We've put together a complete guide to take you around the entire Samoeng Loop, with 25 carefully chosen stops along the way. The guide includes a full Google Map route with markers for every stop so you won't miss a thing. Whether you're after epic viewpoints, hidden cafes, waterfalls, or temple stops, we've got you covered. All you need is a scooter and a sense of adventure!
We've picked out 25 spots that we genuinely think are worth your time on the Samoeng Loop. Realistically, you probably won't fit them all into one day – so just pick the ones that jump out at you! Now, first things first... Got your scooter yet? If not, grab a Honda Click 160 from us – it's hands-down the best bike for this route. It's nimble enough for the tight corners but has the power you need for those mountain climbs (where the smaller 110cc and 125cc bikes tend to struggle a bit).
Don't forget your helmet (we've got you covered), a phone holder for navigation, and a full tank of petrol!
Ready? Let's roll!
1. Huay Tung Tao Lake
2. The Tiger Kingdom
3. X-Centre
4. Mae Rim Shooting Range
5. The King Cobra Show
6. Siam Insect Zoo
7. Ruby Sauce
8. Mae Sa Waterfall
9. Mae Sa Elephant Camp
10. Mitbury, The Public House
11. River Rock Cafe Hill
12. The Queen Sirikit Botanical Gardens
13. Pon Yang Jungle Coaster
14. Mon Jam
15. WTF Coffee Roaster
16. Samoeng Forest View Point
17. Wheat Fields
18. Napa Phupa Strawberry Farm
19. Mae Sap Cave
20. Patara Elephant Conservation
21. ATV Mae Khanin Nuea
22. Cypress Lanes
23. Ban Pong White Temple
24. Pong Horse Park
25. Bannnok Coffee Roaster
Starting from the Maya Shopping Centre, near Nimman, or from our shop, head up towards the Canal Road and take a right. Follow the Canal Road all the way to the Huay Tung Tao lake. This is the perfect spot to get comfortable on your rental bike before the real journey begins.
Make sure you fill up your rental scooter before heading out. There are a few gas stations on the way to the Samoeng Road. The Samoeng Loop is around 100km. We recommend using N95 gasohol which you can get at every gas station in Chiang Mai. Just point to the 95 pump and ask for a full tank or 'Tem thung' in Thai. They will fill it up for you!
Huay Tung Tao Lake
Located at the foot of Doi Suthep, Huay Tung Tao is a peaceful lake where you can chill out and grab some food in one of the wooden floating shacks. If it is particularly hot, you can take a dip in the lake and cool off with a swim. The restaurants there serve authentic Thai food, and if you are feeling especially brave, you can try the 'dancing shrimp' dish. Be warned, it’s not for the faint of heart!
Number 1 on our map.
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tiger kingdom
Tiger Kingdom is perhaps one of the most popular tourist attractions in Chiang Mai and rightly so. Obviously, the main attraction here are the tigers but most people are surprised to learn you can actually get in the pen with them. Yes, you can get in the pen with an unrestrained adult tiger! Terrifying but exciting. I think the best thing about Tiger Kingdom are the cubs. You can sit down in a play pen and play with the little tigers! Make your friends jealous with these amazing instagram photos!
Number 2 on our map.
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X-Centre
The X-Centre is right at the start of the Samoeng Loop. If you want to add a little adrenaline to your trip stop here and do a bungee jump or maybe take their dirt buggies out for a spin in the jungle. They have paintball, go-karts and dirt-bikes too. It can be a little expensive, but worth it if you want some amazing action photos!
Number 3 on our map.
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Mae Rim Shooting Range
The Mae Rim Shooting range is actually what you think it is. A place to fire off some rounds at targets. They have all kinds of guns from pistols to assault rifles and shotguns. If you have never shot a gun before, give it a try, it's a lot of fun! They let you take home your targets too.
Number 4 on our map.
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the king cobra show
The King Cobra Show might not look that impressive upon first entering, but when the show starts it is enthralling. The snake trainers there put on an amazing show where they demonstrate how deadly King Cobras can be. They narrowly avoid being bit as they dance around with them. When I was there the trainer showed us all his scars from being bit in the past, terrifying stuff.
Number 5 on our map.
