Tak Bai Border Crossing: Thailand to Malaysia
These are my notes for crossing into Malaysia by boat at the Tak Bai border checkpoint in Narathiwat Province, Thailand. My final destination was Tumpat Railway Station where I wanted to catch the sleeper train down to JB Sentral Station. I started my journey to Malaysia from Narathiwat city, though you can also cross the border from Sungai Kolok, which is another popular crossing point in the region. This route is less traveled by tourists, but offers a fascinating glimpse into local life along the southern border. Scroll down to the bottom of this page for my route map.
🚌 From Tan Yong Mat Station to Narathiwat City
My journey started at Tan Yong Station on the Southern Line. This is the nearest station to Narathiwat city. There are songtaews waiting in front of the station to take people into the city. I advise you to go straight to the songtaew as soon as you get off the train as it fills up quickly. I told the driver I wanted to go to the Imperial Hotel where I would stay the night. Prices for the songtaew vary depending on if he goes off route for you. For me it was 40 baht and the journey took 30 minutes. He dropped me off in front of the hotel. He also dropped some people off at the bus station for 30 baht.
📍Tan Yong Mat Station: Link to location
🚌 From Narathiwat City to Tak Bai Border Checkpoint
The songthaew from Narathiwat to Tak Bai runs every hour. I planned to leave on the 12:30 pm ride, but as there were only two of us, the driver insisted we wait for the next one—then promptly left. We had to wait another hour until the next songthaew came around. This seems common for rural routes where they try to fill up before leaving.
📍Queue for Tak Bai Songthaew: Link to location
The journey from Narathiwat to Tak Bai took about 30 minutes and cost 60 baht. Upon arrival, the driver dropped us off right in front of the Thai Immigration hall. Luckily, there were only a handful of people in the queue, and it didn’t take too long to get through. Keep in mind, though—Immigration closes early, at 5:00 pm, so make sure you arrive well before then.
📍Tak Bai Checkpoint: Link to location
🚤 Crossing the River to Malaysia
Once through Thai Immigration, you have two choices to cross the river into Malaysia: the car ferry or a small boat. I opted for the small boat, which turned out to be the quicker option. The ticket was 25 baht, and you can pay in ringgit if that’s more convenient. One important note—there are no toilets in the waiting area for the boat, so be sure to use the facilities before you clear Immigration.
The boat ride was quick, with only a few passengers, which meant that Malaysian Immigration was also a breeze once I landed at Pengkalan Kubor. Please note, you now need to fill out an online arrival card in advance of your visit to Malaysia.
📍Pengkalan Kubor Checkpoint: Link to location
🚕 Taxi to Tumpat or Bus to Wakaf Bharu Station?
After clearing Immigration, I turned left and then right, where I found a row of taxis waiting. A taxi from Pengkalan Kubor pier to Tumpat Station costs 20 ringgit (about 156 baht). It’s only a 20-minute ride. However, if I had gone the quick route, I would have had a four-hour wait in an area with little to see or do. Instead of waiting, I went with Plan B and hopped on a bus.
📍Bus Stop Location: Link to location
The No. 27 bus runs to Kota Bharu roughly every hour. It doesn’t pass Tumpat Station, but it does get quite close to Wakaf Bharu Station, which is another good connection point. When you get on, make sure to tell the driver where you need to get off. The fare was 2.5 ringgit, and the journey took around 30 minutes. From where I was dropped off, it was just a 5-10 minute walk to the station.
📍Wakaf Bharu Station: Link to location
🚂 Wakaf Bharu to Tumpat
Instead of waiting for my sleeper train at Wakaf Bharu, I decided to take a commuter train to Tumpat. Wakaf Bharu is a relatively quiet station with little to do except a small snack shop, so I figured it’d be more interesting to explore Tumpat. The train was supposed to leave at 6:06 pm, but actually departed at 5:58 pm—a reminder that schedules can be flexible. Thankfully, the ticket seller had warned me about this. The 16-minute ride only cost 1 ringgit, so in total, my bus and train journey from Pengkalan Kubor to Tumpat came to just 3.5 ringgit.
📍Tumpat Station: Link to location
This border crossing is definitely an adventure, giving you a glimpse into life on both sides of the river, and it’s a fantastic alternative to the busier crossings in the region.