Bonjour à tous,
Lors de notre prochain voyage, après avoir lu bien des avis sur le forum à propos de Monument Valley, nous logerons sur place la nuit du 29/05 au San Juan Inn (Mexican Hat). Nous arriverons du Canyon de Chelly NM. Le lendemain nous partons vers Moab. J'ai quelques questions qui me taraudent:Y a-t-il un endroit précis où la vue du coucher de soleil dans MV est particulièrement à conseiller, en sachant que nous serons en moto et que les pistes nous sont inaccessibles en autonome?Conseillez-vous une promenade en 4x4 accompagnés? Cela vaut-il son lot de $ et d'où partir? Quelle somme est-il "raisonnable" de payer pour ce service?En venant de Chinle (Canyon de Chelly), vaut-il mieux remonter la 191 jusqu'à Mexican Water puis prendre la 160 jusqu'à Kayenta puis vers Mexican Hat ou bien à Many Farms prendre la 59 directement vers Kayenta. . La première option rallonge l'étape mais est indiquée comme pittoresque (entre Round Rock et Mexican Water) sur les cartes AAA Pour remonter vers Moab: prendre la 191 ou la 261 à partir de Mexican Hat puis la 95? Ces deux voies sont-elles des routes ou des pistes? Mon programme Garmin et mes cartes AAA semblent m'indiquer un tronçon non asphalté. Est-ce praticable (et/ou conseillé) en moto?
Merci de vos conseils avisés.
Christian
Bonjour,
il est plus court de prendre l'Indian Rd 59 direct sur Kayenta. Il n'y a rien de particulier à faire par le détour sur Mexican Water. C'est le désert partout.
A MV, l'endroit le plus connu pour le coucher de soleil est à côtè des parking. C'est la vue sur les Mittens et Merrick Buttes.
Un tour en 4x4 est pas donné, mais cela vaut le coup sinon tu ne vois rien de MV.
Les départs se font aussi sur le parking. Et qu'est ce que 40 ou 50$ dans le coût du voyage pour un truc inoubliable.
Pour aller à Moab, je te conseille la 261 qui est très pittoresque. Bien qu' il y ait une partie non goudronnée appelé Mokee Dugway (ou Moki Dugway) mais c'est très roulant et spaectaculaire.
Regarde sur You Tube il y a pas mal de vidéo à son sujet.
En haut de la côte, sur la gauche, il y a une piste (la premère partie est goudronnée) qui mène à Muley point. C'est un point de vue sur les méandre de la San Juan River et Monument Valley au loin. Tu ne peux aller en moto jusqu'au bord, il te faudra faire les dernier mètres à pied. 🙂
C'est à voir.
A la jonction de la 261 et de l'US95, pas très loin sur la gauche il y a Natural Bridges NM, ce n'est pas très long à visiter si tu ne fais que les points de vue.
Rien de spectaculaire mais passer si près et ne pas y aller...😕
L'US95 jusqu'à Blanding est vraiment une belle route à travers de superbes paysages.
Après sur la route de Moab, tu vas avoir sur ta droite Church Rock puis Wilson Arch après avoir passer Monticello.
Bonsoir Michel,
Merci pour tes conseils. J'aurai sans doute encore d'autres questions à poser sur le forum. Le voyage est presque totalement planifié, les étapes sont faites, les réservations sont presque terminée, il me reste 2 nuits à réserver à LA à la fin du périple.
Reste les détails des choses à visiter au gré de la route. Je glane les renseignements à gauche et à droite et les forumeurs (motocyclistes ou autres) sont une mine de renseignement.
Bien à toi.
Je conseille aussi le tour en jeep. (même si beaucoup d'avis sur le forum disent que c'est une arnaque)
J'ai cru comprendre que vous y serez à l'automne, si vous avez de la chance comme nous, vous serez seul avec le guide navajo.
Le notre était super sympa et nous a donné des tas d'explications très intéressantes, il ne faut pas hésiter à poser des questions si vous en avez. On avait choisi l'un des tours qui emmène aussi dans des coins qui ne sont pas autorisés lorsqu'on fait le tour avec sa propre voiture, ça permet de découvrir encore plus de merveilles de MV, on a vraiment pas regretté les 60$ (par personne) que nous a coûté le tour.
On a préféré le lever de soleil au coucher, on l'a trouvé plus magique, mais on logeait sur place au View donc on était aux 1ères loges le matin.
En tous les cas, je vous souhaite de vous émerveiller autant que nous et d'en garder de beaux souvenirs!!!
