"SAMOENG LOOP": MOTORCYCLE DAY TRIP FROM CHIANG MAI

Send

I am passionate about road trips, I am one of those who loses track of time when they get on the road and I do not mind spending hours and hours driving, either by motorcycle or by car. Of course, the next day some laces in the back of noses, that I am no longer a kid ... I have always said it: my ideal job would be a truck driver. And Lety joins in most adventures, but this time I went with another partner: Moha, with whom we shared many of our experiences in the month we spent in Chiang Mai.

We grab our bikes, load fuel, have a well-loaded coffee and go out to explore the Samoeng Loop, one of the most famous motorcycle excursions in a day from Chiang Mai.

What is the Samoeng Loop?

The Samoen Loop is a route of about 130 km northwest of Chiang Mai surrounding Mount Doi Sutep. It is quite popular among bikers, although in reality we saw very little along the way. Do not go through places that leave you breathless, or breathtaking views, but it is a good plan if you have a motorcycle monkey and want to get out of the city routine. As I say, it will not be the road trip of your life but I guarantee you will be surprised several times.

What will you find in the Samoeng Loop?

If you do it in the opposite direction of the clockwise, the first thing you find is traffic and more traffic ... although it does not take too long to travel the first 15 km until the turnoff, in Mae Rim. On the "highway of hell", although it is better known as the Highway 1096, you will not be alone, your asphalt companions in this case will be the red and yellow vans and the agency minivan. Why "highway from hell"? Basically because here most of the odious tourist attractions such as the famous Tiger Kingdom, snakes, crocodiles, insects, monkeys… also of giraffe women, or elephant shelters (to call them somehow) are concentrated, and other less harmful such as shooting ranges, adventure sports centers, quad rentals, strawberry plantations, etc.

In this same road there is also some attraction that nature itself offers us, but that the locals have not lost the opportunity to exploit it to get some money, we speak for example of the Maesa waterfall, whose admission costs 100 baths plus 20 of the motorcycle ... If you follow a little further on there is another one, probably not so big or so attractive ... but hey, it's free!

Actually, what we liked most about this first part of the way were the semi improvised restaurants by the river. They put on the water a kind of tatamis resting on the rocks and there they serve you food and drink. The noise of the water, the freshness of the mountain, the shadow of the trees ... the snakes hanging around ... we go paradise! No, seriously, it ground us a lot.

We also liked the viewpoint (Samoen View Point) at the end of the 1096 road, although before we turn to the Mong village of Maesa, which gives its name to this whole area. And we found what we expected, a place away from the tourism business, with some villagers immersed in their daily tasks and poverty.

But the nectar of the route was coming. To find it we had to turn to the town of Samoeng and ask and ask about the "T̄ĥả", the cave. Is the Mae Sa Cave, about 5 km past Samoeng, and worth a visit. The cave opens on the side of a rock in a very beautiful environment, and inside ... inside there is life! Sure, there are spiders, rats and bats!

In the way back You see things as impressive as in the first part of the day ... rice fields, small villages and temples, one of them where Moha thought he would find a tiger inside (and the monk trophied him a little, everything must be said), another temple beautiful white on top of a mountain, resorts to carry out spiritual retreats, an enclosure with tents for those who want to spend the night (Huai Siew Royal Project), giant dinosaurs, modern cafés and avillage super cool bone with several Volkswagen vans transformed into foodtrucks ... even I thought I saw a bunker!

How to do the tour?

Here are some tips so you can make the route as best as possible, directions and some useful information.

- From what I read in other blogs, it is normal to go through it clockwise, we did it in the opposite direction and I think it is the best, see first the most tourist part and leave for the end the truly attractive this route

- After the town of Mae Rim, about 15 km north of Chiang Mai, there is the detour to Highway 1096. Don't worry because the detour is large and very well marked.

- Highway 1096 is about 30 km long, about 3.5 km from the beginning on the left you will find a tourist information office, where they give free maps.

- After the viewpoint at the end of the road you will reach a crossroads, on the left point Hang Dong and that is the direction you have to take to go back to Chiang Mai, but if you want to visit the cave and the beautiful town of Samoeng you have to turn right, the town is 5 km from the turnoff.

- To get to the cave you have to pass the town and take the first turn to the right, then continue for a few km and take another turn to the right, from this turnoff is 2 km more. The cave is to the left of the road and is very well signposted. The road from here is dirt, but it can be done by motorcycle quietly, it is about 300 meters to the information booth.

- The entrance to the cave costs 20 bahts, although in reality it is like a rental rate for the flashlights. They have two headlamps of those for the head and a large hand-held flashlight.

- The way back is simple, just go back on our steps and continue towards Hang Dong on the 1269 road. When you are in the vicinity of Chiang Mai you will see the indications.

- We were each in a Honda Click 125 CC and without problems, we made about 130 km and consumed about 2/3 of deposit.

- There are several gas stations along the way (they are rather rudimentary suppliers ...), although it is best to fill the tank before leaving or in the first part of the road and forget.