Our final day in Chiang Mai was quite an adventure! We decided to take the sleeper train back to Bangkok and booked our tickets through Agoda. When we arrived at the train station, it was bustling with people, and there were a few stalls selling snacks like potato chips and instant noodles.

I headed to the ticket counter to show our booking, and the officer gave us our tickets, letting us know the train would be leaving in about 30 minutes. The train arrived not long after, and we hopped on, eager to find our seats. Unfortunately, the seat numbers were written in Thai, and it was pretty tricky to figure out where to go. Thankfully, a kind Thai lady noticed our confusion and helped us find our carriage.

To our surprise, our seats were a few rows apart—despite being in the same carriage. I placed my belongings at my assigned spot and then joined my boyfriend at his seat since, luckily, no one had taken it yet. The booking had warned us that we might not be seated together, so we weren’t too surprised. With about 10 minutes to spare before departure, I quickly dashed off the train to buy some snacks for the journey while my boyfriend stayed behind to keep an eye on our stuff. I made a quick stop at one of the coffee machines and bought us two hot cup of coffee to enjoy while we waited.

As the train pulled out of the station, I felt a sense of excitement. There’s something special about night-time train rides—the rhythmic clattering of the tracks, the gentle sway of the carriage, and the dimly lit cabins. Throughout the journey, the train made several stops, and at each one, vendors would come aboard selling snacks, drinks, and even some local treats. It was interesting to see what each stop had to offer and added a bit of life to the quiet, sleepy atmosphere.

Around 6 pm, a lady came by to take our dinner orders and asked what time we’d like to eat. We placed our order, and just as the sun began to set, another staff member arrived to transform the seats into beds. They folded down the bunks and made them up with crisp white sheets and blankets. We both ended up with upper beds, which felt cozy and a little adventurous.

Dinner arrived around 9 pm, and while the meal was simple, it was filling. After eating, I climbed up to my bunk and tucked myself in. The gentle rocking of the train made it surprisingly easy to fall asleep. I was so comfortable that I didn’t even notice the stops along the way as people got on and off the train. My boyfriend told me all about it the next morning—apparently, I was out like a light the whole night!

When we woke up, the sky was beginning to brighten, and we could feel the subtle shift in atmosphere as we approached Bangkok. We arrived around 7 am, feeling surprisingly well-rested after our long journey. Even though it was just a train ride, it was a unique and memorable experience—watching the landscapes roll by, meeting fellow passengers, and just soaking in the peacefulness of the trip. It was the perfect way to end our Chiang Mai adventure.

Hope you enjoyed hearing about our journey!

Love,
Ti Ti