Guide to Bike Travel Around Chiang Mai
1. Introduction to Motorcycle Rentals in Chiang Mai
Hello, all! We are a North Carolina couple who have just had the time of our lives riding our way around Chiang Mai. Contemplating taking in this lovely city? Well, doing so by motorcycle is incomparable. Chiang Mai can be full of contrasts-ancient temples standing next to busy markets, serene mountain views, and lively city streets-and exploring it by bike gives you the freedom to take it all in at your own pace.
There is nothing quite like biking in this beautiful city: the freedom, the thrill of the open road, and gorgeous scenery around every bend. It seemed to be the perfect mix of adventure and relaxation, and we’re so excited to share our experience with you. No matter whether you have a week or just days in Chiang Mai, having a bike will turn a good trip into an unforgettable one.
2. Where to Hire a Motorbike
We hired our bike from Cat Motors and they were absolutely brilliant. It is a family-run rental place and they made everything so smooth and painless for us. This is the best bike rental in Chiang Mai in our opinion. They are genuinely interested in you as a customer, which made us feel at ease right from the beginning. Cat Motors provided us with a sound 125cc scooter, good to go both in the city and in the surrounding countryside. We found that their bikes were in very good condition, which is critical if you will be taking them onto mountain roads.
They also provided extra accessories, such as a phone holder, which proved helpful for navigation. And if you are in search of a store that has more of a personal touch, then Cat Motors will be one of your options. I found them quite helpful because of their local knowledge, and the customer-centric approach they adopt made it a really memorable experience.
Of course, if you rent a bike, take the time to check it over before heading off: brakes, tires, lights-check that everything is to your comfort. It is all standard stuff, but taking that little bit of extra time upfront can save you from surprises later. What’s more, if you have questions, Cat Motors is happy to help and even showed us the basics we needed to get going.
3. Key Safety Tips
We came from never having ridden motorcycles through Southeast Asia, and the traffic was somewhat overwhelming at first. The roads of Chiang Mai are filled with scooters, tuk-tuks, cars, and even the odd roaming dog that all use the roads. One big adjustment for us had to be left-hand traffic: we had never driven on the left side of the road before. But after taking it slow and easy at first, we found our rhythm.
The best we can suggest is to take your time and be predictable in your riding. Leave enough space between other vehicles/drivers here can be spontaneous, and you want room to react. Other advice would be to avoid rush hours while riding, at least until you get comfortable with the traffic flow.
Wear a helmet; it’s not only a safety but a legal necessity. Of course, you will see people galore without one; that can be you when you get comfortable, but for now, don’t skip that. We always wore ours and made sure they fit snugly. At higher speeds, a good helmet makes a huge difference in comfort and safety, especially out of town where speeds are higher and conditions can change in a hurry.
The weather can also be quite unpredictable. We have been fortunate, so far we’ve had sunny days, but get ready for sudden rain if you travel in the rainy season. It is necessary to have a lightweight raincoat with you. And we also learned very fast that it pays to ride cautiously on wet roads because the roads become slippery. The best type of riding is defensive-anticipate what’s coming and be ready for the unexpected.
4. Choosing the Right Bike
Tıricularly easy for us, since we were mostly exploring the city and nearby attractions. A 125cc scooter was the perfect choice for us-lightweight and very easy to maneuver, comfortable in taking the two of us meandering through the streets. It handled beautifully, even when we decided to take a bit of a longer ride out to explore the countryside.
If you’re planning on going farther out or into the mountains, then a larger bike with a bit more power might be a good choice. Cat Motors had a few 250cc models that looked like they’d be great for more rugged adventures, but for our needs, the scooter was ideal: comfortable, decent storage for our bags, and smaller in size, making it easy to park even in busy areas.
One tip for comfort: always make sure the seat is comfortable for long rides, especially if you plan to be on the bike for several hours a day. We found it to be a big factor, as having a comfortable seat made all of the difference in the world in our enjoyment without being sore afterward.
5. Rental Costs and Requirements
One of the great things about Chiang Mai is how inexpensive it can be to rent a motorcycle. Our 125cc scooter cost us about 250 THB per day, which was great value for the freedom it gave us. A few rental shops want your passport for deposit, but we opted instead to leave a cash deposit, which felt a bit safer. Cat Motors was accommodating and made us feel comfortable with whichever option worked best for us.
If you plan on renting, you’ll surely want to pack an International Driving Permit. We once were pulled over at a police checkpoint, and having the proper documentation undoubtedly saved us a world of headache. Some tourists get by without them, but trust us, it’s really not worth the risk of receiving a fine or some complication.
Another thing to be very aware of is the insurance that any rental company offers. Basic insurance covers usually cover third-party liability, but if you damage the bike, you may well have to pay for it out of pocket. We took every precaution to ride as carefully as possible, especially in crowded areas, to avoid such extra costs at the end of our rental.
6. Best Routes and Attractions
With our time in Chiang Mai extremely limited, we focused on a few places that were particularly striking:
Central Festival proved to be a very good place to retreat to. It is a very modern shopping center, and for the diversity of cafes, air conditioning, and even a cinema, we liked it very much. After a couple of days riding around in the urban heat, it felt very good to spend some refreshing time there. This ride was easy; it gave us the possibility to see another face of Chiang Mai-modern and traditional at once.
The Chiang Mai Night Bazaar was one of the high points of the trip. We enjoyed jumping onto our scooter, riding over to the market with the setting sun, and just really diving in. The bazaar was abuzz with activities at every corner: local merchants, great street food, and unique crafts abound to take back home as mementos. We parked up nearby and spent hours exploring, eating, and enjoying music and atmosphere. Such an amazing way to experience the city’s culture up close.
Finally, we checked out Cat Motors’ “Things to Do in Chiang Mai” section on their website before embarking on our escapades. Full of recommendations for hidden temples, cafes, and local spots we could never have found ourselves, they were truly instrumental in helping us find those off-the-beaten-path spots that made our trip so memorable.
Conclusion
Our time in Chiang Mai was one for the books, for sure. Cruising around town and through the hills outlying the city by scooter allowed us to explore at our leisure, stopping wherever and whenever we wanted. From the rowdy energy of the Night Bazaar to the casual feel of Central Festival, we loved every minute of our adventure.
If you go to Chiang Mai, we can’t recommend renting a bike enough. It really gives an extra dimension to the trip, and you have unlimited freedom. Just remember, as it were-ride safe, take your time, and let the beauty of Northern Thailand reveal itself to you with every turn of the road.
