Mountain roads in Northern Thailand, sorted for you. This 6 day ride from Chiang Mai balances big sights with real riding time, with unlimited mileage rental bikes and a TAT licensed road captain in the lead. I also like how the route mixes famous stops like the White Temple with lesser seen moments like the Bo Kluea salt wells. One thing to consider: the days run full, with long stretches on curvy highways, so you need to be comfortable staying in riding mode.

If you want a tour that feels organized without feeling stiff, this one nails it. Expect a small group (up to 10), helpful gear, and a support van for luggage. You also get time to slow down in Nan, including a true leisure day, which is rare on bike trips.

Key highlights that make this Northern Thailand ride work

• Riding roads that are famous for fun, including a Top 10 rated curvy route and 120 kilometers of up and down bends
• A small-group pace (max 10) led by an English speaking road captain
• Border region experiences, from the Laos side of the Mekong by long-tail boat to the Golden Triangle area
• Temple and nature variety, with Chiang Dao cave, Wat Rong Khun, hilltop temples, hot springs, and lake views
• You are set up to ride, with helmets, jackets, gloves, knee guards, and bikes covered by insurance

Price and what your money really covers in Chiang Mai

At $2,250 per person for about 6 days, this is not a bargain tour. But it also is not just a route and a guide. The pricing is built around getting you riding fast, worrying less, and paying fewer surprise costs once you land.

Here is what you are effectively buying:

• Motorcycle rental with unlimited mileage, so you can ride the full plan without math
• A road captain leading the group, which matters on mountain roads where timing and turns can get tricky
• Hotels with leisure facilities on 5 overnights, plus breakfasts, lunches, and dinners
• Riding gear (helmet, jacket, gloves, knee guards), plus water and soft drinks at meal times
• Insurance coverage for the motorcycles (with a deductible up to 25,000 THB) and additional accident and life insurance cover

If you compare the full bundle to piecing it together yourself, the value shows up fast, especially once you price out a guide, bike rental, and the insurance layer. You also get pickup from Chiang Mai Airport, which keeps your first day from wasting hours.

The ride setup: bikes, gear, insurance, and that luggage van

This is a guided tour, but the practical goal is simple. You should spend your energy riding and taking photos, not figuring out logistics.

You get:

• Rental bikes that are intended for the group, with unlimited mileage
• Helmets, jackets, gloves, and knee guards for the ride
• Third party liability insurance for motorcycles
• Motorcycle insurance with a deductible up to 25,000 THB if there is damage
• Accident cover up to 100,000 THB and life insurance up to 1,000,000 THB
• A support van for luggage, with space for a few guests on request

Why this matters on a route like this: Northern Thailand roads can be long and demanding. If a small issue happens, the van and the guided schedule reduce the risk of losing the day. Also, having the right gear from day one is a quality-of-life upgrade, especially if you are coming in from outside Thailand.

Day 1: Mae Ai, Chiang Dao Cave, and Tha Ton’s hilltop sunset

Day one sets the tone with a mix of easy sightseeing and real mountain riding. You head north from Chiang Mai, passing through Mae Ai on the way. Lunch is handled at a local restaurant, which keeps the day flowing instead of building in big delays.

After lunch, you go to Chiang Dao Cave. It is a classic stop that adds a cool break from the heat and road time. Then the ride turns into mountain-road fun as you head toward Tha Ton.

The big payoff here is Wat Tha Ton on top of the mountains. The plan includes time to enjoy the sunset from the viewpoint, and that kind of light makes temples and viewpoints feel cinematic without needing special effects.

Practical note: this is a strong first day. You are not just arriving and stretching. You are sightseeing, then riding, then sunset.

Day 2: Karen village, Doi Mae Salong tea, Doi Tung Royal Villa, and the Golden Triangle border vibe

Day two is where the tour goes broad. You start after breakfast, then move from Tha Ton toward the border area.

First stop is the long-neck Karen tribe village near the Thailand Myanmar border. It is a cultural stop, and it helps you understand the region beyond the roads alone. You also continue with the mountain tea theme at Doi Mae Salong, where Chinese mountain tea farmers live. The plan even calls out testing the tea there, which is one of those small moments that turns a viewpoint into a real food and daily-life stop.

Next comes Doi Tung Royal Villa, with visits to the Winter Palace and the botanical garden, plus lunch at the Royal’s Project restaurant. This part feels different from the border stops. It is calmer, more landscaped, and it gives your legs a break from constant turning.

Then you head toward Mae Sai, the northernmost point of Thailand. You visit Wat Tham Pla, where you can feed food to wild monkeys. I like this stop for one reason: it is quick and memorable, but it does not steal hours from the riding.

The Golden Triangle experience is a full day highlight. You ride to the area and take a long-tail boat trip on the Mekong River, plus a short visit to a small Laos village (the plan notes no visa is necessary for this short visit). You also stop at the Opium museum before settling in for the night near the river.

This day can feel like it has everything, but that is the point. You end with a strong sense of place, where roads meet borders, rivers, and history.

Day 3: Wat Rong Khun’s White Temple and Nan’s hilltop temple views

Day three shifts from Golden Triangle energy to Chiang Rai and then into Nan.

You go to Chiang Rai city first and visit the White Temple (Wat Rong Khun). It is widely famous, but the real value on a guided trip is timing. You are not guessing when it will be open or how long the line might take. You get a solid block of time to see it and move on.

Lunch is at a local restaurant, then you ride into Nan via a mountainous highway. You also visit Wat Phra That Khao Noi near the Nan hills, a hilltop temple that gives you those Northern Thailand viewpoint moments where the air feels clearer and the world looks bigger.

