Walking from Sungai Kolok (Thailand) to Rantau Panjang (Malaysia) 2024

Sungai Kolok, Thailand and Rantau Panjang, Malaysia are neighbouring towns with an international border crossing across the Kolok River, or Sungai Kolok. While Sungai Kolok is the end of the SRT Southern Line in Thailand, its location near the border also sort of makes it an international station to travel to Malaysia. Continuing on my trip, I got a motorcycle taxi to the border to walk from Thailand to Malaysia.

Thailand Sungai Golok Boundary Post

I got from Sungai Kolok Railway Station to Sungai Golok Boundary Post by an orange vest motorcycle taxi which costed me 50 Baht. This is a 1km journey, and walking would have taken about 13 minutes, but I wasn’t in the mood for walking with the warm weather.

There are also blue vest motorcycle taxis here which go across the border to Malaysia. These also cost 50 Baht, but I wasn’t in a rush, and the journey would have not been possible for me to take photos at the actual international border too.

Heading into the departure terminal for walking out of Thailand.

I was quite lucky that there was almost no queue at Thailand departure immigration, and I was through in less than 2 minutes.

The sheltered walkway continues out of the terminal and onwards to the Rantau Panjang-Sungai Golok Bridge, also called the “Harmony Bridge”.

A Surau is available on the Thailand side after Thailand immigration but before crossing to Malaysia.

Toilets are also available here.

Goodbye, Thailand!

Heading out of Thailand from the deep south.

The path splits between a pedestrian walkway and the main road. If walking, do not use the pedestrian walkway.

Instead, walk on the main road.

Malaysia is just up ahead.

Heading out of the border gates of Thailand.

Here’s why you should use the main road. The gate for the pedestrian walkway is closed, and the fence between the pedestrian walkway and the main road runs for the full length. If you have accidentally used the pedestrian walkway, you need to walk all the way back again to head on to the main road.

The pedestrian walkway on the Rantau Panjang-Sungai Golok Bridge or “Harmony Bridge” is open.

The cross-border railway bridge runs parallel to the road Rantau Panjang-Sungai Golok Bridge. However, there are no cross-border train services here as the railway facilities in Malaysia are in disrepair.

Approaching the international border of Thailand and Malaysia.

A set of commemorative plaques stand in the middle right at the international border of Thailand and Malaysia. A plaque in Thai is fitted on the Thai side, and an English plaque straddles in Thailand and Malaysia. There presumably should be a Malay plaque on the Malaysia side, but this is missing.

Heading into the border gates of Malaysia.

The small pedestrian gate is closed here too, and it’s back on the main road.

This closure is negligible as the walkway ends at the closed gate anyway, and pedestrians will need to walk between the main road and Royal Malaysian Customs.

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

Continuing in to Malaysia Rantau Panjang Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex.

Heading into the pedestrian immigration section. I was the only one heading for immigration, and I was through in less than a minute.

Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) Compulsory for All Foreigners from 1 December 2023

If you are a foreigner, remember to fill up the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC) before immigration.

Singapore passport holders, Thailand border pass holders, and selected other passport holders are exempted from filling up the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card (MDAC).

After immigration and customs, there is a sheltered walkway linking Rantau Panjang Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex to Rantau Panjang Bus Terminal.

Rantau Panjang Railway Station

Rantau Panjang Railway Station sits just beside Rantau Panjang Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex, but is currently disused and in disrepair.

The railway line onwards to Pasir Mas Railway Station is also very overgrown and not safe for any form of traffic.

Heading out of the Rantau Panjang Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex premises.

Continuing on the sheltered walkway from Rantau Panjang Immigration, Customs, Quarantine and Security (ICQS) Complex to Rantau Panjang Bus Terminal.

Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus Service 29 to Pasir Mas and Kota Bharu

Do note that Mutiara Rentas Desa Bus Service 29 to Pasir Mas and Kota Bharu will pick up and drop off along the sheltered walkway outside and before Rantau Panjang Bus Terminal.

Rantau Panjang Bus Terminal

The welcome plinth to Rantau Panjang sits outside Rantau Panjang Bus Terminal.

Rantau Panjang Bus Terminal has many express buses to destinations around Peninsular Malaysia including but not limited to Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Johor Bahru.