and renter Thailand at Betong-Yala- Back to Phuket

Quite a trip driving. It was 5 1/2 hours to Satun, not much to see and a pretty run down town but did have an very good thai meal ( 3 thai dishes with rice an cokes ) for 400 baht.

Next morning off to the broder, They say on all the write ups that there is a market there BUT its only on sunday now. Border crossing was very easy, WE were just going to drive in and come back but as we had been in Malaysia before and the car had the English stickers we just kept on going. Headed south than took back roads for 2 hours in Malaysia. Hardest was finding somewhere to change money!! NO bank would do it and no money changers anywhere we went. So if u do go take MYR with you. I hated not having any currency so finally asked in a restaurant if he would change 1,000 baht for me. Gave him an extra 40 baht

Had a good meal ( 180 baht for two of us) and got Gas ( 95 for 21 baht/Lt!!) Really nice drive in the country side but it was an hassle as well, Seems there was one stretch that was like 75 kms and there were red lights every 200 meters!!

and then re- entered back to Thailand at Betong.. Dont think they get many tourist ( except Malays and Thais) at this crossing. The guy we had that did our stamps was new an had no idea what he was doing. MY gf had a 1 year Non B visa so she was on a 9o day entry and i was on my retirment extension. IT took they guy like 10 minutes to process my stamp an even then he had to call over 2 other officals. No questions about the car at all.

The drive from Betong to Yala was a real eye opener for me. its 124 kms and there were at least 50 of the army stops/checkpoints, ( were u drive twisting around the poles and razor wire) Army everywhere!! hanging out on the road in grops of 3-5 with guns, Tanks and half tracks on the road with maned machine guns, Convoys of trucks with military all armed. All police,army camps, schools and anything offical had razor wire on the walls Beautiful drive thou and very little traffic. Would imagine at night it must be a very scary route.

Yalla functions as a city under seige, Road blocks entering town and in some of the small streets. NO TOURSITS that we saw an the thais i spoke to said business is very bad.

easy drive than back up to Phuket, took a detour to Koh Lanta for one night.

A very interesting 4 day get away!!

Very good trip report! Thanks for sharing. I'd like to go visit that part of the country, but wifey is 100% against it. Hard to argue with her based on all the bad news...almost daily.

Betong is safe to visit. I wouldn't go further down the hill.

Have heard tell that they " advise" farangs heading south out of Yalla NOT to go towards Betong>

so how else wouldu get there other than the way i travelled , up from malaysia