Originally Posted by
moretimeoffguy
Thanks so much. I prefer not to need a bike. Maybe a bicycle but not a motorbike; I don’t have the coordination / spatial sense for it and would probably wind up in an accident.
I’m almost 1 week in to a 3 week trip so I have 2 weeks left. Plenty of time. I haven’t run out of Bangkok area things to do; but visiting ko Kret really made me want to explore more rural and laid back areas. I’ve never been a huge city person but BKK is super convenient.
I agree, riding a motorcycle in Thailand is scary. As for touring rural Thailand on a bicycle, if you stay off the busy roads and are not reckless with your speed, it should be doable.
Sounds like you have time, so perhaps before giving further suggestions, what are you looking to do in the mountains? The outdoors activities like hiking and camping, waterfalls, mountain views? Rural areas away from the touristy places just to relax as easy as possible from Bangkok? Escape PM2.5 pollution (impossible unless you go way south or some remote island)?
Originally Posted by
moretimeoffguy
Yeah, I checked Grab about it’s 2100 baht one-way. So I’m guessing having a driver for the day would cost 5000 baht or so. Am I right? Sounds like the 2500 hiking day trip would be better for me; but then again that wouldn’t be laid back at all which defeats part of my purpose.
Wish Ko Kret was at least hilly. I really enjoyed the rural vibe there. Might be fun to do an overnight home stay.
What other accessible rural spots are similar to the feel of Ko Kret that aren’t too far away / not very expensive to get to? I’ll check out the one someone recommended that is near Cambodia and also review the thread again to catch other suggestions.
For an affordable private transport option to other provinces one-way and/or round-trip, check out the Thai Taxi Co-op:
?????????-Service Rate (Use Google translate as everything else is in Thai, but this should give you an idea for pricing) I’ve used their services before as recently as 2023, it’s safe and not a rip-off. Similar to the official airport taxi, you pay the central office not the driver and they send the driver to you. The driving is typical of local taxi drivers though and not a 5* hotel chauffeur.
For an easy-to-get-to homestay with a relaxing vibe like Koh Kret but also doable as a day trip from Bangkok (by a private driver, bus or train), you may want to check out Blue Ozone Resort & Spa (blue-ozone.com) and that general area (Bang Khla). Unfortunately the place next door to that I’d otherwise recommend is currently closed for renovation (Pattara Cafe & Homestay). It’s not hilly though.
The Kanchanaburi suggestion with the train by another poster is also a great option (overnight or 2-3 days). Kanchanaburi (along with Phetchaburi and Ratchaburi) has really cool national parks and mountainous areas along the border e.g. Khao Chang Phueak in Thong Pa Phum National Park, Pa Noen Thung in Kaeng Krachan NP etc. Although again, you’d need some form of a transport once you’re there to get to the mountains, waterfalls, relax on one of the raft houses along the river (those places may offer a pick up from Kanchanaburi station) etc.
Khao Yai as a day trip would not be relaxing. Bangkokians that have vacation homes up around there go for a weekend or a long-weekend.