Malaysia & Singapore

Located on Chot Witthayakhol Road, the Hat Yai Bus Station 1 is the starting point, or transit, of all international buses that connect Bangkok to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. The terminal is also used as Minivan Terminal for the minibuses that running towards some southern destinations, like Songkhla, Yala, Pattani, Narathiwat, as well as towards the Thai borders in Sadao, Padang Besar or Betong, and also until Penang, the famous Malaysian seaside resort. Get to the border in Dannok from Hat Yai is very simple. The departures of the minivans are frequently throughout the day, from early in the morning up to 18.00 in the evening. The journey takes about an hour, and it costs approximately 180 THB per passenger till the border and 280 THB up to Penang, 30 Malaysian Ringgit in the opposite direction. Even song-thaews depart from the Bus Terminal, but only when they are full of passengers, the cost is still cheaper normally around 60-70 THB per person. Foreign citizens once completed the formalities at border crossing are authorized to move freely and continue their overland journey in Malaysia. The nearest tourist resorts are Kuala Perlis, located 45 km away following the Malaysian Highway 194, and Butterworth at about 140 km from the border along the Asian Highway AH2. From the Kuala Perlis's piers depart the speedboats to the beautiful Langkawi Island. Butterworth is on the coast opposite to the famous Penang Island, which is connected to the mainland by a road bridge. Despite the proximity, there aren't bus services toward these two destinations from the border, accordingly to reach them should be used the local taxis. This border is mainly used by those traveling through and then continue the journey by own car, or by the many minivans that reach directly Penang. Even the buses that pass through Dannok directly reach Kuala Lumpur or Singapore without stop in Butterworth.

Path Bangkok - Sadao: from Bangkok follow southbound the Asian Highway AH2, this long International Highway leads directly to the border between Thailand and Malaysia in Sadao, passing through or closed to Nakhon Pathom, Ratcha Buri, Phetcha Buri, Hau Hin, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Phatthalung and Hat Yai, the total distance from Bangkok is 1,020 km.

At road crossing both Customs checkpoints are a few hundred meters away from the respective border, and both have drive-through lanes. The Padang Besar Railway Station in Malay territory is the interchange station between the State Railway of Thailand, SRT, and the Malay Railway, KTMB, which runs on the West Coast Line. The integrated railway allows traveling by train from Chiang Mai via Bangkok until Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. It is planned the reactivation of the Burmese Railway network, wnich would allow the connection with the Chinese and Indian rail networks. The Thai side of Padang Besar has a small railway station which only serves as a domestic station. The control of passports for rail passengers is carried out in the Malaysian railway station, which has an integrated Customs checkpoint for both countries. After a stop of about an hour to complete immigration formalities the International Express N° 35 continues its journey towards Butterworth in Malaysia, or Hat Yai if you proceed in the opposite direction with the Exp. N° 36. Note that the Malaysia is one hour ahead of Thailand. The first stops of train in Malaysian territory are at Arau and Alor Setar, whence you can easily reach by public transport, buses or taxis, respectively Kuala Perlis and Kuala Kedah. From the piers of these two small seaside towns depart the speedboats to the beautiful Langkawi Island, which is in turn connected to Koh Lipe, Thailand. The boat trip from Kuala Peris takes just over one hour, and ticket costs 18 Malaysian Ringgit; from Kuala Kedah the trip takes 45 minutes more, and the ticket is 23 Ringgit. The international train ends its route at Butterworth, on the coast opposite to Penang Island. The island is easily reached by taxi or bus, because is connected to the mainland by a road bridge. It's possible reach Langkawi even from Penang, however the sea crossing is longer and more expensive, a three-hour boat trip costs 60 Ringgit.

Path Bangkok - Padang Besar: the route from Bangkok to reach Padang Besar is practically the same to reach the border in Sadao, that is follow southbound all the Asian Highway AH2, you should just turn right 14 km before the border in Sadao on Highway 4054 that in 15 Km leads to Padang Besar.

