Sleeper trains: the slow way north

The overnight train is one of the nicest ways to travel in Thailand. In the evening an attendant turns the facing seats of a ตู้นอน into two bunks with clean sheets and a curtain. The lower berth (เตียงล่าง) is wider, has the window and costs a little more; the upper one is cheaper and darker. Bangkok to Chiang Mai takes around 11 to 13 hours, so you save a hotel night. Most long-distance trains now leave from Krung Thep Aphiwat station rather than Hua Lamphong, so check your ticket. Seats can be booked online through the State Railway's system, and sleepers sell out around long weekends and Songkran. Trains are often late: bring food, water and patience.