thailand border to Myanmar (Burma)

[ozzee]

I am going to Thailand early next year and apart from visiting the touristic places down south I wanted to explore more the Northern side. Chaing Mai, Mae-Hong Son, Pai and the Golden Traingle since i heard it has some good roads for bikers ! (Chiang Rai and around) but i am a bit concerned since these places are not far away from the Myanmar border and the former Burma is not very stable at the moment. Any of you travellers out there have been there recently ? or someone can tell me if I am too paranoid or not please ? :confused1: Most of all I want to experience some mountains, nature, village tribes and good scenery.

thanks

I dream

[juddadredd]

Hi did all that last year on my little 250cc, no problems whatsoever.

Chaing Mai is great I spent 2 weeks just chilling out at Julies Hotel (ask a cabbie) Clean cheap with lots of European women to erm chat to. Lively bars at night, great markets, lots of Wats to see and explore.

Bike rental from Tonys big bikes just down the road if your not taking your own, great bikes very well maintained. (say hi from me)

Village tribes and Jungle Trekking from Noi (CM has one of the last untouched areas of Jungle in Thailand) just ask for him at Julies Hotel, as he lives around the corner, Say Lee said hi and say Killer Bees, Leeches, and Crazy chick from Holland spraining her ankle and he will know exactly who you mean. Had 3 days trekking and it was GREAT.



Big Tony also has maps from the Golden Triangle bikers so you can find out all about the loop there, very wise chap is Tony.

Pai is full of hippy backpackers not my style as they are constantly on the weed and I like to ride with a clean head, 3 main streets but great countryside riding is only minutes away.

The best Twistie roads are on the loop, with some views that will really take your breath away, you should have about a week to explore the loop as there are countless roads you can explore.

Oh stay away from the Mobile telephone mast mountain (its on the map) as there are guards with guns and lots of bullets at the top. (dont ask )

I can only say One of the best trips I did, with really dirt poor but friendly people so dont worry.

ride safe.

[ozzee]

Thanks for the very informative reply juddadredd,

I dont like to plan a lot for a trip but what i had in mind is going up north from Bankok and explore the north on a rented bike for a about two weeks, then head down south to the islands and do some island hoping and then back to Bankok for the flight back home. I have 28 days in all, not much since i would have spent the previous 2 months in Australia. is that a reasonable time for that tour or?
Cheers

[Cameron]

checkout The Golden Triangle Rider Thailand/Asia Motorcycle Touring Information for great up to date info on riding in northern Thailand.Have fun.
Cheers

[Osama Radzi]

Relax & enjoy!

Its pretty safe there, I got a friend frm Singapore that rides there regularly. We'll be riding there soon, date is not fix yet. surely after the moto GP!
I dont remember the name but near the Golden Triangle is home to one of the longgest twisty road in S.E.Asia The last time I went there was 2002. You can also enter Ta Chi Liek (Myanmar) to buy some fake & semi precious stones for souvenir. Entry are for shoppers & last for 24hrs only.
If youre going down south dont miss Phi Phi & Pa Nga Island, also Krabi!Phuket is nice too. Depending what youre looking for...
If you like Waterfall; south Thailand are littered with it, almost all small town has its own waterfall park! A cool dip after a hot ride is definitely obligatory for me. Another twisty route, approx (80kms of twist) is in the south. Its just after Yala (a bit unstable though) head towards Betong (Malaysian border), ride through the Bang Lang Dam & all the way to North Malaysia. you said you got 28days? is more than enough!

You should also visit our Taman Negara (National Park)
its Visit Malaysia Year 2007 & all our island in the east coast!
Redang, Perhentian, Kapas & dont miss Tioman!

Cheers & Ride Safe!

[ozzee]

Thanks Osama

I will surely keep your information in mind, very helpful !

[SprintST]

I've spent the past two winters backpacking around SEA and loved it. Have only rented scooters in the islands and smalller places like Pai in northern Thailand though. That area gave twisties a whole new meaning for me. Would have loved to have had my Triumph SprintST with me but when I really thought about it, it would have been far too big. A 250 is huge for some of those areas.

