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Home » Reader question » Reader question: To Chiang Mai, fly or night train?
Reader question: To Chiang Mai, fly or night train?
Dear readers,
On July 26, I will leave for Thailand with two girlfriends. We will be backpacking there for 4 weeks. We would like to go to Chiang Mai.
Is it convenient to take a flight because of travel time? The night train seems a bit long to us…
And we would like to go to Malaysia. What's the best way to travel then?
Greetings and thanks in advance!!
Anouk
The (night) train is an experience in itself but not always reliable, a train sometimes derails and delays also occur regularly.
From Chiang Mai you can fly directly to Kuala Lumpur with AirAsia.
Anouk,
The fastest is by plane. It is also [very] affordable. g Rob
Night train can be fun but you don't arrive well rested, flying is fast (1.5 hours) and cheap (€30)
I did that myself a few weeks ago, with LionAir a brand new plane, wonderful…..
Then you have paid (too) much. If you book on time, you have a one-way ticket DMK – CNX with Lion Air for about a tenner.
Night train is a very nice experience. You start sitting, and in the course of the evening a man comes to turn the benches into beds. Food and service on board is excellent. In the evening have a drink in the dining car. It is still light during the first part of the journey, so you can still see some of the landscape. In addition, it also saves you a hotel stay. Definitely an experience you have to experience once.
I always thought that backpacking was about seeing something of the country.
Then the train seems more suitable for that than the plane with those small windows.
But how can you expect another to know what you prefer?
No one knows that better than you.
trains and planes both have advantages, I usually go there by train (I believe you arrive around 6.30am) and back by plane (around 90€ and within a few hours at the destination) that makes it even more doing.
Otherwise you don't see much of the country when it is already pitch dark at half past six and the lion's share of the journey takes place in the night hours.
Hi Anuk,
Nice, to Thailand. Taking the train is of course fun, but you won't get much sleep, with the result that you may be walking around like half a zombie during your first day in Chiang Mai. Of course it is more beneficial. Transport to Chiang Mai is not only cheaper, you also do not need a place to sleep for that night, which is of course also a saving. If you look at the AirAsia site, I see prices on July 27 from about 700 to 1100 Bht. Take a flight in the evening, for example from 18:10 PM so that you can still use the day. And from Chiang Mai it is easy to travel to Malaysia. Have fun in advance, but I'm sure it will work.
The train is currently a disaster. The stewards want you in bed by 8am. Because then they can sleep too.. The rails are so bad that you can't sleep a wink. You almost jump out of bed.. And only 1 in 5 trains arrive on time. It used to be nice and cozy. But beer is no longer allowed to be sold.
Hey,
the train is easy, speaking from experience, coupons with air conditioning, breakfast included in the morning, and you can lie comfortably!
Success!
The train is nice to have experienced once, but our experience is: freezing cold (because of the air conditioning at 0 degrees), compartment next to smelly toilets and arriving 4 hours late.
By plane to Chiang Mai is very relaxed: fast, affordable and it is only a fifteen minute drive to the city center.
The night train is a fun experience because it is such an old mess, you go back years in time. However, it is already dark before you leave Bangkok, and if there are many Thais in the same compartment, the beds are usually made early.
With flying I prefer to fly as early as possible, then you have no problems with what to do with your luggage. Later in the day flight you walk with it all day, or you have to pick it up at the hotel if left there. And upon arrival you have a whole day ahead of you.
But for the experience I would opt for the night train, with backpackers I always think of a bit adventurous.
Dear Anuk,
I live in Lak-Si, along the train tracks to the north, when I'm waiting in front of the level crossing and see a train bouncing on the rails, it must be an experience for the passengers. It is of course inevitable that one regularly derails. If you're here in Thailand anyway, I'll definitely recommend it.
You MUST have experienced this once in your life and that you "almost" regularly get knocked out of bed on the way is a great experience.
Then you fly with Air Asia (very cheap) directly from CM to Malaysia.
Have fun and Chiang Mai is a really great city, be sure to visit the Sunday (evening) market, here you will find items that you have never seen in your life.
Greetings Nico
Don't forget the Saturday market. We just went and it was great!
Certainly taking the night train is an experience in itself
As backpackers who are in Thailand for the first time, you could also do the outward journey to Chinag Mai in stages and visit the ancient capitals of Ayutthaya and Sukhothai on that route, which are very worthwhile. It is better to go to the islands of Malaysia by plane.
