Self-drive to Khao Yai

[BlackCube]

If got idp with proper face then I think is ok. No need your actual license anymore . Faded Abit also ok one I guess. Unless can't recognize.

 

[riieee]

Just came back. AVIS doesn't need IDP and did not encounter any traffic police check. The traffic from Khao Yai to Bangkok was also bad yest, around 40mins additional travelling time.

 

[JessieLlc1476]

Anyone done self-drive from Bangkok to Khao Yai?

Can share the experience on driving condition, traffics, traffic signs, etc.? Thanks

Thinking of getting rental car and self-drive to explore various places in Khao Yai

Just returned from khao yai and bkk trip on 31 dec. Hubby drive from airport to khao yai the hobbit. Use google map for gps and just follow directions. Along highway, some petrol station got drivethru mcdonald, kfc etc.

Self drive is experience gain and freedom to explore. Enjoy the getaway!

 

[shane.downey]

A lesson learnt from me is that for overseas car rental, choose petrol saving ones instead of gas guzzler. I took a outlander AWD to tour and end up having to pay a lot for petrol.

 

[BlackCube]

Normal sedan can do the job liao.

No need rent too good one.

 

[jeremytte]

sharing my khao yai drive

I benefited from reading here before my trip, hence wanted to contribute back by sharing some of my experience driving to Khao Yai.

I reached BKK on 3 Dec and stayed 2 nights in BKK town. I took the airport BTS line back to the international airport (30mins ride) on 5th Dec (weekday) to pick up my rental car. I choose not to pick up my car in BKK town as i figured it would be messy and tough to start my drive there. proved to be a good decision. as you start off on a highway if u start from the airport and is all the way highway to Khao Yai. intially i got lost and wander out of the route as there was a 4 way split and i took the wrong one, but rest assured Google GPS is very accurate. I recommend getting a prepaid sim, AIS or TRUE both are good. they have a tourist package $299BHT comes with 3GB 4G data for 7 days. more than enough if you use it coupled with their TRUE Wifi/hotel wifi.
The drive is fairly easy, traffic is smooth.. i took about 2.5 hours to get to Khao Yai. Started my drive at 1030am and reached about 1plus.
I rented a Honda Jazz from AVIS. the good thing about AVIS is they give free late return up to 4 hours. Meaning if you collect your car at 5 Dec 10am, you return at 8 Dec up to 2pm and it will still be consider 3 days. Other rental companies will charge a late charge up to half day rate. based on my searching, AVIS is the only one that provides this late return.
The car is fairly new, about 1 year old, the entertainment system comes with bluetooth and mp3 capabilities.
On my way back, there was some jam when nearing the airport, so planned an additional 30minutes for your return leg. There is a big shell station near the car rental return spots (they are all at the same spot, Hertz, Avis, Thailand rent a car etc etc) so you can fill up your tank there before u return the car. I only pump petrol like once in Khao Yai itself when i was half tank and then another time for about 1/3 tank when i return the car. Paid about 3 times toll which is not more than $30BHT per time (must use cash) on each leg.

here are some places and eating joints which i thought was good in Khao Yai :
https://www.facebook.com/eatatkhaoyai/
nice fusion restaurant. highly recommended.

https://goo.gl/maps/nS6VxY7tiPs
Night market at pak chong, smaller than most in BKK.. but worth a visit.

https://goo.gl/maps/cEtvrYK7DP12
interesting concept restaurant.

https://goo.gl/maps/6C6PFohFSHn
Farm, interesting for kids but dont try the restaurants here.

https://goo.gl/maps/nDdEvVf3Xvp
Theme park, traditional ..very big a lot to do, go kart, atv, boating, wet slides, giant rolling ball. good for kids!

https://goo.gl/maps/EDfKiXoDFQs
Nice italian concept village. great for instagram!

https://goo.gl/maps/RfCDdzYTNXn
Khao Yai national park. Must go, unesco site!

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attract...Die_Cliff-Pak_Phli_Nakhon_Nayok_Province.html
Very nice lookout point in Khao Yai national park.
easy trek about 30mins.. kids friendly.

ENjoy! and have a safe trip!

Hi all, thanks for sharing your experience on driving to Khao Yai. Can I check I intend to go BKK for 1 night after Khao Yai, is it very tough to drive in BKK? Where is a good point/hotel for me to return the car? That is not too difficult to drive to. Or should I return to airport and find a way to BKK town? Appreciate some sharing. TIA

 

[jeremytte]

i rented from AVIS in Dec 2017. they did not ask to see my IDP though they mention driver needs to have IDP in their terms and conditions on the website. so i think better to have?

Was thinking if IDP not mandatory then don't need apply and save the $20.
Shall go apply then.

 

[kenne79]

Didnt self drive, as we travel during last week of dec. Book a driver from klook for 4 days.

Driving in Khao Yai is ok, except the U-turn at main road. damn challenging. Got once there is a long queue as a car can't U-turn out. but good things is no one horn. My driver drive all the way infront and do a u-turn in no time. U really need some guts to make the turn.

The drive back to BKK was bad, very bad jam took almost 5 hours to reached. And if i'm driving, i think will take much longer. This is when i felt lucky to had book a driver.

Like to recommend Jim thompson farm, went there during bloom and the view is superb. Very beautiful.

For food, can try Lookkai very nice cafe.

 

[inadatan]

Khao Yai good to go during march holidays?

 

[PersisGal]

Khao Yai good to go during march holidays?

It will be nicer to travel to Khao Yai between November - January. That is when the temperatures are cooler, sunflowers are blooming and attractions like the Jim Thompson farm is opened.

