The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) partnered with Golden Century Tour and Travel Sdn Bhd, a prominent Malaysian tour operator, to launch the “Special Charter Sawasdee Train” package tour.

We gathered at KL Sentral at 10pm to begin what was truly a unique experience on a train journey between Kuala Lumpur and Hat Yai while indulging in a relaxing scenic route…. We got a sleeping berth which came with a pillow, blanket and reasonably comfortable bed and curtains… think hostels… only thing it lacked was power points so be sure to bring extra power banks for your gadgets… and maybe an extra sweater or blanket as it can be a bit cold at night… but I had a comfortable sleep

The train only stopped for a few moments at selected stops to pick up other passengers and a slightly longer stop at the Padang Besar station for immigration processes and checks…

Ms. Thapanee Kiatphaibool, TAT Governor, said “Hat Yai in Songkhla is one of the most popular Thai destinations for Malaysians who can conveniently take a trip from Kuala Lumpur by air, road and rail. TAT, together with local partners, has organised this package tour boost rail tourism from Malaysia to Thailand, in line with the government’s vision to promote Thailand as a tourism hub.”

The “Special Charter Sawasdee Train” embarked on a journey from Kuala Lumpur Sentral Station (KL Sentral) in Malaysia, on July 26 arriving at Hat Yai Junction in Thailand the very next day. This special tour saw about 400 tourists, primarily Malaysians, welcomed with grand celebrations upon arrival.

When we arrived at Hat Yai Junction train station, we were greeted with flower garlands and entertained with lion dances, highlighting Hat Yai’s cultural significance as a center for the Thai-Chinese community in southern Thailand. 

Songkhla Province presented a welcome gift set, and Makro Hat Yai generously provided each tourist with a 400-Baht cash coupon for shopping at its store.

There was also a special dinner hosted for us with delicious food, interesting performances from LED Dragon Dances, Face changing performance, Muay Thai performance and a Cabaret teaser… with plenty of gifts and lucky draws for lucky people…

During this trip, tourists got to enjoy a variety of must-do activities in Hat Yai, culminating in their return to Kuala Lumpur on July 29 aboard the Special Charter Sawasdee Train.

Apart from this special charter, KTM Berhad, the Malaya Railway State enterprise, has planned eight special train trips named “MY Sawasdee” between Kuala Lumpur and Hat Yai this year. These trips are scheduled during Malaysia’s public and school holidays, with each one-way journey taking approximately 11 hours.

Hat Yai, located near the Malaysian border, serves as Songkhla’s commercial and business hub and is the largest city in southern Thailand. Notable attractions include Songkhla Lake, the largest lake in Thailand, the Hat Yai Cable Car offering panoramic views of Songkhla City, the mermaid statue at Samila Beach, various bustling markets and malls, and a diverse array of restaurants reflecting the city’s rich blend of Chinese, Malay, and Thai cultures.

Our trip back to Kuala Lumpur was on Business Class seats which were even more comfortable and came with personal plug points to charge your laptop or phones… so yeah, if you can afford it, do take the Business Class seats!!!

Please take note that there are no children fares or concessions. The one way fare for a 4-day trip to Hat Yai with this special train as below

Tickets are MYR 95 (714 Baht) for regular seats in 2nd class, MYR 119 (894 Baht) for upper berth in the sleeper carriage and MYR 109 (819 Baht) for lower berth in the sleeper carriage. 

Tickets does not include any meals. However there is cafe that is opened throughout the journey serving a variety of hot food such as pre-packed food, snacks, instant noodles and drinks.

Contact Golden Century Tour via its FB: @goldencentury for a similar Special Chartered MySawasdee train trip for a well organised and hassle free trip or get your train tickets through the KTMB Mobile app or KTMB website via  https://online.ktmb.com.my/

Upcoming future trips of the MySawasdee train are:-

• 31 October – 3 November (book from 4 September)
• 29 November – 2 December (book from 4 October)
• 6-9 December (book from 4 November)
• 13-16 December (book from 4 November)
• 23-26 December (book from 4 November)