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siam insect zoo
As you can imagine, it's a museum displaying all of the insects found in Thailand. It sounds quite boring but it is in fact quite interesting. You have the opportunity to handle some of the giant insects too, if you dare. The butterfly exhibit is especially beautiful, great for photos and videos.
Number 6 on our map.
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ruby sauce
If you are a fan of Studio Ghibli or similar Japanese style art. You will love it here. It's a coffee shop with a distinct Japanese aesthetic. Grab a coffee and take some photos, rest up before jumping back on the scooter to continue the climb!
Number 7 on our map.
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mae sa waterfall
The Mae Sa Waterfall is well worth the stop. It's a cascading tiered waterfall that you can hike up. Some of the tiers have pools large enough to swim in, and some are deep enough to jump into. A perfect place to cool-off from the midday tropical heat. There are some small shops in the car park, but I wouldn't recommend them.
Number 8 on our map.
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Mae sa Elephant Camp
The Mae Sa Elephant camp is very well-known and is one of the most popular stops when riding the Samoeng Loop. You can learn about the elephants here and even participate in feeding and cleaning them. It's a great experience and one we recommend. It can be a tad expensive, but its worth it.
Number 9 on our map.
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Mitbury The Public House
Mitbury is a small coffee shop that is located in a valley. The entrance is quite difficult to see and is easy to ride past so keep an eye out for the signs. The entrance has a sort of bridge that takes you over the roof of the buildings and down into the valley. There's a stream, rocks and plenty of scenic spots to take some photos. It's a great spot to stop for an iced-tea or coffee.
Number 10 on our map.
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river rock cafe hill
One of the more scenic cafes on the Samoeng Loop. This cafe is built into the rocks and has some incredible views. Especially beautiful when the water is flowing down the river. A great spot to take some photos! They serve food and drink so stop for a snack and a coffee.
Number 11 on our map.
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Queen Sirikit Botanical Gardens
The Queen Sirikit Botanical Gardens are incredible. I personally don't enjoy gardens and nature reserves so much, but this one is well worth checking out. Firstly, the place is absolutely massive, there is so much to see, but the most popular attraction is the giant canopy walk. A steel platform that sits above the trees. The views are amazing! Definitely check it out if only for the Canopy Walk.
Number 12 on our map.
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Pong Yang Jungle Coaster
As the name suggests, its a roller-coaster that weaves through the jungle. It's pretty crazy. The carts are a little clunky and you have to control the brakes yourself, so if you are brave you can let go and race down. Makes for a fun POV video.
mon jam
Mon Jam is absolutely breathtaking. The views from the top of this huge hill are worth all the effort to get there. You will find no better views in Chiang Mai. It's quite a ride to the top, steep roads, tight turns and huge drops, so be brave and push on to the top. Once there you will find a small market selling goods made by the local hill-tribes and some restaurants and cafes. We bought some strawberry wine which was quite nice.
Number 14 on our map.
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wtf coffee camp
WTF Coffee Camp's most impressive feature is a giant cascading waterfall at the base of the garden. It's the perfect spot for an amazing selfie. It's a cafe that serves drinks and food so you can chill out here, dip your feet in the stream and relax a bit before pushing on towards Samoeng.
Number 15 on our map.
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samoeng forest viewpoint
This is just a viewpoint but its well worth stopping for. Park up and get some amazing shots of the scenery. There are usually some small vendors parked up that sell ice cream, drinks, fresh strawberries, snacks etc. Get a nice photo of your scooter in front of the amazing views.
Number 16 on our map.
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Wheat Fields Samoeng Rice Research Center
This is actually a research center for agriculture but they let visitors explore the grounds for free. If you are lucky enough to be here in March you may find the fields are that beautiful golden brown colour, which is absolutely stunning.
Number 17 on our map.
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Napa Phupa Strawberry Farm
Napa Phupa Strawberry Farm is tucked away at the side of a mountain. They grow strawberries here and you can even walk through the fields to pick some! So grab a bag of strawberries to stash under your scooter's seat to take back to Chiang Mai! As with many of these locations, the scenery is beautiful, so get some shots and don't forget to take some of your scooter too!
Number 18 on our map.
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mae sap cave
The cave is located in the Khun Khan National Park and is a short ride from Samoeng to get to. Be cautious as the road leading down to the entrance can be quite slippery even when not raining. Grab a helmet and torch from the guides and explore the caves. The caves are often referred to as the rainbow caves because of their vibrant colours.
