motorcycle tour bangkok

08000 131 282
+44 (0)1622 776686
[email protected]

THE BUDDHA ROUTE: THAILAND

At a glance.

09 Nov 2025 23 Nov 2025

08 Nov 2026 22 Nov 2026

Tour Starts in

Tour Leaders

Where We Ride

Travel Distance

Tour Difficulty

Tour Overview

Thailand is a wondrous country featuring Buddhist temples, exotic wildlife, and spectacular islands. With a fascinating history and a unique culture, the tourist industry has boomed. However, if you think Thailand is all about Bangkok, Phuket bars and clubs, think again!

Get away from the tourist hot spots on our Thailand motorcycle tour, and you will find a rural heartland, a mix of rice paddies, tropical forests and squat villages tied to the agricultural clock. But more than this is the Thai people who have earned the country the reputation as the “land of smiles”.

Fly into Bangkok and you will be met at the airport and transferred to Amphawa. After collecting the bikes and attending the pre tour briefing you can enjoy the welcome dinner. Your first day of riding is high on excitement with a packed itinerary. En route you will visit a floating market and then on to Kanchana Buri scene of the Bridge on the River Kwai. You will visit the new bridge and can see some of the structures built by the prisoners of war which still support the railways today, before a night in our hotel of the banks of the River Kwai.

Your second day picks up just where the first left off! Starting with an elephant ride through the forest we then head north visiting Hellfire Pass and the museum of the same name. Hellfire was the scene of some of the worst suffering when the railways were built and the museum commemorates those who lost their lives here. In the evening wander the Mon Bridge and take a long tail boat ride to the Sunken Temple “Wat Saam Prasob”. If this is not enough then there is a chance to ride to the Three Pagodas Pass where Thailand and Myanmar (Burma) meet.

The following days meander through Kamphangphet and Pitsanulok provinces with the first taste of the mountain roads that await later, en route to Nakhon Sawan and the UNSECO listed Sukhothai. An early afternoon arrival leaves time to visit the park and the ruins of the ancient Sukhothai Kingdom. Dating back to the 12th century, once the capital, over 190 temples have been excavated here. Your hotel is just five minutes from the park and you can ride in or take the regular shuttle bus.

Heading north you will ride into the Thai Highlands. These mountains stretch through Laos and Myanmar linking to the Himalayas. They make for fantastic riding as you climb up to 2000m through tropical forest and you will get to ride the beautiful Mae Sod Mountain road. After a night spent near the Myanmar border (with the chance to pop across and get another stamp in your passport) you continue north to the Nam Ngao National Park with its many waterfalls. Tonight you are staying in the River House in Mae Sariang.

More challenging winding mountain roads await as you ride part of the road of 1864 bends en route to Mae Hong Son. In the afternoon you will take a Long Tailed Boat on the Pai River to “Ban Nam Piang Dinto” the Karen Tribe Long Neck Village. Traditionally the ladies of the tribe wear gold rings around their necks to make their necks look longer and them more attractive. Although traditional, each girl can now chose whether to follow the tradition or not. The following day is a riding day you will never forget. The road of 1864 curves. A seemingly endless procession of bends on a road cut through tropical jungle and over mountains. We divert off on side roads to the Pang Tong Royal Palace, a Royal Project and Reservoir before riding on through the Tam Pla National Park to the Tham Pi Man Jabo Cave with it 1700 year old teak coffins. Arriving at Pai you will be pleased to know that tomorrow is a day off with a chance to explore this bustling slightly hippy town or just lounge by the hotel pool.

Heading further north you visit the Angkhang Royal Project as we ride some of the best mountains routes in the world. Twisting and turning, climbing and descending harder and sharper than almost anything in Europe or the Americas these routes are a bikers paradise. Don’t forget to stop and enjoy the scenery though! After a night in Doi Tung you can visit “Srinagaringdra” the former residence of the Late King’s Mother and the Doi Tung Gardens. Turning south with only two days remaining you will be riding through the infamous Golden Triangle home to Opium producers for centuries and along the banks of the mighty Mekong river separating Thailand from Laos. Then all to soon you will be heading for Chiang Rai and our farewell dinner.

PLEASE NOTE: With so much to see and do along our route in Thailand there will be an element of group riding required to ensure that we arrive together at certain times. However you will always have the option to ride independently if you chose.

There were so many highlights, riding alongside the Mekong river and visiting Myanmar were two of many. Mike A

Motorrad Tours welcome all makes and models of bike on tour. We also have a range of BMW bikes that you can hire. All our hire bikes for Classic and European Explorer Tours are current model BMW’s complete with ABS, Heated Grips, Panniers, Top Box, Tank Bag, Inner bags for all boxes and a pre programmed BMW Navigator GPS included.

