Travel via neighbouring countries | About Thailand | Rough Guides Travel via neighbouring countries Asia » Thailand » Travel via neighbouring countries Sharing land borders with Burma, Laos, Cambodia and Malaysia, Thailand works well as part of many overland itineraries, both across Asia and between Europe and Australia. Bangkok is also one of the major regional flight hubs for Southeast Asia. The main restrictions on overland routes in and out of Thailand are determined by where the permitted land crossings lie and by visas. Details of visa requirements for travel to Thailand’s immediate neighbours are outlined below, but should be double-checked before you travel. All Asian embassies are located in Bangkok (see Gem scams), but waiting times can be shorter at visa-issuing consulates outside the capital: China and India run consulates in Chiang Mai, and Laos and Vietnam have consulates in Khon Kaen. In Bangkok, many Khao San tour agents offer to get your visa for you, but beware: some are reportedly faking the stamps, which could get you into pretty serious trouble, so it’s safer to go to the embassy yourself.

The right paperwork is also crucial if you’re planning to drive your own car or motorbike into Thailand; see the Golden Triangle Rider website (w gt-rider.com ) for advice. Burma There is no overland access from Burma (Myanmar) into Thailand and access in the opposite direction is restricted. Western tourists are only allowed to make limited-distance trips into Burma, usually just for the day, at Thachileik opposite Mae Sai, at Myawaddy near Mae Sot, and at Kaw Thaung (Victoria Point) near Ranong. The crossing at Three Pagodas Pass near Kanchanaburi is currently open only to Thai tourists. At these borders you generally enter Burma on a temporary US$10 (or B500) visa and then get a new fifteen-day visa when returning to Thailand; see relevant accounts for details. Cambodia At the time of writing, six overland crossings on the Thai–Cambodia border are open to non-Thais.

See the relevant town accounts for specific details on all the border crossings; for travellers’ up-to-the-minute experiences, plus an account of the common scam on through-transport from Bangkok to Siem Reap, consult w talesofasia.com/cambodia-overland.htm . Most travellers use either the crossing at Poipet, which has transport connections to Sisophon, Siem Reap and Phnom Penh and lies just across the border from the Thai town of Aranyaprathet, with its transport to Bangkok and, with a change in Sa Kaew, to Chanthaburi; or they follow the route from Sihanoukville in Cambodia via Koh Kong and Hat Lek to Trat, which is near Ko Chang on Thailand’s east coast. The crossings in northeast Thailand include the Chong Chom–O’Smach border pass, near Kap Choeng in Thailand’s Surin province (see Crossing the Cambodian border via Chong Chom), and the Sa Ngam–Choam border in Si Saket province; from both these borders there’s transport to Anlong Veng and Siem Reap. There are also two crossings in Chanthaburi province, with transport to and from Pailin in Cambodia.

Thirty-day tourist visas for Cambodia are issued to travellers on arrival at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap airports, and at all the above-listed land borders; you need US$20 and one photo for this. If you want to buy an advance thirty-day visa, you can do so online at w mfaic.gov.kh/evisa which takes three working days and costs US$25; these “e-visas” can only be used at the international airports and at Poipet and Ko Kong land borders, but might help you to avoid the more excessive scams at the land borders. Laos and Vietnam There are five main points along the Lao border where tourists can cross into Thailand: Houayxai (for Chiang Khong); Vientiane (for Nong Khai); Khammouan (aka Thakhek, for Nakhon Phanom); Savannakhet (for Mukdahan); and Pakse (for Chong Mek). All these borders can also be used as exits into Laos; see relevant town account for transport details. Visas are required for all non-Thai visitors to Laos.

A thirty-day visa on arrival can be bought for US$30–42 (depending on your nationality), plus one photo, at Vientiane, Luang Prabang and Pakse airports, and all the above-listed land borders. Or you can buy one in advance from either the Lao Embassy in Bangkok or the Lao Consulate in Khon Kaen for about the same fee. It’s possible to travel from Vietnam to Thailand via Savannakhet on the Lao–Thai border in a matter of hours; you’ll need to use Vietnam’s Lao Bao border crossing, west of Dong Ha, where you can catch a bus to Savannakhet and then another bus across the Mekong bridge to Mukdahan. All travellers into Vietnam need to buy a visa in advance. Thirty-day visas can take up to four working days to process at the embassy in Bangkok and cost from around B1000, depending on nationality (much more for same- or next-day processing); processing is usually quicker at the Vietnamese consulate in Khon Kaen.

Malaysia and Singapore Travelling between Thailand and Malaysia and Singapore has in the past been a straightforward and very commonly used overland route, with plentiful connections by bus, minibus, share-taxi and train, most of them routed through the southern Thai city and transport hub of Hat Yai. However, because of the ongoing violence in Thailand’s deep south (see Trang town), all major Western governments are currently advising people not to travel to or through Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat provinces, unless essential (and consequently most insurance companies are not covering travel there). This encompasses Hat Yai and the following border crossings to and from Malaysia: at Padang Besar, on the main rail line connecting Butterworth in Malaysia (and, ultimately, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore) with Hat Yai and Bangkok; at Sungai Kolok, terminus of a railway line from Hat Yai and Bangkok, and at adjacent Ban Taba, both of which are connected by road to nearby Kota Bharu in Malaysia; and at the road crossings at Sadao, south of Hat Yai, and at Betong, south of Yala.

