Motorcycle Tour

23-day, China & Beyond

If you like motorcycles adventure outside the ordinary, this 23 day motorcycle tour of China, Tibet, Thailand and Laos is a great opportunity for you!

Description

The tour starts in the beautiful area of Chiang Mai with its breathtaking scenery, 700 km northeast of Bangkok.

The journey provides an outstanding opportunity to obtain a thorough impression of the uniqueness of North Thailand, Laos, and the Yunnan province in China including the autonomous province of Tibet, Shangri-La and so much more.

We will explore countless small, almost hidden roads, villages, and towns. Besides the stunning scenery, this tour offers an insight into local cultures, Historical Sites, National Parks, local cuisine, and local traditional way of life.

The tour is a wonderful riding experience on a big motorcycle on windy, straight, and hilly roads – mostly paved and easy to handle.

However, some stretches are rather narrow and steep.

To join this tour you need to have good riding skills and should be able to handle your big motorcycle in different conditions.

Please keep also in mind that we partly ride on an elevation of 4,000 meters and above.

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Highlights:

Mekong River, Red River Valley, Stone Forest at Kunming, Old Dali, Lijiang, Shangri-La, Tibet, Tiger Leap Gorge, Luang Prabang, Mountains of Nan

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Itinerary:

Day 1 / Chiang Mai

Upon arrival at Chiang Mai airport, transfer to the hotel. At 3 PM transfer to our Service Center for a welcome briefing, answer any questions you might have, and motorcycle handover. A short ride back to your hotel followed by a common dinner. Please plan your arrival in Chiang Mai accordingly. Overnight in Chiang Mai, and the next day we begin our China motorcycle tour.

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Day 2 / Chiang Mai - Golden Triangle (270 km/168 miles)

In the morning we leave Chiang Mai in the northeastern direction. On the way to Mae Sai, we will stop at the Mae Kachan Hot Spring, the highest hot spring in Thailand. We will pass Chiang Rai and make a stop to visit Wat Rong Khun, the "White Temple" which today is recognized as one of the main attractions in Thailand. Then we cruise towards the mighty Mekong River to the legendary Golden Triangle where the three borders of Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos meet. We will enjoy the sunset over the Mekong River and dinner with a river view. Overnight in the Golden Triangle.

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Day 3 / Golden Triangle - Luang Namtha (250 km/155 miles)

We follow the Mekong River to Chiang Khong - the gateway to Laos and China and we cross the Mekong over the new Friendship Bridge. Our Lao guide is waiting for us. After completing the immigration process we continue the remaining 200 km in Laos to the laid-back town of Luang Namtha. Overnight in Luang Namtha.

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Day 4 / Luang Namtha - Mengla (120 km/75 miles)

After breakfast, we will ride the last part through Laos before crossing into China. We enter China at Boten, a purpose-built "Casino Town" to serve the Chinese fondness for gambling. We leave Laos and reach the Chinese immigration building where our Chinese guide is already waiting for us. After completing the immigration process we continue 45 km to Mengla, where we get our vehicles inspected, and receive our driver’s license and temporary Chinese vehicle registration documents at the police station - quite an experience. Overnight in Mengla where we get your first impression of China.

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Day 5 / Mengla- Yuanjiang (440 km/273 miles)

Today we ride through the tea area. Did you know that tea is the second-most consumed liquid in the world after water and a good portion of it is grown right here? Nearly the entire route today is lined with tea estates growing on the mountain slopes. This is the region where, many thousands of years ago, tea was first consumed and cultivated. It is by far Yunnan’s most important commodity and it was the driver of ancient commerce to the furthest flung empires across Asia and into Europe. Tea transformed Yunnan into one of the ancient world’s most important places and it became a major crossroad and transportation hub. In China, the finest tea comes from this area. Overnight in Yuanjiang.

