Reader question: Is the night train from Bangkok to Chiangmai recommended? (2023)

Joost Mouse says up

The night train is an absolute must! The last part is the most beautiful and then you have already slept and hours of beautiful scenery. The evening is fun with food and drinks delivered to your table.

Rob says up

It's a fun experience. I then had a lot of fun in the restaurant car (but drank a little too much beer there:) Count on many hours of delay because that is always the case. And when you sleep, put your things close to you because the night trains are the ideal hunting ground for thieves.

raymon says up

Train to Chiangmai after a few days in BKK never that long and slept well……kedeng kedeng….Super real!

did have air con though..

Have a nice one!

to print says up

And don't forget that the train has an average delay of three hours. And you see little of the beautiful nature, because it is dark.

I never understand why people want to take that train to Chiang Mai. Flying to Chiang Mai is over an hour and really doesn't cost that much.

And I have met quite a few people at the station, who, after such a bumpy ride with that train that runs on a kind of narrow gauge, brought them to the hotel or my house like human wrecks. But the tourist simply wants to travel by train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai. While there are plenty of more comfortable ways to travel from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.

Jan says up

These trains do have air conditioning. Don't expect luxury! But all in all definitely doable. On the other hand, a plane ticket with, for example, Airasia costs no more than a ticket for a sleeping cabin on the train.

He says up

I've done it once but I can't stand that swing when I'm in bed. My wife didn't like it. Otherwise good.

Cornello says up

The train is definitely recommended, there is air conditioning and comfortable beds, it does not go fast, but it is an experience to experience.

Wilbert says up

is good to do. check in advance whether you choose 1st class (own compartment) or
2nd class (is with a complete train set) bunk beds.
I then had 2nd class because 1st was already full, which is also good to do.
a nice experience
gr. Wilbert

Harm says up

If you like uncomfortable travel and forgoing, it is recommended. For everyone else just take the plane.
It's a night train so it's dark outside so you can't see anything, except at the stops where the necessary noise is made. Which makes sleeping a utopia. Old sagging benches are transformed into a "bed" where you can clearly feel the 4 crossbars in your back. If that's your idea of ​​imaginative travel, buy a ticket immediately.
Oh yes, don't forget to hide everything that is of value to you, trains are very regularly visited by the thieves guild and sleeping gas is also often used, so you will lose everything.
Experience, yes have lived in Uttaradit for 4 years and traveled to Bangkok regularly.
Uttaradit is one of the places where the train stops for an average of 15 minutes for ……

nico says up

Well,
You must have experienced something like this once in your life, really a special experience, it sometimes derails, but with a super speed of between 30 and 60 km per hour, not much can happen.

Then you always go by plane, if you book early with AirAsia, a ticket costs 400 to 900 Bhat and you are in Chiang Mai in over an hour.

Just do it, they can never take that experience away from you.

Greetings Nico

YES says up

No, it's a complete disaster. Flying is almost as expensive. You save 10-14 hours of travel and you don't arrive half dead. I don't understand what people like about this so much. There are also regular train derailments and fatal accidents. Then you have an exciting story if you survive and come home again. Sometimes people are also drugged on the train and then they have lost their belongings. Also a different experience.

rene23 says up

Totally worthless such a night train.
You hardly sleep from the moving and stumbling.
You can't see anything because it's night.
Go fly!

Jack G . says up

It's a nice story to tell at home. It is just something different than flying to Bangkok by plane. I've heard wild stories from an acquaintance who traveled with FOX and it was a lot of drinking in the restaurant car and dancing to music by Frans Bauer in the meantime. And then half drunk trying to get into the top bunk. The toilet visit was completely to screech. The group tours like to use it to make it a bit exciting and unique. Oh yeah. If they start talking about chickens and goats on their beds, they're a little busy with holiday story fraud. But it's just how you experience something like that. On the other hand, trains can be very beautiful and can give you a nice view of the country when it is light. Just do it and know how it is.

