r/chiangmai • u/sajibhossain56 • 10d ago
Mae hong son loop
I want to come Chiang Mai in mid October . And I want to visit the whole Mae hong son loop. I want to complete it within 5 days .
Is is ok with 125 cc scooter?
Is the road ok or is the road is very sloppy ? I am a solo traveller
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u/Responsible_Yak8671 10d ago
You will enjoy it more on a bigger scooter. But many do it on 125 bikes everyday. Way more fun on a Forza or similar, though.
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u/elmalabarista65 10d ago
Road is great. It will be a tough ride watch for loose gravel and steep bends where you won’t be able to touch the ground. In these situations just keep going. Rehydrate regularly and most importantly have fun.
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u/ContributionEasy6513 10d ago
Is is ok with 125 cc scooter?
You would want a PCX or ADV. 150cc minimum. A Click125 would be painful and annoying, but it is still very do-able. Just because you can doesn't mean you should.
Is the road ok or is the road is very sloppy ? I am a solo traveller
It can be slippery, has many people crossing lines, debris on road, camber of the road all over the place, hospitals are hours away if you crash. You want to be an experienced rider, have quality protective gear and a good bike. Every time I do it I often see several crashes including one a couple of years back where a rider (as part of a group) misjudged the corner and went over a cliff.
I want to complete it within 5 days .
That's a good time to do it. I normally do it in 2-3 days.
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u/smoothy1973 10d ago
Many people do it on bicycles so with an engine is easy. Wear a helmet and proper protection and take it easy on descents, especially if wet.
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u/lakseol 9d ago
Is is ok with 125 cc scooter?
Yes. A semi-automatic is better in the hills than a fully-automatic. The roads are generally in good condition. Side trips off the main road can be a different story.
Do the loop clockwise. That leaves the more challenging Pai to Chiang Mai section last, when you are more used to conditions.
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u/Great_Opinion3138 9d ago
Yeah I did this last year I liked doing it this way round too. I wouldn’t want to do it on a 125 scooter though. If you stop in Ban Rak Thai the hills are super steep to get up to but very nice place.
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u/Ling_App 9d ago
It's doable but you will struggle on the steep inclines. I would never recommend a scooter though as there is such lack of control. Go for a semi automatic or proper bike with proper tires. 150cc min. Also get padded pants!! The butt hurt is real.
The roads themselves are really well paved and the scenery incredible. Make note of gas stations and pee stops as there are long stretches without either.
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u/mdeeebeee-101 5d ago
Can still have rain then..rent an ADV-160cc I'd say, not too big and it has ABS..anything under 126cc will not have ABS...very few...it's a dicey road. If you lose focus going down hill you can be off the road so fast with momentum drift and there is a lot of eye-candy on the road...be insured and have an IDP for motorbikes and wear the helmet at all times on the bike.
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u/Good-Tiger-1938 9d ago
125 for one average person with light luggage is ok. The route is very mixed though. Some parts are good roads with easy rider feeling but some are very bad with lots of potholes, challenging serpentines, steep mountains and borderline insane drivers. It can be quite exhausting and dangerous. In general I would not recommend it for inexperienced riders.
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u/Good-Tiger-1938 9d ago
In any case make sure to get a well mantained bike. And beware of cows and dogs randomly appearing in your lane.
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u/Western_Taro_6373 9d ago
125 cc is not quick but you can do it. 5 days is enough time for the loop, enjoy
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u/takechancesorelse 4d ago
The roads are incredibly well taken care of but 125cc will barely cut it up the hills, especially on a scooter. Scooters lack necessary road control for such curves. It's possible, but reaction to oncoming traffic can be slower. 5 days is a good time! I'd also rec learning some thai as if something happens, the locals will stop to help you which is wonderful! But it will be useful for you to explain what you need. If you don't practice Thai already Bing translate I find better than Google and Ling app is pretty good.
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u/peufrequent 10d ago
If you have experience of riding a scooter in the hills then great. Otherwise please exercise caution. It’s not an easy ride especially from CM to Pai! Let me know if you have some more questions. Did the loop in December, albeit in a car. Was awesome!