During our Travel around the World we passed a total of 45 days in Thailand. First from the North to Cambodia in September: Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and the amazing ruins of Sukhotai, Kamphaeng Phet, Ayutthaya, Buriram and finally Khao Yai national park. Second time in the South in December where we enjoyed the beach in Koh Chang, Koh Phayam, Koh Tao and Koh Phangan before going back to Bangkok.
Arrival from Laos, we crossed the border and passed a first night in Chiang Kong (Baarimtaling guesthouse, 350THB) as we missed the last bus to Chiang Rai.
Note: You can use Bookaway to get the timetable and book your transportation.
Chiang Rai
We took a bus from Chiang Kong (70THB, 3h) and arrived in the center of Chiang Rai. In the afternoon we rented a scooter to go to Wat Rong Khun, the White temple (30min), and Wat Rong Suea Ten, the Blue Temple (others 30min, to end our journey at Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep, the Giant Buddha (15min from the Blue Temple).
– To sleep: Baan Bua guesthouse (320THB double room)
– Bike rental: 200/day + 60 gazoline
– Entrance White Temple: 100THB
– Entrance Blue temple: Free
– Elevator to Giant Buddha top: 40THB
Chiang Mai
We took a bus from Chiang Rai (195THB, 2h30), a TukTuk (120THB) to the hotel located in the North of the city, and started the visit of this busy city and its various temples.
Second day we walked to Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep hoping to enjoy the way but it wasn’t worth it. The only nice part of this walk is when you cross Wat Pha Lat, a nice temple lost in the nature.
– To sleep: U2 and Smile (380THB double room)
– Grand Hall: 50THB
– Wat Phrathat Doi Suthep: 30BHT, Tuktuk to the center 80THB
Enter to Thailand from Laos:
Our first idea was to take the slow boat as i did in 2017, but because of CoVid there is only few boats oparating the transfert now. So we took a train from Luang Prabang to Luang Namta, passed one night there and took a bus to Muay Xai and cross the border there.
From the North to Cambodia
Sukhotai
We arrived and booked directly 2 nights in an hotel nearby the bus station. We rented there a moto to go to Si Satchanalai historical park (1h30 driving) in the morning, and Sukhotai historical park during the afternoon:
- Wat Phrapai Luang
- Wat Si Chum
- Wat Chetuphon
- Wat Maha That, ideal for the sunset!
- Wat Srasri
- Wat Si Sawai
– Bus from Chiang Mai to Sukhotai: 445THB
– To sleep in Sukhotai: Ruengsiri 241THB
– Historical Park entrance: 100THB + 100 THB
– Motobike rental: 250THB + 30 for the gazoline
Kamphaeng Phet
We took a short bus ride (45min) and arrived in this small city, free from tourists! We walked to our hotel and rented there bikes to visit the historical parks.
One day was enough to see everything, as everything is close.
– Bus from Sukhotai: 80THB
– To sleep in Kamphaeng Phet: Three J 300THB
– Park entrance: 150THB
– Bike rental: 50THB
– Tuktuk to the bus station:
Ayutthaya
Same program as the others: bus, hotel, bike rental (motorbike would have been welcome!)
In one day we visited:
- Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon
- Wat Chakrawat
- Wat Ohu Khao Thong
- Wat Lokaya Sutharam
- Wat Chai Watthanaram (the most beautiful)
- Wat Phra Ram (nice for sunsets)
– Bus from Kamphaeng Phet: 362THB
– To sleep in Ayutthaya: Brickhouse 323THB
– Bike rental: 50THB
– Entrances to the Wats: 50each temple
Khao Yai National Park
First day, we took a train to Pak Chong and rented a scooter for 3 days. First one we stayed in a nice hotel with swimming pool before the entrance of the park.
Second day we started with the trail number 3 to the through the jungle to Nang Phak watching tower. After lunch, we found the camping to stay and prepared our camp. We went to Haew Su Wat waterfall, famous from the movie ”La Plage”, and it started to rain. We saw the sunset at Pha Trom Jai Cliff.
Third day we went to the very south of the park, to find Haew Narok waterfall closed! Same for Pha Diao Dai point of view, also closed…
– Train from Ayutthaya to Pak Chong: 173THB
– To sleep: outside the park in Pak Chong Tharapana 1250THB, inside the park in the Camping 355THB
– Motobike rental: 250THB+210THB for the gazoline
– Park entrance: 210THB
Buriram
We took a train to Buriram and rented a scooter to go visit Prasat Phnom Rung and Prasat Muang Tam (between 1h and 1h30 from Buriram).
– Train from Pak Chong to Buriram: 40THB
– To sleep: 450THB
– Motorbike rental: 200THB+90THB for the gazoline
– Entrance to the temples: 150THB combined
From Buriram to Angkor
We took a night in Aranyaprathet to cross the border of Poipet in the morning (30USD + 100THB “corruption tips”)
– Bus to Aranyaprathet: 200THB, 3h30
– Tuk Tuk to the border: 100THB, 10min
– shared taxi to Siem Reap: 500THB, 3h
Bangkok
We are not big fans of big cities, so we didn’t spend much in Bangkok:
- Golden Mountain (100THB)
- From the imperial Palace to the flower market
- Kao San Road area
- Chinatown and it’s market
After 2 weeks in Thailand, we visited South Korea, Japan and Philippines. We came back to Thailand for our last month of our World trip:
Mu Ko Chang national park
Koh Chang
From Bangkok (eastern terminal in Ekkamai metro station) we took a van to Trat and slept one night there. The day after, a tuktuk took us to the peer and we bought the ferry ticket there. After 30min sailing, we took an other tuktuk to our hotel located in the middle of the island (prices look fixed).
– Tuktuk to peer: 80THB
– Ferry: 80THB
– Tuktuk to hotel: 150/pers
– Tuktuk to the south beach: 200THB
– To sleep: Kohchang7 405THB, or Yak bungalow 427THB
Koh Kood
After 3 nights on Koh Chang we took a boat to Koh Kood. Again, a very chill island with nothing to do but to rest!
– Taxi Boat, ferry and transfert to the hotel included: 700THB
– To sleep: Koh Kood Garden house (700THB)
– Motobike rental: 250/day + 150gazoline
– Transfert to Bangkok: Tuktuk, boat and bus to Kao San Road: 1100THB all included (even snacks!)
Koh Phayam
After a quick night in Bangkok (Kaosan Station 484TBH), we took a night bus to Ranong from Sai Tai Mai terminal, and a speed boat to Koh Phayam island. We rented a scooter on the arrival and get to our first hotel located on Ao Khao Kwai beach (visit the Hippie Bar). As it was raining we only did one day tour to Hin Talu beach.
After 2 nights in the North, we decided to change for 2 other nights in the South, on Aow Yai beach.
– Bus from Bangkok: 80THB
– Tuktuk to the Fast Boat peer: 70THB/pers
– Fast boat: 350THB
– Ferry: 200THB (only one at 3pm)
– Motobike rental: 150/day + 40 gazoline
– To sleep in the North: Goldkey bungalows (450/night)
– To sleep in the South: Rasta Baby (446/night)
Surat Thani province
Koh Tao
Much more touristic than the other islands we’ve been, Koh Tao was the one where we decided to chill. We found a paradise hotel far from everything, view on the sea, with a nice and cheap restaurant, snorkelling and sunset from the room.
To stay: Char Bungalows (600/night)
Motorbike rental: 280/day + 100 gazoline
Koh Phangan
We only been there for the Half Moon party, so we arrived the day of the party and left right after to end our trip (flight from Bangkok).
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