TH – Ban Krut to Sisaket

24. – 25.02.2025 – Singapore to Sisaket day 13/14

From Ban Krut to Sisaket – The Final Stretch of an Epic Trip

After weeks on the road, riding through Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore, the final leg of the journey began. From Ban Krut to Sisaket, covering the last 950 kilometers in two days, this stretch of the trip was a mix of heavy rain, urban chaos, highway endurance, and moments of unexpected beauty.

Day 13: Ban Krut to Phanom Sarakam (470 km)

A Rainy Start – The Mistake of Departure at all

The plan was to leave Ban Krut at 4:00 AM, riding in the cool pre-dawn air. But heavy rain changed those plans. By 4:30 AM, the rain seemed to ease, so we took off. That turned out to be a bad mistake—a really bad mistake.

Riding a BMW R 1250 GS Adventure, rain is usually manageable. The large windshield, the big fuel tank, and the boxer engine provide good protection, keeping most of the body dry—until the rain gets too intense. And today, it did.

After the first 100 km, the rain transformed into a full-fledged storm. Visibility dropped, the wind picked up, and the roads became dangerously slick. Before we could find cover at a gas station near Hua Hin, we were already soaked through.

Some might ask, why not wear rain gear? The answer is simple: In Thailand, you’re going to get wet either way—if not from the rain, then from sweat trapped under the rain suit. So, it’s a choice between wet from rain or wet from sweat.

Waiting Out the Storm and Finding Shelter in Unexpected Places

We spent nearly two hours at the gas station, waiting for the rain to calm down. Eventually, it did, and we resumed our ride north. The further we rode, the drier the roads became, giving us a much-needed break from the storm.

But just as we started to enjoy the ride, another downpour forced us to stop again—this time at an EV charging station. Turns out, these stations aren’t just for electric vehicles; they also make great emergency rain shelters for motorcyclists.

A New Route to Bypass Bangkok

Today, we tried a new route to avoid Bangkok’s infamous traffic—Route 35 through Samut Sakhon. Initially, it seemed like a great alternative, with less congestion and a smooth ride. That is, until we got closer to the city center.

As soon as the rain stopped near Bangkok, the heat and pollution took over. The contrast was extreme—one moment, we were soaked from the rain, and the next, we were sweating in the thick, humid air.

One of the unexpected highlights of the day was crossing the Chao Phraya River by ferry. It felt like a completely different way of traveling through the Bangkok metropolitan area—a short but memorable experience in the middle of an otherwise chaotic ride.

A Quick Stop at Ancient City

For lunch, we stopped near Ancient City (Muang Boran), Thailand’s largest private museum. Though we didn’t visit the museum itself—walking around wet in a cultural site isn’t exactly enjoyable—it was still an interesting stop, a small break before tackling the worst of Bangkok’s traffic.

The Final Push to Phanom Sarakam

After lunch, we pushed through the heavy traffic, eventually joining Sukhumvit Road (Route 3). From there, we rode east toward Chachoengsao, where we finally transitioned to smaller highways. While the roads were smaller, traffic wasn’t necessarily lighter.

After 470 km, we reached Phanom Sarakam and decided it was enough for the day. We found a nice resort for the night—Charn Chala Resort, with covered parking for 800 Baht.

The final stretch home was set: 480 km left to Sisaket.

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Day 14: Phanom Sarakam to Sisaket (480 km)

Crossing Khao Yai – A Wet but Scenic Ride

With another long day ahead, we started before sunrise. Riding in the dark has its challenges, but it also meant arriving at our destination before the worst of the afternoon heat.

The best part of today’s route was crossing the Khao Yai mountains, one of Thailand’s most famous national parks. Here, the roads offered some twists and turns, a welcome break from the monotonous highways.

Unfortunately, luck wasn’t on our side. The roads were still wet from earlier rain, making it impossible to fully enjoy the curves.

Instead of leaning into the turns and feeling the rush of the ride, we had to focus on maintaining traction on the slippery asphalt.

Still, riding through the mountains was a reminder of why we love these long trips—even on tough days, there are always moments of beauty.

Endurance Riding – The Final Highway Stretch

Once out of the mountains, the rest of the ride was all about endurance. 480 km of straight highway riding, with nothing but trucks, road signs, and the hum of the engine. These final kilometers always feel the longest—home is so close, yet so far.

But the motivation to complete the trip kept us moving.

By mid-afternoon, after nearly 10,000 km of total riding over 45 days, the journey from Sisaket to Singapore and back was finally complete.

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Reflections on the Ride

What Worked Well

 • Exploring new routes – Even though Route 35 wasn’t perfect, trying different roads is always a learning experience. Anyways, this Bangkok bypass is not an option for me.

 • Crossing the Chao Phraya River by ferry – A unique way to navigate Bangkok’s urban landscape.

What We Would Do Differently

 • Listen the weather forecast – we should have added some more nights in Ban Krut waiting for the weather getting better.

 • Avoiding wet mountain roads – Khao Yai’s scenic ride wasn’t as enjoyable due to the slippery conditions.

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What’s Next?

With this journey completed, it’s time to start planning the next one. Another ride in Thailand is definitely on the list, followed by a European adventure and a trip to Laos later this year.

Because no matter how long the ride, there’s always another road waiting to be explored.

Stay tuned and enjoy yourself!!

#dustysocks