Originally Posted by
ringingup
How scary and dangerous would the driving be?
It looks like it’s almost 3 hours from Bangkok. If we got there by car (self driving or with driver), I imagine hotels would be easily organise activities and/or transport in the area for us?
I am also starting to consider a quick trip to Angkor Wat as an option to replace the time we would’ve spent in Chiang Mai.
That is really hard to say, as it entirely depends on your driving experience, appetite for unstructured traffic and no strict obedience to rules as you would know it from Europe and North America
That said, I have driven in Thailand long before I moved here the better part of a decade ago (gosh time does fly!).
BinSabai is of course right about Kanchanaburi being somewhat affected as well. But also that Feb is one of the best months to visit weather-wise, if avoiding the North.
Khao Yai is cooler and greener (hence why it is popular with Thais wanting to escape the city etc, and golfers in particular). If you have a car, you would have no problem getting around and doing things. Provided you are comfortable with that, that would be by far the best option if you ask me.
Do note, that officially you are required to have an International Drivers License to drive in Thailand - although not having one will not prevent you from renting a car, if you get stopped by police they will happily use it as a reason to give you a fine