Motorcycles for this tour are supplied by our local BMW Travel Partner. They are BMW's equipped with ABS, heated grips and panniers. You are welcome to take your own GPS unit or you can rent one. We will provide complete GPS routes and GPS maps for the tour. For further details of hire bikes and terms and conditions please see the Hire Bikes page. Third party motorcycle insurance is included.

PLEASE NOTE: The BMW F800GS for this tour are all low chassis models. This is the standard build for Thailand.

HIRE BIKES : If you are booking with a hire bike we will hand your bike over on the afternoon prior to the first tour day. This will give you a chance to get familiar with the bike, make any adjustments, arrange your packing and not waste any time on the first day riding.

Day 1 Arrive in Bangkok during the morning for your 90 minute transfer to Amphawa, pre tour briefing and welcome dinner

Day 2 A great way to start the tour with a visit to a floating market and to Kanchana Buri and the Bridge on the River Kwai

Day 3 After a morning Elephant trek take either the dirt or tarmac options today. There is a chance to visit Hellfire pass plus the Mon Bridge, before taking a long tailed boat ride to the sunken temple

Day 4 Using some great local gravel back roads you head for a ferry to Si Sawat and on to Nakhon Swan where dinner will be served in a favourite local restaurant

Day 5 A short day to allow you to arrive with plenty of time to wander the UNESCO listed Historical Park of Sukhothai

Day 6 You are heading into the Thai Highlands, riding the beautiful Mae Sod Mountain road with a chance to visit the Mue Sur Hill Tribe

Day 7 More curvy mountain roads will take you through Mae Ramat and Tha Song Yang en route to the Mae Usu Cave, so long it is said you can walk through it to the Myanmar sea

Day 8 Some more exciting riding today on the road of 1864 bends as well as a long tailed boat ride to visit the village of the Long Neck Karen

Day 9 A great day as you continue on the road of 1864 curves. You break off on some local roads to the Pang Tong Royal palace and the Royal Projects before returning to the main road and on to Pai

Day 10 A day off here to relax by the pool and take a moment to consider all the things you have already seen and done or ride the road of 1864 curves once again?

Day 11 The morning spent riding more remote roads as we head into the highlands and then onto our mountain side resort for the night

Day 12 Ride along the Myanmar border through Tea plantations to the Thaton District and on to the first Royal Factory in the Thai Highlands

Day 13 A chance to wander the Royal Garden and visit the Royal Villa at Doi Tung in the morning, then you will ride through the Golden Triangle and along the infamous Mekong River separating Thailand from Laos

Day 14 A chance to wander the Royal Garden and visit the Royal Villa at Doi Tung in the morning, then you will ride through the Golden Triangle and along the infamous Mekong River separating Thailand from Laos

Day 15 Airport transfer will have been arranged and so, reluctantly, you can head home

Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
Riding along the Mekong River bordering Laos
Kanchanaburi War Cemetery and visiting the Bridge on the River Kwai
Riding the Three Pagoda Pass
Wat Saam Prasob Sunken Temple
Elephant Ride in the Tropical Forest
Long Tail Boat Trip on the Pai
Mueang Singh Historical Park
Sod Boundary Point “Thailand/Myanmar”
Visit to the Maeusu Cave
Riding the road of 1864 Bends
Nam Ngao National Park
Ban Monghang Hot Springs
Karen Tribe Long Neck Village
Tam Pla National Park “Pang Ung”
Pang Tong Royal Palace
Doi Kiew Lom View Point
Doi Tung Royal Villa and Gardens
Riding in the Golden Triangle
Chiang Khong Boundary Point Thailand/Laos

Absolutely fantastic organisation from start to finish I delayed booking on the trip for two years because I was not sure if it was for me - Best thing I have done on a motorbike, don’t delay book it now. . . . The team are excellent brand ambassadors for BMW. John Glen

What's Included

Pre tour pack including tour information, Michelin maps, route notes and GPS routes in Garmin/BMW format
Electronic copy of the World of BMW Touring Essentials Book
All accommodation as listed primarily in 4 star hotels
All breakfasts
Lunches when on the road
Due the remote nature of many locations dinner is included on all but one tour nights (excludes beverages)
Entrance to all parks and attractions listed in the highlights
Motorrad Tours Tour Leader throughout the Tour
Local guide throughout the Tour
Motorcycle rental for the duration of the trip
Comprehensive Insurance with £1,500 excess/deductible
Support vehicle and driver throughout the Tour
Carriage of one 60L soft bag per customer luggage in the support vehicle
Airport transfers from and to Bangkok Airport
Commemorative Polo Shirt for all riders and passengers
Expert advice and support throughout
The protection of booking with a fully bonded tour operator