Bonjour,
Je retourne en Asie du Sud-Est : départ le 13 février et retour le 26 mars 2018.
Mon voyage se déroule au départ en Thaïlande (principalement Bangkok et Ayutthaya), puis au Cambodge (Battabang et Phnom Penh) et enfin au Laos où j'ai prévu pas loin de 30 jours.
Je voyage avec les trains et les cars, souvent de nuit, et je loue systématiquement une moto.
Au Laos, je vais faire la boucle du Nord, en moto bien sur, au départ de Vientiane en le faisant dans le sens inverse des aiguilles d'une montre, pour terminer par Luang Prabang, Vang Nieng et retour à Vientiane ;pour prendre l'avion en direction de Paris.
Merci à tous de vos recommandations et/ou suggestions.
Je peux envoyer par message privé un PDF sur mon plan de voyage.
Joyeux noël et bonnes fêtes de fin d'année,
Amicalement,
Alain
Nous étions arrivés dans le nord du Laos en début février. Nous arrivions de Thaïlande, de Bangkok, par le train de nuit qui va jusqu'à Nong Khai.
On avait fait nos visas à la frontière et rejoint Vientiane pour une étape de 2 jours.Visite du night bazar, des temples et hébergement à l'Orchid guesthouse pour 700 bâtis la nuit sans le petit déjeuner.
Puis on avait repris la route en direction de Vang Vieng, on croise toutes sortes de bestioles sur la route, vaches, poules, chiens, cochons et même un éléphant qui va travailler.Et aussi beaucoup d'enfants qui travaillent.
A Vang Vieng, on s'installe au Beautiful view guesthouse, pour 15 euros la nuit.Le lendemain, on prend un tuk tuk pour aller jusqu'à la grotte du bouddahs allongé et jusqu'au Blue Lagon.Pas extra tout ça, mais la promenade pour y aller est agréable.
Puis on loue un kayak et on part pour 1h et demie de descente de la rivière. C'est sympa. Il fait frais le soir, on supporte bien nos polaires.
Puis, c'est à Luang Prabang qu'on pose nos valises pour quelques jours. Ville magnifique. Touristes très nombreux. Visite du Palais royal, superbe.Temple qui domine la ville et le Mékong. Visite du Wat Xieng Thong, c'est super.Promenade en ville, au marché du matin puis au night market.Cérémonial, défilé des moines au petit matin.
Puis, on met le cap sur la plaine des Jarres. On emprunte une route de montagnes très sinueuse. On croise un troupeau de buffles qui se baignent et toujours des enfants qui travaillent. Transport de bois, de nourriture pour les animaux...
Et on fera étape à Salamandre, on finit par y dénicher une guesthouse.
Le marché y est génial. On y vend de tout, des grenouilles, des écureuils, des oeufs de fourmis. Les femmes y fument des cigarettes maisons, des cheeriotes.
Et on va jusqu'aux cascades de Tat Lo après avoir traversé une région de caféiers. Puis on va jusqu'aux cascades de Tat Fan, c'est sportif.
Et le soir, on sera à Paksé.
Après ce sera les 4000 îles.
Hébergement sur Don Khon.
Chutes de Phapheng en bateau depuis Don Khon.
Location de vélos pour visiter Don Det.
Jolies promenades.
Et de là, on avait repris bateau et puis bus pour passer On avait franchi la frontière en bus.Achat des visas,30 dollars par personne, formalités et direction Kratie, petite ville sur les bords du Mékong.
Dès le lendemain matin on prend un bac pour 0,25€ chacun pour rejoindre l'île de Koh Trong au milieu du Mékong. On y loue des vélos pour 1 euro chacun et on part faire le tour de l'île. (Village flottant, charrettes à boeufs...)
L'après-midi, avec un jeune guide prof de français à mi-temps, on part en tuk-tuk visiter les villages environnants (récolte du sucre de palme, préparation des galets de sucre, fabrication des vermicelles de riz dans une famille, dégustation de vin de palme, visite à la famille de Soda, notre guide, les femmes machent un bétel pour supporter les conditions de vie difficiles....)
Puis, bus pour Phnom-Penh à 7h le matin. Arrivée à 15h.10 $ par personne.
Tuk-tuk pour le golden Sun guesthouse. Découverte de la ville, palais, musée, maisons coloniales, marché central...
