Harley Davidson Tour; Border Town, Sukothai and Backroads

This ride features rural Thailand seen as it only can from the seat of a motorcycle and ancient cities. The first day is spent Riding our Harley Davidson motorcycles up to Thailand's highest peak and premier mountain road. We turn off the beaten path on day two, passing through lonely stretches of country road. Crossing the valley on day three we find more of those lonely roads. This is the ride for those that want to witness Old Siam and Thailand country side.

Although the ride from Chiang Mai to Mae Sod can be done in a day, it is a marathon. We break this into two days so you arrive in Mae Sod relaxed - not quite as exhausted as we were the first time we did this ride. We add a favorite day trip of ours to balance out the first day.
 
The first day's ride begins with a short blast out of town heading south. Moderate traffic and a short hop through Chiang Mai suburbs lasts a few minutes and we are on a four lane divided highway that meanders through rice fields and small batches of commerce. The road narrows and we've got about an hour of sun dappled two lane black top with enough curves to loosen you up. Doi Inthanon is a national park. The fees are paid and the roads are well surfaced, enjoy the ride. Stop for coffee, a bite to eat maybe learn a little bit about the forest and it's inhabitants. After a short rest we descend through Mae Chaem Valley.

Mae Chaem Valley is not a tourist destination, it is a nice ride through rural villages. The roads are good, the traffic virtually nil, kids at play along the road stop to smile and wave, life is good.
 
As we come out of the valley, we head west; further up into the hills to Mae Sariang. We'll stop there for the night in a hotel on the river. Most tourists traveling through Mae Sariang on the way to Mae Hong Son only get to look through the bus window but a few stop here, many of those linger. Mae Sariang is central and convenient to many remote settlements, farms and hill tribe folks. The river wanders down from the hills and you'll find many a quiet spot for a drink or meal at it's eastern banks. Ask your road captain for some ideas or take off on your own for the evening. We'll be heading into some sparsely populated area in the morning.

Before leaving Mae Sariang we'll be sure to gas up the bikes and stock the truck with refreshments. As we get further from Mae Sariang the roadside businesses and homes begin to thin out until you find stretches of road with nothing but you, the road and the forest. The road it fine, usually empty and smooth. On this road we'll stop for a break and refreshment at some wide spot in the road or in front an old abandoned watchman's hut. We'll stop for lunch after we reach the river.
 
The road along the river features tall karst formations on the Burmese side of the river; the ride is awe-inspiring in so many ways. Further along the River road we come to a couple refugee settlements, their Teak leave thatched roofs in contrast to the karst back-drop are a once in a life-time photo opportunity.
 
We'll arrive in Mae Sod with time to check in to our hotel, clean up and head out to explore a few restaurants, clubs or bistros. Ask the road captain to show the restaurant/bar where they've got a couple guys playing pop tunes on Acoustic guitar and violin, a pleasant and unusual way to spend the evening.

Plenty of time in the morning after breakfast to cross the border into Mywaddy to see a more typical Burmese town, perhaps richer than internal towns but the contrast with the Thai side is striking. The border town market is on the Thai side and it's worth a look. Antiques, both old and new, in small back alley shops cheap electronics, gems (for those that know what they're lookin' at), toys, clothes and a myriad other trade trinkets litter the walkways. This is a border town; you will find something to interest you.
 
After afew hours in Mae Sod we get on the road, we'll stop for lunch along a river for lunch in Tak then head for the capitol city of an ancient kingdom; Sukothai. The roads are smooth well maintained highways with broad, sweeping curves coming out of the mountains, then a stretch of smooth straights through the valley.

• 8:00 - 8:30 AM Briefing over coffee & pastries
• Depart Chiang Mai 8:30 AM
• Travel south to Doi Inthanon National Park.
• Ride to the summit for a relaxing view of the surrounding valleys.
• On descent, stop at Napamaytanidol Chedis for a bite and maybe a taste of the arabica coffee grown on the mountain.
• Descend through the Mae Chaem Valley stopping along the Mae Chaem River for refreshment.
• Turn west into the mountains to Mae Sariang for an evening along the river.
• After a leisurely Breakfast lunch, back on the road Mae Sod along the Burmese (Myanmar) border, Lunch aside the river
• Evening at Mae Sod
• After breakfast, browse the shops or cross in Burma.
• A relaxing ride, stopping for a bite in Tak, to Sukothai
• An afternoon visit to the Sukothai Historical Park
• Evening in a boutique hotel featuring modern, yet old style, teak accommodation
• After a buffet breakfast; explore the historical and natural beauty of Sukothai
• take a country ride to Nan Province through teak forests Fantastic road
• Dinner by the river or the wet market downtown. Evenings are up to you great place to rest up and enjoy a slow-pace provincial town
• Breakfast Buffet in the morning before more forested roads to Phayao
• Lunch on the lake at Phayao
• Return to Chiang Mai taking a road less traveled by waterfalls and geysers