Public transport in Thailand

If you have decided to book a yoga trip and travel to Thailand, then you will find several ways to get around. Besides, every country has unique means of transport, including Thailand. But luckily, there are also conventional standard ways to travel. So you don’t have to do all the movements on an elephant, for example. However, in itself a pity perhaps for some of you but, you can make this somewhat existentialist choice yourself. Moreover, it is good to know in advance which means are available for transport. In this article, you will find out how public transport works in Thailand. What are good taxi companies? Which waterways are the best to take through Bangkok? You will also read what those Tuk-tuks are about and whether this is convenient or not. So read all about the typical local transport methods in Thailand in the next paragraphs. 

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Thai monk walking at the station

Bangkok metro Skytrain and railway train

Bangkok, and then especially Greater Bangkok, is a large city of 8 million people with many citizens. Large metropolitan areas like this require of course a vast and efficient public transport system. So, transport is done with so-called rapid transit. To clarify, for people unfamiliar with travelling in metropolitan regions: rapid transit is similar to metro, subway, Skytrain, U-Bahn, underground or Metropolitana. Besides, there are eight rapid transit lines in Greater Bangkok which you take while travelling. However, six are metro lines but two are ordinary railway lines. To clarify, they are represented by a colour. Because the colours make it easier to distinguish how to travel in the region Bangkok. 

How to pay Rapid Transit like Metro Subway Skytrain

So, for these different lines, you have several ways of buying a ticket. If you take the MRT then buy a token that is valid for ninety minutes. On the contrary, you buy an MRT plus card. However, the BTS (Skytrain) has to be paid with the Rabbit card. In addition, you also use this card for other payments like the supermarket, restaurant and the Bangkok BRT bus. BTS, MRT and ARL (Airport Rail Link ) will also accept payments with the Mangoom card. Besides, next to the six metro lines, there will be two new built railway tracks through Bangkok. Eventually, parts will be accessible from 2021. Nevertheless, they are represented by either a dark or light red line. Henceforth, it will be possible to pay with the Mangoom card from December 2021.

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Bus travelling in Thailand

Biggest railway station in Southeast Asia

 Additionally, in the northwest of the city, a brand new railway and metro station will be opened. While this station is accessible from mid-2021. Hence, the name of this station will be Bang Sue and this station becomes the biggest railway station in southeast Asia. Finally, SRT red and MRT blue will connect here.  

Thailand railway train

Do you travel outside of Bangkok by train? There are four railway lines distinguished in North, Northeast, South and East. Firstly, the North Line goes to Chiang Mai. Secondly, the Northeast Line splits and ends in two different towns: Ubon Ratchathani and Nong Kai. Thirdly, the South Line runs to Sungai Kolok at the southern border. So, there are several branches and the train crosses the border to Malaysia and Myanmar. Fourthly, the East Line has branches to several cities in eastern Thailand; including Laem Chubang, Ban Plu Ta Luang and Marp Ta Put located on the coast. Then, more inland, a branch ends in Aranyaprathet located on the Cambodian border. But if you want to go to Cambodia then better book a flight instead of crossing the local border. Local guides tend to be fraudulent. 

Thailand bus 

It should be noted that a bus in Thailand stops when you gesture, even if you are not at a bus stop. Usually, cities have a bus terminal where tickets can be purchased. Besides, you also buy your bus ticket simply on board. All in all, the bus lines in Bangkok are throughout the Greater-Bangkok region. Above all, there are more than two hundred bus lines in total. It is also possible to go to other parts of the country by bus. But realize a train ticket is often cheaper for long distances. 

Mini-vans also use the existing bus lines. However, they are less comfortable for taller people. But the advantage is that they drive somewhat faster through busy traffic. Despite, as at many airports, there often is a shuttle service to and from the airport.

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Street view of Bangkok

Several ways of taxi transport in Thailand 

Taxi-meter

Of course there are taxis available in Thailand for tourists. You distinguish between taxis, limousine taxis and the better alternative called Taxi-meter. The Taxi-meter is easy to recognize as Taxi-meter is written on taxis that use a meter. The idea behind the concept of ​​the Taxi-meter is to prevent driver scams. In any case, the Thai government obliges the Taxi-meter drivers to turn on the meter. So if the driver does not do this, you choose another taxi.

