THAILAND AND LAOS days / Riding Days GENERAL OVERVIEW TOUR MAP DAY BY DAY

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Mitchell Bruce
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15 13days / 11 13 Riding Days Ever in search of new and intriguing destinations, we re presenting a two week ride through Northern Thailand and wild Northwest Laos.

1 15 13days / Riding Days Ever in search of new and intriguing destinations, we re presenting a two week ride through Northern Thailand and wild Northwest Laos. We ll ride rural two lane roads of varying surfaces through spectacular mountainous landscapes, jungles, and along the Mekong River, with opportunities to explore the legendary Golden Triangle, where Laos, Thailand and Myanmar meet. Here is an opportunity to stretch your riding and travel experience to include rice paddies and tea plantations in the countryside, gleaming gilt-topped temples, crumbling French mansions from colonial times, and steaming noodle stalls in Vientiane. We ll visit two UNESCO World Heritage sites. For hard core riders, there are 1,864 curves between Mae Tang and Mae Hong! For the sightseers among you, there are hundreds of years of cultural. Religious, military and gastronomic history to soak up. Do not miss out! TOUR MAP MYANMAR Mae Hong Son Chiang Rai Mae Taeng Chiang Mai Sukhotai Houei Xai Oudom Xai Vientiane LAOS Luang Prabang Vang Vieng Phu Ruea THAILAND CULTURE ROADS LANDSCAPE GENERAL OVERVIEW DATES in 2017 November 05 - November 19 November 26 - December 10 COUNTRIES Thailand, Laos TOUR STARTS / ENDS Chiang Mai, Thailand REST DAYS 2; Luang Prabang, Chiang Rai ROUTE Mileage: km (1.700 miles) Daily rides: km ( miles) The whole tour runs on asphalt. HIGHLIGHTS Sukothai (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Vientiane, Vang Vieng, Luang Prabang (UNESCO World Heritage Site), Mountains to Oudom Xai, Chiang Rai, Golden Triangle, Mekong River, Road of 1,864 curves, Long Neck Hill Tribe, Doi Inthanon ACCOMMODATION Comfortable, very nice hotels, mostly 4**** DAY BY DAY Day 1: Arival in Chiang Mai Day 2: Chiang Mai - Sukhothai Day 3: Sukhotai - Phu Rua Day 4: Phu Rua - Vientiane Day 5: Vientiane - Van Vieng Day 6: Van Vieng - Lung Prabang Day 7: Rest day in Luang Prabang Day 8: Luang Prabang - Oudom Xai Day 9: Oudom Xai - Houei Xai Day 10: Houei Xai - Chiang Rai Day 11: Rest day in Chiang Rai Day 12: Chiang Rai - Mae Taeng Day 13: Mae Taeng - Mae Hong Son Day 14: Mae Hong Son - Chiang Mai Day 15: Chiang Mai, flight home

Day 1: Arival in Chiang Mai Day 3: Sukhotai - Phu Rua We ll blend in with Thai traffic in the morning and head east towards our next destination. We ll ride through Nakhon Thai, a good spot for lunch.

In the afternoon we ll arrive at Phu Ruea National Park, another great scenic area, where we spend the night.

2 Day 1: Arival in Chiang Mai Day 3: Sukhotai - Phu Rua We ll blend in with Thai traffic in the morning and head east towards our next destination. We ll ride through Nakhon Thai, a good spot for lunch. Nice twisty roads will take us through some mountainous areas later that day, such as Phu Hin Rong Kla National Park, where we ll cool off a bit and enjoy the views. In the afternoon we ll arrive at Phu Ruea National Park, another great scenic area, where we spend the night. Tha park is right at the border with Laos, and on its highest peaks you can already catch a glimpse of the mighty Mekong. Welcome to Chiang Mai! A representative of Adriatic Moto Tours will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the hotel. If you arrive early, head out to get a feel for this enchanting town. Founded in the 13th century as the former capital of Lanna Kingdom, Chiang Mai today offers a more relaxing vibe than it s southern rival, Bangkok. Despite its big tourist draw, the city remains a pristine Thai experience. Head to Warorot, Chiang Mai s biggest public market, pay your respects at Phra Singh, the most revered temple in town or just stroll the backstreets and check what this lovely town has to offer. Your guides will meet you in the hotel at 4 pm for an introductory briefing, after which we ll go out for our first dinner. Day 2: Chiang Mai - Sukhothai Day 4: Phu Rua - Vientiane Fresh and cool air of Phu Ruea will wake us up in the morning before we ride on towards our first overnight stop in Laos, the capital, Vientiane. We ll stop for lunch in Chiang Khan, a lovely small town perfect for our stop. From there, excitement will build up as we start closing in on the Mekong river, which we ll follow the rest of the day. Plenty of scenic photo stops and coffee breaks will give us opportunities to enjoy Thailand for a bit more before crossing The Friendship Bridge in Nongkai and enter Laos. In the evening there is time to explore this delightfully friendly capital, studded with crumbling French mansions, bougainvillea-blooming streets and steaming noodle stalls. Vientiane is somewhere between a big town and a diminutive city. Enjoy a Beer Lao at sunset by the river! In the morning we ll start our adventure from the hotel in Chiang Mai. For most of the day we ride the countryside roads with low traffic density. Pleasant riding with some nice bends at a relaxed pace will get us down south to Sukhothai, historic capital of the Sukhotai Kingdom in the 13th and 14th centuries, a period considered the golden age of Thai civilisation. The remains of it lie in the old town, today still one of the most visited ancient sites in Thailand. Drop your gear at the hotel and walk to town to explore it s numerous temples and UNESCO Historical Park.

