The 1263 cut
Takeaway · CC BY-SA 3.0ทางลัด 1263
Khun Yuam east to Mae Chaem. Optional. A three-day loop instead of a four-day one, bought with the steepest and most curve-dense road here.
9 written upLegs
The loop cut into rides. Each one runs both ways, with its own curve count, its own fuel gap and its own reason to stop.
Mae Hong Son
Stephanie Ecate steffny0206 · CC0 1.0Every leg reads differently depending on which way you came at it.
North first: up 107 and 1095 to Pai, on to Mae Hong Son, home down 108.
South first: down 108 to Hot and Mae Sariang, up to Mae Hong Son, back over 1095.
Day one. Short, hard, and done on fresh arms — which is the whole case for going this way round.
The last leg. Four days of hills already in your forearms, and the descent into Mae Taeng at the end of it.
A half-day that leaves the afternoon for Tham Lot.
The run into Pai, and an easy end to a hard day.
Westward, into the afternoon sun in the cool season. Leave early or accept it.
Eastward in the morning, sun behind. The better half of this leg's bargain.
The start of the way home, and the first easy riding in three days.
The last climb before Mae Hong Son.
Southbound, downhill on balance, and easy.
Northbound and climbing toward the end.
The last long haul before the four-lane run home.
Day one, and long. This is the leg that finds the rental bike's faults.
The end. Traffic, lanes, and a city.
The beginning, and the easiest hour of the trip.
Optional
The Samoeng warm-up
Catchiangmai · CC BY-SA 4.0วงรอบสะเมิง ซ้อมใหญ่
Chiang Mai to Mae Rim, Route 1096 to Samoeng, and back. A day. Not part of the loop.