Chiang Mai - Chiang Kham – Nan – Chiang Mai
Having just got a new BMW R1200GS from VPP Automobiles Chiang Mai, I had a busy vacation getting some kilometers up, I managed nearly six thousand kilometers just staying in the Northern Thailand area within five weeks.
One of my many trips was the Chiang Mai – Nan – Chiang Mai run with the difference of going through Chiang Kham, so that the fantastic highway from Chiang Kham through to Tha Wang Pa could be enjoyed.
Leaving Chiang Mai on the route 108, the weather was good and traffic light, had a good run through to the Sunshine Coffee Shop at the Hot Springs, where I stopped for a cup of their excellent coffee, then on to Mae Kachan, where I turned off to Wang Nua on route 120, this section is really open and fast, then onto Phayao on the narrower twisty stuff.
Onto route 1 just before entering Phayao City, then route 1021 through to Chun, then onto the route 1021 to Chiang Kham, this whole section is generally wide open flat road, and quite boring.
After what seems a long run out of Chiang Kham, the glory begins, route 1148 nearly a hundred kilometers of extremely varied twisters, on a near racetrack surface, through valleys of stunning limestone outcrops, and Hill tribe villages with very little road traffic, and some excellent spots for photos.
At Tha Wang Pha, right turn onto the 1080 which takes you all the way into Nan, the road is quite narrow and in the afternoon sun is very black and shiny, it can also be quite busy, but still good fun!
Stayed at the Devaraj Hotel in the centre of Nan City, always good value! There was a lot of road rebuilding in the center of town making it hard to get around, it didn’t look like the work was being done quickly.
Had a lot of trouble finding the famous DaMario Italian restaurant, only to find it closed, hopefully it will reopen in the future.
Had an early start the next day, buffet breakfast at the Deveraj, a pretty average affair to say the least, left town at 07:30, on route 1091, it was absolutely freezing, had to raise the windscreen and button up, it was foggy up in the mountains, got stopped and searched at a Police checkpoint by what I would assume to be the drug Police, friendly enough. At Ban Sa change to route 1251, then through to route1, then route 120 and finally route 108 back into Chiang Mai for 11:30.
Great one night trip away with extremely varied riding conditions, pity I couldn’t find any enthusiastic companions to accompany me!
Having just got a new BMW R1200GS from VPP Automobiles Chiang Mai, I had a busy vacation getting some kilometers up, I managed nearly six thousand kilometers just staying in the Northern Thailand area within five weeks.
One of my many trips was the Chiang Mai – Nan – Chiang Mai run with the difference of going through Chiang Kham, so that the fantastic highway from Chiang Kham through to Tha Wang Pa could be enjoyed.
Leaving Chiang Mai on the route 108, the weather was good and traffic light, had a good run through to the Sunshine Coffee Shop at the Hot Springs, where I stopped for a cup of their excellent coffee, then on to Mae Kachan, where I turned off to Wang Nua on route 120, this section is really open and fast, then onto Phayao on the narrower twisty stuff.
Onto route 1 just before entering Phayao City, then route 1021 through to Chun, then onto the route 1021 to Chiang Kham, this whole section is generally wide open flat road, and quite boring.
After what seems a long run out of Chiang Kham, the glory begins, route 1148 nearly a hundred kilometers of extremely varied twisters, on a near racetrack surface, through valleys of stunning limestone outcrops, and Hill tribe villages with very little road traffic, and some excellent spots for photos.
At Tha Wang Pha, right turn onto the 1080 which takes you all the way into Nan, the road is quite narrow and in the afternoon sun is very black and shiny, it can also be quite busy, but still good fun!
Stayed at the Devaraj Hotel in the centre of Nan City, always good value! There was a lot of road rebuilding in the center of town making it hard to get around, it didn’t look like the work was being done quickly.
Had a lot of trouble finding the famous DaMario Italian restaurant, only to find it closed, hopefully it will reopen in the future.
Had an early start the next day, buffet breakfast at the Deveraj, a pretty average affair to say the least, left town at 07:30, on route 1091, it was absolutely freezing, had to raise the windscreen and button up, it was foggy up in the mountains, got stopped and searched at a Police checkpoint by what I would assume to be the drug Police, friendly enough. At Ban Sa change to route 1251, then through to route1, then route 120 and finally route 108 back into Chiang Mai for 11:30.
Great one night trip away with extremely varied riding conditions, pity I couldn’t find any enthusiastic companions to accompany me!
