Exploring Sukhothai, Thailand - Better than Ayutthaya?

This is the ultimate Thailand road trip day: ancient ruins at sunrise, wild monkeys, brutal traffic and a desperate search for a hotel. Join our 2,400 km Thailand road trip as we ride across Thailand on a motorbike, from peaceful temples in Sukhothai, Thailand to chaotic Highway 1 on the way to Kanchanaburi, Thailand. If you love real‑world Thailand travel with no filters, this episode is for you. 🏍️🇹🇭
We start the day just a short walk from our hotel and head into the UNESCO‑listed Sukhothai Historical Park. Exploring the ruins of Sukhothai, Thailand by electric vehicle is the perfect way to enjoy this stunning site in the cool early morning. Massive Buddha statues, ancient temples and quiet roads make this one of the most magical stops on our Thailand motorbike adventure.
Our original plan for this Thailand road trip was simple: ride early every morning, stop by midday, and repeat. But the beauty and history of Sukhothai force us to slow down, change the route and break our 1,000 km challenge into smaller, more relaxed chunks. This is Thailand travel done at our own pace – soaking up culture, not racing the clock.
From Sukhothai we ride towards Kamphaeng Phet – another historic city that becomes our essential stop for food, fuel and laundry. Mrs T even has me stripped to the waist in a laundry shop… all part of the reality of long‑distance Thailand motorbike touring! After crossing the Ping River we finally hit the dreaded Highway 1, the busy main road from Chiang Rai towards Bangkok. Heavy lorries, potholes and constant traffic show exactly why I tried so hard to avoid this section.
An intriguing rock formation appears out of nowhere, and when we pull over we discover it's home to wild monkeys. Only in Thailand travel do you go from ancient ruins to dangerous highways to wild monkeys in one day. We don't hang around long – the last thing we need is a troop of curious monkeys climbing all over the bike.
As the sun drops, we realise there's no accommodation in sight. Tired and still far from Kanchanaburi, Thailand, we rely on Google Maps to find a remote guesthouse down dark backroads. It turns out to be a gem: the comfiest bed and pillows of the whole trip, for just 700฿. The next day we push on through Thailand, clocking 500 km, visiting the famous Bridge over the River Kwai near Kanchanaburi, and finally reaching the ocean at Cha‑am on the Gulf of Thailand.
If you're dreaming of your own Thailand road trip, planning Thailand motorbike touring, or just love watching honest Thailand travel vlogs, this episode shows what it's really like out on the road – the stunning highs and the tough moments in between.
Let me know in the comments: would you slow down to see the monkeys, or blast through that highway and get it over with?
Ride safe,
T
Chapters:
00:00 – Trailer: Ancient ruins, nightmare highway & monkeys
00:30 – Early start at Sukhothai Historical Park (UNESCO site)
02:40 – Changing the plan: breaking 2,400 km into easy chunks
04:00 – Leaving Sukhothai, heading towards Kamphaeng Phet
06:00 – Crossing the Ping River towards dreaded Highway 1
08:00 – Intriguing rocks & surprise wild monkey encounter
10:00 – Remote guesthouse, best bed & pillows for 700฿

This is Day 2 of our Thailand journey from Chiang Rai down to the Gulf of Thailand. If you enjoy Thailand travel, long‑distance Thailand road trip adventures and real‑world motorbike touring, you’ll love this series. We mix scenic riding, cultural stops and honest “on the road” moments – from peaceful temples to chaotic highways.
Watch the full Thailand series here:
1,000 km Thailand Motorbike Adventure Playlist

🗺️ Featured locations:
• Sukhothai Thailand – Sukhothai Historical Park, UNESCO World Heritage
• Kamphaeng Phet – historic city & practical stop for food, fuel & laundry
• Highway 1 – the busy main road towards Bangkok
• Ping River – bridge crossing
• Kanchanaburi – Bridge over the River Kwai
• Cha‑am – reaching the Gulf of Thailand