I love the the help that all of you Thailand travelers have provided for my upcoming trip! Thank you all! I now need more help!

I may have the opportunity to head to Thailand a week or so earlier than my boyfriend. It all depends on whether or not I change careers (currently negotiating).

We are already visiting Bangkok, Chiang Mai area, a couple of beach areas and Cambodia during our 23 day trip.

I would love to hear your suggestions for places that would be good to visit within a 5 hour or so train ride from Bangkok.

I am interested in picturesque villages, national parks and small towns. I would like to interact with locals but I don't want to be completely isolated from English speaking travelers because I am a social butterfly and I enjoy conversing with other travelers.

For those of you that have ventured into the less visited areas around Bangkok, what would you suggest? I am not terribly interested in visiting Ayutthaya since I will be seeing plenty of ruins in Siem Reap. Some of the places I am considering are Kanchanaburi, Samaesan or Sangkhlaburi.

I would love to base myself in a nice place that has several day trip options that I could visit via motorbike.

I will probably stay a couple of nights in Bangkok upon arrival and then head out for 5 nights or so to another location.

I can't wait to hear your suggestions!

Why not fly somewhere? Flights are very cheap. I would recommend either going to Chiang Rai area , Mae Hong Son area or Khon Khean (Issan area).

Yes, glo, I have considered that and it is not out of the question. It is just that we are already flying 6 legs and I thought it would be nice to see some scenery via train or bus travel.

Drive and see the sceneray when you get where you are going. The area immediately around bangkok is not all that interesting in my opinion.

how about just spending the time in bkk and really get to know the city...there are tons of places to visit that require time, like prasart museum and other parts of the city that require you to walk in the neighborhoods???

What about Nong Khai up on the Laos border - just a hour from Udon Thai. Udon is okay but Nong Khai is more interesting. Its on the Mekong. You can choose to cross the border easily and into Vientiane if you are interested - just under an hour by tuk tuk or taxi (you need a visa which is available at the border (cost $30US) - take a passport photo)

Nong Khai is an overnight train or a hour by plane(to Udon) so a bit longer than you said but its an interesting little town and very laid back. Quite a lot of expats around the river so plenty of english speakers.

well I liked Kanchanaburi. And there is plenty to do. And there are some laid back sorts of places to stay by the river. You can visit the "Burma Railway" on a day tour that also includes lunch in a village and either a short elephant ride or bamboo rafting. You can probably do this as a 2 day trip ex Kanchanaburi overnighting in a village somewhere - I can't remember. It's the sort of thing you suss out once you get there.

I think there were also organised trips up towards the Burma border too. And in town there are the Commonwealth war graves, and a museum in remembrance of those who worked and died building the railway - set up I think by a buddhist monk.

This is from memory - no trip notes to hand - and it was 1999 when I was there. But a quick google or a visit to the local library for a Lonely Planet or Rough Guide will quickly fill in the gaps and put straight any misinformation!

Going to Nong Khai is also a good idea though if you like the idea of an overnight train trip "just because it's there". It will cost you $30US for a visa at the border to cross into Laos - though to be honest there isn't a huge amount to see in Vientiane that merits going all that way.

There's always Ko Samet which is easy to get to from BKK though hardly undiscovered!! And there is a lovely quiet town 3-4 hrs south of BKK by bus with many old wooden wats - but not a lot else. If that appeals, post again and I'll find the map and the name of the place.

Have a great trip.




rtonaistri

I would say Kanchanaburi for a couple of days if you want treks and jungle or otherwise take the bus routes/road or the rail line south along the Sunrise Coast. A couple of hours south is Hua Hin for beach, temples, elephants etc, then less than 30 minutes to the Sam Roi Yot National Park, there are places to stay opposide the beach, low rise but air-con and comfortable, Anchana resort, privacy resort and Spa, or for lower budget good value is Dolphin Bay resort, you can cycle/bike around the national park or take the trips all the resorts offer. The is undiscovered but not remote, lots of people visit these areas but you are also in a natural part of Thailand along the coast. restaurants are local or those in the accommodation places. It's not desolate but don't expect malls or nightlife ( well except for Hua Hin itself ). Further down is Bang saphan and Koh Talu island. That takes you pretty much the absolute distance.
Remember trains are much slower than buses, the express buses take half the time of the trains. You can also car+driver 'hop' from one place to another easily as any accommodation will gladly (for the fare of course) along to the next place. If you won't want to go too far then Kanchanaburi or perhaps just the southern most part of Hua hin around Takiab bay where you can take trips to Sam Roi Yot, elephant ride or wathc the elephants stroll thru the village ( but again plenty of good air con accommodation around )
www.beachsiam.com/sunrise_coast.html gives you distances and what is available along the coast.

Take a look at Mae Hong Son, and for accomodations, Fern Resort. We loved it. Very peaceful. Wonderful staff.

how about hop on a train and get off at a couple of small towns threw out the day "eurotrain" style, the towns may offer some serprises or not, but atleast you'll have and adventure.

lonely planet books are good for highlighting out of the way areas. why not read up and post back about some of the sites you may be interested in maybe one of us has been there and can comment further.

I been too many tourist areas the cater to Thais but unfortunately I can never remember the names of those places.

Orgy, my original post included the following:

"Some of the places I am considering are Kanchanaburi, Samaesan or Sangkhlaburi."

I like the idea of hopping off the train to check things out!