2018 Singapore-Thailand Drive – Breaking the Bangkok Barrier

Day 5 – Chumphon to Bangkok

When we did our first Phuket trip back in 2015, it was a result of many years of dreaming, and then finally plucking up the courage to give it a go, with some planning of course, and encouragement from others who have also made the long drive from Singapore to Thailand. When we reached Phuket that year, we were elated, but immediately my mind started wandering and wondering…. what next? Bangkok, was the next logical step… but it seemed so far, an extra day or two of driving… I wondered if it was worth taking that extra time on the road to experience Bangkok’s famous jams in our own vehicle. After a few years driving to Phuket and Krabi, we decided to take the plunge and today was the day we were going to do it!

Another long drive today, with the 465km journey seeming to drag on longer than it actually is as the traffic gets heavier towards the Thai capital. These stretch somehow did not seem as scenic as the area around Phuket and Krabi, save for the Tenasserim Hills in the background which form the natural southern border between Thailand and Myanmar. The good thing was that it was generally a smooth comfortable drive, with the quality of roads getting better the further north we got.

The Tenasserim Hills outline the background scenery for most of the day’s drive

As we hit the last stretch of our journey approaching Bangkok, the roads get wider and busier, with plenty of places to stop to rest or to take a meal. You have to watch out for a handful of crazy drivers though, who weave in and out at high speeds without signalling and with no regard whatsoever for the other road users.

The roads widen as we get closer to Bangkok

As we approach the famous capital, our excitement grows. We cross the magnificent Rama IX bridge over the Chao Phraya River as we head into the city centre, straight into Bangkok’s world-renown traffic jams.

Our residence for the next 4 nights would be the Marriott Vacation Club at The Empire Place, and our final 600m leading up to the accommodation takes us a good 40 minutes to navigate, inching bit by bit at a snail’s pace in the heavy peak-hour traffic. The long wait didn’t dampen our mood though. We were thoroughly elated at finally completing the 1855km journey from Singapore to Bangkok!

We did it! From Singapore to Bangkok, covering 1855km over 5 days of driving!

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This is part 8 of my 2018 Drive from Singapore to Thailand Blog Series, click HERE for part 9 where I share about the joys of spending time away as a family at our home away from home.

2018 Drive from Singapore to Thailand Blog Series:

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Blog Series

2019 Thailand Fly & Drive (Bangkok, Khao Kho, Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son Loop, Chiang Khan, Khon Kaen, Khao Yai, Pattaya)
2019 Cameron Highlands Brothers Drive
2018 Bali Drive
2017 Hungary Winter Drive
2017 Hokkaido Winter Drive
2019 Drive from Singapore to Thailand (Krabi, Phuket)
2018 Drive from Singapore to Thailand (Bangkok, Rayong)
2017 Drive from Singapore to Thailand (Krabi, Phuket)
2016 Drive from Singapore to Thailand

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2Comments

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1

Nigel Tan on Sep 25, 2018 at 4:01 pm

hi I would like to find out with regards to vehicle insurance, mine only covers up to 80Km from the border, they don’t offer additional premium even if I were to take up, that’s covers all the way to BKK
Have driven many times via rental vehicels in Thailand such as Phuket, chiang Mai, Bangkok , HuaHin, Khao Yai
but never driven my own car up before, thinking of trying just like you
- 2
  
  Lennie Chua on Sep 25, 2018 at 5:43 pm
  
  Yeah this is the difficult thing. Ive checked with several insurance agents and they all say no. So any driving beyond 80km will be at our own risk.