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Day one |
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Transfer from Bangkok Airport to Jomtien Beach |
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Your fellow travellers will be arriving at all times from
around the world today, so there are no arranged activities
for the daytime. Our taxi driver will pick you up at Bangkok
Airport. He will hold AVALON sign with your name. The taxi
ride to the hotel at Jomtien Beach takes about one hour. We
shall hold a meeting in the evening when everyone arrives
and
have a dinner together.
Accommodation with breakfast in Jomtien. |
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Day two |
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Free to relax, for shopping and sightseeing |
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You can relax at the pool or on the beach opposite the hotel
to get rid of jet-lag in the morning. Alternatively you can
go downtown Pattaya and do some shopping in one of larger
department stores or markets. In the afternoon motorcycles will be delivered.
Accommodation with breakfast in Jomtien. |
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Day three |
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Jomtien Beach to Pak Chong (full day ride 290 km) |
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Our tour starts today. Your suitcases with items not needed
will be deposited at the hotel. We shall top up petrol
first, ride over rolling hills for 200 km and finally enjoy
100 km ride through the rainforests of Khao Yai mountain
range.
Khao Yai mountain range is considered by experts to be among
the world's best national parks. Tropical moist evergreen
forest covers the central area and the rich diversity of
plants is astounding to the newcomer. Tigers, elephants,
gibbons, wild boars, and clouded leopards are just a few of
the hundreds of species of mammals and birds inhabiting this
UNESCO World Heritage Site. Khao Yai is renowned for the
height and profusion of its waterfalls, where the swollen
tropical rivers surge over unexpected precipices; one of the
most enthralling to watch is the 80 m cascade at Haew Narok.
Almost 100 km ride gives us unique chance to get acquainted
with wildlife of SE Asia. We shall stop at Heo Narok
waterfall first. The second waterfall was a scene of a jump
in movie "The Beach". There will be a good chance to see
monkeys, hornbills, a bear, sambar deer, gaur and wild
elephants, less chance to see tigers. There are many good
places with panoramic views along the way. Accommodation
with breakfast in Pak Chong. |
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Day four |
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Pak Chong to Petchabun (full day ride 240 km) |
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In the morning we shall ride across the plains of Wichian
Buri. This is a dairy farming region with traditional Thai
villages . We shall visit ancient Hindu temples from 8th
century along the way. Sri Thep Historical Park ruins date
back to around 1,000 years ago when the Khmer power
prevailing over this region was at its zenith and both
Hinduism and Buddhism were equally significant in the
region. We shall continue ride for 100 kilometres through a
hilly area to our today's destination. Accommodation with
breakfast in Petchabun. |
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Day five |
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Petchabun to Sukhothai (full day ride 240 km) |
Leaving Petchabun behind we shall start climbing to Khao Kho
mountain range (hundreds of bends). The rolling green
mountains of Khao Kho, similar to those in Switzerland were
during the Vietnam War a stronghold of the CPT. In 1976,
after the government's suppression at Thammasat University,
hundreds of student activists fled from Bangkok to join the
resistance and launched guerrilla warfare against the
government. The communists were defeated in 1980 and now
sites of interest include the different view points like the
Weapons Museum and Khao Kho Memorial. There are still
thousands of land mines scattered in these mountains.
In Khao Kho area there are some of the best winding mountain
roads. Our next stop will be at Khao Kho chedi. The
vegetation becomes lush and the temperature cooler as we
climb into the hills of Thung Salaeng Luang national park.
We shall ride over this mountain high plateau with tea and
coffee plantations for 100 kilometres. From there the road
winds downhill along the river cascades (lunch) to central
plains with emerald green rice paddies. Accommodation with
breakfast in Sukhothai.
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Day six |
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Sukhothai to Chiang Mai (full day ride 300 km ) |
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We shall rent bicycles early in the morning and ride around
the ancient temples of World Heritage site - Sukhothai
historic park. Founded in the 13th century, Sukhothai
(literally means “Dawn of Happiness” ) was the first truly
independent Thai Kingdom, which enjoyed a golden age under
King Ramkhamhaeng, credited with creating the Thai alphabet.
