Kota Bharu (or Kota Baru) is an easy place to stop en route from Malaysia to the Thai border on the east coast. Kota Bharu is the state capital of Kelantan and in Malay the name means New Castle/City. It’s an easy place to make the land border crossing between Malaysia and Thailand. Some folks will go from the next town on the way north to the Malaysian border town of Rantau Panjang to Sungai Kolok, so we’ll cover those details too.
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Kota Bharu to Sungai Kolok Thailand Border Crossing Overview
The route from Kota Bharu to the Thailand border is easy. First, go by bus from Kota Bharu to Rantau Panjang, then walk 100 meters to the border controls There is around 1 kilometer of ‘no man’s land’ between the two countries, then the walk from the Sungai Kolok immigration to the town of Sungai Kolok.
The first stop on our trip north from Malaysia to Thailand is the Kota Bharu Central Bus Station. It’s easy to find and there’s free wifi when you get there. I’ve shown on the map where this is.
The bus that runs from Kota Bharu to Rantau Panjang is operated by Mutiara Rentas Desa (MRD) and the frequency is from 30 to 90 mins depending when you travel. The schedule is on the signboard at the KB Central Bus Station. The first bus is at 06:45 and the last bus is at 17:15.
Bus 29 goes from Kota Bharu to Rantau Panjang. Rantau Panjang is the Kelantan Malaysian border town where you cross into Thailand.
You cannot book the bus to the border. You need to go to the bus station to get your ticket..
Kota Bharu to Rantau Panjang
The 29 bus goes from Kota Bharu to Rantau Panjang (the Malaysia border town where you walk across to Thailand) departing every 30 to 90 minutes (see timetable above). That’s what the timetable says.,,,our reality is a little different as the number 29 bus arrived at 07:40 and it left at 08:03. The bus costs 5RM. The journey to Rantau Panjang from Kota Bharu is 45 kilometers (28 miles).
If you are traveling from Sungai Kolok in Thailand to go to Kota Bharu, then once you have crossed the border, just wait for the 29 bus and wave for it to stop, it will take you from Rantau Panjang to Kota Bharu.
The Kota Bharu to Rantau Panjang journey time is just an hour. It is an obvious stop at the border and your driver will tell you it’s the border too.
Popular Routes in Thailand
Want to know more about different forms of transport in Thailand? Our guide to Thailand transport is here. And here’s how to travel some of the popular routes around Thailand, your options, and how we did it.
- How to go from Bangkok to Pakse (Laos)
- Going from Langkawi (Malaysia) to Koh Lipe
- How to go from Koh Tao to Krabi
- How to go from Phuket to Koh Yao Noi
- Koh Lanta to Koh Phi Phi
- How to go from Bangkok to Koh Tao
- Koh Tao to Phuket
- How to go from Bangkok to Koh Phangan
- Bangkok to Koh Kood and back
- How to go from Koh Lipe to Koh Mook
- Koh Lipe to Koh Lanta
- Phuket to Koh Lanta
- Go from Bangkok to Koh Chang
- How to go from Bangkok to Koh Samui
- How to go from Bangkok to Ayutthaya
- How to go from Chiang Mai to Chiang Rai
- How to go from Bangkok to Sukhothai
- How to go from Krabi to Phuket
- How to go from Krabi to Koh Samui
- Going from Krabi to Phi Phi Island
- How to go from Bangkok to Phi Phi Island
- How to go from Bangkok to Krabi
- How to go from Bangkok to Kanchanaburi
- How to travel from Krabi to Langkawi (Malaysia)
- How to go from Krabi to Railay
- How to go from Cambodia to Thailand
Kota Bharu to Rantau Panjang Map
You can see the full map here
Rantau Panjang to the Malaysia – Thailand Border
From the bus stop, the walk to Rantau Panjang immigration is just 100 meters (110 yards) and it’s easy to spot.
Rantau Panjang Border Crossing Malaysia to Thailand
The border crossing here is on the Malaysia side, the Rantau Panjang border crossing, and the Sungai Kolok border crossing on the Thailand side. We arrived at the border at 09:08 and exiting Rantau Panjang Immigration took just a few minutes.
