Betong Mongkhonrit Tunnel

The Betong Mongkhonrit Tunnel was Thailand’s first mountain road tunnel — a 268-metre curved passage bored through a hillside to link the centre of Betong, in the far-southern province of Yala, with its newer south-eastern districts. Opened on 1 January 2001 and named after a provincial governor, it quickly became one of the town’s signature landmarks, as much a sight to walk or drive through as a piece of everyday infrastructure.

The reinforced-concrete tunnel sweeps in a gentle arc, its walls lined with perforated aluminium panels cut with motifs of Betong’s own attractions, and at night it is washed in colourful lighting that draws couples and photographers. It is short enough to stroll through, and the cool, echoing interior is a brief escape from the heat outside. Don’t confuse it with the nearby Piyamit Tunnel — a separate, hand-dug network from the 1970s used as a hideout during the communist insurgency, and a different attraction on the edge of town.

Reaching Betong means a journey to the southernmost tip of Thailand, near the Malaysian border, and the tunnel sits right in the town centre, easy to combine with the clock tower, the sea-of-mist viewpoints and the area’s other sights. It is free and open to both traffic and pedestrians; visit in the evening to see it lit, or any time of day as a quick, quirky stop on a tour of the town.

Watch out: Betong is a settled, well-visited border town and distinct from the higher-risk rural districts elsewhere in Yala, Pattani, and Narathiwat — but check current government travel advisories before the trip and avoid remote roads after dark, as you would anywhere in the deep south.

The tunnel sits in central Betong, a short walk from the clock tower and the town’s main market streets, making it an easy stop on foot rather than a special detour.