Your Ticket to Travel’s Golden Age
Step aboard steam trains and teakwood riverboats for timeless trips through Thailand’s heritage
Words Phoowadon Duangmee
Photos Mekong Kingdoms, Saroj Palakawong na Ayutthaya, Suriyan Chandra & Shutterstock
There are journeys that take you forward, and others that draw you back to a quieter world – one shaped by the timeless gentility and nostalgia of travel’s golden age.
Thailand holds pockets where the past feels remarkably close, and this vintage journey threads them together with uncommon grace. It begins on the rails, aboard vintage cedar-lined carriages, before continuing along the river where a wooden boat ferries travellers to an ancient kingdom.
Romance on Rails
Step aboard Thailand’s Royal Blossom, KiHa 183, or steam trains and roll through rice fields, river valleys, and heritage towns on a trip through the romantic era of rail travel.
The Royal Blossom
The SRT Royal Blossom is a time machine, whisking visitors from the 21st century back to the 20th, from snowy Hokkaido to tropical Thailand. These grand 1980s coaches – heirlooms of the Hokkaido Railway Company (JR Hokkaido)’s Hamanasu service – have found a second life on scenic journeys through Thailand. Cedar-lined walls, plush seats, panoramic windows and warm lighting transport passengers to the elegance of a bygone era before the train even departs.
Once underway, the train’s soothing sway and hum are enhanced by modern comforts like air-conditioning, USB ports, and vacuum toilets. The café-lounge carriage adds to the leisurely charm of classic travel, inviting passengers to linger and watch the landscape drift by.
A highlight of Royal Blossom’s scenic routes is Lop Buri’s charming Pa Sak Jolasid Dam, a journey packed with romance and nostalgia. Beyond Bangkok, rural Thailand unfurls like a slide show – tranquil rice paddies in a warm morning light, riverside villages shaded by coconut palms, and distant hills rising through morning mist. The gentle chugging motion evokes the good old days, when the journey was as pleasurable as the destination.
Approaching the reservoir, passengers discover why this is also called the “floating train”. Carriages seem to hover in midair over the shimmering expanse of the lake, surrounded by breathtaking hills.
Scenic stops offer passengers the chance to step onto a viewing platform and immerse themselves in vistas from another time. More than a train trip, the Royal Blossom is a journey back to the golden era of rail travel.
KiHa 183
The KiHa183 marries Japanese engineering with Thai storytelling for a journey like no other. Built in the 1980s for JR Hokkaido, this diesel classic once cut through snowbound northern Japan. Gifted to Thailand in 2021, the train was refurbished and reborn as a vintage tourist experience. Its iconic slanted-nose silhouette was preserved, while the interiors were refreshed with cushioned seats, air-conditioning and picture windows for panoramic views of the Thai countryside.
Among its many scenic routes, Kanchanaburi is the most enchanting. The train glides out of Bangkok through a patchwork of rice fields, palm-dappled villages and shimmering temple spires. The River Kwai glimmers beneath forested hills as the train ascends to its high point at the Death Railway, where tracks cling to the cliffside over the water, offering sweeping views and a profound sense of history. Key stops include the bridge over the River Kwai and limestone cliffs emerging from tropical forest above the Kwai Noi River.
Other KiHa 183 destinatins include Lop Buri, Hua Hin, Chachoengsao, and Prachuap Khiri Khan – all paired with natural attractions, local markets, and heritage sites.
Steaming to the Past
Thailand’s Pacific-class steam locomotives were the heartbeat of long-distance travel in the 1950s and 1960s, carrying merchants across the country and families home for the holidays. Fast forward to the 21st century, and two of these rail treasures are still on the tracks, stirring instant nostalgia with their gleaming brass, billowing plumes of steam and pistons’ gentle rhythm.
The Bangkok-Ayutthaya trip is Thailand’s most popular steam- powered adventure.
The expedition begins at Bangkok’s century-old Hua Lamphong station, where the black locomotive chugs to life in a cloud of steam. Step aboard, and the warm lighting, wooden fittings and panoramic windows transport you back to the 1950s. As the train pulls out, the engine’s steady chuff lulls passengers into a slower rhythm as they sit back and savour the passing scene.
City streets melt away into rural beauty – lotus ponds glint in the sun, water buffaloes graze lazily, rice fields shimmer, and temple spires rise over palm groves. Small stations flash by, each one a portrait of nostalgia painted in SRT’s classic cream and maroon.
The final stretch to Ayutthaya is the most picturesque, as the view widens and ancient ruins are glimpsed through the trees. As the locomotive eases into Siam’s old capital, passengers are left feeling they have journeyed not just across distance but through time.
If You Go …
The State Railway of Thailand operates one-day and two-day/one-night excursions on the Royal Blossom and KiHa 183 trains, on routes from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi, Lopburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan. For details and schedules, call the SRT hotline: 1690.