Robert Urbach says up

Did it twice years ago. I thought it was a great experience both times. Something you just have to have made as a tourist, I think. A slow and rocking ride. With a stop at each station with all associated sounds. But then at 2:06.00 the reward of the rising sun in the landscape that slides past you. So just do it!

TT says up

If you like adventure then go with the regular train much more fun in my opinion.
Mvg Peter

John says up

Last year, from Bkk to Changmai, went in November, because absolutely wanted to see festivities, at the last minute, but train fully booked, flying, unpayable, hotels full! Finally took the night bus with my Thai wife, must say, very comfortable with wide seats that go almost horizontally. 11 hours in total, and very cheap.
John

Ron says up

Just do it once! We thought it was an experience. Slept well, air conditioning, good food and cozy too. Will you take the plane next time.

John Chiang Rai says up

Maybe it's just me, but apart from a few hours of beautiful scenery when you're awake, I certainly don't see any advantage compared to a flight to Chiang mai. If you consider that you already have a flight for a few euros, with which you can save a lot of time, and also spend a pleasant evening in Chiang Mai. I can also find the so-called comfortable beds in every hotel, and I don't need a restaurant car to have a lot of fun, if I can make a choice on the spot where I can eat and drink. Moreover, I prefer to sleep in a room where I have space, where I am not constantly rocked, and when I wake up I can use a fresh shower and a delicious breakfast buffet. You should also not forget with the night train that you often cannot check into a hotel in the morning upon arrival in Chiang Mai, because this is often only possible after a certain time. Of course everyone has their own taste of travel, but the night train was certainly not my personal choice.

Rianne says up

The night train lovely.
A long route is ideal to do with the night train.
It is relaxed and rested at your destination.
Ok, that rest is up to you, of course, because you can also have a good time in the dining car.
If you travel alone then I would choose a malnourished. You are then more in control of when you want to fold everything back to seats. And also in the evening when they have converted the chairs into a bed, I think it is just a bit more comfortable than upstairs. It can also be very cold upstairs with the air conditioning and the fan can be running hard.

But in the end it comes down to personal preference.

janbeute says up

I have traveled up and down from BKK to CMX by train many times in all the years I have been coming here and now live permanently.
That things are going faster with airlines and the price of the tickets are almost the same, let's not discuss that.
But what do you want.
Making a train journey is something special and an experience , the best thing is to travel during the day , watching the landscape slide past you .
Getting to know fellow passengers, both Thai and tourists.
So meeting people and seeing Thai life from a train compartment.
A train trip in Thailand is a completely different experience than a quick flight up and down by plane.
The last time by train from Lamphun station to HuaLamphong station visa versa was 3 years ago for passport renewal at the Dutch embassy.
Slept two nights in a hotel , a break .
A year ago I quickly went up and down with a Thai low-cost airline on a Saturday to buy a new big bike.
That's why my advice is if you want to see a bit of Thailand and get to know its inhabitants, and if you don't have a stress holiday ahead of you, go by rail.
I recently read that people in the USA are already using the train again , and not just pensioners .
Have a nice train journey.

Jan Beute.

Am scented says up

Have already traveled several times with a night train.
1 time bkk to chang mai
1 time bkk to khon kean then after Laos border railway bridge was not there then
1 bkk to Chumpon and then to Hat Yai
1 bkk to Malaysia and then on to Singapore
1 time chang mai to phitsanuluk (day train) then night train to bkk
Didn't have a single problem indeed watching your stuff
If all goes well, the carriage will be locked at night
Ben

Other says up

We did this two years ago as part of a group tour. On the way there I got sick of the ICE-cold air conditioning. Especially a lot of trouble with the sinuses. Can't sleep on the way back from being shaken by the bad track. Had to hold on to keep from rolling out of bed and upstairs was even worse. A lot of delay indeed, but also fun. No alcohol also has its advantages ;-). But if I could choose… I'd rather fly!