Luxury train ride vacations within thailand?

[snicklebonkers]

Hi all, I'm trying to think of creative things to do with the family on vacations within Thailand. My kids love trains.

Can anyone recommend a luxury train we could ride on? I see there is the "Belmond" express which goes to Singapore (obviously we would not cross the border, but I was hoping it would be running just within thailand) but the next scheduled trips listed on the website are for 2021. Seems to be cancelled for 2020.

Also found a few other sites advertising luxury trains, but similarly old dates listed and they dont appear to be up and running currently.

Are there any luxury, or failing that, at least very nice ???? trains that a family of 4 (2 kids) could go on? Would prefer to buy 1 or 2 first class compartments. Could just be a trip of a few days, doesnt have to be super fancy. Or even just 1 overnight, something to get out of the house and have an experience.

Thanks!

Snicks

[allane]

I have been on Thai trains that have compartments. I think they are offered on many, if not most of the overnight trains that serve southern Thailand, and northern Thailand too. Maybe not as many on trains to the Northeast. Look on any of the routes where you can buy a trip of 8 hours or more. I don't think they will sell a compartment for trips of say, 6 hours or less, because they then have a hard time selling it to someone else for the remainder of the journey. (You are free to get off the train at any point, but I think you have to pay for a minimum journey of say 6 hrs. or so.)

[TheFreqFlyer]

Go to Richard Barrow's Facebook and Twitter pages. He may have some suggestions. 

[Orton Rd]

I would avoid daytime trains, unless you don't mind it constantly stopping to let vendors on and traveling about 50 mph. Sleepers on the other hand are quite enjoyable, at least you will be asleep!

Edited October 10, 2020 by Orton Rd

[richard_smith237]

Bangkok to Chiang Mai... 

 

I think the overnight service departs at about 6pm and arrives at about 7am. 

Two adjoining 1st class cabins will sleep 2 adults and 2 kids (cost for 2x 1st class cabins is about 6000 baht)

 

A few nights in Chiang Mai and fly back - you’ll not want to do the train again !

 

It could be fun, but its most definitely not luxury and its more costly than flying in some cases !!! 

 

https://www.seat61.com/Thailand.htm

 

 

 

 

[norfolkandchance]

Google ‘ Seat 61 ‘

[richard_smith237]

19 minutes ago, norfolkandchance said:

Google ‘ Seat 61 ‘

Or just use the link I posted above !!!! 

[lazygourmet]

Neither a night train nor a long trip but just to catch a glimpse of the Eastern & Oriental experience, Belmond is still organizing from time to time Bangkok to Kanchanaburi day trips.

https://www.belmond.com/trains/asia/eastern-and-oriental-express/journeys/bangkok-kanchanaburi?packageCode=BKDIN

[Daffy D]

2 hours ago, Keyser Soze666 said:

Lol, luxury train rides? You are in Thailand mate, it's a khazi here. Go to the civilised real world for nice safe things for your kids to enjoy, it aint happening here I'm afraid.

Donno mate.......

 

When passing through Bangkok station I have seen "Oriental Express" luxury type trains waiting at the platform.

 

Presumably they were waiting departure not just standing there for show. 

[DDBKK]

F%$k thailand train rides. Do the tranny-siberian express. $25K or so for proper luxury. Now THAT is how travelling should be done.

[ThailandRyan]

The Eastern & Oriental Express (E&O) is a luxury train operating in Singapore, Malaysia & Thailand, run by the same people who operate the legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express to similar 5 star standards.

 

Problem with Covid, these trips can not be completed as they go to Singapore, Malaysia and then Bangkok.  I have used it as a nice change for a border bounce when I needed to go out of Thailand and then back in.

Edited October 10, 2020 by ThailandRyan

[connda]

You are not going to find the equivalent of Amtrak or Euro-rail in Thailand.  You're going to find third-world and developing world trains that run on a WWII gauge track.  Luxury?  Not quiet.  Maybe quaint.  Maybe.

[connda]

7 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

The Eastern & Oriental Express (E&O) is a luxury train operating in Singapore, Malaysia & Thailand, run by the same people who operate the legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express to similar 5 star standards.

 

Problem with Covid, these trips can not be completed as they go to Singapore, Malaysia and then Bangkok.  I have used it as a nice change for a border bounce when I needed to go out of Thailand and then back in.

