650 kms. See map. Routes 11, 1023, 101, 1091, 1021, 1, 120 & 118. The route is Chiang Mai –
Lampang – Phrae – Nan – Chiang Muan – Phayao – Wang Nua – Mae Kachan – Chiang Mai. This is a longer and great bike ride for the keener motorcyclist.
Chiang Mai – Lampang – Phrae – Nan is smooth fast winding asphalt, with Phrae – Nan especially an excellent ride. The return route Nan – Chiang Muan – Phayao – Chiang Mai is also great riding; the roads may not be as smooth, but the winding roads Nan – Chiang Muan – Phayao are almost deserted.
Nan – Chiang Muan is a particularly great winding ride. Spend a night in Nan at the Dhevaraj hotel, one of the better value hotels in North Thailand. But better still spend 2 nights in Nan and do the Doi Phukha loop, the most spectacular asphalt road / ride in North Thailand! It can be included in an even longer loop including Chiang Kham and Chiang Khong from Chiang Mai.
For more info see A Motorcycle Touring Guide To The Golden Triangle.
Tip: Pua – coming from Chiang Mai / the West, overnight in Pua & start your DP loop from here. Pua is just 100 metres from the R1256 turn off & this gives you the most time for the loop, leaving open options for either the full northern loop, or the shorter southern loop. In Pua stay at the Chomphu Phukha Resort right in town. Highly recommended as the best most spectacular ride in North Thailand, especially when combined with route 1148, North Thailand’s best motorcycle road! Nan has the best roads for sport / road bike riders in North Thailand – their are heaps of awesome ones along the rolling hills of Nan province. Don’t miss ’em if you like yourself as a sporty road rider.
