Days
1-2 (The Jomtien Beach near Pattaya-distance from the airport
140 km)
Your fellow travellers will be arriving
at all times from around the world today, so there are no
arranged activities for the daytime. Our taxi driver will
pick you up at Bangkok Airport. We will hold a meeting in
the evening when everyone arrives. You will get a note at
reception explaining this. We recommend to relax at the pool
or the sand beach opposite the hotel to get rid of jet-lag
in the morning. Alternatively should you consider that you
are not experienced enough, have not ridden for some time or
just wish to ride with a group you can join our two hour
morning ride/training. After you can do some shopping
particularly items you might need on the tour. Pack your
things into panniers in the afternoon. We shall have a
dinner together this evening.
Days
3-5 (Khmer country and ancient temples of Angkor Wat in
Cambodia)
Your suitcases with items not needed will be deposited at the
hotel. After the breakfast we shall ride east to Cambodian
border. This is one of the least populated areas of Thailand
because it was until recently part of Cambodia. Good winding
roads with hardly any traffic. At one stage the road
disappears under the surface of the lake during the rainy
season. We will have to take detour. There is a beautiful
scenery all the way to Aranyaprathet (hotel) where we shall
arrive after 290 kilometers of ride. You can join the tour
leader for a meal on the night market and if the mood is right
visit some Thai karaoke. Day 4 Two hours taxi drive to Angkor
Wat temples in Cambodia. You will have about five hours to
explore this architectural wonder. In the evening return to
Thailand. Day 5 involves longer ride across the plains that extend through mainly Khmer
(Cambodian) language spoken area. Rice paddies, water
buffaloes - typical Thai rural life. After 390 kilometers ride we
shall arrive at Ubon Ratchatani (hotel).
Days 6-7 (Mekong river,
prehistoric paintings, boat trip to Laos and river rapids)
Leaving Ubon behind (as the locals
call the city) we will have a short ride of 90 kilometres
ahead to get to Khong Chiam (bungalow hotel) where you will
get the first glimpse of Mekong river. On the way we shall
stop at the river Mun rapids. After dropping our luggage at
the hotel and a lunch we will board a boat and take 3 hours
trip up the Mekong. We shall stop at the cliffs next to the
river rapids and take a walk through bamboo woods to
prehistoric rock paintings. On the way back we shall stop at
Laos village (no visa or stamp but depending on border
conditions) for some refreshments/shopping (Chinese
medicines like bottles of rice brandy with cobra snakes or
centipedes inside). After an exhausting day it will be
pleasant to relax on the terrace restaurant on the banks of
Mekong and enjoy tranquillity of the place. Day 6
After the breakfast we shall ride north along the river.
There are unusual rock formations along the way to Mukdahan
where we shall stop at the market (big variety of dried
fruits, cashew nuts and others). Further north we shall
visit the "pilgrimage" Buddhist temple - That Phanom with
tallest pagoda in region. After 310 kilometres of ride we
arrive at Nakhon Phanom (hotel) - that used to be the
biggest American air-force base during the Vietnam war. From
Nakhon Phanom there is only 60 kilometres to Vietnam and
this narrow strip used to be the most bombed part of Ho Shi
Ming trail.
Days 8-9 ( Jet Si waterfalls,
Wat Phutok and Nong Khai).
In the morning we shall ride to
Jet Si waterfalls which are the most magnificent during the
rainy season. We shall take a walk along the stream with
seven levels of waterfalls to the top. We shall refresh
under the falling water. After lunch we shall visit Phutok
(the Lonely Mountain) forest temple. The stairway to the
temple is divided into 7 levels symbolising 7 levels of
enlightenment. The view atop is striking. After a short ride
to Bung Kan (hotel) on the banks of the Mekong and a well
deserved dinner. On the day 8 we have a short morning
ride to Nong Khai (hotel and laundry). On the way we shall
stop at Wat Ahorn, the narrowest point on the Mekong with a
Thai and Lao Buddhist temples on the top of the rock on each
side of the river. We shall arrive to Nong Khai around
mid-day giving everybody a chance to sort out laundry, visit
some Buddhist temples or get a bargain in the Indochina
market. Dinner on the banks of the Mekong overlooking Laos
is a must.
Day 10 -11 (Vientiane-the
capital of Laos and mountainous Loei province)
Today we travel to the Capital of
Laos, Vientiane. At Nong Khai there is one of two bridges
across Mekong river. At the Laos side we shall sort out all
necessary visa formalities and after take a tuk-tuk taxi for
30 kilometres ride to Vientiane. Also called City of the
Moon it is one of the classic Indochina cities, it conjures
up images of exotic Eurasia, with its intriguing mix of
Thai, French and Soviet influences. Very unusual items are
for sale on the markets and you can enjoy a delicious French
baguette with pate. Wide boulevards, tree-lined streets and
sidewalk cafes impart a timeless atmosphere. We shall return
to Thailand in the early evening before the border closes. On Day 10
we shall leave Nong Khai but instead of turning South we
shall continue to ride West along Mekong river rapids into
Loei mountains. This is not northern most area of Thailand
but it is the coldest. With mountains up to 2000 meters high
that is the only place where it can snow in the winter. In
the valleys it still remains hot during the day (around 28
degrees Celsius). At Chiang Kan we shall leave the Mekong
and ride into higher places until we arrive at our hotel
resort.
