The Samoeng Loop: the perfect first ride from Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai's easiest great ride — a ~100 km half-day loop through the Mae Sa valley, the flower farms of Mon Cham and the sleepy town of Samoeng. All paved, perfect for first-timers.
Tap a numbered stop for details. The route line is indicative — grab an offline map for turn-by-turn.
If you've only got a scooter for a day and want one ride that sums up why Chiang Mai is so good on two wheels, this is it. The Samoeng Loop is a ~100 km circuit that slips out of the city, climbs into the Mae Sa valley, swings past the flower farms of Mon Cham, and loops back through the sleepy town of Samoeng — all on smooth, paved road.
It's short, it's easy, and you can do it in half a day without rushing. That makes it the perfect first ride: enough mountain curves and big views to feel like a proper adventure, but nothing that'll scare a newer rider. Here's how it flows, plus the stops worth pulling over for.
The route at a glance
- 1Chiang Mai Start. Head north on Highway 107 toward Mae Rim.
- 2Mae Sa Valley Waterfalls, botanic garden, cafés. The easy warm-up stretch.
- 3Mon Cham The hilltop highlight — flower farms, strawberry shakes and big valley views. A short detour up off the loop, but everyone makes it.
- 4Samoeng Sleepy town at the loop's far point. Coffee, lunch, turn around.
- 5Wat Phra That Doi Kham The golden hilltop temple on the southwest edge of the city — the classic last stop before you roll back in.
How the loop flows
Chiang Mai → Mae Sa Valley
Head north out of the city on Highway 107, then turn onto the 1096 into the Mae Sa valley. Gentle, easy riding to warm up — waterfalls and the botanic garden are right here if you fancy an early stop.
Mae Sa → Mon Cham
The road tilts uphill and the views open up. Detour up to the Mon Cham viewpoint for flower farms, strawberry shakes and a big valley panorama. This is the photo stop.
Mon Cham → Samoeng
Drop back down and follow quiet, curvy forest road to Samoeng. Sleepy little town — grab a coffee or lunch and turn around.
Samoeng → Chiang Mai (the 1269 return)
From Samoeng, Route 1269 is the loop’s most technical stretch — steep, switchback-packed and gloriously quiet. It drops you down the southwest side back toward the city, passing Wat Phra That Doi Kham near the end. If it’s hot, the Hang Dong Grand Canyon quarry is a short hop off the return for a swim. Home by mid-afternoon.
Why the Samoeng Loop is the perfect first ride
Most of the famous rides around Chiang Mai — the Mae Hong Son Loop, the big mountain climbs — ask for a bit of experience and a few days. The Samoeng Loop asks for neither. It's the gentle one: paved the whole way, never too steep, and close enough to the city that you're never far from help. If you've just picked up a scooter and want to stretch its legs, start here.
The first half through Mae Sa is the touristy stretch — waterfalls, the Queen Sirikit Botanic Garden, cafés — so it's an easy, social warm-up. Past Mon Cham it empties out and turns into the kind of quiet, curvy forest road you came to Thailand for.
Don't miss Mon Cham
Mon Cham (sometimes spelled Mon Jam) is the highlight. It's a hilltop covered in flower farms and vegetable terraces run by the local Hmong community, with a sweeping view over the valley. Pull in for a strawberry shake, wander the flowers, and take the photo everyone takes. In December and January the strawberry stalls are everywhere — peak season.
What to take
Honestly? For getting out of the city we'd reach for something with a bit more under us — an ADV 350 is our go-to. For comfort without going that big, a Giorno, PCX 160 or ADV 160 are all great over a longer day. And yeah — a 125cc, even a little Click, will absolutely do the job too, especially riding solo and light. Bring a light layer (Mon Cham gets breezy), sunglasses, and top up your fuel in Mae Rim before the hills. Whatever you ride, do it on a bike you trust — we run new models only and deliver them anywhere in Chiang Mai. (You can see the whole range here.)
Quick questions
Is the Samoeng Loop good for beginners?
Yes — it's one of the best first rides around Chiang Mai. The road is paved the whole way, the traffic thins out once you're past Mae Rim, and you can do it in half a day. Just take the uphill curves near Mon Cham slowly.
How long does the Samoeng Loop take?
Pure riding time is about 2.5–3 hours, but with stops at Mae Sa, Mon Cham and Samoeng most people make a relaxed half-day of it — or a full day if you add waterfalls or the botanic garden.
Which way round should I ride it?
Either works, but going clockwise (Mae Rim and Mon Cham first, Samoeng and Hang Dong on the way back) gets the busy tourist stretch out of the way early and saves the quiet curves for later.
When's the best time to go?
November to February for cool, clear weather. Bonus: December and January are strawberry season at Mon Cham, when the hillsides are dotted with fruit stalls.
Are there petrol stations on the loop?
Yes, a few along the way and in Samoeng town, plus roadside stalls. Still, leave town with a decent amount in the tank.