The longest portion of straight road between Chiang Mai and Pai is about 27" as I recall. Driving/riding in SEA is an adventure is itself. No chance of drifting off to sleep on that road. Bangkok could be a life-altering experience for you. I agree with an earlier poster about Julie's Guest House. Another really nice spot I found in CM, with a great pool, is the Chiang Mai Thai House. 500 baht for a nice room. I could go on and on about SEA. Have a blast!

[pecha72]

there are huge camps for Burmese refugees, just by the road between Mae Sot and Mae Sariang, and plenty of police checkpoints when the road goes really near the border. No hassle for tourists, they just check your passport sometimes.

The roads are simply the finest I´ve ever ridden, they even outshine those in the Alps, Pyrenees or the Norwegian mountains. Just incredible, and some 250-400cc rental bike is all you need, because you shouldnt go very fast anyway, for several reasons. Combine all this with the glorious weather, friendly people and cheap living, and the fact that there are a LOT of these wonderful roads there, and its the best place on earth for motorbiking (or at least I havent found a better one yet!)

My experiences from Feb/March 2006.

[beddhist]

Has anybody got waypoints to these guesthouses? Or at least some directions?

Thanks.

[ozzee]

Thanks guys for all the information posted, it surely is usefull ! looking forward to head to Thai maybe meet some bikers there as well Sadly i cant take my MZ 660 with me i have to rent.

ozzee

[Traveler1]

There's a mini-HU meeting in Chiang Mai on the 19th of January. If you can make that you could get some good tips on local rides. David Unkovich who makes the biker maps (with suggested guest houses etc.) for Thailand and Laos will probably be in attendence.

Some friends and I will be in Chiang Maion 10 Jan, (staying at the Riverview Lodge) and leaving probably on 12 Jan for a ride to the Thai-Lao border and then back to do the Mai Hong Song loop. There are 6 of us. We have been doing this every year for a while. You shouldn't be concerned about the intermittent problems along the border - they have been going on for years, and don't pose a problem for riders. Actually, the Thai army would stop you before you got into a touchy area.

Ride safe

[ozzee]

Traveller1
I will be in Australia that time so i am afraid i wont be able to attend to the HU meeting sadly. but i will try and meet up with David once i am there maybe he ll give us some tips. Cheers buddy
ozzee

[SprintST]

For info and address on Chiang Mai Thai House go here: Chiang Mai Thai House: Luxury House Lanna Style

For info and address on Julie Guest House go here:
Julie Guesthouse, Chiang Mai, Thailand, the oasis within the city

I didn't mention one other Guest House in Pai called Palm House. No website on the last business card I snitched, but the address is 3 Moo 4 Runslyanon Road Wiangtai, Pai, Haehonson 58130. The phone no. is 0-5369-9074.

Hope this helps.

[Osama Radzi]

Originally Posted by Traveler1

There's a mini-HU meeting in Chiang Mai on the 19th of January. If you can make that you could get some good tips on local rides. David Unkovich who makes the biker maps (with suggested guest houses etc.) for Thailand and Laos will probably be in attendence.

Some friends and I will be in Chiang Maion 10 Jan, (staying at the Riverview Lodge) and leaving probably on 12 Jan for a ride to the Thai-Lao border and then back to do the Mai Hong Song loop. There are 6 of us. We have been doing this every year for a while. You shouldn't be concerned about the intermittent problems along the border - they have been going on for years, and don't pose a problem for riders. Actually, the Thai army would stop you before you got into a touchy area.

Ride safe

Anymore infos on the Chiang Mai Mini Meet?
But traveler you wont be around during the meet? A ride to Laos border? maybe I should join you guys instead....



Ride Safe/Save/Sober

[ozzee]

SprintST i particularly liked Julies guesthouse it seems very nice and the rooms are not over priced. any other people stayed there??
i am getting to bangkok on the 24th and will probably head north on the 25th, maybe stop in one or two places en route. but wanting to book a room at Julies since it seems so nice ( compared to the guesthouses i ve seen in india its a 5 star hotel) i am not sure what time frame to leave for travelling from Bangkok to Chiangmai any one can be of some help here please? i know there is a hack of distance between the two places. ???

cheers
ozzee