2025 Thailand Route 12 Trip

“Before anything else, preparation is the key to success...” – Alexander Graham Bell

We will be on a 17-day road trip. The main part of the trip is to cover the whole length of the 710 km newly extended Route 12.

Route 12 or Asean Highway 12 is a part of the East-West Economic Corridor (EWEC), a route which links four mainland Southeast Asian countries, from Myanmar in the West to Vietnam in the East. The final phase of the expansion of Highway 12 which links Thailand with Myanmar and Laos in Tak and Mukdahan, respectively has been completed.

We will enter Thailand via Bukit Kayu Hitam and will exit via Sungai Golok, visiting the major towns along the routing.

Route 12 itinerary:

(18 April - 7 May 2025)

Day 01: Kuala Lumpur - Hatyai

Day 02: Hatyai - Tha Sae

Day 03: Tha Sae - Kanchanaburi

Day 04: Kanchanaburi

Day 05: Kanchanaburi - Tak

Day 06: Tak - Pitsanulok

Day 07: Pitsanulok - Khon Kaen

Day 08: Khon Kaen - Mukdahan

Day 09: Mukdahan - Nakhon Ratchasima

Day 10: Nakhon Ratchasima - Cha am

Day 11: Cha am - Chumphon

Day 12: Chumphon - Hatyai

Day 13: Hatyai - Pattani

Day 14: Pattani - Kota Bharu

Day 15: Kota Bharu

Day 16: Kota Bharu - Kuala Kangsar

Day 17: Kuala Kangsar - Kuala Lumpur

Route 12: Day 01 - Hatyai

"Logic will get you from A to Z. Imagination will take you everywhere...”

(The start of our Route 12 trip)

Day 01: 18 April 2025 (Friday)
Route: Kuala Lumpur - Hatyai
Distance: 530 km
Hotel: Hatyai Golden Crown Hotel

We had roti canai breakfast at Restoran D'maju. By 8.30 am we started driving northbound and stopped at Petronast Simpang Pulai to refuel.

(A heavy Mamak breakfast)

(A clear sunny day)

Earlier we planned to have an early lunch at Warung Ikan Bawal Kelapa Sawit in Juru. Unfortunately, the queue was long and the seats under the tent was too crowded. As it was near Zohor time, we drove direct to Masjid Muhajirin Seberang Jaya, a short distance away. While hubby performed his Jumaat prayers, I took a light nap in the car.

(Masjid Muhajirin Seberang Jaya)

After, we drove to Ida Mee Udang at Sungai Dua for a late lunch of nasi and mee goreng udang.

(Ida Mee Udang Sungai Dua)

(A late lunch of mee and nasi goreng)

As I was yet to performed my solat, we stopped at Hentian Plaza Toll Hutan kampung for prayers and comfort break.

(Hentian Plaza Toll Hutang Kampung)

We refuelled full tank in Changlun and changed some Ringgit into Bahts. By 5.30 pm we were at the Bukit Kayu Hitam/Sadao border. Malaysian border crossing was smooth eventhough there were many Malaysian cars. At the Thai border, passengers had to get off the vehicle and had their passport checked and stamped at the counters in the Immigration building. There was a long queue at the Custom Clearance counters as there were many Malaysian vehicles entering into Thailand at this time of the day.

(Malaysian Immigration Checkpoint)  

(Thailand Immigration Checkpoint)

Arrived in Hatyai around 7.00 pm Thailand time. Checked in Hatyai Golden Crown Hotel at Rm120/night. Walked to the phone shop to top-up our local Thai sim card. We had murtabak daging for dinner at Khalid Restaurant next door. Later we went for an hour of strong foot massage at Four Season Reflexology. Met a group of eight Malaysian from Segamat having their foot and body massages too. They travelled all the way from Segamat to Padang Besar by ETS.

(Tasty beef murtabak)

(Hatyai Golden Crown Hotel)

After a good refreshing shower, we had a good night sleep to relieve tired muscles.

Route 12: Day 02 - Tha Sae

"Reading, after a certain age, diverts the mind too much from its creative pursuits...” - Albert Einstein

(Deep in thought...)

Day 02: 19 April 2025 (Saturday)

Route: Hatyai - Tha Sae

Distance: 510 km

Hotel: Tha Sae Jumbo House

Woke up at 5.00 am for subuh prayers. Breakfast with nasi dagang and roti canai at Restoran Khaled.

(Two plates of nasi dagang)

(Many varieties of roti)

By 8.00 am we drove out of Hatyai northbound on Highway 4 towards Chumphom. Many stretches of the highway were under major repair.

