Golden Lanna temple roofs and a brick chedi under blue sky in Chiang Mai

Adventure · 10D | 9N

Hills, Rivers & Ridges

The Mae Hong Son loop by motorbike — 1,864 bends of it — with two days trekking to Karen villages, whitewater on the Mae Taeng, and Doi Inthanon on foot.

Best time
November to February
Route
Chiang Mai · Pai · Mae Hong Son · Doi Inthanon

Day by day

10 days, planned in full

The Mae Hong Son loop by motorbike — 1,864 bends of it — with two days trekking to Karen villages, whitewater on the Mae Taeng, and Doi Inthanon on foot.

  1. Day 1

    Arrive in Chiang Mai

    Into a guesthouse near the moat, bikes and gear checked, and a briefing on the loop and its road surface.

    Night
    Chiang Mai
    Meals
    Dinner

  2. Day 2

    Whitewater on the Mae Taeng

    Ten kilometres of grade III–IV in the wet-season channel, dropping to III when the river is low, then back into town by evening.

    Night
    Chiang Mai
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch

  3. Day 3

    North-west to Pai

    The first 762 bends up over the Mae Malai pass, with a stop at the Mok Fa falls and the Pai canyon at sunset.

    Night
    Pai
    Meals
    Breakfast

  4. Day 4

    Pai, and the hot springs

    The Lod cave by lamplight and bamboo raft, a Shan village, and the Sai Ngam springs to soak in before the long day.

    Night
    Pai
    Meals
    Breakfast, dinner

  5. Day 5

    On to Mae Hong Son

    The hardest stretch of the loop — a hundred kilometres of near-continuous corners — to a lake town almost on the Myanmar border.

    Night
    Mae Hong Son
    Meals
    Breakfast, dinner

  6. Day 6

    Into the hills on foot

    Bikes parked and a trek up through Karen farmland, sleeping in a village homestay with no road access and no electricity after nine.

    Night
    Karen village
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch, dinner

  7. Day 7

    Down to the river

    The second trekking day out to the Pai river, a bamboo raft down the last stretch, and back on the bikes to Mae Sariang.

    Night
    Mae Sariang
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch

  8. Day 8

    The southern arm

    The quieter half of the loop east along the Myanmar border, ending at a lodge below Doi Inthanon.

    Night
    Doi Inthanon
    Meals
    Breakfast, dinner

  9. Day 9

    Kew Mae Pan

    The summit ridge trail at 2,500 m through moss forest with a Karen guide, then the Siriphum falls and the last run into Chiang Mai.

    Night
    Chiang Mai
    Meals
    Breakfast, lunch

  10. Day 10

    Fly home

    A transfer to the airport and the connection through Bangkok.

    Meals
    Breakfast

What's included

  • 9 nights in guesthouses, a hill lodge and a Karen village homestay
  • Return economy airfare from Kolkata, Delhi or Mumbai via Bangkok
  • Motorbike hire, fuel, helmets and a lead rider for the full loop
  • A support vehicle carrying luggage on every riding day
  • Whitewater rafting day with guides, helmets and buoyancy aids
  • Two-day guided Karen village trek with the homestay and porters
  • Doi Inthanon entry, the Kew Mae Pan permit and its local guide

Not included

  • Adventure travel insurance covering motorcycling and rafting, which is compulsory
  • A valid international riding permit — a pillion option exists
  • Meals not named in the itinerary
  • Riding gear beyond the helmet

Other ways to go

More Chiang Mai trips

5 other routes through Chiang Mai, from ₹84,900 per person.

*Per person on twin sharing. Prices move with season and availability — we confirm yours in writing before anything is booked.

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