K M Cheng-Travel Journal: My 11 days free & easy visit to Southern Thailand (Hat Yai, Krabi, Phuket, Koh Samui & Sg Golok) June 21

Sunday, July 12, 2026

My 11 days free & easy visit to Southern Thailand (Hat Yai, Krabi, Phuket, Koh Samui & Sg Golok) June 21 > July 1 2026

Padang Besar, Malaysia / Thai Border

Hatyai, Thailand

Phuket, Thailand

Koh Samui, Thailand

Krabi, Thailand

Sungai Kolok, Thailand

A mid-summer night dream, heat wave, better later than never, proximity to my home country, closer distance & better value, security issues, KM's style overland train / bus journey from Kuala Lumpur to southern Thailand through history, nature, culture, sport & food - the good, the bad & the ugly are all factored in when I took on this 11 days free & easy trip overland trip with a Subang Jaya travel buddy (Mr Ng) travelling by train / bus from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (my home country) to southern Thailand covering Hat Yai, Phuket / Patong beach, Koh Samui / Chaweng beach, Krabi / Ao Nang beach & Sungai Golok from June 21 > July 1 2026; having visited South Vietnam (Jan 18 > Feb 5), China, Shandong Province (April 12 > 27) & Singapore (May 17 > 20) in the 1st half of 2026 ! Time really flies, realising that we have now crossed the half way mark of 2026 !

My last solo visit to Phuket, Koh Samui & Krabi was in June 2013 & as for Sungai Golok, a gap of over 40 years. As for Hat Yai, this southern city is a familiar territory to me having visited 7 to 8 times over the last 2 to 3 decades !

Travel Itinerary (11 days): Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) > Padang Besar (Malaysia / Thai border) > Hat Yai > Phuket > Koh Samui > Krabi > Hat Yai > Sungai Golok > Hat Yai > Padang Besar > Kuala Lumpur (approx. 3,000km)

My travel buddy: Mr Ng from Subang Jaya, Selangor

Total expenses incurred (11 days): Rm605 + 5,620bht = Rm1,291 (US$315)

Hotels (10 nights): Rm407 (US$100)
Malaysian Trains (KTM): KL Sentral > Padang Besar Rm77 (Senior); Padang Besar > KL Sentral Rm57 (Senior)
Thai Trains: Hat Yai > Sg Golok > Hat Yai 42bht x 2 + Hat Yai > Padang besar 50bht = 134bht
Long Distance Bus / Van: Padang Besar > Hat Yai Rm30 + Hat Yai > Phuket 515bht + Krabi > Hat Yai 300bht
Bus & Ferry (Phantip Travel Combo): Phuket > Koh Samui 770 + Koh Samui > Krabi 1,100bht = 1,870bht
Grab: 265bht
Taxi: Phuket Terminal 2 > Patong Beach 500bht @250bht (cost sharing of 2)
Tuk Tuk: Krabi > Ao Nang Beach return 70bht x 2 + Krabi Bus Terminal > Hotel 50bht + Patong Beach > Phuket Oldtown return 50bht x 2 = 290bht
Food: 1,926bht
Souvenir: 50bht
Sundries:20bht
Sim card: Rm14
Groceries: Rm20

Exchange rate: US$1 = Rm4.10; 10Bht = Rm1.22

Travel Highlights:

1) Hat Yai, Thailand

Kim Yong Market, Hat Yai, Thailand

Lee Garden Night Market
Hat Yai, Thailand

Greenway Night Market, Hat Yai, Thailand

2) Phuket, Thailand

Bangla Road, Phuket

Tranquil Sunset Scene
Patong Beach, Phuket

Old Police Station, Phuket Old Town

Museum Phuket, Phuket Old Town

Queen Sirikit Garden, Phuket Town

3) Koh Samui, Thailand

Chaweng Beach, Koh Samui

Central Samui Mall, Koh Samui

4) Krabi, Thailand

The Mud Crab Sculpture, Krabi

Nok Awk Monument, Krabi

Ao Nang Beach, Krabi, Thailand

Sailfish Sculpture, Ao Nang Beach, Krabi

Maharaj Market, Krabi

Krabi City Night Market

Black Crab Night Market, Krabi

5) Sungai Golok, Thailand

Sungai Golok CIQ Complex,
Thai / Malaysia Border, Thailand

Sungai Golok Town, Thailand

My 11 days southern Thailand free & easy visit, a quick glance through history, nature, culture & food perspectives - one for the album ! No dull moment after seeing the heritage buildings of Phuket Old Town, the beautiful beaches of Patong (Phuket), Chaweng beach (Koh Samui) & Ao Nang beach (Krabi), the karst formation / limestone cliffs / hills in Koh Samui & Krabi, the festive mood in Phuket & Koh Samui, the parasailing water sport in Phuket & a taste of Thai durians as June is the peak season for Thai durians, delicious spicy Thai dishes ! Southern Thailand tourism really lives up to the Amazing Thailand image !

1) History