Thailand borders on some wild and dangerous places: travel in these areas can be hazardous. On some parts of the Cambodia and Laos borders there is a high risk of mosquito-borne infection, and a significant danger from land mines and unexploded munitions left over from the Vietnam and Cambodian wars.

Much of the Burmese side of the border is also mined, either by the Burmese military or by one or other of the anti-government armies. On May 05, 2006, The Bangkok Post reported that a surveyor for EGAT (the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand) lost a leg after stepping on a land mine on the Burmese side of the border: he had been working on a feasibility study for the Salween Hydro project.

There are also periodic outbreaks of fighting between the Burmese army and the KNLA (Karen National Liberation Army), Shan State Army, and other rebel groups, which sometimes spills over the border. As recently as February 2001, at least one mortar shell and many atray bullets hit Mae Sai from the Burma side of the border.

Malaria and Dengue Fever are endemic in many areas bordering Burma from Mae Sai in the north to Ranong in the south, where Burma and Thailand meet on the Andaman Sea.

Until recently the southern border (with Malaysia) was a pleasant and safe area for travellers. Sadly this is no longer the case; since January 2004, the far southern provinces of Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat have suffered from separatist violence, with regular bombings and shootings. These provinces are largely Muslim in population, with historical links to Malaysia and, though many local people consider themselves to be Thai, others would prefer independence from Thailand.

Many western embassies, including the British, have warned against all but essential travel to these provinces and to neighboring Songkla province. Please check with the British or other embassies for latest travel advice.

Though there have been relatively few incidents in Songkla province, on 3 of April 2005 three bombs exploded in this area, one at Had Yai International Airport, one at a hotel and one in a shopping center. Two people were killed and at least 15 seriously injured.

Also, on August 2, 2008 7 bombs exploded in Songkla and Had Yai, with at least 4 people injured.

All train Services to Malaysia & Singapore pass through Had Yai Junction in Songkla province: from there, an easterly line passes through the three troubled provinces mentioned above, a westerly line passes only through Songkla province on the way to the border at Padang Besar.

The Thai Railway system connects to Malaysian Railways at Padang Besar in Songkla Province, and at Sungai Kholok in Narathiwat. Unfortunately, terrorist activity has curtailed tourism to these areas. The westerly route, which crosses the border at Padang Besar, has always been the more popular for western tourists, as it connects through to Penang and Kuala Lumpur, and eventually to Singapore. The Thai and Malaysian immigration points are at the appropriate ends of the station in Padang Besar, so that half the train stops in Malaysia, half in Thailand. Most western nationals get a 90 day visa on arrival in Malaysia.

It is also possible to cross into Malaysia by sea from Satun: take a mini-bus from Had Yai (around 100 Baht) to Thammalung Pier, Satun, and then a ferry to Langkawi. Last time I was there, ferries ran at 9 a.m., 1 p.m., and 4 p.m: check first in Had Yai. A mini-bus stand, opposite the railway station, should have current information.

For road travellers, the nearest crossing to Had Yai is at Sadao, about 1 hour from the city. Buses and mini-buses go to many Malaysian destinations, and at very reasonable prices. Every Had Yai travel agent advertises such services.

Probably the most popular Malaysian destination from Had Yai is Penang Island, one of the old British settlements in Malaysia, with many buildings and street names dating from the Colonial era.

The train for Penang stops at Butterworth railway station, a short walk from the ferry terminal; travellers usually enter Penang on the ferry, seen to the right with the Queen Victoria Clock Tower in the background.

Penang is popular with backpackers going to or from Thailand. Chulia St, Georgetown, just up the hill from the ferry, is lined with backpacker hotels and restaurants. The better quality hotels are also reasonably priced.