Malaysian Border to Thailand Border Distance
After you leave the Malaysian immigration, you will walk about a kilometer (a little over half a mile) in no man’s land, then across a bridge over the Golok River, which forms the boundary between Malaysia and Thailand on the East Coast of both countries. You will now be at the Thailand Sungai Golok immigration post.
Thailand Immigration at Sungai Kolok
The Thai border control seemed much more interested in my passport than anything else, wanting to know where we were going, why and for how long. We’ve been into Thailand several times in the last year and I wonder if there’s anything flagged on my passport. Nigel gets straight in.
This is the most used border crossing from Malaysian Kelantan to Thailand. And it is an easy crossing.
That’s it, it’s simple. You are now in Thailand
Sungai Kolok Immigration to Sungai Kolok town
It is about 1 kilometer from the immigration post to the Sungai Kolok railway station and town. A motorcycle taxi will cost around 20 THB. Or it will take 15-20 minutes to walk. It is not an unpleasant walk.
It’s a further 20-minute walk to the Sungai Kolok (sometimes Sungai Golok) railway station where we found it easy (we were traveling in the off-season) to buy our train tickets from Sungai Kolok to Hua Hin.
Popular Routes in Malaysia
Traveling around Malaysia? Here’s some of the most popular routes and the best ways to go between these places.
- How to go from Langkawi to Koh Lipe
- How to go from Penang to Cameron Highlands
- How to go from Krabi to Langkawi
- How to go from Langkawi to Penang
- How to go from Cameron Highlands to Melaka
- How to go from Kota Kinabalu to Sandakan
- How to go from Labuan to Brunei
- How to go from Kota Kinabalu to Labuan Island
- How to go from Brunei to Miri
- How to go from Ipoh to Penang
- KLIA2 to Ipoh – buses, transfers and trains
- How to go to George Town from Ipoh
- How to go from Kota Bharu to Sungai Kolok
- How to go from Singapore to the Perhentian Islands
- Penang to Langkawi
- How to go from Melaka to Kuala Lumpur
FAQs – Rantau Panjang to Sungai Kolok
Are there Trains from Kota Bharu to Thailand?
While there are trains that run to and from Kota Bharu (the Jungle train from Wakaf Baharu), there are no trains directly into Thailand. You need to take a bus to the border and then take a train from Sungai Kolok to your onward destination in Thailand.
Can you take a taxi across the border from Malaysia to Thailand?
No. There are no taxis or buses that cross the border here. You will need to walk across no man’s land. It’s about 1 kilometer.
Are Malaysia and Thailand in the same time zone?
No. There’s a one-hour time difference. Thailand is one hour BEHIND Malaysia.
How far is it from Immigration to the bus/train station in Sungai Kolok?
You need to walk (or grab a ride) from the Thai border to the town. It’s about 1 kilometer to the train station. A ride will cost around 20 THB.
How do you book trains/buses from Sungai Kolok to Hat Yai / Bangkok?
The most popular route from here is Sungai Kolok to Hat Yai. You can book your trains in person at the train station when you arrive, depending on availability. However, we recommend pre-booking to ensure you can move on from Sungai Kolok. The best way to prebook your onward travel from Sungai Kolok is to use 12AsiaGo – check out options here.
What times are the trains from Sungai Kolok to Hay Yai / Bangkok?
There are two northbound departures from Sungai Kolok to Bangkok. they leave Sungai Kolok at 11:30 and 14:20. These trains both stop in Yala, Hat Yai, and Surat Thani before the final stop in Hua Lamphong, Bangkok. The 11:30 train arrives in Bangkok at 08:45 the next day and the 14:20 arrives at 10:30 the next morning. We recommend pre-booking your trains, you can do that here.
Can you take a bus from Sungai Kolok?
Yes. Some buses and minivans leave the Thanon Wongwiwat bus terminal. Minivans go to Hat Yai (for Phuket, Krabi, Koh Samui, and also Bangkok transfers) every hour between 06:00 – 16:00. Trips take 4 hours. Book here.
