In case your first port of arrival in Thailand is Bangkok, the notion of taking to the highway may appear nuts.
Within the Thai capital, vehicles are stacked bumper to bumper, bikes vie for house with pedestrians and seemingly something goes in terms of highway guidelines.
However Bangkok just isn’t all of Thailand. Removed from it.
When you escape the capital, visitors circumstances calm significantly – although you’ll all the time must be cautious of rushing vehicles and buses and a gentle throng of motorcyclists. The excellent news is that Thailand’s roads are principally nicely maintained, car- and motorcycle-rental prices are average, and there’s a lot to see on this fabulous nation that you simply’ll uncover one thing thrilling on even a brief jaunt.
The sensible strategy to highway journey in Thailand is to start out outdoors Bangkok, renting a car in one in every of Thailand’s smaller cities. The additional you veer from the vacationer path, the quieter the roads and the extra there may be to come across within the cities and villages you cross by way of on the way in which.
Excited but? Learn on for extra about our favourite highway journeys in Thailand.
1. Mae Sa Valley
Finest highway journey for first-timers
Chiang Mai–Chiang Mai; 80km (50 miles); enable 1 day
An excellent taster journey to get you used to driving or driving in Thailand, this circuit by way of the forested mountains north of Chiang Mai will introduce you to village life and the jade-green rainforest landscapes of Northern Thailand. After leaving Chiang Mai, the crowds drop away as you get nearer to Nam Tok Mae Sa, a pure swimming pool that makes a stunning picnic spot.
Proceed to the Queen Sikrit Botanical Gardens, a set of plantations, strolling trails and greenhouses plus a family-friendly natural-history museum. From right here, you enter part of the nation that was as soon as used to develop opium poppies earlier than the Thai royal household persuaded hill tribe farmers to change to fruit and flowers.
Expertise village life with a detour north to the Hmong neighborhood of Nong Hoi, the place the native eating places at Mon Cham serve tasty village meals and Thai fruit liqueurs in pavilions overlooking the valley. The loop again to Chiang Mai on the 1269 passes Samoeng village and a sequence of spectacular viewpoints the place you may pause for photographs earlier than arriving again to city.
Planning tip: Get an early begin to take advantage of this day-long highway journey, grabbing a transportable breakfast on the Talat Thanin meals market earlier than you set off.
2. Bangkok to Chiang Mai
Finest highway journey for historical past
Bangkok–Chiang Mai; 583 km (362 miles); 3 to 4 days
In case you’re courageous sufficient to start out in Bangkok, the drive from the capital to Chiang Mai packs in loads of historical past and a few of Thailand’s most spectacular historical websites. The toughest half is the start, as you escape Bangkok’s gravitational pull on Route 347. Luckily, it’s solely 90 minutes to Ayutthaya, the primary cease on the route.
Discover the ruins of the imperial metropolis that was Siam’s capital from 1350 to 1767, then proceed north on Route 32, making a detour east to view Lopburi’s monkey-thronged Prang Sam Yot temple. Again on the freeway, it’s a sustained slog north to Phitsanulok, the place you may pay your respects to one in every of Thailand’s most revered Buddha photos at Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat.
The following cease is gorgeous Sukhothai, whose ruined stupas and temples had been the hub of a robust Thai kingdom from the thirteenth to the 14th century. Break the journey north with a homestay at Ban Na Ton Cham or an in a single day (or longer) cease in hip Lampang, the place extra native movers and shakers throng cool cafes. Lamphun makes for an additional worthy cease earlier than you roll into Chiang Mai and head straight for the night time markets to feast.
Detour: So as to add some up to date historical past to the journey, tack on a detour to Kanchanaburi, between Bangkok and Ayutthaya. Made notorious by the Burma–Siam Railway, this city on the Mae Nam Khwae Yai River is at the moment a hub for encounters with historical past and day journeys to splash within the waterfalls of Erawan Nationwide Park.
