MOTORCYCLE-TRIPS · THAILAND
With OVERCROSS you will experience a motorcycle trip through the north of Thailand. From Chiang Mai, you will travel along winding roads and off-road tracks to Doi Inthanon, then on to Pai and Chiang Dao. In the Golden Triangle, you will ride along the Mekong and can make a detour to Laos.
The Journey
This off-road motorcycle trip takes you to Northern Thailand, into the mountains, through gorges, past waterfalls, along rivers, and through national parks. Along the way, you will not only experience the full range of local nature, but there will also be time for cultural sightseeing and encounters with the people. On the saddle of our motorcycles, we will dive together into the exotic tropical world of Thailand!
We will pick you up at the airport and take you directly to our base camp, which is located about 30km north of Chiang Mai. Depending on your arrival time, there may still be some time for sightseeing in Chiang Mai, a shopping trip, visiting a giant temple, a local market, or just relaxing. In the evening, there will be a communal dinner at the base camp for everyone.
After a hearty breakfast, it's time to take over our motorcycles and start our motorcycle tour through northern Thailand. We will explore the mountainous region and in the evening, we will be rewarded with a cold beer by the campfire with a grill area. The night will again be spent at the base camp.
After a satisfying breakfast, we set off into the mountains, this time heading southwest. Our first stop will be an elephant camp by the river, where we will have time for a refreshing drink and a small snack. Afterwards, a varied off-road route will take us to Doi Inthanon National Park. Then, a pleasantly winding asphalt drive awaits us to the summit of Doi Inthanon, Thailand's highest mountain at 2,565 meters. On a clear day, there is an indescribable view from the top. After this spectacular visit, the road is once again ours. It's steeply downhill now to our next stop, a beautiful waterfall. The first river crossing is coming up, and in the afternoon we will reach our day's destination, our cozy resort in Mae Cham.
Today is a somewhat longer day in the saddle of your motorcycle - we are heading to Pai. A track of over 100 kilometers through the wilderness of northern Thailand awaits us, a wonderful driving route in its purest and most beautiful form. Depending on local conditions, rider ability, and the group's wishes, we have a few possible options here that we can consider or include on the route. We have the opportunity to make a stop in some untouched mountain villages until we reach the romantic little town in the evening, with many quaint pubs and restaurants. Pai is a hidden gem for many travelers and is also known for its hot springs. We will spend the night in a resort that is within walking distance to the town center.
Since the area around Pai is excellent for our motorcycle rides, we will take advantage of today in Pai and explore the area. The town is surrounded by the picturesque Huai Nam Dang National Park, which extends to the Burmese border in the north and west. We will visit the largest cave in Southeast Asia with its magnificent stalagmites and stalactites, and there we have the opportunity to explore some beautiful waterfalls, gorges, and mountain trails. In the evening, a stroll through Pai is on the agenda. The overnight stay will be at the same resort.
Another day full of offroading through the Huai Nam Dang National Park is ahead, where we will stay overnight in a resort hotel in the evening. We have breathtaking views of the fantastic mountain world of Northern Thailand almost all the way. In the late afternoon, we reach a beautiful bungalow complex in Chiang Dao. After settling into our bungalows, we drive together to the hot springs, where we can take a relaxing bath at about 37°C.
Questions about the tour itinerary?
Our tour guide is happy to answer any questions about the day-by-day route, stops, and details.
Our day today is another great motorcycle day, with several possible routes and fantastic off-road trails back to Mae Malai, our starting point of the tour. We will ride along the Ping and Taeng river valleys with their wooded banks and waterfalls and will make one last stop at an elephant training camp. In the afternoon, we will reach Mae Malai and have free time until we get back on our motorcycles the next morning.
On our tour day today, we have a fantastic off-road route through the mountains and dense forest area with a lot of river crossings ahead of us in the first two hours. On the way to Chiang Rai, we will continue later on well-developed asphalt roads. Shortly before we reach the city, we will visit the famous 'White Temple'. We will be staying in the heart of the city, near the night market.
On well-developed country roads, we reach the infamous Golden Triangle after about an hour of driving, which became known through the opium trade. Here there is the opportunity for a speedboat ride on the Mekong, the seventh largest river in the world, which forms the border to Laos here. A visit to Laos (however without a stamp in the passport) is possible here. We continue on asphalt to Mae Sai, the northernmost city of Thailand, right on the border with Myanmar. We spend the night in a comfortable city hotel.
After breakfast, we have the opportunity today to take a walking trip to Myanmar. On the Burmese side, a gigantic market has developed in Tachilek, where goods from China, Vietnam, and Burma can be found. Afterwards, we will take a very winding, narrow, and asphalted road back up into the mountains along the border with Myanmar. After lunch, we will reach the famous Doi Mae Salong, a village high in the mountains. Mae Salong (now known as Santikharee) was founded in 1962 by Kuomintang Chinese and became famous as a center for exiled Chinese. It can be quite a shock to see Chinese style in the hills of northern Thailand! The local market is dominated by Chinese goods, from various teas to pickled snakes to potency enhancers, everything is available here. The temple “Doi Tung” is also on our route today, and we will make a stop. Afterwards, an endlessly seeming asphalt road will take us to Thaton, where we will spend the night in a resort.
On our penultimate day, we will make our way back to Chiang Mai. We will take the return route via Doi Ang Khang. Stunning landscapes, hot springs, and waterfalls will be seen on the way, along with one of the most beautiful royal gardens. In the late afternoon, we will be back at our base camp in Mae Malai. Another evening with good Thai cuisine and a cold beer by the campfire awaits us.
Today the hardest part of this motorcycle trip is on the agenda, the farewell of all tour participants. But even the most beautiful tour comes to an end. You have the option to fly home directly in the evening, do some sightseeing or shopping in Chiang Mai, or start your connecting vacation.
Want a detailed description of all tour days?
Our expert will walk you through the full itinerary and answer all your questions.
from