So the crossing of border turns into a walk on foot over the adjacent road bridge. Thai and Malaysian border checkpoints are just few meters first of bridge. In addition to trains, Su-ngai Kolok can be reached from Bangkok by buses. Some buses departing from the Southern Terminal in Bangkok reach directly Su-ngai Kolok, many others depart towards Narathiwat and Hat Yai. The provincial capital is located just 60 km from the border, easily approachable by local bus or shared song-thaews. From Hat Yai there is a minivan service towards Su-ngai Kolok with hourly departures from 06:00 to 16:00, a four-hour trip for about 200 THB. In Rantau Panjang, on the Malaysian side of the border, there is a regular bus service up to Kota Bharu, from where you can reach the small fishing village of Kuala Besut by taxi, about 80 Ringgit. From village's piers leave the speedboats up to the Perhentian Islands. Boats depart from 09.00 to 15.00, an hour and half of sea crossing for about 80 Ringgit.

Path Bangkok - Su-ngai Kolok: from Bangkok follow southbound all the Asian Highway AH2 up in Hat Yai, 935 Km away; from Hat Yai you get onto Highway 43 and follow it for 95 Km towards Pattani, then turn on Highway 42 that in 105 Km leads to Narathiwat; from provincial capital follow the Highway 4056 leading to the border in Slungai Kolok, 66 Km away from Narathiwat.

In Pengkalan Kulor there are local buses that lead to Kota Bharu, from where you can reach the small fishing village of Kuala Besut by taxi, about 80 Ringgit. From village's piers leave the speedboats up to the Perhentian Islands. Boats depart from 09.00 to 15.00, an hour and half of sea crossing for about 80 Ringgit.

Path Bangkok - Baan Ta Ba: from Bangkok follow southbound all the Asian Highway AH2 up in Hat Yai, 935 Km away; from Hat Yai get onto Highway 43 and follow it for 95 Km towards Pattani, then turn on Highway 42 that in 105 Km leads to Narathiwat; from provincial capital follow the Highway 4084 until the border in Ban Ta Ba, 46 Km away from Narathiwat.

In high season you can reach Langkawi even from Koh Lipe, since on island is opened a seasonal Immigration Office. The Thai island is in turn connected to Bak Bara Pier, 60 Km north of Satun, throughout the whole year, and to many other islands in Southern Thailand in high season. Koh Lipe is the Thailand's southernmost island and tourists often choose to reach it with a more comfortably journey from Malaysia. The ferry companies that offer the service are different, but the price and timetables are similar. From Langkawi the speedboats depart from Kuah Jetty or Telaga Harbour Marina, while in Koh Lipe all boats dock at the floating pier in front of Pattaya Beach. For timetables and costs refer to our webpage Koh Lipe Boats & Ferries. The marine crossing between Satun and Kuala Perlis is the other possible option to reach Malaysia by sea from Thailand, or vice versa. From Thammalung Pier the typical Thai boat, longtails, perform a shuttle service to the nearby Kuala Perlis. The distance is very short, a ten nautical miles for a little less than one hour of navigation, and the cost is contained, about 300 THB. At Kuala Perlis pier there is an Immigration office for passport control, which controls also the tourists departing or arriving from Langkawi.

Wang Prachan - Wang Kelian is a land border little used between Satun and the Perlis Province in Malaysia. The border is on Higway 4184, about 35 kilometers south of Satun. Both Immigration checkpoints are closed to the border. There aren't buses services from Satun for Wang Prachan, to reach the small Thai border town you have to use the song-taews, if you no have a own a car. Once on the Malaysian side of the border the situation is the same, no regular bus services to Kuala Perlis or other destinations, so you have to use taxis.

Path Bangkok - Satun: from Bangkok follow southbound all the Asian Highway AH2 passing through or close to Nakhon Pathom, Ratcha Buri, Phetcha Buri, Hau Hin, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Phatthalung, 30 km before arriving in Hat Yai turn right and get onto Highway 406, which in 70 Km leads directly to Satun.

Minivan towards Betong also departs from Hat Yai. Crossed the border the first Malaysian city of some importance is Pengkalan Hulu, just 7 Km away. From its bus station there are regular bus services to Kaula Lumpur and Penang.

Path Bangkok - Betong: from Bangkok follow southbound the Asian Highway AH2 up in Hat Yai, 935 Km; from Hat Yai follow the Highway 43 that in 133 Km leads to Yala, then turn on Highway 4106 and follow it until the border in Betong, 139 Km away from Yala.