(The routes towards Kota Bharu and Betong pass through particularly volatile territory, with martial law declared in Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat provinces; however, martial law is not in effect in Hat Yai itself.) Nevertheless, the provinces of Trang and Satun on the west coast are not affected, and it’s still perfectly possible to travel overland via Satun: by ferry between Satun’s Thammalang pier and Kuala Perlis or the island of Langkawi, or overland between Ban Khuan and Kangar; or by boat between Ko Lipe and Langkawi (see Getting around). For up-to-the-minute advice, consult your government travel advisory. Most Western tourists can spend thirty days in Malaysia and fourteen days in Singapore without having bought a visa beforehand, and there are useful Thai embassies or consulates in Kuala Lumpur, Kota Bharu, Penang and Singapore (see Border runs, extensions and re-entry permits). Essentials Singapore Borders Singapore Travel » Information Singapore » Singapore Borders Singapore Borders The Johor Strait separates Singapore's borders from Malaysia, its closest neighbor. Singapore enjoys civil relations with its neighbor, although a few rifts were observed since Singapore's independence in 1965.

Singapore has been expanding its borders by dumping sand into the sea and reclaiming land to carry out its development projects. In 2002, the Malaysian government expressed its displeasure when Singapore continued its land reclamation project and environmentalists from Malaysia and Indonesia warned that these projects could cause changes in tidal patterns and vulnerable ecosystems and fishing villages. Malaysia also alleged that Singapore was trying to get too close to its borders and affect the shipping potential of southern Malaysia. Singapore is the most developed country in the Asia Pacific region and superior to its other neighbors Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand. But it maintains cordial relations with all Asian countries and also plays an active role in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Singapore is also helping the new members of the Association of ASEAN in public management and English, and in granting fellowships to a good number of ASEAN students to study at the nation's universities. As Singapore is a global hi tech hub and has numerous multinational companies operating on its shores, the country also attracts labors from other parts of Asia. Other ASEAN members include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

Singapore Map / Geography of Singapore / Map of Singapore - Worldatlas.com Print this map This strategic island called Singapore was first inhabited by regional fishermen and pirates, and later became part of the Sumatran Empire of Srivijaya. During the 14th century, Singapore became involved in a struggle between Siam (present-day Thailand ) and the Majapahit Empire as they fought for control of the Malay Peninsula. Defeated by the Majapahits, Singapore fell under their rule for several years, before being seized by Portugal in the early 1500s. In the aftermath of the Portuguese invasion, Singapore was driven into obscurity for nearly two centuries. In 1819 it was transformed into a British trading colony as well as the site of one of Britain's most important naval bases. In 1826, Singapore was grouped with Penang and Malacca to form the Straits Settlements, a crown colony governed by the British East India Company. In spite of its importance within the region, the administration of the island was greatly understaffed, and there was little concern with the welfare of Singapore's citizens.

Within a few decades of the mid-1800s the population quadrupled, and with limited access to public services (including health care and education) the nature of society grew chaotic. The Straits Settlements were split into separate Crown Colonies by the British government in April 1867, and the new colonial government moved to address Singapore's social problems. In the early 1900s, Singapore and much of Southeast Asia were spared the effects of World War I. However, the British government set its sights on building a naval base in Singapore to deter the ever-expanding Japanese Empire . Upon its completion in 1939, the naval base became the largest dry dock and the third-largest floating dock in the world. As World War II raged on through the early 1940s, Singapore suffered daily air raids, and, despite their best efforts, the British troops eventually surrendered the island to Japan , making it the largest surrender in British -led forces history. Harsh measures were imposed during Japan's occupation, and after the war's end, Singapore fell into a brief period of unrest.

The British returned to Singapore in 1945, however, due to their failure to defend the country, their reputation as acceptable leaders in the eyes of the people was greatly destroyed. The Straits Settlements dissolved in 1946, and Singapore moved forward in establishing a new government. For a brief time in 1963, Singapore and the states of Sabah and Sarawak joined the Peninsular Malaysia Federation; however, Singapore left in 1965 to become a separate nation. Following its independence, Singapore set out to establish itself as a more modern region, and within a couple of decades grew into one of the world's most prosperous nations. This modern economic powerhouse's seaport is one of the busiest in the world; in addition, Singapore has become a major worldwide banking, shipbuilding and petroleum center. Within the last few decades, this melting pot of cultures has moved on to the "A List" for international travelers, and is today one of the most sophisticated tourist destinations on the planet. A bridge and causeway connect Singapore to the Malaysia mainland. Due to the aggressive current patterns of the Strait of Singapore, there are much needed and on-going land reclamation projects.