By the time you reach Nan, the plan includes hotel downtime with a swimming pool, and later you can enjoy Nan’s nightlife. The key here is balance: you get a ride-heavy day, but you also get a proper recovery window.

Day 4: A true leisure day in Nan, plus optional bike exploring and laundry time

Day four is intentionally light. You do nothing planned, and you are free to relax by the pool or shop in town.

The tour also offers an optional way to see more of Nan using bicycles, focusing on cultural and historical sites. There is also laundry service available, which is quietly huge on a motorcycle trip. Clean clothes turn day five into a better day, not a sweaty scramble.

This kind of downtime matters because the rest of the trip has long curvy riding stretches. If you skip this day and tried to pack more into it, you would likely feel it by mid-trip.

Day 5: R1081 Bo Kluea salt wells, Doi Phu Kha National Park, and R1148’s 120 km of curves

Day five is a ride nerd’s day. It starts with moving from Nan toward the Bo Kluea area on R1081, described as a motorcycle paradise road.

You visit the Bo Kluea salt wells, another moment that feels more local than a typical roadside attraction. Then you continue through Doi Phu Kha National Park toward Chiang Klang for lunch.

After that, the plan hits the big one: highway No. 1148, ranked as one of the most fun biking roads to find anywhere in the world. The route is described as 120 kilometers of up and down curves through impressive mountains. If you want a day where riding is the main event, this is it.

After the fun road stretch, you continue on R1021 through farming areas to Phayao. You end at the lake area, with time to discover Kwan Phayao Lake and the town of Phayao on the southeast corner of the water.

This day works because it gives you contrast. It is not only curves. You also get nature and lakeside atmosphere at the end.

Day 6: Kwan Phayao loop riding, R120, Than Tong waterfall, and Mae Kachan hot springs

The final day keeps the Northern Thailand feel and closes it with a relax-friendly finish.

You leave Phayao by riding around Kwan Phayao Lake, described as one of the largest lakes in Northern Thailand. That is a nice way to start a last day, because it breaks up the feeling of racing toward the finish.

Then you ride on R120, which the plan calls a dream road. Along the route you visit Than Tong waterfall and Mae Kachan hot spring.

Lunch is served in front of the hot spring, then you visit a local market, stopping for refreshment, before heading back to Chiang Mai. The market stop is a practical touch. After multiple riding days, having a place to slow down and grab snacks and drinks is part of what makes tours like this feel livable.

What this tour feels like day-to-day: pace, group size, and stress level

This tour is built around clear routing and predictable rhythm.

• You typically ride about 7 hours per day, with stops spaced across sightseeing and viewpoints.
• You stay in quality hotels and resorts with leisure facilities, which helps you recover and reset.
• You have support for luggage, so you do not spend the whole trip thinking about bags.
• You move as a group, up to 10 travelers, led by the road captain on a motorcycle.

That small group limit is one of my favorite design choices. Larger groups can create traffic jams at stops. Here, the plan is small enough to keep things organized without feeling rushed every time you park.

The main pace drawback is simple: this is not a slow culture-only trip. It is a motorcycle tour. Expect curves, climbs, and long riding blocks. If you are prone to motion sickness or you hate changing elevations, you might want to consider a different style of trip.

Who should book this Northern Thailand motorcycle tour

This is a great fit if:

• You want guided motorcycling on roads famous for riding, not just scenic pull-offs
• You like a mix of temples, border regions, food, and viewpoints
• You want a tour that handles logistics while you focus on the road
• You like small-group travel, with a maximum of 10 riders

You might hesitate if:

• You want long, relaxed sightseeing days with minimal riding
• You are uncomfortable on curvy mountain highways for extended stretches
• You expect every day to be a low-effort pace

Should you book this Big Bike Tours Northern Thailand ride?

I’d book it if you want a trip that feels like real motorcycle travel with structured comfort. The best argument for booking is not one single temple or one single road. It is the package: gear included, bikes covered for the right reasons, meals handled, hotels pre-picked, and a guide in front of the group.

If you are the type who counts roads as part of the vacation, this route is exactly the kind of Northern Thailand ride that pays off. You will get both the headline moments like Wat Rong Khun and the riding payoffs like the big curve day on R1148.

FAQ

FAQ

How long is the 6 Day Motorcycle Tour?

It runs for 6 days approximately, starting at 8:30 am.

Where does the tour start and end?

It starts at Big Bike Tours at 134 Ragang Rd, Tambon Chang Khlan, Amphoe Mueang Chiang Mai, Chang Wat Chiang Mai 50100, Thailand. It ends back at the same meeting point.

Is pickup from the airport included?

Yes, pickup from Chiang Mai Airport is included.

Are motorcycle rental and mileage included?

Yes. Motorcycle rental is included, with unlimited mileage.

What riding gear is provided?

You get riding gears including helmets, jackets, gloves, and knee guards.

What meals and tickets are included?

Breakfast is included for 5 days, and lunch for 5 days. Dinner is included for 5 days as well. Admission tickets are handled as noted in the plan (some stops are free, and the Golden Triangle day is marked as included).

What insurance coverage is included?

There is third party liability insurance for motorcycles. Motorcycle insurance is included with a deductible up to 25,000 THB if there is damage. The plan also includes accident cover up to 100,000 THB and life insurance up to 1,000,000 THB.

What is the cancellation window for a full refund?

You can cancel up to 3 days in advance of the experience for a full refund. If you cancel less than 3 days before the start, the amount you paid will not be refunded.