Nicest Road From Bkk-Khorat. Through Khao Yai Np.

[appropriate]

I'm going to do a 3 day minitour of BKK-Khorat.

Day 1: BKK-Khorat though Khao Yai.

Day 2: PhiMai-- Phanom Rung. (checking out the temples and ruins.)

Day 3: Back to BKK through Khai Yai again.

But what is the nicest, most scenfic route from BKK-Khorat going through Khao Yai?

Distance isn't an issue and can take a whole day to do it, would love some beautiful winding roads through mountains and forest, stopping off at some waterfalls too perhaps.

Cheers chaps.

Dominic.

Edited November 28, 2010 by appropriate

[sinbin]

Go on 'Google maps' and press "Get directions". Enter you start point and finish point. Routes will appear. You just pick the one that suits you. They can even be altered to take in places of interest that you want to see. You'll get an accurate distance in kilometres and time schedule for the journey. Good luck.

[appropriate]

Yes thanks, I always use google maps to plan a trip, but it's not as good as people recommendations.

The 304 looks alright, but I'm sure people who make the trip regularly will have favourite routes and perhaps be in the know of nice routes to cut across.

[ballpoint]

Highway 304 is a good road for bikes, although they were widening it in places last time I rode it, so it was a bit of a dust / mud bowl at times. Still worth a ride though. Maybe someone's got a more recent update on its condition? If you want to go through the Khao Yai NP itself then from Bangkok I'd head along highway 33 to Nakon Nayok, then keep going about 25km and turn left onto 3077. It goes right through the park and comes out on highway 2 at Pak Chong, mysteriously turning into 2090 along the way. Once on highway 2 it's a fairly dull ride to Korat, although there is one decent bit beside the Lam Reservoir. From Korat to Panom Rung you can take the equally dull 24 and turn off between Nangrong and Prakhonchai, or take 304 to Kabinburi, head east along 33 to Aranyaprathet, and then north to Buri Ram along 348, which is a favourite of mine with lots of wide sweeping corners and a good twisty bit when it climbs up onto the Korat Plateau. The best way to do this road is to bypass Ta Phraya town by turning off along 3468 just before you get to it and rejoining 348 after. The bypass is well signposted to Buri Ram, but check Google maps for more details. If going this route then you can get straight to Panom Rung by going through Laharn Sai, although some of the back roads are severely chewed up by trucks. You also have the option of going to Mueang Tam at the foot of Khao Panom Rung (a bit of a redundancy as Khao and Panom mean the same thing in Thai and Khmer respectively), a smaller temple, but still worth a visit if you have the time. If you like twisties then the road up the hill to Panom Rung temple is a short but exhilarating ride from either direction. Whichever way you go have fun.

[surayu]

Yes 304 is a good choice, lots of nice hills with many original styles resorts, we enjoyed the ride, however be extra carefull with the many lorries on the road, they tend to swerve like a wild snake, it must to be the Khao Yai surroundings to affect their driving style....

[appropriate]

Thanks all, unfortunately I didn't get to take this trip. But plan to finally get my bike up to Khao Yai for a one day trip on Saturday.

Going up the 3077 and back down the 304 looks good.

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Soi+Yim+Phatthana+1&daddr=14.13372,101.37347+to:14.38602,101.8681+to:14.7617,102.02342+to:Mittraphap%2FRoute+2+to:14.13373,101.37371+to:13.83572,100.63214+to:Thanon+Lat+Phrao%2FRoute+336&hl=en&geocode=FSZm0gAdOJb-BQ%3BFdip1wAdHtYKBikDXyj3FVMcMTFx_ekKN5IBEw%3BFWSD2wAdRGISBik1GiyGvxIcMTHB0VKYz2kEEw%3BFeQ-4QAd_MAUBilb5g_pqqseMTFxFKSkz2kEEw%3BFTLQ3wAd89ILBg%3BFeKp1wAdDtcKBiktA9QHE1McMTFQ_ekKN5IBEw%3BFcgd0wAdTIb_BSkLkdDClmIdMTEgJHEfsgABEw%3BFYp_0gAdQO3-BQ&mra=dpe&mrcr=0&mrsp=1&sz=9&via=1,2,3,5,6&sll=14.085965,101.423035&sspn=1.294677,2.469177&ie=UTF8&ll=14.272369,101.390076&spn=1.293613,2.469177&z=9

But a bit long at almost 600km for one day.

So will probably just go up and back along the 3077 for a nice 400km ride with lunch in Pak Chong.

[appropriate]

BTW, with my thai driving license I only get charged the local 40b, as opposed to 200 or 400b, right?