Sawat dee kap,
une petite question me turlupine......Utilisant la motorbykes comme moyen de locomotion, je me demandais si etant au bout d'une chaussee a plusieur bande, etant sur la bande de gauche, voulant tourner a gauche, le feu etant rouge, puis je passer ce feu ou alors c'est les thais qui ont decider qu'il fallais passer?car a chaque fois que je ne passe pas ce feu, je me fais klaxoner et depasser par tous les autres dans tous les sens, risquant ma vie a chaque instant....
Merci de vos reponses qui me sauverons peut etre la vie...😄😄😄
Normalement, il y a une flêche avant d'arriver au feu, blanche sur fond bleu. Tu peux passer sans problème si le feu est au rouge . Prend garde malgré tout aux autres véhicules, c'est la Thailande! 😎
Tiens merci pour cette info, j'y avais jamais vraiment fais gaffe mais je comprend mieux maintenant pourquoi ils tournent à gauche souvent alors que le feu est rouge...
Khap! Ce qui m'étonne, c'est que tu es toujours en vie! Ne te pose pas de questions et roule comme tous les autres. Il vaut mieux! A gauche on regarde et on passe, peu importe la couleur du feu!
On rigole tous des thais et de leur façon de conduire, mais ça fait 5 ans que je prends un mototaxi TOUS les jours ouvrables 2 fois par jour (dans Bangkok aux heures de pointe SVP!), et j'ai jamais eu un pépin, j'ai rarement vu un accident, et je vous garantis que pendant les 30 ans que j'ai vécus à New York, j'y ai vu plus d'accidents en 1 journée qu'en Thailande en 1 mois! En fait, je trouve que c'est des sacrés bons conducteurs compte tenu du fait que les motos roulent en sens interdit quand ça les arrange, et du reste
Ne te pose pas de questions et roule comme tous les autres. Il vaut mieux! A gauche on regarde et on passe, peu importe la couleur du feu!
Pas plus tard que hier j'ai vu etendu une gamine thai sur la route a coter de son scooter....Du sang partout.....Et elle n'avais pas l'air annimer.....Alors pour ce qui est de rouler comme les autres.....Tu m'excuseras, mais ici rouler comme tous les autres.....Suis pas Boudhistes moi, jme reincarnerais pas!!!
Il y a un code de la route en Thaïlande ? La seule chose que j’ai remarquée, c’est que les Thaïs ont tendance à plutôt s’arrêter au feu rouge et plutôt démarrer au feu vert, mais c’est à peu près tout.
Pour la petite blague, vous savez quelle est la SEULE chose qui est moins chère pour un étranger que pour un Thaï en Thaïlande ?
Le nombre de morts et de blessés graves est impressionnant. A Bangkok c'est peut être moins visible et quand on est coincé dans un embouteillage à deux cent mètres à l'heure, on ne risque en effet pas grand chose. Mais comme au moins 30 % des gens conduisent sans permis et sans avoir pris de leçons de conduite, avec parfois des taux d'alcoolémie élevés, le massacre routier n'est pas près de s'arrêter... Dire que Bangkok connait moins d'accidents que New York me semble un peu osé...
je crains, que les Thais, non plus !
Quand à la conduite, le plus impressionnant, c'est de voir leur technique(trés élaborée) pour s'arréter à un feu.Cinquième, embrayage, et arrét.Ensuite, le véhicule immobilisé;ils passent directement le point mort ! le mot "rétrograder" n'existe;pas en Thai, je crois.J'en ai meme subi, qui en cinquième, passaient le point mort en roulant, allaient au stop en roue libre, tout en freinant !
Jusqu'à mon premier trip en Thailande, j'imaginais que seule ma mère pouvait faire celà ! 😎
Je confirme! J'ai vécu une expérience assez comique. En montant une côte, en 5ème, on s'est retrouvé derrière un camion qui avançait à 10 km/h. Notre chauffeur ne connaissant pas ce mot, la voiture cala! Depuis il roule en automatique!😛
Pour que ma femme puisse obtenir son permis de conduire, je lui ai offert quelques heures d'auto-école; idée saugrenue de "ferang" ! J'ai profité d'en prendre une heure pour moi, pour me familiariser, pensais-je, avec les us et coutumes... J'ai demandé au moniteur à quelle vitesse on devait rouler dans les villes: réponse : "prudemment"; et en dehors des localités ? "Prudemment".... Me voilà donc fixé ! Merci moniteur plein de ce bon sens !
