Travelling within Thailand
Road Travel in Thailand
Road conditions in Thailand are very good in comparison with most of its neighbours. An extensive network of well maintained, paved roads means that most of the country is easily navigable by car. In remote areas, road surfaces may be more basic. When travelling to hill-tribe villages and national parks, you may encounter dirt tracks or jeep trails.
Popular road circuits starting from Bangkok take you west to Kanchanaburi and Sangklaburi on the Burmese border, or north-east to the Khmer and Lao influenced region of Isaan. Road tours starting in Chiang Mai go as far as Mae Hong Son in the far northwest where excellent roads cut through spectacular mountain scenery.
It is possible to rent vehicles and self-drive in Thailand but the standard of driving proficiency in Thailand can vary dramatically, especially in the provinces. Road rules are very different to Europe or North America. Driving should only be attempted by people with extensive experience driving in Asia and is not recommended in and around Bangkok, where the traffic is very heavy.
Air Travel in Thailand
Thailand has five domestic carriers: Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Air Andaman, PB Air and Phuket Airlines. Thailand boasts 28 domestic and international airports from the deep south to the extreme north.
In general, domestic flights are about three times more expensive than second class trains but are certainly an excellent way to save precious holiday time, essentially when planning a trip to southern islands like Phuket or Samui.
Moreover, many low cost airlines are setting up in Thailand: Nok Air, Orient Thai, Air Asia, and Thai Sky Airlines. They fly both domestically and throughout Asia. If you book far enough in advance, they can even be cheaper than train or road travel.
In addition, almost every international airlines in the world lands in this global hub, which makes Bangkok the main getaway to Indochina.
Travelling by Train in Thailand
Thailand's train network is very good and the country has a comprehensive rail network. As with everything in Thailand, the central hub is Bangkok. The northern line goes as far as Chiang Mai. The north eastern lines go to all the major cities and run right to the Laos borders at Ubon Ratchathani and Nong Khai. The southern line runs down the east coast through Hua Hin, Chunporn and Surathani (where the ferry to Koh Samui departs), Trang and all the way to Singapore through Malaysia.
Trains usually take longer than road transport but are they more comfortable. Second class air-con or better is recommended when covering long distances. Trains are also safer, cheaper and more enjoyable - with excellent scenery. Train travel is also an opportunity to meet locals. To sum up, a great experience.
