FAQ Northern Thailand and Laos

Climate and weather

The climate of northern Thailand and northern Laos is mainly determined by the monsoon, which divides it into three seasons. The south-west monsoon usually comes from India at the end of May and lasts until the beginning of November. September is usually the month with the most rainfall. Rainy season does not mean that it rains continuously for days. The average weather over the last few years has been mostly clear mornings with great visibility in the mountains, clouds in the afternoon and rain in places, dry evenings and further rain at night. Of course the weather is unpredictable and there can be cloudy days with mainly short rain showers. The north-east monsoon lasts from mid-November to the beginning of May and brings cool air from northern Vietnam and China, but no rain for northern and central Thailand apart from the so-called “mango showers” which occasionally occur during the mango season. From mid-March to May, temperatures of up to 40 °C are forecast. At night, it still cools down a bit and in the morning it can be very pleasant. Overall, the humidity is lower throughout the year than in other parts of the country. This is why it seems more pleasant in northern Thailand and northern Laos. In general, the temperature difference between day and night and between the seasons is greater than in other regions of Thailand and Laos.

Visa for Thailand

For stays of up to 30 days, no visa is required. If you are planning a longer stay, apply for a visa at one of the Thai consulates or embassies. Please note that your passport must be valid for at least 6 months upon entry into Thailand.

Visa for Laos

Citizens from Germany and other European countries generally require a visa to enter Laos. This does not apply to Swiss and Luxembourg nationals, who do not need to apply for a visa for Laos if they are staying for less than 14 days. The visa for Laos is not included in the travel price! The visa on arrival for 30 days costs 30 dollars or 1200 THB and a passport photo is required.

Clothing

Temperatures in the north of Thailand and Laos from November to February can drop to as low as 10°C in the evenings, depending on the location and altitude, appropriate clothing is necessary in the evenings.

 Protective equipment Light textile motorcycle clothing is recommended, as temperatures can exceed 30 degrees Celsius during the day. If it gets a bit colder, you can also wear warmer clothing underneath.

We have some equipment such as helmets, gloves, trousers, jackets, but it is advisable to bring your own protective clothing as we do not have all sizes available. If you need different equipment, let us know, and we can then check with you whether we can provide you with what you need.

Thai Culture

Thailand is known as the “Land of Smiles”. Thai people smile for different reasons than we do in the West. People smile for a variety of reasons. To say “hello” or “thank you”, to ask a question or to apologize.

Rules of conduct

Show respect for the Thai royal family. Thais have great respect for the royal family and expect the same from tourists. The national anthem is played twice a day, at 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Everyone is expected to stand “silently” while it is played. You should never make jokes about the royal family or their family. Show respect for their religion, for Buddha and the monks. Shorts and tank tops should not be worn in temple complexes. Shoes must be removed before entering temple buildings. A woman should never touch a monk. Never touch another person's head. The head is considered the purest part of the body, Never point at anyone or anything with your foot, Never step over anyone - walk around them.

Culture in Laos

The Laotians are very similar to the Thais, just a little more reserved.

Rules of conduct:

The religious customs are the same as in Thailand and should be respected in the same way. Taking photos of military facilities is prohibited. When taking photos of people and religious facilities or monks, restraint is generally advisable.

First aid kit

No vaccinations are required in Thailand. A tetanus booster vaccination is recommended. In Thai pharmacies you can usually get all the usual medications for headaches, diarrhoea or fevers. However, it can be a good idea to take a small first aid kit with you so that you have something ready in case of sudden symptoms. In addition to medications for headaches, diarrhoea or fevers, it is also advisable to pack lotions for sunburn and mosquito bites. The latter can also be bought in every Thai supermarket.

Support vehicle

For safety reasons and convenience, our 4WD support vehicle follows the group almost everywhere, except when there are fewer than 4 participants. In this case, the participant must carry a bag or backpack on the luggage rack. Parts and tools are carried by the tour guide or the tour leader. The support vehicle carries the luggage, parts, tools, fruit and cold drinks.

Insurance

Our tour price includes life insurance of 1,000,000 THB and accident insurance of up to 100,000 THB.Additional liability insurance, which covers damages of up to 1 million euros for the rented motorcycle in addition to the standard local motorcycle insurance, can be taken out on request from a German insurer! We also recommend taking out international health insurance! International health insurance can be taken out for a price of less than 15 - 20 €.

Money

 There are cash machines everywhere, so-called ATMs, where you can withdraw money using your credit card or Euro card. The fees here, in addition to the local bank fees, amount to 200 - 220 THB per withdrawal - so around 5 - 6 €. You can change cash at one of the many banks or exchange offices, for example directly on arrival at the airport.

 Travel documents Passport and international and national driving licence. Copy all important documents such as passport, driving licence, credit card, flight ticket etc. or scan them and send them to your own email address.

 Internet and SIM cards Free Wi-Fi is available in almost all of our accommodations. Thai and Laotian prepaid SIM cards are available for a small fee. They can be easily topped up almost anywhere.

House rules

When you visit Thailand with us, please always remember the three house rules that have proven to be important in our 20 years of touring experience.

1. We read this saying in one of the TAT offices in Bangkok: “If you like everything the same as at home, stay at home.” We are here in South-East Asia and things are different from at home. If you are not open to new experiences that you will have in a completely different environment, it is better to spend your holiday in your home country.

2. Treat the motorcycles and equipment as if they were your property. On the one hand, we know that on a motorcycle tour, people like to turn the throttle. But also remember that you are driving on the left-hand side here in South-East Asia, where it can happen that there are suddenly deep holes in the road. Other road users do not always behave as they would in their own country.

3. Always follow the tour guide. Culture, politics, rules, almost everything is different here. We have lived here for a very long time and could write books about the funny and sometimes strange things we have experienced in this fascinating part of the world.

„Always follow the Tour Leader“