Piyamit Tunnel — Attraction in Yala Province

This is my second time visiting Piyamit Tunnel. Built-in the late 70s, this communist historical site is the nearest to Malaysia. Located north of Betong town, the Piyamit tunnel is only about 16km from Betong clock tower.

Along the journey, you will pass by the Hakka Village and the Betong Hot Spring. The road is very narrow so please be careful when driving. Parking is available but this round I went during low season so less than 10 cars were there so parking is not an issue.

There is a restaurant near the entrance and another stall selling drinks right opposite the ticket counter. The wifi is very strong since no roaming is available so you may attend to all your Facebook posts and message here. DO TAKE NOTE THAT Thai government restrict roaming services in the district of Yala, Narathiwat and Pattani.

The entrance ticket for foreigners is THB55. From the ticket counter, it’s a short walk through the dense jungle to the tunnel entrance. Once you reach there, there will be benches for you to sit to listen to a short history and safety briefing. The speaker will tell you why the communists build this tunnel and how they cook, etc.

After the briefing, you are encouraged to visit the museum (free of charge) just 10 meters away and pay some respect to the Deities there. Once done, you may enter the tunnel via Entrance 3 which is located at the briefing area. There is a total of 9 entrance but for safety purpose, most entrance is closed.

We are told to enter at Entrance 3 and exit at Entrance 1. The tunnel is about 6 feet in height and 5 to 6 feet wide. While some area is just 3 feet wide. It is a spooky feeling especially when you try to walk to the other entrance where it’s dark. The guided path is brightly lit.

I can see some small pipes installed through the reinforced wall for air circulation and it works as if it’s not stuffy or hot in the tunnel.

After you finish the tunnel tour and exit at Entrance 1, you will walk down the concrete path through the jungle and the next stop would be the millennium tree. Photo ops there and then back to the...

Betong's mountainous range was an ideal location to setup a base camp during the era of the now defunct Communist party. Arriving at Piyamit Tunnels gives you a nostalgic feeling about the past, having witnessed first the artefacts on display and the horrendous living conditions one wonders the strong ideological effects on an individual to sacrifice a normal lifestyle and joined such movements. Paying a small fees at the entrance to this trail to see, to experience and to gain a little knowledge about how enterprising this group of people have diligently put in lots of hard work to dig tunnels just to survive. What I enjoyed most during my excavation was the cooling air inside the tunnel that was very refreshing and comforting. The tunnels were well lighted with LED bulbs but you can imagine the life these people were going through during their time. The depth was incredible and they even have various compartments designed to facilitate certain functions of their movement. Planning and organization of the entire camp was well outlined with different escape routes to safety. I should say the flawless prospect to manage such a large movement undetected was indeed an exceptionally superb servitude assignment. Located approximately 16km from Betong town the road leading here is winding but manageable, passing through several villages and the Betong hot spring along the way. We spent some 2 hours mingling through the museum, the camp site and the tunnels overall was educating and entertaining with a few mosquito bites, come prepared with some mosquito repellent to enjoy the outside trails. Finally you have a rare chance to catch a glimpse of the millennium tree and capture some photos for memory. A good walk with a few mosquito bite scratches and an educational outing. Well...

After visiting the Winter Flower Garden, we drove further uphill to explore the historic Piyamit Tunnel — originally built by communist fighters during the insurgency era. The entrance fee is 80 baht for foreigners.

You’ll be greeted by a large, impressive gate. On both sides of the entrance, there are small local eateries (warung makan) where you can grab a bite before or after the visit. As you enter, you’ll first see a statue resembling the goddess Guan Yin on the right, followed by a charming small bridge lined with Chinese zodiac sculptures — a lovely photo spot.

To reach the actual tunnel, we had to hike a forest trail — quite a walk, but peaceful. Along the way, we passed interesting sculptures such as giant mushrooms, tigers, and natural spring water flowing through the rocks. The cool mountain air, the sound of insects, and the surrounding greenery made the walk calming, although it was physically tiring.

Upon reaching the post near the tunnel entrance, we took a short rest. From there, visitors can choose either a longer trail or to walk through the historic tunnel — both paths lead to the same final destination: the Millennial Tree.

The Millennial Tree is truly majestic — huge, tall, and full of presence. We took photos and spent some time admiring its age and size. From there, it took us around 10 more minutes to reach the main exit.

The entire experience was exhausting but very enjoyable. Personally, I managed to overcome my fear of narrow spaces by walking through the tunnel — a meaningful and memorable moment for me.

Definitely worth visiting if you love history, nature, and don't mind a...