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Day 6 / Yuanjiang - Jianshui (205 km/190 miles)

Another great ride is in store as we head east on the northern side along the Vietnam border. Today we have some of the best ridings of the entire tour and an exceptional day in the saddle. In the morning we will ride on a wonderful road that is running down the Red River Valley. Then we cruise uphill into the Honghe-Hani Rice Terraces. A large variety of ethnic minorities populate this area who over the centuries built massive rice terraces that continue forever; to the tops of steep mountain ridges, on down their opposite sides, across valley after valley. Thousands of square kilometers are covered by these rice terraces and a fantastic road snakes through it all. This is the road we will ride. It is impossible not to screech to a stop every few minutes to take another photo. We lodge in Jianshui, a well-preserved ancient city. The giant city gate, Chao Yang Lou, is a popular meeting place for musicians and groups dancing every evening. The city’s Old Quarter streets are paved in stone and lined with a wide variety of traditional shops and businesses.

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Day 7 / Jianshui - Shadianzhen (310 km/193 miles)

Our first of four UNESCO World Heritage Sites is on tap today. The Stone Forest in Shilin is one of the natural wonders of this planet. Bizarre limestone formations spring up vertically out of the ground, covering a 350 km² area. Interspersed among the pillars are numerous lakes, adding even more atmosphere to this other-worldly landscape. Many of the spires look like petrified trees, thus the name. We will visit the Stone Forest in the afternoon and overnight in the area. Overnight in Shadianzhen.

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Day 8 / Shadianzhen - Kunming (80 km/50 miles)

The capital city of Yunnan Province is our target for today. It is China's 16th largest city with over 6 million inhabitants, but it is also one of China's cleanest and most pleasant ones. It is nicknamed the "City of Eternal Spring" because of its year-round balmy weather. Several things should not be missed in Kunming: Green Lake Park, Flower, and Bird Street, and the central city walking esplanade. We should have time to visit them all since we have a short. Kunming is famous throughout China for its "Crossing Bridge" noodle soup. Overnight in Kunming.

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Day 9 / Kunming - Shaxi (460 km/286 miles)

The ride today is the longest of the tour and has a fair share of highways. We pass the tip of the Erhai Lake and continue northwest towards the Burmese border to Shaxi. Shaxi's Sideng Market Square has been placed by UNESCO on their World Monument Watch List of the 100 most endangered cultural sites of the World. This is a magic place; the best adjective to describe the square is "wow!" Shaxi is a wonderful old town along the ancient tea route with plenty of old houses, handicrafts, and teashops to explore. Overnight in Shaxi.

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Day 10 / Shaxi - Cizhong (290 km/180 miles)

Today we spend the whole day on rural roads toward Tibet. The great pleasure comes from simply observing the people go through their daily, time-honored routines as we cruise along on our motorcycles across a landscape as pretty as a painting. In the afternoon we enter our second UNESCO World Heritage region called the Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas. Here, three of Asia’s great rivers, the Salween, the Mekong, and the Yangtze, come tumbling down from their headwaters deep inside the Himalayas. They run in parallel gorges eroded deep into the earth’s mantle. Only thirty kilometers as the bird flies separate the three incredibly massive gorges at their narrowest point. We spend the next few days riding into and out of and along each river gorge in sequence. Motorcycle riding just does not get any more exhilarating than this. We will spend a night in the quiet Tibetan village of Cizhong. The locals here live in small farming communities in traditional homes and are inextricably wedded to their lands, growing rice, corn, and other basic food crops exactly as their ancestors did for hundreds of generations. Overnight in Cizhong.

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Day 11 / Cizhong - Shangri-La (220 km/137 miles)

We ride to Deqen, hard on the Tibetan-Chinese border. Deqen sits at 3,400 meters and is surrounded by snow-capped, glaciated mountains. The scenery in this town, wherever one looks, is stunning. North we ride up the raw Mekong River gorge through an otherworldly landscape of raging wild rivers, near-vertical cliffs, and towering, snow-topped peaks that soar to over 5000 meters. We ride to the town of Feilaisi and enjoy the great view of Kawakarpo, the highest unclimbed mountain in the world at 6,740 meters. We continue riding over the highest pass of this tour, the White Horse Pass at 4,292 meters to Shangri-La. The whole day the landscape and scenery are simply stunning. Overnight in Shangri-La.

