Highland Bound: The Mae Hong Son Loop - 4 Days Motorcycle Tour

Experience what's been described as "one of the world's top ten motorcycle rides." The legendary Mae Hong Son Loop takes you through 1,864 exhilarating curves between Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son : Thailand's most mountainous province, with under-populated roads and stunning scenery. Over 4 days and 3 nights, you'll ride approximately 750 km through fast-flowing curves, tight switchbacks, pine forests, and remote highlands. Highlights include the cozy mountain town of Pai, the ethnic Burmese-border town of Mae Hong Son with its lively walking street, a long-tail boat trip to visit the Karen "Long Neck" Padaung tribe, the Japanese War Museum, and a stop at Doi Inthanon : Thailand's highest mountain at 2,565 m. Day-by-day itinerary: Day 1 : Chiang Mai to Pai: Head north via Phrao on a beautiful small road back to Route 107, then climb into the highlands to Pai. Arrive around 4 p.m. for a swim, then enjoy the walking street market and live music. Day 2 : Pai to Mae Hong Son: The sweetest section of the loop : fantastic roads, little traffic, beautiful scenery. Lunch lakeside in a picturesque Chinese village near the Burmese border before arriving in cozy Mae Hong Son. Day 3 : Mae Hong Son to Mae Sariang: Swap bikes for a long-tail boat to visit the Karen Long Neck villages. Back on the road, visit the Japanese War Museum and ride fast curves to a riverside hotel on the Salween River. Day 4 : Mae Sariang to Chiang Mai: Ride through peaceful pine forests to Doi Inthanon National Park to explore a waterfall before returning to Chiang Mai around 4 p.m. Your bike: Choose between two well-maintained tour bikes fitted with crash bars and top boxes for storage: Suzuki V-Strom 650 : Our default tour bike, especially well-suited for riders carrying a pillion passenger. The larger size offers more comfort and the bigger engine delivers extra power for climbing into the mountains. Honda CB500X : Light, nimble, and bombproof. The ideal choice for solo riders who prefer a physically smaller bike. This all-inclusive tour is suited for anyone with reasonable big-bike experience. We don't ride recklessly, but you must be comfortable averaging 80–120 km/h. Pillions (passengers) are welcome.