The Best Scooter Routes in Chiang Mai

Chiang Mai is the best scooter base in Thailand. It's flatter than you'd expect inside the moat, the traffic moves slowly, and within twenty minutes of the old city you're in the foothills of the Doi Suthep–Pui range with viewpoints, waterfalls, and coffee farms in every direction. These five rides cover most of what a long weekend can fit.

A note on bikes: every route here is friendly to a 125cc automatic in dry weather. For the longer mountain routes — Mae Sa and Doi Suthep — a 150cc with a bit more torque makes the climbs easier. The big trail loop (Mae Hong Son) really wants a 250cc+ with a manual gearbox; we don't cover that in this post.

1. The Samoeng Loop (100 km, 4 hours)

The classic. Head west out of Chiang Mai on the 1096 — the Mae Rim road — past the Tiger Kingdom, then up into the hills towards Samoeng. The road snakes through farms, jungle, and a handful of resort hotels nobody seems to stay at. You loop south at Samoeng village, drop into the Mae Wang valley, and roll back into Chiang Mai from the south.

What to know:

• The first half is the more interesting one. The road from Mae Rim to Samoeng has thirty-plus tight switchbacks and elevation gain of around 600m.
• The southern leg (Samoeng → Hang Dong) is faster but less scenic.
• Lunch stop: any of the riverside cafés in Samoeng village. The Lazy Bear is consistent.
• Avoid in rain. Several sections have no run-off and become flash-flood prone.

2. The Mae Sa Waterfall Road (60 km round trip, 2.5 hours)

A gentler half-day. Head north on the 107, turn left onto the 1096, and ride the Mae Sa valley to the seven-tier Mae Sa Waterfall. The road climbs steadily but never gets aggressive. Plenty of orchid farms, snake farms, elephant nature parks (the ethical Elephant Nature Park is here), and roadside coffee stops.

The waterfall itself is one of the prettier accessible falls in Northern Thailand. Park at the entrance (฿100), and walk the loop trail — about 90 minutes, hitting each tier.

This is the route to do on day one when you're still adjusting to a new bike.

3. The Doi Suthep Climb (50 km round trip, 2 hours)

Out of the old city, up the 1004 to the Wat Phra That Doi Suthep temple at 1,073m. It's a steady, well-paved climb with twelve major hairpins. The road is wide, the surface is good, and the views from the top — and from a couple of pullouts along the way — are some of the best in Thailand.

Two notes:

• Use engine braking on the descent. A 125cc with a worn rear brake gets warm fast on this hill.
• Go in the morning. Afternoon clouds wrap the summit and the temple loses its photogenic edge.

If you have an extra hour, continue past the temple to Doi Pui and the Hmong village. The road narrows but stays paved.

4. The Mae Kampong Coffee Loop (70 km, 3 hours)

East out of Chiang Mai on the 1317, then up into the hills via the 1229. Mae Kampong is a village at about 1,300m, built into a steep valley, with a handful of homestays and one truly excellent coffee shop. The road in has tight switchbacks and almost no traffic.

If you go on a weekday, you'll often have the village's viewpoint to yourself. On weekends, expect Bangkok day-trippers — still beautiful, just busier.

Refuel in Mae On before the climb. The next petrol station after that is on the way back down.

5. The Mae Hong Son First Day (Chiang Mai → Pai, 130 km, 4.5 hours)

If you're doing the full Mae Hong Son loop on a 250cc+, the first day to Pai is everything you've heard. The 1095 has 762 numbered curves between Chiang Mai and Pai. That's not marketing — there are signs.

Take it slow. The road climbs and drops constantly, the surface is mostly good but patchy in spots, and the popular pull-outs (the Pong Duet hot springs, the Tham Lod cave, the viewpoint at km 41) all reward stopping.

What this isn't: a route to attempt on a tiny 110cc you rented for the week. It's a 250cc+ ride, ideally with riding pants and proper gloves. If you're keen on the loop but don't have the experience or the right bike, day one is the day to know whether to turn back at Pai or commit to the full circle.

What to bring on any day ride

• A litre of water per person and a snack. Petrol stations are sparse outside the city.
• Sunscreen and a long-sleeve light shirt. The sun at altitude burns harder than at sea level.
• A 7-Eleven poncho for the unexpected shower.
• Phone in a zip-bag in the seat compartment. Most of the loops have signal but not all.
• Cash. Many of the small viewpoints and roadside cafés don't take card.

And the standard safety kit applies. Have fun.