Heading to Malaysia via the border at Wang Prajan

[Phuketrichard]

Am driving down and need some info.

I have been to this border before so know the way but last time i just drove thru and than spent the day in Malaysia and than exited at Betong and up to Yalla,
this trip an heading to Cameron highlands and across to the east coast and coming up thru Kota Bharu.

Has anyone done this trip?

I know there is a shop selling malay insurance on the left side in Thailand before immigration BUT where is the shop where u clear customs and get the malay temp import disk like i had to to do when went in at Sadao.?

[aging one]

trip an heading to Cameron highlands and across to the east coast and coming up thru Kota Bharu.

We love that place. The wife and I honeymooned there, and have been back twice with the kids. So damn slow and refreshing. Hiking, eating, actually enjoying tea, The towns up there are small and lovely as well. Have fun. A tip the hotpot dinners up there are super. Find a small real one. But bring few bottles of the Thai suki sauce. The Malay soy, hot, and sweet dont compare. Oh boy now I want to go back and have a week mid March.

[Eric Loh]

Seem something is wrong with your route. If you exit via Bentong, you head to Kelantan which is in the East Coast. You then have to drive across the peninsula to the west coast where Cameron Highland (think in Perak) is situated.

It will be easier to exit via Sadao and use the North South Highway which will lead you directly to Cameron Highland. I believed there are signs leading you there.

As for insurance, you can buy along the immigration point.

Suggest you check your route again. Moreover, why go though Yala and Bentong which is dangerously located in the South insurgency provinces.

[Phuketrichard]

my route is fine :-)
am now in Alor Star

MY last trip in June last year we exited at WP and drove across the top of Malaysia and entered Thailand at Betong and came up thru Yalla, its safe but heavy army presence.

Wang Prajan border
which is outside Satun.
This border is much easier, closer and less traffic than Sadao!!! Very low key and nice big market that gets lots of Malaysian walking down from immigration.

It was an easy drive down to the border 450 kms from Kamala to the border, less than 6 hours which included lunch and gas stops.

From here head south thru; Butterworth-Ipoh- Cameron highlands than across to Kuala Terengganu- back up to Thailand at Kota Bharu-Narthawat-Pattani- Songkla- home

ok
the shop to buy insurance is on the right hand side 6 shops before the tourist Police shop house ( about 150 meters to the border.) NO sign so just ask the tourist police.
she will take ur paper u had made for ur car form the transport office and sell u insurance an do all the paper work , my insurance was 1,000 baht for 1 month ( the least amount of time u cna buy)

then drive up to the border, Long building; Left side; first door is immigration, passport stamp , go down 2 offices to JPJ office where ur disk is made to allow u to drive into Malaysia, ( give the papers the lady made for u in Thailand where you got ur insurance) 2 office more and customs, nothing. than u own ur way.

Note there are no currency exchanges anywhere but there is a gas station 1 km inside Malaysia were 97 is ONLY 28 baht ( u cant buy 95 with a thai license plate.
75 minutes more to Alor Star on the slow moving highway 7 which goes thru every town along the way and than some.
I was lucky as went looking for money exchange here an a very helpful guy sold me 200 MYR for 2,000 baht.

Off to the highlands tomorrow, been told its about 300 kms or so.

[ossierob]

Give a report on the Cameron Highlands trip as I read about the train voyage through there as being a good experience that I may do in the near future

thanks

[Phuketrichard]

very disappointed about Cameron highlands, Extremely over developed and not peaceful as they lead u to believe in the advertising. There are 3 small towns to stay in that are full of small hotels/ restaurants and shops. many many places for tourists to stop to see how strawberries are grown (after u have seen one, no reason to see more) couple of tea plantation, bee farm, butterfly farm, mushroom farm etc etc. All very crowded with tourists an this was on a monday. One night in Brinchang was enough for us, ( drove up to Tanah Rata an it was the same).

About a 90 minute drive from Ipoh

don't think any train goes thru there.
This photo is representative of many many hillsides/valleys where they have cleared the land and put up these tent like structures for the strawberry plants.
The roads are small and seem to be full most of the time with big trucks making their way up / down the hills, Going on a weekend or holiday would be sheer insanity.

Have spoken to people that were there 15 years ago an they said it was beautiful but no more

Would not advise anyone to go, northern Thailand is much more beautiful.