2015 Phetchabun & Route 12 Solo Ride...

"What is not started today is never finished tomorrow..." - Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

(A morning walk along the rocky beach)

Date: 21 - 29 August 2015

Route: KL - Phatthalung - Cha'am - Phitsanulok - Phetchabun - 

Phetchaburi - Ranong - Krabi - Pak Bara - KL

Total distance: 3,850 km

Day 01: KL - Phatthalung

Distance: 630 km

Hotel: Park City Hotel

(A nice cozy boutique hotel)

(Peaceful ambiance and clean)

Day 02: Phatthalung - Chaam

Distance: 690 km

Hotel: Onn Inn

(Sunset at the beautiful beach of Cha'am)

(Getting ready to ride the long distance to Phitsanulok)

Day 03: Chaam - Phitsanulok

Distance: 640

Hotel: @Me.2 Hotel

Phitsanulok is a historic city in lower northern Thailand and is the capital of Phitsanulok Province, which stretches all the way to the Laotian border. Phitsanulok is one of the oldest cities in Thailand, founded over 600 years ago. Phitsanulok is about 377 km from Bangkok. The province around it covers an area featuring mountains, plains and forest in the east and river basin. The Nan River runs through the heart of the city.

(A welcoming sign to the town)

(A modern new hotel with full facilities)

Day 04: Phitsanulok - Phetchabun

Distance: 90 km

Hotel: Naree Guest House

Phetchabun is 346 kilometres from Bangkok, borders on three regions, the North, the Central and the Northeast. The central part of the province is on the Pa Sak river basin with mountain ranges running along both the western and eastern sectors. Its climate is pleasant due to the mountainous and forested areas and is off the beaten track.

(Coffee stop along Route 12)

(Western cafe with stunning view of the mountains)

(The R&R area with eateries and hotels)

(Cool sunny weather on the mountain range)

(A unique spider table at one of the eateries)

(View from one of the Mountain Resorts of Khao Kho)

(Khao Kho is also known as the Switzerland of Thailand)

Day 05: Phetchabun - Phetchaburi

Distance: 515 km

Hotel: Sun Hotel

Phetchaburi is an old royal city, with official name of Phra Nakhon Khiri. Petchaburi is situated on the north-western shores of the Gulf of Thailand and borders Myanmar to the west, where the dense jungle peaks of the Tanaosri Range serve as a natural division between Thailand and Myanmar.

(The KTM taking a coffee break with the transformers)

(Passing through the town of Suphan Buri)

Day 06: Phetchaburi - Ranong

Distance: 470 km

Hotel: Tinidee Hotel

Ranong is one of Thailand's southern provinces, on the west coast along the Andaman Sea. It has the fewest inhabitants of all Thai provinces. Neighboring Ranong are Chumphon, Surat Thani and Phang Nga. Ranong is a rainy province filled with pristine natural beauty that serves as a gateway to southern Myanmar.

(The narrowest point of the Isthmus of Kra)

(A short distance to Myanmar border)

(The famous Hot Spring of Ranong) 

(Taking a dip in the hot spring water)

(Myanmar border, a view from our hotel)

Day 07: Ranong - Krabi

Distance: 303 km 

Hotel: J Mansion

Krabi is a town on the west coast of southern Thailand at the mouth of the Krabi River where it empties in Phang Nga Bay. Krabi has some 83 islands scattered around. Each one of these islands are a short distance away from one another. And during low tides, you can even wade your way to the neighboring island. Ao Nang beach is supposed to be the best.

(Limestone rock formations of Krabi)  

(A new landmark at Ao Nang Beach)

Day 08: Krabi - Pak Bara

Distance: 234 km

Hotel: Lake Terrace Resort

Pak Bara is popular with its beach overlooking the beautiful Andaman Sea. There's many Muslim food stalls along the beach where one can enjoy the sunset. Pak Bara is the only place where you can reach Koh Lipe at any time of the year. It is the main terminal for boats going to most of the islands in the Tarutao Marine National Park.

(Lake Terrace Hotel owned by a Muslim couple)

(Cozy chalets surrounding a small lake)

(A concrete walkway along the rocky beach of Pak Bara)

Next Trip: 2015: Silk Route Pakistan Adventure