Embarking yourself on a motorcycle tour across Southeast Asia is both exciting and a bit scary if it’s your first time. However, there are some things you need to keep into account before doing so, that’s why today we’ll share with you 5 ways to prepare yourself for your first tour of this kind.

This is going to be one of the most (if not the most) exciting experiences of your life, so let’s start it with the right foot!

#1 – Pick a Good Tour Company:

Touring across Southeast Asia is an experience that will fill your life with tons of precious moments and memories, but in order to live that you need to pick a good tour company like Big Bike Tours, because we bring you everything you need for an exciting yet safe adventure.

Here are the best reasons on why you should work with Big Bike Tours:

1. Tons of experience. We’ve been on the roads since 15 years ago and offering tours since 2009
2. You are safe. We send experienced guides, medics and mechanics with you
3. The best tours. Our tours are designed to the degree of perfection, so you can have the best experience with any of them
4. Small groups. Our groups have a max. of 10 riders for a better and safer experience
5. The best bikes. We’ll put at your disposal the best bikes any tour company can offer you

So, if you want to make this experience a truly exciting and pleasing one, then pick a really good company, because if you don’t, then you’ll face many problems.

Just get in contact us and we’ll make sure to make of this the best adventure of your life. Promise!

#2 – Prepare Yourself Mentally:

Going on a long trip across an exotic continent doesn’t happen every day, hence, you need to prepare yourself mentally in order to handle it and enjoy it.

Make sure that you understand that you will encounter some obstacles on your way, and that’s why we bring mechanics in every single group, because it’s easy to encounter problems on the road, but you should look at these incidents as an essential part of the adventure!

But you need to prepare yourself mentally, because riding for hundreds of miles in one go can be very mentally challenging. So, keep that into consideration.

Moreover, you also need to find the right motivation, because this is what will keep you going at the end of the day. Find what motivates you to join the tour, and you’ll see that everything become much easier.

However, if you are not ready for a long tour (10+ days), then you can test a shorter one first, like these ones we put at your disposal:

1. Nan Loop Tour (3 days)
2. Doi Angkhang Tour (3 days)
3. Magical Golden Triangle Tour (3 days)

Get mentally prepared and you’ll be able to live this adventure at its very best!

#3 – Get a Pretty Good Camera If Possible:

If possible, you should try to get a pretty good camera in order to record these precious landscapes and moments you’ll see and live.

However, when doing this kind of tour you’ll need a special kind of camera which is light-weight, small and takes sharp and good photos.

One of the finest options in the market is the Canon EOS-M3, as it fills all the requisites to be a perfect motorcycle tour camera.

And of course, if possible, you should get the GoPro Hero 4, because it’s been designed for this kind of activities. So, if you can afford it, then by all means go for it!

#4 – Pack What You Need:

Let’s say it better: pack only what you really need, because packing heavy will make this journey much harder to endure and enjoy. Therefore, if you want to enjoy this adventure, then pack light. You’ll thank us later. We can help you with this, so feel free to ask!

Here are some of the items that you must pack no matter what:

1. Sunblock
2. Chapstick
3. Water
4. Plastic bags for storing documents (it tends to rain)

These 4 items must be included by all means, but you should also bring enough clothing changes, your documents, credit card, cash, etc. Just make a list of things that you really need to bring with you and that’s it.

And again, don’t be afraid to ask if you feel the need to. We’re here to help you, so don’t hold back!

#5 – Prepare Yourself Physically:

Riding hundreds of miles in a single day is both physically and mentally draining and challenging, therefore you need to be sure you’re up to the challenge.

If you acknowledge that your physical state is far from being optimal, then it won’t hurt to join a gym some months before the tour, so you can improve your fitness level and face this challenge in better conditions.

There are five exercises you should pay special attention to:

1. Squats
2. Lunges
3. Mountain climbers
4. Push ups
5. Leg raises

These exercises will help you to develop a strong body and boost your endurance, something that will make you a much better rider in return. Just dedicate some weeks to it and you will see excellent results, you can bet on it!

If you want to get that little nice boost that will make you a better ride, then start paying more attention to your fitness. Because this is what you will need in such a long ride like in our tours that go over 10 days… go ahead and try it, because the difference will be notorious!

Conclusion:

Now you know what it takes to have a sublime experience in your first tour across Southeast Asia. We hope this helped you, and if you had any question just let us know in the comments and we’ll answer you back as soon as possible!

Big Bike Tours is based in Chiang Mai, Thailand—which is where all of our motorbike excursions begin. We have been riding the scenic routes in Thailand for over 15 years, and have been providing guided tours since 2009. If you love to ride, but hitting up the standard tourist spots simply isn’t your style—book an Asian motorbike tour with Big Bike Tours today!