On the Edge of Siam Kingdom

It is the grand loop of the north: 12 days with 10 days of riding, about 1,056 miles (1,700 km) from Chiang Mai. On top of the Golden Triangle, it adds Doi Inthanon, the Mae Hong Son loop and Pai to the west, then Phu Chi Fa, Nan and Lampang to the east. The Mountains of the Golden Triangle keeps the heart of it in 7 days. Beyond the Mekong crosses into Laos, on tougher roads.

The tour is rated Intermediate: you need to ride regularly and enjoy linking bends, as the Mae Hong Son road alone has more than 1,800 of them. We ride mostly on small mountain roads, and on the left, as everywhere in Thailand. Some stages are far from medical help and phone coverage is limited there: the support vehicle follows the group.

An average of 106 miles (170 km) per riding day, from 37 to 162 miles (60 to 260 km). The longest stage links Chiang Kham and Nan, with an early start. The shortest one stays around Chiang Rai: the White Temple, the Blue Temple, hot springs, then a free late afternoon and dinner at the night market.

A Royal Enfield, at ease on the winding roads of the north; your travel advisor will tell you which model your departure uses. Our mechanic services it every day and travels with the spare parts. If your height makes you hesitate, either way, ask your travel advisor before booking.

Yes, it was designed with couples in mind too: stages with no technical difficulty, comfortable hotels and plenty of temple visits. Your luggage travels in the support vehicle, which keeps the motorcycle light. A pillion pays £2,490 (€2,790), the rider £2,990 (€3,290).

An English-speaking motorcycle tour leader rides in front. Behind, an experienced mechanic and the driver of the support vehicle carry the luggage and the spare parts. The group is limited to 10 motorcycles, or 12 participants with pillions.

£2,990 (€3,290) per rider and £2,490 (€2,790) per pillion. The price covers the motorcycle, fuel, the team, accommodation, airport transfers and half board: breakfast and lunch on riding days, with water, tea and coffee. You pay for your flights, any visa, the international driving permit, dinners, lunches on days 1 and 12, drinks, temple entrance fees, tips and a €600 deposit per motorcycle. The FCDO says UK licence holders must carry the 1968 permit with their licence. The £31 (€35) registration fee applies to your first trip with us only.

In Chiang Mai, where the loop starts and ends. You book your own flights, often with a connection in Bangkok. On day 1, we meet you at the airport and take you to the hotel; the rest of the day is free to explore the old town and its temples. On day 12, your transfer to the airport is timed to your flight. To add nights before or after, talk to your travel advisor.

Departures run from October to February, in the dry season of the north, outside the monsoon. Days are mild and sunny in the mountains, but nights and mornings can be cold, especially in December and January, around Doi Inthanon or Phu Chi Fa: bring a warm layer for the first miles of the day.

In standard to comfort hotels, often in the middle of the mountains and sometimes with a pool; in Chiang Kham, with an unusual host. Your bags travel in the support vehicle: a soft holdall loads more easily than a hard suitcase. Pack modest clothes, with shoulders and knees covered, to enter the temples.