29/01/2022
Q & A update:
Q: Is Thailand open for tourists and what is required for travel to Thailand?
A: The answer is YES. From February 2022 the Test & Go scheme resumed. You need to be vaccinated, have a PCR test 72 hours prior to departure, have travel insurance that covers your stay there, show proof of a SHA+ hotel booking for the 1st & 5th night stay (included in our tour price for 2022) and show proof of a return flight booking. This is all part of the THAI PASS requirement. Refer to this link: Thailand Pass | How to Apply (thaiembassy.com)
Q: Where do I fly to?
A: Book a return flight to Bangkok. Flights direct to Chiang Mai have not resumed, but may do at anytime so keep an eye on that. If your only choice is to fly to Bangkok, then book that flight and a return domestic flight from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and vice versa. The cost is approximately $50 each way for the domestic flight. International flights can be found for less than $1000.00 return. Thai airways have direct flight Sydney or Melbourne on certain days of the week. The other Thai airway flights go via Phuket. Singapore Airlines fly via Singapore or Hong Kong. Bangkok is a city that you may want to spend a few days so plan well.
Q: What is the Covid situation like there?
A: Better than Australia at the moment. Mask wearing is mandatory but not on your motorbike. I was there from late November to mid-January 2022 and never felt ill. You don’t hear of too many people with Covid. Being vaccinated helped. Just keep your mask on and you will be fine.
Q: When are the tour dates? How many days do I need off work?
A: We commence the 1st “6-day 7 night” tour from Chiang Mai Thailand mid to late February 2022. We operate two tours per month. Anytime is a good time to ride in Northern Thailand! We operate a small group tour as its more manageable and easier to find quality accommodation and smaller groups tend to stick closer together. Our limit is 5 riders. We kept the ride to 6 days & 7 nights to allow for your international travel and domestic travel if required. If you allowed 2 weeks off work that gives you time to enjoy what Bangkok has to offer or stay a bit longer in Chiang Mai.
Q: What’s included in the AUD$3750.00 price?
A: Here are the inclusions. We pretty much cover all costs, so all you have to worry about is what to wear.
• A 2021 KTM 390 Adventure fitted with Trail Tech Voyager Pro GPS & Venturer 22 litre rear bag.
• 7 nights’ accommodation in 4- or 5-star resorts and hotels. 6 days of awesome motorcycle riding.
• 1st night and 5th night mandatory SHA+ hotel with PCR test and private transport from the airport to the hotel via the hospital for your PCR test. Valued at more than AUD$500.00 (this is our 2022 special inclusion).
• All meals, snacks & drinks and adult beverages.
• Experienced Australian rider / tour operator & guide (Greg Moore).
• Massages on some nights.
• Bike insurance with standard excess.
• National Park entry fees.
• Admission to your choice of Elephant camp, ATV park, white-water rafting, shooting range or botanic gardens.
Q: What’s not included in the price?
A: Personal travel insurance, international and/or domestic flights, additional accommodation or travel expenses outside the tour date, reduction of motorbike insurance to zero.
Q: What do I bring for the tour of a lifetime?
A: You won’t need a stack of money. We include everything in the tour price that’s related to the tour excluding personal travel insurance and domestic flights. You might need cash for gifts or laundry or additional travel and accommodation. Credit card payment is not a common form of payment in Thailand especially at smaller food or retail businesses. They mostly use a barcode system linked to their Thai bank accounts, so you will need some cash. There are plenty of currency exchange services in Thailand. As for riding gear we don’t supply helmets or riding gear. The top-quality gear is very expensive in Thailand, so I recommend you bring your own. Don’t forget wet weather gear and Bluetooth headset if you have one. The KTM 390 Adventure has Bluetooth connectivity for GPS and smartphone. Another reason we chose the KTM for our tour bikes.
Q: What motorcycles do you use for the tour? Do you include a GPS?
A: We use the best and safest motorbikes on offer for 2022 – the KTM 390 Adventure is equipped with disc brakes on both the front and rear wheels, along with dual-channel ABS and traction control for improved handling on the roads. Suspension duties on the motorcycle are taken care of by inverted forks on the front side and a mono-shock unit on the rear end. LED daytime running lights optimise visibility. Other safety features include a PASC Slipper Clutch& Mechanically Operated Slipper Clutch. The 390 Adventure is lightweight and nimble with an impressive power to weight ratio. KTM Bluetooth connectivity will provide GPS prompts from the TrailTech Voyager Pro GPS fitted on the bike, provided you have a Bluetooth device on your helmet. Connectivity to your smartphone is also available on the KTM 390 Adventure. An excellent feature of the TrailTech GPS is buddy tracker system which enables a visual location of each rider on the planned route. If you get lost or have an issue the GPS has an alert button which will give me your exact location for assistance. Mobile phone reception is excellent in almost all regions of Thailand, so communication is always available.
Q: Why don’t you use larger capacity bikes for your tour?
