My husband and I are planning a New Year holiday at Pak Meng beach in Trang

Pak Meng is located about 38 kilometres from Trang’s city centre and is a five-kilometre stretch of peaceful beach fringed with pine trees. Pak Meng Pier has ferries to Koh Mook, Koh Ngai and many other islands. On the road along Pak Meng beach, you will find a handful of seafood restaurants. They usually open for dinner, but not until late in the night. The area is quiet and offers only a few convenient stores that stay open.

During the New Year holidays, the beach will be popular with local holidaymakers and the seaside restaurants stay open later than usual. A couple of years ago, a local temple organised a New Year festival with music and a night market, but it was rather quiet. Anantara Si Kao Resort & Spa, the only luxury resort in the area, may have special a dinner and celebration for guests. Check it out!

 

 

Is it possible to ride a scooter from Chiang Mai town to Doi Inthanon for one day? Thanks a lot. Ken

 

It’s possible, and at the end of the day, you’ll be able to tell everyone about your exciting experience of riding a small-engine bike to the highest peak of Thailand. And you will have many things to share, as it will be a bit of pain, especially if you don't prepare well enough.

On the way out of Chiang Mai town, you will have to travel along a busy dual-carriage highway, which becomes narrower as it passes through Hang Dong and San Pa Tong districts but widens again when you reach highway 108 for the Doi Lor to Chom Thong sector. This leg is about 60 kilometres and it’s a straight and easy ride. You then turn right into highway 1009 along a 45-kilometre road to the peak of Doi Inthanon.

Fill your tank in Chom Thong before taking the right turn, as the scooter will consume more petrol than usual as you ride up the steep gradient. The last stop for petrol is Mae Klang village near the Inthanon Royal Project. 

It's a well-paved road with many waterfalls and farms and while the first 30 kilometres is not too bad, the last 15 kilometres to the 2,565-metre-high peak is hard going. The air up here will be cooler too so make sure you prepare warm clothes. Fog and rain are common and sometimes the road is so foggy that the visibility is almost nil. 

University students in Chiang Mai do this trip all the time with their scooters. The small scooters you can rent in town start at 110cc but I would advise going for a bigger one, perhaps 125cc.

And yes, you can do a day trip from Chiang Mai, but it would be more relaxing and fun if you stayed a night on the mountain and returned the next day. 

Do check the condition of the scooter before leaving the rental shop. A helmet is provided free, so don’t forget to get one. If you scooter breaks down, it’s not too difficult to find someone to fix it along the way. Have fun!