Bicycle Touring Betong South East Thailand Asia Cycling travel

Raising fund for my Cycling trip. Kindly donate to S. Munusamy Reddie Ac.No. 0850029899349643 Bank Simpanan Nasional

Betong South East Thailand

This is my first bike touring to Betong. It took me 7 days to go and back

The distance from Betong to Butterworth is just over 100 km. Does it mean you can not cycle it in one day? Well, I cycle it both ways in one day but you don't have to. Lets start in Betong

         My son fell down from this small bicycle the day before I start my cycling trip to Betong
           He had a fetched in this left hand and was admitted in hospital. I told my wife I must go
           please take care of him. Sometime to be adventure you have to sacrifices something.

In the morning it's an easy 8 km up to the border, despite the climb. After the border it's another few 8km or so to Pengkalan Hulu. Although you can stay here, it's probably nicer to add a few more kilometers

      With my brother in Kuala Ketil. 80km from Nibong Tebal. It took 2 days, I was slow and stop
        many places. I stop every 10km for a break for half hours.

Butterworth is still over 100 km from the border but it is good to do in one day. You simply follow the descending after the border into Pengkalan Hulu. If you come out of Betong, here in Pengkalan Hulu you can change money, have a breakfast (if you skipped it in Betong) and continue. Going south leads to Gerik, going north and west leads through the hills to Baling.

     At the museum in Betong its all about communist history in Malaysia and Thailand. The picture
       on the right is the hotel room I stay. With my drying cloths.

Take the direction to Baling and from there to Butterworth and Penang. The first few kilometers it's slightly going up. At the highest point you will have a nice view over the surrounding valley and hills after which a 7 km descent to Baling starts. Baling has a few hotels, should you want to stay here. There's some caves and hot springs in the area and it is quite popular during the weekends with local daytrippers.

                My son's farther-in law's house                                              Road to Grik town


                   The border Kedah and Perak                            A nice waterfall on my way to Selama

After Baling it will still be mostly a pleasant and quiet road until Kulim where the road turns into a motorway. About 15 km after Baling, there's a junction which leads to Sungai Petani. This is an even more quiet road. If you have enough time and energy but do not want to visit Sungai Petani, you can follow this road to Kuala Ketil Just after the town, there's a junction leading to Tasek Gelugor (K21, followed by 136, K112 and P112). After Tasek Gelugor follow the road to Butterworth.

                             High way to Grik                                                      Some local Malay boys

I would NOT suggest to get off the road in Kulim to take the old road to Bukit Mertajam, this is a small and very busy road, not worth the effort. The main road from Baling to Butterworth changes at Kulim in a motorway. It's only 20 km or so from the Lunas junction to Butterworth and you will cycle on a motorbike lane, so you're quite safe. It's the least interesting part of this journey.

           Local Malay man showed me direction                             The main town in Betong


           Junction to the tunnel in Betong                                                     Inside the tunnel

Thailand - Laos - Cambodia -Vietnam - Myanmar - Malaysia - S.Thailand - Betong

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