Crossing the land borders between Malaysia and Thailand will be possible again.
Many things were simpler in the past. You could catch an overnight train from Butterworth, Penang, sit back and relax in your own cabin, and wake up refreshed the next day in Bangkok, Thailand. Or drive the Malaysian highways, pass through immigration checkpoints and explore the natural wonders and bargain hunters of southern Thailand.
When Malaysia reopens its borders on April 1st, some of the once taken for granted comforts will return. If you’re planning a road trip up north, here’s what you should know before you embark.
What to know about Malaysia-Thailand land border reopening
Accordingly The starSadao (Songkhla province)-Bukit Kayu Hitam (Kedah) and Wang Prachan (Satun)-Wang Kelian (Perlis) border crossings will reopen for fully vaccinated people.
When leaving Malaysia, a pre-departure test is not required.
Songkhla province deputy governor Amphon Pongsuwan says this is expected of travelers under the test-and-go scheme apply for the Thailand passport at least seven days before departure. Designated hotels must be booked in advance (awaiting the result of the PCR test), while travelers must undergo a PCR test on the day of arrival in addition to a self-administered RTK antigen test on the fifth day.
Equally important is getting health insurance with minimum coverage of $20,000.
Will other border crossings reopen soon?
To encourage greater bilateral economic benefits, Thai authorities are working with their Malaysian counterparts to reopen all land border crossings between the two countries by May 1.
As reported by the Malaysia Post, Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, was quoted as saying: “We plan to gradually open more checkpoints in Narathiwat, Yala and Satun connecting Malaysia to boost tourism in the southern provinces. We expect all Thai-Malaysian checkpoints to reopen by May 1.”
Has Yai International Airport to welcome international flights
Malaysians traveling to Hat Yai may also consider flying as Hat Yai International Airport welcomes international flights from April 1 as part of Thailand’s Test & Go program.
AirAsia has confirmed that flights to southern Thailand’s largest city will resume from its KLIA2 hub.
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Hero and feature images: Nithit Teeraworawit at Unsplash
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