Discover the Gems of Lanna Kingdom on a 9 Days Motorcycle Tour

Northern Thailand rewards the rider who takes the long way. This nine-day motorcycle tour links mountain roads, small villages, temples, national parks, and towns that are easy to miss by bus or car. I especially like the Nan Loop, with its Bo Kluea salt wells and Doi Phu Kha National Park, and the mix of major sights with quiet countryside roads.

I also like the practical support: a chase vehicle, spare motorcycle, riding gear, meals, and carefully selected three- and four-star hotels. The main caution is the riding distance. At roughly 250 to 350 kilometers per day, this is a serious road trip, not a gentle sightseeing holiday.

You will cover much of Northern Thailand, from Chiang Mai to Nan, Chiang Rai, Pai, Mae Hong Son, Mae Sariang, and back to Chiang Mai. The route includes long days in the saddle, winding mountain roads, and weather that can change quickly. If you enjoy riding as much as arriving, this tour offers excellent value and a memorable way to see the north.

Key points to know before booking

• The Nan Loop is the scenic heart of the tour: Ride through mountain country to Bo Kluea, an 800-year-old salt-making area, and Doi Phu Kha National Park.
• You get more than famous sights: The route includes villages, local markets, temples, art spaces, rice fields, and roadside food stops.
• The tour covers serious distance: Plan on 250 to 350 kilometers of riding on many days, with several hours on winding roads.
• Support is built into the price: A chase vehicle, spare motorcycle, guides, fuel, insurance, riding gear, and meals reduce the usual hassles of a long motorcycle trip.
• Chiang Rai gives you a needed pause: Day 5 is a full rest day after the demanding northern section.
• The group is capped at 15 people: That is large enough for a social ride but still manageable on mountain roads.

Why the route works so well for motorcycle travel

Northern Thailand is at its best when you can stop often. A motorcycle lets you pause beside a lake, pull over near a village, or take in a mountain view without organizing a full vehicle stop. The route also uses places where the journey matters as much as the destination.

You will ride through forest, mountain passes, rice-growing areas, and small communities. The scenery changes gradually, which makes the long days feel purposeful rather than like simple transfers between hotels.

The riding is not for beginners who have never handled a motorcycle on mountain roads. An international driving licence is required unless you contact the operator about alternatives. A current passport is also required on the day of the tour.

The company supplies helmets with Bluetooth, gloves, jackets, pants, and boots. You are strongly advised to wear all protective clothing, and bringing your own gear may be wise if you need an unusual size. Thailand requires motorcycle helmets, but protective boots, gloves, and riding clothing are just as important on a nine-day route.

Day 1: Chiang Mai, Phayao, Nan, and Doi Phu Kha

The tour begins at 8:00 am in Nong Kwai, south of central Chiang Mai. The opening ride heads toward Phayao, then continues to Nan and Doi Phu Kha National Park. This is a full introduction to the north, with countryside roads, hills, small villages, and changing views along the way.

Phayao is a pleasant early stop. The province is centered on Phayao Lake, a calm body of water surrounded by local life and northern scenery. The scheduled stop is short, so you should see it as a break in the ride rather than a full exploration of the province.

Nan brings a stronger cultural shift. It is a quieter provincial center with temples, markets, local food, and traditional northern character. The approach from Phayao includes rice paddies, villages, and a mountain pass, so the ride itself gives you a useful first look at life away from Thailand’s main tourist centers.

Doi Phu Kha National Park receives much of the day. Expect forests, mountain roads, hiking possibilities, and views across valleys. The route information allows up to eight hours here, although the precise balance between riding, stops, and park time may change.

The drawback is simple: Day 1 is ambitious. You will be tired by the time you reach your hotel, especially if this is your first day riding in Thailand. The payoff is that you quickly leave the more familiar tourist routes behind.

Day 2: The famous Nan Loop and Bo Kluea’s salt wells

Day 2 is the tour’s strongest day for riders who want dramatic roads. The Nan Loop takes you from Nan through mountain country toward Bo Kluea and back toward Nan. Expect bends, forest, steep slopes, and regular changes in elevation.

Bo Kluea is more than a scenic stop. Its traditional salt wells have been used for about 800 years, giving the town a direct link to local craft and daily life. The salt is drawn from underground brine and processed in a traditional way. The stop adds substance to the ride because you are seeing how a local product is made, not just photographing a viewpoint.

Doi Phu Kha National Park returns as a major part of the day. If you enjoy forests and mountain views, this is where the tour earns its keep. You may also find that the park is the best place to slow down after the tighter bends around Bo Kluea.

Nan receives you again at the end of the loop. This two-night pattern matters. Instead of packing every morning, you can ride a demanding loop with the same hotel base, which makes the day more comfortable.

