9-Day Motorcycle Tour Through Thailand's Far North & East
Nine days, more than 2,000 kilometres, and a group of women riding the far corners of Thailand. You go from Chinese tea villages on the Myanmar border to a sea of clouds over Laos, across a lake on a wooden raft and along the Mekong, with Route 1148, the road Thai riders talk about most, somewhere in the middle. More hours in the saddle, fewer stops, and nine days of the kind of riding you'll be thinking about all year.
8 riders maximum. The tour is led by a licensed Thai female guide. The whole tour runs through a licensed Thai agency, so the motorcycles, the insurance and the paperwork are properly covered. Women only, from the first morning to the last.
What the week is actually like
This is a week built around the ride itself. Most days you're in the saddle for four to six hours, with breaks, and most of those hours are spent on mountain roads where one corner runs straight into the next. Long days, not fast ones: the pace is set so you enjoy every one of those corners. There are fewer stops than on our 7-day tour, and they're the kind you can't plan from home: a swim under a waterfall where the water runs warm, a village that makes salt in the middle of the mountains, a hot spring where the only other bathers are locals.
You'll see a side of Thailand that never comes up when people call it overrated. No beach parties, no queues for a photo, no menus in five languages. Just towns that run at their own pace, markets where nobody is selling to tourists, and people who are genuinely happy you came. If you've ever wondered whether the real Thailand still exists, it does. It's just a long ride north.
Every mountain range also brings different people and different food. One day it's Chinese steamed buns in a tea town, the next an Akha lunch in a hill village, and a few days later dinner at a riverside night market.
Is This Women's Motorcycle Tour Right For You?
Here's the honest version, because guessing wrong would spoil the trip for you and for the group.
This tour fits you if:
- You have at least two full riding seasons behind you, and a long riding day is something you look forward to
- You're comfortable riding four to six hours a day, several days in a row
- You're confident on a mid-size adventure bike like the Honda CB500X or NX500. Lower bikes aren't available for this route, so if you're on the shorter side, you should already feel at ease on a taller bike
- Long sequences of curves sound like the good part of the adventure, not the frightening part
- You'd rather someone else handled the logistics than spend forty hours planning a trip like this yourself
You don't need to be:
- The fastest rider in the group
- Someone who has ridden a motorcycle in Thailand, or anywhere in Asia, before
- Free of nerves about it. Most women arrive with some, and they're usually gone by the end of day one.
Prefer shorter riding days, more stops, or a lower bike? Have a look at our 7-day Mae Hong Son Loop tour. It might be your week.
Be The First To Know
One departure · 8 riders
- Date: announced soon
- Price: announced soon
Planning your ride for the 2027/2028 season (November 2027 – January 2028)? Join the waitlist — bookings and early-bird prices open from December 2026, and you'll be the first to know.
"I joined the ride looking for something wild and new – and found exactly that. The mountain twisties scared me at first, but I came out more skilled, confident, and in love with riding. What stayed with me most was the calm rhythm of local life and the no-judgment vibe in our group. Baška made everything feel possible, and I'd follow her anywhere."Lucia
Common Thoughts Before Booking
"I'm not experienced enough."
Honestly, the riding itself isn't technically difficult. It's all tarmac, no off-road and no gravel, on roads that are mostly well surfaced. What makes this tour different is the distance: more than 2,000 kilometres in nine days, around 250 kilometres on an average day, and most of them in corners. That's exactly the fun part, but it asks for stamina and focus.
That's why I ask for at least two full riding seasons, and that you're comfortable on a mid-size adventure bike like the Honda CB500X or NX500 for several hours a day, nine days in a row. If you're on the shorter side, you should already feel at ease handling a bike that size.
You don't need to be an endurance rider, though. There are breaks through the day, the evenings are slow, and every night you sleep somewhere comfortable enough to wake up well rested. If you have the experience but have never done a trip this long, that's completely normal. Tell me what you ride and how far you usually go, and I'll tell you honestly whether this is your trip or whether the 7-day tour would suit you better.
"What if I don't click with the group?"
As your host, making sure the group feels good together is a big part of my job, and honestly one of my favourite parts. A few weeks before the tour, I run an online meeting where you meet the other women and I share everything I know about preparing for a trip like this. We also have a group WhatsApp chat, where you can swap tips, slowly get to know each other, and plan things to do together before or after the tour if you like.
