Pyae Sone Aung

Journey 02 · Thailand · December 2025 – January 2026

Chiang Mai & Pai

A New Year run north from Chiang Mai — coffee above Mae Rim, cherry blossoms at Khun Chang Khian, the canyon and the valley at Pai, and the mountains of Chiang Dao. Not a loop: just the places.

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Distance
448 km
Days
7
Season
December 2025 – January 2026
Bike
Honda Wave
Chiang Mai & Mae Hong Son, Thailand
Chiang Mai & Mae Hong Son, Thailand 28 December 2025

No loop this time — just the places. A New Year week north of Chiang Mai, with the bike pointed at whatever looked good on the map and the evenings left open.

The first morning was coffee at The First Valley, high above Mae Rim with the valley still under cloud. Two days later, Khun Chang Khian: wild Himalayan cherry in bloom, a wooden viewpoint and a sea of mist below it. Then the long road to Pai for the turn of the year — the canyon, the Chinese village at Yun Lai, khao soi, and a sunset that took its time.

The last day was Chiang Dao, mountains and cloud and a viewpoint that made the whole week feel like a detour worth taking. Seven days, one small bike, and no straight line back.

02

Time lapses

2 time lapses
Last sunset of 2025 The sun going down over Pai · 00:30
Clouds over Chiang Dao The range from the viewpoint · 00:31
03

The films

5 episodes All episodes
04

Photographs

22 frames Full archive
Forested mountains with scattered pink blossoms under a blue sky, seen from a hillside cafe The valley from the academy The First Valley, Mae Rim Layered green mountains under a bright sky, seen from the First Valley coffee academy Morning at First Valley The First Valley, Mae Rim A stone fireplace decorated with Christmas garlands beneath a mounted deer head Fire in the room The First Valley, Mae Rim A coffee cup on a tiled table beside a railing, with mountains beyond Coffee on the terrace The First Valley, Mae Rim A wooden coffee bar with espresso machines, shelves and framed pictures The coffee bar The First Valley, Mae Rim A wooden table and chairs beside a window framing green mountains A table with a view The First Valley, Mae Rim Pink blossoms scattered across forested mountains in the afternoon light Blossom on the ridge The First Valley, Mae Rim A timber house with a red roof perched on a green hillside The academy building The First Valley, Mae Rim Pink cherry blossoms against a blue sky above a hillside village Wild Himalayan cherry Khun Chang Khian, Chiang Mai A wooden house framed by a flowering pink cherry tree The house under the blossom Khun Chang Khian, Chiang Mai A traveller standing by a wooden sign above a valley filled with mist At the Khun Chang Khian sign Khun Chang Khian, Chiang Mai A coffee cup and a small tripod on a wooden terrace overlooking green fields Coffee and a tripod Pai valley, Mae Hong Son The sun low over a misty valley with green fields and trees Last light of 2025 Pai valley, Mae Hong Son A red songthaew parked beside a large Lam Pai sign Lam Pai Pai, Mae Hong Son A hilltop sign reading 100 years above a mountain valley A hundred years, more or less Yun Lai, Pai Thatched-roof huts around a green lawn under a clear blue sky The village above Pai Yun Lai, Pai A tree hung with thousands of colourful ribbons above a hedge Ribbons on the love tree Yun Lai, Pai A wooden gate with red lanterns framing a view of the mountains The gate at Yun Lai Yun Lai, Pai A woven tray of northern Thai dishes with noodles, vegetables and dipping sauces Khao soi, Pai Pai town, Mae Hong Son Sun rays breaking through heavy clouds over a dark mountain ridge Clouds over Chiang Dao Chiang Dao, Chiang Mai Layered mountain ridges under dramatic clouds and sunbeams The ridge from the deck Chiang Dao, Chiang Mai A traveller sitting on a wooden deck with a mountain valley behind him At the viewpoint Chiang Dao, Chiang Mai
Interactive map unavailable.
05

The route

  1. 01 Chiang Mai The city, a rented bike and a full tank.
  2. 02 The First Valley Coffee Academy Coffee and breakfast above the Mae Rim valley.
  3. 03 Khun Chang Khian Cherry blossoms and a sea of mist on Doi Suthep.
  4. 04 Pai valley A cafe south of town, a tripod and a long view.
  5. 05 Pai Canyon The red ridge at Kong Lan, walked at midday.
  6. 06 Yun Lai Viewpoint The Chinese village and the view over the Pai valley.
  7. 07 Pai town Khao soi, the night market and a bed for the night.
  8. 08 Chiang Dao The mountains west of town, and the long road home.
Next journey Da Nang & Hai Van Pass

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