Touring Chiang Mai

The Chiang Mai city and province is often considered the holy grail of biking and touring in Thailand. The inner-city olde world charm and the one-way traffic of the moat road surrounding it makes for a quirky riding experience.

The traffic jams, while nowhere near as bad as Bangkok, give it an edge that allows bikes to cross-filter through traffic.
Away from the city streets there are plenty of winding, twisting mountain routes for the experienced bikers. On the flatland plains the nice long stretches into the distance are welcoming for beginners to thailands roads. For the more experienced bikers there are mountain hill tribes around Doi Suthep and Doi Pui and futher afield in Chiang Rai province.

The main roads are in excellent condition and offer a comfortable ride. In the rainy season the narrow, village trails and tracks can be hazardous to travel on so be aware and ride safely. Using Chiang Mai as a base there are many places to travel to for the day. Remote temples, valleys, waterfalls, reservoirs, towns and villages all make for a great bike ride adventure. Getting around the province can be done in a number of ways. The typical tourist one is where a tour operator may provide transport to visit a tourist attraction you book into. Hiring an independant thai driver and getting him to take you is another option.
The last, most adventurous (and some would say the most dangerous!) way is to get yourself a bike, choose a place on the map and hit the road!
The On The Road Thailand Crew, most expats and roving travelers go for the last option.

Offroad Chiang Mai area - Mae Sa Valley

Out for a spin in the Patricians 4x4 off-roader over the Mae Sa Valley, Chiang Mai Province.

Chiang Mai Tours

Chiang Mai to Bangkok

Chiang Mai to Mae Sai Loop (Border Run)

Chiang Mai to Mae Sa Valley Loop

Doi Suthep / Doi Pui Mountain Trail

Below is a map of the area with some of the places to visit, click on one for a information about it and how to get there.

The routes to the destinations have already been photographed by Watch-Rider. They serve as a handy guide and future reference.

Photo-Route Guide: The photos doubled into 'roll-over' pictures; when you move the mouse over it the picture 'rolls-over.'
The photographs will have some text at the very top telling you which direction you're looking towards for easy orientation. Also, if you hover the mouse over the picture in question, it will have some hints and additional info about both pictures. Finally there is always the map to refer to. If you're still stuck just fire off an email to us via the contact page.

Listed on the map and below is a list of the destinations and highways around Chiang Mai. Clicking on one of them will bring up information about it and how to get there.

 

Where to Tour in Chiang Mai Province

Ban Thi	Chiang Mai City	Wat Chedi Liem
Doi Saket	Doi Suthep	Elephant Hospital
Hang Dong	Hill Tribes	Huay Tung Tao
Lamphun Province	Mae Rim	Mae Sa Valley
Mae Wang	Phu Ping Palace	Sa Moeng
San Kamphaeng	Saraphi	Tribal Museum
Highway 11	Highway 107	Highway 108
Highway 118	Highway 121	Highway 1001
Highway 1004	Highway 1006	Highway 1269

Road Lore: If the destination above is bold it means it's a major tourist hotspot and will likely be crowded with tourists in the high-season! Either set-off very early in the morning or visit them in low-season for a better touring experience.