Day 5: Vientiane - Van Vieng Day 7: Rest day in Luang Prabang Before leaving we can explore Vientiane and its sights.

After lunch we make our way north, to Vang Vieng, where we stay the night. The Nam Song river flows through this picturesque little town set in a beautiful karst region.

Adventure is what people are seeking when they stop in Vang VIeng.

The main road, with some newly constructed sections, still offers a lot of fun, since it crosses wild forests over mountains laying endless panoramic views before us.

3 Day 5: Vientiane - Van Vieng Day 7: Rest day in Luang Prabang Before leaving we can explore Vientiane and its sights. This laid back town shows a lot of charm once you spend some time strolling the boulevards, visiting numerous temples or just enjoying the view by the Mekong. After lunch we make our way north, to Vang Vieng, where we stay the night. The Nam Song river flows through this picturesque little town set in a beautiful karst region. But the real beauty of this place lies in its surroundings. A short walk out of town brings you to an idyllic rural world of green fields and skyreaching rock formations. Adventure is what people are seeking when they stop in Vang VIeng. Day 6: Van Vieng - Lung Prabang Remote mountains as far the eye can see will invite us to stop while riding further north towards Kasi and our final destination, Luang Prabang. The main road, with some newly constructed sections, still offers a lot of fun, since it crosses wild forests over mountains laying endless panoramic views before us. We finish our day in UNESCO gem Luang Prabang, proclaimed to be the best preserved city in South East Asia. The town sits at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers, surrounded by stunning mountain backdrop and lush forests. Its gleaming temple roofs, rustic little alleys filled with shops and restaurants will leave you wanting more. Exactly why we stay here for two nights. Hop on the bike and ride to beautiful Kuang Si waterfalls, a short ride out of town. Pack your speedos and have a swim in the lagoon. Two hours upstream the Mekong by boat will get you to Pak Ou Caves, noted for hundreds of miniature Buddha sculptures found inside. Staying put in Luang Prabang for the entire day is an excellent choice as well. Get up early and attend the monks procession on their daily routine of collecting alms, a practice that dates back centuries. By offering monks food you make a merit--ticket for a good next life. Climb up Mount Phou Si, a 100 meters high hill in the center of town and get a good view of the town. Nourish your soul and visit Wat Xieng Thong and Wat Wisunalat, the two most important temples. To end your day properly find a good massage and a herbal bath, head to a night market before immersing yourself in exquisite Gallic cuisine only Luang Prabang has to offer. Day 8: Luang Prabang - Oudom Xai Leaving Luang Prabang behind we start following the rivers Mekong and Nam Ou up north, towards Nong Khiew, a cute little rustic town on the banks of river Ou, squeezed in between fantastic limestone rock formations. Later, we will ride the newly built road to Oudom Xai province, enjoyable for its nice curves and spectacular views.

Day 9: Oudom Xai - Houei Xai Another good day of riding Laos awaits. We move west towards Luang Namtha, a town located close to the Chinese border.

This little town is slowly gaining recognition for eco-oriented tour companies offer trekkings to ethnically diverse villages, cycling, kayaking and other adventurous activites in and around Nam Ha

And if you decide to ride, head to the Legendary Golden Triangle, where the borders of Myanmar, Thailand and Laos meet.

From there hop to Mae Sai which borders Myanmar where you can cross the border with no visa and have lunch on Burmese side.