The main consideration is road fatigue. A route filled with curves can be exciting, but it requires steady attention. Keep your pace sensible, use the supplied protective gear, and do not treat every bend as a race.

Day 3: From Nan to Chiang Khong and the Mekong

Day 3 moves east toward Pang Kha, Phu Chi Fah, and Chiang Khong. The route combines high viewpoints with a river town, giving you another change of scenery after the Nan Loop.

Pang Kha is listed as a cultural and scenic stop. The more dramatic point is Phu Chi Fah, known for rock formations and wide views toward Laos. The exact stop timing can vary, but the area is valued for its high mountain setting and cross-border views.

Chiang Khong sits beside the Mekong River. It is a useful place to experience a slower border-town atmosphere, with local temples, museums, and northern food. The stop is brief in the schedule, so do not expect a long independent visit unless the guide adjusts the timing.

This day has a different rhythm from Day 2. Rather than circling one province, you are moving toward the Golden Triangle area. The road is part of the story, and the changing views toward the Mekong make the day feel like a genuine journey.

Day 4: The Golden Triangle and Chiang Rai’s White Temple

From Chiang Khong, you ride toward the Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet around the Mekong and Ruak rivers. The area carries a complicated past connected to the opium trade, border commerce, and regional movement. The viewpoint is attractive, but the geography is the real reason to stop.

You then continue to Wat Rong Khun, better known as the White Temple. Its white exterior, reflective details, and modern artistic style make it unlike older Thai temples. It is highly photogenic, but it is also a functioning religious and cultural site, so modest clothing and respectful behavior are appropriate.

Chiang Rai is the overnight base. The city has temples, markets, galleries, and historic places, and it feels more relaxed than Chiang Mai. Since you spend the next day here, you have time to explore without trying to fit the whole city into one rushed afternoon.

The White Temple is a popular sight, so it can feel more crowded than the villages and parks earlier in the trip. Still, its unusual design gives the tour a welcome burst of contemporary art after several days focused on older traditions and natural scenery.

Day 5: A full rest day in Chiang Rai

A rest day is essential on this itinerary. By Day 5, you will have covered mountain roads, long distances, and several major stops. A full day in Chiang Rai lets you sleep later, walk around town, visit temples, browse local markets, or simply give your legs a break.

This is also your best chance to catch up on laundry and personal errands. The tour includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner on most days, but personal expenses and hotel extras are not covered, so keep some money available for drinks, snacks, and optional purchases.

I consider this rest day one of the tour’s best design choices. Without it, the second half of the route could become a test of endurance rather than a pleasure ride.

Day 6: Chiang Rai, Chiang Dao, and Pai

The route turns south toward Chiang Dao before reaching Pai. Doi Chiang Dao rises to 2,225 meters and is Thailand’s third-highest peak. The area offers mountain scenery, cultural interest, and opportunities for walking, although the tour schedule does not promise a particular trek.

Pai is known for its relaxed mood, scenic surroundings, and younger, more alternative atmosphere. It also gives you access to Pai Canyon, where narrow ridges and steep gullies create dramatic views. Use care around exposed edges, particularly if the weather is wet.

This is another long day, and the mountain roads between Chiang Rai, Chiang Dao, and Pai demand concentration. Pai itself is appealing for an evening stroll and casual food, but you may have limited energy after the ride.

The route is strongest for people who enjoy a contrast between rural roads and small-town life. You get forest and mountain scenery during the day, then a more social town at night.

Day 7: Pai, Mae Hong Son, and the long southern ride

Day 7 covers about 270 kilometers from Pai toward Mae Sariang, with Mae Hong Son included along the route. Mae Hong Son is known for ornate temples, including Wat Phra That Doi Kong Mu, and for its quiet setting among the northern mountains.

This is a day where the road deserves as much attention as the stops. The route passes through some of Northern Thailand’s most winding country, so your comfort with repeated curves matters more than your ability to ride fast.

The published schedule places Mae Hong Son and Mae Sariang across Days 7 and 8, and the precise overnight sequence can depend on the final route. Ask the operator to confirm which town you sleep in each night before paying, especially if you are arranging extra hotel nights before or after the tour.

Day 8: Mae Sariang and the Mae Hong Son Loop

The eighth day continues through the Mae Hong Son Loop toward Mae Sariang, with Mae Surin Waterfall included as a scenic stop. Water levels and weather can affect the feel of a waterfall visit, so treat it as a nature stop rather than a guaranteed swimming opportunity.

Mae Sariang is a good place to enjoy a quieter evening. The town is associated with riverside views, local life, and attractive sunsets. After a sequence of demanding rides, the slower pace here can be welcome.

The route description again overlaps Mae Hong Son and Mae Sariang, so confirm the day-by-day hotel plan. That small check can prevent confusion about luggage, check-in, and where you need to be at the end of the riding day.