A: The larger capacity bikes can negatively affect safety in Thailand. You will appreciate being on a lightweight & nimble 390cc motorbike when it comes to maneuvering around dogs, chickens, pigs and all sorts of hazards & obstacles on the road that you just don’t get in 1st world countries. The KTM 390 Adventure is no slouch. The power is there for overtaking and the ABS brakes are very progressive and strong for quick stopping. You will experience the way of Thai drivers and when you do you will be glad you’re on a nimble and safe bike. I am a very experienced rider and owned at least 50 motorcycles, spent plenty of time on the road, track and the dirt. I’ve ridden larger capacity bikes in Vietnam & Thailand and found it takes the edge off the enjoyment factor. The temptation to crack open the throttle on a big CC bike is always there but that inevitably reduces your margin to react in sketchy situations that occur many many times you’re on a bike in Thailand. But don’t be concerned, you will be on the most capable and safest bike.
Q: What’s the route? Where do we go?
A: On day 1 we provide a safety brief and a slow & easy familiarisation ride in Chiang Mai before the tour, so your accustomed to the way of Thai riders and drivers. From Chiang Mai we take the back roads to the next northern city, Chiang Rai. From there we travel to the Golden Triangle where the borders of Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar meet at the confluence of the Ruak and Mekong rivers. We continue to follow the northern border of Myanmar to the most northern city in Thailand which leads us the mountainous regions. That’s were the tour will be mostly spent – in the northern parts of the country close to the border. You will be fascinated by the views, the cool weather, the road condition, the number of curves, the minimalist amount of traffic, the culture & food, the accommodation, the people and the provinces, the forestation, waterfalls, and rivers. Its where you will really appreciate riding the KTM 390 Adventure. 6 days & 7 nights of pure enjoyment. Routes are loaded into the GPS on the bike and named day 1, 2, 3 and so on.
Q: What’s the accommodation like mate?
A: You will be provided with your own room in a 4- or 5-star resort or hotel. They usually include a pool, gym, restaurant & bar and the modern facilities and creature comforts you expect from quality accommodation. All inclusive in the tour of course. Views are free 😊
Q: Do you provide luggage?
A: Our KTM 390 Adventure bikes are fitted with a Venturer rack and 22 litre rear bag. The bag can be positioned to the rear or over the rear seat which I find to be the perfect position if you’re not wearing a backpack. We encourage you to pack light for the benefits that come with a light load. You will be surprised how much you can fit in a 22-litre bag. You will have the opportunity to wash & dry clothes on night 3 or 4. I find that 2 or 3 shirts, a few pairs of un**es, a pair of comfortable shoes or thongs and a pair of jeans and shorts takes care of the clothes needed. Apart from that you will have plenty of room for passport, cameras, chargers, cosmetics and/or toiletries. You can leave your suitcase with us. Don’t forget insect repellent - Thai pharmacies sell a natural ingredient spray that works very well.
Q: What skill level or motorcycle riding experience is required?
A: You will need to be a reasonably confident rider. If you have your P’s you are probably riding a small to mid-capacity motorbike and have situational awareness skills. If you have mastered that skill and have experience in riding mountainous areas and a bit of city traffic you will be fine. The KTM390 Adventure is a very forgiving and easy motorbike to ride from day 1. If you’re an experienced rider, male or female you are right to go. We stick to the black top. No off road riding. Your hire bike will be set up so the ergonomics suit you & the rear shock adjusted for your weight + luggage and height.
Q: Will I have an unforgettable riding experience?
A: Hell yeah! I’ve been riding motorcycles for 40 years now & been on numerous tours - I know what riders like. We have maximised our efforts on routes that are exciting and memorable. The best bikes, the best roads, minimal highway, as many sweeping corners as possible, fantastic viewpoints, high altitudes. It’s not about how many kilometres it takes to get to each destination but rather the quality of the kilometres and the lifetime experiences you will have. We will travel about 300km’s each day. Plenty of stops at cafés and places of interest. Then in late afternoon you will be treated to the best accommodation we have found at each stop. Time to relax in the pool, have a massage or just chill with a drink and chat about the awesome experiences of the day. Enjoy an evening of excellent Thai cuisine and the company of the group riders and host. On day 4 or 5 we will spend the afternoon at your choice of the Elephant Camp, ATV action or White-Water Rafting. A shooting range is in the same area so that might be the option for you. No shooting licence required in Thailand!
Q: What are your cancellations & refund policies?
A: We try to keep this as simple as possible. Cancellations are accepted and full refund of deposits are applicable if your travel to Thailand is affected by Governments changes to travel restrictions due to the current pandemic, but only if your travel insurance company does not provide that cover. Once you’re in Thailand your committed to the cost of the tour due to the expenses we outlay in providing mandatory SHA+ accommodation and PCR testing etc. If you get ill or have an accident that prevents you from riding, your travel insurance will cover cancellation costs. We provide a receipt for your claim. If you want to change your mind that’s OK also, just give us as 14 days’ notice. You are required to pay AUD$500.00 to secure your booking and pay the balance when you arrive at our location in Chiang Mai. Under non pandemic related circumstances or change of mind, your deposit of AUD$500.00 will be refunded for cancellations if we receive notice of cancellation 14 days prior to your 1st night of accommodation.
Any other questions? Please contact us anytime. This is your bike, ready to explore magnificent Northern Thailand.
Greg Moore
Northern Thailand Motorcycle Adventures
[email protected] M: 0409527923: +61 409527923
