A two-week loop from Chiang Mai: Doi Inthanon, the roof of the country, the Mae Hong Son loop via Mae Sariang and Pai, then Chiang Rai, Phrae and the ruins of Sukhothai. You drive on the left with an International Driving Permit, on winding mountain roads where a car lets you stop at every cave, waterfall or temple.
| Days | Stop | Drive |
|---|---|---|
| Days 1 to 2 | Chiang Mai | Start |
| Day 3 | Mae Sariang | 257 km · 4h40 |
| Days 4 to 5 | Mae Hong Son | 163 km · 2h35 |
| Days 6 to 7 | Pai | 106 km · 1h55 |
| Day 8 | Chiang Dao | 130 km · 2h20 |
| Days 9 to 10 | Chiang Rai | 176 km · 2h45 |
| Day 11 | Phrae | 238 km · 3h15 |
| Days 12 to 13 | Sukhothai (old city) | 175 km · 2h45 |
| Day 14 | Back to Chiang Mai | 286 km · 4h05 |
Road route calculated from the stops (OpenStreetMap). Driving times assume no stops and no traffic: add time for photo breaks.
November to February, the cool, dry season, is the most pleasant. From December to April, smoke from crop burning hangs over the North (March is the worst month); from June to October, the rains make the Pai road more accident-prone.
🚗 257 km · 4h40 of driving from Chiang Mai
Route 108 to Chom Thong, up Doi Inthanon on the 1009, down on the 1192 and 1088, then the 108. Leave early.
🚗 163 km · 2h35 of driving from Mae Sariang
Route 108 north via Khun Yuam, winding through the forest. In November, a detour to the sunflowers of Doi Mae U Kho.
🚗 106 km · 1h55 of driving from Mae Hong Son
Route 1095, famous for its "1,864 curves": tight hairpins and steep gradients. Motion sickness is common, so plan breaks.
🚗 130 km · 2h20 of driving from Pai
The rest of the 1095 to Route 107 near Mae Malai, then the 107 north.
🚗 176 km · 2h45 of driving from Chiang Dao
Route 107 to the outskirts of Fang, then the 109 through the mountains to Mae Suai, the 118 and Route 1. You stay well away from the border.
🚗 238 km · 3h15 of driving from Chiang Rai
Route 1 to Phayao and its lake, then the 103 and 101 through the hills.
🚗 175 km · 2h45 of driving from Phrae
Route 101 via Den Chai and Si Satchanalai, then the 1201 and 106 south, and finally the 102 to the old city.
🚗 286 km · 4h05 of driving from Sukhothai
Keep just the Mae Hong Son loop: Chiang Mai (1 night), Mae Sariang (1), Mae Hong Son (2), Pai (2), then back to Chiang Mai on the 1095. Chiang Rai, Phrae and Sukhothai need an extra week.
| Small car, annual average (Chiang Mai airport) | ≈ €24 a day |
|---|---|
| Small car, March | ≈ €18 a day |
| All categories, December (most expensive month) | ≈ €41 a day |
| SUV, annual average | ≈ €37 a day (Kayak, Sept. 2026) |
| Vehicle | A small saloon or city car (Yaris, Almera) is enough: the loop follows paved national highways. |
|---|---|
| Where to pick it up | At Chiang Mai airport, a few kilometres from the centre. It is a loop, so no one-way fee. |
| Insurance | CDW included at Drive (a local company), with an excess of about 8,560 baht (€225) for a small car. |
| Deposit | 5,000 to 10,000 baht (€130 to €260) blocked on a credit card; no debit cards. |
| Age and licence | 21 minimum at Drive, licence held for one year, International Driving Permit if your licence is not in English. |
| Borders | Crossing borders is not allowed at Drive; check with other rental companies. |
⚠️ The excess waiver (SCDW) does not cover tyres, wheels or glass. Photograph the car when you pick it up.
To be shown with your national licence. Apply for it in the country that issued your licence, well before departure.
Right-hand drive. Lots of scooters on both sides: check your mirrors before every turn.
80 in built-up areas, 120 on motorways and some signposted dual carriageways. Fines of up to 1,000 baht.
