The Best of Northern Thailand

It is our short format: 7 days with 5 days of riding, a loop of about 510 miles from Chiang Mai through Chiang Dao, Tha Ton, the Golden Triangle and Chiang Rai. It works well if you only have a week of vacation. Northern Thailand Getaway also covers the Golden Triangle, but over 12 days, adding Doi Inthanon, Mae Hong Son, Pai and Nan. Thailand & Laos: Along the Mekong crosses into Laos, on more demanding roads.

The tour is rated Intermediate: you should ride regularly, as the mountain roads are a series of switchbacks climbing to about 6,500 ft at Doi Angkhang. Most stages follow small paved back roads; the itinerary mentions a short stretch of dirt track on the last riding day, before lunch. In Thailand you ride on the left. Some stages are far from medical help: the support vehicle follows the group.

Between 68 and 149 miles a stage, about 510 miles over the 5 riding days. The shortest, from the Golden Triangle to Chiang Rai, arrives in time for lunch and leaves the afternoon for the White Temple or Baan Dam. The longest takes the group back to Chiang Mai via Phayao and its lake, with a ride into the city where the traffic calls for extra attention.

A Royal Enfield, checked every day by our mechanic; your travel advisor will tell you which model your departure uses. Riding two-up works well on this tour, at $1,890 per passenger: your bags ride in the support vehicle and the days stay a reasonable length, which makes it an easy week for two. If your height gives you second thoughts, either way, talk to your travel advisor before you book.

On riding days, an English-speaking motorcycle tour leader rides up front with a group of no more than 10 motorcycles, or 12 participants with passengers. An experienced mechanic and a driver follow in the support vehicle, which carries your bags and the spare parts. Our team in France can be reached 24/7 in an emergency.

$2,290 per rider and $1,890 per passenger. The price covers your Royal Enfield and its gas, the team, the support vehicle, hotel nights, airport transfers, and breakfast and lunch on riding days. On top, plan for your flights, the International Driving Permit, dinners, lunch on the first and last days, drinks other than water, tea and coffee, temple entrance fees, tips and a $708 deposit per motorcycle. The $41 registration fee applies to your first trip with us only.

The season runs from October to February, the dry season in the north, outside the monsoon. Next published departures: October 28 to November 3, 2026 and January 9 to 15, 2027, both full, then January 8 to 14, 2028. Other dates are possible on request to your travel advisor. Days are mild, but mornings are chilly at altitude around Doi Angkhang and Doi Mae Salong: keep a warm layer handy.

The tour starts and ends in Chiang Mai. You book your flights to its airport, usually via Bangkok; on day 1, our team meets you there and drives you to your downtown hotel. The rest of the day is free for Wat Chedi Luang and the night market. On day 7, depending on your flight time, you may have a few hours in town before the airport transfer.

In standard hotels in Chiang Mai and Chiang Dao, and comfort hotels in Tha Ton, the Golden Triangle and Chiang Rai. The support vehicle carries your things from one stop to the next: a soft duffel bag fits better than a hard-shell suitcase. Add a warm layer for mountain mornings and clothes covering shoulders and knees for the temples.

A passport valid for at least 6 months after you arrive, your motorcycle license and an International Driving Permit, available from AAA: it translates your license without replacing it, so carry both. Before you land, complete the digital arrival card online. Entry and visa rules can change: check the State Department page for Thailand before you go, and our list of required documents for each step.