Bonsoir Michel,
Je vais sans doute faire une balade en 4x4 dan MV, vous me convainquez.
Pour ce qui est de la route 261 à partir de Mexican Hate, j'ai regardé quelques vidéos sur You Tube, c'est drôlement pentu dans la partie non asphaltée. Avec ma BM je ne dirais pas non, mais avec un bestiau de 400 kg (qui plus est de location) les bagages et madame derrière, je suis nettement moins franc.
N'écoutant que mon courage qui ne me dit rien, je crois que je me limiterai à remonter vers Moab par la 191.
Question subsidiaire, les jours fériés aux USA, cela se passe comment? Je fais la route de Holbrook à Chinle en passant par Petrified Forest et Painted Désert le 28 mai (jour du Memorial Day). Les parcs sont-ils ouverts, les stations d'essence et restos aussi?
Bon WE à ceux qui sont en congé. (aux autres aussi)
Petrified Forest est ouvert toute l'année sauf à Noël , le 25 décembre ! La majorité des parcs sont d'ailleurs ouverts les jours fériés et pour plusieurs l'achalandage y est beaucoup plus grand. Ce ne devrait cependant pas être excessif dans ce parc.
À noter que ce parc est le seul qui protège une partie de la mythique route 66!
Pour le reste aucun problème, restos et postes d'essence seront ouverts.
Bonjour Christian,
excuse moi de répondre après tant de temps, mais j'avais un peu délaissé le forum.
Tu as tort de t'inquiéter de faire la Mokee Dugway en moto, c'est très faisable et cela t'aurait fait faire de la belle route.
L'EG fait certe 400kg, sans le pilote et la passagére 😉, mais dès qu'elle roule elle fait oublier son poids.
C'est un vrai tracteur avec un couple d'enfer et tu ne te rends même pas compte si il y a des côtes. Elle avale tout...
Tu pourrais tracter une caravane en plus ! 😎
Contrairement à toi, je ferais plus confiance à l'EG qu'à une béhem sur les routes américaines, elle supporte sûrement mieux les grosses chaleurs. 😛
Pour le Memorial Day, heureusement qu'Alain a répondu car j'en serais bien incapable.
Je n'ai pas eu à me poser la question des jours fériés ou pas. Soit qu'il y en avait pas lors de mes séjours ou je n'ai pas vu la différence. 😇.
A priori, pour l'instant, l'hiver est très doux aux States avec très peu de chutes de neige.
Ils sont même inquiet car ils pensent qu'il n'y aura pas assez d'eau pour les cultures et autre.
Donc sauf changement rapide, tu ne devrais pas être embêté par la neige....
Bonjour Michel,
Merci pour tes conseils. Pour la Mokee Dugway, je verrai comment je sent la moto en cours de route. Le choix d'un itinéraire ou de l'autre pourra se faire au dernier moment. Les vidéos ne me rassurent quand même pas de trop.
Bien à toi.
Christian
Bonjour,
je suis du même avis que Michel (salut Michel😉) sur la Mokee Dugway. Je l'ai prise en Septembre dernier et il avait plu la veille. Si moi je suis aguerri en HD, j'avais avec moi 2 bleus qui se sont très bien débroullés. De plus le spectacle est unique.
@+
Daniel
Carnets de voyage:
2001 Route66 / 2007 Chicago-San Francisco / 2009 USA-Canada / 2011 Les plus beaux parcs de l'Ouest / 2013 Québec.
http://www.big-twin-travels.over-blog.com
bonjour je part avec un ami motard 3 mois au Vietnam depuis Hanoi...l'idée est de faire la boucle du nord retourner à Hanoi et descendre à ho chi min...puis remonter certainement en passant par la montagne...départ en février...petite précision nous sommes 2 retraités 63 ans habitués à moto et possédons permis Français et international... on recherche des bonnes infos des conseils on a l'intention d'acheter des 125 chinoises sur place...merci à vous tous et longue route la vie est belle!
Hey everyone!
New to the forum, but not so new to Asia 😄
I’m Nico, from Switzerland, currently based in Bangkok. I love taking my motorcycle out to get lost in the mountains and small villages of Thailand, Laos, Vietnam, and more. I’ve been roaming around this area for a good fifteen years now, racking up quite a few kilometers—especially in northern Vietnam.
This time, I finally decided to tackle the Mae Hong Son Loop, clockwise. I’d been to Pai several times before, but oddly enough, I’d never done the full loop.
