5 Day Motorcycle Tour (True Bikers Paradise) from Chiang Mai, Thailand

The star of this five-day ride is the road itself: 120 kilometers of curves on R1148, one of Northern Thailand’s most enjoyable motorcycle routes. You will also cross Sirikit Reservoir on a wooden ferry, visit Bo Kluea’s old salt wells, and finish among the ruins of Sukhothai.

I like the practical setup. Your luggage travels in a support van, a professional road captain leads the group, and a mechanic is available with the support vehicle. I also like the mix of riding and stops: mountain roads, local restaurants, temples, rice fields, markets, and a UNESCO historical park.

The main caution is pace. One detailed account describes riders at more than 130 kilometers per hour, with fast overtaking on Thai roads. This is a tour for confident riders with real road experience, not someone still learning how to handle a large motorcycle.

Key points at a glance

• R1148 near Nan: Enjoy 120 kilometers of tight mountain bends with very little urban traffic.
• Sirikit Reservoir crossing: Ride your motorcycle onto a wooden ferry for one of the tour’s most unusual transfers.
• Bo Kluea salt wells: See a traditional salt-making site in a remote mountain setting.
• Sukhothai at sunset: Spend time at the UNESCO-listed Ancient Sukhothai Historical Park rather than simply passing through.
• Support that matters: A luggage van, motorcycle insurance, riding gear, mechanic support, and meals are included.
• Small-group format: The maximum group size is 10, with an English-speaking road captain leading from the front.

What $1,875 buys you on the road

At $1,875 per person, this is not a cheap motorcycle rental with a map. It is a packaged five-day trip that includes four hotel nights, motorcycle rental with unlimited mileage, breakfast each morning, five lunches, four dinners, drinks with meals, protective gear, insurance, and support.

The value depends on how much of that infrastructure you would otherwise arrange yourself. A self-guided ride would still require a suitable motorcycle, luggage transport, route planning, hotels, meals, breakdown support, and decisions about unfamiliar roads. Here, the company handles those moving parts while you concentrate on riding.

The included bike insurance has a deductible of up to 25,000 Thai baht for damage. Third-party liability insurance is included, along with accident cover up to 100,000 baht and life insurance up to 1,000,000 baht. You should still buy suitable travel insurance in your home country, since it is not included.

Airfare, visa costs, alcohol, and personal expenses are extra. The tour does not provide alcohol and does not permit drinking during the day while motorcycles are in use. That is sensible, especially on a route where concentration matters.

The package begins at Big Bike Tours on Ragang Road in Chiang Mai at 8:30 a.m. Pickup from Chiang Mai Airport is offered. The ride returns to the same meeting point on Day 5, so you can plan around one fixed start and finish location.

Day 1: Chiang Mai to Nan by way of Phayao

The opening day gives you time to get comfortable with the motorcycle before the route becomes more demanding. You head north through Chae Son National Park on R1252, a winding road chosen for riding rather than speed.

A viewpoint over Phayao Lake, also called Kwan Phayao, provides an early scenic stop. The lake is one of Thailand’s largest, and the view gives you a useful sense of how quickly Chiang Mai’s city surroundings give way to open country.

From there, the route continues toward Nan on mountainous roads. Wat Phra That Khao Noi sits above Nan and offers a broad view over the town and surrounding countryside. It is a good first-day stop because it adds a cultural visit without taking you far from your overnight base.

The evening is left open for Nan’s nightlife, with a hotel and swimming pool waiting after roughly seven hours on the road. That pool matters more than it may sound. Five consecutive riding days can leave your shoulders and hips tired, and a quiet hour at the hotel is useful before dinner.

Day 2: Bo Kluea, Doi Phu Kha, and the famous R1148

Day 2 is the tour’s main riding day. The route heads through the mountains toward Bo Kluea on R1081, a road widely favored by motorcyclists for its curves and scenery.

Bo Kluea means salt pond, and the salt wells provide a stop with a real local connection rather than another roadside viewpoint. The traditional wells are unusual in Northern Thailand, and the visit gives the day a human story: people have produced salt here in the middle of the mountains for generations.

You continue through Doi Phu Kha National Park toward Chiang Klang, where lunch is served at a local restaurant. The route then reaches R1148, the road most likely to define the trip for experienced riders.