Ceci mis à part : on peut effectivement tourner quand le feu est rouge, ce n'est pas une infraction (en principe).
Normalement, il y a une flêche avant d'arriver au feu, blanche sur fond bleu. Tu peux passer sans problème si le feu est au rouge . Prend garde malgré tout aux autres véhicules, c'est la Thailande! 😎
Pas fait attention à cette flèche blanche sur fond bleu, je croyais qu'ls démarraient 2 ou 3 secondes avant que le feu passe au vert, sinon c'est la symphonie de klaxons ! C'est très méditerranéen comme style de conduite...😉
Par contre ce que j'ai remarqué c'est qu'ils prennent leurs virages (à gauche comme à droite) serré.
j'ai remarqué c'est qu'ils prennent leurs virages (à gauche comme à droite) serré.
j ai remarqué aussi que prendre les virages serré peu servir, en cas ci un véhicule arrive il aura normalement🤪 de la place pour passer. mais bon beaucoup le font sans regarder et souvent c' est l accident😕😕
J'ai demandé au moniteur à quelle vitesse on devait rouler dans les villes: réponse : "prudemment"; et en dehors des localités ? "Prudemment".... Me voilà donc fixé ! Merci moniteur plein de ce bon sens !
ça me rappelle 1 fois, il y a longtemps à un carrefour, étant donné qu'on roule à gauche j'ai demandé qui avait la priorité, il me regarde et me dit, c'est le plus gros qui a la priorité !
Quant je roule en moto, je me met sur la voie de gauche bien sur, mais en restant le plus à droite de cette voie quant j arrive à hauteur d' une rue pour eviter les entrées surprise .Et je peu vous dire quelques fois ça ma éviter de me retrouver 🏴☠️🏴☠️. now me chaa chaa 😇 Thaï assurance not good😕
le code de la route Thai EST A GEOMETRIE VARIABLE 😉 A moto il vaut mieux reflechir avant chaque carrefour 😉, sinon🏴☠️ .Nous on a survecu ... en essayant de ne pas passer au rouge, au peril de notre vie, meme quand les autres le font !
Règle numéro 1 : En Thaïlande on roule à gauche.
Exceptions autorisées : les vélos les motos les véhicules qui roulent en contresens pour éviter un U-turn, et ceux qui ont pris la mauvaise bretelle d'autoroute (y sont assimilés : ceux qui veulent éviter un péage en montant sur l'autoroute par une sortie).
Règle numéro 2 : Les priorités : premier arrivé, premier servi.
La règle numéro 2 est celle qui perturbe le plus nos petits esprits d'Européens avides de réglementations de tout poil : ici, la priorité est prise par le premier qui arrive. Cette règle logique trouve trois belles applications :
1. Le motocycliste qui débouche à 50 km/h sur votre gauche ne vous verra pas arriver. D'ailleurs, il s'en fout : à vous de vous déporter sur l'autre bande ou de freiner......
Règle numéro 2 : Les priorités : premier arrivé, premier servi.
Petite précision, cette règle ne s'applique qu'entre véhicules de même catégorie. Sinon, comme l'a très justement signalé Salsa3, la règle de base est la loi de la jungle à savoir la loi du plus fort. En terme de circulation routière cela signifie que le véhicule le plus gros aura la priorité. Et si je peux me permettre un conseil, celui qui roule en scooter a tout intérêt à respecter cette règle!😉
Le tourne a gauche au feu s'il y a personne existe un peu partout et notamment aux USA (ou C, est bien sur un tourne à droie...) C'est trés pragmatiqe comme solution. Encore faut il le savoir !!!
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!