See Also Warning about Singapore Malaysia land border crossing - Singapore Forum - TripAdvisor Warning about Singapore Malaysia land border crossing - Singapore Forum Review a place you’ve visited JOIN Which Singapore hotels are on sale? mm/dd/yyyy mm/dd/yyyy Warning about Singapore Malaysia land border crossing Jan 01, 2013, 4:13 AM After quite literally hundreds of times entering Singapore, I nearly got into trouble today and want to share with other travellers something that was very un-typically Singaporean: that is the absolute abomination that is Tuas Immigration and Customs checkpoint. We have often caught the bus from Malaysia to Singapore before; from either KL or Melaka. Sometimes it’s very busy at the Tuas customs and immigration border and sometimes it’s not; today was horribly busy. First let me assure you that exiting from the Malaysian side is a piece of cake. You don’t even have to take your stuff off the bus, you just hop off, get your passport stamped and walk through and get back on the bus. It’s a simple place, it looks a bit grotty but works really well. Then you drive for a while and get to Singapore.

Quite unlike the Malaysian side there’s this enormous impressive looking building, but what happens inside is chaos. It’s so unlike what you might have experienced entering Singapore before (e.g., Changi airport, Harbourside Cruise terminal) as to be like another country, no make that like another planet. There are no trolleys – so if you have been travelling for a while and have heavy luggage, tough luck you have to somehow drag it yourself. There are quite a few lanes for Singaporeans, which is fine; it’s their country. Then there are fewer lanes for foreigners, and each one is massive and feeds to one – not two like at Changi airport – but only one person who is stamping passports. They somehow don’t have the same attitude as at Changi either: lazy, tired looking. Probably comes from working the stuffy environment at Tuas where the air-conditioning doesn’t work at all, or else is not effective. Once you get to this stage, be VERY careful. If you look up above the heads of the passport lines you will see two central lines that say “GOODS TO DECLARE” in red, and the rest in green for nothing to declare.

Don’t think, as we did, that the exact alignment of these signs with the queues means anything. Even though we knew we had alcohol to declare and joined the queue in front of the red sign, it did not matter and eventually counted for nothing. Once you clear immigration, you are corralled into another queue defined by some green metal expanding barriers. There is a VERY small sign about declaring things in red in between the baggage scanners and in front of it is a tiny bell that you are supposed to ring if you have goods to declare, although it doesn’t tell you to do that (I kid you not). We headed for the baggage scanner next to that sign, and sure enough our cases, once scanned, revealed that they contained two bottles of alcohol. The thing to learn here is that alcohol is NOT DUTY FREE FROM MALAYSIA when you enter Singapore, and it doesn’t matter where you bought it (we got ours on an American cruise liner, not in Malaysia as a matter of fact).

If you bring it from Malaysia no matter where you got it, you have to pay duty on it, and the place where you do that is a small winder off to the right hand side of immigration that is not obviously or clearly marked (in that it looks like a small staff office, not somewhere you go to pay something). If you do as we did, and go through the baggage scanner, then it’s too late and you will be treated as a criminal and they will start the process of fining you when they see the alcohol in your case or bag. I believe the fines are quite significant, so please be careful. We didn’t have to pay the fine in the end, because we both carried on long and loud about how we had tried to declare and followed the red lane and still ended up in the wrong place.

They apologised, accepted that we tried to do the right thing and didn’t fine us, but when we got back to our bus after nearly 1.5 hours and holding up the whole bus, our bus captain said it happens all the time, and asked ‘did they tell you that you needed to ring the little bell, the one that’s so small you can’t see’, as indeed they did, AFTER we had passed it. Don’t be the next victim of this mess; be forewarned. Don’t approach the scanners unless you have told someone in uniform that you have alcohol (if indeed you do). The ‘fines’ office was full of Westerners…there is NO SIGN to tell you that the Malaysian border is totally different to every other way of entering Singapore; NOT DUTY FREE and alcohol basically banned unless you want to stop and pay duty. If, like me you have entered Singapore hundreds of times before by other entry points, or from Malaysia but without alcohol, you are in for a nasty experience. Never again for us: any alcohol we might have is going down the sink or being given away before we cross at Tuas in future.

Edited: 4:15 am, January 01, 2013 2 destinations mentioned in this post Singapore to Malaysia Singapore to Malaysia The following subdomains may not be functioning due to server migration Related websites Shop for electronics at wholesale price!! home > Singapore > Singapore to Malaysia SINGAPORE SINGAPORE TO MALAYSIA - Air and Road Travel from Singapore to Malaysia by AIR and ROAD myMalaysiabooks links you to Malaysia and Singapore. Get great tips and advice on how to travel by plane, bus, train or ferry from Singapore to any part of Malaysia and from Malaysia to Singapore. ON THIS PAGE Travel Essentials Singapore-Malaysia Before travelling to Malaysia and Singapore or cross the Malaysia-Singapore border, check visa and custom requirements for both sides of the border. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months and fill in the required departure forms (white card). Warning : Trafficking in illegal drugs carries the mandatory death penalty in Malaysia and Singapore. Thousands of Malaysians and Singaporeans crosses the Singapore-Malaysia border daily, so be prepared for long queues and crowds during public holidays and school holidays, and even the start and end of working hours daily. Book your travel tickets and hotels early!

