Breaking up a leg of the trip
 

We are going to be in Northern Thailand for 8 days. At one point in the trip, we will be staying at the Soppong River Inn and then staying at a place in Chiang Rai. How should we break up the long drive? Should we stay one less night in Chiang Rai (original plan was four nights), and stay somewhere for one night in between Soppong and Chiang Rai? Thank you for your input!

Let me give you some information on the driving time between destinations.

From Chiang Mai to Soppong will take you around 4+ hours through very curvy mountain roads. Good choice resting in the town for a night or two.

From Soppong to Mae Hong Son will take you around 1.5 - 2 hours through mountain roads but less curvy and quite scenic IMO. I believe you will be staying at the Fern resort.

For Chiang Rai it depend on the activities you have planned there but 3 nights should be enough. If you commence your drive from Chiang Rai instead of Chiang Mai the driving time will be roughly 7+ hours!

If you want to break up that long drive, which I reccommend, then I suggest a nice resort around Mae Rim, a slight detour and just North of Chiang Mai. If you don't want any detour then Chiang Dao is on the route between Chiang Rai and Soppong but I don't know of any hotel or resort there. Ideally this would be more relaxing IMO:

Chiang Rai to Mae Rim: about 4+ hours driving time. Spend a night there.

Mae Rim to Soppong about 3.5 hours driving through curvy mountain roads.

Or

Chiang Rai to Chiang Dao about 3.5 hours driving. Find a place to stay.

Chiang Dao to Soppong about about 4.5 hours driving.

virginia,

Just to help you a bit here are some family pictures taken around the area - password = Fodors.

http://khun-pook.smugmug.com/Travel/...5345008_4rW7k5

I'll leave it up until you acknowledge seeing it then I'll take it down as most of the pictures are of my family. In the background you will be able to see the roads and view of the area.

Love your pictures. its such a beautiful area

Pook- nice pictures- from the look of how your wife is dressed was it cool in that part of Thailand?

Hanuman- nice pictures!

I am glad you all like the pictures!

BillT - yes it was cold at night, down to around 6 Celsius (low 40s) especially at Pai. Daytime it was perfect around 20 C with clear blue sky.

First of all, thank you. Let me (virginiafish/mom - initial poster on this question was virginiafish/daughter) clarify our initial schedule. After 4 days in Chiang Mai, we fly to MHS, staying 2 nights at Fern Resort (great memory Hanuman!). Then we have 2 nights reserved at Soppong River Inn and then, a blank night and 4 nights in Chiang Rai, flying out early that morning to Bangkok for 3 nights and then, to Singapore for 4 nights. So, we have 9 days starting in MHS and ending in CR, with a guide booked for 7-8 days, starting in MHS. Staying in Chiang Dao for that night in the middle sounds like a good idea. I will have to look into accommodations. Another thought--should we cut off the first day in Chiang Rai and stay in Mae Salong.

Great pictures! What time of year?

viginina - the pictures were taken on two separate trips, one was in mid November last year the other January this year the coldest time.

ttt