A 6 Day Trip up North

[Wayne66]

A 6 Day Trip up North, Day 1 05/11/25

The plan was to meet Brendon, a Malaysian Rider whom I have rode with the last time he was over in Thailand, ride with him for a couple of days and head back home
My trip had been canceled once due to me going back to work, but luckily, I was back home on leave so the trip could go off as originally planned. He had his rooms on the early stages on the trip booked and they were full so I had to look once we hit a place, which wasn’t an issue at all.





I set off quite early, 0600, as it was going to be around 570 km to get to Chiang Mai to meet up with him

No messing about, from home it was on to the 12 then the 11 all the way up.

It was quite cool and cloudy when I left home and I was hoping for it to stay dry.

The 12 from Khon San is great to ride as I have said previously, all the way to Wang Thong where you get onto the 11 heading North


‎⁨Phu Pha Daeng Wildlife Preserve Area⁩, ⁨Lom Sak District⁩, ⁨Phetchabun⁩, ⁨Thailand⁩






‎⁨Khao Kaeo⁩, ⁨Khaem Son⁩, ⁨Phetchabun⁩, ⁨Thailand⁩



The first part of the 11 is pretty boring but it improves the further North you get.


‎⁨Den Chai District⁩, ⁨Phrae⁩, ⁨Thailand⁩


‎⁨Wat Phra That Su Thon Mongkhon Khiri⁩, ⁨Den Chai District⁩, ⁨Phrae⁩, ⁨Thailand⁩

I got to CM and met up with Brendon at 1430, had a natter then went to look for a room
I tried about 10 places and they were all full due to it being the Loy Khator festival
After meeting Brendon for food I pushed on to Chom Thong, a further 52 km down the road, managed to get caught in some rain after staying dry all day .
I stopped at the first place I saw and got a room, after 632 km I had had enough

Nornnuea Hotel and Cafe, N18.42149 E98.67837

(Chomthong Accommodation)

Wayne

P.S I've forgotten how to how to put the accommodation link in with out it embedding?

 

[DavidFL]

Thats a good ride when you look at the elevation profile

Just wondering if you have a new phone camera. Your shots seem a more clear & sharp?

The hotel in Chomthong was a good find.
Chatting with a friend the other day, he said there was nothing ever much happening in Chomthong, but I suspect in high season, it is a tHai party scene with bkk-ers staying along the start of the Inthanon road to head the hills for the sea of fog.

The embedded link is fixed by inserting brackets either end of the link.

 

[Wayne66]

Yeah it was a good days riding, I do like the 12 and most of the 11
Hotel was great, 2 nice old ladies sorting me out.
Quiet place but nice all the same

 

[Wayne66]

A 6 Day Trip up North Day 2

A short day today made even shorter for me as I did 52 km of it yesterday trying to source some accommodation.
I met Brendon at the PTT in Chom Thong and after a coffee we set off.
The plan was to head to Mae Chaem taking the 1009 and the 1192
On the way we were going to visit Doi Inthanon, the highest point in Thailand





The 1009 was good to ride, lots of bends, with ups and downs.


‎⁨Wat Namtok Mae Klang⁩, ⁨Doi Inthanon National Park⁩, ⁨Ban Luang⁩, ⁨Chiang Mai⁩, ⁨Thailand⁩


‎⁨Doi Inthanon⁩, ⁨Doi Inthanon National Park⁩, ⁨Ban Luang⁩, ⁨Chiang Mai⁩, ⁨Thailand⁩

We stopped at the National Park building to buy a rip off ticket for foreigners to enter the Park. It’s the first time in my 10 years living in Thailand I have paid for a National Park, the only reason being is that I don’t agree with duel pricing.
But anyway, the ride up to Doi Inthanon was good, and in places quite steep, my friend was on a hired Honda ADV 160 and It lost a lot of power to the point you could have ran alongside him.



We were also riding in the clouds which was a bit wet. I was hoping we were going to pass through the clouds at the top, it didn’t happen.


The fantastic view from the Highest Point in Thailand, Doi Inthanon :rofl:





We left Doi Inthanon and headed back down the mountain for about 10 km and picked up the 1192
The road started off a quite narrow road through some close overlapping trees, it was also a bit damp. Further on and it became a little wider and lost the overlapping trees. Same as the 1009, lots of ups and down with twists.


