Two-Hour Off-Road ATV Ride — Deep Forest Trails, Mae Rim
Two hours on the rough stuff: rutted forest trails north of Chiang Mai, the Thai buffalo museum and the Long Neck Karen village.
- Duration
- Two hours of riding
- Difficulty
- Challenging
- Max group
- 20 pax
Two hours is when the ride stops being a sightseeing loop and becomes an off-road session. The route pushes deep into the forest on rugged trail — rutted, loose, steep in places — and the operator markets it as the one for people who came here to be thrown about. That is a fair description.
It is not all trail, though, and that is part of why it works. The Thai buffalo museum sits on the route, and so does the Long Neck Karen village, which means the two hours have a shape: hard riding, a stop where you learn something, more hard riding, a village where you can see how people actually live in these hills.
The ATVs are automatic, so there is no clutch or gear work to think about while you concentrate on the ground, and staff lead the group and take the difficult sections first. Beginners do this ride, but if you have never been on a quad and you are nervous, the one-hour session is a gentler introduction to the same country.
The base is in Mae Rim, twenty to thirty minutes north of Chiang Mai, and open daily from eight until eight. Transport is not included; a private return transfer can be added for 1,000 THB.
- Two hours of genuine off-road riding on rugged forest trails
- The most demanding terrain at the site short of the three-hour ride
- The Thai buffalo museum on the route
- The Long Neck Karen village and a look at daily life in the hills
- Automatic ATVs — no clutch, no gears — with staff leading
- Traditional tribal dress and photography available at the site
- Driver and passenger priced separately
What's included
- ✓ Automatic ATV for the two-hour session
- ✓ Staff leading the ride
- ✓ Stops at the Thai buffalo museum and the Long Neck Karen village
- Transport to and from the site — a private return transfer to your accommodation is available for 1,000 THB
- Food and drinks, unless stated
- Comprehensive travel and medical insurance
- Damage to the ATV caused by reckless riding
- Souvenirs and purchases in the villages
- Gratuities for the guides
- On arrival
Sign in and briefing
Registration at the Mae Rim base, controls explained and a short practice before heading out.
- +15 min
Onto the rough trail
Out of the yard and into the forest, where the ground turns rutted and loose almost immediately.
- +45 min
Deep forest section
The hardest riding of the session — narrow rugged trail with climbs and descents, taken one rider at a time where it matters.
- +80 min
Thai buffalo museum
A break at the buffalo museum, which is a decent excuse to get off the machine and stretch.
- +100 min
Long Neck Karen village
The village stop: weaving, crafts and daily life, with time to look around properly.
- +120 min
Back to base
The ride back in, gear returned, and a wash before you go.
Each ATV takes one driver and one passenger, and the two are priced separately — the driver pays for the machine, the passenger pays a smaller fee to ride behind. If both of you want to drive, book two driver places.
No. The ATVs are automatic and staff brief you on the controls and lead the ride, so first-timers are the norm here. No driving licence is required for the private trails.
Not on the ride products. The site is in Mae Rim, about 20 to 30 minutes north of Chiang Mai, and the operator offers a private return transfer to your accommodation for 1,000 THB per booking. Otherwise make your own way there — plenty of people combine it with a day out in Mae Rim.
Rough. This is deep-forest trail with ruts, loose surfaces and climbs, and the operator pitches it at people who want a workout. Your arms and shoulders will know about it the next day.
Physically yes — the machines are automatic and the staff lead — but if you are apprehensive, book the one-hour session instead. It covers similar country on easier ground and you can always come back.
Ask before photographing anyone, buy directly from the households if you want a souvenir, and do not hand money or sweets to children. The communities here host visitors deliberately and your entrance and purchases are what make that work.