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Day 12 / Shangri-La (Rest Day)

This “version” of Shangri-La, altitude of 3,200 meters, has become synonymous with any earthly paradise, particularly a mythical Himalayan utopia – a permanently happy land, isolated from the outside world.

The original Tibetan population previously refers to this place by its traditional name Gyalthang or Gyaitang, meaning "Royal plains".

This rest day should be devoted to visiting the Gandan Sumtseling Monastery. An afternoon walk through the old quarters having an authentic glimpse into the cobbled lanes will easily fill up the remainder of the day. At night always something is going on in the Old Quarter’s town square lined with antique stores and shops of all kinds. For dinner, why not try a traditional Tibetan hot pot with Yak meat? Overnight in Shangri-La.

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Day 13 / Shangri-La - Lijiang (280 km/174 miles)

We head east over the last pass at 3,600 meters then slowly start to descend from the Tibetan plateau. We will ride on one of the most memorable roads of all. Again we ride endless cures, passing through Tibetan villages and towards the end through the Tiger Leaping Gorge. This fantastic road follows a contour line along the third-deepest gorge in the world. The Tiger Leaping Gorge is formed by the fierce and young (at this point) Yangtze River, which slices a path through towering, snow-clad mountains. Lunch today is at a simple family-run guesthouse and farm that serves good local food. Lijiang, our destination for tonight. It is the third UNESCO World Heritage Site that we will visit and the most popular destination in China, even surpassing Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City in Beijing. A real party atmosphere permeates Lijiang and it is a great place to meet and mix with the locals and tourists. Overnight in Lijiang.

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Day 14 / Lijiang - Dali (165 km/103 miles)

Lijiang’s charming Old Town is a maze of cobbled streets, canals, and stone bridges that date from the Ming Dynasty. You are free to explore this ancient city at your leisure. Lijiang is a "shop till you drop" type of place and all sorts of interesting items are for sale. We check out at noon and follow our way southwards over the modern version of the Ancient Tea-Horse Road to Dali. For a long time, Dali has been a crossroads for trade and culture. Until today, this walled city is well preserved with many shops, restaurants, and bars. In the evening there is time to stroll around the streets and explore the town. We lodge in the Old Quarter tonight. Overnight in Dali.

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Day 15 / Dali - Shuangjiang (385 km/239 miles)

In the morning we discover the nearby Three Pagodas of Shong Sheng Temple. The elegant, balanced, and stately style is unique in China's ancient Buddhist architecture, which makes it a must-see for our tour. Once back on the road we drive our way through the formidable mountains that form the border between Burma and China and which also hem in the western side of the Mekong River valley. We are so close to Burma that most of the highway signs have Burmese writing on them alongside the Mandarin. This is yet another great highway we will ride during the whole day. A bonus is that there is hardly any traffic. Nearly six hours of motorcycle bliss. We overnight in a small town called Shuangjiang.

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Day 16 / Shuangjiang - Jinghong (350 km/217 miles)

Leaving Shuangjiang we continue on bent roads, passing villages, and tobacco and tea plantations. The roads are good and there is not much traffic. There are plenty of places to stop for a photo on our way. We can enjoy another pleasant riding day. In the afternoon we reach Jinghong, a major shipping port on the Mekong River. Jinghong is the capital city of the Sipsongpanna region of Yunnan. Historically Sipsongpanna was once one of the major Kingdoms in this part of S.E. Asia. Many Thai minorities still live in and around Jinghong, and the housing and clothing styles are decidedly Thai. Enjoy a Hamburger at the Mekong Cafe, or take a stroll down to the huge night market by the Mekong. Overnight in Jinghong.

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Day 17 / Jinghong - Oudomxay (275 km/171 miles)

Our riding adventure in China and Tibet is drawing to a close. We ride the final 175 km south to the border. At Mohan, we say goodbye to our Chinese guide and cross into Laos where our Lao guide is waiting for us. Normally exiting China and entering Laos is smooth. After a local lunch, we ride rural and winding roads in Laos towards our final destination of the day, Oudomxay. Overnight in Oudomxay.

