The Mae Hong Son Dirt Loop
Seven days, six towns, and as much dirt as the loop allows.
Day by day
1226 km total- Day 1Chiang Mai to Chiang DaoNight · Chiang Dao217 km130 dirt
- Day 2Chiang Dao to Pai via Muang Khong and Wiang HaengNight · Pai153 km79 dirt
- Day 3Pai to Ban Rak Thai on the Elephant TrailNight · Ban Rak Thai163 km116 dirt
- Day 4Ban Rak Thai to Mae Hong Son, the short dayNight · Mae Hong Son55 km0 dirt
- Day 5Mae Hong Son to Mae Sariang, off-road from Khun YuamNight · Mae Sariang255 km164 dirt
- Day 6Mae Sariang to Chom Thong through the Mae Chaem hillsNight · Chom Thong270 km94 dirt
- Day 7Chom Thong to Chiang Mai via Mae WangBack in Chiang Mai113 km40 dirt
The loop
The classic Mae Hong Son loop, re-cut for dirt bikes. You leave Chiang Mai on farm tracks, cross the Chiang Dao valley into the Wiang Haeng backcountry, drop into Pai, ride the Elephant Trail west to the Yunnanese tea village of Ban Rak Thai, and come home through Khun Yuam, Mae Sariang and the Mae Chaem hills. Every day pairs a published chiangmaidirt.bike dirt route with the paved links you need, one GPX per day, with hotel, lunch and fuel suggestions so you can ride it without a guide.
Highlights
- ■Nine published dirt routes stitched into one loop
- ■Overnight in Ban Rak Thai, the Yunnanese tea village on the Myanmar border
- ■The Elephant Trail west from Pai into Mae Hong Son
- ■A full rest morning in Mae Hong Son town
- ■Dirt finish from Mae Chaem to Chom Thong
A 250 to 450 cc dual-sport or enduro (CRF250L/300L, KLX250/300, CRF450RL, 690/701) with knobbies and a range of at least 200 km. Rentals: see /rentals.
November to February. Doable October and March. Avoid June to September (mud, river crossings, washouts).