Visa Runs
Thai / Malay Border ('Visa-Runs') - Whether you are just going for a
same-day 'Border Run' or a visit to a Thai Consulate in a neighboring country
(Malaysia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos or even China), 'Visa-Runs' are a necessity
for extra travel time in Thailand. The Border-Crossing you choose depends on
where you are in Thailand when your visa expires. The most convenient and cheapest
Border-Crossings are on the Thai / Malaysia Border. There is no fee for entering
Malaysia, and there is a variety of transport options (taxi, bus, minivan,
boat, and
Thai Railways) for getting into Malaysia from Thailand. Thai Railways connects
with the Malaysian Railway System at Padang Besar and Sungai Kolok, on the Thai
/ Malay Border. Most people going on 'Visa-Runs' are just going over
the Border for quick 'Exit and Entry Stamps' in their Passports and another
30-Day 'On-Entry' Stay in Thailand. They do this in a one-day minivan trip, usually organized by a
travel agency to a 'Border-Crossing'. People who have any
other kind of Visa (longer-term) probably will have to go to a Thai Consulate
outside of Thailand to renew their Visa. In Malaysia, there are Thai Consulates for 'Visa
Services' at Kota Bharu, Penang, and the Thai Embassy
in Kuala Lumpur. Most people choose Penang because of its closeness
to Thailand, and fast, convenient Visa Services. There are also visa
services at any Thai Embassy or Consulate outside of Thailand, but they are not
as convenient as those in Malaysia. (
Read 'Other Train Routes' and 'International Train Service' Sections for more Information)
a. Butterworth - Penang (Malaysia)- To Get To Butterworth (Malaysia)
By Thai Rail
Take one of several 'International Train Services' offered on Thai Railways
Southern Line, including the 'International Express' from Bangkok's Hualamphong
Train Station Direct to Butterworth (Malaysia) via Padang Besar (Malaysia).
Butterworth Rail Station is a Major Rail Terminal for Malayan Railways' Train
Service heading South to Kuala Lumpur and Singapore or North to Hat Yai in Thailand.
At Hat Yai Station it conects with Thai Railways Services. Butterworth Rail
Station is also the Final Station for Thai Railways 'International Express'
to/from Bangkok. (for more details See 'Internatioal Rail Service' Section).
Butterworth Railway Station is conveniently located next to the Bus and Ferry
terminals. Butterworth is the mainland city across the bridge from Penang Island
(Malaysia). The Penang Ferry departs regularly (every 20 minutes) from the Butterworth
Ferry Terminal for Georgetown, Penang and back again, taking 10 minutes. There is a Thai Consulate
in Georgetown, Penang Island, which makes Thai Visas quickly. There is also
Direct Ferry service from Penang Island to Langawi Island, and on into Thailand
by boat. (See Langawi for details).
b. Kota Bharu (Malaysia) - (Perhenthian Islands)
- To Get To Kota Bharu (Perhenthian Islands) By Thai Rail
Take a Thai Railways Southern Line train to Sungai Kolok Train Station (Final
Station on the Southern Line's Southeast Branch). (See Thai Railways Southern
Line for rail travel details). You may have to change trains at Hat Yai Station. From
Hat Yai Train Station, there is service Southeast only to Sungai Kolok, the
nearest Thai Railway Station to Kota Bharu. Although a rail link exists between
Sungai Kolok (Thailand) and Rantau Panjang (Malaysia), on the Eastern Thai /
Malay Border, there are no cross-border passenger train services. There are
also no cross-border Bus Services between Thailand and Malaysia on the East
Coast Thai / Malay Border. From Sungai Kolok Rail Station, you will have to
go to the Border (1 km), then walk over the 'Harmony Bridge' to Rantau Panjang
(Malaysia). From Rantau Panjang take a bus, motorbike, or taxi. This site recommends
taking a Public Bus or share Taxi from Rantau Panjang directly to Kota Bharu
(40 km, 1 hour). If you must take the train, the nearest Malaysian Railways
Station to Rantau Panjang is Pasir Mas Station. From Pasir Mas Station, you
can get a train to Wakaf Bahru Station, the nearest Malaysian Railways Station
to Kota Bharu (5 km away). Most travellers prefer to use Kota Bharu for access
to the Perhentian Islands, because Kota Bharu offers good Air / Rail / Bus connections,
and easy bus service to Kuala Besut (Ferry Terminal for the Perhentian Islands,
1 hour away). From Wakaf Bahru Station, there are rail connections South to
Kuala Lumpur. Buses connect Kota Bharu to all major cities in peninsula Malaysia.
