Surat Thani to Kuala Lumpur

You need to buy two tickets to travel by train from Surat Thani in Thailand to Kuala Lumpur. The first ticket is for the journey from Surat Thani to Padang Besar in Malaysia. The second ticket is for the journey from Padang Besar to Kuala Lumpur.

Train 1: Surat Thani to Padang Besar

There is currently 1 train a day from Surat Thani to Padang Besar.

• Buy train tickets from Surat Thani to Padang Besar.

• Departure times are in Thai time, which is 1 hour behind Malaysian time.
• Arrival times are in Malaysian time, which is 1 hour ahead of Thai time.

Train 2: Padang Besar to Kuala Lumpur

There are currently 6 trains a day from Padang Besar to Kuala Lumpur.

• Buy train tickets from Padang Besar to Kuala Lumpur.

• All train times are in Malaysian time, which is 1 hour ahead of Thai time.

Location of Surat Thani Station

Read more about Surat Thani Railway Station.

Location of Padang Besar Station

Read more about Padang Besar Railway Station.

Location of Kuala Lumpur Railway Station

Read more about KL Sentral Station.

About Travel to Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is a modern thriving city with a city centre population of approximately 1.8 million and around 7 million people living in the wider metropolitan area. Kuala Lumpur is a popular destination for tourists, particularly Asian tourists who appreciate the excellent amenities the city has to offer such as its wide range of retail outlets, excellent food, and efficient modern public transport system.

History of Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur is a relatively new city, established in 1857 in a location previously inhabited by people working in the local tin mines. Kuala Lumpur is also very much an ‘International City’ with immigrants from India, China, and former colonial ruler Britain playing very important roles in the development of the city from its creation through to modern times. Many of the city’s historical buildings were built by the British Empire or by Kuala Lumpur’s Chinese and Indian communities.

Since independence from Britain in 1957 Kuala Lumpur changed again. In the post independence period the economy of Malaysia modernised and expanded dramatically, as has Kuala Lumpur. Slums have been replaced by parks and shopping centres, and (for better or worse) the ornate architecture of the city’s early years has been replaced by more functional buildings.

Shopping in Kuala Lumpur

The main attraction for visitors to Kuala Lumpur is shopping. The city has around 70 large shopping centres, plenty of markets, and areas with smaller independent retail outlets clustered together. Competition and an accommodating tax regime keep prices low, and the influx of foreign money supports many high value branded stores.

There are many different areas in Kuala Lumpur which are good for shopping. The most famous shopping area, however, is Bukit Bintang to the north east of KL Sentral. Bukit Bintang has the largest and most glamorous of the city’s shopping malls (such as Starhill Plaza and Berjaya Times Square). Bukit Bintang also has three long streets lined with restaurants and bars, all accessible via an elevated walkway.

Cultural Attractions in Kuala Lumpur

There’s a lot more to Kuala Lumpur than shopping malls. There are lots of places in interest to visit right in the city centre, as well as several significant attractions just outside the city centre, such as the impressive and atmospheric Batu Caves and the hilltop Thean Hou Chinese Temple.

To see the city centre’s most significant attractions, visitors need to go to three locations: Merdeka Square, China Town, and the area just to the west of the city’s old main railway station:

• Merdeka Square: Merdeka Square was the main location for government buildings in the city during the period of British rule. The magnificent buildings in and around Merdeka square include the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, the Old High Court, the National Textile Museum, Kuala Lumpur City Gallery, the Royal Selangor Club, and the beautiful Jamek Mosque.
• China Town: China Town is the old commercial centre of the city which is notable for its markets and temples. Petaling Street Market in China Town is a popular place for clothes and souvenir shopping, as well as a great place to eat and drink for affordable prices. China Town also has two of the city’s oldest and most interesting temples, both on the same street. The Guan Di Temple is Kuala Lumpur’s most important Chinese Taoist temple. The nearby Sri Mahamariamman Temple is the city’s most important Hindu temple featuring a 22 metre tall gopuram tower.
• Kuala Lumpur Railway Station: The old main railway station is one of two fantastic Indo-Saracenic style buildings built beside each other. Close to the station is the city’s more modern and very impressive National Mosque, and a series of museums such as the National Museum of Malaysia and the fascinating Islamic Arts Museum Malaysia.

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