TRAVEL FROM Chiang Mai to Bangkok by Train

Chiang Mai to Bangkok by train was a fabulous journey and something of a travel adventure after exploring Chiang Mai’s temples and shrines and enjoying the fortified city’s cafes and amazing food over several wonderful days.

Having arrived in Chiang Mai on a flight, I suggested to my best friend and travelling companion that we travel away from Chiang Mai to Bangkok by train, instead of the one hour flight as an authentic culturally immersive travel experience.

*There are many benefits to travelling from Chiang Mai to Bangkok by Train*

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CHIANG MAI TO BANGKOK BY TRAIN

So, we opted to travel from Chiang Mai to Bangkok by train and we chose to take the day train as opposed to the night sleeper train, because then we could gaze out of the windows and see Thailand’s scenic countryside in daylight as we tracked slowly for the four-hundred and thirty-six miles (580km) to the capital city.

I do understand it suits some people to take the night train to Bangkok as it offers overnight services with sleeper berths.

But the train journey from Chiang Mai to Bangkok travels through some of Thailand’s most beautiful landscapes, including lush forests, mountains, and rural countryside, and trains provide more space to move around compared to airplanes or buses.

Chiang Mai to Bangkok by Train. Thailand's countryside and small towns. Photo by Janice Horton — *Thailand’s countryside and small towns. Photo by Janice Horton*

CHIANG MAI THAILAND TO BANGKOK BY TRAIN

Then there also, of course, the important issue of our traveller’s carbon footprint and train travel is more environmentally friendly compared to air travel as it produced less carbon dioxide per passenger kilometre.

It’s also worth considering the travel budget. Because taking the train is more cost effective and budget-friendly option as train tickets are generally cheaper than flight tickets.

I worked out that the money we saved on taking the train rather than the plane might pay for our one night’s accommodation in Bangkok. And, in arriving in the city centre station rather than at the airport location, we’d have easier and quicker access to our centrally located hotel in Bangkok.

Having managed to convince my friend that taking the train would be a much better and culturally idealistic idea, we agreed that it would be a journey we could talk about together in years to come, perhaps with nostalgia and great affection.

There are five trains from Chiang Mai to Bangkok per day and the daytime train Number 8 departing at 08.50am is said to be the most popular as it is scheduled to be the fastest service.

Chiang Mai to Bangkok by Train. A romanticised version of travel from Chiang Mai to Bangkok by Train. — *Travel from Chiang Mai to Bangkok by Train*

CHIANG MAI TRAIN STATION

We arrived at historic Chiang Mai Train Station – known as Sathani Rot Fai Chiang Mai in Thai – early in the morning in a taxi.

Located about 3 kilometres from the centre of Chiang Mai, the station is easily accessible by taxi, tuk-tuk, or public transportation.

The original train station dating back to 1922 was destroyed by air strikes in 1943 and so the station which stands today was rebuilt in 1945 but still holds an old charm.

Chiang Mai to Bangkok by Train. Chiang Mai Train Station. Photo by Janice Horton — *Chiang Mai Train Station. Photo by Janice Horton*

In anticipation of the long journey ahead – as I was starting to doubt the existence of a dining car – we first popped across the road into the 7-11 Store opposite the station to stock up on snacks and drinks.

Then, with a carrier bag each full of snacks and drinks and sustenance, we headed over to the station.

I admired the old steam locomotive on display and marvelled at the somewhat nostalgic Thai and Colonial style.

Chiang Mai to Bangkok by Train. On the platform with the Number 8 ‘Special Express’ train to Bangkok — *On the platform with the Number 8 ‘Special Express’ train to Bangkok*

HOW LONG IS THE TRAIN RIDE FROM CHIANG MAI TO BANGKOK?

As we had already bought our 2nd Class e-tickets in advance and online from Klook and so we bypassed the information desks and ticket counters and headed past Buddha deities and elephant statues to the boarding gate and the platform where the Number 8 ‘Special Express’ train was scheduled to leave at 08.50am to arrive in Bangkok at 18.55pm.

Making the train ride from Chiang Mai around ten hours long (as a guide) as it can sometimes take longer.

CHIANG MAI TO BANGKOK TRAIN TICKET

You can buy your train ticket at the station on the day but be prepared to wait in a long line at the station.

Also be warned that the trains are busy – especially the most popular train Number 8 – and so tickets are often sold out on the day of travel so I do recommend you buy a train eticket ahead of time for your journey from Klook.

