My last trip to Thailand was in February 2020, just before covid hit the world. Finally going there again, in September. 

Before covid I was a regular visitor of the kingdom. So I've seen the standard tourist places. I'm having planned almost a full month in Thailand in September. So was looking also for something else to enjoy there than just the boys... 

Any advise on not-so-knows-but-worth-visiting places to visit in/from Bangkok, Pattaya or Phuket are more than welcome! Or you guys always stick to the famous boy-areas in Bangkok and Pattaya...? Hahaha

 

Was looking into visiting Phimai (via Nakhon Ratchasima maybe) and Phanom Rung... But no idea how and from where to get there easily. Anybody been there? Maybe I should find a driver from Bangkok for a few days or something? Or take trains and go for a real adventure?

I've been to Phimai.    I took the train to Nakhon Ratchasima and then the slow local bus from the bus station to Phimai.

Phanom Rung is also worth visiting.

 

 

I did a 3 day/2 night Isaan tour many years ago that included Phimai and Phnom Rung. I feel like Phimai is really underrated. My trip was arranged through a travel agent which is no longer in business. But it was a nice trip. I had a guide and driver. We stayed in Khorat for the the overnights and did day trips out from there. I always felt like arranging a guide and driver was cheap enough to make it worth doing rather than dealing with trains and local transport.

You might want to take a look at Paddy Doyle's YouTube channel. He recently finished visiting every province of Thailand on a moped. After completing the mission he posted several "best of" videos if you aren't interested in watching all of his travelogues. [He's touring Vietnam now] He shares info about lots of places I had never heard of. 

Depending how far afield you have already traveled you might consider places like Sukhothai and the many nearby national parks. I personally would like to spend some time up in the northern mountains some time. I did Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai long ago with visits to places like Doi Tung and Lampang and Lamphun.

Many years ago, on a visit to Chiang Mai, I did quite a long trip up the Ping River and stayed overnight on a raft hotel. The next day we went on a trip through the jungle and also visited a primary school. 

It was something different and a very enjoyable experience.

Have a look at Richard Barrow's site on Facebook.  Always interesting trips, even steam train  trips sometimes.

20 minutes ago, a-447 said:

Many years ago, on a visit to Chiang Mai,

A couple of years ago we went to the botanical gardens. On arriving at the cashier's booth and peering to see if it was double pricing, the girl in the booth looked at us and said "you two are so old, you get in free".

You could take the "sprinter" train all the way to Ubon Ratchathani and make that your base for exploring eastern Isaan.

Soutbound, take a train to Phetchaburi for a few days. There are temples and caves (surprise!) and a hilltop palace/observatory.

The Mae Hong Son loop from Chiang Mai is worth doing, too. Public transport is probably not adequate so you will need wheels of some description (I did it in a hire car.)

I'm a bit of a bore about the north but the journey from Chiang Rai to Mae Salang, a Chinese town inhabited by the descendants of the defeated  Nationalist army is, for me, the most fascinating in Thailand. Better than Doi Inthanon. Some of the roads aren't for the faint-hearted- narrow and mountainous-but what views!

 

Hello Emiel1981,

Back in 2015 I took a hired gay guide couple who gave me a road trip through Chiang Mai, Chaing Rai, Sukhothai, and then the fabulous Kanchanaburi region.

Here is a link to my 2015 trip report - in case it could be helpful to you.

Cheers and enjoy,

M.

 

2015 trip report

On 7/11/2022 at 10:51 AM, bkkmfj2648 said:

Hello Emiel1981,

Back in 2015 I took a hired gay guide couple who gave me a road trip through Chiang Mai, Chaing Rai, Sukhothai, and then the fabulous Kanchanaburi region.

Here is a link to my 2015 trip report - in case it could be helpful to you.

Cheers and enjoy,

M.

 

2015 trip report

 

That would be just perfect. Finding a guide or guides with car to take me around Nakhon Ratchasima, Phimai and Phanom Rung areas. And if he/they can also give massages like the guides you had... Wow. 

Anybody knows any guides that would be able to go on trip like this with me?

I expect that road trip was organised through Siam Roads. https://siamroads.com/#Thailand

If you look under Chiang Mai you will see that Woody is still a guide with car.

I suspect that the guides who are not listed as drivers would know drivers if necessary if they are official guides.

I did a trip several years ago to Sukhothai and Phitsanulok at Loy Krathong time where my guide friend arranged a driver and car for our trip. It was a really nice experience. They have a great parade and pageant at the Sukhothai ruins for Loy Krathong. He also arranged a trip to Khao Yai NP for me another time. I think my friend has retired from guiding now to teach English in Saraburi or I would recommend him.

I find organising things myself is part of the experience.    Something usually works out OK. 

In the case of Sukothai, I flew to Phitsanulok with some kind of Nok Air service which also included a transfer to Sukothai.    I stayed in New Sukothai.   The next day, I took a Songthaew to Old Sukothai and rented a bicycle to look around the place. 

I returned to New Sukothai by songthaew, then took a bus to Phitsanulok the next day and headed south on the train, stopping at Ayutthaya.

 

On my next trip I am planning to visit the far north Chiang Mai,Pai and Mae Hong Son never had been there due my laziness.I am planning more touristic things then boys. lol .

By the way I had been in Sukothai five years ago, the old city is amazing much more impressive then ruins in Ayutthaya and the Thai's there are the most lovely people I ever met in Thailand.

On 7/11/2022 at 2:52 AM, thaiophilus said:

You could take the "sprinter" train all the way to Ubon Ratchathani and make that your base for exploring eastern Isaan.

 

If you're tired of cultural sites, there is apparently a bar in Ubon - but I have no idea of the bar's name or address.

 

Richard Barrow describes a recent train journey to Udon Thani. His report includes some great photography, cultural and tourists places of interest along with places to stay and eat. Makes me want to buy a ticket and go.

Good morning from Udon Thani Railway Station in Northeastern Thailand. I came here on Special Express No. 25 from Bangkok last night. I had booked a bed in the 2nd Class sleeper carriage which cost 977 Baht for the lower berth. The train left Bangkok at 8:25 p.m. and arrived in Udon Thani at 5:44 a.m. So, it was about nine hours. I had a good night’s sleep.

Continues with photos:

https://www.richardbarrow.com/2023/02/weekend-train-trip-to-udon-thani/