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The easiest way to see Thailand by car is one region at a time. Fly to Chiang Mai, Phuket or Surat Thani, pick up a car at the airport, drive a loop through the mountains or along the coast, and return the car where you started. Each route below has a map, the drive for every day and the best time to go.
3 routes, each a loop by car
The Mae Hong Son Loop by car
The classic road trip of northern Thailand: mountain roads from Chiang Mai to Pai and Mae Hong Son, then south through quiet valleys and over Doi Inthanon, Thailand's highest mountain.
Best time: November to February. Car hire at Chiang Mai Airport from €234 a week.
Andaman coast road trip from Phuket
Beaches, rainforest and limestone islands in one loop: Khao Lak, a night on Cheow Lan Lake in Khao Sok, Ao Nang and Railay near Krabi, and sunrise over Phang Nga Bay.
Best time: November to April. Car hire at Phuket Airport from €234 a week.
Gulf coast road trip with Khao Sok and Koh Samui
Rainforest and islands in one loop: Khao Sok and a night on Cheow Lan Lake, then the car ferry to Koh Samui, the quiet beaches of Khanom and the great temple of Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Best time: January to August. Car hire at Surat Thani Airport from €195 a week.
How to plan a road trip in Thailand
Fly between regions, drive within them
Thailand is big: Bangkok to Chiang Mai is about 700 km by road, Chiang Mai to Phuket more than 1,500 km. Domestic flights between the regions take one to two hours and are often cheap when booked early. Most travellers fly to the region they want to see and use the car there, where it makes the biggest difference: in the mountains, the national parks and on the quieter coasts.
Pick up and return at the same airport
Every route here starts and ends at the same airport. You collect the car when you land, drive the loop and drop it off before your flight out. The routes are planned so that the last day ends near the airport.
Plan 100 to 200 km a day
Distances look short on the map, but mountain roads and stops take time. On the routes below, most days have two to three hours of driving, so there is time for waterfalls, viewpoints and lunch. Drive in daylight; the rules of the road are under Driving in Thailand.
Two loops in one trip
The routes combine well with a flight in between. Start with the cool north from November to February, then fly south for the beaches. The Andaman coast is at its best from November to April, the Gulf coast from January to August.
Frequently asked questions
Is Thailand good for a road trip?
Yes. The main roads are good, petrol stations are everywhere and a car takes you to national parks, viewpoints and beaches that tours rarely reach. Traffic drives on the left; Bangkok itself is best avoided by car.
How many days do I need for a road trip in Thailand?
A week per region is comfortable. The Mae Hong Son Loop and the Gulf coast route take 7 days, the Andaman coast route 8 days.
Can I combine the north and the south?
Yes. Drive the Mae Hong Son Loop from Chiang Mai, return the car, fly to Phuket or Surat Thani and pick up a new car there for the coast.
What do I need to hire a car in Thailand?
Your own driving licence, an International Driving Permit and a credit card in the main driver’s name for the deposit.