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Meet our Samlor Drivers
Table of Contents
Our Samlor Drivers: the Ironmen of Chiang Mai
Here are the pictures and short biographies of some of the samlor drivers we work with on our samlor tours. Most of them have been riding their samlors of decades. We are honored to work with them.
The Rotary Club of Chiang Mai has supported these drivers for at least five years now. Most of them are based at Kad Luang, the Warorot and Ton Lamyai markets. You can read about the samlors of Chiang Mai here.
Driver Sao Panya
Sao Panya is 70 years old and has been a samlor driver for 13 years. He used to be a construction worker but the work became physically too hard for him so he decided to become a samlor driver. He was born in Phrao. He is also based at the Tonlamyai Market.
Driver Yay Luankham
Yay Luankham is 64 years old. He has been a samlor driver for 44 years. He was born in Mae Taeng and moved to Chiang Mai. He has two children, a daughter and a son. He lives near Wat Ket Karaam and is based at the Tonlamyai Market.
Driver Samai Samaithong
Samai Samaithong is 78 years old. He has been a samlor driver for 45 years. He is from Thung Song in Nakhon Si Thammarat province in the South of Thailand. He married a woman from Doi Saket where his wife and son are still living. His daughter still lives in Nakhon Si Thammarat. You can find him usually at Wat Upakut.
Driver Wicharn Chaipin
Wicharn Chaipin is 72 years old. He is a samlor driver for 38 years. He was born in Chiang Mai. He used to work with the Forestry Department in Pai. Where he met his wife. He has one son. He is also based at the Tonlamyai Market.
Driver Weraphat Ratchanee
Weraphat Ratchanee is 58 years old and has been a samlor driver for 30 years. He is from Chiang Mai. He has two children, a son and a daughter. He is based at the Tonlamyai Market.
Driver Udom Srithongmuang
Udom Srithongmuang is 78 years old. He has been a samlor driver for 57 years and is still going strong. He used to be one of the samlor drivers who where based at the Prince Hotel, one of the older hotels in Chiang Mai at Tai Wiang road. Now he is a familiar face on our tours. He has one son and one daughter.
Driver Thanusak Thanasan
Mr.Thanusak Thanasan is 51 years old. He has been a samlor driver for 6 years. His nickname is Lek. He is also based at the Chinese temple behind Warorot Market. He comes from Chiang Rai but is married to a woman from Phrae who sells sweets at the Tonlamyai Market.
Driver Supot Moophayak
Mr.Supot Moophayak is 77 years old. He has been a samlor driver for 45 years. He is from Chiang Mai. He is based at the Chinese temple behind Warorot Market.
He is originally from Nakhon Sawan but has been riding his samlor in Chiang Mai for many years. He has two children. They told about the old days when the Chiang Mai samlor industry was ruled by local gangs. Each group had its own district.
Driver Inkaew Jaisoon
Inkaew Jaisoon is 72 years old. He has been a samlor driver since 1969 and is still going strong. He was married and has one daughter. Inkaew is a skilfull mechanic, specialised in samlors. He is a strong cyclist, based opposite the Tonlamyai Market. He is a regular face on our tours.
Driver Manit Chaiwong
Manit Chaiwong is the leader and contact person of the samlor drivers of Chiang Mai on Three Wheels. He is 69 years old. He has been a samlor driver since 1975. He has been on many tours with us and knows every backroad in Chiang Mai. You can find him at the samlor queue in front of the Tonlamyai Market.
Driver Jan Panyafeuang
Mr.Jan Panyafeuang is 79 years old. He has been a samlor driver for 58 years. He comes from Chiang Mai. He is based at the Tonlamyai Market. Recently his health has not been good. He is asmatic. In the old days he used to pedal all the way to Sankamphaeng with guests to visit the Home Industries.
Driver Rat Kamjay
Mr. Rat Kamjay is 58 years old. He was born in Sukhotai. He has been a samlor driver in Chiang Mai for 25 years. He has four children.
For 16 years Mr.Rat rented his samlor from a transportation company but Rotary Chiang Mai helped him buy his own samlor. He is one of the few “free roaming” samlor drivers. He has no base but pedals around looking for customers.
Historical Tours
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Historical Tours
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Historical Tours
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Historical Tours
From: 2,000.00 ฿