Hi Folks,

Am planning a trip from Bangkok to Chiang Mai by car..Two familes in two cars .. As its a long distance, we planning to travel around 4 hrs the 1st day, then stay around Nakhon Sawan region for the night.. then next day continue travel to Chiang Mai.. We planning it between 12 - 18th April ( Sonkran week) where I believe its gonna be the most crowded but thats the only option we have currently..
My queries :

1. Currently we plan to leave on 12th post breakfast and halt somewhere in between.. Any place you would specially recommend as a must see considering we are flexible or do we just go and halt around midway in a decent hotel ? Some surrounding sightseeing in our halt would not be bad too..( thinking of a good place around lakes / hills ? )

2. 11th and 12th are expected to be very bad on the highways due to traffic moving out of Bangkok.. Will leaving on 13th be better or there is not much difference between leaving on 12th or 13th ?

3. We plan to spend ~ 1 day in Chiang Mai, another day around the Golden Triangle, another maybe Chiang Rai.. and relax another day.. Any specific advice you would give ?

Thanks, Abhi