INTRODUCTION

        This book is your guide to driving and travelling around Thailand.

        To make this information available to our readers, we decided to actually do it -- drive around the country. We decided to travel to many of the destinations to give you authentic information. Everybody can drive around the country, with a proper plan and good preparation. 

        In the north, there are many attractions such as mountains, waterfalls, hot springs, and other beauties and bounties of nature. Geographically, northern Thailand has high mountains and valleys. The cool weather throughout the year also attracts tourists who would like to chill out or experience the sea of fog, and beautiful flowers.

        Since roads in the north are winding, you may think it is hard or dangerous for you to drive. But if you have information about the condition of the roads, it will boost your confidence and enable you to drive safely, while enjoying the experience.

        The south is very different. Besides white beaches, blue sea, and beautiful coral reefs, there are many more tourist attractions lying in wait for you. If you are the adventurous type, there is cliff-climbing, raft and isle floating, swimming in waterfalls, boat and cave tours. Driving along sea shores is also pleasurable.

        However, beauty also has limitations. Nature allows you to travel to some places in some seasons. Since it rains eight months a year in the south, you will have only four months to travel under a bright, sunny sky.  That will make your trip more valuable.

        In the central and the east, there are many tourist attractions. Driving to the westernmost region gives you the same feeling of driving uphill in the North. The sea in Trat is as beautiful as the sea in the south. Stone castles and archaeological sites are awaiting tourists. Tourists, who love making merit, can pay homage to many wonderful Buddha images. You can also explore adventurous activities such as isle floating, cliff-hanging and jumping.

        The central region is the centre of everything. There are many main roads connecting to other regions. Most of the area is lowland and not snaky.

        The northeast region is the ideal spot for tourists of every age, including those travelling with family. Cultural attractions, stone castles, naturally-emerged giant stone pieces, waterfalls, and the Dinosaur Museum will keep you preoccupied.

        You will enjoy gazing at the vast verdant rice fields along the road while traveling during the farming season. You will distinctly connect to the lives of people living at the rim of the Khong River when driving along provinces adjoining the river. You can also drive across the borders to neighbouring countries. The northeast or Isaan is an option for tourists who love to travel to various places.

        Thailand has numerous interesting tourist attractions, waiting for you to explore. You can drive to every place and every spot. Get the real feel of it. You’ll not only be impressed by the experience, but it will be an unforgettable one.

        The most important aspect in driving around is your preparation of travel routes, cars, drivers, and passengers. We hope this book will provide useful guidance to our dear readers.   

        Before moving on to the next chapters, we would like to introduce you to Thailand, a country rich in geographic diversity. Thailand has a variety of geographic regions -- mountainous, forests, hills, plateaus, valley plains, low plains, and rivers, as well as a number of beaches and islands. Geographically, Thailand can be divided into six regions. Each of them has a different and unique geography and its own tourism attractions.       
  
        The most important thing is we have various resources that attract tourists. There are natural resources such as forests, mountains, waterfalls, sea, and islands, and man-made resources such as archaeological sites, antiques, religious places, and other creations. They have diverse architectural variety.

        The northeast hamlet of Ban Chiang in Udon Thani province is home to artefacts of the world’s oldest Bronze Age civilisation.  Tourist attractions like Prasat Hin Phimai in Nakhon Ratchasima, Prasat Hin Phanom Rung and Prasat Mueang Tam in Buri Ram are castles built from bricks and stones.  Those structures are spread over a vast area and feature good composition and orderly form with beautiful landscape architecture and exquisite carving and design.  

        Travel north to visit the World Heritage Sites of Sukhothai, Si Satchanalai, and Kamphang Phet Historical Park. They are symbols of the first period of Thai art and the creation of Sukhothai, the first Thai kingdom.

        In the south, evidence of an ancient community was found at Nakhon Si Thammarat. It became one of the most precious tourism resources of the country in terms of culture and arts, tradition, and lifestyle of local residents.
         
        Roads of Thailand

        North:  Highway No 1, Phahon Yothin Road, heads for the north from Bangkok to Chiang Rai. From the north you can drive across the border to Burma. There are four lanes in most parts of the road.  It is the main road so you can drive fast but be careful in some parts. Villagers sometimes drive their farm tractors on the main road or usually ride motorcycles against the traffic flow.   

        Exercise caution because most of the routes in the north are mountain slopes, winding, and steep. You should drive very carefully when heading for Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai, Tak, Phayao, Nan, and Petchabun. Some roads linking the provinces have only two lanes.

        Northeast: Highway No 2, Mitraparp Road, heads towards the northeast from Saraburi to Nong Khai. The entire road has four lanes, is even wider in some parts. The road from the northeast connects with neighbouring countries such as Laos. You can even drive further to Vietnam.     

        East: Highway No 3, Sukhumvit Road, heads to the east from Bangkok to Trat. A journey to the east is very convenient as several roads, including elevated road and motorway, have been built to connect the central region to the east.

        Central: There are many main roads in the central region connecting to other regions. The main roads have many traffic lanes. There is a road from Sa Keao’s Aranyaprathet district to Cambodia. Another way to Cambodia is to drive from Khlong Yai, Trat, the easternmost province, which leads to Cambodia’s Koh Kong.

        South: Highway No 4 Petchkasem Road heads to the south from Bangkok to Songkhla. From there, you can drive across the border to Malaysia. The entire road has four lanes. Driving to the south is convenient as the road is straight, with only some short parts still under construction. Some parts, however, are winding as they cut through the jungle and mountainous areas.

        Caution: Remind yourself that roads upcountry are shared by many types of vehicles, including motorbikes, tractors and trucks. Buses sometimes are not parked at bus stations or their stops but on the roadside. Careless passengers may cross the road immediately after getting off the buses.
 
          Climate: Thailand is situated in a tropical area and near the equator. Some areas are adjacent to the sea. Therefore Thailand is influenced by monsoons, which make its climate hot and humid. The summer season starts around March and goes on to around June, except in the southern region where summer starts later than other regions. The rainy season kicks off around July and goes on until October. Winter months are November to February.

        Travelling across the borders to neighboring countries: 

        Thai borders have checkpoints that are open to driving across the borders. Before crossing the borders, the driver must ensure he has an international driving licence and a vehicle border-crossing permit. You can apply for an international driving licence at the Department of Land Transport or at any provincial land transport office.  To get a vehicle border-crossing permit, the driver has to produce the car’s registration document and details of the owner.