(The start of major roadworks)

(Road detours were everywhere)

Stopped at Chulabhorn PTT rest area for comfort break and bought some provisions of bread, fruit juices other knick knacks. Bought me a sling bag to add to my collections.

(A brief stop to stretch our legs)

(Bob Marley Rasta/Reggae shop)

For lunch, we had nasi lauk at Restoran Pak Ju, a a Pattani halal eatery at the PTT rest area in Thung Son.

(Our favorite eatery in Thung Son)

Next stop was at a Bangchak Petrol Station in Surat Thani, for jamak prayers at the surau. This surau is quite popular with northbound travellers. The rest area is complete with amenities. There is also a restaurant for coffee and light meals. There is another Bangchak Petrol Station after Surat Thani Airport that has surau and other facilities.

(Restroom and showers next to the surau)

(The surau)

After prayers we drove towards Chumphon and got stuck in a massive traffic jam for almost two hours. The traffic congestion started from Surat Thani to Lang Suan. From three lanes, vesicles were diverted into a single lane for quite a distance. 

(Traffic at a snail pace)

(Comfort break at the Lang Suan rest area)

(The Kangaroo Republic)

Traffic became smoother nearing Chumphon town. Today the traffic was extraordinarily heavy and made worst because of the massive roadworks on Route 4 northbound.

(One of the white elephants at Khun Sarai)

It was already dark when we reached Khun Sarai Foodcourt. There were quite a crowd at the Muslim eatery section. Had omelette rice and spicy mixed soup for dinner.

(Dinner at Khun Sarai Foodcourt)

(The foodcourt was crowded)

(Rice omelette and spicy soup)

By 8.00 pm we arrived at the Tha Sae rest area, 20 km from Khun Sarai and checked in the Jumbo House for RM71/night. After a warm shower, it felt so good to lay flat on the bed and straightened our stressed backs.

(The Tha Sae Jumbo House)

(Our lodging for the night)

Route 12: Day 03 - Kanchanaburi

“Never let the fear of striking out keep you from playing the game...” – Babe Ruth

(A familiar cafe' at a PTT)

Day 03: 20 April 2025 (Sunday)
Route: Tha Sae - Kanchanaburi
Distance: 452 km
Hotel: Kanchanaburi Hop Inn (Rm165)

 
The alarm woke us up at 5.00 am for subuh prayers. As it was still early for breakfast, we recited some pages of the quran. For breakfast, we had half-boiled eggs, bread, fruit juice and coffee.

(A simple breakfast in the room)

(A beautiful serene Koi pond)

By 8.00 am we packed our bags and checked out. This morning we drove northbound towards Kanchaburi via Route 41. The sky was clear and there was less traffic on the road.

(Clear blue sky, a good start for the day)

(A few roadworks along the route)

(The Big Yellow Bird - Prachuap Khiri Khan)

Stopped at a PTT rest area to refuel and comfort break. Bought provions from the 7-eleven and key-chains from the souvenir shop.

(Refuelling full tank at a PTT)

(Driving towards Cha-am)

(Long Live the King)

We had lunch at Muslim Halal Food Chairat, located next to the viral Kedai Makan Abang Mana at the PTT rest area foodcourt in Cha-am. The food was equally tasty and not very pricey. We performed jamak prayers at the surau across the foodcourt.

(Having lunch in Cha-am)

(Tasty nasi goreng and tomyam kung)

(The surau is across the foodcourt)

From Cha-am we drove direct to Kanchanaburi. When we arrived in Kanchanaburi, the Songkran festival is still on going. Along the road, people engaged in a friendly water war where they playfully splash each other with water using buckets, squirt guns, and any other water containers. there were also street celebrations with loud music and street dancing.

(Friendly water war)

(Youngsters splashing waters on each other)

Arrived at our hotel around 5.30 am. Checked-in Hop Inn Hotel for Rm78/night for two nights. We requested to change to another room when the air-condition was not functioning well. Rested in the room until it was time to look for dinner in town.

(Kanchanaburi Hop Inn)

(Clean and spacious room)

We had dinner at 19 Burger stall, a short driving distance from our hotel. The stall sells halal burgers and kebabs. We had beef and lamb burger and french fries. After dinner we had an hour of therapeutic strong foot massage at Kwan Thai Massage on the River Kwai Road.

(A halal burger stall)

(An hour of relaxing foot massage)

(Cannabis Cafè in Kanchanaburi)

Back in the hotel, after a hot shower, we went straight to bed and slept like a log..