Air travel tips : Check for $0 or RM0 air fare offered by Malaysia Airlines and Air Asia, during their promotion periods or off peak seasons. Offers are only for online booking - check Airlines flying Malaysia-Singapore Hotel booking tips : Compare rates from multiple websites before booking. Use free hotel search tool available HERE View from Fullerton Hotel, Singapore Ads by our affiliates Border crossings between Singapore and Malaysia The Singapore - Malaysia border checkpoint crossings with customs and immigration: 1. Changi Airport - airlines flying worldwide and from Singapore to Malaysia .# Flights from Singapore flies to KLIA or other international airports in Malaysia. Changi has 3 Terminals currently in operation, i.e. Terminal 1, Terminal 2 and Terminal 3. Website: 2. Selatar Airport - scheduled/chartered flights from Singapore to Tioman island (Malaysia) and Batam (Indonesia). minor crossings 3. Johor-Singapore Causeway link from Woodlands checkpoint (Singapore) to Johor Bahru city, Johor (Malaysia), by road (and rail). A major crossing which is very crowded during morning & evenings (before and after office hours); expect very long queue during public holidays of either countries.

Local buses (SBS and Causeway link bus) use this route. # Flights to Singapore Compare cheap flights to Singapore 4. Second link at Tuas, Singapore - road links to the North-south (PLUS or toll) expressway in Johor - by road; most express coaches/ buses (that travel to major towns in Malaysia) that travel out of JB, travel this route. # 5. Railways - Woodlands (Singapore) to Johore Bahru (Malaysia) railway station you can travel to KL, until Padang Besar and on Thai railways up to Bangkok. # 6. Ferry terminals and checkpoints - from Singapore to JB: Changi Point Ferry Terminal (CPFT) at Lorong Bekukong and Tanah Merah terminal. minor crossing 7. Singapore Cruise Centre, Harbour Front Centre, at Maritime Square - for cruise ships going to Port Klang, Penang, Kuching or Langkawi . minor crossing Note: denoted by # - major crossings used by Malaysians and Singaporeans By Air Fly direct from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur (KL), Penang or Langkawi or East Malaysia and travel to other parts of Malaysia.

Or fly from Johor Bahru (just across the border from Singapore) and connect to other states in Malaysia. Daily flights from KL takes you to other parts of Malaysia (domestic airports) - in West Malaysia and East Malaysia (Sabah and Sarawak). Air tickets purchased in Malaysia may be cheaper compared to that from Singapore, because you pay in the Ringgit (Singapore$1 is around RM2.50). If you travel by Malaysia's budget airline (Air Asia) you may get a much lower fare if you book online before departure. Budget air - Check for flight deals from Air Asia, Tiger Air, Jetstar and Firefly flying from Singapore to KLIA (or LCCT terminal) or other parts of Malaysia! Air asia flies from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur, Singapore to Kuching and Singapore to Kota Kinabalu. more Asian budget airlines HERE Ads from our affilliates Airports in Singapore Changi International Airport , Singapore is where all flights to and from Singapore lands and takes off. There are three (3) terminals (Terminal 1, Terminal 2, Terminal 3) currently in operation, so before flying, check where your airline flies to or from the Changi Airport website.

Website: Selatar Airport Singapore is for scheduled chartered flights. Flights operating at Seletar Airport are by various flying schools. Aircraft charters, repairs and maintenance make up the remaining flights. Transport from Changi airport: Travel by Singapore airport shuttle service , Limousine Taxis, Taxis / Cabs, Car Rentals, Public Buses or Trains (MRT), details at our Singapore transport page Airports in Malaysia Malaysia International Airports: Kuala Lumpur International Airport (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia), Senai Airport (Johor), Penang International Airport (Penang), Kota Kinabalu (Sabah), Kuching (Sarawak), Langkawi Island (Kedah) Malaysia Domestic Airports: Alor Setar (Kedah), Kuantan (Pahang), Kuala Terengganu (Terengganu), Kota Bahru (Kelantan), Kuching (Sarawak), Kota Kinabalu (Sabah), Miri (Sarawak), Sibu (Sarawak), Labuan (East Malaysia), Sandakan (Sabah), Tawau (Sabah).

Kuala Lumpur International Airport , KLIA ( ) is the main Airport located in Kuala Lumpur. The airport consists of the Main terminal Building and a Satellite Building linked by an aerotrain that shuttles every 3 to 5 minutes. INFORMATION COUNTER The Main Terminal Building (MTB) tel: 03-8776 4386 / 4389. The Contact Pier tel: 03-8776 0259; The Satellite Building (SAT) tel: 03-8776 2454 Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCCT) - [IMPORTANT - New Terminal KLIA2 from 9th May2014] The Low Cost Carrier Terminal (LCC terminal) is specifically built near KL International Airport to cater to passengers of the Low Cost Airlines, e.g AirAsia. It is located 20km away from the KLIA Main Terminal Building (MTB). There is a direct, non-stop shuttle from KL Sentral to LCC-T and vice versa.