Cruising Through Time
Drift along Thailand’s quiet rivers, where gentle currents, lantern- lit villages, and centuries-old temples create a timeless journey. Slow travel, heritage cuisine, and intimate luxury transform each cruise into an unforgettable experience.
On Ayutthaya’s Noi River – a tributary of the mighty Chao Phraya – the allure of slow travel is irresistible, as boats carve through gentle currents to traditional riverside communities. Wooden houses rise above the water on stilts, monks paddle by at dawn, and temple spires frame orchards and rice paddies. Time seems to slow and the past feels unusually near.
Set inside a 130-year-old vintage rice mill, Suriyan Chandra (www.facebook.com/ suriyanchantrarestaurant) distils this nostalgia with rare grace.
This Thai restaurant has earned Michelin’s favour as a gateway to Ayutthaya’s riverside heritage – a place where vintage travel, local- culture and fine dining merge in one timeless journey.
The adventure begins on a century-old wooden boat, refurbished with age-old craftsmanship. Gliding along the Noi River, guests revel in the sights of riverside villages and fisherfolk mending their nets. Two routes are offered: a scenic cruise through quiet countryside or a culture trip to Wat Bang Nomkho and Wat Bang Pla Mo to experience the Buddhist grace of old Ayutthaya.
Both journeys end at the rustic pier of Suriyan Chandra, where the story continues with authentic appetisers like flower-shaped Chor Muang and golden Toong Thong, mains like crispy fried snakehead fish with herbs and tamarind-glazed shrimp, and rare traditional desserts.
Whether you opt for the river cruise or just a meal, Suriyan Chandra offers a languid sanctuary bathed in cool breezes and riverside traditions.
From Lanna to Lan Xang
On the Mekong River near Thailand’s Chiang Khong district, where the old Lanna kingdom once met the Lao realm of Lan Xang, the sleek longboat Gypsy waits at the pier.
This handcrafted cruiser, with gleaming teak floors and a thatched roof, embodies the romance of lazy river travel. Onboard, luxury and comfort flow in lemon-lit lounges, soft Lao silk accents and lemongrass- scented towels.
Operated by Mekong Kingdoms (www.mekongkingdoms.com), Gypsy offers intimate, bespoke voyages for just four passengers at a time. Gliding past Thailand’s northern peaks towards the old Lao capital of Luang Prabang, the river unfurls like an ancient saga. Jungled ridges rise like mythical guardians over a tangle of wild bananas, vines and palm trees. Occasionally, a wisp of smoke curls above the canopy, marking a hidden village seemingly untouched by the passage of centuries.
Time slows as passengers lounge on bamboo daybeds, sip champagne and watch fishermen cast their nets on the sunset’s reflection. Onshore excursions lead to weaving villages, old temples and the sacred Pak Ou Caves. Onboard, sunrise yoga, cooking lessons and sunset cocktails deepen the sense of unhurried luxury.
More than a cruise, Gypsy is a slow, spellbinding adventure into the mystical soul of the Mekong.
Heritage Meets Luxury in Sukhothai
Sukhothai awakens in soft morning sunlight, its ancient stupas and lotus ponds setting the tone for a stay steeped in history. Elegant architecture, vintage accommodation and lush landscapes unite to offer travellers a serene retreat.
Few places embody the grace of former eras like Sukhothai, Siam’s first capital. As the first rays of dawn brush ancient stupas, monks tread slowly through local villages for alms and early risers glide by on bicycles. Across this timeless landscape, heritage stays bridge the past and present, combining traditional architecture, cultural touches and the tranquillity of a bygone kingdom.
Sukhothai’s most appealing properties honour history through thoughtful design rather than simple mimicry. Many sit just a short distance from the UNESCO- listed Historical Park, their sloping roofs, shaded verandas and lotus-lined courtyards echoing the architecture of old Siam. More than places to stay, they offer an immersion in Thailand’s ancient roots. Step onto a teak veranda at sunrise, and the sound of temple bells drifts across the fields in a centuries-old lament.
In the surrounding countryside, boutique resorts ands restored wooden houses evoke a timeless rural romance. Dark timber beams, terracotta tiles, and open corridors display the local devotion to traditional crafts and cultural wisdom.
But the magic of vintage travel extends far beyond the enchantment of a wooden veranda or tropical courtyard. Sukhothai invites slow exploration that brings a deeper connection to place.
Cycling through the Historical Park is still the best way to explore its majestic ruins. Tree-shaded paths lead past moats, bridges, spires, and serene Buddha statues in a landscape almost untouched by time.
Round off your time travel in Sukhothai with a trip into its ancient crafts. The province gave birth to some of Thailand’s earliest ceramics, and visitors can join pottery and celadon workshops where artisans shape clay using age-old techniques. Sitting at a spinning wheel, carving delicate patterns, or painting a handmade bowl with glaze connects travellers to centuries of Sukhothai artistry.