Train Tracks through Thailand

Itinerary

Itinerary:
Bangkok - River Kwai - Chiang Mai - Ko Phangan
Duration:
13 days / 12 nights (flexible)
Price:
From £ 1,320.- per person (excluding flights)
When to go:
December - August

This Thailand holiday from Bangkok to Ko Phangan is packed with activity and local means of transport. You’ll be constantly on the move, travelling like the locals. This Thailand itinerary is intense but also very diverse. You’ll travel by train, bus and boat. After a couple of days in Bangkok, take a train ride over the famous ‘Bridge over the River Kwai’. You’ll then take an overnight sleeper train to Chiang Mai, the cultural capital of the north. After you’ve had a chance to explore the city you’ll get up close to the elephants rescued by Elephant Nature Park. You’ll then travel south to Surat Thani, where you’ll hop on a ferry and cross over to a couple of Thailand’s most tropical islands.

Days 1-3 – Arrival in Bangkok & free time

On arrival in Thailand, you’ll be collected from the airport and taken to a hotel in central Bangkok where you’ll stay for 2 nights. This hotel is tastefully decorated and has a swimming pool – perfect for those hot days. Suitably refreshed, your adventure can really begin and you can explore your fascinating neighbourhood. Your time here is free to do as you wish, those craving an instant culture fix can head straight to the Royal Palace. This is the number one place of interest for most Bangkok visitors.

Days 3-6 – The River and the Railway

After an early breakfast you’ll start your trip to the River Kwai as part of a small group. First you will visit a market before heading to the Hellfire Pass Museum where you can learn all about the haunting history of this region. In the afternoon a longtail boat will take you upstream to your accommodation for the night, a floating raft house lit by flickering oil lamps.

After a peaceful night’s sleep in your floating hut you’ll visit the Erawan Waterfalls, a spectacular collection of waterfalls. As you climb why not take a plunge in one of the clear pools to cool off. Next it’s time to board the train for a trip across the Burma ‘Death’ Railway. During the ride you’ll see panoramic views of the River Kwai and visit the Bridge over the River Kwai. You’ll spend the second night of this trip in a small, cosy riverside resort in Kanchanaburi.

Days 6-9 – Elephant Encounters in Chiang Mai

This morning you’ll catch a bus to Bangkok. Roughly two and a half hours later you’ll arrive back in the city, you’ll have plenty of time to stock up on snacks and drinks for the trip ahead. Early in the evening you’ll take the overnight sleeper train to the next destination, Chiang Mai – the cultural capital of the north. You’ll travel in a second-class carriage in seats facing each other; however these seats can be fashioned into a bed in no time at all. It is roughly a 12 hour journey and the train has a restaurant car if you fancy dining on the rails.

When you arrive in Chiang Mai, you’ll make your own way to your hotel in the centre of the city. With a laid-back, spiritual atmosphere, Chiang Mai is a walkable city scattered sacred temples and shrines. If you have time, it’s worth stopping at the night market, packed with souvenirs and aromatic street food stalls.

Next you will learn all about the gentle giants at the Elephant Nature Park. You’ll be collected from your hotel in Chiang Mai and transferred to the park an hour away. You will learn all about the issues faced by elephants in Asia and the personal stories of those rescued by the park. You will have the chance to observe these majestic animals and aid in their rehabilitation before returning to Chiang Mai in the early evening for another night in the city.

Days 9-13 – Shimmering Bays and Secluded Beaches

After your time in Chaing Mai comes to an end you will make your own way to the airport for your flight back to Bangkok. Flying time today is about 90 minutes and on arrival you will have time to stock up on snacks and head back to the train station. From here your travel continues South to Surat Thani on a 12 hour overnight sleeper train. The following morning you’ll catch the 3 hour ferry over to the idyllic island of Ko Phangan.

You’ll spend the next few days in a secluded bay on the tropical island of Ko Phangan. We’ll arrange for you to be collected from the ferry port and transfer you to your resort with a swimming pool on Ko Pha Ngan’s Ao Thong Nai Pan Beach. The famous full moon parties are held on the other side of the island at Had Rin Beach, so they won’t impact you during your stay. Your time here is free to do as you please! If you’re feeling energetic, you can hike up to the island’s highest point – Kao Ra. This breathtaking viewpoint is located at an altitude of 627m. Alternatively you can sit back and relax on the shimmering beach with a local beer or tropical cocktail.

At the end of your stay we’ll arrange your transfer back to the ferry port where you will catch the boat back to the mainland, the final journey on this Thailand Shoestring trip will be back to Bangkok by overnight sleeper train. When you arrive back in the capital you will make your own way to the airport for your international flight home.