Anouk, you can also choose to fly to Chiang Mai and vice versa and take the train from Bangkok to Malaysia. I myself once took the train to Yala, but depending on where you want to go in Malaysia, there are two options: the western route via Hat Yai and Padang Besar or the eastern route via Hat Yai, Yala and Sungai Kolok. The first route leads to Penang and Langkawi, the second to the border, from where you can easily reach the Perhentians.
If you like trains like me , anywhere in the world .
Is a train journey here in Thailand a real experience .
Takes you back to the old days of the railway.
Even the points are often operated with steel cables and large levers, sometimes I stop when I am near the lamphun station.
And I feel back in times gone by , when as a toddler I liked to stand along the railway line in Steenwijk .
Because the current train equipment and everything that happens around it is simply a moving railroad museum.
Last year I took the train again for passport renewal. Lamphun – BKK visa versa.
Had three beautiful days with 2 nights.
On the train you meet many people, both Thai and tourists, nice to talk to and exchange experiences.
You see the landscape and the Thai .
At the end of December last year to purchase a new Harley bike, with Air Asia from CMX to BKK and vice versa.
In the morning we leave for Don Muang BKK around 10 o'clock and back at CMX around 6 o'clock in the evening.
Didn't speak to anyone on the plane.
Fast but professional, just like in Europe with easy jet or ryan air.
A cup of coffee or a simple glass of water is not enough.
But what will .
Fast and cheap from A to B , that was what it was all about for me .
If you are a night-time person (backpacker mentality), take the train.
Are you on a stress holiday , take the plane .
Jan Beute.
I completely agree with Jan, if you take the train you still have something to say at home. The rocking of the train is mainly due to the narrow track. But due to the low speed it is not that bad. A year ago there were a few derailments one after the other, and then it was blown up or something happened every day. I personally opt for a fan and not for air conditioning, but that is personal, I rarely use air conditioning here at home (Samui). As Jan said, train travel is much more fun than traveling with any other means of transport.
If the trains derail 'regularly', will there be no injuries? Seems so strange to me that trains regularly derail and most tourists still find it an experience that is worthwhile.
The train to CM moves so slowly that I can imagine that you hardly notice a derailment (are we already at a station?…..)
Who is,
The speed of the train is somewhere between 30 and 60 km per hour, with peaks up to the magical speed of 80 km per hour, on the straight stretch of course, but then he has to wait for another train, which is a lot. single track. That's why it really is an experience.
And when it goes off the rails, there are usually “only” minor injuries, and many shocked (especially foreign) passengers. You don't have really big collisions, trains colliding with each other here in Thailand, they drive too slowly for that.
Nico
Another tip for sleeping on the train: long live the Thai valium or xanax. Available in almost every Thai pharmacy (whether or not under the counter).
I took the train from BKK to CM twice and returned twice by plane. I had a train with air conditioning once (book on time! I think this can only be done in Thailand itself) and once without because it was fully booked with air conditioning, but I will never do that again, very hot and the noise from the fan so I didn't sleep well, the compartment with air conditioning was great and just fun to experience!
I went by plane from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. nice and fast and as many have already mentioned, fifteen minutes from the city center.
The way back was done by train, but during the day so that you can see which areas you are traveling through.
I think this has an advantage over the night train. If you sleep (if that is even possible) on the night train, you might as well be on the train in Uganda, for example. You don't see anything that is just as warm and when you get home you can only say that you slept so badly.
I would say take the plane there and the train with dining car back.
Hello
we traveled from Bangkok to northern ChiangMai twice by night train. The first time we slept in bunk beds, the second time just in the chair because of the enormous crowds. Both times we experienced this as a disaster. Because of the noise and the nightly cold and draft you hardly sleep.
A friend of ours who runs a guesthouse in ChiangMai always flies from Bangkok to ChiangMai. About a two-hour flight and you're there. If you have little time, flying is recommended. At the destination you then have more time to look at everything carefully.
Kind regards
Mauke and Henk Luijters
Uden. NL
I am currently in Thailand. Beware of those low budget companies. The ticket may seem cheap until you weigh over 15 kg, then you can pay a lot. There is currently a promotion at Thai airways for domistic flights. Ticket BKK to Chaing Mai is 1.800Thb. Weight up to 23 kg + hand luggage that is not weighed.
It really is a night train. And because it is really dark in Thailand at 19 pm, you hardly see anything on the way by train. An experience, yes. But I won't do it a second time.
There are also day trains.