The superb temples and monuments of this great city that had
200 000 inhabitants 700 years ago have been lovingly
restored in Sukhothai Historical Park, a UNESCO World
Heritage Site and are a must-see for all travellers. A two
kilometre bicycle ride around the site in the morning will
be a good overture into a days motorcycle tour. After the
temples we shall have a good motorcycle ride, through the
forests and over high mountains - including the "1000 bends
road" to the medieval Lanna Thai capital Chiang Mai. We
shall stop on the top of the highest pass for views. As the
sun dips behind the mountains you can visit the vibrant and
colourful Night Bazaar (we shall help parcel post any items
purchased to your base hotel - postal service is very cheap
and reliable in Thailand). Late in the evening you can enjoy
an old traditional Thai dance show. Accommodation with
breakfast in Chiang Mai. |
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Day seven |
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Chiang Mai (day off or afternoon excursion) |
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In the morning you can relax in the silence of Buddhist
temples, just swim in hotel pool or do some more shopping (
magnificent silk and cotton weavings, handicrafts ...) The
deep rooted culture of Chiang Mai, the second biggest city
in Thailand stems from the fact that the city had long been
the capital of the independent northern kingdom of Lanna
Thai. Chiang Mai has over 300 Buddhist temples . The Chiang
Mai Night Bazaar is perhaps the best place in the Kingdom to
stock up on souvenirs and tourist-friendly clothing and
accessories. With the hotel's front door on the main market
street, make sure you have your bargaining boots on!
If you will be in a mood for a trip, we shall take a short
ride in a pick up taxi (12 km) almost to the top of 1300 m
high Doi Suthep (panoramic views) to visit Golden Temple in
the afternoon. The famous Wat Doi Suthep, is a mountain top
monastery 1080 meters above sea-level. The roadway from
Chiang Mai up to the monastery was originally built in 1934
by manual labour, volunteered by the people of the city, at
the request of a revered monk. A venerable and venerated
temple that is one of the most holy Buddhist sites in
Thailand. The awe-inspiring temple is crowned by an
elaborate Chedi (Monument), 24 meters (79 feet) tall and
gold plated from top to bottom. Chiang Mai has several
exquisite international restaurants if you got bored of Thai
food by now. Accommodation with breakfast in Chiang Mai. |
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Day eight |
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Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai (full day ride 280 km) |
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Our way will wind along Ping river and over several passes
to Chiang Dao elephant training camp. It is located on the
banks of the river, where the elephants bathe before and
after their lessons. The place is surrounded by green hills
on a near idyllic location. The elephant shows themselves
are refreshingly un-circus like. The emphasis is placed on
the skills that elephants have traditionally been taught to
aid with the logging of trees. If you take an elephant ride
after the show, the route passes through some beautiful
forest and along / through the river. After the camp the
eighty kilometres ride on the narrow winding road over top
of the mountain ridge - foothills of Himalayas, nearly 2000
meters above sea level with a panoramic view over jungles
with picturesque hill tribe villages is a thrilling
experience. Vistas are great and once you have taken a photo
a better opportunity waits for you just around the corner.
You can have a good and inexpensive meal while watching the
dance show at night bazaar in Chiang Rai. Accommodation with
breakfast in Chiang Rai. |
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Day nine |
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Day off or a day excursion to Golden Triangle, Burma and Laos
(ride 180 km) |
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Today we travel to the Centre of Golden Triangle where Ruak
river flows into Mekong and three borders meet. At the
Northernmost point of Thailand you can walk across
Thai-Burmese border to town Tha Chi Lek. This is a popular
duty-free shopping destination for tourists. The market has
local handicrafts ranging from kitsch to genuine Burmese
Shan clothing. Pirated CDs and DVDs are also available but
note that possession of these may be illegal in your
country. Tha Chi Lek has retained the habit of allowing
vendors to openly sell endangered animal parts. It has been
suggested by some that this trade is fuelled by the many
Chinese who frequent the area. Jade of high quality is sold
at reasonable prices though. The Golden Triangle is one of
Asia's two main illicit opium-producing areas. But we are
not going to look for this drug. We shall leave the ordinary
world behind. After the lunch we shall take a river tour of
Golden Triangle across the Mekong into Laos (no passport
needed). And speaking of unique experiences, have you ever
ridden in a long-tail boat? These remarkable watercraft are
powered by automobile engines and steered with a long shaft.