So, I’ll try to give you a little recap here, day by day, with the roads, stops, places worth checking out… and those that didn’t quite blow my mind 😅
I also filmed the trip, so I’ll post the corresponding video at the end of each day if that’s okay. If it’s not allowed here, just let me know, and I’ll remove them without any issue.
DAY 1 — Chiang Mai → Doi Inthanon → Mae Chaem → Khun Yuam
I left Chiang Mai after renting a Honda ADV 160 from Pop Motorbike. Not exactly an Africa Twin, but for what I had planned, it was more than enough.
Quick hotel note: I stayed at the Lanna Thaphae Hotel before leaving. Around 30 € per night, super well-located, and probably one of the most comfortable beds I’ve ever slept in. A crucial detail for any motorcycle road trip, obviously.
The plan for the day was pretty straightforward:
Head toward Doi Inthanon… and see what happens.
Flawless Swiss organization.
First stop along the way at Wachirathan Waterfall. A really nice waterfall, very easy to access, but don’t expect to channel your inner Indiana Jones—it’s crowded, touristy, and swimming isn’t allowed. Still, it’s a pretty stop along the way.
Next, up to Doi Inthanon.
The road climbs steeply, and my little 160cc started to realize that carrying my 80 kg to Thailand’s highest point probably wasn’t part of its youthful dreams. I was maxing out at 34 km/h in some spots.
But it made it. Good little bike.
The summit is nice—the forest is beautiful, and it’s cool—but I have to admit, it didn’t completely wow me. Glad I went, but not necessarily the highlight of the day for me.
Because then comes Route 1192.
And that’s *much* more my thing: small mountain roads, beautiful scenery, hardly any traffic… the kind of road where I usually start taking way too many unnecessary detours just because a little side road “looks fun.”
Stopped in Mae Chaem for a bite to eat, then headed to Khun Yuam to finish the day.
A little over 200 km in total.
Khun Yuam is… quiet.
*Very* quiet. 😅
A cute little market, a couple of cafés/restaurants, and zero chance of ending up in a club until 4 AM. But after a day on the bike, it was perfect.
Stayed at the Mit Khun Yuam Hotel, around 20 € for a small but very decent room.
All in all, a solid first day and a pretty relaxed start to the loop. Part of this leg is mostly about getting out of Chiang Mai and really diving into the mountains, in my opinion.
Because for me, the really interesting stuff starts over the next two days…
And a few slightly questionable route decisions will also make an appearance 😅
If anyone’s planning the Mae Hong Son Loop, feel free to ask your questions—I’d be happy to answer!
I also filmed this first day, so for those who’d rather see the roads and landscapes than read my rambling, here’s Day 1 😊
DAY 1 VIDEO
I’ll post the next part in the coming days with Day 2: Khun Yuam → Mae Surin → Mae Hong Son.
And that’s where it starts getting *really* fun. 😉
That’s all for now! Looking forward to contributing as much as I can to the forum!
I’d like to ride from Mahajanga to Morondava, sticking as close to the coast as possible—using roads and tracks—in September 2026. If you’ve got any suggestions, let me know! 😉
hi
I’m planning a 10-month trip to South America, and I’m looking into options for shipping a motorcycle to Buenos Aires by air or sea. If anyone has any info, thanks in advance!
christian
Hello everyone.
I'm looking for campsites around BOLZANO (South Tyrol) for early September.
I'll be on my motorcycle with a small tent.
I've noticed that some campsites have exorbitant prices.
If you've traveled through the Dolomites by motorcycle or otherwise and camped there, I'd love any tips on places and prices where I can stay for one night or several.
Thanks to all of you, and happy travels.
I’m starting to think about a trip that’s really close to my heart: Algeria by motorcycle, specifically the southern part of the country. It’d be for January 2025, and I’ve got two main questions:
Is it possible for an individual on a motorcycle to travel freely, outside of any organized tour, or does the regulation require some kind of supervision in the Algerian Sahara region?
Is the Hoggar massif accessible by road or by (rideable) tracks?
Beyond the official recommendations, I’m really looking for your firsthand experiences.
Thanks so much for your answers, and sorry if my questions are a bit newbie!
I just realized I’ve been registered on VoyageForum since... March 28, 2012 😊. Yet, I’ve barely participated until now.
August 1, 2026, will mark a somewhat special milestone: 5 years on the road.
We left Switzerland on August 1, 2021 with a simple idea: let chance decide our direction. We placed a bottle of wine on a world map, spun it... and it chose our first destination.
A year later, when we arrived in Morocco, we faced a new choice: continue toward Africa or head to Asia. This time, a tarot card game made the decision. Since then, we’ve tried to keep this journey as open to the unexpected as possible.
