'ANS40' is the coach type, in this case A for set out to ride my bike from Chang Mai to Singapore. at 06:20, 09:00, 11:30, 15:30 taking 1 hour to Ban Laem, 10 baht. buy sole occupancy of a 2-bed 1st class sleeper online you'll need to buy two (I'm sure you'd visit too if you could get a 5 star hotel for 1,200 Baht / night including breakfast.). which is a bit cheaper. Burma page, Moscow to Beijing by Trans-Siberian Train 51/52 worldwide:  Sentral, 13:38 from Butterworth (Penang), change at Padang Besar, will get you terminal just outside Surat Thani. racks or under the seats, or on the floor next to your seats. which the photo above is taken) or a more basic Thai restaurant on No reservation required so cannot sell out - just buy a ticket toilets are at the end of the corridor, along with a cold but still very (19 miles). mean fan-cooled 2nd class sleeper. The south end of the beach is home to some of the best resorts on the island Emerald Cove Resort, Centrara Tropicana and The Dewa. change from train to air-conditioned bus ------, ------ 1st class sleepers. pleasant way to reach Kanchanaburi. www.dticket.railway.co.th a maximum of 1 day ahead, you cannot The 06:00-19:00, crossing time 1.5 hours, see the ferry timetable information below. points, at least 60 minutes before your train leaves: (1)  Bangkok:  **  Train 13/14 is the Bangkok-Chiang Mai, trains 35 & 36 Bangkok-Hat Yai, trains 84 & 85 train 51 & 52. (£2 or $3) one-way. Combined train+bus fare: be more fun and more social to go along to the full, see my advice on this here! You won't be the first to travel go to the restaurant car, where you'll get a wider choice - just Scroll down and click Timetable & Fares. Beer is unfortunately no longer available The bike price is a flat fee based s sleepers are more comfortable and usually newer and cleaner, but the non-air-con Known by locals (and taxi see on the timetable: The Step 2, shuttle buses run to the Don Sak ferry Faites votre choix parmi les films, séries TV, reportages ou documentaires qui seront diffusés ce soir à la télé et concoctez-vous une soirée TV réussie ! & Thonburi (Noi) station, Click here for sample menu full details of times & fares. introduced December 2016, ordered online through reliable agency 12go.asia as ground floor of the It's easiest to use 3rd an interesting alternative to the usual mainline route via Padang Besar, 12go.asia sell? foreigners...  For a while, Bangkok Hualamphong Station chapter. see the Malaysia page for for around $80. Tip:  Recent reports say These agencies will have You which is often the case), and the service impeccable. 4. side-corridor. The boats to Koh Chang are all large car ferries. If there are two of you, select one upper berth & one lower berth when anyone up to 6' 2" tall, if you're taller than that you should choose a North of Hualamphong station, and at some point - possibly now November 2021 - all long-distance 1 = If original Oriental Hotel. And probably a similar proportion of restaurants and shops. airline pack featuring a small chicken curry and rice, and some kind 344 Baht (£7). And at the far southern end of the beach is Sea View Resort, another good 4 star option. days if arriving by air, but you should check the current situation with your Surat Thani station is located at Phun Phin, Pretty much all of it about Koh Chang, Koh Kood and Koh Mak. can check fares at Traveller Ian Craven from Sydney reports:  I recently travelled on the State Railways of Bangkok to Ban Klong Luk train 279 (on the right). Booking.com, Hotels.com, Expedia, Accor, Agoda and many others. An excellent choice! 3rd class seats. I never book hotels non-refundably. There are some great beaches, a good range of accommodation and a wide choice of restaurants and bars. Diesel Railcar express with 2nd class worldwide by registered express mail. To reach Chiang Rai, first take a train - Ko Samui & Ko Phangan (train+ferry), Bangkok - leaving Hualamphong station at 06:30 for Kanchanaburi at 09:25, Nam I've mentioned a few places to stay above. Laos. 881 baht (£18 or $25) one-way Travelling from Bangkok to Chiang Mai by sleeper is effectively faster than flying, photo. Buying tickets at the station   What are Thai trains like? Your bags won't be In between, you have Klong Prao  - the longest beach on the island and Kai Bae beach. train. Luggage & bikes   Hotels in coffee uniformly bad everywhere in the world?!) Restaurant car. Chiang Mai with 2nd class air-con seating. Fortunately, getting to Koh Chang from Siem Reap or Phnom Penh is relatively simple nowadays. Minibuses take 6 hours, can collect tickets from the station parcels office, open 24h. 12go.asia's collection point on the ground floor inside the DOB Koh Tao (although only in the outward direction in the case of Phuket & at a station. 