3. An Isan loop
Finest off-the-beaten-track highway journey
Nakhon Ratchasima–Nakhon Ratchasima; 830km (515 miles); one week
Vacationers gush about Thailand’s Isan area – the tract of land that runs northeast from Bangkok as much as the Lao and Cambodian borders. On this gently slumbering nook of the nation, the delicacies is spectacular, the tempo of life unhurried and crowds are uncommon. In different phrases, circumstances are good for a sluggish highway journey by motorbike. Spare your self the drive out of Bangkok by taking a bus or practice to Nakhon Ratchasima (Khorat) and decide up some wheels there.
Hit the path and meander east by way of Phanom Rung Historic Park, a hanging Khmer temple advanced atop an extinct volcano. Monitor the Cambodian border eastward to achieve Ubon Ratchathani, an off-the-tourist-track city studded with good-looking monasteries and balanced beside the Mae Nam Mun river. Loop by way of Yasothon (price a cease throughout the rocket competition in mid-Might) and lake-centered Roi Et to achieve Prasat Puay Noi, a advantageous Khmer Hindu temple advanced from the twelfth century. Maintain the Khmer theme going at Phimai, a grand temple damage that fuses Hindu and Buddhist motifs, then shut the loop again in Nakhon Ratchasima, grazing on Isan delicacies at RN Yard.
Planning tip: An enormous a part of touring in Isan is sampling the meals. Important Isan dishes to attempt embrace larb (a zesty floor meal salad with lime, mint, chili and toasted rice), som tam (a pounded salad of inexperienced papaya, inexperienced beans, peanuts and shrimp) and sai krok isan (a bitter, smoky, fermented pork sausage).
4. Hua Hin to Surat Thani
Finest highway journey for low-key seashores
Hua Hin–Surat Thani; 580km (360 miles) a method; 3 to 4 days
Southern Thailand’s lengthy, slender profile doesn’t lend itself to looping highway journeys, however there’s lots to see right here by sticking to the coast. Begin in Hua Hin, Thailand’s unique seaside resort, the place one-way automobile leases may be organized by way of Thai Lease a Automobile. Slide south by way of the low-key, locals-oriented seaside cities of Prachaup Khiri Khan, Ban Krut and Bang Saphan Yai to Chumphon, the place the Muslim tradition of southern Thailand will begin to be seen. Earlier than ending the journey at Surat Thani, duck inland to Khao Sok Nationwide Park, one of many world’s oldest rainforests, one that gives shelter for bears, tapirs, gibbons, elephants and tigers, myriad birds and the large Rafflesia kerrii (the world’s largest flower). The enjoyable doesn’t must cease at Surat Thani: the city is a jumping-off level for the Gulf Islands of Ko Samui, Ko Pha-Ngan and Ko Tao, the place you may bask, celebration and revel in a few of the world’s best-priced scuba diving.
5. Phuket to Satun and again
Finest highway journey for island adventures
Phuket–Satun–Phuket; 1100km (690 miles) spherical journey; one week
Due to political unrest in Thailand’s far south, the Andaman Coast is greatest explored as an out-and-back highway journey ranging from Phuket, avoiding the troubled east coast. With tons of of idyllic islands offshore, you’ll wish to cease repeatedly for in a single day sojourns on tropical islands alongside the way in which.
Beginning with a seafood feast in Phuket, observe the Andaman Coast round Phang-Nga Bay, stopping for a ship journey across the otherworldly karst islands of Ao Phang-Nga Marine Nationwide Park. Maintain following the bay south to Krabi and the epic rock-climbing cliffs round Railay, one of many world’s most pleasurable adventure-sports hubs.
Hug the south to Ko Lanta to get pleasure from extra time on the sand, then return to the mainland to achieve Trang, gateway to its personal assortment of idyllic karst islands. (Will we see a sample right here?) The ultimate leg south passes by way of townships that really feel virtually Malaysian in character. Flip round at Satun and take a few days to snorkel and hike on the unspoiled islands of Ko Tarutao Marine Nationwide Park earlier than you retrace your steps to Phuket.
