Thailand by van in August. Beaches on mainland!
Hi all, we (3 adults, a five and 3 year old) are planning another trip to Thailand in August this year. We visited loads of places including many islands and want to do something a bit different now. We arrive at the end of July from Hong-Kong and want to decompress for some time. The plan is to rent a van/car from Suvarhabnumi and drive to Ayutthaya, stay two days and then on to Kanchanaburi and then take the car down south (Hua Hin?) and further down south to Surat Thani or even further. We would like to stay in a nice place with the obligatory white beaches for around 10 days. We love Samui and Tao but don't really want to take a ferry unless we can bring the car and perhaps the mainland is a bit less touristy which we don't mind. Afterwards drive back to BKK and enjoy the city before crying and flying back home.
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Looking for advice:
Where to rent a van from Suvarhabnumi
Where to stay in Ayutthaya
Kanchanaburi and Hua Hin, where to go?
Where to stop on the roadtrip. We love places locals visit
Where to spend 10 days around Surat Thani and do absolutely nothing but eat and eat more on the beaches.
Love to hear from you.
Plenty of places to stay. What sort of budget and Hotel or guesthouse do you want.
Not many white sand beaches until you get further south, maybe Ban Krut is good enough?
Hua Hin is very westernised, modern etc.
Thanks! Hua hin is optional.
If we can find a clean place to stay with a pool for 4/6 000 baht that’s fine.
Should not be a problem, l would check the booking sites like Agoda. Not sure about prices in August.
But there is plenty of choice in places you are going.
I tend to spend well under 1,000 baht for a double room.
Hua Hin is only about 3 hours from Kanchanaburi.
You may want to head further south to Prachuap or Ban Krut. Ban Krut has a better beach but it is a much smaller place.
Further on Chumphon has a decent beach.
For where to go in Kanchanaburi, you should ask on that forum. Plenty if places and if you have transport it should be easy
Are you planning to self-drive? Are you planning one way hire?
The word "van" has various meanings.
If self-driving I would think you need an SUV or MPV. (people carrier) Something like a Kia Carnival, Hyundai Staria or Toyota Alpha?
You'll need seating and room for luggage.
SUVs like Fortuners have 7 seats – 2 + 3 + 2 (in the very back) – but you will have problems with luggage – storage and access.
July is the start of the wet season in most places. Especially on the West - Andaman coast.
It’s low season so finding a room or 2 rooms shouldn’t be a problem
Your route to Surat is about 14 hours driving in total.
Suvarnabhumi to Ayutthaya is easy first leg from the airport, just get on Motorway 9
If you are into Antiques change from route 32 to route 347 – there are some big antique shops dotted along that route which is less big and wide.
Ayutthaya to Kanchanaburi is full of choices. About 2 hrs 30 min driving direct
Maybe a diversion North, though, to Sam Chuk Traditional Market? Just over an hour away.
Or Suphanburi – many colourful Chinese style temples and palaces. (like Dragon Paradise Park)
Once installed in Kanchanaburi – there are many, many places to visit where a car makes it so much easier.
MAE KHAMIN WATERFALLS – SRI NAKARIN DAM
SALAKPRA Wildlife Sanctuary – oldest in Thailand – anywhere on the Western Forest Complex
SAI YOK national park –
SANGKHLABURI (Mon Bamboo Bridge) is about 200 km further near the Burmese border
EREWAN WATERFALLS crowded, touristy and a bit of a slog for kids. (or elderly)
Hua Hin is 3 hours away – I think the town is a bit dull – long beach with road and hotels.
However around there is fantastic
On the way, RATCHABURI and PHETCHABURI(trad Market) are bot worth a look around
60 km inland from Hua Hin is the KAENG KRACHAN National park – biggest in Thailand – resorts around the outside of the big reservoir – boat trips etc.
Nearer to Hua Hin is WILDLIFE FRIENDS FOUNDATION THAILAND (WFFT) the famous rescue centre for abused animals.
A bit further down the coast (less than an hour) from Hua Hin, you’ll be rewarded by Sam Roi Yot Beach – reasonably quiet and nice for kids. Nice place to stay.
Hua Hin to Suratthani is about 6hrs 50 min so you’ll need a stop over on that leg.
First PRACHUAP KIRI KHAN – seaside town with beautiful big bay and plenty of places to stay. Not many foreign tourists. Just under 2 hours from H.H.
Just a bit South is Ao Mano – becoming a popular beach resort destination.
The coast Southwards from then on is very attractive – leave the main road and follow the coast roads
Possible stops include THAP SAKAE and BAN KRUT.
Next – CHUMPHON is about 3hr 40 min from H.H. – love this town lovely evening food market in the centre. With a car I recommend Thirty Tree Garden Resort - Nice little pool for kids
Another 3 hours will get you to SURATTHANI CITY.
I have a problem with this place as there are some great attractions like boat trips on te delta through the flat wetlands but I can’t think of a hotel
Hover from Surat you have a choice of 2 directions: -
1 - I’d suggest if you have time go to SAMUI
You can of course PUT THE VAN ON THE FREQUENT FERRY SERVICE – about 90 minutes – you might find that a rental is forbidden to use ferries – better ask (or have you already?)
If you really can’t do that the coast along there is really nice and not overrun with tourists at all.
I love DON SAK, the town here the ferries run from – it has a fishing fleet and some great restaurants (pa Thing) and the Blue C hotel.
Along the coast are some great beaches - Nam Khang beach and further along is Khanom. (watch pink dolphins)
All these are about an hour or so from Suratthani.
2 - Or the other choice from Suratthani is to head West to KHAO SOK NATIONAL PARK – raft houses, Jungle walks
Then on to KHAO LAK, PHUKET etc.
If you have to return the vehicle to Bangkok, then go back towards Chumphon on the West (Andaman coast and then cross over to Chumphon before heading back up the Gulf coast to Bangkok.
Most of this trip depending on stops shouldn’t involve much more than 3 hours driving per day.
I never book rooms in advance – well at least not until a couple of hours before I get there – however as you will probably need 2 or more rooms you may need to plan ahead more.
However if you make to strict a schedule, you might end up stressing out trying to get to a place – I try to avoid driving at night whenever I can.
working on it! You are a hero!
