Chiang Rai Chiang Saen - Thoed Thai Loop

bsacbob

Administrator (Retired)
Joined
Jul 1, 2012
Location
Chiang Rai
Bikes
Honda CRM-AR 250, Honda CRF 250-L, Suzuki V Strom XT 650 Honda XR250 Baja BMW F650GS
A group of the more senior Chiang Rai riders got together with Phil for a nice looping ride from Chiang Rai town passing through Chiang Sean, Mae Sai and Theod Thai which i had done earlier this year but poor visibility spoiled the trip. This time the weather gods smiled on us and apart from the odd shower it was a real treat, last time i had discovered a new paved section that will bring you out to the north of Theod Thai.

Screenshot 2016-06-09 18.41.26 by Bob Kelly, on Flickr

First stop Mae Aep waterfall looking good after a bit of rain.


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by Bob Kelly, on Flickr


Next to the waterfall is the private wat of Wat namtok and adjacent on the hill is an old stupa housing a single monk who had been there for 17 years, i was the only one stupid enough the climb up to the mosquito infested retreat but it was good to chat to the monk.


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After this we past by the communist monument where a number of government offers had been ambushed and killed several years ago.


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The trail was a little greasy but easy past with no drama.

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After a nice easy ride to Mae Sai for a rest overnight it was on to Theod Thai.


Great views as climbed.

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Myanmar army camp a stone throw from the Thai Army post.

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This chap carving old a new rifle stock.

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Beautiful terraced fields.

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Hmmm

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Akha school with panoramic views.

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Stopped by to see the Kung Fu monk at what progress had been made.

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I think everybody enjoyed the ride so it was on to Theod Thai and some beer :beer :drink
 
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Re: Chiang Rai Chiang Sean Theod Thai Loop

Kudos to Bob for finding this new paved road through to Thoed Thai way north of any other paved roads in this direction.


All geared up and north eastwards bound


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With the SW Monsoon season starting to pump, the rice planting starts

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Not long before we're into some nice curves


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A bridge out and a detour, so an early dirt warm up

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Then back on the twisty roads


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A bit of rain already and bright green

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This trip would include some fairly easy trails, perfect for the Suzuki DRZ 400


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Re: Chiang Rai Chiang Sean Theod Thai Loop

The Mae Aep waterfall looking healthy



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The "secret" Wat nearby

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Wooden bells


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Re: Chiang Rai Chiang Sean Theod Thai Loop

Spooky steps leading to a Monk's residence, apparently there was an easier way up


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Communist memorial

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Remembrance of senior Police that were killed

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Rubber tree plantation

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Then off through the dirt link

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Re: Chiang Rai Chiang Sean Theod Thai Loop

The new Chiang Saen/ Chiang Rai link highway

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R 1129 along the Mekong being widened too

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Breezed through Chiang Saen

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Passed the Opium Museum

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Great sweeping roads as we head west

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Without a GPS with strange road angles, it can be a little confusing approaching Mae Sai

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Poking around the back of Mae Sai, unfortunately they've blocked this link off

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Into Mae Sai the backway


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A great day's exploring


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S House GH in the covered market is 350 Bht for a fan room (its rarely hot in Mae Sai at night), great location


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You even get your own balcony looking into Myanmar

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Re: Chiang Rai Chiang Sean Theod Thai Loop

The following day, we were off to look at the new concreted Thoed Thai link road

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A few photo opportunities along the way



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Pagoda not quite finished


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Then the highly sensitive, drug trafficking area at the Myanmar border, more checkpoints than there are traffic lights in Chiang Rai

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Since the bombing in Bangkok of the Chinese Erawan Shrine, ID's and bike reg. are now photographed by the Thai Army

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a couple of km and the next checkpoint along the border


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Re: Chiang Rai Chiang Sean Theod Thai Loop

This will wake you up in a corner

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Beautiful view over Mae Chan below

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Re: Chiang Rai Chiang Sean Theod Thai Loop

The mysterious abandoned viewpoint structure west of Mae Sai in the Doi Tung region

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It looks as though there was a valley view in the past, now overgrown by trees

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Up & into the clouds

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You can't beat rainy season for views

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We really lucked out no rain for 3 days of riding high in the mountains


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Rain rising out of the hills as the sun heats things up


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The big dipper

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What an uninterrupted view over Myanmar, right on the border

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Clouds rising in the back ground


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Time to move on


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The border road is in excellent condition, very few bad spots

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More checkpoints


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& another
'

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& another


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The road gets thin & windey


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One of the big bases on the border


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Barracks


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Border fence

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The huge Army base with a great view into Shan State, Myanmar


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The Myanmar Army base right on the edge of the Thai border road, many think this is a Thai Army checkpoint


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A Myanmar settlement across the border

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Re: Chiang Rai Chiang Sean Theod Thai Loop

A couple more km and the turn for the new Thoed Thai paved road

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Off to the gardens

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A great view as you get onto the new road

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Being paved all the way through "the tangerine dream" could go all the way through with us. Steep when parking here!

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The new concrete road linking to Thoed Thai is single lane in places

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Numerous villages are scattered along the concrete road, it must have really improved the quality of their lives

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Hilltribe school

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They were very shy, they hadnt seen may foreigners before


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Apart from this guy

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Looking westwards, we could now just make out the gold pagoda thats north of Thoed Thai on the tarmac road


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New roads are always fun, this one is amazing


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The road ahead through the banana leaves


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A never ending roller-coaster


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Terraced farming on the steep hillside


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This was breathtaking for sure


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Re: Chiang Rai Chiang Sean Theod Thai Loop

About half way through, on the new concrete road to Thoed Thai, there's a large Akha village, the shop was getting lots of attention from our riding crew

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I went over and found out why

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Refreshed & off westwards towards Thoed Thai

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Through the junction and now south on the big tarmac road to Thoed Thai

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Some of the best kept secret views in Thailand here


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Army checkpoint north of town


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& we made it. all safe a sound, what a wonderful days' ride


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The tangerine dream didnt put a wheel in a pothole and got through the day safely

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A bit of lunch and then into the GH for the night

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Re: Chiang Rai Chiang Sean Theod Thai Loop

Lots of daylight left - off to see the Kung-Fu Monk

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The hills north of Thoed Thai give great photo opportunities

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"D-cup" curves

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That rain cloud is looking threatening

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Some great ridgeline stuff

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Re: Chiang Rai Chiang Sean Theod Thai Loop

Lots of ridgeline as you get further north

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Looks like they'd been plenty of rain with how green everywhere was

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Up towards the checkpoint

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Didnt get stopped

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The tangerine dream will have to be a bit careful here


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Time to go see the monk

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A km of fairly easy dirt to where he lives

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A different monk was there from the first time Bob went up there, he was also a fighter

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He did a demonstration for us but said we couldnt photograph as he wasnt supposed to be a fighting monk


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Back down south towards Thoed Thai


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Beautiful, gold pagoda in the background


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Des getting in the groove


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This is a great area to explore if you havnt been up here

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Back down the sweeping road towards DMS


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A great 3 days adventure & great to ride the new Thoed Thai link road.



 
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