There is a Thai Consulate in Kota Bharu where you can get Thai Visas made.
c. Hat Yai - To Get To Hat Yai / Thai-Malay Border By Thai
Rail
Take any Overnight Train on Thai Railways Southern Train Line from Bangkok's
Hualamphong Train Station to Hat Yai Train Station. Thailand Railways 'International
Express' also offers Direct Service from Bangkok's Hualamphong Station to Butterworth
(Malaysia). There are several other Cross-Border South-Bound Rail Service
connections from Hat Yai Station, all via Padang Besar (Southwest Branch
Southern Rail line) to/from destinations South into Malaysia. (See Thai / Malay Border Section or
International Train Services Sections for more Information). The Hat Yai
Train Station is centrally located for convenient transfer to bus or minivan
Service for 'Visa-Run' Destinations such as the Dannok (Thailand) / Sadao (Malaysia)
Border-Crossing, the Padang Besar Malay / Thai Border Crossing,
the Betong (Thailand) / Keroh (Malaysia) Border-Crossing and Consular Destinations
such as Penang or Kuala Lumpur. There is also regularly scheduled bus and minivan
service to/from Satun, if you prefer to cross the Thai / Malay Border there.
The Dannok / Sadao Border Crossing is the most commonly used Thai / Malay Border
Crossing. Most travel agencies in Hat Yai and other Southern Thai cities run
their 'Visa-Run' services through this border on private minivans. The Dannok
/ Sadao Border Crossing is big, busy, and sits on a busy highway. There are
long lines, and the staff is very businesslike and not lenient. Try to go through
another crossing. You can also go over the border on your own, by public transport,
but it's not very much cheaper. Take a taxi, minivan, motorbike, or bus from
Hat Yai Bus Station to Padang Besar, walk across the Thai / Malay Border, and
then get on another bus on the Malaysian side. Train Service from Hat Yai to/from
Padang Besar is infrequent and slow. (For more Information, see Cities Section - Hat Yai )
d. Satun - To Get To Satun By Thai Rail
Take an Overnight Train on Thai Railways Southern Train Line from Bangkok's
Hualamphong Train Station to Hat Yai Train Station. (for more details, see Cities - Hat Yai Section).
From Hat Yai Rail Station, there is frequent, direct Minivan and Bus service
to/from Satun (about 2 hours). You can also get to Satun by Regular Local Bus Service from Trang
(3 hours), but Rail
Service to/from Trang Rail Station is not as frequent as to/from Hat Yai Station.
(See Cities - Trang Section for more information). Satun is Thailand's
Malaysian Border-Crossing Center. Although it's not as popular as the Sadao
Crossing South of Hat Yai, it has less busy immigration offices, plus more crossing
options (Land or Sea).
--1. By Land, you can get a public or private vehicle to Wang Projan
Border Crossing inside Thale Ban Nationa Park (Thai/Malay Border). There is
a lively weekend Market (Sunday is better) on Both Sides of the Border-Crossing.
There's hourly songthaew service to/from Thale Ban Nationa Park at Rain Tong
Hotel in Satun. (See 'Destinations' - National Park Section for more Information).
--2. By Sea, you can take either a Daily Scheduled Ferry to/from Langkawi Island (Malaysia, 1 1/2 Hours, 4 per day) or a 'Longtail Fisherman's Boat' to Kuala Perlis (Malaysia, 45 minutes, no schedule). No reservations are possible for either boat service, just show up. Boats to Malaysia leave from Tha Tammalang Pier (10 km out of town). It's important to know that if coming back the same day, Malaysian time is one hour later than Thai time. For Same-Day 'Visa-Runs' the land crossing via Thale Ban National Park is probably best. It's possible to do a same-day 'Visa-Run' to Langkawi if you start early, but it will be more expensive, and you won't get much time on Langkawi Island. If you need to go to a Thai Consulate, there is connecting ferry service on Langkawi Island for Penang (Malaysia) (1 1/4 Hours) . This is a much more pleasant way to arrive in Penang than by minivan from Hat Yai, but it's slightly more expensive.
e. Aranyaprathet - How to get to Aranyaprathet by Thai Railways
Take a Thai Railways (North) Eastern Line Train to Aranyaprathat ('Aran'), on
the Thai /Cambodian Border. Take a 'tuk-tuk across the border to Poipet (Cambodia).
From Poipet, you can take a 'Pickup Trick' to Siem Reap / Angkor Archaeological
Site. The Aranyaprathat / Poipet Border-Crossing is the most popular overland
'Border-Crossing Route' from Thailand to Cambodia. The Aranyaprathat / Poipet
Border-Crossing is also the most direct overland route from Bangkok and Eastern
Thailand to Siem Reap and the Angkor Archaeological Site. Most of the Poipet
- Sisophon - Siem Reap road is not paved, although the condition of unpaved
Cambodian highways have improved dramatically in the last few years. This Thai
/ Cambodian Border-Crossing is open from 7 am to 8 pm. There is
'Visa-on-Arrival' Service available when crossing into either Cambodia or back
into Thailand. You will have to pay a fee to enter and get a visa for Cambodia,
though. (see Eastern Train Route section)