(Hence the name long-tail.) and you are separated from the
water only by 5 mm of plywood. They can go like...well, like
formula one. Snake brandy ii the Laos village tastes almost
better than schnapps... Riding back we shall stop at Chiang
Saen - an important port for goods from Chinese Yunnan
province only 60 km away. Accommodation with breakfast in
Chiang Rai. |
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Day ten |
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Chiang Rai to Kamphaeng Phet (full day ride 450 km) |
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We shall leave the Golden Triangle and ride south over
mountains to Kamphaeng Phet (hotel). This is a long ride -
460 kilometres but very pleasant because is area is not very
populated, there is hardly any traffic on a four lane
highway and the mountains are covered by dense jungle. On
the way we shall stop at Buddhist shrine on dramatic Chao
Pho Pratu Pha mountain pass where we shall walk through
bamboo jungle to prehistoric mural paintings. They are only
a short walk away from the main road. The prehistoric
paintings featuring hunters and animals are on the lower
part of overhanging cliff. The shrine itself was set up in
commemoration of a brave soldier, the right hand man of a
king of Lampang who was killed in a battle by the Burmese
enemies. There is a Buddhist shrine with hundreds of spirit
houses nearby. Road-users passing by usually honk their car
horns or set off firecrackers as a sign of respect. After a
long ride we shall be awarded by a good dinner and for
"night owls" a visit to Eagle pub. Accommodation with
breakfast in Kamphaeng Phet. |
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Day eleven |
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Kamphaeng Phet to Kanchanaburi (full day ride 350 km) |
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Today we have another long but scenic drive. We shall ride
through traditional villages and across the farming lands
along Western jungle that is SE Asia biggest rainforest
stretching far into Burma. Large parts of Central Thailand
are flat, and flat wet rice cultivation is the preferred
method of growing rice, for obvious reasons. Our tour will
involve a 150 km ride through this region. It often gets
flooded during rainy season. In the mountains, the hill
tribe people, who also grow rice, mostly use a different
variety of rice that can actually grow on a hill without
being under water. There is some rice terrace cultivation in
Thailand, mainly in the area near some Karen villages. And
there's some smaller-valley rice growing with somewhat of a
terracing to it but not the multi level setups. A dinner on
one of the River Kwai rafts-restaurants in Kanchanaburi is
an event that is not forgotten easily. Accommodation with
breakfast in Kanchanaburi. |
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Day twelve |
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Kanchanaburi (day off or half day ride along WW2 Death
Railway 80 km) |
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You will have a choice to travel by train on Death Railway
in the morning or ride with us after lunch to the River Kwai
bridge, War cemetery, Crasae cave and viaducts on the
railway. The bridge over River Kwai near Kanchanaburi was
built over several months starting October 1942 by slave
labour civilians and POWs as part of the Death Railway to
supply Japanese troops in Burma from Rangoon. Low to the
water, constructed of steel and concrete, the bridge was not
blown up but remains today as a usable bridge and tourist
attraction. According to survivor Fred Seiker, "The railway
was completed on the 17th October 1943 at Konkuita in
Thailand, not far from the Three Pagodas Pass (today's
border with Burma). On the way back we shall stop at the
tiger temple where tigers walk free and get petted by
visitors on the way back. In Wat Pa Luangta Bua Yanasampanno
tiger conservation area various kinds of wild as well as
domestic animals live together freely in the nature. Beside
tigers you can see barking deer, deer, hog, gibbon, peafowl,
red jungle fowl, water buffalo, wild boar etc. Animals live
together in peace and are friendly to the monks and
visitors. This is probably the only place in the world where
you can stroke a tiger without a worry. Accommodation with
breakfast in Kanchanaburi. |
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Day thirteen |
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Kanchanaburi to Jomtien Beach (full day ride 300 km) |
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Departing Kanchanaburi, we shall ride in direction of
Bangkok. On the way we shall stop at a floating market. Day
in and day out from about 8 a.m. to about 12 a.m. the
floating market is routinely crowded with hundreds of
vendors and purchasers floating in their small rowing boats
selling and buying or exchanging their goods. What they
purchase are particularly food, fruit and vegetable which
mostly brought from their own orchards. They usually travel
on their small rowing boats. To avoid the Bangkok centre's
heavy traffic we shall take a ferry across Phraya river and
ride along the shore of Eastern Seaboard. The afternoon
brings us back to our base Jomtien Beach. Usually the group
has the last farewell dinner this day. Accommodation with
breakfast in Jomtien. |
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Day fourteen |
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Transfer from Jomtien Beach to Bangkok Airport |
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Your motorcycle touring holiday is ending today. You will
receive a DVD with photos and video clips of your escapades
during the tour before our taxi picks you up. The time will
be arranged depending on your flight departure. The ride
from the hotel at Jomtien Beach to the airport takes about
one hour. We recommend to book an evening/night flight,
giving you an extra day at the end of your holiday. |
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