Border run from CM.

[Happy Grumpy]

Will need to do a 90 day border run on a Non-Im multi-entry, and rather use my car or motorcycle than a company.

 

I think most people go to Mae Sot or Mae Sai? That those are the only 2? 

 

Which is best/easiest for a one day trip?

 

TIA. 

 

 

[lordblackader]

Mae Sai is closer than Mae Sot. Your other alternative is the Chiang Khong, Chiang Rai crossing into Laos. 

 

You can any of them in a day but it's a long day. 

[KhunBENQ]

3 minutes ago, lordblackader said:

You can any of them in a day but it's a long day. 

One way from CM city:

 

Chiang Khong about 340 km

Mae Sot about 350 km.

Mai Sai about 260 km.

 

[sanemax]

5 minutes ago, lordblackader said:

Mae Sai is closer than Mae Sot. Your other alternative is the Chiang Khong, Chiang Rai crossing into Laos. 

 

You can any of them in a day but it's a long day. 

The downside of going to Laos is that the visa is more expensive (US$10 /500 Baht in Maesai & US$35 /1500 Baht in Laos) and also the Laos visa takes up a whole page , whilst the Myanmar visa is just a normal stamp

[chingmai331]

Direct air flights from CNX to Luang Brabang.  Save some time and enjoy the ride.

[BritManToo]

Green bus from Chiang Mai (new terminal building) Arcade.

200bht normal (4 seats in a row), 300bht VIP (3 seats in a row) each way, about 3 1/2 hours.

Book the tickets a couple of days before, 2-3hr gap between buses is more than enough time.

 

Songtaew from Mae Sai bus station to border 15bht.

Buy a bottle of Gin/Vodka on the Burmese side to offset the 500bht Burmese border fee.

 

The road isn't great, better on the bus. I won't drive myself any more.

Edited September 7, 2018 by BritManToo

[Lacessit]

7 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

 

The road isn't great, better on the bus. I won't drive myself any more.

Agree, my car is resting up until the road engineers have got back to bitumen at the Chae Hom turnoff. They don't seem to put any effort into grading the corrugations on the dirt section.

[Happy Grumpy]

Thanks for the information. The road is really that bad, even for a motorcycle?

 

I really hate sitting on buses, but if needs must. ? Thanks 

[Samuel Smith]

3 minutes ago, Happy Grumpy said:

Thanks for the information. The road is really that bad, even for a motorcycle?

 

I really hate sitting on buses, but if needs must. ? Thanks 

It's the section before the Chiang rai provincial border.  Being rebuilt, a complete mess for now & probably quite a while.  You could take the Fang road, or the Phrao road over to 118 if you want an adventure.  If you have a pickup truck, the 118 is no problem.  Probably ok for a car, unless torrential rain when you hit that section.

[Lacessit]

1 minute ago, Happy Grumpy said:

Thanks for the information. The road is really that bad, even for a motorcycle?

 

I really hate sitting on buses, but if needs must. ? Thanks 

I think it's about 20 km of dirt, and it really is bad. A big problem is overloaded pickups who won't do more than 5 km/hr for fear of tipping over, and there's nowhere to overtake safely. A motorcycle ride from Chiang Mai to Mae Sai would take a lot of concentration. I'm too old for that.

Good news is the Green Buses are quite comfortable. I just take my Kindle with me.

[Lacessit]

2 minutes ago, Samuel Smith said:

It's the section before the Chiang rai provincial border.  Being rebuilt, a complete mess for now & probably quite a while.  You could take the Fang road, or the Phrao road over to 118 if you want an adventure.  If you have a pickup truck, the 118 is no problem.  Probably ok for a car, unless torrential rain when you hit that section.

As you say, the section on the Phrao road between Phrao and Wiang Pa Pao is an adventure. Some great views in compensation. Basically, you are running along the mountain ridges for about 50 km.

[freedomnow]

2 hours ago, chingmai331 said:

Direct air flights from CNX to Luang Brabang.  Save some time and enjoy the ride.

Is there a new airline operating, or is that still the relatively pricey Lao Air route ?

Edit : I see Air Asia go via Don Muang...

Edited September 7, 2018 by freedomnow

[chicowoodduck]

15 hours ago, chingmai331 said:

Direct air flights from CNX to Luang Brabang.  Save some time and enjoy the ride.

I think you mean Luang Prabang?  Daily on Bangkok Airlines from Suvarnabhumi...?

[sanemax]

Its about  5 hour journey from CM to Maesai 

Theres a 6 AM bus from CM , which arrives at 11.30 and a 3 PM bus back from Maesai to CM .

What you can do is to get a bus from CM to CR and take a mini bus from there , 1 hour and 50 Baht.

[sammieuk1]

I did the Mae Sot option a couple of years ago and sure would not like to be sat on a bus for the last 60km through the mountains? 

