{"id":205,"date":"2026-06-05T17:35:05","date_gmt":"2026-06-05T08:35:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hiyori-world.com\/?p=205"},"modified":"2026-06-05T17:35:05","modified_gmt":"2026-06-05T08:35:05","slug":"traveling-malaysia-by-rail-the-perfect-detour-between-thailand-and-singapore","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hiyori-world.com\/?p=205","title":{"rendered":"Traveling Malaysia by Rail | The Perfect Detour Between Thailand and Singapore"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

After exploring Thailand’s beach resorts, I crossed the border by train from Surat Thani into Malaysia. Rolling south through the countryside on a sleeper train, soaking in the atmosphere of the journey itself \u2014 this is what travel in Southeast Asia is all about.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Malaysia tends to get skipped by travelers rushing between Thailand and Singapore. That’s a mistake. Once you actually spend time here, the food alone will make you glad you stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Crossing the Border by Train<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I boarded the Malay Railway from Surat Thani in southern Thailand and crossed overland into Malaysia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Taking the sleeper train all the way from Bangkok to Malaysia is slow, but the atmosphere is hard to beat. Watching the landscape shift as you move south, passing through small towns and jungle \u2014 this is a kind of travel that flying simply can’t replicate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Malay Railway border crossing route\n\u2514 Bangkok Central Station sleeper train\n  (Train 45 etc.) to Padang Besar\n  (approximately 16 hours)\n\u2514 Thai exit and Malaysian entry\n  immigration completed at\n  Padang Besar station\n\u2514 Transfer to KTM ETS high-speed train\n\u2514 KL Sentral station in about 5.5 hours<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Crossing a land border is a special experience. As of 2026, a special direct service called the “MySawasdee Express” also runs between Hat Yai in southern Thailand and Kuala Lumpur on selected dates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
photo by JK<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Langkawi: Beach Resort on the Andaman Sea<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
On the Malaysian side of the Andaman Sea sits Langkawi, a beautiful beach destination that holds its own against anything Thailand has to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Close to the Thai border, this lush island is entirely designated as a duty-free zone. Beer, chocolate and other goods can be bought at prices well below the rest of Malaysia. Beyond the beaches, kayaking tours through the mangrove jungle are popular.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you’ve already spent time on Thai beaches, Langkawi still has plenty to offer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
photo by Nazarizal Mohammad<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
The Japanese Food in Penang Shocked Me<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Before heading to Kuala Lumpur, I made a stop in Penang. Something unexpected happened here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Japanese food at a street stall was extraordinary. I ordered katsudon and miso soup, and for a moment I genuinely forgot I was overseas. The quality coming out of a street stall was remarkable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Everything else I ate there was equally impressive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Penang’s George Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, its colonial-era streets lined with famous street murals. But it’s above all known as Malaysia’s premier food city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Penang street food highlights\n\u2514 Char Kway Teow\n  (stir-fried flat rice noodles)\n\u2514 Assam Laksa\n  (sour and spicy fish-based noodle soup)\n\u2514 Gurney Drive and other hawker centers\n  packed with locals every evening<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Malaysian Food Is the Best in Southeast Asia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Honest opinion: Malaysian food is the best I’ve eaten in Southeast Asia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dishes that stood out\n\u2514 Nasi Lemak (national dish)\n  Coconut rice served with\n  spicy sambal, anchovies,\n  peanuts and boiled egg\n  I ate this multiple times every day\n\u2514 Rice with three sides\n  (choose your own combination)\n\u2514 Bak Kut Teh\n  Pork ribs simmered in\n  herbal broth, a Chinese-Malaysian classic\n\u2514 Satay\n  Grilled skewers with peanut sauce<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Why is Malaysian food so good? Because Malaysia is a multi-ethnic country. Malay, Indian and Chinese food cultures have merged over generations, producing a range and depth of flavor that’s hard to find anywhere else. The use of spices and coconut milk creates a richness that keeps you coming back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
photo by Damia Mustafa<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Kuala Lumpur Is a Modern City<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Kuala Lumpur was more developed than I expected.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
KLCC (Kuala Lumpur City Centre) is home to the Petronas Twin Towers, the city’s unmistakable symbol. At 452 meters tall, you can visit the Sky Bridge on the 41st floor and the observation deck on the 86th.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Petronas Twin Towers tips\n\u2514 Tickets are limited\n  book online in advance through\n  the official site\n\u2514 Walk-up tickets often sell out early\n\u2514 The illuminated towers viewed\n  from KLCC Park at night\n  are free and spectacular<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
Grab works seamlessly in Kuala Lumpur. If you’ve already been using it in Thailand, you can use exactly the same app without any setup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
photo by Esmonde Yong<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Borneo: Wild Orangutans in the Jungle<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
A place I didn’t make it to this time, but one that stays on my list.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Borneo highlights\n\u2514 Sepilok Orangutan\n  Rehabilitation Centre\n  Watch rescued orangutans\n  being fed up close\n\u2514 Kinabatangan River cruise\n  Chance to spot wild proboscis\n  monkeys and pygmy elephants<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
A completely different face of Malaysia from the cities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
phtoto by Dimitry B<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Understanding Islamic Culture<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Malaysia is an Islamic country, but it’s a tolerant, multi-religious society. A few things worth knowing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cultural notes\n\u2514 At mosques, cover shoulders and knees\n  Robes are often loaned free at\n  major mosques\n\u2514 Use your right hand for\n  giving, receiving and eating\n\u2514 Muslim-run establishments\n  don't serve pork or alcohol\n  Chinese and Indian restaurants\n  and tourist venues serve both<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Essential Travel Information<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Best season\n\u2514 West coast (KL, Penang, Langkawi)\n  November to March is driest\n\u2514 East coast and Borneo\n  April to October is best\n\nCost\n\u2514 Roughly half to two-thirds\n  of prices in the US or Europe\n\u2514 Local hawker stalls around\n  USD 2-4 per meal\n\u2514 Alcohol is heavily taxed\n  and costs similarly to back home\n\nSafety\n\u2514 Relatively safe by\n  Southeast Asian standards\n\u2514 Watch for pickpockets and\n  bag snatchers in busy areas\n\u2514 Grab is the safest way to get around<\/code><\/pre>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
The Perfect Detour Between Thailand and Singapore<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Too many travelers pass straight through Malaysia without stopping. That’s worth reconsidering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Low prices, outstanding food, multi-cultural energy, beaches and a modern city all in one country. Grab works everywhere. It’s easy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\n
Final Thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Taking the train south from Thailand, eating my way through Penang, and arriving in Kuala Lumpur on the rail \u2014 Malaysia made for a perfect chapter in a longer Southeast Asian journey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The food surprised me more than anything else. If you’re planning a trip between Thailand and Singapore, build in a few days here. The detour will be worth it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Next stop: Singapore.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
After exploring Thailand’s beach resorts, I crossed the border by train from Surat Thani into Malaysia.  […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":201,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[31,69],"tags":[70,75,71,72,74,73,76],"class_list":["post-205","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-asia","category-malaysia","tag-kuala-lumpur","tag-langkawi","tag-malaysia-travel","tag-malaysian-food","tag-penang","tag-petronas-twin-towers","tag-southeast-asia-travel"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hiyori-world.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/205","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hiyori-world.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hiyori-world.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hiyori-world.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hiyori-world.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=205"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.hiyori-world.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/205\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":209,"href":"https:\/\/www.hiyori-world.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/205\/revisions\/209"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hiyori-world.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/201"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hiyori-world.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=205"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hiyori-world.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=205"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hiyori-world.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=205"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}