December 2019 – Boring German winter. I needed some kind of biking adventure. So, I booked at Walter Fenske’s Siam Enduro. The website promised a lot — and the trip delivered even more!

Right after booking, Walter offered support via WhatsApp and answered all my questions about vaccination, bike gear, or whatever came up. On arrival at the airport, Walter and his wife were there to pick me up.

His idyllic guest house is located in a quiet area north of Chiang Mai. Rooms are clean and his wife cooked excellently. On the first evening, a friendly, trusting, and pleasant atmosphere immediately developed.

We found the bikes — Honda CRF250s — in excellent technical condition. They’re a good choice for a tour with 60–70% off-road riding. (I ride a Tenere 700 and a Beta 450 RR hard enduro, so I’m used to more power, but for off-road riding, these bikes are ideal. No one wants to power drift all day long for two weeks straight.) On-road uphill could use a bit more power, but on the tight, windy roads, it doesn’t matter. These bikes are the best compromise for this kind of tour.

Walter is calm, experienced, and handled every situation smoothly. His humour is fantastic. Just before Christmas, there were only two participants, but the tour went ahead anyway. With more riders, a support car follows the group in case of issues. We were lucky with the weather — no rain, not too hot — perfect for enduro riding.

I imagine in the rainy season, some trails get very slippery, but Walter knows every route in his head and can adapt each day’s ride based on weather, rider experience, or any other needs.

Northern Thailand is ideal for enduro and adventure riding. Off-road terrain changes constantly — gravel, sand, jungle, rocky, muddy — you name it. It’s a fantastic environment for learning off-road skills. Guest houses along the way were clean and comfortable. If you’re looking for five-star spas, this isn’t the tour for you.

Walter offers real experience — local culture, great food, and memorable evenings: markets, bars with live music, temples, hot springs, caves, waterfalls, elephants, mountain villages, coffee plantations, river crossings… Every single day had a highlight.

The on-road sections of the Mae Hong Son Loop are a dream — the windiest roads I’ve ever ridden. Not even the Dolomites or the French Alps compare. Sure, there were a few 50km straight sections, but only to get quickly to the next amazing twisty or off-road zone with some single tracks.

Walter speaks Thai, so there were no communication problems at all.

I originally booked the short tour, with the option to extend. By the second day, I knew I’d be extending it. This was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and I wanted to make it last as long as possible — so I did.

If you want an unforgettable but well-managed adventure, with road and off-road riding, cultural immersion, daily highlights, and pure fun — this is it.

Summary:
Anytime again! A real experience with genuine adventure. The magic and mystique of Southeast Asia. Absolutely worth the price. One of the best — maybe the best — biking trips ever.

Many thanks to Walter and his wife.