Five to eight women who chose the same slightly unusual holiday tend to have more in common than you'd expect. And you have your own room every night, so if you'd rather read in bed than sit at dinner, that's completely fine.
"I'm coming to Thailand for longer. What do I do with the rest of my trip?"
This tour takes you to corners of Thailand most visitors never reach, and probably never would on their own. But if you have two to four weeks, there's plenty more to add around it.
Chiang Mai itself is easily worth a few days: old temples, cafés and markets around every corner. And if nine days still wasn't enough time on two wheels, you can rent a scooter and keep exploring on your own. The Samoeng Loop is a short, lovely ride right outside the city, and the Mae Hong Son Loop, with its 1,800-plus curves, shows you a completely different side of the North.
If it's your first or second time in Thailand, I'd also add Bangkok and the old capital Ayutthaya to your plan. And the south, with its islands and beaches, feels like a different country altogether, which makes it the perfect way to slow down after all those kilometres.
Women join from all over the world, so everyone plans the rest of their trip their own way. Thailand is safe for women and easy to travel around, and I'm happy to help you plan the rest of your trip.
If you feel the pull but you're not sure it's for you, write to me. Email, WhatsApp, a video call, whatever's easiest.
A Women-Only Motorcycle Adventure Through Northern Thailand
Northern Thailand is one of the few places in the world where the corners genuinely don't stop. You can ride an entire morning without meeting a straight longer than a few seconds, on asphalt that is often better maintained than the roads you ride at home.
But this trip isn't only about the corners. Somewhere along the way, you'll find yourself on a bit of a temple hunt: hilltop temples covered in mosaics, a forest temple above the clouds, the ruins of a kingdom that ruled here 700 years ago. Thai temple architecture is some of the most creative in the world, and the North keeps some of its best.
The result is a guided motorcycle tour built around you, not around a standard itinerary, and shared with a small group of women who simply get it.
What's In The Trip
The Best Roads of Northern Thailand
Nine days of mountain corners, including Route 1148, one of the most loved motorcycle roads in the country.
Mae Salong Tea Country
Taste oolong in the hills settled by Chinese soldiers who never went home.
Chiang Dao
Village roads through rice fields at sunset, beneath Thailand's third highest peak, and a hot spring only locals know.
Phu Chi Fa
Wake up above a sea of clouds and look out over the mountains of Laos.
Phu Sang Warm Waterfall
Swim under one of the very few waterfalls in Thailand where the water runs warm.
The Sirikit Lake Ferry
Cross a mountain lake on a wooden raft, with motorcycles.
Chiang Khan & the Mekong
Old wooden houses, a night market, and Laos just across the river.
Temples in the Clouds
Mosaic temples, a mountaintop forest temple and the 700-year-old ruins of Si Satchanalai.
Itinerary
Elephants, Sticky Waterfall & Sunset Over Chiang Dao
You collect your motorcycle in Chiang Mai and head north. The first coffee stop of the trip is at a café where elephants wander freely, and you get to feed them bananas.
Then Buatong Sticky Waterfall, which you climb barefoot, straight up the flowing water. Further north, a new temple covered in blue mosaics, with a reclining Buddha that's worth the stop on its own.
In the late afternoon the roads get smaller. You wind through villages and rice fields while the sun drops behind Doi Luang Chiang Dao, past farmers finishing their day and kids on bicycles. Before dinner, a dip in a hot spring by the river that almost only locals know about.
Worth knowing: mineral deposits coat the rock at Sticky Waterfall and make it naturally non-slip, so you can walk up the waterfall itself. Doi Luang Chiang Dao is Thailand's third highest peak.
Into Tea Country, Mae Salong
Today you ride into the mountains of Mae Salong, the heart of Thai tea country. The roads climb through hills covered in neat rows of tea, and the houses, the signs and the food start to feel more Chinese than Thai.
You stop at a tea plantation for a tasting, then walk between the terraces before getting back on the bike. The evening is yours: a swim in the pool, a slow dinner of Yunnanese dishes, and cool mountain air.
