The 6 most scenic train journeys in Thailand

It's been over a century since Thailand’s first train line – a 50-mile link between Bangkok and the former royal capital of Ayuthaya – went into service. Since that milestone, tracks have been extended to most of the country, and though most travelers get around Thailand by bus and plane these days, scenic railway routes and sleeper trains remain one of the most delightful ways to see the country.

Lately, the Thai government has been taking a new look at rail. There’s talk of high-speed rail lines, and Bangkok’s shiny new Bang Sue Grand Station is (authorities claim) Southeast Asia’s largest rail hub.

For the moment, Thailand’s rolling stock isn’t exactly cutting edge. Yet trains run by the State Railways of Thailand (SRT) are generally on time, comfortable and charming in a nostalgic type of way. As long as you’re not in a rush.

Thai trains also offer good legroom (particularly in sleeper cars), great Thai food (either from the dining car or from vendors selling snacks between stations), gorgeous views, historic stations and quirky experiences (such as the route that appears to crash into a fresh market).

Now that we have your attention, read on to learn more about the six best train journeys in Thailand.

1. Trundle through a market on the line to Samut Songkhram

Route: Thonburi to Samut Songkhram 
Distance: 50 miles/80km
Duration: 1 hour

One of the best train rides in Thailand is on this short, workaday commuter line. It begins near Bangkok and famously terminates smack dab in the middle of a bustling market.

Start at Thonburi’s Wongwian Yai train station, just across the Chao Phraya River from Bangkok, where hourly trains go to Samut Sakhon (known by locals as Mahachai). From the window, you can peek into homes, temples and shops built just an arm’s length from the passing trains. Further on, palm trees, a patchwork of rice fields and marshes filled with giant elephant-ear perennials and canna lilies line the route, punctuated by whistle-stop stations.

The settlements grow denser as you enter Samut Sakhon. After disembarking and walking through one of the most hectic fresh markets in the country, you’ll reach a harbor clogged with water hyacinths and wooden fishing boats.

Take the ferry across to Baan Laem, where you'll board yet another train, this time bound for Samut Songkhram. You’ll emerge directly into a hubbub of hectic market stalls. Between train arrivals and departures, these stalls are set up directly on the tracks and must be hurriedly cleared away when the train arrives. It’s a fantastic scene.

2. Admire the scenery – and consider the history – along the “Death Railway”

Route: Thonburi to Nam Tok
Distance: 258 miles/415km
Duration: 5 hours

Built during the Japanese occupation of Thailand during World War II, the so-called Death Railway is perhaps Thailand’s best-known train line. Construction began in October 1942, with labor provided by Allied prisoners of war (POWs) and conscripted workers armed only with basic tools and dynamite. Well over 12,000 POWs and as many as 90,000 recruited and forced laborers died due to disease, poor hygiene, lack of medical equipment and brutal treatment by camp guards. The deadliest section of railway construction was an immense rock cutting dubbed “Hellfire Pass,” thanks to the eerie glow of the workers’ torches when toiling at night.

Given the rugged territory it traverses, this is undoubtedly the most scenic train trip in Thailand. A total of 688 bridges were built along the route; the bridge that spans the “River Kwai” near Kanchanaburi city (now referred to as the Death Railway Bridge) was, at the time, the only steel bridge in Thailand.

The trains that run the Death Railway are 3rd-class, meaning they have no air-conditioning and mostly wooden benches; sit on the left-hand side for the best views. The line is reserved for tourists these days, so expect stops for short visits to historical sights and a cave.

3. Cross the country on the sleeper train to Chiang Mai

Route: Bangkok to Chiang Mai
Distance: 467 miles/751km
Duration: 13 hours

Thailand’s first long-distance train route links Bangkok and the northern city of Chiang Mai, and is the quintessential Thai train journey.

The route is a great chance to try one of Thailand’s sleeper trains, which depart Bangkok in the afternoon – meaning the majority of the journey is by night. In the morning, you’ll wake up to beautiful glimpses of the northern Thai countryside. Keep your eyes peeled as the train cuts through tunnels and the rugged forest of Doi Khun Tan National Park, just south of Chiang Mai. (On board, meanwhile, another fascinating sight is watching railway staff unfold and make the sleeper beds.)

If you book a higher-priced ticket, you’re likely to travel on one of the SRT’s shiny new trains. And be sure to purchase your tickets as far in advance as you can: this particular route is popular with tourists, especially backpackers.

4. Follow the coast to the beach town of Hua Hin

Route: Bangkok to Hua Hin
Distance: 131 miles/212km
Duration: 4 hours

This route skirts around the Gulf of Thailand, and although sea views are rare in Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan Provinces, there’s still some beautiful scenery, including salt flats and seemingly never-ending coconut plantations. Your destination, Hua Hin, is Thailand’s original beach escape, with a history that dates back to the 19th century.

The highlight of the route is Hua Hin’s train station. Arguably the most beautiful train terminus in Thailand, this red-and-white icon was built in 1926 with a Victorian gingerbread design, with carved wood pillars and trim, plus a Thai aesthetic visible in the peaks of the roof. Because Hua Hin owes its prosperity to the train, the station is a major source of pride, and you'll find imitations of its design all over town.

5. Cross the Mekong River into Laos

Route: Bangkok to Thanaleng, Laos
Distance: 402 miles/648km
Duration: 11 hours

Departing from Bangkok in the afternoon, this lauded international route crosses the Mekong River into Laos, offering a great opportunity to try out Thailand’s overnight sleeper trains. In the morning, with warm sunlight streaming into your bed, you’ll pass by the tiny villages and seemingly endless rice fields that make up Thailand’s rural northeast.

After a stop in Nong Khai, you’ll cross the so-called Friendship Bridge to Laos. This last 15-minute leg drops you at Thanaleng (aka Dongphasay) station, meaning you’ll need to take a taxi or tuk-tuk the remaining 10 miles to the capital, Vientiane.

A high-speed train linking these two destinations is in the works, with its projected completion in 2028.

6. Embrace utter luxury on the Eastern & Oriental Express to Singapore

Route: Bangkok to Singapore
Distance: 1262 miles (1943 km)
Duration: 4 days, 3 nights

Finding the SRT dining car menu a bit lacking? Then consider a trip on the ultra-deluxe Eastern & Oriental Express, a privately operated service that links Bangkok and Singapore in extraordinary fashion. Using carriages outfitted to recall the golden era of train travel, this three-night, four-day journey welcomes passengers to settle into sumptuous private cabins – although they may also find themselves spending much of their time in the Observation, Dining and Bar Cars.

The journey is all-inclusive (and quite a splurge). Non-train activities include tours and excursions in Thailand and Malaysia along the route. The E&O runs between Bangkok and Singapore twice a month.

Tips for buying train tickets in Thailand

• You can buy train tickets online via the clunky SRT website, though if you’re in Bangkok it’s much more efficient to head directly to Hualamphong Station and purchase tickets in person.

• Avoid touts in and around the station, who will try to redirect you to travel agencies.