2017 Udon Thani Durian Festival Thailand’s Udon Thani province has organised the “King Fruit Paradise of Thailand: Durian Festival Udon Thani” at Meung Thong Fruit Market on June 28 until September 15 to promote Thai fruits and attract tourists to the province. “The government of Thailand drives the economy by focusing on the strengthening of … Read more
8-day Taung Pyone festival to start July 31 Taung Pyone, one of the most popular festivals in Myanmar will be held for eight days, starting from July 31 and vendors who offer various goods to the public, are being invited to apply for lots, according to Wish-fulfilling pagoda trustee member, U Myint Ko Oo. He … Read more
Thailand considers tolls for roads used by cross-border motorists 27 Jun 2017 BANGKOK: Thailand might collect tolls for roads used by motorists crossing the border from neighbouring countries, a senior government official said on Monday (Jun 26), China’s Xinhua news agency reported. According to Wilairat Sirisophonsilp, deputy director of the Office of Transport and Traffic … Read more
Harley-Davidson Is Hurt by Trade Laws It Once Championed There are a lot of good reasons for Harley-Davidson (NYSE: HOG) to open up an assembly plant in Thailand, and few, mostly jingoistic, ones against it, but the irony is that the quintessential American motorcycle maker is going abroad because it is being punished by the … Read more
Discover a land of treasures in Mogok “More secret than Mecca and harder to access than Lhasa, there is, in the heart of the Burmese jungle, a small unknown city, whose fabulous resources have yet ruled over people for centuries: It is Mogok, the citadel of ruby.” The mythical city of Mogok, 200 kilometres (126 … Read more
Treehouses on top of the world: Zip-lining to lodgings in Laos During our honeymoon, my wife strapped herself to a steel cable, kissed me goodbye and threw herself off the side of a mountain. I watched as she disappeared into the jungle mist, leaving only her scream. Then it was my turn. I clipped my … Read more
22 June 2017 Inndawgyi Lake is the second UNESCO biosphere reserve named in Myanmar after Inle Lake. Inndawgyi has also been designated a UNESCO Ramsar Site. Inndawgyi Lake, which at about 12,000 ha wide is the third largest lake in Southeast Asia, is a wetland surrounded by fields and a forested watershed. Unless agriculture and … Read more
Reuters 21 June 2017 Harley-Davidson enters race to buy Italian rival Ducati: sources U.S. motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson (HOG.N) is lining up a takeover bid for Italian rival Ducati, potentially bringing together two of the most famous names in motorcycling in a deal that could be worth up to 1.5 billion euros ($1.67 billion), sources told … Read more
Car rallies expected to rev up tourism with Thailand Tourism between Myanmar and Thailand is set to accelerate after the Tourism Authority of Thailand and Myanmar Tourism Marketing Committee (MTM) decided for the first time to cooperate on allowing rally cars to pass through their common border MTM secretary U Myo Thwin told The Myanmar … Read more
11 June 2017 With a forgotten temple city, Myanmar hopes to strike tourism gold The next Angkor Wat? Securing world heritage status for historic Mrauk U could bring much-needed prosperity to troubled Rakhine state. When time began there lived a lonely monkey who met a peacock, who laid an egg from which was born a … Read more
Laos Prepares for Visit Laos Year 2018 (KPL) Laos is preparing to launch the “Visit Laos Year 2018” to promote the tourism industry and attract a greater inflow of foreign visitors. “The Visit Laos Year 2018 launch has been scheduled for November this year, coinciding with the That Luang festival. High ranking officials and journalists … Read more
WORLD NEWS | Sun Jun 18, 2017 | 11:18pm EDT China issues security alert in Laos after national shot dead China’s embassy in Laos has issued a safety warning to its citizens there after a Chinese national was shot dead in the country’s Xaysomboun province. Chinese workers have increasingly come under attack as companies expand … Read more
Mekong Tourism: Is there a way forward? LUANG PRABANG, 14 June 2017: “We shouldn’t repeat the mistakes of others, I am not happy with tourism development and be careful what you wish for,” were some of the cryptic comments of panelists at last week’s Mekong Tourism Forum. Asked to talk about the way forward, 20 … Read more
Both Pop Motorcycle & Mr Mechanic have some new bikes for rent. Pop who is the # 1 shop has ordered 30 new 2017 Vstrom 650s & today 17th June the first 5 were delivered. Mr Mechanic further down the moat & on the other side now has the Honda CRF 250 Rally for … Read more
Jun 15th 2017, TTM: Single-entry visa for CLMVT nations coming ‘sooner rather than later A singe entry visa for five countries in the South East Asia region is set to happen “sooner rather than later”, delegates at Thai Travel Mart have been told. In a conference session with representatives from the CLMVT (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, … Read more
The Sacred 200 year old Elephant tusks of the Karen cult village of Lay Tong Ku, stolen during the night of 9th June 2017 have been returned. An amazing story & an an amazing piece of a cultural heritage. The tusks have featured on GTR here: This is Umphang Report from the Nation Newspaper 13th June 2017 … Read more
Thailand Travel Mart Plus 2017 WHEN: 14 June 2017 – 16 June 2017 all-day WHERE: Chiang Mai International Exhibition and Convention Centre, Chiang Mai The 16th Thailand Travel Mart Plus Amazing Gateway to the Greater Mekong Subregion (TTM+) 2017 will be held in the northern Thai capital of Chiang Mai, on 14 – 16 June, … Read more
GTR has many dirt ride trip reports & to assist newbies looking for some dirt action we’ve compiled a list of the main dirt rides & reports. There are some epics reports of fearless rides in the dark, guys trying to find a way through the jungle, so take your time & work your way … Read more
Laos is probably one of the best countries in S E Asia for dirt riding. Tourists, plus scores of guys – Thai & expat – from Thailand & Malaysia go there to ride the dirt trails & wild jungle tracks. GT Rider has compiled a list of dirt rides ‘n reports for the North, the … Read more
A little late, but some guys have now been caught out. On 1st December 2016 a new visa policy for entering Thailand came into force. Specifically if you are entering at a land border crossing then you can only enter twice a calendar year with a “visa free entry” on arrival for a 30 day … Read more
GT Rider is pleased to announce the first annual GTR calendar. The calendar is a wall calendar 30 x 20 cms. It has 12 pages of superb photos from various GT Riders on their adventures in Thailand, Laos & China. Each month lists the various holidays, events & festivals for Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Myanmar, … Read more
The GT Rider forum now has a new VDO section for riders to upload their favourite riding & touring VDOs. Goran from Phuket has already started a series of the best biking roads & you can check them out here Thailand Motorcycling Videos The “Top Ten” roads are well worth watching.
There’s been another hiccup in entry into Laos at the Muang Ngern border crossing from Huay Kon (Nan) in Thailand. Currently – September 2016 – all motorbikes & bicycles – are banned from entering Laos here, even if you have a visa & permit. The Muang Ngern port of entry into Laos has been problematic … Read more
Thailand has changed the rules regarding temporary – transit vehicle import, in a massive clampdown on the thousands of Chinese vehicles that were coming across the border. The new rules took affect on 27 June 2016. Unfortunately, unless you are on a Lao, Malaysian or Singaporean bike, you now need prior approval to enter, that … Read more
With bikes on board a boat, Jurgen Chopard sails though the controversial Xayaboury dam to retrace the Mekong river of the early French explorers. Sailing through treacherous rapids that sunk treasure laden ships fleeing invaders years ago, this is a truly colouful report with the history of the brave early French Mekong explorers plus tragic … Read more