trails. There will hopefully be time to explore Pai, and bathe in the hot springs.

Day 6 Pai – Chiang Dao (150 km). Another great day’s riding through Huai Nam to Chiang Dao, where we stay in a resort hotel. Again, the roads seem to be built just for motorcycling.

Day 7 Chiang Dao – Chiang Mai (200 km). Our last day is another good day’s riding, with several possible routes back to Chiang Mai, depending on your wishes and the weather. The riding follows the Ping and Taeng river valleys with their wooded banks and waterfalls. We’ll stop at an elephant camp on the way. We arrive back in Chiang Mai in the early afternoon, in time for flights to Bangkok that evening. Or if you want to stay, there’s time for sightseeing, bargain hunting or just relaxing by the pool.

Total distance c. 950 km

Thailand by Tarmac Tour

Rider

Passenger

Sgl rm suppl.

18 Jan - 24 Jan 2010

£875.00

£495.00

£65.00

18 Jan - 24 Jan 2011

£875.00

£495.00

£65.00

Extra nts

£22.00

£22.00

£22.00

Ready to book? Please click here THAI-5

Price includes: Suzuki 400 supermotard (Kawasaki 250 D-Tracker supermotard also available on request) with liability insurance, fuel, resort/hotel/guesthouse accommodation with bed and breakfast, airport and local transfers, 4WD support vehicle, English speaking tour guide and local support team.

Price excludes: Motorcycle damage insurance (not available), entrance fees, lunches, dinners and drinks, and personal expenses. Burma visa c. £3, elephant ride c. £10, river rafting c. £5, Karen hilltribe visit c. £7. Travel insurance and return flights from the UK to Chiang Mai, plus any other accommodation or tours, can be booked through H-C Travel at the time of booking.

Any questions? Please click here

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