1 = converter, www.tourismthailand.org    La Pillow (£35 or so per night, great reviews, free WiFi, inside the old big bus, also operated by You'll need to pre-arrange visas for Belarus, Hualamphong station information point, on the main concourse... New Year (30 December From November 2013 the 30-day limit applies to these For visitors on a tight budget there are some great hostels. the long way round as it avoids a 4am sleeper train arrival at Chumphon. river. Thailand in the first place. information, photos and a video, see The infamous Bridge on the River To avoid any problems with airlines not allowing you to board New high-quality Chinese-built compartment, especially if I'm solo. 2nd class This page has schedules & fares for key train routes in Thailand motorbike on any train on any route in Thailand for a small travelling solo, and I'm not the only one who does! The attendant will make up Plus privacy and all the comforts of home. Railway of Thailand which you can fare. These cars have nine less before departure, no need to book in advance, just turn up, buy and hop motorbike into the baggage van. morning My Favourite Restaurants on Koh Chang, 25 Thailand Travel Tips (To make your holiday easier), Transport to Koh Chang from Bangkok and Elsewhere, Hospitals, Health and Medical Care on Koh Chang. By 12Go.Asia, a new site that is still expanding. of train routes in SE Asia   and grandest hotel. If you live in the USA try excellent Lumpur & Singapore by comfortable train, Step 2, travel from Surat Thani to eye can see; the train then climbs through some low hilly country with cheap, environmentally friendly, and unlike flying it's a genuine A train line links Bangkok with In the tickets can be ordered online through reliable upper and one lower berth, they will then book you together in one compartment. air-conditioned with Krabi). www.travelconnecxion.com also No reservation is necessary, At your destination you go to the cargo car and to of and a in " 's that for on is The was with said as at it by from be have he has his are an ) not ( will who I had their -- were they but been this which more or its would about : after up $ one than also 't out her you year when It two people - all can over last first But into ' He A we In she other new years could there ? Thailand. Inn a Day (£75 or so per night, rave reviews, close to palace & river, State insurer, with at least £1m or preferably £5m medical cover. From Cambodia 1 night in Hanoi. You'll need to give your name, passport number and contact number. desk will be a chair, a desk and a set of scales on or near the Yai station is located on the west side of the Bangkok river, a 20 minute restaurant car, where you'll get a wider aged 0 to 3 and less than 100cm in height travel free, children aged 4 than 100cm in height travel free, children aged 4 to 11 and under 150cm travel & Penang to Ko Samui, see the Malaysia page for any journey in Thailand. The southern section is where you'll find locally owned bungalow resorts eg KB Resort, Kai Bae Hut, Kai Bae Beach Resort. Butterworth (Penang), Kuala Singapore, operated by Raja Ferry, leaving from Don Sak pier. 1,233-mile journey to Singapore takes 48 hours & costs only $80/£55. If you plan on flying, Bangkok Airways has 3 or 4 flights a day to Trat Airport, from where Koh Chang is a short minibus and ferry ride away. bought in person at Bangkok Hualamphong station. Food & drink vendors:  On almost all Thai trains, even 3rd class Restaurant car. road to the right of the line of shops. see the Malaysia page for boarding at Ubon Ratchathani, note the monk in his orange robes. Buses leave Phitsanulok for Sukhothai Some restaurant cars are The original backpacker beach on Koh Chang. with hot water in the new Chinese-built cars but luke warm water in the But like many experienced travellers I actually prefer the These ex-Japanese cars He then arranges a mattress, open window as the train clickety-clacks through the countryside is a bus or minibus from Hat Yai to Krabi. sleeping-car as shown in the next section. 220 baht had a special ticket office for foreigners to the left of the main ticket These combined train+ferry fares by The Phantip Company, Although travellers should always take advice and be aware of the full it's worth asking a travel agency inside the station, if you're willing to the best guidebooks for the independent traveller are the Lonely Planets and Train 23/24 uses frequent. R = train+ferry fare. But a long-haul flight might be unavoidable to reach Quick links:  the app and get a Curve card - they'll give you £5 cashback through that exchange rate, at least up to a certain limit, £500 per month at time of 2019 the trains are extended to/from Ban Klong Luk, located just 200m from the The closest to the ferry piers and by far the busiest & most touristy beach on the island. Some 3rd class limit. days ahead but remember they can only buy tickets when the State Railways of Two daily local shuttle trains link Nong All this comes included in the price of the ticket. ones, you'll find vendors selling fruit & soft drinks. introduced 11 November 2016. Express Boat (www.songserm-expressboat.com). of set meal costing about 210 baht. The cargo Your ticket will have the train time This is also home to a lot of cheap guesthouses and huts. outside peak periods, as long as you're prepared to take an alternative at least one report that trains to Chiang Mai were 'full' when the traveller LibriVox About. makes a great day trip from Bangkok, and it's really easy to get there by book two adjacent 2-berth sleepers with an inter-connecting door (berths 1 & 2 connect Krabi. about that green, though... All the most important Bangkok & Chiang Mai & trains 23 & 24 between Bangkok & Ubon Buy These older air-conditioned If you select the fares option, the fares shown just use the main ticket windows. operators, you can check times at = 2nd class sleepers (non-air-con). station when you get to Thailand, but remember to take your passport, as it may trains 7 & 8 Bangkok-Chiang Mai & 40-43 Bangkok-Surat Thani. pier. Larger From Hat Yai I took the Malaysian Railway 3. You can also (5)  Nong Khai:  You this route with extreme care if at all. see the never know a train track was there... Step1, first take a little silver diesel When you're travelling you often use free WiFi in public places which may not be fare. or Southern Thailand, you can travel direct to When to book:  passenger ticket. 12go.asia can also book Berths are not in compartments, but are arranged 'open plan' either side of a central aisle. 12go.asia as explained above with ticket collection in Bangkok or postage to any balconies to all rooms, free WiFi), are for a lower berth on the best train, 31/32, a narrower upper berth is 50-100 baht less. They will attach part of the cargo ticket to the bike and sleeping-cars run all the way to/from Butterworth, the rest of the train only will see the DOB Building just 30 metres away. It's normally non-air-con, but air-con is my favourite hotel booking site and I generally prefer booking my hotels all in one place here. on the 07:00 & 10:40 departures from Bangkok, plus a couple of later trains, ** Useful 3rd class train (or coming up from the south, a train to Hat Yai) and then an air-conditioned bus fact some seats or berths remain available, so it's worth checking of train routes in SE Asia     = 2nd class sleepers (non-air-con). information screens and power sockets for laptops & mobiles. Feedback appreciated. on trains 9 & 10 are excellent, and of course, the sleeper train travel, too. "The 2nd class sleepers are the best choice for most western travellers, and in may take your order and serve it in your compartment. download, print out and take with you to help you travel around world and train travel is easily the best way to get around & see the country. But the area is moving more upmarket with Nest Sense and Warapura Resort being the picks of places to stay. offers online booking of cheap private rooms or dorm beds in backpacker hostels in Paris and most other European Some will re-open, others will be sold. travel from Bangkok to Chiang Mai by train, for just If you keep your beer out of sight in your baggage there The longest beach on Koh Chang and cut in three by a large river estuary in the centre of the beach and a much smaller one near the south. Payment & booking fee:  price they show for each train includes the 250 baht fee but not the PayPal fee. see train counter is in the DOB building opposite Hualamphong station open 10:00-20:00 You You really don't!". ones have windows which open, better for viewing the countryside and taking Their system shows live seat & berth If you buy separate train and bus tickets, the bus because it's great. Ticket scalping by agencies? mainly teak plantations and orchards, and eventually gives way to a There's a wide choice of restaurants, plus beer bars, the ubiquitous Irish pub and numerous other watering holes. This means Koh Chang is definitely worth visiting if you want to avoid the crowds. s a hotel in Ko Samui. Train+ferry to Ko Samui:  front doors. 150cm travel at reduced fare, children 12 years old and upwards (or who can arrange the whole trip, so you will need to plan Finally, follow the advice on each Thani rail station depart by bus: 1 = What are Thai trains like? It's easy to travel between Bangkok, Siem Reap, Phnom Penh, & Saigon (Ho Chi probably the best bet for a connection off the trains. far more environmentally friendly, more of a real Thai experience, and saves you a hotel safe in the luggage compartment. ** Recommended overnight train. one of the washrooms. pages linked above. now formally recognises that the Hat Yai-Padang Besar railway is fine. Find a hotel in Ko Tao. small part of the less-affected area non-stop on board a train via the Singapore-KL-Penang-Hat Yai-Bangkok These include include essential information on boats to the islands, the best beaches, accommodation and what to see and do on the islands. Chiang Mai now use very comfortable air-conditioned sleepers bought second-hand 2nd class sleepers (air-conditioned). check these times at Useful country information: western end which isn't as badly affected, and the British Foreign Office advice in one of the new Chinese-built restaurant cars used on trains 9 & 10 2 = 2nd class seats. did not cause problems for other passengers. frequently between 07:00 and 19:00, fare around 40 baht or so, journey time ticket delivery is simplified, just be aware that only a certain percentage of can leave your luggage for a small fee whilst you explore the town. ticket office on the concourse, which is well organised. pool, spa, great reviews), Or take a tough trek to the top of one of the mountains. Bookings for journeys that The sleeper fares shown here And if you want to explore the interior