A border run (visa run) is a one-day round trip from Koh Samui to the Malaysian border in Satun province. You exit Thailand at the Khuan Don checkpoint, receive a fresh 60-day stamp on the way back in and return to Samui the same evening — legally renewing your permission to stay without flying abroad.
The trip runs four days per week — Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday — and starts from 4,500 THB, covering the trip and the new 60-day stamp. The exact amount is confirmed after we look at your case. Transport, ferries and coordination are on us; you bring your passport and a little patience for the early start. Children under 14 travel free; from 14, the full adult fare applies.
The day, hour by hour
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 03:30–04:15 | Pickup along the ring road — usually the nearest 7-Eleven, sometimes your hotel, occasionally your door |
| 05:00 | Ferry from Nathon Pier to Donsak Pier on the mainland |
| 06:45 | Minivan from Donsak towards the Malaysian border |
| 10:30 | Lunch break (meal not included) |
| 12:00 | Arrival at the Khuan Don border — exit Thailand, get the new stamp |
| 13:00 | Departure back towards Donsak (arrival around 17:30) |
| 18:00 | Ferry from Donsak to Koh Samui (arrival around 19:30) |
| 19:30–20:30 | Minivan transfer back to your pickup point |
What’s included
- Pickup and drop-off along the ring road — usually from the nearest 7-Eleven, sometimes from your hotel, occasionally from your door
- Ferry tickets both ways and all minivan transfers
- Coordination at the border and help with the formalities
- The new 60-day entry stamp
- Reminders about what to prepare before the trip (including your TDAC)
What you’ll need
- A passport valid for at least 6 months with free pages, plus cash for the trip — no photographs needed
- A completed TDAC (Thailand Digital Arrival Card) — the digital arrival form at tdac.immigration.go.th. It can be submitted within 3 days before arrival, takes about 5 minutes and is free. We’ll remind you when it’s time and help if you get stuck.
- Documents depending on your nationality and entry history — we tell you exactly what to bring when you book
What you get at the border
| Nationality | What you get |
|---|---|
| Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan | 60-day visa exemption on entry, extendable once by 30 days at a Thai immigration office — 90 days maximum per entry |
| Belarus | Not on the exemption list — a 15-day Visa on Arrival: single entry, applied for in person at the checkpoint, and paid. It is not a free automatic stamp |
Travelling on a Belarusian passport? Budget for 15 days, not 60 — and bring cash for the visa fee at the checkpoint.
Why people ride with us
- DTV — 180 days per entry, one +180-day extension at a Thai immigration office (up to 360 days total); leave and re-enter and you get a fresh 180 days, no new visa needed.
- Tourist visa (TR / METV) — 60 days per entry, one +30-day extension, 90 days maximum; on a multiple-entry visa, each new entry starts a fresh 60 days.
That fresh clock is what a border run buys you.
Good to know
Since November 2025, Thai immigration screens repeat visa-free entries at every checkpoint — airports and land borders alike; entering visa-free more than twice without an explainable reason may get you refused entry. Which stamp you receive also depends on your passport, so we check your specific case before confirming a seat. If a border run won’t work for you, we’ll say so honestly and suggest an alternative.
Pickup is along the ring road. A minivan can’t drive up into the hills — low ground clearance — so if you’re staying up the hill, we’ll agree a reachable pickup point with you in advance. Along the way the minivan also stops at 7-Eleven, and there’s a market at the border.
Changing the date of your border run is free, with no conditions — just let us know. We don’t offer refunds.
Seats for the nearest dates: message us and we’ll confirm availability right away. Prefer your own schedule and a premium car? See the private VIP border run.