3 Weeks in Thailand & Road Trip Through Thailand North (+ our trip in pictures)

For the past 3 weeks we were once again in Thailand. 

In just 10 months, we have now spent 4 months in this amazing Kingdom. And have now covered North and South of the country. Obviously, we have just scratched the surface and will definitely be visiting again…

This time around we were mostly in Northern Thailand. We started off from Bangkok around Christmas time. My sister came to visit and we also met up with a German couple who we had met on our Lombok to Flores trip and spent a great Christmas eve in Khao San Road.

Our Trip Highlight – Khao Yai with Greenleaf

We got to the closest town of Khao Yai by train and our plan was to later on head North to Chiang Mai, once again by train.

Khao Yai National Park was our first stop after Bangkok. Although we don’t usually go around with tours, we decided to come here with a tour. Definitely was a good choice. We would have barely seen any of the wildlife if it wasn’t for our observant guide who pointed out lots of hornbills, gibbons and also saw a wild elephant at sunset. 

Ayutthaya & Chaing Mai

From Khao Yai to Chiang Mai the train passes by Ayutthaya, one of Thailand’s ancient cities. We stopped in Ayutthaya and spent just 1 night meanwhile exploring some of the popular temples. Ayutthaya is loaded with ancient temples and a night was merely enough. 

Once again, we were boarding the train. This time we boarded our first 10 hour sleeper train en route to Chiang Mai. And must say, was above our expectations. Was clean and comfortable.

Chiang Mai was what we had expected. Touristic but still having authentic Thai culture and lifestyle.

An Epic 7 Day Road Trip through Thailand North

Still wanting to experience the real Thailand, we went on a 7 day scooter ride. And went further North to Chiang Rai and later on went further East and did a loop around Nan, Phrai and Lampang. 

All these 3 towns are far from touristic, however are popular with locals. It was pretty strange to be in Thailand and not have hardly any tourist around and see what Thailand must have been 20 or 30 years back.

Our Thailand Trip in Photos

Unedited pictures of our trip to Northern Thailand in chronological order.

Bangkok➛Khao Yai National Park➛Ayuttaya➛Chaing Mai➛Chaing Rai➛Nan➛Phrae➛Lampang 

Our self made food tour at Bang Rak Market: Succulent Pork Sausage
Bangrak Market in Bangkok: Thai Food Paradise
Partying in Khao San Road for Christmas Eve
Bustling Khao San Road on Christmas Eve
The Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho
Reclining buddha at Wat Pho
Solar Eclipse of 26th December 2019
Solar eclipse at Khao Yai
Millions of bats coming out of a cave in Khao Yai
Millions of Bats at sunset at Khao Yai
Wild Elephant in Khao Yai National Park
A special encounter with a wild elephant at Khao Yai National Park
Buddha Head engulfed in a tree at Wat Mahathat Ayuttaya
Ayutthaya Buddha in the roots
Headless Buddha Statues at Ayuttaya
Headless Buddha in Ayutthaya
Overnight Sleeper Train to Chaing Mai
Night Train Ayutthaya to Chiang Mai
Chaing Mai city centre with New Year decorations
Chiang Mai city centre beautifully decorated for New Year’s celebrations
Chaing Mai Gold temple early morning
Sunrise at the Gold Temple in Chiang Mai
the stairs leading to Wat Doi Suthep packed with locals who head to the temple for new year
The stairs leading to Wat Doi Suthep packed with locals who head to the temple for New Year
Khao Soi Chaing Mai traditional noodle soup
Khao Soi Chaing Mai traditional noodle soup
the area at The Phae Gate in Chaing Mai lit with candles on New Year's Eve
New Year’s eve in Chiang Mai
James walking along Chaing Mai sticky waterfall
Namtok Bua Tong sticky waterfall
Jacqueline near the motorbike with a beautiful view as background on the way to Chaing Rai
Jacqueline near the motorbike with a beautiful view as background on the way to Chaing Rai
Amazing view on the way to Chaing Rai from Sticky Waterfalls
An amazing view we stumbled upon on our way to Chaing Rai
A huge blue statue at the entrance to Blue Temple in Chaing Rai
The Blue Temple in Chaing Rai
the gigantic Guan Yin statue at Wat Huay Pla Kang
Wat Huay Pla Kung Temple complex in Chaing Rai and its gigantic Guan Yin statue
White Temple in Chaing Rai
The White Temple in Chaing Rai at sunset
a beautiful teek house with a lake just opposite on the way to Nan from Chaing Rai
A beautiful teek house in an amazing setting we stumbled upon on our way to Nan
an amazing view over the mountainous landscape in Thailand North
The mountainous landscape which dominates the north of Thailand
different Thai dishes at Nan Food Market
So many amazing Thai food options at Nan night market
the famous mural in Wat Phumin of a man whispering to the ear of a woman
The famous mural at Wat Phumin of a man whispering to the ear of a woman
Watching the sun set at Si Nan National Park over breathtaking mountainous landscape
Watching the sunrise at Si Nan National Park
the interior of a teek house which was our accommodation in Phrae
Our accommodation in a teek house in Phrae
the soil columns at Phae Muang Phi Forest Park
The soil columns at Phae Muang Phi Forest Park which formed naturally millions of years ago
Vongburi House a beautiful teek house built in an European style
Vongburi House in Phrae a teek house built in an European style
a vintage wooden cafeteria in Phrae
A vintage wooden cafeteria in Phrae
James at a local eatery in Lampang
At a local eatery in Lampang
Lampang city centre with its teek houses
Lampang city centre and teek houses

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