Cross-Border Walk from Sungai Golok (Thailand) to Rantau Panjang (Malaysia)

Malaysia, RailTravel Guides, Rantau Panjang, Sungai Golok, Thailand, Trip Reports Leave a comment

Cross-Border Walk from Sungai Golok (Thailand) to Rantau Panjang (Malaysia)

The border between Sungai Golok (Thailand) and Rantau Panjang (Malaysia) is just a short bridge across the Golok River. No need for mass rapid transport to cross this border, the border can simply be walked across by foot. To head into Malaysia, I walked from Thailand.

Chiang Mai to Singapore by Train

Motorbike Taxi from Sungai Kolok Railway Station

Sungai Kolok Border Checkpoint is located about 1 kilometer away from Sungai Kolok Railway Station. To get to Sungai Kolok Border Checkpoint, I took a motorbike taxi from Sungai Kolok Railway Station for 50 Baht.

Sungai Kolok Border Checkpoint (Thailand)

The motorbike taxi drops off in front of Sungai Kolok Border Checkpoint (Thailand), and I walked in to the immigration building for exit procedures.

Lots of Thailand flags bidding me goodbye, and to the arriving pedestrians, a warm welcome.

Heading to exit Thailand via the sheltered walkway.

The façade of Sungai Golok Boundary Post.

Thailand Immigration

There was quite a crowd heading to Malaysia this noontime, so I joined the crowd queue which started from outside the building.

The crowd queue continues inside the immigration building.

A warning by Thailand reminds everyone that bringing cannabis and hemp including products containing cannabis and hemp to Malaysia is illegal.

There was quite a crowd heading to Malaysia. However, the crowd were following neatly in 2 queues leading to the 2 open immigration counters. As it was drizzling outside, it got very humid in the non-air-conditioned immigration area.

Slowly seeing where my queue is leading to.

There are just 2 immigration counters open for the huge crowd, but not that there are many extra counters that can be opened anyway.

While the TM 6 Immigration Form is required when entering Thailand by land, I had arrived in Thailand by air from Singapore via Bangkok and then going to Chiang Mai. As such, I did not need, neither did I receive, a TM 6 Immigration Form to fill up, as the TM 6 Immigration Form is not required when entering Thailand by air. Nevertheless, the immigration officer at Sungai Kolok also did not ask anything about a TM 6 Immigration Form, probably after seeing my entry stamp from Bangkok Don Mueang.

After about 40 minutes of queuing, I officially exited Thailand.

A sheltered walkway continues out of the immigration building towards Malaysia.

Toilets

A small car park with toilet facilities is available on the Thailand side in between the 2 border checkpoints. This is a chance for a final toilet visit in Thailand, especially after the long queue, and in preparation for the next queue ahead to enter Malaysia.

More Thailand flags bid me goodbye at the border.

The non-operational cross-border railway between Sungai Golok (Thailand) and Rantau Panjang (Malaysia) runs beside here, separated by fences. The railway line looks well-maintained by the State Railway Of Thailand (SRT). The same cannot be said on the Malaysian side.

Looking back at Sungai Kolok Border Checkpoint (Thailand).

An apt sign at the border also interestingly marks the north and south of Thailand as Chiang Mai and Sungai Golok respectively. While technically not very true, it also coincidentally marked my overland train journey on this trip from Chiang Mai to Sungai Golok. A nice end to the Thailand sector of this trip.

Walking on the road from Thailand to Malaysia as the footpath was closed.

I wonder why the footpath is closed considering that the one on the bridge is open.

Heading out of mainland Thailand.

The Sungai Golok Railway Bridge can be seen from the Rantau Panjang-Sungai Golok Bridge.

Rantau Panjang-Sungai Golok Bridge

Taking the footpath on the Rantau Panjang-Sungai Golok Bridge.

The international border between Thailand and Malaysia is marked on the Rantau Panjang-Sungai Golok Bridge with plaques.

The main Sungai Golok Railway Bridge span over the Golok River, bridging Thailand and Malaysia on rails. Dulu dulu.

Continuing on the footpath in Malaysia.

Heading through the gates to Rantau Panjang Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex (Malaysia).

The footpath gate is also closed here for whatever reason.

Heading into Rantau Panjang Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex (Malaysia) on the road.

Heading back to the side immediately after the closed gate.

Rantau Panjang Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex (Malaysia)

Rantau Panjang Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex (Malaysia) can be seen just ahead.

A big Malaysia flag welcomes me to Malaysia once again.

The pedestrian lane is well-indicated on the left.

Malaysia Immigration

There was also a queue here with 2 immigration counters open. The 1 autogate for Malaysians was not working. However, as the queue was regulated on the Thai side, the queue here in Malaysia was shorter.

Interestingly, the immigration officer attending to me asked where was my Malaysia exit stamp from Malaysia at Rantau Panjang, as she was flipping through my passport to search for it. I explained that I entered Thailand via Bangkok and not by land from Malaysia, pointing to the Thailand Bangkok Don Mueang stamp.

She was surprised, but stamped me into Malaysia nevertheless.

Am I a rarity to be entering Thailand from Bangkok?

Heading out of immigrations and customs back into familiar Malaysia.

Taking the sheltered walkway out of Rantau Panjang Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex (Malaysia).

Looking back at the façade of Rantau Panjang Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex (Malaysia).

The sheltered walkway continues from Rantau Panjang Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex (Malaysia) all the way to Rantau Panjang Bus Station.

For those who need Malaysia SIM cards and food, there are stalls around.

Rantau Panjang Bus Station

A marker in Rantau Panjang Bus Station welcomes everyone to Rantau Panjang, the entry point to Malaysia.

Express buses to destinations in Peninsular Malaysia are available from Rantau Panjang Bus Station, though not at frequent schedules. Toilets are also available in Rantau Panjang Bus Station.

From here, I waited for the Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus 29 to head to Pasir Mas to continue along my train journey.

Chiang Mai to Singapore by Train

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