The Samoeng loop is considered to be one of the best motorcycle rides in Thailand. It starts and ends in Chiang Mai, is 80km and takes 2-3 hours. You travel along beautiful, quiet mountain roads all the way around Doi Suthep mountain. We decided to go clockwise on the route which we have done many times. It was early morning and the air felt cool and crisp. At last the hot weather has finally given way to more normal temperatures but you still need a jacket.
Our first stop was Wat Banpong.
The road up to the temple is steep and winding and it sits high on a hill overlooking the fertile valley below. We have visited this temple over the last 8 years following its construction and ongoing works and delighted to say it is now magnificently finished. Here are a few before and after photos.
The workmanship is outstanding, all created onsite.
Rather than stay on the main road we take a road that takes you through some of the smaller villages and past orange groves, fields of tomatoes, potatoes and all sorts of different crops. We can take off our helmets and just take in the atmosphere of the villages.
Children playing, dogs just snoozing in the middle of the road and villagers going about their daily life in the fields. Curls of woodsmoke rising above the houses, pungent aromas of garlic cooking making us hungry. Suicidal chickens hurtling across the road and squeals of children chasing each other and best of all lots of smiling faces, it is the land of smiles. I love these journeys off the beaten track. Much more agreeable than diesel fumes and big trucks.
The next stop is the Samoeng viewpoint which overlooks the cascading forest canopy below and miles and miles of mountain tops disappearing into the distance, all the way to Myanmar. Making our way up higher and higher we were so cold, teeth almost chattering (wished I’d worn my jumper) so much so that one of the ladies who sells fruit at the viewpoint gave us some roasted sweet potatoes to warm our hands. We bought oranges, ate the potatoes, chatted in our best Thai to the vendors and carried on.
We stopped for a coffee as Chris could no longer feel his fingers, he just wanted to hold a hot coffee cup!!
You then pass through the Mae Sae Valley where you can eat on the river on small platforms surrounded by small restaurants. There are a few very touristy elephant camps which I don’t think are very ethical but lots of tour groups visit…
We had decided to go to the Botanical Gardens as the last time we had visited was just after covid and the gardens and especially the greenhouses seemed a little abandoned. We weren’t disappointed it’s back to its former glory, especially the enormous rain forest glass house.
Chris and Sigrid’s excellent adventure 
Stunning! A fabulous journey and what great memories you will have 💕
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