Sign for tTaking the Number 8 ‘Special Express’ train to Bangkok — *Taking the Number 8 ‘Special Express’ train to Bangkok*

Chiang Mai to Bangkok TRAIN TIME

Fastest Train: Train #8 departing from Chiang Mai at 08:50 is scheduled to complete the journey in 10 hours 05 minutes making it the fastest service on this route.

Slowest Train: The slowest service is the 15:30 departure on Train #52 which is scheduled to complete the journey in 13 hours 40 minutes. You can also find out more about train schedules at the Thailand Trains Website.

*Train Times Correct at date of publication/update*

Our tickets were checked as we boarded the carriage, and as we were the first to arrive, we had our choice of seats. We opted for mid-carriage to benefit from some distance from the toilet and as many ceiling fans as possible.

*We opted to sit mid-carriage from Chiang Mai to Bangkok by Train*

The second class carriage promised air-conditioning once we were underway but it was stiflingly hot inside. I immediately noted the classic décor and old two-tone brown and black vinyl covered seats and sincerely hoped that my friend hadn’t seen the sudden doubts etched on my face at the thought of what could be a gruelling journey ahead of us!

The carriage soon filled up with men, women, children and everyone had a 7-11 store carrier bag full of snacks and drinks.

Then we were off and my sense of optimism returned as we smoothly rode through the Thai countryside and small towns and villages and then out into the plains where there was actually nothing but rice field after rice field after rice field.

Views from the train from Chiang Mai to Bangkok by Janice Horton

Thailand's beautiful landscapes and rural countryside. Photo by Janice Horton — *Thailand’s beautiful landscapes and rural countryside. Photo by Janice Horton*

Lunch was included in the ticket price and it came to us on a trolly pushed along by a very grumpy Thai lady, who actually flung the plastic cartons of food either onto your plastic tray or straight into your lap, while she hissed something indecipherable in Thai. We were more entertained than offended.

Some people opened and sniffed at their lunches and some didn’t bother. But nobody I saw actually ate any of it. We were curious so peeled back the plastic lid to smell curry and see something that resembled a fish’s head in a gooey broth.

Oh well, thankfully we had our 7-11 supplies and happily tucked into sandwiches and hard boiled eggs and crisps, instead.

Our lunch of fish curry was included in the train ticket price — *Lunch was included in the ticket price*

Despite the gruelling length of the journey and the basic conditions on board, we had a lot of laughs on that train journey, as we sat in our sticky and sweaty seats and entertained ourselves by playing silly games with our empty crisp packets.

Playing silly games with our empty crisp packets on our journey from Chiang Mai to Bangkok by train — *Playing silly games with our empty crisp packets*

After ten hours the carriage windows had steamed up and it was hard to see any rice fields or our much anticipated arrival into Hua Lamphong Station in Bangkok.

And the floor was littered with snacking debris and spilled fish heads. The air was filled with the sounds of incessant snoring and the awful smell of putrid wafts from the toilet.

We wrapped our scarfs over our noses against the awful wafts from the toilet on the Chiang Mai to Bangkok Train — *Scarfs over our noses against the awful wafts from the toilet*

Weary with travel fatigue and hoping for an imminent arrival, we wrapped our scarfs over our noses and through misted up windows, we hoped for a blurry silhouette of Bangkok to appear like a miracle on a blazing red and orange horizon.

Perhaps it was a mirage rather than a miracle and one that kept us hoping and guessing from a distance.

Bangkok appeared like a miracle on a blazing red and orange horizon on our journey from Chiang Mai to Bangkok by train. — *Bangkok appeared like a miracle on a blazing red and orange horizon*

It actually took twelve hours of travel for us to arrive in Bangkok. Which was two hours longer than expected.

Despite this, my dear friend and I still talk about taking that legendary journey from Chiang Mai to Bangkok by train.

It felt like an adventure. We’re sure we’ll be retelling the story of those twelve hours well into our old age. It was certainly all we’d hoped for regarding an authentic and culturally immersive experience. And one we wouldn’t have had if we’d simply taken the Chiang Mai to Bangkok flight or Chiang Mai Bangkok bus.

We laughed about it then and we laugh about it now, and happily reminisce about that special time we had together, travelling across Thailand from Chiang Mai to Bangkok by train. For further reading see all my posts on Thailand!