We're Back in Town

[Gregthemagnificent]

Ban Rak Thai to Mae Chaem

First stop is the Rice Bridge

Steep cement road to Thung Bua Tong Sunflower Fields

Check out Wat Mae Wak golden potato

Stayed at Hot Coffee Guest House

Mae Chaem to CM

Royal Agricultural Research Centre, The King’s Land Rover, 1284

Then the 1013 back to Chiang Mai

 

[Wayne66]

Thanks for the report

Wayne

 

[Gregthemagnificent]

Thanks for the report

Wayne

Cheers Wayne, Planning on riding further south next year, so will drop in for a coffee

 

[Wayne66]

You're more than welcome to stop for a brew, if you need any info or whatever then I'll help where I can.

Wayne

 

[Keith]

Thanks for the detailed trip report.

Planning a trip for January and this is super helpful. Thanks!

 

[DavidFL]

Thanks for the detailed trip report.

Planning a trip for January and this is super helpful. Thanks!

You can take a look at this GTR Trip planner too, for some more ideas.

Motorcycle Tours - Day Trips / Multi-Day Trips from Chiang Mai | The GT Rider

Chiang Mai is an excellent base for exploring northern Thailand, and there are many excellent day and multi-day tour options to pick from...

www.thegtrider.com

By the way, Greg's trip really did pick out the best routes and more real, non-touristic places to stay.

 

[MonikaH]

Headed south to Na Muen car ferry, cross Sirkit dam

Coffee Sirkit dam

75km remote section with good bends merging to cement jungle, on roads, 1163, 4001, 1022

4001 between Phrae and Queen Sirikit dam are fully sealed
Stayed at Huen Him Kong Hotel, dinner at Fragrant fish at Kad Kong KaoView attachment 157690

Hi,
I am travelling Northern Thailand alone on a Honda Click 125i. At the moment I am in Nan.
I am sorry, but I do not understand you writing:

75km remote section with good bends merging to cement jungle, on roads, 1163, 4001, 1022

4001 between Phrae and Queen Sirikit dam are fully sealed

Can I follow your route on a Honda Click125i? As far as I understand it, it is fully sealed? Also the part from Na Noi to the ferry?
What do you mean with mentioning a "cement jungle"? Which 75 km?
I do not find route 4001.

Can you explain?

Thanks a lot,
Monika

 

[Dodraugen]

Seems R1022 and R4001 is the same road:

 

[DavidFL]

Seems R1022 and R4001 is the same road:
View attachment 158200

My guess is the route number changes on the provincial border, with different departments responsible for the construction in their province??

 

[Gregthemagnificent]

It is a full days ride from Na Noi to Phrae and you could do it easily on a Honda Click125.
Na Noi to the ferry is all good road. Na Noi to 10,000 Miles Biker’s Cafe can be busy with local traffic. Then quiet and picturesque to the ferry.
Much of the road 4001 is cement and it winds through the side of mountainous terrain in jungle like vegetation. Very scenic and its remoteness makes it an exciting ride.

 

[MonikaH]

Thanks a lot everybody for helping
So, I will give it a try later this week, probably going into Uttaradit the first day and backtracking the second day to go the 1022/4001.

Happy new year 2025

 

[MonikaH]

One more question. I am in Na Noi at the moment (blue dot) and think of doing the following loop. "C" is Doi Samer Dao. My tracking app, which I use in Germany for walking the alps, but also got a bicycle mode, tells me the shortcut from 1243 to 1083 (Kaeng Luang = "B") is not sealed. Is this true? Is it a good road anyway or rather not ...?
I want to do the loop clockwise because today I went from "A" to Na Noi via 1162 and 1026 anti-clockwise.

Otherwise I'll ride to Doi Samer Dao and do some hiking

 

[Dodraugen]

I rode that R1243 some years ago and it was just a track through thick jungle….

But this guy posted this video just a day ago and said it was a fantastic ride:

 

[MonikaH]

Hi, thank you for the Video. Looks like the 1243 is nowadays a very good and well maintained road.
I was writing about a name- and numberless road which connects the 1243 to the 1083 before they meet, a shortcut.

 

[Moor66]

You mean from B to C? That one looks very good on G-maps now. But to B from north east it looks old but just fine for any bike. I rode around there some 5 years ago, so I must refresh my memory a little bit... I am looking into the area maps right now, I will soon leave bkk for another 2-week trip up north.

 

[Gregthemagnificent]

The short cut has about 8km of dirt and a creek crossing. B to 1243.
The 1083 to 1243 is fantastic, but hard work. Endless corners through mountainous terrain.