IMPORTANT NOTICE ON LCCT (2014): All Low cost carrier flights scheduled for LCCT, is expected to move to KLIA 2 on 9th May 2014 For detailed information, refer: Express Train and Bus to and from KLIA Terminals KLIA Express Rail links - - call centre 03-2267 8000 Airport Coach to and from Hentian Duta bus terminal and Chan Sow Lin LRT station- Buses to KLIA picks up passengers at the bus terminal at Jalan Duta, KL. You can also buy tickets here. Tel 03-6203 3067/ 3064. The bus also pick up passengers form Rapid KL LRT (STAR LRT) Station Chan Sow Lin. Buses from KLIA2 terminal to KL Sentral or 1Utama: Bus to/from KL Sentral; You may book online at .

However, there are other bus services operating from klia2 to KL Sentral, at least one every half hour Skybus also offers 8-10 seater van to other destinations in Malayia but booking must be made 3 days in asvanced Airlines flying to Singapore Several airlines fly from Singapore to Kuala Lumpur daily. Major airlines are Malaysia Airlines, Air Asia and Singapore Airlines. Besides KLIA (Kuala Lumpur), these airlines flies to other Malaysian airports - Penang, Kuching, Langkawi, etc. You can buy tickets online from Malaysia Airlines, AirAsia and Singapore Airlines. Malaysia Airlines, Air Asia and Jetstar fly daily the Penang-Singapore Malaysia Airlines MAS contact numbers: MAS 24-hour call centre Tel: 1300 88 3000 (Malaysia), +60 3 7846 3000 (outside Malaysia); Website: You can check-in in Singapore but fly from Johor (Malaysian state adjacent to Singapore). Passengers travelling from Johor can check in at Singapore.

MAS Singapore check-in is at MAS City Terminal Office, Copthorne Orchid Hotel, 214 Dunearn Road, Singapore 299526; Tel: +65 6250 3333. Coach to Senai airport is available here but be sure to book! Singapore: (reservation) Tel: +65 6336 6777, (ticketing) +65 6433 0220. Daily flights to Singapore from: Penang, KLIA(Selangor), Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, and many connecing flights available to Malaysia. AirAsia: Air Asia flies from several international and domestic airports in Malaysia to Singapore. (Details at Malaysia Air Transport ) Check in at the low cost carrier terminal in KLIA, Kuala Lumpur; AirAsia Contact Nos: Within Malaysia 03 8775 4000, Outside Malaysia +603 8660 4343 ; Website: (online booking). Fare is usually cheaper for early purchase online or during promotion.

AirAsia flies not only direct from Singapore to KL (KLIA) but also from Singapore to Kota Kinabalu, Kuching, AirAsia in collaboration with Citylink has launched a shuttle bus service to and from Senai Airport to Singapore, via JB. For details, check - exclusive Sky Shuttle from Singapore to Senai Airport . Daily Flights from Singapore to: to Kuala Lumpur (KLIA), Penang, Kota Kinabalu (Sabah), Kuching (Sarawak) , Kuala Terengganu, Langkawi, Kota Bahru, Miri, etc. Singapore Airlines: You can fly with SIA daily to any of Malaysia's International Airports (see above). The most popular route is the Singapore to Penang service. Book early especially during the Malaysia - Singapore school holidays.

Website: ; Contact nos: Singapore- +65 6223 8888 (24 hours call centre); Kuala Lumpur - 603-8776 6425 (airport) 603-2692 3122 (reservations) Daily Flights from Singapore to: KLIA, Penang, Kota Kinabalu, Kuching Firefly (Malaysia, Penang) KL Tel: 03-7845 4543; Penang 04 217 6321 Fire Fly flies to Singapore from KL Subang , Kota Baru, Alor Setar, Ipoh, Kuala Terengganu, Kuantan, Malacca, Tawau, Miri Tiger Airways (Singapore) Tel: +65 653-TIGER ; +65 653-84437 - also flies from Singapore to Penang & KL Silk Air (Singapore) Tel : (65) 6223 8888 (24 Hours) Scoot Air Singapore (NEW 2012) - new budget air of Singapore - currently

 may not be flying into Malaysia.