Day 9: Doi Inthanon and the return to Chiang Mai

The final ride heads from Mae Sariang to Doi Inthanon, Thailand’s highest mountain, before returning to Chiang Mai. Doi Inthanon National Park is the major attraction, with cool mountain air, forests, viewpoints, and the summit area.

The stop at Doi Inthanon is relatively short in the stated schedule, so do not expect a full park tour. It works as a final major landmark before the route drops back toward Chiang Mai.

The last section passes through small towns and villages. You may stop at a local market or street vendor for food, giving the finale a useful connection to everyday life rather than ending only at a tourist viewpoint.

The tour finishes back at the original meeting point. Since the final day includes both a major mountain stop and a return ride, avoid booking a tight onward flight that same evening.

What the $3,793.78 price includes

At $3,793.78 per person, this is not a budget motorcycle rental. It is a guided, supported tour with a large amount built into the fee.

You receive the motorcycle, fuel, a TAT-licensed tour guide, third-party motorcycle liability insurance, all listed national park and historic-site entrance fees, and a chase vehicle carrying a spare motorcycle. Riding gear is supplied, including helmets with Bluetooth, jackets, pants, gloves, and boots.

The package also includes eight breakfasts, nine lunches, eight dinners, and hotel accommodation in selected three- and four-star properties. That is significant on a route where arranging food, rooms, fuel, repairs, and park entry yourself would take time every day.

Motorcycle health insurance costs an additional $3 per day. Alcohol, flights, visas, personal purchases, and hotel extras are also outside the package.

The value is strongest if you want a managed ride rather than a self-guided rental. The chase vehicle and spare motorcycle are especially useful in remote areas. You are paying for route planning, support, meals, accommodation, and the ability to focus on riding.

Group size, guides, and practical support

The maximum group size is 15 people. That is not a private tour, but it is small enough for guides to keep the group organized on mountain roads. The company’s representative, Andy, is available through WhatsApp before the tour, which can make pre-trip questions easier to handle.

Past praise has focused on responsive communication, good motorcycles, hot showers at the hotels, thoughtful coffee stops, and guides who stay with the group. The standard of the bikes and hotels has also been singled out as a strong point.

A pillion rider can join, but the operator recommends booking the child option and providing passenger details. Clarify that arrangement before booking, since motorcycle fit and accommodation planning may depend on it.

The route can change because of road works, weather, or updated route research. No refund is offered for ordinary route changes, so you should approach this as a guided touring plan rather than a fixed timetable carved in stone.

Who should book this ride?

You should consider it if you:

• Ride confidently on winding roads and can manage 250 to 350 kilometers in a day.
• Want northern Thai scenery and local towns more than resort time.
• Prefer a guide, support vehicle, included meals, and arranged hotels.
• Like having a rest day but do not need every day to be slow.
• Want to combine major stops such as the White Temple and Golden Triangle with less-visited rural areas.

You may want a shorter tour if long saddle days sound tiring. This is also not ideal if you want complete freedom to choose your own route, restaurants, hotels, and daily pace.

For cancellation, a full refund is available when you cancel at least six full days before the start time. Cancellations two to six days before departure receive a 50 percent refund, while cancellations less than two full days before departure are not refunded. Poor weather or failure to meet the minimum group size can lead to a new date, another experience, or a full refund.

Should you book the Lanna Kingdom motorcycle tour?

Book it if you want Northern Thailand in broad, scenic strokes and you are happiest with a throttle in your hand. The Nan Loop, Bo Kluea, the Golden Triangle, Pai, Mae Hong Son, and Doi Inthanon give the route real variety, while the support vehicle and included equipment make a demanding journey easier to manage.

Before booking, confirm the motorcycle model, the exact hotel sequence around Mae Hong Son and Mae Sariang, and the plan for any pillion rider. If those details suit you, the price is reasonable for nine days of guided riding, accommodation, meals, fuel, park fees, and backup support.

FAQ

How long is the motorcycle tour?

The tour lasts approximately nine days, beginning and ending at the meeting point in Chiang Mai.

Where does the tour start?

It starts at Soi 4, Tambon Nong Kwai, Amphoe Hang Dong, Chiang Mai 50230, Thailand. The scheduled start time is 8:00 am.

What distance do riders cover each day?

The average daily distance is about 250 to 350 kilometers.

Is an international driving licence required?

Yes. An international driving licence is required unless you contact the operator about your situation.

What riding gear is supplied?

The tour supplies helmets with Bluetooth, gloves, jackets, pants, and boots. Protective clothing is strongly recommended, and helmets are compulsory in Thailand.

Are meals and hotels included?

Yes. Hotel accommodation in selected three- and four-star properties is included, along with eight breakfasts, nine lunches, and eight dinners.

What happens if the weather is poor?

The experience requires good weather. If the tour is canceled because of poor weather, you will be offered a different date or a full refund.