Off road around Mae Sariang

[KTMphil]

Mae Sariang & Omkoi are still probably the best, untouched, mountainous, off-road riding regions in Thailand. They are easily as good as anything you can find in Laos.


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Southwest from Chiang Mai and off for a look at the condition of the "Death Valley" trail


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Ruts were average deep and it was dry, with the motorcycles loaded with gear, being one of the nastiest do-able trails around Chaing Mai, we gave it a miss.


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[KTMphil]

Down to the 4 standing Buddha's just north of Mae Wang co-ords:

N18.64464° E98.81176°


Its quite unusual


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A bit greasy on the trail south to Inthanon

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Everyone through safely and off southbound


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Always looks good dropping into Mae Chaem


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The roads linking the trails were in decent condition


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Drink stop and fuel in the Mae Tho National Park

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[KTMphil]

The rain has stopped and its now the harvest time in Thailand. Corn, cabbages, rice & assorted vegetables all been plucked from mother nature. Its best to be extra careful on the farm trails with pickups around.


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We're now into some fabulous remote country, lovely trails


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The sun gets low and a good time for photo's with the light like this


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One of the bikes picks up a nail, we have plenty of spare tubes with us


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Some harvesters returning home after a day of plucking


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We're told there's a truck along the trail with a compressor, it'll be a quick way to set the bead on the tire at 50 psi


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They didnt have a tire valve but somehow manage to hold the valve down and inflate the tire


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Wouldnt inflate, looks like the tube was pinched, time for a second new tube


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Its a real hassle shoe horning the last piece of tire over the rim, soapy water on the tire lip really makes the job easier. Its worth carrying a vile of soapy water for this.


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Another try with the trucks compressor and it inflates in seconds, interesting how they do this with a rag wrapped around the valve.


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[KTMphil]

Into Mae Sariang for the night, a quick check of the tires before heading onto the trails


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The broken bridge across the Mae Yuam River almost completed

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Topping up with some pump up before we head in


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For being early, rewarded with the rising mist through the mountains


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A little bit of concrete between the villages


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[KTMphil]

The red sandy clay was bone dry, plenty of dust


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Beautiful ride into the Myanmar Karen tribe resettlement villages


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The amazing suspension bride thats purposely been made narrow so that motorcycle cannot traverse it


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[KTMphil]

Happy chuckling Karen Tribe ladies


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What a unique region this is in north western Thailand

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They don't often see motorcycles this deep inside, the kids were fascinated


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Back out again


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Chili's drying in the sun

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[KTMphil]

Plenty of rivers around, we t season this area must be hard work

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Into the next village

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The local food is surprisingly good and tasty


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[KTMphil]

Looked like a fish catch to start with but actually was a hydro, the same as you see around the Vietnam/ Laos border areas

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Some very cool bridges in the Karen tribe re-settlement areas


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Can you think of a more idealistic place to ride?


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More unusual bridges


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[KTMphil]

Fuel depot's are kept away from the housing areas. Everything made of dried wood it would flare up pretty quickly

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The wooden bridge through to the big camp


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Back towards civilization and a little soupy in places


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Still nice and green


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Some fun in the shallow streams


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Surprised how much talc powder there was already


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Out towards the Salaween River, the first close-up views of Myanmar


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Buffalo "shipped" over from Myanmar. They sell at the border off the boat for 5,000 Bht, inland rural areas of Thailand they can be sold for 10,000 Bht


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Landslide and road widening are common here


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Out to the border town to take a close look at Myanmar


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Back towards Mae Sariang & how beautiful is this?


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[KTMphil]

A bit sore from a kiss with the bull dust, an early night was in order


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The following day a different way back to Chiang Mai, the warning red sections of road are abundant in Thailand now


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Again, lucky with the morning mist


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This trail back is one of the most fun trails ive ever ridden. Elevation, tricky corner, steep inclines, it has it all


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A few water crossings and bridges thrown in too?


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Some fun hill climbs


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Great views


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Twists and turns betrween villages


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I'd like to see this place when its pouring with rain


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Being 40km from a paved road, farming this area must be a nightmare


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Some of the best views in Thailand


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Everyone agreed, one of the best tracks they'd ever ridden


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Fresh concrete, this would have been dirt trails last year


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This Catholic Mission in the middle of no-where was a shock


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More great views


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The Plateau over looking Mae Chaem, what a view


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Doi Inthanon in the background


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Doi Inthanon



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The backway down, a thin, concrete road


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Mae Chaem in the valley
'

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Its one of the best off-road rides you can do in Thailand for a couple of nights away

 

[LivinLOS]

Fun looking couple of day loop..

 

[MastaMax]

Looks like an amazing area to ride. Phil, would you feel adventurous enough to try to explore deeper on the Burmese side?

 

[asiarider]

Next week I m riding this trip Chiang Mai - Mae Cham and over the mountain to Mae La Noi and Mae Sariang. Next day Mae Sariang - Mae Sam Laep - Mae Kong Kha and back to Mae Sariang. From Mae Sam Laep by a long tail boot 1 hour to Mae Kong Kha. From Mae Kong Kha nearly 50 km with wet boots trought the dschungel and cross many times a river. I m here te first tim 1992. Aftre nearly every 2 years its one of the best motocycle trails in North Thailand. Anyone want to go with us. We are now 2 riders. Want to start 22 or 23 01.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSDPiH2Hvyg

 

[KTMphil]

What bikes are you taking?

Next week I m riding this trip Chiang Mai - Mae Cham and over the mountain to Mae La Noi and Mae Sariang. Next day Mae Sariang - Mae Sam Laep - Mae Kong Kha and back to Mae Sariang. From Mae Sam Laep by a long tail boot 1 hour to Mae Kong Kha. From Mae Kong Kha nearly 50 km with wet boots trought the dschungel and cross many times a river. I m here te first tim 1992. Aftre nearly every 2 years its one of the best motocycle trails in North Thailand. Anyone want to go with us. We are now 2 riders. Want to start 22 or 23 01.

 

[asiarider]

I take my DRZ 400 and a Kawaskai 250 KLX. I fly on tuesday to Thailand.