MY · Kelantan · 6.17°N 102.17°E

tumpat

The end of the jungle railway, Siamese temples and a picnic at Pantai Sri Tujuh.

Best time
March to September. The north-east monsoon, roughly November to February, brings big waves, heavy rain and floods, and the beach is no place to swim.
How long
1 day
Getting there
Fly from KL to Kota Bharu (about an hour), then drive about 30 minutes. By car from KL it's about 7 hours via Gua Musang.
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MY · Kelantantumpat6.17°N 102.17°Egowherelah.com
Dear group chat,The end of the jungle railway, Siamese temples and a picnic at Pantai Sri Tujuh.— gowherelahTo: whoever’s drivingTumpatMY, Kelantan
KLtumpat
≈ 341 km from KL, as the crow flies
Wat Maisuwankiri, Tumpat, Malaysia

Photo: Photo Dharma from Sadao, Thailand · CC BY 2.0

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Photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each.

The district north-west of Kota Bharu, where the East Coast Line ends and the coast runs up to the Thai border. Many of Kelantan's Siamese villages are here, so a day out mixes gilded temples, kampung roads and a breezy beach.

Makan

  1. Nasi tumpangRice and lauk layered in a cone of banana leaf, a Kelantan breakfast.Map ↗
  2. AkokLittle egg-and-coconut cakes with caramelised edges, from the kuih trays.Map ↗
  3. Ikan bakarGrilled fish with rice and sambal at the coastal stalls.Map ↗

Things to do

  1. Wat MachimmaramA seated Buddha around 30 metres tall rises over the kampung at Jubakar.Map ↗
  2. Wat Mai SuwankhiriKnown as the dragon boat temple, for its shrine built as a dragon-headed boat in a moat.Map ↗
  3. Pantai Sri TujuhA long casuarina-lined beach with lagoons behind it, good for a picnic and the sea breeze.Map ↗
  4. Tumpat stationThe end of KTM's East Coast Line, where the slow trains south through the interior begin.Map ↗
  5. Pengkalan KuborThe border town at the river mouth facing Tak Bai, with stalls of Thai snacks and kain.Map ↗

Good to know

  • Cover shoulders and knees at the temples, and take your shoes off where you see others do.
  • The sights are spread along kampung roads, so you'll want a car.
  • Across the river, Narathiwat has long-running travel advisories. Stick to the Malaysian side.

Last checked October 2026. Things change, so check opening times, fees and transport before you go.