Where Scoot Flies: JetStar : Flies to Penang and KLCC, Malaysia Other airlines: Budget airlines such as Air Asia, Berjaya Airways, Jetstar, Tiger Airways (Singapore), Silk Air (Singapore) flies to some of the island destinations of Malaysia such as Langkawi island and Tioman island. International airlines such as Thai international, Xiamen Airways, etc also fly from Singapore to Malaysia. Small airports in East Malaysia are served by MASWings and Batavia Air (from Indonesia). Booking tips: Before booking your flight, check flight offers and compare air prices for flights to and from Singapore from online flight booking website and airlines: Flying from Johor (Senai Airport, Malaysia) Johor is just adjacent to Singapore and many Malaysians go to Singapore by flying to Johor, then cross over to Singapore by road (linked by the causeway to Singapore). This is because flights between Malaysian airports are usually cheaper. In Johore, you can also fly to other parts of Malaysia on Malaysia Airlines (MAS), Fire Fly or AirAsia. For MAS you can check-in at Senai Airport or at their Singapore office (be there at least 3-4 hours before flying time).

Beware: The causeway may be jammed at certain times of the day when workers travel to and from work and on public holidays. To fly by budget airline such as AirAsia or FireFly (low cost airline by MAS), you have to check-in at the Senai airport in Johor --- catch the airport coach at the Johor Bahru city bus terminal (Terminal Sentral Kotaraya) at least 2 hours before flying. If you travel from Singapore start 3-4 hrs from there. Take note! the airport coaches from the city makes very few trips! But you can take a taxi to the Senai airport from Singapore or from the Johor city bus terminal (Kotaraya Terminal, Johor Bahru).

Fare from Singapore to Kotaraya Bus Terminal Johor Bahru - S$40 - S$50 Fare from Senai International Airport to Singapore - RM80 to RM180 Fare from Sentral Kotaraya Bus Terminal, JB to Singapore - Singapore$40-60 Fare from Senai Airport to Malaysia Custom at causeway or JB town - RM30-40 BUS OR COACH Local Buses to JB, Malaysia - There are many buses plying the route Malaysia-Singapore daily through Johor . Singapore Bus Service (SBS) buses and the Malaysian Causeway Link Yellow buses is available almost every 15 minutes. These buses takes you across the causeway to Johor Bahru (JB) city centre or to the Larkin Bus Terminal, Johor. Express buses to JB or major towns in Peninsular Malaysia - Express buses or coaches from Singapore to Malaysia are available from tour companies located at Golden Mile complex, Singapore or from express bus companies located at Lavender Street bus terminal (and one at Novena MRT). At Lavender street there are several bus services. There is a bus every hourly to Melaka (Malacca) and several buse services per day going to Kuala Lumpur.

There are buses going right up to Alor Star daily (from there you can also travel to Langkawi ). Go to Larkin Bus Terminal in Johore Bahru if you want to have more choices of express buses or coaches that go to all parts of major towns in peninsular Malaysia. (Be aware that you many not be able to get bus tickets easily during school holidays or public holidays - book ahead) Express coaches in Malaysia normally stop at JB, Melaka, Seremban, KL, Ipoh, Butterworth, Penang, Sungai Petani and Alor Setar. Advise: be sure to book your bus tickets weeks before the school holidays! Bus Terminals in Singapore Bus terminal for local Singapore-Malaysia yellow bus or SBS buses - Kranji MRT/ Woodlands/ Jurong East interchange. Bus terminal for express buses or coach (intercity Singapore and Malaysia buses) - Golden Mile and Lavender Street bus terminal. To JB, Malaysia, see below. Bus Terminals in Johor Bahru (JB) There are two major bus terminals in JB. The Larkin Bus Terminal, has express coaches that takes you to all major towns in West Malaysia and some local buses to other parts of Johor.

Other local buses (buses travelling within the state) picks up passengers at JB Kotaraya Sentral (City terminal/ JB Sentral). Bus routes usually cover the entire state. The Singapore SBS bus that also operates the Johor-Singapore route starts from the Larkin terminal, but you can also board at the CIQ terminal (JB Customs terminal) at Johor Bahru. The major operator is the Causeway link bus that operates from Larkin Terminal, JB customs, and other locations to Singapore (Kranji, Newton Circus, Jurong East, etc) - for details check: Singapore Singapore Official name: Republic of Singapore Area: 648 square kilometers (250 square miles) Highest point on mainland: Bukit Timah (166 meters/545 feet) Lowest point on land: Sea level Hemispheres: Northern and Eastern P.M.

= noon GMT Longest distances: 42 kilometers (26 miles) from east-northeast to west-southwest; 23 kilometers (14 miles) from south-southeast to north-northwest Land boundaries: None Coastline: 193 kilometers (120 miles) Territorial sea limits: 5.6 kilometers (3 nautical miles) 1 LOCATION AND SIZE The Republic of Singapore consists of a main island and sixty-three islets just south of the tip of the Malay Peninsula in Southeast Asia. Singapore, the second smallest country in Asia, is often described as a city-state. The diamond-shaped main island, which accounts for all but about 38 square kilometers (15 square miles) of the republic's area, is almost entirely urban. With a total area of 648 square kilometers (250 square miles), Singapore is nearly 3.5 times the size of Washington, D.C. 2 TERRITORIES AND DEPENDENCIES Singapore has no territories or dependencies. 3 CLIMATE Singapore has a humid, rainy, tropical climate, with temperatures moderated by the seas surrounding the islands.

