From Mae Sai to Tha Ton: A Motorcycle Adventure on Doi Mae Salong

This trip began in Mae Sai, where we, two siblings, set out on a pre-planned adventure to Tha Ton in Mae Ai district, Chiang Mai. We decided to ride our motorbikes, embarking on a journey that started from our hometown of Mae Sai.

We started our journey around 2 pm, hoping the rain would hold off as the sky looked ominous. As we rode, we kept our fingers crossed, praying for clear skies. Thankfully, the overcast conditions remained throughout our trip.

Leaving Mae Sai, we passed through Mae Chan district before entering Mae Ai district in Chiang Mai province. Along the way, we were greeted by stunning natural landscapes, with lush green rice paddies lining the roads, filling us with a sense of rejuvenation.

Before entering the pier, you will see statues lined up along the side of the road.

The journey from Mae Sai to Tha Ton took approximately 2 hours.

We passed by the Thanathon Orange Garden, planning to visit it the next day.

We intended to stay overnight in Tha Ton, but it turned out that the only attraction was the Tha Ton Temple, which offered scenic views.

Therefore, we decided not to stay overnight, and we missed the opportunity to visit the Thanathon Orange Garden because it was closed when we returned.

Before continuing our journey, we needed to refuel, so we had a light lunch of chicken laab and braised eggs.

Let's go to Wat Tha Ton before it rains. It's a good thing that the rain didn't last long. We got a little bit of a soak.

After enjoying the scenery and taking photos to our heart's content, we decided to head back.

It was already past 5 pm, and it was starting to get dark.

We passed by a vineyard, and initially, we planned to stop by for a quick look.

However, my brother suggested that we continue on to Doi Mae Salong.

So, we decided to skip the vineyard and my brother sped up to reach the top of the mountain before it got too dark.

On the way up to Doi Mae Salong, we came across another beautiful photo spot, and we couldn't resist stopping for a quick photo.

We arrived at Doi Mae Salong around 6 pm, and there was still some light left.

My brother suggested we ride up to the pagoda, which is located at a very high point.

We also wanted to test out the Yamaha motorcycle. On the way up to the pagoda, the bike was quite sluggish.

When we reached the pagoda, we were planning to take some photos of the sunset, but it turned out that it was closed for renovations, so we couldn't.

On the way back down, the bike lost power. I was riding on the back, and I told my brother that I was going to get off because the bike had no power left.

To make matters worse, the wheels started to spin, and the bike wouldn't move even when we accelerated. Smoke started coming out, and I was really afraid that the bike would break down on the mountain.

So, both my brother and I got off the bike and started pushing it up the hill.

I forgot to take a picture of us pushing the bike, but I don't think we were in the mood to take pictures at that time. We were just thinking about how we needed to get through this.

Because we had to help push the bike up the hill, it was getting darker and darker. We both had to be brave and face the challenge.

In the end, we managed to get down from the pagoda. We decided to get something to eat.

We stopped at a restaurant that looked like a house so that we could enjoy the atmosphere.

The Thrill of a Day Trip: From Mountain Views to a Close Call

The atmosphere in the restaurant was lively, and we had eaten our fill. We had originally planned to spend the night on Doi Mae Salong, but after gazing at the twinkling lights of Mae Chan and Mae Sai districts below, we decided to head home.

As we descended the mountain, we realized we were running low on fuel. We passed one gas station, hoping to find a larger one in Mae Sai, but to our dismay, the only large station there was closed. This experience reminded us of the saying, "Don't count your chickens before they hatch."

We continued searching for a gas station, even resorting to looking for coin-operated pumps, as the fuel warning light began to flash. With only 8 kilometers left until home, we spotted a coin-operated pump and filled up with 20 baht, just enough to get us home.

We finally arrived home safely, having covered over 200 kilometers that day. It was a wild, fun, and unforgettable adventure. The best part? We spent less than 500 baht for the entire trip.

Thank you for reading! Until next time…