I will be taking off from BKK in a week, I have one stop Chang Rai where I want to visit a friend and possibly equip myself with a motorcycle to travel around.Please suggest any places in Thailand or in the neighboring countries you may have loved, but not found in lonely planet or are popular tourist ghettos...Just want to see if I can get off the traveled path :)Thanks in advance! V - Cat 

Pai... ok it's in the Lonely Planet, but it's beautiful.

Never been to Laos, but everyone raves about it.

Happy trails.

Check out Pang-Ung, Mae Hong Son.

I was there and loved it!

everywhere is in lonely planet. but if u have chance to go to chiang rai hope u have time to visit the thai great artist Tawan Datchanee house. his place is so impressive. u can't find this place in lonely planet . i don't know this place will let tourist go inside or not. but i can tell u this place will stamp in my mind for long time.

Chaing Rai just great + peach province , you can ride motorbike travel chaingrai go to triangle country .. Thai Laos and burma .. but mostly time i visited just became winter season .......... have a nice trip