Richard Barrow Profile picture
Mar 28, 2023 23 tweets 24 min read Read on X
🚂 Good morning from Rapid No. 135 train going from Krung Thep Aphiwat to Pak Chong in Northeastern Thailand. The journey time is 3 hours and 40 minutes. Ticket price for 3rd Class is 85 Baht.

This is a live THREAD 🧵of my 3-day trip to Khao Yai by train.

#RailTourism #Thailand ImageImageImageImage
[2] The train journey into Isaan is quite scenic as you have to climb over a hill. As the train has to go slowly due to the hills, they are building a tunnel and a 50 metre high viaduct as a shortcut. This will be opened next year and should provide some fantastic views. ImageImageImageImage
[3] Our train arrived a little late at Pak Chong Railway Station. Waiting for us was a songtaew driver from Greenleaf Guesthouse. We will be staying with them and as we booked a tour as well, they offer a free pick up at the station.

📍MAP: maps.app.goo.gl/qs6bCegvZfcNmt… #Thailand ImageImageImageImage
[4] We had the option to take the free songtaew straight to the guesthouse but we decided to pay the driver to visit a couple of places first. Wat Khao Wanchai Nawarat caught my eye as it’s made from sandstone but it looks like wood.

📍MAP: maps.app.goo.gl/1pyhxJ4QxLCBqY… #Thailand ImageImageImageImage
[5] Lunch was at Banmai Chay Nam in Pak Chong. This is an unusual restaurant as it is also a museum of collectibles. It’s worth exploring while you are waiting for your lunch to be cooked.

📍MAP: maps.app.goo.gl/uho7zj1DNU5WhG… #Thailand ImageImageImageImage
[6] We are staying at Greenleaf Guesthouse. Their rooms are pretty basic but clean. There is no air-con or hot water shower. But it is only 300 Baht a night. They also pick you up at the station for free if you book a tour with them.

📍MAP: maps.app.goo.gl/amYBQf3FEZXnTD… #Thailand ImageImageImageImage
[7] Greenleaf has two different tours. The one we are joining today is a half day tour that costs 500 Baht. The tour tomorrow is all day and is in Khao Yai National Park. This one costs 1,500 Baht and includes the admission price. If you book both tours then it’s 1,800 baht. Image
[8] The first stop on our afternoon tour with Greenleaf was at Ban Tha Chang Spring in Pak Chong. This is a popular spot for swimming. There’s no entrance fee.

📍MAP: maps.app.goo.gl/Wrh97y5whoaTET… ImageImageImageImage
[9] Our second stop was at Wat Sa Nam Sai in Pak Chong. There’s a cave here that has hundreds of bats. Our tour guide took us deep inside. I’ve been in bat caves before but our guide was so knowledgeable and I learned a lot.

📍MAP: maps.app.goo.gl/Vtzak1aMxV6psB… ImageImageImageImage
[10] Our third stop on the tour was the highlight for sure. Our guide took us to a stretch of road where it was possible to witness countless thousands of bats leave a cave to go out hunting at sunset. Very magical to watch them.

📍MAP: maps.app.goo.gl/wfuupFb5NeFxpp…
[11] We finished our tour back at Wat Sa Nam Sai where there is a giant Seated Buddha at the top of a hill. At night it is beautifully lit up. From the top of the hill there is also some great views.

📍MAP: maps.app.goo.gl/aiuoU1czs9z99o… #Thailand ImageImageImage
[12] Good morning from Pak Chong in Nakhon Ratchasima Province. I slept well last night despite no air-conditioning. I thought it would be uncomfortably hot. But the cold shower was a challenge. 🤣 Image
[13] I ate dinner last night at Greenleaf guesthouse. I had my usual stir-fried basil with minced pork and fried egg. For breakfast I had Khao Tom which is a rice soup. Breakfast is not included as the room is only 300 Baht. #Thailand ImageImage
[14] Today we did an excellent day long tour inside Kao Yai National Park with Greenleaf. Our guide was not only very knowledgeable but she also had an eagle eye spotting wildlife that I wouldn’t have seen if I had gone there alone. ImageImageImageImage
[15] The guides don’t work alone as they have a network of other guides in the park that help when wildlife were spotted. Several times our guide received reports of elephants. Several times we rushed there only to be too late. Then finally we got to see an elephant in the wild. ImageImageImageImage
[16] The day long tour cost 1,500 Baht which included the 400 Baht admission fee to the park, lunch, and also free pickup and drop off at the railway station. I think that was really great value for money. I highly recommend this tour company. ImageImageImageImage
[17] One of our group took the evening train back to Bangkok. My original plan was to do that as well as it would have been a neat one-night two-day tour to Khao Yai by train that anyone could do at the weekend. But I decided to take my time and go home in the morning instead. Image
[18] We stayed the first night at Greenleaf Guesthouse which cost only 300 Baht. Their website also advertised Farada Resort next door which has a few extra comforts like air-con and hot water shower. The cost was 600 Baht. I decided to move their tonight to do a comparison. ImageImageImageImage
[19] Good morning from Greenleaf Guesthouse in Pak Chong. We had a great tour in Khao Yai National Park yesterday. I’m really happy we saw an elephant in the wild in the end. This morning we are catching the train back to Bangkok. It has been a great trip and easy to do. ImageImageImage
[20] While waiting for the train this morning we decided to rent a songtaew to take us to a couple of places near our guesthouse. The first one we went to was Wat Simalai Songtham in Pak Chong. It’s built on a hill with a cave near the base. #Thailand ImageImageImageImage
[21] Each level as you climb up has some extraordinary artwork with various religious and pop cultures themes. It is an amazing temple that is worth visiting if you’re in the area.