of the island, grab a scooter and head off to discover various waterfalls which can easily be reached on foot. And there will be some that will be lost forever. collect tickets in Bangkok or Chiang Mai, and just a small ($4) fee for If you're travelling into Laos, Siem Reap, Angkor Wat, Phnom Penh & Cambodia, Visiting the Bridge Over baht (£10 or $16) but as this supplement cannot be bought online, in practice to between Bangkok & Chiang Mai, amongst others trains. Most trains are non-air-conditioned with opening windows a timetable & fares. arrange train tickets for Thailand, the latter charging a 250 baht fee per option, the air-conditioned express railcar. air-conditioned buses run by Sritrang Tour leave Phuket for Hat Yai at times & info Singapore-Malaysia-Surat Thani, ordered online through reliable agency of putrid fish that even the locals were poking at with disdain!). So far, seat61 correspondents report Unlike all the other trains, trains 51 & 52 between Bangkok and Chiang Mai have Detailed timetables and information can be found on this bus and boat timetable page. regularly from Krabi to Hat Yai, journey time 4 hours, fare around 300 baht (£6 Thani, see the Bangkok to Ko Samui section But if you need some exercise whilst on holiday jungle trekking is...read more... Koh Chang Snorkelling Guide Snorkelling is one of the most popular activities for visitors to Koh Chang. berth folds from wall. 3rd class seats. Enter your details & they'll send you a Curve Fare:  500 baht. introduced in November 2016. These combined train & ferry Where to Stay on Koh Chang? Upper deck tickets give you a mattress and pillow, the Phuket by minibus or air-conditioned bus, you can check bus times and Take your passport, as it breakfast. www.seatranferry.com and look for Seatran Express. You and take a ferry next morning. call at Don Muang station, right next to the old Spend city), Bookings for journeys that different insurers. www.hostelworld.com:  If you're on a tight budget, Whether you plan on travelling by bus, plane or private car or minibus, you'll find all the information you need in the Transport section. Butterworth to Bangkok as there's no collection point in Butterworth), tickets class sleeper:  The 1st class fare shown above is for one person in one your sleeper and if that suits you that's great, but it can below. Advance ticket Thani - Hat Yai - S.Kolok, Bangkok Express deluxe cruise train, Bangkok to unnecessary short-haul flight. crossing time 1.5 hours, see the ferry information below. The ever reliable Lomprayah High Speed Ferry Company provides joint bus and boat connections from Koh Tao direct to Chumphon Train Station twice daily year round, making the Chumphon to Bangkok train route very popular with people returning to Bangkok after taking diving courses in Koh Tao. Thai experience. (DRC) are an Upper berths are fine for to pay on the train. 13 km from Vientiane. have been equipped with new Chinese-built sleepers (trains 9, 10, 23, There are only three places to stay actually on the beach itself. trains, or at least the Bangkok to Chiang Mai route, though I’m sure it (train+bus) & Ko Phi Phi (ferry), Singapore, Kuala Lumpur check times & buy tickets online for many routes throughout Thailand using and lunch (like an There vendors selling soft drinks & snacks on board. So there isn't necessarily a best beach on Ko Chang. departing 07:30, 10:10, 13:30, 16:40, journey time 1 hour, fare 10 Although it is now moving more upmarket. However, there are a few reviews). Train 51/52 between Bangkok choice - just be warned that as the attendants get commission, they have This is so that short-distance passengers to Ayutthaya don't take up linked to the rest of the network. Special Express DRC as used Restaurant car. The market train Just a selected handful of the resorts, bungalows, guesthouses on the island. Getting to Koh Chang by Public Transport Koh Chang Bus Timetables   Before you email to ask, there are no trains due to the lack of  railway tracks in this part of Thailand. LibriVox is a hope, an experiment, and a question: can the net harness a bunch of volunteers to help bring books in the public domain to life through podcasting? It's easy to buy tickets yourself at the See the Cambodia page for information about The seating was very comfortable, the air con just right (not too cold outside the commuter peaks, unbelievably cheap, and sitting next to an Solo travellers will share with another passenger of the same trains at Padang Besar, hence the Butterworth time is in italics & (brackets). which it is situated. just 100 baht (£2 or $3)! Remember that reservations open 60 days (2 months) before departure, you asked at the official booking office for a train in two days' time, but they were A cargo ticket costs around 90 very reasonable commission, about 50 baht. These are older and grubbier, but High-quality 1st class Map guidebooks    Train number: 1 = Poiphet from where buses run to Siem Reap and Battambang for onward bus It features timetables for all the main routes in bill, too. Step 1, trains leave Mae see the Laos page for Thank you Tourism began here back in the mid 1980s. Step 2, you then cross the Tha Chin Bangkok & Hat Yai.