 

[MonikaH]

Thanks to both of you, that is the information I have been looking for. The shortcut is not for me and going the extended loop is too long for me. So I will have a nice, quiet day on the mountain which is OK, because for me it will be 2 tough days going around the Q Sirikit dam ;-)

Yesterday I did a little detour tour to the Mae Charim NP, paid the 200 + 20 THB and was amazed at the absolutely beautiful setting that awaited me. Unfortunately I did not have the time to go further into the park.

 

[Wayne66]

I didn't gel with the 1243. But maybe it was because I did it between 2 tropical storms. Going through the mountains the road was very slippery, with a lot of damp leaves on the road and small mud slides. It does get quite winding and closed in with the vegetation in parts
I might try it again when it's a bit drier, rather than the rainy season

 

[MonikaH]

Hi Wayne,
I read about you not really liking 1243 further up the thread. I would not like to feel "closed in with the vegetation" at a point where I am far from decent accommodation and anyway - doing the big loop is too much for me. 150 km on a day with mountain roads is the limit to feel comfortable. I am a real slow rider ;-)

 

[Wayne66]

Hi Wayne,
I read about you not really liking 1243 further up the thread. I would not like to feel "closed in with the vegetation" at a point where I am far from decent accommodation and anyway - doing the big loop is too much for me. 150 km on a day with mountain roads is the limit to feel comfortable. I am a real slow rider ;-)

Hi Monika

Yes I hear you and a wise choice for you on your own, enjoy the rest of your trip

Wayne

 

[MonikaH]

Glad you made use of the ferry, hope you didn't have long to wait?

Wayne

Headed south to Na Muen car ferry, cross Sirkit dam

Coffee Sirkit dam

75km remote section with good bends merging to cement jungle, on roads, 1163, 4001, 1022

4001 between Phrae and Queen Sirikit dam are fully sealed
Stayed at Huen Him Kong Hotel, dinner at Fragrant fish at Kad Kong KaoView attachment 157690View attachment 157691View attachment 157692View attachment 157693View attachment 157694View attachment 157695View attachment 157696View attachment 157697

Hi Greg,

Am at the ferry at the moment and just realized, your route takes you down to the 117, whereas map tells me to leave the 1339 and go over the ridge of the mountain. Do you or anybody know this road?

 

[MonikaH]

Sorry, that was easy. Google says turm right ... but there was no road ... so I follow your lead, Greg

 

[Gregthemagnificent]

Sorry, that was easy. Google says turm right ... but there was no road ... so I follow your lead, Greg

That adds a bit of excitement to your ride. I have used the ferry a few times now, and always enjoy it.

 

[Moor66]

I rode that R1243 some years ago and it was just a track through thick jungle….View attachment 158245

But this guy posted this video just a day ago and said it was a fantastic ride:

I rode it today. To me it is a fantastic road, especially the southern twisty part over the forrest mountain. On that 35 km stretch, I did not pass or met one single car or bike.
Very few people use this road... feels abandoned with leaves and dirt on both sides, but pretty fast, I used 3-4th gear most of the time, rarely down on second. Very few dust/mud spots from mudslides. But as you guys say, surely not so enjoyable in rainy season.
So hurry up and ride now when it is still nice and green, very soon the heavy fire smog blankets everything- I can already feel it today!

Pic of highly recommended route, very little traffic, perhaps all truckers still celebrate new year?

 

[MonikaH]

That adds a bit of excitement to your ride. I have used the ferry a few times now, and always enjoy it.

I finished doing this trip for the moment. The lonely stretch with the concrete surface (1341/1022) also was very exciting. Actually I wouldn't need any more excitement than that. Even though it was on a sunday in high season, no traffic at all - no cars, maybe 1 or 2 local scooters. I was happy I had the reassurance that everything was sealed - nevertheless I was not sure, whether it might not become steeper or one lane or both ... In the end it was easy going, nothing happened and technically no difficulties at all - but the mind played its games ;-)

Tomorrow I will go from Phrae back to Na Noi via Khun Sathan - I read about it in the froum when researching my current trip - that is the advantage of being retired and having lots of time

Going from there to Phayao I got another question, will I will ask in a new thread.

Edit:
If somebody else wants to do the trip Na Noi - Ferry - Phrae in 2 days, I recommend the "Huannamnan House by The River Nan Homestay", Huannamnan House by The River Nan Homestay · Mueang Uttaradit District, Uttaradit, - hardly any detour. The place is owned by a thai/english couple (Kak and Tony), got decent and clean rooms right at the river and of course a bar. There is no restaurant but Kak will cook you an amazing dinner, according to your dietary wishes.