The 'number 3' road — Route 1081 near Santisuk, Nan — snaking along a forested ridge

Route Guide · 7 min read

MAE HONG SON AND NAN IN ONE RIDE

The short answer

Yes — you can ride Mae Hong Son and Nan in one trip. The NBT Super Loop does it in eleven days and 1,381 km from Chiang Mai: west over Doi Inthanon to Ban Rak Thai and Pai, east through Chiang Rai to Phu Chi Fa and Nan, with a rest day in Chiang Rai.

The tour that rides this road: NBT Super Loop (11 days, 10 nights) · or ask us on WhatsApp

THE ROUTE AT A GLANCE

Distance
1,381 km
Days
11 (10 riding + 1 rest)
Start & finish
Chiang Mai
Longest day
207 km · Mae Chaem → Ban Rak Thai
Riding per day
Usually 4–6 hours
Best months
Mid-November to early February

WHY ONE RIDE, NOT TWO

Most riders who come to Northern Thailand pick one side of it. The west is the Mae Hong Son Loop: Doi Inthanon, the long crossings into Mae Hong Son province, Ban Rak Thai and Pai. The east is Phu Chi Fa and Nan: the cliff edge over Laos and the empty mountain roads of Nan province.

The two sides join in the middle. From Pai the route runs to Chiang Dao and on to Chiang Rai, so instead of coming home to Chiang Mai and setting out again, you keep going — and Chiang Rai, halfway round, is where you take a full day off the bike before the eastern half.

DAY BY DAY

Distances and approximate riding times are our measured legs for this route.

  1. Day 1Chiang Mai → Doi Inthanon → Mae Chaem

    116 km · ~3h 15m

    Climb out of Chiang Mai toward Doi Inthanon, Thailand's highest mountain, with a stop at Mae Pan Waterfall on the way up. Drop down the far side into the Mae Chaem valley for the first night, deep in rural mountain country.

  2. Day 2Mae Chaem → Ban Rak Thai

    207 km · ~5h 15m

    A long mountain crossing into Mae Hong Son province, finishing at Ban Rak Thai — a Yunnanese-Chinese village tucked against the Myanmar border, known for its tea plantations, lake, and cool climate. Overnight on the lakeshore.

  3. Day 3Ban Rak Thai → Pai

    118 km · ~3h 15m

    Winding mountain roads through the Pai valley, with a stop at Tham Lot cave along the way. Arrive in Pai with the afternoon and evening free for food, cafes, and the walking street.

  4. Day 4Pai → Chiang Dao

    130 km · ~3h 15m

    Classic northern riding — continuous curves all morning, then a quieter run east to Chiang Dao, a small town beneath dramatic limestone peaks. Caves and hot springs nearby for the afternoon.

  5. Day 5Chiang Dao → Chiang Rai

    177 km · ~4h

    Northeast through countryside and gentle mountain passes into Chiang Rai, the cultural heart of the far north. Overnight in town.

  6. Day 6Chiang Rai — Rest Day

    Rest day

    A full day off the bike. Bike checks, laundry, recovery. Optional outings to the White, Black and Blue temples, the cafes, or short solo rides for those who can't sit still.

  7. Day 7Chiang Rai → Phu Chi Fa

    84 km · ~2h

    East toward the Lao border, finishing at Phu Chi Fa — a cliff-edge viewpoint overlooking Laos. Optional sunset hike on arrival, and a sunrise hike the next morning for a sea of clouds (weather permitting).

  8. Day 8Phu Chi Fa → Pua

    186 km · ~4h 45m

    Rolling mountain roads back into Nan province. Pua is a small, peaceful town surrounded by green hills — a soft landing after a big day.

  9. Day 9Pua → Nan

    61 km · ~1h 30m

    Short on the map, big on the road — some of the best mountain riding in the region. Arrive in Nan with the afternoon free to wander the old town and its temples.

  10. Day 10Nan → Than Sawan Waterfall → Phayao

    150 km · ~4h

    Forested back roads to Than Sawan Waterfall for a refreshing mid-ride stop, then onward to the lakeside town of Phayao. Overnight by the water.

  11. Day 11Phayao → Chiang Mai

    152 km · ~3h 30m

    A relaxed final ride via scenic secondary roads back into Chiang Mai. Tour ends at our base.

HOW HARD IS IT?

We rate it intermediate — steady days, with a rest day in the middle. These are mountain roads with a lot of curves; what makes it a big ride is not any one day but eleven of them in a row. Most days are 4–6 hours in the saddle. The longest is Mae Chaem → Ban Rak Thai at 207 km; the shortest, Pua → Nan, is 61 km and leaves the afternoon free in Nan’s old town.

If eleven days is more than you have, ride one side: the Mae Hong Son Loop or Rider’s Paradise to Nan.

SCHEDULED DEPARTURES

Open to joining riders. None fit? We run it on your own dates too.

QUESTIONS RIDERS ASK

Can you ride Mae Hong Son and Nan in one trip?

Yes. The NBT Super Loop joins them in one ride: 1,381 km over eleven days from Chiang Mai — west over Doi Inthanon to Ban Rak Thai and Pai, then east through Chiang Dao and Chiang Rai to Phu Chi Fa, Pua and Nan, and home via Phayao. There is a rest day in Chiang Rai halfway round.

How many days do you need to ride Northern Thailand?

For both halves of the North — the Mae Hong Son side and the Nan side — eleven days is what our route takes, with one rest day. The Mae Hong Son Loop alone is four days at the honest minimum, and Phu Chi Fa and Nan on their own make a shorter ride too.

How much riding is there per day?

Usually 4–6 hours in the saddle. The longest day is Mae Chaem → Ban Rak Thai (207 km), the shortest Pua → Nan (61 km), and Day 6 in Chiang Rai is a full day off the bike.

How hard is it?

We rate it "Intermediate — steady days, with a rest day in the middle". These are mountain roads with a lot of curves; what makes it a big ride is eleven days of them, which is why the rest day is built in.

What bike would I ride?

Mid-size adventure bikes — Honda NX500, CRF300L or similar — chosen for comfort over eleven days, mountain handling and fuel range between remote villages.

When is the best time to ride it?

Mid-November to early February: the cool-dry season, with dry roads and the longest mountain views. November is the single best month.

ASK US ABOUT THE WHOLE NORTH

Tell us how many days you have and what you ride, and we'll tell you honestly whether the full loop fits or one side is the better trip. A rider answers, not a bot.

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