|
Thailand Transport Information Travelling through Thailand is an experience in itself. The infrastructure is excellent and the lots of ways to get around the country, often by typically local modes of Thailand transport like the songthaew, longtail boat and of course the tuk-tuk. Public transport is very well-organised and buses and trains run on a fixed schedule. Besides, it’s a great way to see the Thai countryside. Each mode of transport has its own charm, and you’ll probably get to experience each one of them.We’ll take care of your larger transfers by domestic plane or (sleeper) train. The smaller transfers, for example from the station to your hotel, are easier to arrange locally by yourself but if you’d prefer to have it all booked beforehand just let us know and we’ll arrange it for you. If you'd like to start building your own personal Thailand trip, you can choose from our range of bite-sized Thailand tours. Or alternatively, take your pick from our suggested Thailand holidays. |
Thailand Transport: Thailand by (sleeper) trainThis is a great form of Thailand transport. The railway system in Thailand is very well-organised and the overnight train is an excellent, comfortable way to travel the longer distances. You’ll get to meet lots of other travellers as well as local Thai, you’ll save on accommodation costs plus you’ll arrive at your destination early in the day. The trains are clean and tidy, but don’t expect too much luxury. We’ll reserve your seats on the train for you. Usually you’ll be seated opposite each other. The sleeper trains in Thailand have a 1st, 2nd and 3rd class. We’ll usually book a 2nd class seat for you; the beds are just as comfortable as 1st class and there’s enough room for your bags. The air-conditioning is regulated automatically so it tends to get quite cold on the train, so you might want to keep a warm sweater handy. You can store your luggage in the racks above the luggage racks, and there are (crouching) toilets and wash basins with (non-drinkable) water where you can freshen up and brush your teeth. In 1st class you can get a private compartment with a bunk bed. It’s a little tight with just enough room to store your bags and because of the small space it tends to be a bit colder. In 3rd class there’s no bed, and no air-conditioning. |
|
|
Thailand Transport: Local transportTuk-tukThe tuk-tuk is one of the most popular forms of Thailand transport, and a tuk-tuk ride is a really fun and typically Thai experience. You’ll see these motorised rickshaws everywhere. The crackling engine, the heat, and having a near-heart attack in the frenzied traffic are what make up the quintessential Thai tuk-tuk experience. Agree on a price beforehand to avoid misunderstanding. As a rule of thumb, a 10-minute ride costs around 55 Baht, around £1. Around Khao San Road, one of the most popular traveller hubs in Bangkok, we could go ‘anywhere we wanted’ for just 10 baht. That did however include an obligatory stop at a jeweller’s shop, or something of the sort. If you’d rather not, then just find another tuk-tuk willing to take you straight to your destination. |
Thailand Transport: Most popular train routesThe train has a separate restaurant car where you can get a good Pad Thai or a cup of noodle soup. Chilled drinks are available but at your own cost. You can also buy some snacks at the station before you board the train. In the evening the train steward will come by to magically turn your seat into a comfy bed with clean sheets, a pillow and a blanket and the car is transformed into a long row of bunk beds. There are curtains so you’ll have a bit of privacy. We book the train journeys as far in advance as possible as they tend to fill up fast, especially around the holidays Loi Krathong (November) and Songkran (April). |
|
|
Thailand Transport: Domestic flights Thailand is a large country and to travel longer distances, for example from North to South, we recommend taking a domestic flight. We can arrange your flights for you. To keep the costs as low as possible we like to use the local low-cost airlines like Air Asia, a reliable airline that flies several different routes within Thailand. Flight schedules and prices tend to vary, so we strongly recommend booking as far in advance as possible. Thai Airways and Bangkok Air have a baggage allowance of 20kg per person, Air Asia has a maximum of 15 kg per person, although you can pay a small fee at the airport to carry more. |
