The Elephant Trailz Motorcycle Tour - 5 Days - www.southpawtours.com

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• published: 25 Apr 2014
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The Elephant Trailz Tour - 5 Days - 1125km - 50% Road / 50% Track/ Trail: Full Itinerary: Day 1: Chiang Mai to Mae Suek - 200 km - Riding time 4 hours - Road / Track / Trail By hook or by crook - we meet in the "Northern Capital" of Thailand Chiang Mai. We'll collect you from your hotel or the airport and get you all sorted out and get the bikes. We'll have a little briefing and get a feel for the bikes - then we're off!. We head southwest out of Chiang Mai to Doi Inthanon which is Thailand's highest peak. A fantastic lush winding road guides us up to the temple and gardens at the top where we take a look around and have a BBQ lunch. After lunch we head down into the valleys below Doi Inthanon and criss cross over a combination of roads tracks and trails heading westward up into the mountains. Late in the afternoon we arrive high up in the hills at the cool little town of Mae Suek just in time to freshen up, grab a cold one and watch the stunning sunset over Burma. Day 2: Mae Suek to Pai - 140 km - Riding time 6 hours - Track / Trail Today we press on early riding over a very varied terrain which and challenging and slow going. Today is a great day for improving your off-road skills. There are a lot of chances to practice your control and balancing skills. We cut through valleys, scale mountains and traverse rivers as we pass through an environment full to the brim of fascinating natural surroundings and ancient civilisations. After a tough but highly rewarding day we descend into the Pai valley and ultimately to the buzzing little town that goes by the same name. Pai was a stop on the old hippy trail 20 years ago. While a lot busier these days, it's still super cool and very pretty. The contrast from isolated natural wilderness to tiny global Thai village is a contrast that is well appreciated and noted. We hit the town for the night for fine food, fine beverages and high jinx. Day 3: Pai to Tha Ton - 230 km - Riding time 7 hours - Track / Trail In the morning after a shower and feed we head out of Pai heading northeast up into the mountain trails. We head to another great little village called Piang Luang which is nestled between Thailand and Burma on the mountain border. We take a riverside lunch amidst a natural environment rich in plants and animals. After lunch we continue east toward our destination for the night Tha Ton. We cut up over wild mountain passes that literally have a foot in both Thailand and Burma. Another tough day that is nothing short of once in a lifetime in what it gives back simply melts away into a huge sleepy grin when we reach our destination and check into our cosy guest house for the night. Day 4: Tha Ton to Chiang Rai - 200 km - Riding time 5 hours - Road / Track / Trail After another legendary breakfast, we head up to the golden triangle. The golden triangle used to be a hub of drug smuggling back during the 60's and 70's. Creating a junction between Thailand, Burma and Laos at a natural land break right on the mighty Mekong river. We have lunch over looking the river and visit a huge Buddha shrine on the banks seperating Thailand and Laos before heading down to Chiang Khong. Chiang Khong is another cool little town on the banks of the Mekhong just across the river from Houy Xai in Laos. After a snack and a peruse of the town we cut back westwards for an exceptionally beautiful and enjoyable ride which takes us into the city of Chiang Rai via the famous "White Temple" - a temple created by one of Thailands most revered artists. Chiang Rai is a great little city full of interesting places and delicious food. We stay in a guest house run by an old tribal leader who came down from the mountains and spend a fun night in the great city. Day 5: Chiang Rai to Chiang Mai - 280 km - Riding time 5 hours - 100% on-road On the final day of the tour, we head off from Chiang Rai after breakfast and start the final leg back to Chiang Mai. We take the scenic route rather than the direct one, and have one final day of great riding and interesting things to see. After a relatively relaxing days riding when it's late in the afternoon we get back to the outskirts of Chiang Mai where we take our last diversion of the tour. We head up a winding road to the Buddhist temple of Doi Suthep. Doi Suthep sits high above and looking over Chiang Mai. We find time here for one last stunning sunset before rolling back into Chiang Mai for our farewell supper. See more here: http://southpawtours.com/index.php/guided-motorcycle-tours/the-elephant-trailz-tour-5-days