[Burma Bill]

I lived in the area for many years and Mae Sai was the easiest. Drive on route 118 via Mae Khachan (hot springs) and Wiang Pa Pao to join route 1 near the White Temple south of Chiang Rai. Continue on route 1 to Mae Sai. The main Immigration Office is on the left about 1 km before the border where there is a second Immigration Office at the bridge across into Tachilek. Plenty to see and do in Burma - shopping in the large market, a flutter at one of the casinos or just sightseeing. You can still see a few buildings in side streets going back to British Colonial days under Queen Victoria. I happened to pass a post box with "VR" on it. I used to buy my shirts and trousers in the "Duty Free" shop at the border (Burmese side) because sizes were based on UK measurements, not the smaller Thai sizes - an "L" meant large and not medium. Enjoy your trip. If you do not want to linger over in Tachilek, on your return a detour up to DOI TUNG and the Royal Villa and Gardens is worth a visit.

[UPDEHSOI]

18 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Green bus from Chiang Mai (new terminal building) Arcade.

200bht normal (4 seats in a row), 300bht VIP (3 seats in a row) each way, about 3 1/2 hours.

Book the tickets a couple of days before, 2-3hr gap between buses is more than enough time.

 

Songtaew from Mae Sai bus station to border 15bht.

Buy a bottle of Gin/Vodka on the Burmese side to offset the 500bht Burmese border fee.

 

The road isn't great, better on the bus. I won't drive myself any more.

The guys on the Burma side, great friendly guys ALWAYS by the way, will also accept an American ten dollar bill...no problem. A bit cheaper than 500 baht.

[sanemax]

2 minutes ago, UPDEHSOI said:

The guys on the Burma side, great friendly guys ALWAYS by the way, will also accept an American ten dollar bill...no problem. A bit cheaper than 500 baht.

Although they do not always accept US$ , sometimes they insist on Baht .

You can spend a while trying to convince them that 10 $ is all you got .

But I find that to be too embarrassing , for the sake of saving 160 Baht 

[UPDEHSOI]

18 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Green bus from Chiang Mai (new terminal building) Arcade.

200bht normal (4 seats in a row), 300bht VIP (3 seats in a row) each way, about 3 1/2 hours.

Book the tickets a couple of days before, 2-3hr gap between buses is more than enough time.

 

Songtaew from Mae Sai bus station to border 15bht.

Buy a bottle of Gin/Vodka on the Burmese side to offset the 500bht Burmese border fee.

 

The road isn't great, better on the bus. I won't drive myself any more.

First bus out from CM to Mae Sai...6:00 AM  Last bus from Mae Sai to CM..3:00 PM. Will give you a few hours shopping, if you want to buy anything from China.

Edited September 8, 2018 by UPDEHSOI

[chingmai331]

2 yrs back i used US one dollar bills at Burma border; all accepted.  and in Takilek i tried the golf course at the casino, but won't play there again. i found Burma, at least Takilek, dirty, expensive, very poor lodging, meager food, mototaxis on every corner and bogus booze in many shops.   but impossible to identify the fake Jonny Walker labels!  it's someplace new so enjoy the journey. 

[connda]

Well, you can roll the dice and take your chances with the suicidal van drivers, you know, the ones that drive 130 kph and pass on blind corners and hills. 
 

[sanemax]

Just now, connda said:

Well, you can roll the dice and take your chances with the suicidal van drivers, you know, the ones that drive 130 kph and pass on blind corners and hills. 
 

Do they still go there ?

Seemed like all the van driver companies stopped going when they stopped the unlimited Visa exempt stamps

[BritManToo]

2 minutes ago, sanemax said:

Do they still go there ?

Seemed like all the van driver companies stopped going when they stopped the unlimited Visa exempt stamps

The vans are full of Burmese working in Thailand now.

Didn't see any white people on the bus or the vans the last trip.

[eyecatcher]

I used to love that green bus until the brakes failed on it going down the hill.

I wrote a thread on it, never went on it again.

 

[UPDEHSOI]

On 9/8/2018 at 12:35 AM, sanemax said:

Although they do not always accept US$ , sometimes they insist on Baht .

You can spend a while trying to convince them that 10 $ is all you got .

But I find that to be too embarrassing , for the sake of saving 160 Baht 

Really?? Wow! I've never had that experience. I just go in, throw ten bucks on the table, compliment the guys on their new style and colour of uniforms, chit chat with the guys for a few minutes if there ain't too many people around, which there usually isn't if I get there early in the morning. Usually ask one guy about his family. He and another officer come from Shan State up country. I kicked around that area years ago. I've been making that run for about twenty four years or more. I've been making that run so long many of the officers there have retired. Many moons ago those guys told me they would rather have the ten bucks than the five hundred baht. I remember waay back when...it was only five bucks. They said it comes in handy when they visit other countries. Not one bit embarrassing at al. As the girlfriend sez...."oh well....."

[UPDEHSOI]

3 hours ago, eyecatcher said:

I used to love that green bus until the brakes failed on it going down the hill.