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Day 18 / Oudomxay – Luang Prabang (200 km/124 miles)

Another incredible day: Fresh air in the morning and spectacular views. We will ride on the brand-new road over the mountain to Pak Mong. There are plenty of scenic spots on the way. After Pak Mong, the road widens and we rather quickly cover the remaining 110 km to Luang Prabang, the destination of the day. This beautiful town, with its gleaming temple roofs, fading French architecture, and stunning mountain backdrop, is our fourth and last UNESCO World Heritage Site. It also has been claimed to be the best-preserved city in South East Asia. The evening we enjoy once again by the Mekong River. Overnight in Luang Prabang.

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Day 19 / Luang Prabang (Rest Day)

This day is at your disposal. In the morning you will have the option to rise early to view the procession of monks on their daily outing collecting alms, a practice that dates back centuries. It is done early, as the monks cannot eat anything after midday. By giving food to a monk you make merit, which should augur well for your next life. After breakfast, for the ones who want we can visit the beautiful Kuang Si Waterfalls, 29 km south of town. It is possible to swim in the lagoon, so bring your swimming gear. Around noon, once back from the waterfalls, you can visit the major temples, including the magnificent Wat Xieng Thong, which nestles at the meeting of the Mekong and the Nam Khan Rivers. Another great optional activity is to sample a traditional Lao massage and herbal sauna. At sunset, challenge yourself and walk the +300 steps up to Mount Phousi and enjoy the stunning panoramic view of Luang Prabang. Enjoy and have fun! Overnight in Luang Prabang.

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Day 20 / Luang Prabang – Pakbeng (280 km/174 miles)

Once on our motorcycles, we take the ferry over the Mekong River and ride the new road over the mountain towards Hongsa. The road snakes its way over mountains. The scenery is beautiful, but not many people are living in this part of Laos. At Hongsa we enjoy lunch. Last part of the day we ride to Pakbeng. Pakbeng is a colorful village situated at the junction of the Mekong River and the smaller Beng River, hence the town's name "Pak" meaning "mouth" in Lao. The scenery is stunning, the pace is slow. The town is a transit point for backpackers traveling by boat on the Mekong River between Luang Prabang and Huay Xai. Enjoy the view from the hotel's infinity pool. Overnight in Pakbeng.

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Day 21 / Pakbeng - Nan (220 km/137 miles)

Today is our last day in Laos. The first part of the route takes us back in the direction of Hongsa. We cross into Thailand at the Huai Kon border point. Normally the border formalities for leaving Laos and entering Thailand are rather straightforward. Once in Thailand, we are in Nan province, one of the few remote areas left in Thailand. Enjoy the road south towards Bo Kluea. At Bo Kluea (salt well) we stop for lunch and visit the salt well where we will experience old traditional salt extraction. Back on the road, we continue a great windy and scenic road towards Nan, the capital of this province. This is the best motorcycle riding Thailand has to offer. For centuries Nan was a separate, autonomous Kingdom with few relationships to the outside world. Now, the city is a beautiful town with many well-preserved temples. For local bikers, the area is a treasure. Overnight in Nan.

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Day 22 / Nan - Chiang Mai (300 km/186 miles)

Leaving Nan behind we ride in the western direction. The first stretch is over a small mountain range. You will just love the way the road snakes its way over hills and through valleys. On our way to Phayao, we pass endless villages. In Phayao we enjoy lunch by the lake. From here we first follow the shore of the lake and then make our way toward the road leading to Mae Khachan and further to the nearby hot springs. Here you can dip your toes in the hot water. From here we have the last stretch to Chiang Mai and our Service Centre. Expect arrival at 5 PM, followed by a transfer to your hotel. Farewell dinner in the evening. Overnight in Chaing Mai.

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Day 23 / Chiang Mai Departure

Transfer to Chiang Mai International Airport.