For most people wanting to stay longer on Koh Phangan, Penang in Malaysia is the desired choice to visit to obtain their next visa. But what if you have lived here a long time and fancy checking out somewhere new, avoiding the busyness of Penang or you’re just curious to visit Kota Bharu. This city in Malaysia has a Thai Embassy and so you can obtain a visa there, of course like any Embassy you’ll need the correct documents and so forth but here’s how it works and a bit about what you can expect from this not so well-known Malaysian city.
Kota Bharu is a traditional Malaysian city where most people are Muslim, you can hear mosques at prayer time which adds to the atmosphere. The East Coast of Malaysia where Kota Bharu is is known for being more conservative but this adds to the character from a tourist point of view as you can admire the islamic architecture and way of life. You may want to be aware that it’s respectful to join the culture and dress more appropriately such as covering your shoulders.
Getting to Kota Bharu from Koh Phangan is relatively easy and cheap. If you get a ticket from Mr Kim in Thong Sala you will get the 16:30 Raja Ferry (in low season sometimes this one doesn’t run so it will be the Raja before).
You arrive at Donsak Pier at 19:00 and go to the bus stop outside of the ticket office and cafe area to wait for the public bus which arrives at 19:30. This bus is a comfortable coach which takes you all the way down South to Songai Kolok.
The journey takes roughly 10 - 12 hours depending on traffic.
Once you arrive at Sungai Kolok bus station there are motorbike taxis waiting and you can hop on one to the border for just 50 Baht.
You then cross through the border into Malaysia, getting your stamps out of Thailand and into Malaysia.
Once you are through the border you walk onwards for about 5 minutes where you can get a public bus into Kota Bharu for 5 Ringgit (50 Baht). The number bus is 29. You can also get a private taxi but this will cost you more like 500 Baht.
This bus drops you at Kota Bharu Bus Station, you can walk to the Embassy but it’s hot and there’s no paths and it may take you 15 - 30 minutes. It’s super easy to get a taxi from the bus station, they will be waiting and will cost 5 - 10 Ringgit.
Once you’re at the Thai Embassy you will need to fill in the correct paperwork along with the money and your passport photos, hand it in and then you return the next day at 14:00 to collect your passport with your new Thailand visa.
Remember if you are applying for a Non-B 3 month or One Year visa to get all the necessary paperwork from your Lawyer on Koh Phangan.
You then have the whole day to explore the city of Kota Bharu.
The next day you return to the embassy to collect everything and can then begin the journey back to Thailand.
The way back is the same as the way there. You need to get back to the bus station and get the 29 bus to the border, this bus comes every half an hour or so.
You get off close to the border and cross back into Thailand, getting your stamps out of Malaysia and into Thailand. You can then easily get a motorbike taxi to Sungai Kolok Bus station where you wait for the coach that will take you overnight up to Donsak Pier. The coach leaves at roughly 5pm and you arrive at Donsak around 4am where you will need to purchase the Raja Ferry ticket for the first boat back to the island.
Depending on when the first boat depends on the season, it is either 5am or 6am, and so you arrive back to Koh Phangan for a brand new sunny morning!
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