There are some experiences in Thailand that you know probably aren’t going to be that much fun. Taking the night train from Ayutthaya to Chiang Mai is one of them. But let’s be honest, you can’t go to Thailand without taking a night train. Just don’t expect much sleep on the train!
Reasons to travel on a night train in Thailand:
- Saves money on accommodation
- Makes the most of your time in Thailand by traveling during the night
- It is very cheap and as I mention it will save you a nights accommodation
- Taking the night train in Thailand is fun!
Reasons not to travel on a night train in Thailand:
- Sleeping on a Thai night train is pretty much impossible
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Where do you get the train to Chiang Mai from:
If you are traveling from Ayutthaya to Chiang Mai you will take in from the only station in Ayuttaya. You can’t miss it as it is such a small place.
Many people travel to Chiang Mai from Bangkok if you skip Ayuttaya. I really wouldn’t though as it’s well worth spending half a day there to explore the temples. In Bangkok just hop in a Tuk Tuk and get the driver to drop you off.
Top Tip
The station at Ayutthaya has a place you can pay a small amount to store your bag while you explore the temples. Then you just pick it up before you get your train.
How much does the night train from Ayutthaya to Chiang Mai cost?
Our train tickets cost 766tbt for the top bunk and 856tbt for the bottom, but this was a few years ago so I’m sure it’s a little bit more now. there is a price difference in the bottom bed is bigger. If you have a preference let them know when booking. Do Make sure you get your ticket early in the day as they do sell out or better yet book online here.
My Journey on the night train from Ayutthaya to Chiang Mai
My travel buddy Laura was ill and so as soon as we got on the train she asked for them to convert the bed so she could sleep. Watching this was enough to make my journey. Take a look at how the seats convert on the night train here.
I wasn’t ready to sleep just yet so I headed to the restaurant carriage to get some dinner and chill for a while. The food was great and they have a set menu (called a set) on offer until 11 pm. the price is pretty reasonable, about 120 tbt for soup, 2 meals, rice, fruit and a drink.
Then it was bedtime, I’m not going to lie it freaked me out a bit as it reminded me of being back on board a ship in my bunk, but it was comfy. I really struggled to sleep, I’m not sure if it was the noise or the movement but I didn’t sleep. The next morning the porter came through and woke anyone up who was still sleeping 1 hour before we got to Chiang Mai. In each of the carriages, you will find a sink and two toilets where you can freshen up.
Top Tip: There are 2 toilets in each carriage, one is a traditional Thai hole in the floor toilet and one is a western sit down the toilet. So if you don’t fancy the hole in the floor on a moving train wait for the other one.
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Arriving in Chiang Mai
It can be a little bit overwhelming when you arrive in Chaing Mai, as it is everywhere in Thailand! You will be greeted with lots of people shouting taxi and trying to take you to different accommodation. I would advise going straight to the information desk. Get a map of them and then if you haven’t booked anywhere to stay grab a coffee at the little cafe look over the map and get your bearings.
The food there is pretty amazing, be sure to check out this post What to Eat in Chiang Mai so you don’t miss out on some of the culinary delights the city has to offer. If you are looking for accommodation in Chiang Mai then you need to take a read of this great accommodation guide!
I never travel anywhere without Travel Insurance. If you are looking for insurance be sure to check World Nomads first.
This post was proofread by Grammarly
Book your trip now
Are you ready to book your trip? To help you get the best deals and service here are the companies that I personally use to book all of my travel online. I always shop around before booking anything, but these are my tried and tested starting places.
- Skyscanner – I’m a bit fan of Skyscanner, it is who I use to book all of my flights. I often will check other like Google Flights or Momodo, but I always go here first and it is who I book 99% of my flights with.
- Booking.com – I LOVE booking.com especially when I can book and cancel free up until a certain point, mostly because my plans are forever changing. It’s easy to use and has one of the widest selections.
- Airbnb – I’m not a huge user of Airbnb, but sometimes I do like to use it, and I ALWAYS check it before I book anything else. You can get some really cool places to stay here, and it is especially good in places like Cuba. If you don’t have an account and you click on this link then you will get $36 off your first booking.
- Hostelworld – If you are looking for hostels then this is a great place to check first. They often have additional places that you won’t find on Bookin.com.
- Agoda – Although I don’t use it as much as booking.com, Agonda is especially good if you are traveling in Asia as they really do dominate there.
- Worldpackers – If you want to travel on the cheap and save money on accommodation then you need Worldpackers in your life. You can read more about it here. If you click this link to sign up and use the code CLAIRESITCHYFEET then you can get a 40% discount on your membership!
- Book a Way – If you are traveling in Asia and want to pre-book your transportation then bookaway.com is a fantastic site to do so. They have buses, trains, and cars.
- RentalCars – Looking to rent a. car while you are away? I always book through Rental Cars as they do a search of all of the big sites and find the best deals.
- Welcome Pickups – Very occasionally getting from the airport to my accommodation is a total pain in the butt, or I’m traveling in a group and it makes sense to arrange a pickup. When I do I use Welcome pickups.
- World Nomads – If you are looking for flexible travel insurance then it’s World Nomads all the way. I wrote all about insurance here if you want a more thorough review.
- SafetyWing – AsI’m a Digital Nomad and not moving around quite so much anymore I personally use SafetyWing now for my health insurance. I wrote a full review here.
- Viatour – Sometimes it can be a little expensive, but I like Viatour for somethings, especially if you can get a discount code! It’s also great for inspiration.
- Klook – If you are traveling in Asia, then Klook is great! You can book all kinds of tours, activities, and train tickets, plus they even have sim cards and WiFi.
Where can you pre book your ticket for the night train? Or can you only book at the station?