Temperatures are nearly uniform throughout the year, averaging 25°C (77°F) in January and 27°C (81°F) in June. Although the island lies between 1 and 2 degrees north of the equator, the maritime influences moderate the heat of the region. The highest temperature ever recorded in Singapore is only 36°C (97°F). Singapore is very humid, with heavy rainfall all year. Annual rainfall averages 237 centimeters (93 inches). The northeast monsoon that occurs between November and March brings the heaviest rainfall of the year. 4 TOPOGRAPHIC REGIONS The main island has three major geographic divisions: an elevated, hilly area in the center; a section of lower, rolling land to the west; and flatlands to the east. Singapore's smaller islands are low-lying with coastal beaches. 5 OCEANS AND SEAS Singapore is located between the Indian Ocean and the South China Sea. Seacoast and Undersea Features The coastal waters surrounding Singapore are generally less than 30 meters (100 feet) deep.

Sea Inlets and Straits Singapore is bordered on the north by the Johore Strait, which separates it from the Malay Peninsula, on the southeast by the Singapore Strait, and on the southwest by the Strait of Malacca. Islands and Archipelagos After Singapore Island, the next-largest island in the country is Pulau Tekong Besar to the northeast, with an area of only 18 square kilometers (7 square miles). Coastal Features The easternmost part of the coastline is smooth, but the rest has many indentations; the most important of these is the deep natural harbor at the mouth of the Singapore River on the southern coast. 6 INLAND LAKES Singapore has no significant natural lakes, but it has fourteen artificial bodies of water that were created by the construction of reservoirs. 7 RIVERS AND WATERFALLS Singapore's rivers are all short, including its main river, which has the same name as the island itself. The Singapore River flows into the wide harbor on the island's southeastern coast. Other rivers include the Seletar (at 14 Singapore's kilometers/9 miles, the longest on the island), Jurong, Kalang, Kranji, and Serangoon.

8 DESERTS There are no deserts in Singapore. 9 FLAT AND ROLLING TERRAIN Aside from Bukit Timah Hill, the main island's highest point, Singapore's central hills include Mandai and Panjang. Lower ridges extend northwest-to-southeast in the western and southern parts of the island. 10 MOUNTAINS AND VOLCANOES The highest land on Singapore is a ridge of rugged hills in the center of the island. The highest is Bukit Timah Hill, at 165 meters (545 feet). 11 CANYONS AND CAVES Singapore has no significant caves or canyons. 12 PLATEAUS AND MONOLITHS The eastern part of the main island is a low, eroded plateau. 13 MAN-MADE FEATURES The Johore Causeway, built in the 1920s, is fewer than 3 kilometers (1 mile) long. It bridges the Johore Strait, connecting Singapore to the Malaysian state of Johore. A second causeway opened in 1999.

Land reclamation has added almost 15 square kilometers (6 square miles) to Singapore's total territory since 1966, mostly along the southeast coast, including reclamation on nearby islands. Fourteen reservoirs have been built on Singapore's rivers for flood control as well as for private and industrial water use. Almost all the reservoirs are located in the center of the island or at the mouths of rivers on the northeastern or western coasts. Among the largest are Seretar and Upper Pierce, both of which are situated in the center of the island. 14 FURTHER READING Fuller, Barbara. Berlitz: Discover Singapore . Oxford, England: Berlitz Publishing, 1993. Rowthorn, Chris, et al. Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei . Oakland, CA: Lonely Planet, 1999. Singapore and Malaysia. Knopf Guides. New York: Knopf, 1996. Warren, William. Singapore, City of Gardens. Hong Kong: Periplus Editions, 2000.

Web Sites Singapore to Malaysia overland train, immigration and passport details Singapore to Kuala Lumpur Malaysia train schedule 2013 Departing Singapore (Woodlands) 08:30 Arriving Kuala Lumpur 15:50 Departing Singapore (Woodlands) 14:00 Arriving Kuala Lumpur 22:00 Departing Singapore (Woodlands) 23:30 Arriving Kuala Lumpur 07:30 Note the train can be anywhere between 30 mins to 2 hours late Kuala Lumpur Malaysia to Singapore (Woodlands) train schedule 2013 Departing Kuala Lumpur at 08:30 Arriving Singapore (Woodlands) at 16:30 Departing Kuala Lumpur at 14:00 Arriving Singapore (Woodlands) at 22:00 Departing Kuala Lumpur at 22:30 Arriving Singapore (Woodlands) at 07:00 Note the train can be anywhere between 30 mins to 2 hours late Here is a link to the offical KTM Intercity train timetable from July 2013 (pdf) How to get from Woodlands railway station to Singapore city information 2

013 Coming from Malaysia via train you will depart at Woodlands and go through immigration (all passports are now stamped).

