I will be travelling to Thailand early next year. any body can tell me whats the best transport to use to get up North from Bangkok to Chaingmai? maybe the bus or train? and more importantly what is the travelling time needed to get there? 1 day 2 days? cause i now its a long way. I might make a stop at Sukhotai to visit the temples on the way up North. . Since i would like to book at Julie's Guest house at Chaingmai for the first few nights(anybody been there? ) but i am ot sure what dates i will get to Chiangmai.

Cheers
Keep on riding

My info is 3 years out of date, so take it with a grain of salt...

Trains when ever available are always the best way to travel in Thailand(besides a motorcycle of course!). Theres no honking, no swerving, or cramped seats like you get on the overnight bus...just the slow rocking of the train car and lullaby sound of the tracks. If memory serves me right the train took about 8-10 hours and was done over night. When ever I go to Thailand, I go straight to the train tracks that pass by the airport and head north to the small town of Ayuthaya (an hours ride north of Bangkok) and avoid the bustling city of Bangkok. From there, I can arrange any mode of transport to anywhere in the country. Though, if you have never been to Thailand, its a must to spend a few days in this city of organized chaos.

Julie's guesthouse is my fav of Chiang Mai. Nice rooftop hangout, central location, and good people running it.

If you are looking to go on a hill tribe trek, don't book it in Chiang Mai. Go to Pai for this, a few hours west by northwest of Chiang mai. Treks are less disney world like what you get from Chiang Mai operations and its also a lovely little mountain town with a great night life. Its kinda like a beach life mentality in a mountain side setting. You can also rent a bike for a couple of bucks a day and explore the surrounding towns.

Hope this helps

Anything you like...probably best to take the bus. No problems here. Just rock up and check out the options in the travel agents down Khao San.

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Thanks
Joe

i spend already a lot of times in bkk (like everywhere if you start to now the city the chaos is easy to avoid) but for me the best way to go to chiangmai is the plane chek out airasia . the train is also ok but sometime ful booked. book in andvance ant take a sweater with you (the airco is freazing) wil indeet take some 9 hours . if you are alone take 2 clas ( but not the topsleaper , is to close to the airco)

You can fly for about £50/60 2 hours in the air or for the bus Nakhonchai Air £10 VIP are best!! not sure about 15/18 hours Welcome TO NCA WEb Site i dont know were the station is in Bangkok but i know the one in Pattaya have a look at www.tagzania.com./item/19559

Whatever route you take remember not to keep anything VALUABLE in your pack if it's not with you, that includes storing it under the bus/coach as the Thai's have a habit of rumagain through your kit while you sleep. If anyone wants to say differently then they can pay for my camera that got stolen this exact way.

You have been warned

hi guys i went on Airasia.com and checkeout the flights they are really cheap, they sound impossibly cheap. is there like hidden charge or something to a flight that costs 750bht ?

now extra charges with airasia i used them already a few times
everything wenth ok with them .

cheers it just seemed too cheap I mean 750bht ($25USD) for a flight its unbelievably cheap. going for it.....