On the 1192, ‎⁨Doi Inthanon⁩, ⁨Mae Chaem District⁩, ⁨Chiang Mai⁩, ⁨Thailand⁩




‎⁨Doi Inthanon⁩, ⁨Tha Pha⁩, ⁨Chiang Mai⁩, ⁨Thailand⁩




‎⁨Doi Inthanon⁩, ⁨Mae Chaem District⁩, ⁨Chiang Mai⁩, ⁨Thailand⁩

When we arrived at our overnight town, Mae Chaem, we had a late lunch and then I went in search of a room.

Sang Tong Dasha. N18.50038 E98.36285

(Mae Chaem Accommodation)

We then met up later on for dinner

Mae Chaem Gate Restaurant
N18.48807 E98.37737

(Mae Chaem Restaurants)


Wayne

 

[Wayne66]

A 6 Day Trip up North, Day 3

A great days riding was had by all today even though it was short






We took the 1088 heading north out of Mae Chaem. It was wonderful to ride, ups, downs and lots of bends to negotiate. The sun was out, what more do you need?
The views and scenery were fantastic on the road.


On the 1088, ‎⁨Mae Chaem District⁩, ⁨Chiang Mai⁩, ⁨Thailand⁩





From the 1088 we got on to the 1263, again this was another sweet road to ride, just like the 1088, nice flowing bends with the up hill and down dale thrown in for good measure.
I must have been grinning in my helmet!


On the 1293, ‎⁨Mae Chaem District⁩, ⁨Chiang Mai⁩, ⁨Thailand⁩






Still on the 1239, Khun Yuam⁩, ⁨Mae Hong Son⁩, ⁨Thailand⁩

On the 1293 we stopped for a coffee before picking up the 4009 to go see massive mini sunflower fields

The road, although IMO not as good as the other two roads ridden today was still enjoyable with some nice views thrown in for good measure. They are around 14km from the 1293
The views were great
Thung Buatong Fields and Doi Mae U Kho viewpoint
N18.89655 E98.09070


‎⁨Thung Buatong Forest Park⁩, ⁨Khun Yuam District⁩, ⁨Mae Hong Son⁩, ⁨Thailand⁩





Once we had done there we headed back to the 1293 heading for Khun Yuam.
On the way in we grabbed some lunch before I went to look for some accommodation.
I got a room in the Mitkhoonyoum Hotel,
N18.82518 E97.93420

(Khun Yuam Accommodation)

After an hour in the A/C I met back up with Brendon so we could go the Thai Japanese Memorial/Museum
N18.83029 E97.93329


‎⁨Thailand-Japan Friendship Memorial Hall⁩, ⁨Khun Yuam⁩, ⁨Mae Hong Son⁩, ⁨Thailand⁩











I enjoyed the visit, the museum inside is not very big and only cost 100 baht. Although from leaving the 7eleven and getting to the Memorial (100 yards) the power had gone out in the town so I wasn’t as well lit inside as it should have been, I would go back for another look if I am in the area again

We met up for dinner then called it a night

Wayne

 

[Franz]

Correct timing Wayne for the Buathong fields, are they already swarmed by the BKK selfie artists?

 

[Wayne66]

Not sure where they were from but some idiots were laid out in the middle of the road on a bend, fortunately I was only going slow, the look I got from them, like it was my fault 55555

 

[Moor66]

Correct timing Wayne for the Buathong fields, are they already swarmed by the BKK selfie artists?

Really not yet swarmed, their travel peak will come in 1 to 2 weeks from now. Little bit late for the sunflowers but you will surely see them everywhere else up north...

 

[Franz]

Really not yet swarmed, their travel peak will come in 1 to 2 weeks from now. Little bit late for the sunflowers but you will surely see them everywhere else up north...

Have them here in Chiang Dao on the "selfie road" in the hundreds already every day 55555

 

[Moor66]

Just wait until their numbers reach swarm state 555

 

[Wayne66]

A 6 Day Trip up North, Day 4

Today was full of ups and downs and it drove me around the bend. Nope, not the state of my mental health but the state of the roads ridden today

The day was threatening rain, and we had it, twice, waterproofs on waterproofs off. You cannot leave them on as you will end up like a boil in the bag.