Thailand Transport: Travelling by busAnother form of Thailand transport is the modern and well-organised bus network. All the major cities are linked by bus routes. The local bus is a cheap and fun way to travel between the cities. There are lots of stops on the way and you’ll be travelling with mainly local Thai. They’re extremely friendly and will often try to make conversation, even if they hardly speak English. You’ll notice that monks will take a seat at the back of the bus and never next to a woman, so it’s appreciated if you keep these seats free. A 1-hour bus ride costs around 20p. Keep in mind the buses are often crammed full and there’s limited space for bulky luggage. The local buses have a fan, and they’ll keep the windows and doors open for ventilation.For the longer distances we recommend the more comfortable scheduled bus. There are several connections a day between the major cities and they nearly always travel on time. We can book seats ahead for you, there’s air-conditioning on board and plenty of space. The air-conditioning is usually on full blast, so keep a sweater handy. A 3-4 hour bus ride will set you back about £5. For the Bangkok- Mae Sot route we’ll book the luxury (overnight) VIP bus because there’s no train connection. The bus has reclining seats, there’s a toilet on board and usually cold drinks available. |
|
|
Taxi Another great form of Thailand transport are the taxis which are cheap and the drivers are friendly and helpful. Particularly in the larger cities it’s the most comfortable way to get around as you won’t be surrounded by the smelly exhaust fumes. We do recommend using the (brightly coloured) taxi meter so you’ll pay the fixed, metered price. The starting price is around 35 baht, with an extra 2 baht per km. It’s not customary to tip the taxi drivers, though they’ll appreciate it if you round off the price. Some drivers will claim the meter’s broken and will try to agree on a price beforehand, usually much higher. Most drivers speak limited English, so it helps to carry a business card of your hotel, or a map on which you can point out where you want to go. |
Thailand Transport: Boat transfersFerryMany of the larger islands in southern Thailand are easy to get to by ferry. This can be either a catamaran, express boat or speedboat. Snacks and drinks area available on board. There are several daily crossing between the major islands; it’s easy to buy your tickets on the spot, but if you’d prefer to have then booked in advance we can arrange it for you. Longtail boat The longtail is a typically Thai wooden boat. As the name suggests they’re long, narrow and usually painted in bright colours. The front of the boat is decorated with linen cloths and often floral wreaths, to appease the gods of the sea and ensure a safe crossing. Some longtails are covered to offer some shelter against the sun or rain, though usually to little avail…Bring a sun hat or cap and keep a bottle of sunscreen at hand. Longtails can carry around 16 people, depending on its length. |
|
|
Săwngthăew A săwngthăew is a covered pick-up truck with built-in benches. It’s a cheap and easy way to travel shorter distances. They travel fixed routes and you can hop on, hop off wherever you want. Just flag down the driver and agree on a price before you get in. On the islands the săwngthăew will usually drive a route past the different beaches which is great if you want to take a look on the other side of the island. We use a săwngthăew in several of our excursions, for example during a Thailand adventure in southern Thailand, so you’re bound to board one at some point in your trip. |
|
Bike and moped hire Besides Bangkok, where we offer a great bike tour cycling is a great way to explore the local area, especially in the smaller towns and villages. You can set your own pace and stop off wherever you like. In some towns you can rent a bike at the hotel for about £1.50 a day. Make sure you take a bottle of water with you on your bike ride as it can get very hot. In the larger towns and on the islands you can also rent a moped, ideal for visiting the sights further out of the centre. You don’t need an international driver’s licence, but they may use your passport or a small fee as a deposit. The prices vary from £3-£7 per day. Helmets are compulsory, and we strongly recommend them. |
|
|
Thailand Transport: Car hireOne of the most flexible, and independent forms of Thailand transport is car hire. You’ll have the freedom to determine your own route and pace. We offer a self-drive route in northern Thailand. The great thing about travelling by hire car is that you can stop off wherever and whenever you want. Our local agent will give you the directions and some handy tips. We’ll book your hotels for you, so you won’t need to worry about where you’ll be sleeping.In Thailand they drive on the left so it’s just like home. The main roads are well-maintained and road signs are in English. Car hire is extremely affordable, around £35 per day. Click here for more information on Thailand car hire. |
Build your trip with our bite-sized Thailand tours
For inspiration, check out our suggested Thailand holidays
