How to travel to Nongkhai
All prices are from Jan. 2009 and might be higher now
Bangkok has a new airport called Suvarnabhumi airport. Now there are two in Bangkok. The old one no longer is used for commercial flights.
By bus
First and second class buses to Nongkhai depart several times daily from Bangkok’s Mochit 2 Bus Terminal near the airport. For information call: +66 (0)2936 2852-66 or ask at the Tourist information at the airport when just arrived. Taxi to the bus terminal cost about 250 Baht.
From Suvarnabhumi Airport a direct bus leaves every evening to Nongkhai.
There are also buses from Bangkoks traveller paradise Khao sun road which might be easy to book and convenient for you if you already planned to stay a few days in the capital. It would not be our first choice but considerable if you are on a budget and do not mind loud music or videos.
Duration: 8 – 12 hours
Cost: approx. 700 Baht for VIP bus; non air con buses are cheaper
By train
Trains to Nongkhai depart daily (early morning and evening) from Bangkok’s Hua Lamphong Railway Station. All train also stop at Don Muang Airport, which will be the airport where you arrive when coming from abroad as long as the new airport in Bangkok is not finished. For the night trains it is necessary to make a reservation and buy the ticket in advance. Same day booking are very seldom possible.
The train can be an option if you arrive a few days prior your travel to Nongkhai. At the international airport just cross the fly over to the train station at Don Muang Airport (this is the name of the international airport). It is possible to take a luggage trolley from the airport to the train station. Purchase your ticket, spend one or two days sightseeing in Bangkok and take your time to overcome your jetlag and enjoy a ride in the sleeper to Nongkhai. Food and drinks are available at the trains.
Duration: around 12 – 14 hours
Cost: 300 – 1.400 Baht
Day time trains have 2st class air con cars, 2nd class with fan or 3rd class with wooden benches and wide open windows. Night trains have 1stclass sleeper with air con and 2nd class with air-con or fan as well as seat cars with fan. For information call: +66(0) 2223 7010-20 or check
State Railway of Thailand (Timetables, available seats, fares, no booking possible) For train to Nongkhai check Northeastern Line
Here you can book online but it is not cheap: http://www.thaifocus.com/travel/train/
Online train ticket reservation and seat availability information: http://www.traveller2000.com/train/reservation.htm
Duration: 12 – 14 hours
Cost: approx. 778 Baht for 2nd class sleeper a/c express train
By air
The fastest way is taking a flight to Udon Thani, which is about 50 km from Nongkhai. While Thai Airways flights are a little more expensive they allow you 20 kg luggage. It is also easier to get standby tickets. Internet booking is also possible. Air Asia and Nok Air also offer a service to Udon Thani. With these carriers it pays to book in advance.
There are seldom tickets for the same day available and they charge nearly the same as Thai Airways if booking late. Please notice that these carriers limit your luggage to 15 kg. Lately many of the low cost flights were delayed. Sometimes for several hours.
Avoid the late Air Asia or Nok Air flights. The limousine service to Nongkhai is timed to meet the Thai Airways arrivals and the last car leaves after the last Thai Airways flight arrived.
From Udon Thani Airport there is a limousine service available which takes you directly to Nongkhai.
By the way, the limousine is either a plain white mini van or a big bus with Limousine service written on the side. Once you collected your luggage from the belt just walk to the exit. On the right hand side is a window where you can buy the ticket for the limousine service (200 Baht approx. 4 Euro).
Duration: 65 minutes flight + 50 minutes drive to Nongkhai
Prices vary between 300 Baht (6 Euro) if you book well in advance and fly in the middle of the week and
2.500 Baht with Thai Airways at peak time. The additional fuel surcharge changes with the oil price.
Advance internet booking:
Air Asia
Phuket Airlines (Chiang Mai – Udon Thani only)