Worth knowing: Mae Salong was settled by soldiers of the Chinese Nationalist army who refused to surrender after 1949, and their families. The tea bushes came from Taiwan, and the oolong is considered some of the best in the region.
The Myanmar Border Road & Akha Kitchen
You ride past Doi Tung and onto a narrow mountain road that follows the Myanmar border so closely that, on the map, it keeps slipping from one country into the other. Tight corners, big views, and the feeling of riding along the very edge of Thailand.
Lunch is in Pha Mee, a small Akha village, where you eat traditional Akha food with one of the best views of the day. In the afternoon the land opens up into flat roads and rice fields as you head east towards the Phu Chi Fa mountains.
Tonight you sleep in a glamping-style stay with a view over the valley.
Worth knowing: the Akha are one of the hill peoples of northern Thailand, with communities across southern China, Myanmar and Laos. Pha Mee used to grow opium and switched to coffee, and today the village roasts and brews its own beans.
Sea of Clouds, a Warm Waterfall & Route 1148
If the weather plays along, you wake up to a sea of clouds right from your room. Straight after, a short hike up to the Phu Chi Fa viewpoint, where Laos lies spread out below you in layer after layer of mountains.
Then you ride towards Nan. Winding roads take you into Phu Sang National Park and a swim under a waterfall where the water is warm. After that, the main event: Route 1148, one of the most famous motorcycle roads in Thailand. Endless corners, smooth asphalt, and hardly a car in sight.
You spend the night in the Nan region, looking out over green rice fields.
Worth knowing: Phu Chi Fa rises to 1,628 metres on the Thai-Lao border, and its cliff drops away on the Lao side. Phu Sang's waterfall is fed by a warm spring and stays at around 33 to 36°C, something very rare in Thailand. Riders have been calling the 1148 the best road in the country for more than twenty years.
Mountain Salt & the Roads of Nan
A full day in Nan, a province many riders say has the best roads in the North. You ride beautiful mountain roads to Bo Kluea, a village where people still make salt in the middle of the mountains.
The rest of the day is curves, views and coffee stops in places so picturesque you'll want to stay for a second cup. By evening you head further south and sleep in a small, sleepy village.
Worth knowing: in Bo Kluea, villagers draw salty water from underground wells and boil it in large pans over wood fires until it turns into salt. Local accounts say they've been doing it this way for around 800 years.
A Wooden Ferry & the Mekong
On the way south-east, you cross the Sirikit Reservoir on a small wooden ferry, motorcycles and all. It's slow, a bit wobbly, and one of those moments you'll be telling people about later.
After that, the day belongs to the road: long, flowing stretches through the hills with plenty of coffee stops. Slowly you get closer to the Lao border again, until the road meets the Mekong and follows it for a while into Chiang Khan.
Chiang Khan is a riverside town of old wooden houses, and in the evening its main street turns into a night market. Dinner is right there, with Laos on the other side of the river.
Worth knowing: Pak Nai, where the ferry leaves, was a village on the Nan River until the Sirikit Dam turned the valley into a lake, and its people became fishermen. Chiang Khan was founded in the late 19th century by people who crossed the Mekong from Laos, and its wooden shophouses date from its days as a busy trading town.
Temples in the Clouds
Today is about temples, and about getting to them on great mountain roads. Wat Phra That Pha Sorn Kaew, a hilltop temple covered in millions of pieces of mosaic, with a five-tiered white Buddha looking over the mountains. Wat Pa Phu Thap Boek, a forest temple high on the highest mountain in the province. And, if there's time, Wat Somdet Phu Ruea.
Each one is completely different, and by the end of the day you'll understand why Thai Buddhist architecture is some of the most creative in the world.
Tonight you sleep high in the mountains again, so set an alarm: there's a good chance of another sea of clouds in the morning.
Worth knowing: Pha Sorn Kaew was built from 2004, paid for by donations, and is decorated with over five million ceramic pieces. Phu Thap Boek, at 1,768 metres, is the highest point in Phetchabun and home to a Hmong community known for its cabbage fields.
The Ancient City of Si Satchanalai
A ride down towards Sukhothai province and the ruins of Si Satchanalai. You arrive in time for an afternoon among old temples, chedis and Buddha statues, with far fewer visitors than at its famous neighbour, Sukhothai.
