Enjoyable tourist trips in Thailand

ArabiaWeather - If Bangkok is your first port of arrival in Thailand, you may feel a little nervous about the idea of embarking on a road trip. In Thailand's capital, cars are piled up in front of each other, motorcycles compete with pedestrians for space, and it seems that anything goes when it comes to traffic rules. But relax: Bangkok is not all of Thailand.

Escape the capital and traffic conditions will calm considerably, although be careful of trucks, express buses and the large number of motorcyclists. The good news is that Thailand's roads are generally well-maintained, car and motorbike rental costs are moderate, and there is so much to see that a short trip can have an adventurous feel.

The smart way to road trip in Thailand is to start outside of Bangkok and rent a vehicle in one of the small towns in Thailand. The further you go off the tourist trail, the quieter the roads become and the more towns and villages you pass on the way to explore. For inspiration, here are some of our favorite road trips in Thailand.

Mae Sa Valley Trip

Best road trip for beginners
Chiang Mai - Chiang Mai; 80 km (50 mi), one day allowed

A great getaway to driving or cycling in Thailand, this cycle through the forest-covered mountains north of Chiang Mai will introduce you to village life and the views of Thailand's emerald green northern forests. After leaving Chiang Mai, the crowds thin out as you get closer to Nam Tok Mai Sa, a natural pool that makes a great place for a picnic.

Continue onward to the Queen's Secret Botanical Gardens, a collection of plantings, walking trails and greenhouses, with a family-friendly natural history museum. From here, you enter a part of the country that was once used to grow opium before farmers from mountain tribes were persuaded to move to growing fruits and flowers by the Thai royal family.

Enjoy village life with a veer north to the Hmong community of Nong Hoi, where local restaurants in Min Cham serve delicious village food and Thai-blended fruit drinks on patios overlooking the valley. Then return to Chiang Mai via Route 1269, passing Samong Village and a series of picturesque landscapes where you can stop for photos, then return to the northern Thai capital.

Planning Tip : Start early to make the most of this all-day road trip. Grab a portable breakfast at Talat Thanin Food Market before you set off.

From Phuket to Satun and back

The best road trip for island adventures
Phuket - Satun - Phuket; 1,100 km (690 mi) round trip, one week

Due to the political turmoil in remote southern Thailand, the Andaman Coast is best explored as a round-trip road trip from Phuket, avoiding the turbulent east coast. With hundreds of gorgeous islands offshore, you'll want to stop regularly for overnight stays on tropical islands on your way.

Start with a seafood meal in Phuket, and follow the Andaman Coast around Phang-Nga Bay, stopping for a boat trip around the exotic karst islands of Ao Phang-Nga National Marine Park. Continue following the bay south to Krabi and the epic rock climbing slopes around Railay, one of the most fun adventure sports centers in the world.

Let the coast call you south to Ko Lanta for more time on the sand, then head back to the mainland to reach Trang, the gateway to its own collection of picturesque karst islands. The final section south passes through towns that almost feel Malaysian. Turn off at Satun and take two days to dive and hike the pristine islands of Ko Tarutao National Marine Park before retracing your steps to Phuket.

Planning Tip : The seas off the Andaman Coast can get very rough from May to October and many ferry routes and some national parks are closed during this time of year, so it is best to avoid this time of year.

Bangkok to Chiang Mai

Best road trip for history
Bangkok - Chiang Mai; 583 km (362 mi), three to four days

If you're brave enough to start in Bangkok, the drive from the capital to Chiang Mai has a lot of history and some of Thailand's fascinating ancient sites. The hardest part is the beginning, escaping the allure of Bangkok on Route 347. Fortunately, it only takes 90 minutes to reach Ayutthaya, the first stop on the way.

Explore the ruins of the imperial city that was the capital of Siam from 1350 to 1767, then continue north on Route 32, veering east to see the monkey-filled Prang Sam Yot Temple in Lopburi. On the highway again, it's continuous northward travel to Phitsanulok, where you can pay respects to one of Thailand's most famous Buddha statues at Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat.

Next stop is stunning Sukhothai, where the ruins of hermitages and temples were the center of a powerful Thai kingdom in the 13th and 14th centuries. Break up the journey north with a guesthouse stay in Ban Na Ton Cham or an overnight stop (or more) in modern Lampang, where cool cafés are crowded with lively locals. Lamphun is another stop worth a visit before you reach Chiang Mai and head straight to the night markets to enjoy the food.

Mae Hong Son episode

The best road trip for travelers
Chiang Mai - Chiang Mai; 604 km (375 mi), four days

A more ambitious road trip from Chiang Mai meanders through the green hills to the southwest, following Route 108 and Route 1095 through the traveler-packed town of Mae Hong Son. This twisty loop is famous for having 1,864 turns and the Mae Hong Son Chamber of Commerce issues commemorative certificates to drivers who complete the course. On the way, you can visit some of the most exciting cities in northwest Thailand.

Leaving Chiang Mai on Route 108, the first stop is at Doi Inthanon National Park, a lush, green mountain peak that is one of the few places in Thailand where temperatures can dip below zero. You'll want to stop for a day or two in Mae Sariang, a quiet riverside town and a great base for hiking trips and sustainable adventures in the mountains.

