Road Trip from Rayong to Pai. Advice Needed

[jacobsladder]

We (me, wife and two kids under 10) are going to drive up to Pai in December. We have two nights in Sukhothai booked, five nights in Chiang Mai, and five nights in Pai. Where would be a good place to stop between Rayong and Sukhothai? Ayuttaya looks pretty booked out. We would stay only a couple of nights. Looking in the 1500 to 2500 baht bracket.

 

Also, what would be a good place to break the journey coming back from Pai to Rayong? We wouldn't mind stopping for a couple nights somewhere, preferably just over half way back. Happy to pay a bit more for that hotel.

 

Thanks in advance.

[lostinisaan]

On the way back Doi Inthanon might be a nice place to visit. The highest spot in Thailand. Have a nice and safe trip !!!

 

      

[Bredbury Blue]

We did the mae hong son loop a couple of years ago. BKK to Nakhon Sawan..NS to Sukhothai (the airport hotel there is great...visit Si Satchanalai and sukhothai)...Sukhothai to Mae Sot via Tak..MS to Mae Sariang (didn't like Mae Sot, liked Mae Sariang)..Mae Sariang to MHS...MHS to Pai (the quarter hotel next to hospital was good)..Pai to CM..CM to Sukhothai (we liked the airport hotel)..Sukhothai to Bkk.

Best places for us were Sukhothai hotel, Si Satchanalai, Mae Sariang, MHS and Pai...yes we like the quieter places. The mae sot to Pai route was great.


Not sure if that helps.

[alant]

On the way up maybe lopburi (loads of monkeys) if you are sticking to highway 11 until you hit highway 12 or Singburi if you are going to route via highway 32 and 1.

Coming back maybe go a little further east on highway 12 and turn south on highway 21 making Petchabun a possible stop.

[1FinickyOne]

I would guess that Kamphaeng Phet will take you about 7-8 hours drive on the first day... it is a pleasant small city with not a lot doing. 

You could spend the night there and then you are maybe an hour or so to Sukhothai the next morning... an easy ride to start the day.

 

On the way back from Pai, you could spend a night in Lampang [horse drawn carriages] or if you want to get a little further along, Tak - or back to KP - Tak has plenty of hotels quite reasonable as it tends to be a stopover on the CM-BKK route... nice riverfront area too... 

 

enjoy your travels.

[FT10toLOS]

Kao kho in Petchabun definitely worth the slight detour.

Look for the hotels along the ridge for views into the valleys.

[Lazybones]

Previous poster advise through Sukothai, Mae Sot, MHS to Pai and CM good trip. Return through Doi Inthanon, Lam Pang, Phetchabun (Kao Kho), Chai Badan, further east through Kao Kai to Rayong. Have Airbnb in Phet if interested Sontaya.

[eeyang wah]

Driving that way make sure to stop at Wat Phra Song Kaew (spelling?) just outside Petchabun. It's not well known but one of the most amazing and unique temples you will ever visit. 

[chiang mai]

Agreed that Petchabun is probably the best of the bunch mentioned, a slight detour but worthwhile.