Udon Thani Transportation

There is many car rental company in Udon Thani but there is only a few whom are really good with the service and prices. One of those i always use when visiting Udon Thani is called Charoen car rent, their website; www.ud-carrent.com

There are airport coaches to meet each of the flight arrival into the Udonthani airport... The air-conditioned coach is the best way to go to Nongkhai at the Laos border... Travel time is about 45 minutes and the coach will send you to the border crossing or to your hotel in Nongkhai for 100 baht... It will cost 50 baht to downtown Udonthani...

It's relatively easy ( and cheap) to get to Udon Thani from Singapore. Just hop on a Tiger and it'll take you there in about 2 hours.

Here's the Singapore - Udon Thani info:

Flight No DepTime Arrival Day
TR162 06.45 08.30 Tu/Th
TR162 06.20 08.05 Sat

And Udon T - Singapore info.

Flight No Dep Time Arrival Day

TR163 09.00 12.35 Tu/Th/Sat

To visit Laos from udon,it's very easy to go. There's an Air-con bus run directly from Udon to Vientiene,the capital city of Laos. It runs 4 times a day from old Bus Terminal where opposite Charoensri Complex.The fare 's about 80 THB.

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There 're both goverment and private companies offer bus between Bkk-Udon-Bkk.The one I chose was Chan Tour. This company offer a big seat with massage system.Snack and 1 bottle of water 're for free. The price is 443 THB.
From BKK,you can begin at Morchit or North and Northeastern Bus Terminal. From Udonthani,begin at Old Bor Khor Sor or Old Bus Terminal where opposite Chareonsri Complex.

Nok Air is great to use in Thailand, inexpensive and good in flight service. But be sure to give yourself lots of time when catching a flight. The arrival and departure times can be early or late. They will leave when they are full etc.

Their systems are unsophisticated. When flying to Phuket, the aircraft stops in Bangkok. The same plane then turns around and goes back to Udon Thani. You have to get your baggage, a new boarding pass, rescan your luggage at security, recheck your luggage, and run for the departing Nok Air plane depaprting for Phuket.

This can be quite an experience because you have a limited timeframe and you are travelling between two floors with no clearly marked doors/signs nor personnel to explain. We did it.

That said, do not be discouraged. Nok Air is a great airline and it is very cheap. Just know that, in Bangkok, the door at the top of the stairs to the second floor ( marked SECURITY: Airport and In-flight Personnel only) is the door you go through after you pick up your luggage from Udon Thani.

Good Luck

It cost 800 baht to rent a car for the half day trip from Udon to Ban Chiang National Museum. Mr. Jeab was our driver. He was friendly and helpful. He even waited to take us to the bus station after we got back. The hotel made the arrangements. His car was comfortable and clean. Mr. Jeab also made sure we did not miss Wat Pho Sri Nai which is down the street from the Ban Chiang National Museum.

In the picture, you can see me getting soaked for Songkran. Mr. Jeab's car is the gray one in the middle background. The museum is in the far background. Sorry Mr. Jeab, I could not help being wet when I got back to the car.

I caught the train from Udon to Bangkok so that I could say that I had experienced the Thai rail system.
If your getting the train the only way to travel is with a sleeper. I caught the over night train and because I booked late I just managed to get a 2nd class sleeper with fan, fortunately it wasn`t hot so the fan was not needed,however if you are over 5 ft 6 " you are going to be cramped but it beats the hell out of 3rd class. A 2nd class sleeper costs approx 560THB and not a bad way to go.