There's time for another stop in Khon Yuam to explore military history before setting off for Mae Hong Son, one of northern Thailand's best centers for visiting monasteries and trekking to mountain tribal villages. Returning to Chiang Mai via Route 1095, make stops at the Su Tong Bai Bamboo Bridge, at the “Little Switzerland” of Pang Ong, and at the busy travel hub of Pai, where you can relax for a while, enjoying everything from climbing trips to yoga classes and… Cooking.

Planning Tip: Be prepared for cold temperatures in Doi Inthanon National Park; A cold fog can form around the summit throughout the year, so be sure to wear a warm layer.

From Hua Hin to Surat Thani

Best road trip to quiet beaches
Hua Hin - Surat Thani; 580 km (360 mi) one way, three to four days

The long, slender features of southern Thailand are not conducive to circular road trips, but there is plenty to see by wandering along the coast. Start in Hua Hin, Thailand's original beach resort, where one-way car rentals can be arranged through Thai Rent a Car. Descend south through the sleepy, local-oriented beach towns of Prachop Keri Khan, Ban Krut, and Bang Saphan Yai to Chumphon, where the Muslim culture of southern Thailand begins to emerge. Before the trip ends in Surat Thani, veer inland to Khao Sok National Park, a 160-million-year-old rainforest that provides a home to bears, gulls, monkeys, elephants, tigers, many birds and the Rafflesia kyri flower – the largest flower in the world. The fun doesn't have to stop in Surat Thani; The city is a launching point for Gulf Islands such as Ko Samui, Ko Phangan and Ko Tao, where you can relax, party and enjoy diving at some of the lowest prices in the world.

Chiang Rai to Phayao

The best road trip for dramatic scenery
Chiang Rai - Phayao; 250 km (155 mi), three days

Chiang Rai is the second largest city in northern Thailand – full of temples and cultural sites like Chiang Mai, but without the backpacker atmosphere. A stop at the white-washed Wat Rong Khun is almost mandatory even if just to see the pop culture walls, which feature topics as diverse as the September 11 attacks and Keanu Reeves in The Matrix.

To reach the border town of Chiang Khong in Laos, follow side roads through an area once famous as the heart of the "Golden Triangle" of opium cultivation. Take your time wandering through villages tucked into forested hills, then stop for a day or two in Chiang Khong to absorb the Lao influences seeping in from Huai Sai via the Mekong River.

Turn south on Route 1020 and follow Routes 1093 and 1155 through stunning emerald hills to epic landscapes like Pratu Siam and Phu Chi Pha. Stop to admire a hot waterfall at Nam Tok Phu Sang before continuing on and ending in verdant Phiao, a northern Thai town awash with beautiful wooden houses, wetland views and an atmosphere that takes you back in time and gives you an idea of what all of northern Thailand was like before the arrival of mass tourism.

Planning Tip : This method follows several side roads off major highways; There are usually turn signals, but if not, ask at roadside cafes and gas stations.

Isan episode

The best trip on unknown roads
Nakhon Ratchasima - Nakhon Ratchasima; 830 km (515 mi), for one week

Travelers praise Thailand's Isan region – the strip of land that runs northeast of Bangkok on the Lao and Cambodian border. In this quiet corner of the country, the cuisine is exquisite, the pace of life is unhurried, crowds are rare... in other words, the conditions are perfect for a slow road trip by motorbike. Book yourself a drive outside of Bangkok by taking a bus or train to Nakhon Ratchasima (Korat) and pick up some wheels there.

Hop on the track and wander east through Phanom Rong Historical Park, a stunning Khmer temple complex atop an extinct volcano. You follow the Cambodian border east to reach Ubon Ratchathani, an off-the-beaten-path city filled with beautiful monasteries and balanced by the Mae Nam Mon River. Drive through Yasothon (worth a stop during the Rocket Festival in mid-May) and Roi Et centered around the lake to reach Prasat Buai Noi, a beautiful complex of 12th-century Khmer Hindu temples. Continue the Khmer theme at Phimai, a great ruined temple combining Hindu and Buddhist symbols, then close the course at Nakhon Ratchasima, where you can enjoy delicious Isan dishes at RN Yard Restaurant.

Planning Tip: A big part of traveling in Isan is the food experience. Must-try Isan staples include laap (sour crushed salad with lemon, mint, chili pepper, and toasted rice), som tam (mashed salad of green papaya, green beans, peanuts, and shrimp), and sai gruk isan (sour and smoked fermented pork sausage).

Tips for driving in Thailand

Thailand officially drives on the left side, although you should be wary of locals flouting the rules, especially motorbikes who often travel against the direction of traffic on the hard shoulder. Always give priority to larger vehicles such as buses and trucks, and be careful of pedestrians. Driving slowly is always recommended. You can rent cars, motorcycles and scooters with a driving license from the home country; Have plenty of insurance, and keep your driver's license and passport (or copies of ID pages) on hand for police checks.

Source: lonelyplanet