Days 12-13 (Loei mountains,
Thung Salaeng Luang national park, ancient temples of Sukhothai).
Today we have a long but scenic
ride. Over several mountain passes through the area that was
a stronghold of Thai communists for decades and even up to
two decades ago it was a "no go" place for Thai police and
army. The vegetation becomes lush and the temperature cooler
as we climb into the hills of Thung Salaeng Luang national park. We
shall ride over this mountain high plateau with tea and
coffee plantations for 100 kilometres. From there the road
winds downhill along the river cascades to central plains
and emerald green rice paddies. We shall arrive at Sukhothai
(hotel) around 5 p.m. Day 12
We shall rent bicycles early in the morning and ride around
the ancient temples of World Heritage site - Sukhothai
historic park. Later we shall have a good ride through the
forests and over high mountains - including the "1000 bends
road" to the medieval Lanna Thai capital Chiang Mai (hotel)
. As the sun dips behind the mountains you can visit the
vibrant and colourful Night Bazaar (we shall help parcel
post any items purchased to your base hotel - postal service
is very cheap and reliable in Thailand). Late in the evening
you can enjoy an old traditional Thai dance show.
Days 14-15 (Chiang Mai, Doi
Suthep, hill tribes and
Chiang Rai)
In the morning you'll have a choice
to relax in the silence of Buddhist temples, do more
sightseeing, just swim in hotel pool or do some more
shopping ( magnificent silk and cotton weavings, handicrafts
...)and in the afternoon take a short ride (12 km) to the
top of Doi Suthep mountain (panoramic views) to visit Golden
Temple. Day 14 Our way will wind along Ping river and over
several passes to Chiang Dao elephant training camp. There
we shall see this gentle giants at bathing and work. It will
be enough time to take an elephant ride through the jungle
if you wish. After the road winds over the foothills of
Himalayas (1700 metres high) to Chiang Rai. You shall enjoy
70 kilometres of magnificent sceneries. Arrival at Chiang
Rai at about 5.p.m. (hotel) At night bazaar you can have a
good and inexpensive meal while watching the dance show.
Days 16 -17 (Chiang Rai, Burma,
Golden Triangle and Laos)
Today we travel to the Centre of
Golden Triangle where Ruak river flows into Mekong and three
borders meet. . You can walk across Thai-Burmese border
(visa at the border GBP 7) to town Tacilek or better said "a
big market". In the early afternoon at the Golden Triangle
itself long-tail boats will take us up the Mekong river
along Laos- Burmese border for sightseeing. We shall stop in
Laos for couple of hours (no visa/no stamp) just to get a
feeling of different language, customs, food, exotic drinks,
Chinese medicine... Riding back we shall stop at Chiang Saen
- an important port for goods from Chinese Yunnan province
only 60 km away. We shall return to our hotel in Chiang Rai
at about 5 pm. On Day 16 We shall leave the Golden
Triangle and ride south through mountains to Kamphaeng Phet
(hotel). This is a long ride - 470 kilometres but very
pleasant because is not populated and there is hardly any
traffic on a four lane highway. On the way we shall stop at
Phayao lake and Buddhist shrine on dramatic Chao Pho Pratu
Pha mountain pass where after a short walk through bamboo
jungle we shall be awarded with prehistoric mural paintings.
Days 18-19 (Kanchanaburi (River
Kwai Bridge and WW2 railway)
Today we have another long but scenic
drive (360 kilometres). We shall ride through picturesque
villages and across the farming lands along the Western
jungle that is SE Asia biggest jungle stretching far into
Burma. We shall arrive at Kanchanaburi in the late afternoon
(hotel). A dinner on one of the River Kwai rafts-restaurants
or in the town centre is an event that is not forgotten
easily. On
Day 18 You will have a choice to travel by train on Death
Railway starting at River Kwai bridge, or take a motorcycle
ride with tour leader Crasae viaducts on the railway and
tiger temple where tigers walk free (if you enter you have
to sign disclaimer..)
Days
20-21 ( Bangkok and Jomtien)
Departing Kanchanaburi, we shall ride in direction of
Bangkok. We shall avoid the center's heavy traffic by taking a
ferry across Praya river in the suburbs of Bangkok and ride
along the shore of Eastern Seaboard. Before Bangkok we are
going to stop at Damnoen Saduak floating market. The afternoon brings us
back to our base hotel on Jomtien Beach. Usually the group has
a last farewell dinner or some drinks this evening. On Day 14
your motorcycle touring holiday ends. You will receive a DVD
with photos and video clips of your escapades during the
tour before our taxi picks you up. The time will be arranged
depending on your flight departure. The ride from the hotel
at Jomtien Beach to the airport takes about one hour. We
recommend to book an evening/night flight, giving you an
extra day at the end of your holiday.
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