The attraction is not a single landmark. It is the repeated rhythm of climbing, turning, descending, and opening into mountain views. The road runs for about 120 kilometers through impressive high country, creating long stretches where the motorcycle is the main event.

That also means you should be honest about your ability. Curves are enjoyable only when you have enough margin to brake, position the bike, and respond to traffic. The group may contain riders with different speeds, so ask how regrouping works before departure and do not feel pressured to match the fastest rider.

The itinerary then describes R1021 through farming country and a return toward Phayao and Kwan Phayao Lake. The written route references Nan, Bo Kluea, and Phayao in a way that can read like a loop, so confirm the exact day-by-day sequence with the operator before departure. Road works, weather, and route research can also lead to changes without a refund.

Day 3: Remote roads and the ferry across Sirikit Reservoir

Day 3 leaves Phayao and turns south toward less-visited parts of Northern Thailand. The ride uses back roads near Mae Yom National Park and later passes through Khun Sathan National Park.

This is a day for scenery rather than a famous attraction at every stop. Rice fields, forested hills, and long stretches away from major tourist centers give you a stronger sense of rural northern life. Lunch is served at a local restaurant with a wide mountain view, the sort of stop that makes a support vehicle and a planned route worthwhile.

The highlight is the crossing of Sirikit Reservoir. Your motorcycles go onto a wooden ferry, carrying both riders and bikes across the water. It breaks up the day’s riding and gives you a memorable transport moment that you would not get by simply staying on the main highway.

Sirikit Dam is Thailand’s largest earth dam. After the crossing, the route continues past rice fields toward Uttaradit, a small city that receives far fewer international visitors than Chiang Mai or Sukhothai.

Uttaradit works well as an overnight stop because it keeps the route moving south without turning every day into a race between major attractions. You see a quieter provincial center, eat locally, and rest before the final two riding days.

Day 4: A shorter ride and Sukhothai’s old ruins

Day 4 is deliberately lighter on the motorcycle. You leave Uttaradit on back roads through broad rice fields and reach Sukhothai with time left for the Ancient Sukhothai Historical Park.

That balance is important. After three long riding days, a shorter day lets you visit the ruins without arriving exhausted or seeing them only through a helmet visor. The park became a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1991, and its temples and statues are especially atmospheric late in the day.

The planned sunset visit is one of the tour’s strongest non-riding moments. Old brick ruins, open grass, and low evening light create a very different experience from the tight turns in the mountains. Bring your camera, but leave time simply to walk and look.

Your accommodation is described as a classic wooden Thai guest house with a swimming pool. It is a change from a standard chain hotel and fits the historical setting better. As with the other nights, the quality hotels and resorts are selected with leisure facilities, not just a bed and a parking space, in mind.

Day 5: Sukhothai to Chiang Mai through Lampang

The final morning returns you toward Chiang Mai by way of the R101, known here as the Columnar Mountains road. The route continues to Den Chai, where you stop to see a large reclining Buddha.

From Den Chai, winding mountain roads lead toward Lampang. Lunch is served at a local restaurant before the route carries on through national parks and farming areas. The day combines faster connecting sections with bends and rural roads, so you still get a proper final ride rather than a simple transfer back to town.

A local market stop provides one last chance for refreshments and a look at ordinary daily trade. Then you return to the Big Bike Tours meeting point in Chiang Mai.

The itinerary lists about seven hours for each day, although the actual saddle time will vary with stops, weather, road conditions, and group pace. You should keep your final evening flexible rather than scheduling a tight flight immediately after returning.

Bikes, gear, and support on difficult roads

The motorcycle selection is not specified in the basic tour details, so ask what models are available when you book. Past ride accounts describe machines such as the KTM 790, Honda Africa Twin, Kawasaki Versys 650, and similar larger bikes, but availability can change.

The included gear covers helmet, jacket, gloves, and knee guards. Boots are strongly advised but are not listed among the supplied items. If you need unusual clothing sizes, bring your own protective equipment rather than assuming every size will be available.

The support van carries luggage and has room for a few people if requested in advance. It also carries bottled water and cool refresher towels. That is useful in northern Thailand, where heat, humidity, and long hours in riding gear can wear you down even on mountain roads.

A mechanic travels with the support operation. This is one of the package’s most practical strengths. A puncture or mechanical issue becomes a managed problem rather than a reason for the whole group to search for a repair shop.