There are border crossings to Cambodia at Aranya Prathet at the end of the Eastern Railway line, and at Khlong Yai at the extreme south-eastern tip of Trad province. Visas can be obtained for a 1000 Baht (officially $20.00) at the border or from the embassy in Bangkok. It is sometimes available as an E-Visa . The Aranya Prathet crossing tends to be very busy with Thais trying to visit the Casinos located just over the border, and foreigners taking an easy route to get a new 30 day Thailand visa. The immigration area, both sides of the border, is patrolled by Cambodian touts who seem to have a relationship with Cambodian immigration.

It is, nevertheless, a popular route to Angkor Wat for foreign tourists: mini buses run everyday from Bangkok. From the Cambodian side of the border it is possible to hire a taxi to the capital Phnom Penh or to Siem Reap (for Angkor Wat), quite cheaply - as long as you avoid the taxis near the border. The Casinos operate also as hotels (600-800 Baht per room, per night).

There is also a train service from Bangkok (third class only), but unfortunately, the railway stops on the Thai side a few kilometers short of the border. The track still runs to the border, but is clearly disused: the long wars in recent years have been very destructive to Cambodia's railways. It used to be possible to travel from Bangkok all the way to Phnom Penh, but now the section between the Thai border and Sisophon (48 km east of the border) is unused, probably unusable, and the remaining track and rolling stock are in poor condition.

In 2005 a new border crossing opened at Bahn Laem, south of Aranya Phrathet. It is mainly used by visitors to Thailand, crossing the border to get an extra 30 day Thailand visa, though there is also a small casino at the hotel between the two borders. Mini bus services operate from Bangkok and Pattaya. I am not aware of links from Bahn Laem on into Cambodia.

As of October 1, 2005, the Thai Government has changed the rules on 30 day visas. Now, only 3 consecutive 30-day visas are allowed. See Visa section for more details.

Day trips to Burmese border towns are possible at several places, including:

Mae Sai, the most northerly point in Thailand: from Mae Sai you can walk over a small bridge to the Burmese town of Tachilek. A day pass costs about 250 Baht. The town is not very exciting and restaurant prices have risen to take advantage of the tourist influx. There is a large open market just over the border where you can buy cheap goods mainly from China. Bootleg CD's and DVD's are much in evidence, though recently Thai Immigration has taken to seizing such goods and fining their possessors.

In December 2006 an outbreak of fighting on the Burmese side of the border between the Burmese army and the Shan State Army near Tachilek led to a closure of the border, not for the first time: as recently as 2001, Mae Sai was shelled by the Burmese army, during fighting with the Shans.

For background reading on the Northern and Western border areas, I highly recommend Dr. Christian Goodden's books: Three Pagodas Pass and Around Lan-Na.

Ranong, where western Thailand meets the Andaman sea: ferries connect with the Burmese town of Khaothung (Victoria). A one day pass costs around 250 Baht, I believe.

Mae Sot: it is sometimes possible to cross the border at the Three Pagodas Pass - but check first to make sure that it is open.

A new railway line opened in 2009, linking the Thai Railway system with Bahn Thanaleng, just across the Mekhong river in Laos. Later the line should extend to Vientiane.

The main land route (which also carries the new railway line) is the Friendship Bridge at Nong Khai, about 1 km from the end of the North-Eastern Railway line. These days, buses go all the way from Nong Khai to Vientiane, about 20 km inside Laos. Visas are easily available from the Laos side of the border for $30.00 US or so.

Touts (and tuk tuk drivers) will try to persuade you to use their favorite travel agent to "facilitate" the visa - for an extra $20.00: pay no heed: visa application takes only a few minutes at the border, so doing it yourself saves time and money.

From Chiang Mai, you can take a mini bus and boat to Luang Prabang (see poster to the right), the beautiful historic center of the northern Tai civilisation, but this is not such an easy route and why all those baths?

It is also possible to cross from Ubon Ratchathani to Pak Se in Laos; the border crossing is at Chong Mek, and a Laos visa-on-arrival can be obtained there for 1500 baht (2007).