Well, I stand corrected. 

[ThailandRyan]

6 minutes ago, connda said:

Well, I stand corrected. 

They are quaint, and luxurious, makes you feel like you stepped back in time.  Actually very cool.

[impulse]

Ditch the luxury in favor of some fun and history.  Hop on a low budget train from BKK to Kanchanaburi (and beyond) on the famous, historic Death Railroad.

 

Hop off in K-Buri and spend a few days visiting the local museums (especially the Aussie run one near the main Allied Cemetery), the Bridge on the River Kwai, and the 2 Allied War Cemeteries.  Take a longtail boat tour for about 800 baht (all in, not per head).  If you're interested, stop off at some of the cave temples.  Try the buffet at the floating restaurant under the famous bridge.  On weekends, there's a night market right near the train station.  Near the Post Office on the main tourist strip, rent kayaks and they'll haul you up the river for a 2-5 hour drift back into town.  Well worth it.  Take a short van ride up to Hellfire Pass (arrange it at your hotel).

 

Have your kids watch the 1957 Alec Guinness movie "Bridge on the River Kwai" before you go, so they know what they're seeing when they get there.

 

Don't make the round trip in one day, because you'll be miserable and tired of trains and traffic when you get back.  (First time I've ever been on a train that stops at redlights.)  You may even want to take the train to K-Buri, then take a bus back, because the buses run many times a day, unlike the train that runs once a day.  (Avoid the kamikaze mini vans in favor of a big bus from the K-Buri bus station)

 

Get details on Seat 61.

Edited October 10, 2020 by impulse

[Airalee]

4 hours ago, snicklebonkers said:

doesnt have to be super fancy

I looked into those “luxury train excursions” (Here, South Africa, India etc) and let me tell you...they are super fancy and super expensive running about US$2000 per person per night.  
 

https://www.belmond.com/trains/asia/eastern-and-oriental-express/search-results
 

 

[CanuckThai]

For a change of pace, I took the train into Bangkok from KK, from Bangkok to KL (Malaysian border).  Bangkok to Malaysian border was a nice trip in a sleeper.  Enough stops and scenery to keep things interesting, food/snack car was adequate for the length of the trip, sleeper was ...a sleeper.  I'm sure there's many reviews of the trip.  Relatively cheap, all things considered.

[Orient Express]

3 hours ago, ThailandRyan said:

They are quaint, and luxurious, makes you feel like you stepped back in time.  Actually very cool.

Very cool and very expensive ????

[snicklebonkers]

Wow thanks everyone for the multiple useful replies. Seat61 looks really helpful. Overnight sleeper to Chiang Mai sounds like a good option.

 

Looks like Belmond has some things listed for January 2021 but nothing until then, and I doubt those will happen either as they involve foreign countries. The restaurant car to Kanchanaburi could be perfect but they dont seem to have anything currently running ????

[camble]

If you’re interested in the 1st class overnight sleeper from Bangkok to Chiang Mai, be advised to purchase your tickets well in advance.

 

[1FinickyOne]

21 hours ago, Orton Rd said:

at least you will be asleep!

sure, sounds like fun - and something we all can't do at home... 

[scorecard]

21 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Bangkok to Chiang Mai... 

 

I think the overnight service departs at about 6pm and arrives at about 7am. 

Two adjoining 1st class cabins will sleep 2 adults and 2 kids (cost for 2x 1st class cabins is about 6000 baht)

 

A few nights in Chiang Mai and fly back - you’ll not want to do the train again !

 

It could be fun, but its most definitely not luxury and its more costly than flying in some cases !!! 

 

https://www.seat61.com/Thailand.htm

 

 

 

 

Also check if the compartment doors lock and can't easily be tampered with. If the family needs 2 compartments have 1 adult in each compartment. 

 

Over the decades many incidents of rape, molestation, robbery, murder on Thai trains. 

[steven100]

luxury & trains in Thailand ....  I don't think so.. lol

as mentioned, overnight sleeper cabin is a normal dated cabin with a bed....  certainly not luxury.

[Raphael Hythlodaeus]

The kids (and me!) might enjoy one of the SRT steam engine trips to Kanchanaburi.

Anyone know where to find details of these?

Not luxury, but fun anyway.

[gunderhill]

WATCH OUT for  buses  on the line!

