Route Info – Thailand Part 2 Going from Central to Northern Thailand

This post is part of the Route-Info series continuation from :

1. Road Trip Southern Thailand from Hat Yai to Arayanprathet
2. Road Trip Cambodia

From Cambodia I re-entered Thailand though the Cham Yeam – Khlong Yai Border and this is the actual route I took making my way up towards northern Thailand before exiting at Chiang Khong and entering Laos but that's for another Route info Post.

(Entry from Cambodia)Cham Yeam -> Khlong Yai -> Trat -> Koh Chang -> Rayong -> Pattaya -> Ayutthaya -> Nahkon Sawan -> Sukhothai -> Chom Thong -> Doi Inthanon -> Mae Sariang -> Mae Hong Son -> Pai -> Chiang Dao -> Doi Angkang -> Thaton ->Doi Mae Salong ->Chiang Saen -> Golden Triangle -> Chiang Rai -> Chiang Khong -> Huay Xai (Exit into Laos) 

Thailand Road Trip Part 2 - Route Info 

Things of interest .... to my point of view ... 

Trat - Koh Chang – Rayong

There is notthing better then just riding the coastline of the gulf of Thailand.

Pattaya

Ahem Ahem .... I would say this is one unique place within Thailand but definitely does not represent true Thailand.

Nahkon Sawan

This big city seams unavoidable to break the journey going north but the center of city has a beautiful temple on the top of the hill with a nearby observation tower allowing 360 views of the city

Sukhothai

The old city of Thailand predating Ayutthaya with beautifully preserved ruins but with much less tourist

The Big Loop of Northern Thailand (Mae Hong Son Loop)
(Chom Thong -> Doi Inthanon -> Mae Sariang -> Mae Hong Son -> Pai)

Usually this famous loop starts from Chaing Mai and ends in Chaing Mai but I guess I did something close to it evading Chaing Mai since I did not need to rent a bike from the main city. 

The loop is a rider heaven going through 1846 corners throughout the whole 700+ km, through mountains, valleys and just sights after sights of beautiful nature.

The loop is so famous that its not surprising to see tourist on rented motorbikes going in either clockwise or anticlockwise of the loop. Lots of hot springs, many unique hill tribe village, caves, hiking trials and endless exploration within the loop.

Doi Angkang – Thaton – Doi Mae Salong

Doi Angkang is the second tallest mountain in Thailand after Doi Inthanon but the roads were much more treacherous compared to the Mae Hong Son Loop. 

Even more deeper into nature with almost no foreign tourist, the ride from Doi Angkang to Thaton then Doi Mae Salong is a adventurous ride passing mountainous ranges, fields of orchards,waterfalls, and tea plantation

Chiang Saen – Golden Triangle

Old town Chiang Saen is a little gem with many old temple ruins dotting the town but not noticeable since it is not popularized as a tourist destination. 

The town is by the banks of the Mekong river bordering Laos and gateway to the Golden Triangle which is the three way border intersection between Thailand – Laos – Myanmar but also where drug-lords of heroin use to plant fields of poppy back in the days to fund their civil war

Chiang Rai

City of temples I would say. Famous for the White Temple, Blue Temple, Black House ... everything seams to be color theme somehow.

Chiang Khong

Quint little border town for crossing over to Laos – Huay Xai

Traveled on : December 2018
#overlandingthailand #motorbikingthailand #routeinfo #thailand #motorpackerasia #blurtravels

Border Crossing from Cambodia-Cham Yeam Border to Thailand-Khlong Yai Border with a Malaysian Registered Motorbike

This crossing was somehow peaceful for me knowing that the Thailand side was easy with all my documents in order and exiting Cambodia should be a straightforward thing since I had all the proper documentation to get out from the correct border. 

At Cham Yeam Border Post 

 Packed up all my stuff in the early morning and rode from Koh Kong to the Cham Yeam border which was a very small border that looked like a little single street village crossing. 

Parked Bluey and saw the first house/building that said Immigration and I proceeded to stamp out of Cambodia without any issue. Took about a few minutes queuing up but other than that it was all good. 

Immigration Building at Cham Yeam Border Post - Cambodia 

Rode Bluey to the edge of the border where customs was checking each vehicle before opening the gantry to let the vehicle in or out. I notice that there was no outgoing vehicle only incoming. Three custom officers were sitting outside on a open table drinking their morning coffee and tea with one even eating his breakfast.

I approached them and showed them the custom papers I obtained from Phnom Penh and Poi Pet a month ago and they slowly go through it reading and talking to one another. Communication was hard since they barely speak English but they finally conveyed to me that I was in the wrong place. 

The customs building to process the outgoing vehicle was not here at the border but back down the hill around 2 km from the border into the Cambodian side.

One officer tried to explain to me the directions and the location of the custom buildings but I had no idea where it was and since I rode from the same way and somehow missed the custom buildings it was going to be a wild goose chase if I just leaved hunting for the building. 

I kept saying I don't understand and I don't know where this customs building was and they scratch their head while I scratched mine.

One officer ended up flagging one of those motorbike taxi and explained to him to bring me to the customs office and paid him 2000 riel from his own pocket. I followed after him and 2 km later back the same road on the right side where there was a police block which I passed earlier was where the custom office located. 

Customs & Excise Building 2km from the Cham Yeam Border Post

Getting the Export Papers done at Customs & Excise Building in Cham Yeam Border 

Entering the office there was no one. 9 am in the morning seamed to be too early to start work here in this relax border. The motortaxi helped me shout and look for someone and finally an officer hurried into the office while still buttoning up his shirt getting ready for work.

I showed him the papers and after a while he started the paperwork's process to get me out of Cambodia with Bluey. I was told to wait outside at the waiting area where there was seats and after half an hour he came with all the export papers prepared but told me the final signature from the high ranking officer was all that was left but the problem is, that one important guy was not here but somewhere else in a meeting.

I had to wait the officer said. Not much of a choice I said ok.

Another half an hour later he somehow got permission to sign on behalf of the high ranking officer and the papers were now complete and I was asked to pay the full export fee for Bluey. USD 12.5 was the export fee and I now had the papers to exit Cambodia with Bluey.

Ride back to the border and passed all the papers to the officer and the gantry opened for me to ride onward into Thailand.

Thailand side was straightforward getting the TM2 form filled up by Immigration and then Customs for the Temporary Import Permit. 

Communication was hard too for the Thai side as they barely speak English. They knew what I wanted but had trouble reading the Malaysian Vehicle Ownership papers of Bluey. Luckily I had a copy of the previous entry into Thailand and the moment I showed them, they snatch it and happily started processing the TIP. 

Immigration Office at Khlong Yai Border - Thailand

Within minutes at the Thailand border, I was stamped in and received full TIP papers for Bluey and back on the road riding the coastline of Thailand to Trat with a big smile on my face. 

Riding the Coastline to Trat Province Thailand 

Traveled on: Dec 2018
#bordercrossing #Chamyeam #Khlongyai #motorbike