Today, that adds up to about 120,000 km, 46 countries, and over 1,800 days on the road—mostly by motorcycle, but also by sailboat, train, bus, hitchhiking, or on foot when adventure calls.
Our guiding thread isn’t just the motorcycle, but service exchanges. Instead of simply passing through countries, we try to stop regularly to lend a hand to the people we meet. So far, that’s about 600 days of volunteering.
Over the years, we’ve:
renovated a house in Croatia
made earth bricks in the Moroccan desert
helped sail a boat through the Greek islands
looked after houses, dogs, horses, a camel... and lots of other animals
worked at a street art festival in Morocco
created videos for local associations and projects
worked the grape harvest on the Tibetan plateau
been accredited as "media" for the World Nomad Games in Central Asia
Some of the moments that have stuck with us the most include six months in China, a night spent on the Great Wall, the Pamir Highway, the Silk Road, three months in Taiwan, and the incredible encounters in the mountains of Central Asia.
We travel on Falkor, our lucky dragon—a 2014 BMW F800GS that’s been with us since the start and is starting to have some great stories of its own.
While we share our adventure on Instagram, Polarsteps, and YouTube, that’s not why we’re here. The forum’s rules about promotion are clear, and I totally get them. If I’m finally taking the time to write, it’s mostly because after five years on the road, I thought our experience might be useful to other travelers.
Happy to chat about:
preparing for a long motorcycle trip
visas and borders
the Silk Road and Central Asia
riding in China (with or without a motorcycle)
volunteering and service exchanges while traveling
gear, daily life on the road... or just the unexpected moments that make long-term travel so special
Looking forward to swapping stories and hearing about your adventures too! 😊 Greetings from Thailand, and happy to chat! ✌️
Hello, I’m retired and planning a roughly 3-week motorcycle trip (1200gs). The dates aren’t set in stone yet, and everything’s open to discussion—I’m pretty flexible with the planning.
hi
planning to ride through Rajasthan on a motorcycle in January 2027 and I’d love to hear about the road conditions.
I’ll be riding with a buddy on a Royal Enfield that I’ll rent in Delhi.
Thanks for your tips!
hi there
I’d like to ride the RN 12 by motorcycle in September.
I’d love to know the main challenges—I ride a 300cc and do enduro in France.
Thanks for your tips!
I’m planning a motorcycle road trip to Armenia and Georgia in September 2026 or May 2027. I’m looking for one or more riders (male or female) who’d like to explore these countries with me.
Along the way, we’ll visit Cappadocia, the capitals Yerevan, Tbilisi, Sofia, Skopje, and other cities—we can finalize the route and roadbook later.
This trip requires experience with long motorcycle journeys, as we’ll cover around 7,000 km over 5 or 6 weeks (or more, depending on sightseeing and time spent).
I don’t expect dozens of applicants, since motorcycle riders are few and far between on this forum, but I’m putting this out there anyway.
Hi, I’d like to take a 15-day "break" to get away from the surrounding hustle and bustle.
Why not explore the Peloponnese!
I’m not particularly drawn to museums, ruins, or monuments.
I want to experience local life—small villages, seaside spots, beaches, and the interior if the landscapes are extraordinary.
Ideally, coming from Athens, I’d take a bus or train to get as close as possible to a starting point, then rent a scooter (125cc) to explore by taking secondary roads or even coastal paths. I’d stay in 2-3 places for a few days each to discover their surroundings.
Do a loop.
What do you think would be the ideal itinerary?
From Athens, the best option would be to take either a flight or a bus to Kalamata. Rent a scooter and head either west or east. Is there a tertiary road (very lightly trafficked) or a path where I can ride slowly, take it easy, and enjoy the scenery without being bothered by traffic? I’d like to go all the way to Monemvasia, still hugging the coast. I need to find a way to avoid returning to Kalamata to drop off the scooter and catch a flight—maybe a small town where the train stops so I can head back to Athens.
Thanks in advance for your tips.
I want to rent an off-road style motorcycle to get around the coast during my trip to Ecuador. I’m only finding options in Quito. Do you have any suggestions for me?
Hi there,
I’m planning a sidecar trip to South America for 4 or 5 months at the end of this year.
I’m looking for info on shipping my vehicle by sea—possibly to Uruguay or another destination, as I haven’t finalized anything yet.
How do you get visas for the countries I’ll be crossing: Uruguay, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, and Chile? Are they e-Visas, obtained at the border, or through embassies?
Where can I get vehicle insurance?