Direct buses run from Sungai Kolok to Bangkok once a day although a better option may be to get to Hat Yai which is a larger transport hub with more options. In our opinion the train is the better option if you are going all the way to Bangkok. Book here
Where is the Sungai Kolok Bus Terminal?
The Sungai Kolok Bus Terminal is about 3 km from the town center. You can get directions to it here
Is there anywhere to wait for the trains/buses in Sungai Kolok?
Close to the train station is the Genting Hotel, where you can get wifi, food, and drinks. (Breakfast is 50 baht and good coffee is available) If you’re looking to stay the night in Sungai Kolok, we recommend the Green View Boutique Hotel (check rates here).
Sungai Kolok – Where to Stay
If you do decide or need to stay in Sungai Kolok, then the best-rated hotel in Sungai Kolok is the Green View Boutique Hotel. There’s free wifi, a garden, and a bar here, plus its close to the Sungai Kolok railway station for your onward travel – check out rates and book a room now
Malaysia Travel Tips
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- Get online immediately with an eSIM for Malaysia.
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- Book Buses in Malaysia with BusonlineTicket
- Book accommodation in Malaysia with Booking
Final Words on Going from Kota Bharu to Thailand
This is an easy journey to take, but make sure you’ve had a look at the things to do in Kota Bharu before you leave!. You’ll need the local bus from Kota Bharu. It runs frequently every day. And can be as often as every 30 minutes. It takes about 1 hour to go 45 kilometers from Kota Bharu to the border. Walk across the border and then you’re in the southern Thailand town of Sungai Kolok and you’ll just need to book a bus or train out. Good luck!
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9 thoughts on “Kota Bharu to Thailand – Rantau Panjang Sungai Kolok Border”
Thank you
No worries, hope your trip goes well – let us know if anything has changed!
Thank you, very detail and usefuljanet
City liner does not operate anymore. The bus that runs from Kota Bharu to Rantau Panjang is operated by Mutiara Rentas Desa (MRD) and frequency is every 30 mins during peak hours and 90 mins off-peak. Schedule is on the signboard at the KB Central Bus Station. First bus at 6.45am, last bus 5.15pm.
I took the bus today from Kota Bharu to Rantau Panjang and it took an hour and a half. It left promptly at 10:45 and arrived at 12:15. There were a ton of locals using the bus for short trips so that may explain why it took longer. But once I crossed the border, I gained an hour with the time change anyway. Thanks so much for the info and this fantastic website; it made arranging the trip so much easier! Also took the 38 express train once I arrived in Sungai Kolok.
I’m planning a trip now for September. If I arrive in Wakaf Bahru on the Jungle Train at 12:39, is it unrealistic to think I can make it across the border in time to get the 38 train at Sungi Kolok that departs at 14:15? I see that one gains an hour once across the border in Thailand.
Hi Bill. You’d need to get a taxi from the train station to the border – and quickly. It’s about 40 minutes by car. Then have a clear run of exiting Malaysia AND entering Thailand. And then get to the train station. If you can get a tuktuk to take you to the train station (usually pretty easy), then it should be feasible. I’d take a look at the train ticket prices and if they’re not break the bank expensive, book it and aim to catch it. But, the proviso is that you’ll need it all to go smoothly – train arriving on time, getting a taxi, no lines at immigration, etc etc…
Hi Sarah, thanks for the quick reply. I guess I’ll take a chance on it. Any idea what that taxi to the border costs? And when you say take a taxi from the train station, I assume you mean Wakaf Bahru, bypassing Kota Bharu? It’s a tight connection, but I’m not all that interested in spending the night in Kota Bharu. Thanks again!
Hi Bill, sorry yes, Wakaf Bahru – get a price for a taxi from these guys (and book it if you like, I haven’t used them personally, but they come recommended – https://taximalaya.my/online-booking/ – Kota Bharu has limited things to do, so heading north into Thailand is a good call.