8-Day Motorcycle Tour Chiang Mai: Golden Triangle & Sukhothai
Ride R1148, one of the world's best biking roads, through mountains that straddle Thailand, Laos and Myanmar.
An 8-day guided motorcycle tour departing from Chiang Mai that covers over 1,500 kilometers through Northern Thailand's mountains, valleys and border regions. You ride your own bike with a licensed Road Captain leading the group, staying at quality hotels and visiting the Golden Triangle, Doi Tung Royal Villa, the White Temple in Chiang Rai, and the UNESCO-listed Sukhothai Historical Park. The route includes the famous highway R1148, ranked among the world's top 10 motorcycle roads, plus a ferry crossing of the Sirikit dam reservoir and stops at the long-neck Karen village, Bo Kluea salt mines, and Phayao Lake.
Options for this experience
2 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Chiang Mai to Tha Ton via Chiang Dao
- Ride highway north to Chiang Dao
- Have lunch at local restaurant
- Visit Chiang Dao cave
- Ride mountainous road to Tha Ton
- Visit Wat Tha Ton at sunset
- Relax at accommodation with panorama view
Day 2: Tha Ton to Golden Triangle
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Visit long-neck Karen tribe village
- Ride to Doi Mae Salong and taste tea
- Visit Doi Tung Royal Villa and botanical garden
- Lunch at Royal’s Project restaurant
- Ride to Mae Sai and Golden Triangle
- Take long-tail boat trip on Mekong river
- Visit small village in Laos
- Visit Opium museum
- Relax at accommodation by Mekong River
Day 3: Golden Triangle to Nan via Chiang Rai
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Ride scenic road to Chiang Rai city
- Visit White Temple (Wat Rong Khun)
- Lunch at local restaurant
- Ride mountainous highway to Nan
- Visit Wat Phra That Khao Noi temple
- Relax at accommodation and swim
- Enjoy Nan night-life
Day 4: Rest Day in Nan
- Relax by the pool
- Shop in town
- Optional bicycle tour of Nan
Day 5: Nan to Phayao via Bo Kluea
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Ride winding roads via Bo Kluea
- Visit Bo Kluea salt wells
- Continue through Doi Phu Kha National Park
- Lunch at local restaurant in Chiang Klang
- Ride mountainous highway No. 1148
- Ride highway R1021 to Phayao
- Discover Kwan Phayao Lake and town
- Relax at charming accommodation
Day 6: Phayao to Uttaradit via Sirikit Dam
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Ride south on main highway
- Ride back roads via Mae Yom National Park
- Ride through Khun Sathan National Park
- Lunch at local restaurant with view
- Cross Sirikit dam reservoir on wooden ferry
- Ride highway through rice fields to Uttaradit
- Relax at accommodation with swimming pool
Day 7: Uttaradit to Sukhothai
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Ride backroads through rice fields to Sukhothai
- Visit Ancient Sukhothai Historical Park
- Enjoy sunset at old ruins
- Stay at classic wooden Thai guest house
Day 8: Sukhothai to Chiang Mai via Lampang
- Breakfast at accommodation
- Ride road R101 to Den Chai
- Visit large reclining Buddha
- Ride winding roads to Lampang
- Lunch at local restaurant
- Ride through national parks and farming areas
- Visit local market and refresh
- Return to Chiang Mai
What’s included
- Your tour includes a licensed Road Captain leading the group on a motorcycle.
- motorcycle rental with unlimited mileage and all riding gear (helmet, jacket, gloves, knee guards).
- third-party liability insurance and accident cover up to 100,000 THB plus life insurance up to 1,000,000 THB.
- a support van for luggage and optional passenger space.
- seven nights at quality hotels and resorts with leisure facilities.
- airport pickup from Chiang Mai.
- water, soft drinks, coffee and tea with meals.
- and a Big Bike Tours T-shirt to take home.
Times
- Wednesday 08:30
Before you book
Operated by Big Bike Tours
Prices and times updated yesterday
Traveler reviews
The experience
You start in Chiang Mai and ride north through Chiang Dao to Tha Ton, where you climb to Wat Tha Ton on the mountainside and watch the sunset from your accommodation overlooking the valley. The second day takes you to the Golden Triangle (the point where Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet) with a long-tail boat trip on the Mekong River and a short visit to a Laotian village (no visa required). Along the way you stop at Doi Mae Salong to taste Thai mountain tea where Chinese farmers grow it, then tour the Doi Tung Royal Villa and its botanical gardens. The White Temple (Wat Rong Khun) near Chiang Rai comes next, followed by the ride to Nan on winding mountain roads.
Day four is a rest day in Nan: you can swim, explore the town, or optionally cycle to historical sites. On day five, the route climbs through the Bo Kluea salt wells and enters the real motorcycle challenge: the 120-kilometer stretch of highway R1148 through Khun Sathan National Park, which the itinerary ranks among the world's top 10 biking roads. You descend to Phayao Lake, one of Thailand's largest. The next day crosses the Sirikit dam reservoir by wooden ferry (your motorcycle travels with you), then continues through rice fields to Uttaradit, a town few tourists reach. Day seven is a short 89-kilometer ride to Sukhothai, where you have the afternoon to explore the UNESCO World Heritage Historical Park and watch the sunset over the ancient ruins. The final day loops back to Chiang Mai via mountain passes and national parks, stopping at a reclining Buddha near Den Chai and a local market before returning to the city.
A licensed Road Captain on a motorcycle leads the group in English, German or Thai. Your bike comes with unlimited mileage, helmet, jacket, gloves and knee guards included. A support van carries luggage and can take passengers who need a break. All seven nights are at quality hotels with pools and leisure facilities, from the riverside Saranja in Tha Ton to the classic wooden Thai guesthouse at Sukhothai. Insurance covers third-party liability and accident damage up to 25,000 THB, plus life coverage up to 1,000,000 THB. Airport pickup from Chiang Mai is included, and you get water, soft drinks and tea or coffee with meals throughout.
Is this one for you?Pick this tour if you want to ride yourself through mountain passes and border regions rather travel by van, and if you're comfortable on a motorcycle for multiple days. The itinerary reaches Sukhothai's UNESCO park, which shorter regional tours skip.
More experiences you might like
Top questions
What languages is the tour guided in?
Live guide in English, German and Thai.
Can I ride as a passenger instead of riding my own motorcycle?
Yes. The tour offers two purchase options: one price for a rider on their own bike, and a separate price for a pillion (passenger). Either way, you travel with the group for all eight days.
What happens on the rest day in Nan, and can I do something other than relax?
Day four in Nan is entirely free. You can swim at the pool, shop in town, or optionally explore historical and cultural sites by bicycle. Laundry service is available if you need it.
How does the ferry crossing of the Sirikit dam work?
On day six, you ride your motorcycle onto a wooden ferry to cross the Sirikit dam reservoir, which is the largest earth dam in Thailand. The ferry carries both you and your bike across, and you continue riding on the other side toward Uttaradit.
Is the Sukhothai Historical Park visit included, and how long do you have there?
Yes, Sukhothai Historical Park is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a highlight of the tour. Day seven is a short 89-kilometer ride from Uttaradit, which gives you the afternoon and evening to explore the ancient ruins and watch the sunset before staying overnight at a traditional wooden Thai guesthouse.
What is included in the riding gear, and do I need to bring my own helmet?
Helmets, jackets, gloves and knee guards are provided as part of the tour. You do not need to bring your own riding gear, though you can if you prefer your own equipment.
8-Day Motorcycle Tour Chiang Mai: Golden Triangle & Sukhothai
8d · EN · DE +1
from US$ 3,600 per person
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.