The Route
Chiang Mai → Doi Inthanon → Mae Chaem → Pai → Mae Hong Son → back via Doi Suthep.
800km on a Honda Click. April heat. Perfect.
What Nobody Tells You
- Pai is now full of influencers. Go low season instead.
- The Mae Hong Son loop is the real diamond — empty roads, mountain views.
- The best food is at the tiny stalls near small temples.
- Even the smallest villages have 7-Elevens. Bring your own tissues.
The People
Mountain village life near Pai still operates like it did 50 years ago. Income from tourism has changed some things, but not everything.
What I Learned
Thailand outside Bangkok is a completely different country. Different pace. Different priorities. People smile more.
Life is not the destination — it’s the road you ride.