Ensuite, direction Kampot, en bus, 10$ pour 2.Départ 12h, arrivée 16h30.
Installation au Ta Eng guesthouse, ils parlent parfaitement le français. Visite des marais salants à vélo, du marché, des plantations de poivre.Repas de crabes délicieux. Pêche aux anguilles dans les mares presque asséchées.
Près de Kampot, cité balnéaire très sympa à Kep.
Puis, on fait étape à Sihanoukville. 3h de route en bus.Départ 12h.Arrivée 15h. 5$ par personne.
La mer est à 30 degrés.
Expérience de l'épilation au fil sur la plage.
La ville est triste, beaucoup de pauvreté.
On quittera Sihanoukville à 6h30 en bus pour repartir vers Phnom-Penh. On y est vers midi et à 14h15 on repart pour Kompong Chhnang sur le Tonlé Sap. On y est pour 16h30.Installation à l'hôtel Sokha. Ville triste.Beaucoup de pauvreté. Des privilégiés jouent au volant sur la place.On réserve un tuk-tuk pour la journée du lendemain, 15 $, départ 8h.
A 8h, on est dans le tuk-tuk, direction le village flottant, on part pour 2h de barque,10$ les 2h.
On enfile nos brassières et on y va.On est à la fois sous le charme et sous le choc.Aucune hygiène mais les maisons sont nickel et c'est beau.Epiceries flottantes, bateaux -maisons et maison-bateaux, temple, église, école, tout est sur l'eau.Ce sont des Vietnamiens arrivés pendant la guerre qui se sont installés là, faute de place ailleurs.Sur les rives, des maisons sur pilotis...On en a plein les yeux.
Ensuite, on part en tuk-tuk visiter les villages environnants, villages de potiers, fabrication artisanale de bière de palme, de sucre de palme, travail du bois.Très intéressant.
On quitte Kompong Chhnang vers 9h30 pour rejoindre Battambang.On y est pour 13h.Grosse chaleur.Trop chaud.Piscine de l'hôtel. On fait un tour et on achète nos billets pour Siem Réap pour le lendemain. Départ 9h45.
A 14h, on y est ou presque, parce que la gare routière est en dehors de la ville. Jamais vu une gare routière pareille...Tuk-tuk pour aller à l'hôtel. Il fait moins chaud. Un peu de shopping. Il y a de quoi faire..
Le lendemain on part à la découverte du site d'Angkor en tuk-tuk. C'est géant, c'est tout ce qu'on s'attendait à voir mais c'est énorme..Après la visite de chaque site, on reprend le tuk-tuk pour aller au suivant. C'est épuisant mais c'est magnifique.
Le soir, en rentrant, on s'offre des massages de pied.Ça fait un bien énorme.
Au départ de Siem Reap on aurait pu aller voir le village flottant de Kompong Kleang mais on nous le déconseille en saison sèche, c'est à 50km.Et c'est très touristique...
Après Siem Reap, on partira en Thaïlande pour une semaine de plage.
Et là, vous pouvez rejoindre Bangkok et les plages du sud avant de reprendre l'avion.
Bonjour Marie,
Merci pour toutes ces informations.
En fait je fais le voyage à l'envers par rapport à vous. Je pars du Sud pour remonter vers le Nord.
Salamandre, c'est où exactement ?
Joyeux noël et bonnes fêtes de fin d 'année,
Bien cordialement,
Alain
Nous avons fait presque le trajet que tu souhaites faire il y a un mois. Nous sommes partis de Bangkok pour arriver a Phongsaly, a l'extreme Nord du Laos. Pour faire simple, on a ecrit un blog, Tuyau Voyageur, ou sont relatees nos etapes avec plein de conseils et de tuyaux, notamment pour des lopps a moto ou scooter dans le Sud du Laos (le meilleur selon nous).
Le lien de notre blog est ci-dessous :
https://tuyauvoyageur.wordpress.com/
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hi there! I’m heading to Vietnam with a biker friend for 3 months, starting from Hanoi... the plan is to do the northern loop, return to Hanoi, then head down to Ho Chi Minh City... and probably ride back up through the mountains. We’re leaving in February. Just a little detail—we’re two retirees, both 63, used to riding motorbikes, and we have French and international licenses... we’re looking for good tips and advice since we’re planning to buy 125cc Chinese bikes locally. Thanks to everyone, and happy trails—life is beautiful!
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!
