North Thailand Top Ten Roads

[DavidFL]

The Rak Thai Road R4001 from Mae Hong Son

also one of the steepest roads on the MHS Loop

The steep section coming up out of the valley after Pha Sua waterfall

The Rak Thai road has featured on GTR here
Wet season: pottering around the Mae Hong Son Loop

Mae Hong Son Music Festival, May 2012.

On the GTR MHS Loop map it is here

 

[DavidFL]

R1259 Nan

One of the wilder roads in the North.

R1259 has featured on GTR here
Return to Nan & back to the future?

 

[DavidFL]

The big dipper R4018 - the Phaya Phipak road

The Big Dipper features on GTR here:
R4018 The Phaya Phipak road

The Big Dipper is on the GTR Golden Triangle map here

 

[DavidFL]

R1089 Kiu Sataa - Doi Mae Salong

R1089 Kiu Sataa - Doi Mae Salong is on the GTR Golden Triangle map here

 

[DavidFL]

R1080 Thung Chang - Chalerm Prakiet (Nan)

R1080 has featured on GTR several times
Return to Nan & back to the future?

 

[DavidFL]

R1192 Doi Inthanon - Mae Chaem

R1192 is on the GTR Mae Hong Son Loop map here

 

[DavidFL]

R 1290 Chiang Saen - Chiang Khong

 

[DavidFL]

R1252 the Jaeson National Park road.

R1252 has featured on GTR here
The NEW 1252, A Great New Loop

1252 Again, and Again, and........

Chae Son National Park

An awesome day trip from Chiang Mai.

 

[ianyonok]

Some more crackers...
The 1152 from Chaeson is great, so is the NP road next to it, the 4074/4005/3005

 

[DavidFL]

The Mae Wang Loop - R4053 & R1013

The Mae Wang Loop features on GTR here:
Mae Wang Loop

It is on the GTR Mae Hong Son Loop map

 

[DavidFL]

R4049 - Phrao

Has featured on GTR here
The Phrao Loop - Pottering Around

 

[DavidFL]

R1089 Tha Ton - Kiu Sataa
View attachment 2146

View attachment 2144

View attachment 2145

It used to look like this
View attachment 97472
& you can see more on the Golden Oldies here
R1089 / R1234 Tha Ton - Doi Mae Salong


View attachment 2147

R1089 is on the GTR Golden Triangle guide map.

 

[DavidFL]

R109 Fang - Mae Suai

An absolute gem of a winding mountain road, that is little used

It used to look like this

You can check out more R109 Golden Oldies here
1992 Route 109 Fang - Mae Suai

R109 is on the GTR Golden Triangle Map like this

 

[GuyGene]

From

Northern Thailand favorite roads?

what is your favourite road in North Thailand.

The list to select from
"TOP TEN" FAVOURITE ROADS IN NORTH THAILAND
1. R1148 Chiang Kham - Tha Wang Pha
2. R1091 Chiang Muan - Nan
3. R1256 Doi Phukha Pua - Bo Klua.
4. R1081 Bo Klua - R1169
5. R1080 Nan - Pua - Huay Kon
6. R1155 "Chiang Khong" - Thoeng/ Chiang Kham
7. R1093. Chiang Kham - "Chiang Khong"
8. R120 Mae Kachan - Wang Nua - R1
9. R101 Phrae - Nan
10. R101 "Den Chai - Sisatchanalai"
11. R11 Cnx - Lampang - Uttaradit
12. R1150 Phrao - Wiang Pa Pao
13. R109 Fang - Mae Suai
14. R1089 Tha Ton - Mae Chan
15. R1340 Arunothai - Doi Ang Khang
16. R1322 The Wiang Haeng Road
17. R1095 Pai - Soppong - Mae Hong Son (exclude Mae Malai - Pai because the road is seldom in good condition & there's usually too much traffic.)
18. R108 Mae Sarieng - Khun Yuam - Mae Hong Son
19. R1263 Mae Chaem - Khun Yuam
20. R1009 The Doi Inthanon Road
21. R1192 Doi Inthanon - Mae Chaem
22. R1096 Mae Rim - "Samoeng"
23. R1269 Sanpasak - Samoeng
24.R1162 / 11243 Nan
25. R118 Doi Saket - Mae Kachan / R120 turn off.

I haven't ridden so many of these, but I do love #18.