0.2 g/l with less than 2 years' driving experience; zero for professional drivers.
The whole border, open crossings included (French foreign ministry): neither Mae Sai nor the Golden Triangle.
Helmet, licence and papers checked, especially in Chiang Mai. The receipt usually spares you another fine for 3 days.
90% of fatal accidents involve two-wheelers (French foreign ministry). Scooters are often rented without insurance.
The International Driving Permit does not carry over home-country rules that let car licence holders ride a 125 cc, such as an A1 equivalence or a short training course.
Average recorded by the police between Chiang Mai and Pai, more in the rainy season.
France's foreign ministry advises the utmost caution at night: reach your stop before evening.
≈ €1.29 a litre of 95 unleaded, €1.07 for diesel (49.16 and 40.69 baht, 21 Sept. 2026)
Price recorded in September 2026: it changes every week, sometimes by 10 to 20 cents in a month. Check it before you go.
⛽ 1,531 km at 7 l per 100 km: about €140 at September 2026 prices, to share between passengers.
GlobalPetrolPrices figure based on EPPO, the Thai energy policy office. Fill up in town before the mountain sections of the 108 and the 1095.
| Suggested loop | Free national highways, no tolls |
|---|---|
| Doi Inthanon National Park | 300 baht per adult, 30 baht per car |
| Twin Royal Chedis (Doi Inthanon) | 100 baht per person |
| Mok Fa Waterfall (Doi Suthep-Pui park) | 100 baht per adult |
| Wat Rong Khun (White Temple) | 200 baht for foreigners (2026) |
| Sukhothai Historical Park | 100 baht per zone, vehicle extra |
| Myanmar border (Mae Sai, Golden Triangle, Ban Rak Thai) | Strongly advised against all year by France's foreign ministry |
|---|---|
| Kew Mae Pan trail (Doi Inthanon) | Closed from June to October, reopens on 1 November |
| Route 1095 Chiang Mai-Pai | Open all year; more accidents in the rainy season |
| Smoke from crop burning | Air often polluted from December to April, especially in March |
Allow 14 days for this loop of 8 stages and 13 nights: Chiang Mai, the Mae Hong Son loop, Chiang Dao, Chiang Rai, Phrae and Sukhothai, returning to Chiang Mai in about 4 hours via Lampang. In 7 days, stick to the Mae Hong Son loop, about 600 km from Chiang Mai.
Yes. France's foreign ministry states that visitors need one, alongside their national licence; apply for it in the country that issued your licence, well before departure. Rental companies also require a minimum age of 21, one year's driving experience and a credit card in the driver's name.
Not legally: the International Driving Permit does not carry over home-country rules that let car licence holders ride a 125 cc, such as an A1 equivalence or France's 7-hour training course. Without a motorcycle licence, your travel insurance may refuse to pay out after an accident. Helmets are compulsory and checks are frequent in Chiang Mai, with a fine of about 500 baht.
For the car, about €310 of hire over 13 days (€24 a day for a small car, Kayak average), up to €530 in December. Add about €120 of fuel at September 2026 prices for 1,500 km at €1.29 a litre (6 litres per 100 km) and about €25 per person in park and temple entry fees.
November to February: cool, dry weather, with the Doi Mae U Kho sunflowers in November. From December to April, smoke from crop burning degrades the air, March being the worst month. From June to October, rain makes accidents worse on the Pai road, already averaging two a day according to the police.
The roads are in good condition, but the accident rate is among the highest in the world, and 90% of fatal accidents involve two-wheelers (French foreign ministry). Drive in daylight, keep to 90 km/h outside built-up areas and stay away from the Myanmar border, which is strongly advised against, particularly at Mae Sai and the Golden Triangle.
Driving rules, prices and closures checked in September 2026; hotels checked on OpenStreetMap and then on Booking. Rules change: read the official source before you leave, and check your own government's travel advice for the country. Stop photos: Wikimedia Commons, authors and licences under each image.
Off We Gooo road trip guide · offwegooo.com/en/road-trips/thailand · by Tom, updated 1 October 2026
