Motorcycle trip

Thailand

It depends on how much time you have and the adventure you want. All three tours start from Chiang Mai, in the mountains of the north. In one week, The Best of Northern Thailand rides up to the Golden Triangle and Chiang Rai. In 12 days, Northern Thailand Getaway adds Mae Hong Son, Pai and the provinces of Nan and Lampang. For two countries, Thailand & Laos: Along the Mekong crosses northern Laos to Luang Prabang, on tougher roads.

From $2,290 to $4,290 per rider, depending on the length (7 or 12 days) and whether the tour crosses into Laos, and from $1,890 to $3,490 per passenger. The motorcycle, fuel, the team, lodging, half board on riding days and airport transfers are included. You budget for your flights, the International Driving Permit, dinners and drinks, plus a $41 registration fee on your first tour with us. Each tour page lists what is included.

The dry season, from October to February, when the north is sunny, with crisp mornings in the mountains. Our two Thailand tours run during this period. Thailand & Laos: Along the Mekong runs from October to April: March and April get noticeably hotter. We do not ride during the monsoon, from June to September. Upcoming departures are published through early 2028: dates and open spots are on each tour page.

You need a motorcycle endorsement and regular riding practice. Our two Thailand tours are rated Intermediate: small mountain roads, hundreds of curves, sometimes a little dirt, and riding days back to back. Thailand & Laos: Along the Mekong is rated Sustained: Lao roads are often broken and there is a real day on dirt tracks, where some off-road experience helps a lot. If in doubt, your travel advisor will point you to the right tour.

Your state driver’s license with motorcycle endorsement and an International Driving Permit, required there: bring both. US riders get the permit from AAA. Visa rules depend on your passport; for a short tourist stay, US citizens currently need no visa, but an online arrival card (TDAC) must be filled in within 3 days before arrival. The tour through Laos also requires a Lao visa. The up-to-date list of documents is in Preparing your trip to Thailand and Laos, in our help center.

Through Chiang Mai airport, where all three tours start and end. You book your own flights: from the US, you connect at least once, usually in Bangkok or another Asian hub, so plan to land a day early and get over the jet lag before the first riding day. Our team meets you at the airport on the first day and takes you back on the last.

The main risk is the road itself: scooters pulling out, pickup trucks in a hurry, dogs and gravel in the curves, especially on the way into towns. Our English-speaking tour leader opens the road, a mechanic and a support vehicle follow the group of 10 motorcycles at most, and our team in France can be reached day and night. Some stages are far from hospitals. Before you go, read the State Department travel advisory and country information for Thailand and enroll in STEP.

Yes, Thailand drives on the left, the opposite of the US. Most American riders settle in within the first morning by following the tour leader on the quiet northern roads; stay focused at intersections, at traffic circles and when pulling away after a stop. On the Mekong tour, traffic switches back to the right in Laos. We do not rent motorcycles without a guide in Thailand: every departure is a guided tour.