4 Day 9: Oudom Xai - Houei Xai Another good day of riding Laos awaits. We move west towards Luang Namtha, a town located close to the Chinese border. This is the main entry point into China from Thailand and Laos. This little town is slowly gaining recognition for eco-oriented tour companies offer trekkings to ethnically diverse villages, cycling, kayaking and other adventurous activites in and around Nam Ha National Park. The main road cuts through the park, taking us south to Huay Xai, our last overnight in Laos before we enter Thailand the next day. the crowd at the night bazaar. And if you decide to ride, head to the Legendary Golden Triangle, where the borders of Myanmar, Thailand and Laos meet. The Golden Triangle, otherwise a much larger area than the actual meeting point of 3 borders, still plays a big role in drug manufacturing, although it has declined in last two decades. From there hop to Mae Sai which borders Myanmar where you can cross the border with no visa and have lunch on Burmese side. Day 10: Houei Xai - Chiang Rai Day 12: Chiang Rai - Mae Taeng We immediately cross the 4th Bridge of Friendship over the Mekong to Thailand. This border crossing was opened in 2013, ending countless ferry rides congesting the flow of the Mekong. Further down, a great ride over the mountain Phu Chi Fa will keep us busy with many scenic photo stops. We finish the day in Chiang Rai, northernmost large town in Thailand. Day 11: Rest day in Chiang Rai It s not hard to relax in this lovely town. Exploring it reveals many temples, Phra Kaew being the biggest. Visit Hill Tribe Museum for more insight into indigenous populations living in the remote mountains. For some shopping join From Chiang Rai we take the highway up north before we move further west. Myanmar is right there tempting us to make a detour. We ll stop at Choui Fong Tea house located on a tea plantation of the same name and have a cup of well tea. We continue to Doi Mae Salona, an interesting Chinese village, worth a stop. It was built by the Chinese Nationalist Army that refused to surrender to Chinese communists after the Nationalist Kuomintang government was routed in The last part of the day will take us along gentle hills, through rice paddies and past farm villages. The river Kok will lead us to Thaton, a small town perfect for lunch. Wat Thaton overlooking the valley is a nice stop to make before leaving. We finish the day in Mae Taeng elephant park.

Day 13: Mae Taeng - Mae Hong Son By now familiar riding continues down the road 108 towards Khun Yuam.

Later in the day, we will ride up Doi Inthanon, the highest mountain in Thailand, before returning down to the valley and ride our last kilometres towards Chiang Mai.

One of the most spectacular rides with 1864 bends carving through green jungles, giving monkeys a hard time of not knowing when to cross, as the bikers are flying by seeking their perfect line.

5 Day 13: Mae Taeng - Mae Hong Son By now familiar riding continues down the road 108 towards Khun Yuam. Imperial Japanese Army troops were stationed here during the construction of a highway intended to cross Burma to India. Stop at the local War Museum to check the history. Later in the day, we will ride up Doi Inthanon, the highest mountain in Thailand, before returning down to the valley and ride our last kilometres towards Chiang Mai. We will have our last dinner tonight before saying goodbye to each other. Day 15: Chiang Mai, flight home Road Nr Every Thai biker knows it. And every Thai biker has ridden it. One of the most spectacular rides with 1864 bends carving through green jungles, giving monkeys a hard time of not knowing when to cross, as the bikers are flying by seeking their perfect line. Approximately 700 twisties await as you ride over the mountains to Pai, a small but well-on-the-map hippie-epicenter of Thailand. The River Pai flows through, as well as through Mae Hong Son, our overnight stop. Before heading to our hotel, we go directly on the pier and take a scenic boat ride to Karen Long Neck Village, today a home of a tribal minority. Some of the women wear heavy brass rings around their necks, forearms and shins. Day 14: Mae Hong Son - Chiang Mai Grab your last Pad Thai, shop-away on the amazing street markets of Chiang Mai before heading to the airport. Put your hands together, slightly bow and conduct a wai, the Thailand greeting. Doing so we wish everyone well-being. May our paths cross again on another great ride somewhere around the globe.

6 THAILAND TO OF THE ALPS6 AND LAOS SICILY 2017 TOUR (per (per person person in EUR) in EUR) MOTORCYCLE Price for the RIDER Based on sharing a double / twin room. Suzuki V-Strom BMW F 700 GS BMW F 800 GS Price for the PASSENGER Single room supplement BMW R 1200 GS The 15 day Thailand & Laos tour includes: Late model motorcycle with lockable hard luggage plus a Third party liability insurance and Comprehensive vehicle insurance. Experienced guide on a motorcycle. Support pick-up truck for luggage, souvenir purchases and 1 or 2 passengers. 14 nights accommodation in excelent, 4**** hotels, the best in the area. 14 complete buffet breakfasts in the hotel. 12 dinners, mostly in traditional local restaurants. 12 lunches. Petrol for the bikes. All entrance fees for national parks and museums (according to tour program). Airport transfers on arrival and departure (on the first and last days of the tour). All maps with marked routes for the region being toured. Extensive tour booklet. Not included in the tour price: Air ticket, dinners and lunches on rest days, alcoholic drinks, personal spending, tips.

Indochina Explorer (15 Days) Thailand, Laos, Vietnam

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