I wrote a thread on it, never went on it again.

 

Wow! Chit! I love the green bus. Don't like the front VIP seats though. I'm too short to sit comfortably in them.

[sanemax]

2 minutes ago, UPDEHSOI said:

Really?? Wow! I've never had that experience. I just go in, throw ten bucks on the table, compliment the guys on their new style and colour of uniforms, chit chat with the guys for a few minutes if there ain't too many people around, which there usually isn't if I get there early in the morning. Usually ask one guy about his family. He and another officer come from Shan State up country. I kicked around that area years ago. I've been making that run for about twenty four years or more. I've been making that run so long many of the officers there have retired. Many moons ago those guys told me they would rather have the ten bucks than the five hundred baht. I remember waay back when...it was only five bucks. They said it comes in handy when they visit other countries. Not one bit embarrassing at al. As the girlfriend sez...."oh well....."

You sound like a very sociable guy with the gift of the gab , know how to get what you want .

Having crossed that border every two weeks for over three years , maybe crossed there about 100 times to get VES , they did initially always accept $US10 in around 2011 , they then only accepted 500 Baht in about 2012 , from about 2013 , they accepted Baht and sometimes you could persuade them to accept US$10 .

   Having seen some people blatantly lying , saying that 10 $ is the only money that they have , I just offered 10 $ and if refused , just gave them 500 Baht

[UPDEHSOI]

On 9/7/2018 at 11:32 PM, Burma Bill said:

I lived in the area for many years and Mae Sai was the easiest. Drive on route 118 via Mae Khachan (hot springs) and Wiang Pa Pao to join route 1 near the White Temple south of Chiang Rai. Continue on route 1 to Mae Sai. The main Immigration Office is on the left about 1 km before the border where there is a second Immigration Office at the bridge across into Tachilek. Plenty to see and do in Burma - shopping in the large market, a flutter at one of the casinos or just sightseeing. You can still see a few buildings in side streets going back to British Colonial days under Queen Victoria. I happened to pass a post box with "VR" on it. I used to buy my shirts and trousers in the "Duty Free" shop at the border (Burmese side) because sizes were based on UK measurements, not the smaller Thai sizes - an "L" meant large and not medium. Enjoy your trip. If you do not want to linger over in Tachilek, on your return a detour up to DOI TUNG and the Royal Villa and Gardens is worth a visit.

Yeh, that's an interesting way to go, especially if you have plenty of time, which I have since I grew too lazy to work. The girlfriend's home is in Wiang Pa Pao, she has a garage and a gas station there, just outside town. The casinos I can take or leave. I used to go there just to look, and visit a market nearby one of them. The main market used to be okay years ago, but now the same "stuff" from China is much cheaper on the Thai side. I used to hire a tuk tuk driver for a day or two or three....go shopping. I used to ship mainly wood carvings, plus a few other things from Burma. Shipped teak furniture to canada, ( from Yangon )Much much cheaper than from Baan Tawai in Thailand. The great thing was, no matter how much I brought across the border with me, the officers on the Thai side never ever questioned me or stopped me. Most times they just waved me on through. PERFECT! Oh yeah, the hotels right around the border are really crappy, cheap and friendly, but crappy. Some nicer ones, even resorts further on down the way.

[UPDEHSOI]

On 9/8/2018 at 12:37 AM, chingmai331 said:

2 yrs back i used US one dollar bills at Burma border; all accepted.  and in Takilek i tried the golf course at the casino, but won't play there again. i found Burma, at least Takilek, dirty, expensive, very poor lodging, meager food, mototaxis on every corner and bogus booze in many shops.   but impossible to identify the fake Jonny Walker labels!  it's someplace new so enjoy the journey. 

Yep, she's a dirty town alright. Same same like many border towns in many countries....Cambodia? You ever cross at mae Sot? Fake smokes, fake liquer, fake goods, which doesn't bother me, as I don't smoke or drink, and I sure don't bring any back for my friends. lodging sucks, good hotels further on back, but you gonna have to pay a good buck to stay in one of them. Food is okay if you know where to go. prices of fruit and veggies at the markets are outta sight.

[ALFREDO]

On 9/7/2018 at 6:41 PM, Happy Grumpy said:

Thanks for the information. The road is really that bad, even for a motorcycle?

 

I really hate sitting on buses, but if needs must. ? Thanks 

If not a lot rain no problem - or, drive a different route along the Myanmar border from Chiang Rai.

For motorbike - these roads are slippery without concrete. 

 

Take your time - one day up - sleep in nice Hotel - next day border run - drive around - near the famous cave with the 

- 13 boys Football Team inside and it has a small coffee company - high in the mountains above Mae Sai next to Myanmar on the border road, above the cave, selling white Chocolate coated coffee beans also  ? 

and one more night - third day back. My style.

 

It has good, cheap - Chocolate - parfumed Myanmar cigars after the border at the market. ?

 

Edited September 13, 2018 by ALFREDO