Once through you now need to a bus that will take you to Woodlands MRT station which is linked to the rest of Singapore’s MRT network. Buses 178, 903, 911, 912 & 913, 950 all go to Woodlands MRT station. The journey time is about 10-15 minutes. Buses 178, 911, 912 & 913 have shorter times at a cost of S$0.69. The other buses can cost up to S$1.10 Bus number 170 goes straight to Queen Street terminal which is near Bugis and Little India however factor in traffic with the time of your arrival. At the MRT station a ticket will cost you S$1.10 – S$2.30 depending on your station. Do consider a EZ-Link card at the MRT station if you plan on making multiple MRT rides. Total journey time should be around 60-70 minutes which includes average immigration, bus and MRT times.

A taxi will cost approx S$30-35 from downtown Singapore to Woodlands train station. Change some money either before arriving or departing Singapore as there’s no money changer at the station. Immigration procedure from Singapore to Malaysia by train in 2011 (note: all passports since July 1st 2011 are now stamped) Departing Malaysia after not getting a stamp on your passport At about 22.15 an official will gently whisper that immigration is open inside the station. You might miss it if not for the slow-moving crowd. Locate the official in said crowd and ask for a departure card. This is now as important as your passport (more later). The official will then randomly shout “Ten minutes to boarding!” At which time you will see a few tourists start to panic and cause all sorts of commotion as they fumble for passports and pens to fill out their forms. Fill the form and proceed to one of three medium-sized queues. Wait your turn and approach a sentry point, hand over your passport to a smiling official. Then watch as they roughly flick through your passport for no reason other than for the sake of it.

Then, watch as they stamp your immigration card, and hand you a passport without stamping in any evidence whatsoever that you have entered into Malaysia. Leave without questioning. Or stand around and watch some overly prepared “smart” tourist get into a fuss over this and demand their right for a stamp while leafing through their guide book in a mild panic. Welcome to Malaysia, you are now entering Singapore?? All aboard the train, you will wait until 22.30 for a thirty minute ride to Woodlands. This is the new, official, train-station for the Malaysia / Singapore border via train. Depart train quickly to avoid the mass of people. Queue for a Singaporean exit stamp in your passport. Get a happy goodbye smile from the official and then turn to the waiting lounge. Sit and wait for 30 minutes for everyone else. When the doors open, let the crowds run first. Seats, and beds on the trains are allocated so there’s no rush! Congratulations you have now entered Malaysia again but got no stamp to prove it after leaving Singapore and Malaysia just 30 minutes ago. Next stop, Kuala Lumpur.

How to leave Malaysia when you have no entry stamp on your passport Inside the Singapore to Malaysia sleeper carriage I will admit to briefly mentioning to a young North American couple if they got a 90 day entry stamp or not? Only to watch them flick through their passports over and over again, before comparing each others and then start to panic. Sorry, slow night, and I explained it to them after a few minutes with a nice German who was laughing too. Always, always check your entry stamps immediately after getting stamped into a new country. Especially, when traveling overland The key to all this is that white departure card. This is what you must keep to show the immigration officials when you depart Malaysia. Along with your train ticket as a secondary measure. There have been problems at the border when people have lost their cards and not realised they had no stamp in their passport. So make sure you don’t lose it. The future of overland train crossings from Singapore to Malaysia All this will be irrelevant come July 1st 2011 when the official train border will be at woodlands. I believe the same schedule will exist. If not, I will update it here. However, for me, I enjoyed this journey.

It wasn’t about the travel part this time. It was about the last of an old overland border train. The last of the “secret” long-term visa runs. And, for the third time for me to be in a country with no passport stamp of proof. The first was Tibet , and then China . It’s these little things that make overland travel so much fun when done this way. Meanwhile, I have no Malaysian stamp on my passport, and I hope not to lose my white immigration card. I’m traveling fast, with a lot to do, I only hope I can get out again! Planning on booking a hotel room in Singapore? Looking for the best rates? I recommend you try my own search network for the best rates guaranteed. Some notes about this travel blog Travel Blog Content Travel Blog : It's a blog / journal & not like the rest of the site - so do explore the rest of the website via the top menu to find everything from helpful information to travel guides! Blog journals are not always live as they happen. I want to document in writing & photography what's happening to me and this journey as a whole. I don't have access to 24/7 internet nor work behind a stationary media desk.

And, when I do get online it's not all about writing here. Twitter is a good place to see my live updates. I have to factor many things into this journey, as such, time and finances to process photos, locate internet, upload and write on the road is prioritized. I do it whenever I can, and as fast as I can. Please take that into account. You might find this Travel Blog a little different to most. A lot of what goes on here is the raw reality of life. Lots more in my about section. Everything here is written by me. Anything I review here has been bought or paid for by me with no exceptions. Rest assured that what you get here is 100% upfront and honest. If I have not written anything here or updated my status on twitter in over two weeks then someone might like to call the police in said country. I joke not. This is real life folks and I'm living it here! If you have met me en route, please don't take offense if your name is not mentioned in my travel blog/journal. As mentioned it started off as a personal journal and will hopefully continue on like that.

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Question: Which country borders Singapore (via bridges)?
Answer: Malaysia