 

[DavidFL]

R1314 the Doi Laem - Tha Ton Burma border road

A gem of a steep & wild twisting mountain road.
It's on the GTR Golden Triangle guide map grid 3B
and has featured on GTR here
Fang back - a Fang meander
Golden Triangle Map

The Doi Laem Loop.

Many of you will know this, its just a report to say what a joy it is to get away from the traffic, enjoy some good fresh mountain air and see the views. if you happen to be en route from Fang to Tha Ton just take the left turn for the 1314 about 4 kms before Mae Ai. Its about 35 kms to Tha Ton...

www.gt-rider.com

Check it out sometime.
A nice day or overnight trip from Chiang Mai.
Spend the night in Fang or Tha Ton, please yourself.

 

[DavidFL]

R1088 the Mae Chaem road from Ob Luang / R108

A nice twisting flowing ride

With a few nice tight bends going up over the plateau

here's the GPS Profile

& here's how it looks in Google Earth in two parts

Check it out sometime.
It's on the GTR MHS Loop map
Mae Hong Son Loop Map

Mae Chaem is a classic beauty of a traditional rural town
Mae Chaem - a meander

 

[Goran Phuket]

This must be one of the top 10 forum topics.

 

[Goran Phuket]

Route 2331 Phetchabun

Route 1249, Doi Ang Khang

 

[DavidFL]

R1023 the back road into Phrae.

A twisting beauty through the hills.

Plus a super hill

The elevation profile from Phrae to R11

plus how it looks in Google Earth.

 

[DavidFL]

R1097 Chiang Klang - "Song Khwae" R1148
A magnificent winding ridgeline road.

the elevation profile

starts off on the flat at Chiang Klang, then climbs steeply up into the mountains, runs along the ridge line & dramatically drops off the edge down to R1148 & Song Khwae

How it looks in Google Earth

 

[Goran Phuket]

R1097 Chiang Klang - "Song Khwae" R1148
A magnificent winding ridgeline road.

the elevation profile

starts off on the flat at Chiang Klang, then climbs steeply up into the mountains, runs along the ridge line & dramatically drops off the edge down to R1148 & Song Khwae

How it looks in Google Earth

I was there few days ago, fantastic road.

 

[Goran Phuket]

The Rak Thai Road R4001 from Mae Hong Son
View attachment 1823

also one of the steepest roads on the MHS Loop
View attachment 1821

The steep section coming up out of the valley after Pha Sua waterfall
View attachment 1822

The Rak Thai road has featured on GTR here
Wet season: pottering around the Mae Hong Son Loop

Mae Hong Son Music Festival, May 2012.

On the GTR MHS Loop map it is here
View attachment 1824

Steep and very scenic indeed:

 

[Goran Phuket]

I would like to add R12, Phitsanulok and Phetchabun section.
Long sweeping highland curves, wide road but unfortunately accident prone area, quite a few fatalities too.

 

[DavidFL]

R4052
The Akha Sam Yaek - Thoed Thai road.

An amazing sweeping steep & winding roller coaster ride

The GPS Profile Akha Sam Yaek - Thoed Thai

The Google Earth view

Thoed Thai is my favourite out of the way traditional "back water" town in North Thailand.
The ex home of Khun Sa the infamous opium warlord / Shan freedom fighter.
Featured on GTR here
Prince of Death Road Trip-Khun Sa Memorial

Also on Destination Thailand TV with GTR
A fun time on the road for Destination Thailand

The best greatest Poi Sang Kong festival Ive ever had the pleasure of participating in
Poi Sang Long - 2011

Plus Shan New Year
Shan New Year 2011 Thoed Thai

Thoed Thai might be out of the way bit it should be one of the highlights of a night in the Golden Triangle for anyone.
A fabulous "wild west" town full of charm for the adventurous.

It's also the place where I go for Shan spiritual cleansing - getting rid of life's bad luck & bringing in the new luck
Thai New Year a Shan Blessing - Spirit Cleansing

Wanna check it out Thoed Thai...
Where to stay in Thoed Thai
Thoed Thai Accomodation

Where to eat in Thoed Thai
Thoed Thai Restaurants

The Thoed Thai road is on the GTR Golden Triangle map here

You can get a GTR GT map here
Golden Triangle Map

 

[Oddvar]

Did the 1334 on the Valkyrie last week. Very interesting. Beautiful area.