Number 19 on our map.
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patara elephant conservation
Patara Elephant Conservation is an elephant sanctuary that offers an amazing experience feeding, bathing and checking on all the elephants in the farm. It's a fantastic way to learn about the elephants and how they are taken care of. If you have seen those photos online of people bathing elephants, it was probably from here.
Number 20 on our map.
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ATV Mae Khanin Nuea
If you are up for some excitement jump on an ATV and fly through the jungle here. They will take you through winding jungle trails and you will ride through streams and small rivers, so be prepared to get wet and muddy! Highly recommended.
Number 21 on our map.
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cypress lanes
Cypress Lanes is quite the famous instagram location with the locals. It's a coffee shop but the main reason people go there is to get a photo with the cypress trees that line the garden. It is quite striking so it's worth the stop and it's a great place to grab a drink and relax a little.
Number 22 on our map.
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Wat Phra That Si Mueang Pong
Ban Pong Temple or Wat Wranyawas as it is formally named is a temple on top of a hill/mountain, which isn't that unusual for Thailand. However, it is simply beautiful. The white Chedi or 'pagoda' sits in front of stunning scenery. The ride to the temple is quite steep and the road is quite narrow so make be careful, especially in the wet. Make sure you have a scooter with a bit of oomph, like the Click 160!
Number 23 on our map.
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pong horse park
The Pong Horse Park offers riding lessons and horse tours around the local countryside. They cater to expert riders and beginners alike so park up your little rental scooter and jump on a horse!
Number 24 on our map.
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bannok coffee roasters
Bannok Coffee Roasters is our final destination of the Samoeng Loop. The perfect place to rest and reflect on the journey and take a look at all of the photographs you got on the way! Grab a high-quality coffee and prepare to make your way back to the city for a nap!
Number 25 on our map.
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Now that you've planned your perfect adventure, you'll need the right scooter to tackle those mountain roads.
At Scooter Hub Chiang Mai, we offer the Honda Click 160 – the ultimate scooter for the Samoeng Loop. With its perfect balance of agility and power, you'll conquer every twist and turn with confidence. Don't get stuck with an underpowered 110cc or 125cc that struggles on the steep mountain climbs!
Why rent from us?
🏍️ Honda Click 160 – Our most popular rental bike
💰 Best rates in town – Unbeatable prices for a Honda Click 160
🪖 Free helmets included with every rental
📱 Phone holders available for GPS navigation
🛡️ Free scratch insurance - don't worry about surprise fines and scams
⛽ Full tank start – Hit the road immediately
🧥 Raincoats included – Because Chiang Mai weather can be unpredictable!
400B
PER DAY
2000B
PER WEEK
3600B
TWO WEEKS
4000B
PER MONTH
Honda Click 160cc
With many years of experience riding the Samoeng Loop, we can honestly say the Honda Click 160cc is the best bike for the job! That steep climb up to Mon Jam? The tight hairpin turns near Ban Pong Temple? The long, winding stretches through the mountains? The Click 160 handles it all with ease. It's got the power to carry you up those hills without struggling, yet it's still nimble enough to navigate the twisty corners. When you're 100km into the loop, you'll be glad you chose a bike that won't let you down. Trust us – we've done this ride more times than we can count, and the Click 160 is the only bike we recommend for the Samoeng Loop.
Rent a Honda Click 160 today!
SH
They’re super helpful and lovely! Simple sign up process, really nice new bikes and helmets, and they’re located close to the mountain foothills so you don’t have to go thru Chiang Mai traffic to get to some pretty lovely greenery and waterfalls! Highly recommend this business ✨💕
Caspian
I rented a Honda click 150cc the bike was perfect and only 4000baht for a month!
The staff were very friendly and easy to talk to. If I ever return to Chiang Mai I will 100 percent be using these guys again.
Erop
Pleasure renting a scooter here! easy communication, scratch insurance included. the prices are quite good at daily rate (400 baht/day for pretty new 160cc Honda Click) and very good at weekly! the owners were so kind to deliver the scooter to my hotel for free. Great fun riding this specific scooter, we went to Samoeng loop and it rode up and down mountain roads with ease.