But nevertheless, there are still places to go in the month of March.

 

[inadatan]

It will be nicer to travel to Khao Yai between November - January. That is when the temperatures are cooler, sunflowers are blooming and attractions like the Jim Thompson farm is opened.

But nevertheless, there are still places to go in the month of March.

Thanks for sharing. Just checked website, temperature of Khao yai will be as high as 38 in March. Will give it a miss.

 

[anscla]

It will be nicer to travel to Khao Yai between November - January. That is when the temperatures are cooler, sunflowers are blooming and attractions like the Jim Thompson farm is opened.

But nevertheless, there are still places to go in the month of March.

Just back from Khao Yai. Indeed the weather is very hot. Jim Thomson sunflower farm is closed. It is only open during winter season about Dec to Jan (pls double check exact timing).

We went to Saraburi sunflower field. All sunflower has dried up - none in bloom.

You do get to see other flowers including some potted sunflowers in some attractions though, but not in sunflower fields.

So, if you really want to see sunflowers fields, go during cooler December holidays

 

[jonchar]

Just back from Khao Yai. Indeed the weather is very hot. Jim Thomson sunflower farm is closed. It is only open during winter season about Dec to Jan (pls double check exact timing).

We went to Saraburi sunflower field. All sunflower has dried up - none in bloom.

You do get to see other flowers including some potted sunflowers in some attractions though, but not in sunflower fields.

So, if you really want to see sunflowers fields, go during cooler December holidays

I’m also just back from Khao Yai on the 21st. Skipped the flower fields as I reckon all Chao Ta at such weather. Noticed there is only a self drive thread but no thread on what to do a khao yai. If anyone is keen let me know here, I will start one with plenty of pictures.

 

[martintylor]

I’m also just back from Khao Yai on the 21st. Skipped the flower fields as I reckon all Chao Ta at such weather. Noticed there is only a self drive thread but no thread on what to do a khao yai. If anyone is keen let me know here, I will start one with plenty of pictures.

can share where are the places to visit and not to visit during this period? will be going there in 2 weeks time

 

[jonchar]

can share where are the places to visit and not to visit during this period? will be going there in 2 weeks time

The main stretch you should be staying is the areas outside Thames Valley there. You can visit Palio, Primo Piazza is ok for photos but not too fantastic. Also you should visit the antique toys restaurant, make a trip to bunny coffee perhaps before back to Bangkok (if you have small kids). Chocolate factory can skip actually. Farm Chok Chai is very interesting and worth a visit for sure. Good luck.

 

[AlexPiero]

How is april weather in khao yak?

 

[scope18]

I am planning a trip to BKK and Khao Yai

I’m thinking of self drive to Khao Yai ..

Land in DMK

I drive regularly in Singapore.. how’s the drive up? Traffic?

 

[schnauzerpck]

#98

Planning to bring a 4 adults(include 2 elderly parents)and a child to Khao Yai 27th May.
I'd done my maths however still undecided......
Whether to rent a car from Hertz collection and return at Suvarnabhumi Airport
*OR*
Engage a driver throughout my stay----->pick and send us back to Suvarnabhumi Airport.
The saving around $230sgd+\-(self drive lower cost)
Never rent a car and self drive in other country aside from self driven to KL,Genting and Cameron Highland before.
Which were u guys choose?
Although 27th is a Sun but 29th May Tue is Vesak Day so unsure how's road/traffic condition.
Btw anybody use Waze to navigate before?
My biggest fear is *WHAT IF * I'd made a wrong turn or cut into wrong lane coz I find sometime google map can be a little misleading,although indicate of straight lane but apparently there's 2 to 3 straight lane leading to different direction
Love to hear more of your sharing.
Thanks

 

[BlackCube]

Planning to bring a 4 adults(include 2 elderly parents)and a child to Khao Yai 27th May.
I'd done my maths however still undecided......
Whether to rent a car from Hertz collection and return at Suvarnabhumi Airport
*OR*
Engage a driver throughout my stay----->pick and send us back to Suvarnabhumi Airport.
The saving around $230sgd+\-(self drive lower cost)
Never rent a car and self drive in other country aside from self driven to KL,Genting and Cameron Highland before.
Which were u guys choose?
Although 27th is a Sun but 29th May Tue is Vesak Day so unsure how's road/traffic condition.
Btw anybody use Waze to navigate before?
My biggest fear is *WHAT IF * I'd made a wrong turn or cut into wrong lane coz I find sometime google map can be a little misleading,although indicate of straight lane but apparently there's 2 to 3 straight lane leading to different direction

Love to hear more of your sharing.
Thanks

U need to rent 6 seater like stream? Normal one not enough space to sit? 4 adult include yourself not?

Will recommend self drive but depend on your confidence level also ba. I think should be fine. Traffic wise I think should be ok ba. Abit more traffic but not like song kan period.

Google map is good enough. Unless u gg to small soi places. Almost all places is ok. Go wrong then u turn lo. Can re route. Thailand route mostly quite forgiving, as in alot of u turn.

 

[schnauzerpck]

U need to rent 6 seater like stream? Normal one not enough space to sit? 4 adult include yourself not?

Will recommend self drive but depend on your confidence level also ba. I think should be fine. Traffic wise I think should be ok ba. Abit more traffic but not like song kan period.

Google map is good enough. Unless u gg to small soi places. Almost all places is ok. Go wrong then u turn lo. Can re route. Thailand route mostly quite forgiving, as in alot of u turn.

Yup 4 adults include myself thus total made up of 5 pax. Had shortlist Toyota Camry from Hertz.