Lastly, if any bikers want to join us (my partner and me), we’re open to that possibility too.
Patrick
I’ve got 15 days off in June and I’m pretty undecided about where to go for a motorcycle road trip. Two strong desires are pulling me in different directions: Corsica or Norway.
Corsica has been a dream of mine for a long time: legendary roads, stunning landscapes, a unique vibe, and the perfect mix of sea and mountains. At the same time, I’m wondering if 2 weeks might be *too much* for Corsica—risking feeling like I’ve seen it all too quickly, especially on a bike.
Since I also have an extra week free in May, I could use that specifically for Corsica. Maybe splitting it into two trips would make more sense? If so, which routes or regions would be the most interesting to plan for a 7-day trip?
On the other hand, Norway is *super* appealing. The landscapes look incredible, totally different from anything I’ve experienced, and it’d be a real “wow” trip. I know 15 days is still short for such a vast country. Getting all the way to the North Cape seems pretty much impossible in that time, but I’m curious about what realistic routes could be planned.
So I’m wondering:
Is it better to save Norway for next year, take 3 weeks off, and do it *properly*?
Or are 15 days enough for a first amazing taste of the country?
I’d love to hear about your experiences—whether it’s Corsica (ideal duration, routes) or Norway (what’s realistic in 2 weeks on a bike).
Thanks in advance for your thoughts!
Hello,
I'm thinking of buying a used small motorcycle to travel around the country for a month and a half.
I've done this in other countries without putting the registration in my name—is that possible in Guinea given the apparently frequent checks, or do I have to go through the paperwork?
Thanks.
Hello,
My dream is to ride Route 66 by motorcycle. I have a disability—while I’m not in a wheelchair, my walking mobility is reduced.
The ideal scenario would be to have a motorcycle driver and ride as their passenger on an organized trip.
Are there any guides or services like this offered by travel agencies?
Thanks for sharing your experiences!
Hello,
I’ve got a plan with a friend to go on a motorcycle road trip in 2028 or 2029, starting in Santiago de Chile and ending in Ushuaia, for about a month.
Has anyone done a trip like this before, and what’s the best time of year?
I’ve heard there can be quite a bit of wind depending on the season.
Thanks for any tips!
Cheers,
PA
I'm seriously considering heading to Nepal to do some nice motorcycle loops... my goal is also to do the Kailash Yatra round trip from Kathmandu, in a small group with a guide, in May '26... but here's the thing—I'm solo! So if you're up for sharing a similar adventure, hit me up... Cheers, Frankoys
It's all in the title: I'm heading to Krabi soon and want to rent a scooter for a few weeks, but after reading comments about all kinds of scams, I'm reaching out to ask where and how (read: *the right way*) to rent one.
Thanks for your tips and advice.
Hello everyone! Like every year, a winter migration is on the horizon (revised plan): this time, it’ll be Dakar, or even Abidjan, via Morocco, Mauritania, and Senegal.
Looking for an experienced motorcyclist or pillion rider—small build preferred—on a GSA 1250 with a comfy seat and luggage setup, available from early November to late December 2025. I’d like to plan the trip together (important to me) to make sure we’re on the same wavelength.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch!
Didier
Looking for travel companions to ride from France to Senegal by motorcycle.
I’m Paul, 37, and I’ve already done a bit of riding in Morocco.
For now, I’m solo, riding a 1998 SUZUKI DR 650 with some basic gear to keep things smooth. I’ll have a tent so we can do a few nights under the stars.
We’ll need to coordinate departure dates—"ideally in November."
I’m currently checking out routes to take. Any tips would be welcome! :)
I’m heading to Vietnam and Laos with a buddy next week for a month.
We’re thinking of renting motorbikes, especially to do the Ha Giang Loop. We don’t have an international license, just our Belgian one. Is that enough? If not, is it risky?
In November, we’re planning to do the Ha Giang loop and the RC4 by motorbike without a guide. 😎
We’re looking for a decent place to stay/rent in Ha Giang.
If anyone has any info, we’d be really interested.
Hello! We’re planning a motorcycle trip that will include a visit to Auschwitz-Birkenau in June 2026.
We’re unsure (still debating) whether we should stay at a hotel on-site and get to the memorial with an Uber (leaving our bikes at the hotel) and book a guided tour, or base ourselves in Kraków and take a tour that includes transport.
One thing’s for sure—we’d prefer a guide in French since we don’t speak English 😅.
Could you share your experiences or advice?
I understand we need to book online rather than on-site.
Thanks in advance for your replies!