Planning tip: For the reason that seas off the Andaman Coast can get very uneven from Might to October and plenty of ferry routes and a few nationwide parks shut for the season, it’s greatest to keep away from this time of 12 months.
6. Mae Hong Son Loop
Finest highway journey for traveler vibes
Chiang Mai–Chiang Mai; 604km (375 miles); 4 days
A extra bold highway journey from Chiang Mai meanders by way of the inexperienced hills to the southwest, following Routes 108 and 1095 by way of the energetic traveler city of Mae Hong Son. This twisting loop is known for having 1864 curves; the Chamber of Commerce in Mae Hong Son even points memento certificates for drivers who full the circuit. On the way in which, you may swing into a few of the most fascinating townships in northwest Thailand.
Leaving Chiang Mai on the 108, the primary cease is Doi Inthanon Nationwide Park, a lush, inexperienced mountaintop that’s one of many few locations in Thailand the place temperatures can dip under freezing. You’ll wish to pause for a day or two at Mae Sariang, a calming riverside city that’s a terrific base for climbing and sustainable adventures within the hills.
There’s time for an additional cease at Khun Yuam to discover wartime historical past earlier than you roll into Mae Hong Son, one in every of Northern Thailand’s greatest hubs for monastery-hopping and treks to hill-tribe villages. On the loop again to Chiang Mai on Route 1095, make stops on the Su Tong Pae bamboo bridge, the “Little Switzerland” of Pang Oung and the bustling traveler hub of Pai, the place you may sit back for some time, having fun with all the things from treks to yoga courses and cooking faculties.
Planning tip: Be prepared for chilly temperatures at Doi Inthanon Nationwide Park; chilly fog can swirl across the summit year-round, so carry a heat layer.
7. Chiang Rai to Phayao
Finest highway journey for dramatic vistas
Chiang Rai–Phayao; 250km (155 miles); 3 days
Full of temples and cultural websites like Chiang Mai however with much less of a backpacker vibe, Chiang Rai is Northern Thailand’s second nice metropolis. A cease on the “white wat” of Wat Rong Khun is sort of compulsory – if solely to view the popular culture murals exhibiting such various topics because the 9/11 assaults and Keanu Reeves in The Matrix.
To achieve the Lao border city of Chiang Khong, observe again roads by way of a area that was as soon as infamous as the guts of the opium-growing Golden Triangle. Take your time drifting by way of villages tucked alongside forest-cloaked ridges, then cease for a day or two in Chiang Khong to take in the Lao influences seeping in from Huay Xai, simply throughout the Mekong River.
Divert south on the 1020 and observe Routes 1093 and 1155 by way of dramatic emerald hills to epic viewpoints resembling Pratu Siam and Phu Chi Fa. Pause to benefit from the sizzling waterfall at Nam Tok Phu Sang earlier than you roll onward to complete up in leafy Phayao, an missed Northern Thai city with fairly wood homes, wetland surroundings and a lost-in-time temper that will provide you with a way of what the entire area was like earlier than the arrival of mass tourism.
Planning tip: This route follows many again roads off the principle highways; turnoffs are often signposted; if not, ask at roadside cafes and fuel stations.
Suggestions for driving in Thailand
Thailand formally drives on the left – although be cautious of locals flouting the foundations, notably bikes, which frequently experience towards the visitors move on the arduous shoulder. At all times give strategy to bigger automobiles resembling buses and vehicles, and be careful for pedestrians. Driving slowly is all the time smart.
You may hire vehicles, bikes and scooters with your personal (presumably international) driver’s license. We advocate taking out as a lot insurance coverage as is obtainable and preserving your license and passport (or copies of the identification pages) helpful for police checks.
