An adventure to Northern Thailand and Laos. Oh yes!

I was met by Walter Fenske and his lovely wife Joang for the trip of a lifetime. A ten day trip led by experienced travel guide Walter who demonstrated full knowledge of the routes and geography of the two countries. I was joined by two riding companions, both experienced travel bikers riding Kawasaki KLX250s and Honda CRF250Ls. A great choice for the roads we encountered.

After settling into one of Walter and Joang’s marvellous bungalows to acclimatise, we set off for Chiang Rai for the first overnight stay, passing many Wats and the elephants in Chiang Dao. The border crossing over the Mekong River to Laos was smooth and well organised. What a difference between the countries — driving on the right and encountering dusty roads while passing mountainous peaks and paddy fields. We rode to Luang Prabang, complete with its picturesque French colonial architecture. Walter knew the best stops for breaks, and the overnight hotels were well chosen.

Daily rides were completed by mid-afternoon to allow for rest and to sample the delicious food, the happy, smiley people, the local markets, and to buy the souvenirs we could carry on our bikes. The trip back to Chiang Mai was sublime, riding the smooth mountainous switchbacks to Phayao — a delightful lakeside town where I chatted with the locals rod fishing as the sun set… and with a Lao beer!

Walter, with his intimate knowledge of Northern Thailand and Laos, and his wife Joang organising the itinerary and accommodation, were the perfect hosts. For me, the trip was a re-introduction after a long layoff to biking, a perfect British winter getaway, and left memories to treasure.