BKK to Chiang Mai by train: where to stop?

[Cletus]

Hi all,

where would you suggest me to stop for a few days on the way from BKK to CM? Nice place to see? I'm into small nightlife, nature, historical sights.

Two or three towns to pick.

My first time in Thailand!!!

Many thanks

[uptheos]

Phitsanulok which sees relatively few independent travelers but a fair amount of package tourists, probably because the city is a convenient base from which to explore the attractions of historical Sukhothai and Si Satchanalai, I recommend them both. It's a friendly enough city which also boasts some interesting sites and museums, chief of which is Wat Phra Si Ratana Mahathat, which contains one of the country's most revered and beautiful Buddha images.

[Cletus]

Oh well, I checked on seat61 and seems the train stops in Ayutthaya-Lopburi -Phitsanulok-Lamphun.

So guys what would you pick among these places, I know Ayutthaya is very famous tourist destination, I suspect it's crowded all year around? Phitsanulok has already been suggested. What about Lopburi and Lamphun? Are they dead places? Do they have bit of scenery and nightlife?

Cheers

[gk10002000]

I didn't get to Phitsanalok, but I did take a bus from Bangkok (mo chit) to Sukhothai and stayed there for a few days. Not a big town, but the ruins really are worth seeing. Very green and undeveloped surrounding just outside of town. I didn't find much night life, but sukhothai does have a small night bazaar. I have seen some nice photos and videos of phitsanalok, but no real first hand accounts

[Lex Talionis]

In my book Ayutthaya is a must see if you are into history, architecture, statuary or Buddhism. Some of the temples are breathtaking. If you do stop make sure to see the Summer Palace.

[JeremyBowskill]

I would stop at Don muang airport and get on a plane.

[Vogele123]

Unless you have any form of transport, motorcycle or pushbike, I would forget Lamphun, there is not a lot to see other than the usual temple. The only other place on your list I stopped off at was Ayuttayha and it is streets ahead of Lamphun. You might be able to get off the train at anywhere you like if you, the damn thing goes so slow (BKK/CM Night train, 13 hours if I remember rightly) you could hop off at will and hop on another later on. (joking) - seriously, nothing at Lamphun worth bothering about, it would be better to get to CM and visit from there if you really wanted to. If you get your map out, check out a place called Wiang Ta Gan (Wiang Takkan) it is just over the Ping river from Lamphun on the Chiang Mai side. This place used to be the ancient capital city before Chiang Mai, it is on virtually no tourist trails or tours that I have ever seen, it is well worth a visit and over the years a lot of the Royal family visit the place. It is a bit in the boonies, but if you can find Highway 108 towards Chom Thong it is about mid way between CM and Chom Thong, well worth a visit. You can cycle to Lamphun from there in an hour. There are yellow pick ups and a blue bus service that run from CM to Hot, cheap and frequent except after about 7pm - Good luck!

The blue bus service runs all along highway 108, you can just flag them down - the yellow pick ups run from Chiang Mai Gate (Prathu Chiang Mai and will drop you near Tak gan for about 20 baht)

Edited January 16, 2015 by Vogele123

[monkey dog]

lopburi phitsnolok chiang mai are convenient third class train stops with economy hotels near by the stations.

lampang (note different from lamphun) looks ok too but havent actually done it

Edited January 16, 2015 by monkey dog

[bbbbooboo]

I would stop at Don muang airport and get on a plane.

This is good advice

[Gentmartin]

Theres sweet FA at Lopburi except the famous monkeys and no nightlife worth a look for a few hours though.......go for Ayutthaya but dont forget to book the sleeper train well in advance, you cant hop off, hop on trains here with one ticket.

However, the other alternative if youre adventurous, is to simply wait for the train to derail, then you'll have to get off....it does this most days in random locations....who knows what exciting undiscovered corner of thailand youll end up in :-)

[BarnicaleBob]

Theres sweet FA at Lopburi except the famous monkeys and no nightlife worth a look for a few hours though.......go for Ayutthaya but dont forget to book the sleeper train well in advance, you cant hop off, hop on trains here with one ticket.

However, the other alternative if youre adventurous, is to simply wait for the train to derail, then you'll have to get off....it does this most days in random locations....who knows what exciting undiscovered corner of thailand youll end up in :-)

The BKK to Chiang Mai train does not derail every day, it is only once every week or two. Don't worry it goes so slow that the passengers are rarely receive anything more than minor injuries. Nice adventure in itself. Or you could take a bus and be in Chiang Mai in less than half the time it takes the train. Ayuthaya is the only place along the way worth stopping for. The other places have so little to offer you will quickly be bored especially if you are traveling by yourself without someone to translate for you.

[elgenon]

Don't know if this is the norm but I paid for an entire sleeper car so I could get a good night's sleep and wake up with the sun in CM (as my friends told me I should do). When the malangsob came out in droves at dusk it was ugly. I tried to sleep but when I felt one on my lip- I couldn't sleep.

[Lancashirelad]

Derailments south of Chiang Mai are old news. Many kms of track were completely relayed on concrete sleepers over a year ago. I traveled CM - BKK in Feb 2014 and it was finished then.

1st class sleeper compartments tend to be very cold and I would think very boring to stay in alone for 12 hrs for a sociable person.

[mike2011]

Ayuthaya is not much of a break as is Lampang. The best stop is Philok. They have a morning train that gets into CM in the afternoon. I took 2 years ago before the reconstruction of the track. Scenic ride.

I like the people in Philok who are very friendly. Food is good and the side trip to Sukkothai and Si Satchanalai is very interesting. Do not miss the museum at Sawankalok. It is small but has very good pieces and info on the pottery industry of the region (in Sukkothai times that is).

Lopburi is good for a whole day. Old Khmer temples, a fine museum dedicated to a period of openness in early modern Thai history. The exhibitions depict the court culture and interaction with France and other countries at the time. Not to be missed.

Lamphun is not a break on the trip but a short trip from CM by very cheap public bus. The temple is not ordinary at all as someone seemed to imply. It is a unique Mon chedi (Djavarati) and the museum in Lamphun is unique as this was the capital of a Mon Empire. Very different from Ayuthaya, CM, or Sukkothai.

Lampang has less to offer and is rather close to CM. So a short stop there is fine. You could hop off the train, take a look and then take an evening bus which will take you into CM within 90 minutes.

While 3rd class train tickets are almost for free, I paid something like 65 Baht for Philok to CM, your butt will pay a price. It is ok for a few hours. After 11 hrs from Philok to CM (now faster) I had intense backpain. The seats are not too comfy.

[monkey dog]

this is the one you want http://www.railway.co.th/Ticket/TrainStopStation_Time_All.asp?IdTrain=407&Leg=en

Phitsanulok am 07.30

Chiang Mai pm 14.47

fare as stated 65 baht