[ThailandRyan]

15 minutes ago, steven100 said:

luxury & trains in Thailand ....  I don't think so.. lol

as mentioned, overnight sleeper cabin is a normal dated cabin with a bed....  certainly not luxury.

You really need to some looking at the websites and the reviews for the Trains that run in and also through Thailand Steven.  Do not be so closed minded.  Plenty of nice amenities in certain cars on those routes, plus a version of the Orient Express runs in and through the country to Singapore and Malaysia, but with Covid right now its is a not running.

[ThailandRyan]

14 minutes ago, Raphael Hythlodaeus said:

The kids (and me!) might enjoy one of the SRT steam engine trips to Kanchanaburi.

Anyone know where to find details of these?

Not luxury, but fun anyway.

Look at this website for info, it has all of the routes listed and such.

https://www.seat61.com/Thailand.htm#Bangkok_to_Chiang_Mai

Here is what it says regarding the trip to Kachanaburi:

See the Bridge on the River Kwai page...

The best way to reach Kanchanaburi is by train, using the infamous Death Railway itself, for just 100 baht (£2 or $3)!  A regular State Railways of Thailand passenger service still runs over the 'Death Railway' from Bangkok via Kanchanaburi as far as Nam Tok, crossing the famous 'Bridge over the River Kwai' a few km beyond Kanchanaburi.  There are two trains a day from Bangkok Thonburi station (also known as Bangkok Noi, on the West side of the river in Bangkok) to Kanchanaburi and Nam Tok, calling at River Kwai Bridge station on the Bangkok side of the Bridge a few minutes after Kan'buri.

The trains are 3rd class only, but don't let this put you off - they are clean and comfortable, and sitting next to an open window whilst clickety-clacking through the Thai countryside is easily the most pleasant way to reach Kanchanaburi.

If you're coming from Singapore, Malaysia or Southern Thailand, you can travel direct to Kanchanaburi and the River Kwai Bridge without going into Bangkok - just change trains at Nakhon Pathom (64 km south of Bangkok), where the branch line to Kanchanaburi leaves the main line.

There is also a special railcar (2nd class air-conditioned) for tourists at weekends, leaving Hualamphong station at 06:30 for Kanchanaburi at 09:25, Nam Tok 11:30, returning from Nam Tok at 14:40 and Kan'buri at 16:55 arriving Bangkok 19:30.  Special fares apply, reservation required, see the Bridge on the River Kwai page for details.

Edited October 11, 2020 by ThailandRyan

[steven100]

18 minutes ago, ThailandRyan said:

You really need to some looking at the websites and the reviews for the Trains that run in and also through Thailand Steven.  Do not be so closed minded.  Plenty of nice amenities in certain cars on those routes, plus a version of the Orient Express runs in and through the country to Singapore and Malaysia, but with Covid right now its is a not running.

yes I just viewed the Orient Express website from BKK to KL, and Singapore .... very nice but very expensive. I think to Singapore was 150,000 baht. 

I think for that kinda money a cruise around Asia would be better value or a river cruise on a nice wooden vessel in Myanmar ...

of course this is all based on Borders being opened and folks allowed to travel ....

 

just saying .....

Edited October 11, 2020 by steven100

[spidermike007]

I have never seen anything resembling a luxurious train here. Thailand is woefully behind the curve, when it comes to investing in this kind of infrastructure. And my biggest issue with the trains here is their extreme inability to follow a schedule. They are often hours late in arriving, and rarely gain any time during the trip. It is typically another hour or two late, by the time you arrive. Much work needs to be done. 

[thaibeachlovers]

22 hours ago, Orton Rd said:

I would avoid daytime trains, unless you don't mind it constantly stopping to let vendors on and traveling about 50 mph. Sleepers on the other hand are quite enjoyable, at least you will be asleep!

No "luxury" trains daytime, IMO, unless the Orient express is still running, but daytime is the cheese for the view.

 

23 hours ago, snicklebonkers said:

Could just be a trip of a few days,

LOL. You can buy a different trip each day for a few days, but doubt same train every day. Longest trip is only about 12 hours, unless train breaks down.

I think can get first class with door between two compartments.

 

I prefer train in Thailand, but it's hardly "luxurious" as in America or Europe, but if Orient Express is running that would qualify.

Just forget obsession with luxurious and enjoy. Take short journeys between cities and overnight in city with sightseeing. See the "real" Thailand.