We left Khun Yuam at around 0830hrs and continued north on the 108, continuing another part of the famous Mae Hong Son loop
The road was good and quite free flowing IMO, with lots of things to keep your mind focused

On the 108, ‎⁨Mueang Mae Hong Son District⁩, ⁨Mae Hong Son⁩, ⁨Thailand⁩

We didn’t go into Mae Hong Son as we have both been before albeit at different times.
My riding partner did want to go look at a Bamboo Walking bridge called Sutongpe Bridge in Ban Kung Mai Sak
The parking area is at N19.38803 E97.95170
We didn't walk all the way along as it was hot and we were in our biking boots and gear

From there we headed for the 4001, picking up the signs for Ban Rak Thai a famous Tea Village, we weren’t going there today, again we’ve both been before, for me it was on my 2014/2015 trip of Thailand and Laos which is on the site.

‎⁨Tham Pla⁩, ⁨Mueang Mae Hong Son District⁩, ⁨Mae Hong Son⁩, ⁨Thailand⁩

This time we were heading for the Huai Makhuea Son Reservoir At the Pang Ung recreational area. The 4001 wasn't too bad a ride, it’s got some steep inclines and descents at one point we were stuck behind a car and I was in first gear going 17 kmph.
Not far from Ban Rak Thai we turned onto another smaller road, the 5053 I believe, for 6/7 km to the Reservoir. A nice scenic area and it was quite busy. There are places to stay over night and lots of places for food a coffee, worth a visit if you’re in the BRT area.
The entrance to the area is on the road at N19.50005 E97.91425

‎⁨Pang Ung⁩, ⁨Tham Pla⁩, ⁨Mueang Mae Hong Son District⁩, ⁨Mae Hong Son⁩, ⁨Thailand⁩

A quick coffee before setting off


Back down the same road we had just come up so we could get onto the 1095, more of the MHS loop

On the 5053 on the way back, ‎⁨Mueang Mae Hong Son District⁩, ⁨Mae Hong Son⁩, ⁨Thailand⁩

Back on the 1095, Mueang Mae Hong Son District⁩, ⁨Mae Hong Son⁩, ⁨Thailand⁩

This road was a lot tighter in places than the 108 was IMO, and to be honest even though the riding was good I was getting a bit fed up of going up and down the gear box, people will probably disagree with me but I much prefer a more flowing road with bends etc. That said, it was still a good days riding affording some nice views and scenery.
We did stop of for some noodles on the way although I cannot remember where

On the 1095, ‎⁨Lum Nam Pai Wildlife Sanctuary⁩, ⁨Pang Mapha District⁩, ⁨Mae Hong Son⁩, ⁨Thailand⁩

The view from the noodle place

Once we got to the Pang Mapha area Brendon and I parted ways. I wanted to do more of the 1095 before it rains and end up in Pai because it’s less for me to do tomorrow when I head off for home. I will still have a 96km, 2 hour ride in the morning on the 1095 before getting to the 107 to head south.
Had a good couple of days riding with Brendon
I believe he has another 2 weeks left

Kew Lom Viewpoint area, Sop Pong, Pang Mapha District⁩, ⁨Mae Hong Son⁩, ⁨Thailand⁩

Got to Pai and sorted a room, Pai is backpackers central, after a drive around I tried the Happy Pai Hotel.
The heavens opened up, so I took a room.
I won’t give a review, just to say I would not use it again

I did however find a great Indian, and coming from Yorkshire it was very appreciated and went down well
N19.36034 E98.43957

Wayne

 

[Franz]

Glad you enjoy the ride Wayne. What's your next stop ? On your way back to Chumpae you should be in the clear from any rain as predictions say we're done with it this year up North, hopefully.....
Pai, what a nice village that once was, in my beginnings here late 80's early 90's used to stay there half a year before shifting to MHS and then to CNX. When passing Pai, i always give it a miss as not having any charm anymore.
What day you return home ?

 

[DavidFL]

A fabulous shot