50 RMB train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, 5 days, 3 cities, budget route
🇹🇭 I've always wanted to experience train travel in Thailand, and this time I did it! The ultimate experience for backpackers on a budget: from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, the whole journey on a retro train, hard seat, no air conditioning, 5 days, 3 cities, train fare 50 RMB! 💓 Northern Thailand train travel achievement unlocked! If you want to experience this route, feel free to copy it.
🚂 My route is:
🗺️ Chiang Mai - Lampang - Phitsanulok - Ayutthaya - Bangkok
Stop and go all the way, one or two days in each place, all the way to Bangkok. No air conditioning, hard seat, but the carriage is actually quite comfortable, with fans and natural wind, not hot, natural rural scenery all the way, there are vendors selling all kinds of snacks on the train, very interesting, overall experience is good, suitable for backpackers with plenty of time and money to save.
🚂 Lampang
Chiang Mai - Lampang, 09:30 - 12:00, fare 23 baht
Lampang, a very laid-back town, like Chiang Mai 10 years ago, still retains horse-drawn carriages, known as the "City of Horse-drawn Carriages". Lampang is suitable for two days, one day is also fine. Route: Chicken Bowl Museum - Lampang Museum - Wat Phra That Lampang Luang - Aroy one bhat, the most crazy and cheapest Thai food.
🚂 Phitsanulok
Lampang - Phitsanulok, 12:02 - 17:22, fare 48 baht
Phitsanulok, known as the "Heart of Northern Thailand", a very smoky historical town, super many temples and Buddha statues, the most famous "Success Buddha" here must go to worship! Route:
D1 Train Station Night Market
D2 Hanging Boat Noodles - Success Buddha (Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat) - Wat Nang Phaya - Queen Buddha - Chedi Luang Wat Ratchaburana
🚂 Ayutthaya
Phitsanulok - Ayutthaya, 10:03 - 15:58, fare 168 baht
Ayutthaya, a World Heritage Site! Highly recommended to stay a few more days to have a good time, visit the monuments during the day, and visit the night market at night. I came across the "Ayutthaya Heritage Festival" this time, so much fun, food night market + shopping festival + light show + music festival.
Route:
D1 Ong Gaan Tolasap Night Market
D2 Wat Mahathat - Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon - Ayutthaya Heritage Festival
The train from Ayutthaya to Bangkok costs 14 baht. Summary: 5 days train trip, from Chiang Mai to Bangkok, a total of 253 baht/person, only 53 RMB, super cheap! 3 places in between, I'll share them with you later!
Chiang Mai Railway Station