📍MAP: maps.app.goo.gl/WeJpvrtBbVsBeW… #Thailand ImageImageImageImage
[22] On the way back to our guesthouse we decided to stop at Wat Tham Phetpiman. There are a number of cave temples in Pak Chong. This is another of them. However this one has easier access and there is good lighting.

📍MAP: maps.app.goo.gl/U7eNsYW3prRPgY… #Thailand ImageImageImageImage
[23] We are now on Express No.72 heading back to Bangkok. The owners of Greenleaf Guesthouse dropped us of at the station for free as we had gone on their tour yesterday. Ticket price this time is 185 Baht for 3rd Class. Travel time is three hours. #Thailand ImageImageImage

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More from @RichardBarrow

Aug 6, 2023
The Bangkok Tourist Division has selected 150 restaurants and #ThaiFood shops in famous areas in #Bangkok.

This is a THREAD 🧵 of these shops with pictures and maps. Retweet to be automatically entered to win one of five books. Everyone who retweets will also get a PDF.

1/22 Image
📌 The Yaowarat area in Chinatown, is a vibrant district in Samphanthawong. Established in 1782, it's one of the largest Chinese communities outside China. It offers a diverse range of businesses like gold shops, eateries, restaurants, general stores, and hotels.

2/22 Image
Yaowarat is renowned for its delicious food, earning it the title Heaven of Roadside Food by CNN News. It boasts famous restaurants popular with Thai and foreign tourists. Some are even featured in the "Michelin Guide". The vibrant and unique seafood market is a must-visit.

3/22
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Read 22 tweets
Aug 4, 2023
I recently embarked on a train journey from Bangkok to Vientiane, and then continued on the Laos-China Railway to the Chinese border and back.

Here is a THREAD 🧵 with all the details. Feel free to repost and share it with your friends.

#RailTourism #Thailand #Laos

1/25 Image
My journey started at Krung Thep Aphiwat Station in #Bangkok. There are three trains you can catch to Nong Khai. The day train starts at only 251 Baht, but I recommend Special Express No. 25. It leaves at 8:25pm and arrives at 6:25am. A sleeping berth start from 894 Baht.

2/25


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At Nong Khai Station, you need to switch to the shuttle train to cross the Friendship Bridge into Laos. This goes at 7:30am. Don’t worry, they wait for the Bangkok train if it’s late. Thai immigration is at the station. Quick and easy. The 15 minute journey costs 20 Baht.

3/25


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Read 25 tweets
Mar 26, 2023
🚂 Good morning from Hua Lamphong Station. Today is the 126th anniversary of the opening of the first railway in #Thailand and the founding of the State Railway of Thailand on 26th March 1897.

This is a live THREAD of my steam train trip to Ayutthaya.

#RailTourism #Thailand Image
[2] There are six steam train trips a year on important dates. They go to three different locations: Ayutthaya, Chachoengsao and Nakhon Pathom. Tickets are 299 Baht for 3rd Class (8 carriages) and 799 Baht for 1st Class (2 carriages). ImageImageImageImage
[3] Guide to Steam Train Excursions in Thailand – Thai Train Guide thaitrainguide.com/excursion-trai…

#RailTourism #Trains #Thailand ImageImageImageImage
Read 18 tweets
Mar 25, 2023
Good morning from Hua Lamphong Station. Today I’m on the #Kiha183 excursion train to Ayutthaya. This is a live THREAD 🧵 about this trip.

Follow @ThaiTrainGuide for more information on the trains.

#RailTourism #Thailand ImageImageImageImage
[2] To buy tickets for the #KiHa183 excursion train, go to the D-Ticket website dticket.railway.co.th/DTicketPublicW… and click on ‘Exploring Thailand by Train’. There’s a different destination every week. Call 1690 for more information. ImageImageImageImage
[3] Our trip today is to Ayutthaya. The ticket cost is 1,499 Baht and includes breakfast, lunch, bus and boat tours, and souvenirs. The price of other tours might vary. Sometimes cheaper sometimes more expensive.

#RailTourism #Thailand Image
Read 10 tweets
Mar 5, 2023
[2] The State Railway of Thailand are now planning on doing one-day excursions every weekend to destinations and festivals. This weekend is to Ratchaburi. Next weekend is to Chachoengsao and the weekend after is to Phetchaburi. Click for more information: thaitrainguide.com/excursion-trai…
[3] The price of the ticket on the #Kiha183 excursion train varies each time. Today’s trip is 1,499 Baht which includes breakfast (see photos), lunch and a coach tour. The Phetchaburi trip is 699 Baht as it only includes drinks and snacks.

#RailTourism #Thailand
[4] Our first stop in Ratchaburi was at Chulalongkorn Bridge. The railway bridge was built in 1901. They are now building a new bridge as part of the double track project. However due to unexploded bombs in the river they had to build it without putting pillars into the water.
Read 11 tweets
Feb 18, 2023
Good morning from Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal Station. This weekend I’m off again on one of my train trips to promote #RailTourism in #Thailand. This time it’s to Phimai and Ubon Ratchathani.

This is a live THREAD 🧵 of the trip ⤵️ Image
[2] We first took Special Express No.21 (thaitrainguide.com/timetables/no-…) to Nakhon Ratchasima. This four hour trip cost 423 Baht. The price includes a meal, snacks, coffee and water. Next we are going to do a side trip to Phimai and then come back to the station tomorrow to go to Ubon. ImageImageImageImage
[3] We arrived at Nakhon Ratchasima Railway Station exactly on time at 10:01am. We then took a Tuk Tuk to the new bus terminal. This was 100 Baht. There are also motorcycle taxis in front of the station which are 60 Baht.

📍MAP: maps.app.goo.gl/VtnrbEFX9R4vh4… #Thailand ImageImageImage
Read 37 tweets

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