The rest of the day is for resting: a swim, a cold drink, and maybe a quiet word with your tired shoulders.
Worth knowing: Si Satchanalai was an important city of the Sukhothai Kingdom in the 13th and 14th centuries. Together with Sukhothai and Kamphaeng Phet, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991.
The Big Buddha & Back to Chiang Mai
The last day takes you back north towards Chiang Mai. On the way, one final temple: Wat Phra That Doi Phra Chan, on a hilltop near Lampang, with a huge Buddha statue that looks like it came straight from Japan.
Then back into Chiang Mai, motorcycles returned, nine days and 2,000 kilometres later. Tired but happy.
Worth knowing: the big Buddha at Doi Phra Chan is modelled on the Great Buddha of Kamakura in Japan, and the temple mixes Lanna and Japanese styles.
What This Motorcycle Tour Includes
You're not paying for a route. You're paying for a week where the planning, the local knowledge and all the small decisions that could go wrong are already handled, so you can be present for it.
The cost includes
- A fully equipped motorcycle. Well-maintained adventure bikes. If you need a lower bike, the Thai agency can arrange one that suits you.
- Fuel for every kilometre you ride.
- Your own private room, every single night. Handpicked hotels, guesthouses and hillside bungalows. No sharing, always a comfortable bed, a warm shower and fresh sheets.
- Breakfast every morning.
- Travel and medical insurance through our licensed Thai partner, covering up to 1,000,000 THB for the length of the tour.
- All entrance fees, including national parks and the rafting day.
- A licensed local Thai female guide for a maximum of six women.
- Support before, during and after the tour: Chiang Mai tips before you fly, help on the road, and recommendations for whatever you want to do once the week ends.
The cost doesn't cover
- International flights to Thailand. You arrange your own — if you want help finding a sensible route, ask me.
- Visa charges, if they apply to your passport.
- Damage to the motorcycle. Riders are responsible, and I'd recommend checking whether your travel insurance offers a rental damage add-on before you fly.
- Meals and drinks. Your guide will take you to the places locals actually eat at, but food isn't in the package so you're free to choose. Northern Thailand is inexpensive enough that this rarely turns into a real cost.
- Personal expenses: shopping, bar bills, laundry, souvenirs.
FAQs
How many women will be in the group?
Five to eight. No crowds, no waiting around at every stop, and a genuine chance to get to know each other over the trip. A video call and a group chat are set up months before the trip, so you become friends long before you meet.
Can beginners join this motorcycle tour?
No, this one isn't for beginners. You'll ride four to six hours a day for nine days in a row, mostly on mountain roads full of curves, and that asks for experience and stamina. You should have at least two full riding seasons behind you and be used to long riding days back to back. If you're newer to riding, our 7-day Mae Hong Son Loop tour is the better fit, and honestly, it's a fantastic week too.
What motorcycle will I ride?
The Honda CB500X or the Honda NX500. Both are comfortable, reliable and well suited to long curvy days. Lower bikes aren't available for this route, so if you're on the shorter side, you're welcome as long as you already feel confident handling a taller bike. Not sure if that's you? Tell me what you ride at home and I'll give you an honest answer.
Where do I sleep during the tour?
In small, handpicked places chosen for where they are, not just what they are. Some look out across mountain valleys, some over rice fields, and a few will have you standing outside with your morning coffee for longer than planned. Wherever you are, you get a comfortable bed, a warm shower and fresh sheets.
Will I have a private room?
Yes, every rider has a private room. No sharing, and time to yourself to recharge before the next day.
Is my flight included in the price?
No, you arrange your own. If you'd like help finding a good route or a decent fare, ask me. I've flown this one many times.
How do I book the tour?
Send me a message through the contact form or by email and I'll come back to you with everything. A 50% deposit secures your spot, with the balance due 6 months before the tour. If you're booking inside of 6 months, the full amount is due upfront. The conditions sound strict, but they allow accommodation and motorcycles to be secured early, and they make sure the group ends up the right size. Booking early also tends to save you a lot on flights.
Got more questions? Check out the full FAQ page for more helpful info and trip details.
Ready For Nine Days In Thailand's Far North & East?
If you feel the pull but you're not sure it's for you, write to me. Email, WhatsApp, a video call, whatever's easiest.
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