Best places to visit by train in Thailand: From Chiang Mai to Khao Yai National Park

It seems like everyone loves train travel in Europe. Night train services are increasing all the time, making it easier than ever before to travel across the continent by rail. And, rather excitingly, Southeast Asia is following suit.

Thailand’s improvements to its train lines are rolling out year on year, with international links opening and national lines getting swifter. Whether you live in Bangkok or are travelling around the kingdom on a holiday or sabbatical, making the most of the trains here is something we don’t do in Thailand as often as we should, with domestic flights and long haul buses being so cheap.

But there’s a lot to be said for the stress-free, scenic routes of the Thai railways, which are low cost and extremely reliable – ask a Thai friend if they have train strikes here and they’ll look at you bemused, questioning what a ‘strike’ is. Having lived in Thailand for three years, I’ve tested some of the best routes out of the capital.

Here are four of my favourite train trips to take from Bangkok, starting at Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station (formerly known as Bang Sue Grand Station), to enjoy your time away from the vibrant, bustling city.

Bangkok to Ayutthaya

This is an easy day trip from Bangkok: history-rich Ayutthaya is just one hour away by train. Setting off bright and early is the way forward because there’s so much to see in Thailand’s former capital city, so I suggest hopping on board at 7.30am, with a third-class seat setting you back 20 Thai baht (50p) – not the comfiest seat, sure, but it will get you there. Ayutthaya train station is a short drive from the old town centre so I use Grab (Bolt works too) to get a taxi to bicycle and moped rental agency Tour With Thai (TWT) where my old favourite, Joy, rents me a bike for the day. It’s a flat city and easy to navigate, so I drive to Wat Phanan Choeng Worawihan to pay my respects to the biggest Buddha in town at the huge and very much operational temple, before heading off to Wat Lokkayasutha, a ruin with a colossal, plaster-coated reclining Buddha. I whip to Wat Chaiwatthanaram in time to watch the sunset over the huge complex of pointed stupas, before heading to the dinky station to get the train back to Bangkok.

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