Grand tour itinerary

DAY 1 Airport arrival- 140 km taxi ride to the hotel

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.

DAY 2 Jomtien Beach - relax, shopping and local ride

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.

DAY 3 Rainforests of Khao Yai

Your suitcases with items not needed will be deposited at the hotel. After the breakfast we shall ride over the Khao Yai mountain range (1000-1300 meters above sea). There we shall take a jungle walk to two waterfalls. One of them was used for a scene from movie "The Beach". Khao Yai is world's No 7 national park and there will be a good chance to see monkeys, hornbills and gaur, less chance to see wild elephants or tigers. (the jump in The Beach - movie). Around sunset we shall arrive at Pak Chong (hotel). Some will stretch in the hotel's pool or on the driving range while others might decide for Thai massage (it is available in every hotel). After you can join me for a dinner and drinks at the local night market.

DAY 4 Plains of Wichian Buri and Petchabun hills

In the morning we shall ride across the plains with picturesque villages (dairy farming region). We shall stop at ancient Khmer temples from 8th century. We shall arrive at Petchabun (hotel) at about 4 p.m. which will give you plenty of time to get rid of that low back pain before the dinner. Barbequed prawns and barbecued seasoned fish wrapped in aluminium-foil are local delicacies.

DAY 5 Khao Kho mountain and Thung Salaeng Luang  national park

Leaving Petchabun behind we shall start climbing to Khao Kho mountain (hundreds of sharp bends). This area 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 6 Ancient temples of Sukhothai and Chiang Mai

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.

DAY 7 Chiang Mai, Doi Suthep mountain temple

In the morning you'll have a choice to relax or take a short ride (12 km) to the top of Doi Suthep mountain (panoramic views) to visit Golden Temple. In the afternoon you can 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 ...)

DAY 8 Elephant training camp and highest mountains in Thailand

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.

DAY 9 Burma, Golden Triangle and long tail boat trip across Mekong river to 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.

DAY 10 Remote forests, mountains and great vistas

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.

DAY 11 Western jungles and Kanchanaburi

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.

DAY 12 River Kwai Bridge and WW2 railway

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..)

DAY 13 Ride to Jomtien beach

Departing Kanchanaburi, we shall ride in direction of Bangkok. We shall avoid the centre's heavy traffic by taking a ferry across Praya river in the suburbs of Bangkok and ride along the shore of Eastern Seaboard. The afternoon brings us back to our base hotel on Jomtien Beach. Usually the group has a last farewell dinner this day.

DAY 14 Transfer from Jomtien Beach to Bangkok Airport

Your motorcycle touring holiday is ending today. 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.

Avalon Tours