The tour has a maximum of 10 participants. A smaller group usually makes stops easier and keeps the road captain in contact with everyone, though the pace may still vary between riders.

Safety, licensing, and riding ability

You must be at least 21 and provide a current valid passport on the day of travel. Evidence of a motorcycle driving license is required, along with at least four years of riding experience.

Treat that requirement as a serious filter, not paperwork to work around. The route includes mountain curves, rural roads, traffic, and long days. You should already be comfortable with braking on descents, cornering, overtaking decisions, and riding for several hours at a time.

The company supplies helmets and protective clothing, and helmets are compulsory in Thailand. Wear all available protection. Bring boots if you have them, and tell the operator about dietary requirements when booking so meals can be arranged.

Rain is possible, especially during the wetter months. One past ride in August continued successfully through some rain, but conditions can alter the route and reduce visibility. The operator reserves the right to change roads because of weather, road works, or new route information.

The pace deserves special attention. One account from a relatively new rider raised concerns about a fast front group, speeds above 130 kilometers per hour, and overtaking on double-lined roads. That does not prove every departure runs the same way, but it is enough reason to ask about speed expectations and group procedures before paying.

Food, hotels, and the daily rhythm

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included on the relevant tour days, along with water, soft drinks, and coffee or tea with meals. Alcohol is not included, and none is allowed during the riding day.

The food plan reduces the need to search for restaurants after a tiring ride. It also takes you to local restaurants rather than leaving every meal to chance. If you have allergies or special dietary needs, report them in advance.

Four overnights are included at selected hotels or resorts with leisure facilities. Nan, Phayao, Uttaradit, and Sukhothai each provide a different stopover mood, from a lake town to a quieter provincial center and a historic old city.

The rhythm is active: about seven hours assigned to each day, with sightseeing and meals mixed into the route. You will have breaks, but this is not a slow holiday with long mornings. Pack light, keep water accessible, and expect some soreness if you do not regularly ride long distances.

Who should book this ride?

I would choose this tour if you care more about excellent roads than ticking off a long list of major attractions. The best fit is an experienced motorcycle rider who wants a guided route through Northern Thailand, prefers not to handle luggage, and values mechanical backup.

It also suits riders who want a structured trip with meals and hotels already arranged. Couples can share some models, and one past account found a KTM 790 comfortable with two people, though you should confirm two-up suitability for your chosen motorcycle.

I would hesitate if you are a novice, dislike fast group riding, need a relaxed pace, or want control over every overnight and meal. A private custom ride may suit you better, though it would require more planning and could cost more.

Should you book the True Bikers Paradise tour?

Book it if R1148, mountain bends, and remote roads sound more exciting than beach time. The combination of a support van, motorcycle insurance, gear, meals, hotels, a road captain, and a mechanic gives the $1,875 price real substance.

Before booking, confirm the available motorcycle, insurance excess, speed and regrouping rules, exact route order, and gear sizes. If you meet the licensing requirement and can ride confidently for seven-hour days, this is a strong way to see Northern Thailand from the seat rather than from a bus window.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the local start time. After that point, the payment is not refundable, so check your license, travel insurance, and riding fitness first.

FAQ

Where does the tour start and finish?

It starts at Big Bike Tours, 134 Ragang Road, Chang Khlan, Chiang Mai, at 8:30 a.m. The tour ends back at the same meeting point in Chiang Mai.

How long is the motorcycle tour?

The experience lasts approximately five days, with about seven hours scheduled for each riding day.

What is the maximum group size?

The tour accepts a maximum of 10 participants.

Is airport pickup available?

Yes. Pickup service from Chiang Mai Airport is included.

What motorcycle riding experience is required?

You must provide evidence of a motorcycle driving license and have at least four years of riding experience.

What is the minimum age?

The minimum age is 21.

Are motorcycles and riding gear included?

Yes. Motorcycle rental with unlimited mileage is included, along with helmets, jackets, gloves, and knee guards.

Are meals included?

Yes. The package includes four breakfasts, five lunches, and four dinners. Water, soft drinks, and coffee or tea are provided with meals.

Is travel insurance included?

No. Motorcycle liability and accident-related cover are included, but you need to arrange suitable travel insurance in your home country.

Can the route change?

Yes. The operator may amend the route because of road works, weather, or new route information. No refund is provided for a route change.