If you get on at a taxi rank, then no surcharge will be required. However, if you take the highway and you pass a toll gate, then you as a passenger have to pay the toll to the driver yourself. And if you go to one of the airports in Bangkok, then the driver also charges an airport surcharge of fifty baht.

Taxis and limousine taxis

On the other hand, some taxis do not work with the taximeter. So it is less reliable to choose one. Hence, these taxi drivers sometimes bring tourists to a restaurant or another tourist location. Because then they receive a commission for finding possible customers. But, this commission (hundred to sometimes a thousand baht) is indirectly charged to the customer. Finally, it is also possible to rent a limousine at many airports. Besides, this is fortunately slightly more comfortable than a taxi. A plus is, for example, that you often have an English-speaking driver. Furthermore, some limo services do a criminal history check on their drivers.

Two more tips for your convenience 

Tip number #1 beckoning

However beware of the ‘come here’ gesture when beckoning for a taxi. It means fighting in Thailand. Tell me, is this really what you want to do when you order a taxi? Just realize your vacation is way more positive and peaceful if you avoid that. If you want to beckon a taxi the Thai way, stretch your right arm out in front of you, palm down, at face level and point your fingers down as you beckon.

Tip number #2 write down your destination

Then there is a convenient trick that makes travelling easier in countries where they do not speak the English language. Just markedly write down your travel destination somewhere. Because many taxi drivers don’t speak English very well.

Therefore, write it clearly in a document on your mobile phone, so that the driver understands you better. Or as an alternative, write down your destination on a piece of paper.

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Ferry near Phang Nga Bay

Alternative transport in Thailand 

 Because for some tourists, busses, trains and subways or metros are the most common ways of public transport. Likewise are taxis. But Thailand is a nice country where – just like in other Asian countries – it is very easy to use means of transport that we usually do not know in Europe or America. So more about that in the next few paragraphs. 

Boat transport in Bangkok

Because Bangkok is a river delta with extra canals, it is quite practical to travel by water. Hence, the main river – the Chao Phraya River – flows from the north to the Gulf of Thailand in the south. But, there are two other major waterways. Khlong Saen Saeb and Khlong of Thonburi. To clarify, Khlong is the Thai word for a canal. In essence, Khlong Saen Saeb is an east-west route for boat services. However, the Khlong of Thonburi is a canal that lies on the west side of the Chao Praya River. So, on these three khlongs, you will find all kinds of boats, water taxis and ferry services to travel from A to B. Of course, an advantage for travellers liking to travel cheaper because the prices are at least half lower than the BTS / metro.  

Ferry transport in Thailand

If you like to visit one or more of the amazing breathtaking islands in Thailand then just take one of the ferry services. Because using these is the most convenient manner and brings you where you love to travel to easily. Just book a relaxing yoga vacation on one of the Thai islands and enjoy a meditative energetic and ascetic time in a resort. Thailand is exceptionally suitable for this, so do what your heart gives in and heal yourself while travelling.

Other transport in Thailand

When you travel through Thailand you sometimes get in a situation where you have to take an alternative way of travelling. Just because it is more convenient or faster in heavy traffic in cities. In short, here is a small survey of several other means of public transport in Thailand.

A Songthaew for instance is a converted pick-up truck made into a kind of share taxi. In fact, travellers sit or stand in these pick-up trucks. However a samlor, tuk-tuk or a skylab is often quite fast in crowded cities. In short, these are all tricycles. However, a samlor is leg-powered but a tuk-tuk has an engine.Furthermore, a more advanced tuk-tuk is a skylab Basically these are tricycles with one to three seats behind the driver. Finally many people take a motorcycle taxi, a common and fast way to travel.

Travel to Thailand and have a great vacation

If you book a yoga trip to Thailand, then locally there are several options for getting around. Bangkok is an immense metropolis teeming with people. Traffic is regularly jammed here. Convenient means of transport such as a tuk-tuk or a skylab or a boat are less often stuck in traffic jams. With this in mind, it is definitely worth considering if you like to travel a little faster. You accept the lesser comfort for that. So wherever you go in Thailand, discover your path and after reading all the essential travel information about transport in Thailand you will surely enjoy the vacation you like to book to join authentic Buddhist monastery life or a well-deserved yoga holiday in an inspiring resort.