Hi all,

I'm Walter, I'm new to this forum.
My wife and I are planning a road trip through Thailand.
I've lived in Thailand before and speak fluent thai, so I know how to get around and know some nice and hidden treasures to visit.

Here's my travel journey for the end of this year, I'd like to hear any advice or suggestions from you. You may also use this for your own trip scheduling as the places mentioned here are quite nice.

Day 1: Fly into Chiang Mai (from abroad) and rent a car there

Stay in Chiang Mai 4 nights, and travel around the region (I haven't put any details yet as I haven't been to Chiang Mai, any one who knows some nice day trips or 'must-see' items, please tell me)

Then travel on to Sukhothai, stay there 2 days and 2 nights. Include Kamphaeng Phet into the schedule as it's relatively close by

Travel down south, to Lopburi for 1 day and 1 night. Visit the temple and the monkeys

Further south to Ayutthaya, spend 2 days and 2 nights there

Leave by car to Pattaya (chonburi) in the morning, spend 2 nights there. We don't have high expectations for Pattaya for nature or culture or beach, but this would be just to go crazy a bit and see what's going on over there

Then we drive to Bangkok, stay around the Thonburi area for 4 days and 4 nights, visit the Grand Palace, and some other temples. Visit the Silom area to look for some nice gems deals (we're gems lovers)

Continue to travel to Kanchanaburi by car. Stay for 4 days and 4 nights in the Sai Yoke area. This is close to the Erawan waterfalls, the Pha Tad waterfalls (I love these!!!), the Tiger temple, and many other natural and cultural attractions

Move on the Ratchaburi in the evening. Stay in a hotel close to the floating market. Wake up at 6am to visit the floating market. Going early is worth it as the activity is much more than in the late morning or around noon.

Return the car back to Bangkok, spend one night back in Bangkok, and fly out abroad from here

We did not plan this time to travel the South and the North-east (Isaan) regions, but this may be for a future trip.

As I said, I've lived quite a while in Thailand and this trip is gonna be pretty awesome. I do realize that I'm not an expert so I do appreciate any ideas or suggestions from you guys out there.

Perhaps I can inspire some of you with the details above as well :)

Hope to hear from y'all soon
Walter (thai nickname "Wut")

Hi Walter,

Every year me and my friends do a motorcycle tour around Northern Thailand - the Maehongson Loop. I would say that this is a must do! You can spend some time in Pai, Maehongson, drive back to Chiang Mai via Doi Inthanon National Park. There are so many things to see along the way and the scenery is stunning!

I would definitely try to fit that into your itinerary. I would say you need at least 5 - 7 days to do it so that you don't feel rushed.

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Hi Walter,

Your itinerary sounds great to me. Speaking fluent Thai you will not encounter the problems that other farangs would in making a similar trip.

See if you can fit in Chiang Rai when you are in Northern Thailand. This is a region that is generally overlooked by visitors. It is really beautiful, laid back, very cheap and in many respects is still the "old" Thailand.