July 7: Overnight sleeper train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai.
(...)
July 14: Overnight sleeper train on the 14th to Bangkok (12h).
Don’t wait too long to book your tickets.
a day in Chiang Rai for the White Temple). Here, we’d prefer not to travel too much. So we’re thinking of skipping Chiang Rai (since it’s a bit far),
You’re contradicting yourself, but anyway...
Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai is a 7-hour round-trip bus ride, and the White Temple, though eye-catching, isn’t worth such a long day trip on its own. If I were you, I’d "steal" 3 days from the southern part of your itinerary to plan a proper stop in Chiang Rai, which luckily has more to offer than just the White Temple. Then, to avoid backtracking through Chiang Mai instead of taking the train, I’d take a VIP or similar-quality bus from Chiang Rai to Bangkok.
Also, we were thinking of finding one or more places to stay near Doi Inthanon Park to get around a bit without straying too far!
Generally, foreign tourists don’t stay overnight there. However, since Doi Inthanon is a major gathering spot for Thai tourism, you’ll find resort-style accommodations in the area without any problem—just avoid weekends to steer clear of the biggest crowds.
8-10 hour wait, the perfect chance for a spa/massage combo
10 hours of spa?! You’ll come out see-through!... 😉
overnight train (7h) + ferry to Koh Tao.
You can book this as a combo train + Lomprayah speedboat.
The Lomprayah website (
https://www.lomprayah.com/) offers a bus + speedboat combo instead.
Koh Tao (Beach, snorkeling, hiking, diving). We’re really looking forward to the island’s vibe, which seems very pleasant and not too touristy compared to Koh Samui...
Don’t get your hopes up too high...
For the south, check the monsoon seasons—they’re not the same on the east and west coasts.
Sleeper trains: We’re having trouble seeing the prices on the Thai website (D-Ticket)
I just tried, and it worked. The page always loads in two stages because it’s a bit slow—blank at first, then the prices appear. However, I’m not sure if a round-trip request works properly (it’s a new feature).
Also, are these sleeper train rides restful?
Yes.
But bring a sweater and don’t count on punctuality. First-class or VIP buses are more on time and usually a bit faster, but for overnight trips, it’s best to bring a sweater and something to cover your head since the individual AC blows right on you, and turning it off isn’t always easy.
Is 3 trains too ambitious?
It’s not ambitious—you can take one at least once or all three times—but for long trips, comfortable buses, which are incredibly common, are the most popular option (even when trains are available) and don’t require booking far in advance. For long or busy routes, booking the day before or two days ahead is fine (in touristy towns, your guesthouse can often handle it for a small fee).
We think it’s a pretty good compromise since it saves us hotel nights and daytime travel time.
Well, buses do that too, so that’s not really a point of comparison. There are no sleeper buses in Thailand like in Vietnam, though—at best, you’ll find very comfortable seats that recline well.
Overall opinion on the itinerary: What seems great, and what seems "too much" or unrealistic to you? (Especially regarding the weather in July / rainy season).
I don’t think it’s great because, in my opinion, it includes too much of the south and not enough of the north, but strictly in terms of timing, it’s not unrealistic.
As for the rainy season, it’s easy to deal with in the north (just avoid trekking). At the beach, I suppose it could be more annoying, but it’d be better to wait for input from others since I’m far from an expert on that.
Chiang Mai in the rainy season, with rain, Tha Phae Gate on the old city side:
Chiang Mai in the rainy season, without rain, Tha Phae Gate outside the old city:
