Mae Sai/Tachilek Border Info

[meadish_sweetball]

...and also an ultrasonic microphone in case of flying batmonkeys. Anyhow, I´m a little confused here about the time schedule since it seems to be the point that going to and back from mae sai should be as fast as possible. Does this include check-in times at the airport and such or just active traveling time?

Correct, I did not give exact durations for every step of the way, simply because I didn't time myself. Scea is right that the overall trip was planned around the plane schedule, as above.

I got out of the airport in Chiang Mai about 25 minutes before it got dark.

Given the planes are 12-seaters, check-in will be extremely quick - it certainly was for me since there was only 3 passangers going, in each direction. The check in staff and pilots at SGA were genuinely nice as well, I guess it may have something to do with being a small airline.

I also neglected to mention I took a sight-seeing tour of Tachilek, which I hadn't planned originally. Still, at 200 baht I thought it was a better way to kill the time than to spend the same time waiting at the airport before the flight. The sight-seeing lasted just over one hour - visited two temples and had lunch and a few beers with the tuk tuk driver at his family's restaurant. He tried to recommend me to buy jewels, go to a brothel and/or the casino too, but I just said I wasn't interested and he didn't persist.

[sceadugenga]

I've just made a run today, very busy with Thai tourists/shoppers but passing through immigration going in and coming out I was the only farang customer.

Hopefully this will be the last visa run for a while, I'm off to Australia on Friday and will return with a shiny new Non-Imm B.

[mcgriffith]

If I'm up there in the next week or so (as I plan to be for general wanderings about on the CBR 150), and I'm in CR, meadish....I'd be happy to lend you ze bike for a quick visa run squirt....

Of course if you crash it, you'll have to buy me a brand new, nuclear florescent green, Kawasaki Ninja 250.

To paraphase a famous comedian- "please, take my bike"

[Bastian]

As it turns out, the airport taxi stand wanted 800 baht to go to Mae Sai. I thought that was at least 200 baht too much for me alone, so I took a taxi into town instead, at 300, and then a bus (non-air, rather hard seats) at 40 baht to the border. The waiting time between the taxi and the bus leaving the station was not more than 15 minutes.

The red songthaews from Mae Sai bus station to the border are 15 baht one way. It's fully possible to walk too for those so inclined, not sure but think it would take around 20 minutes.

At the border, entry into Tachilek is still 10 USD or 500 baht - if you plan to use dollars, make sure they are in good condition as this was the second time I saw the border officials refuse a torn bill.

you should have just found transportation from the airport to the highway, there you could have waved one of the buses going to maesai to stop, they go every 20min or so. from this point to maesai the busfare is 37 baht.

walking from bus station to the border will take much more than 20min.

coming back tell the lady on the bus you want to go to the airport, they will let you exit opposite the street laeding to chiang rai university (CRU) at "new bandu city", there is a motorbiketaxibooth, they take you to the airport for 40 baht.

the burmese immigration is really picky about dollar bills, not only dont they like old ones, you also cannot come with high denominations, 3 runs ago i wanted to use a crisp new $100 bill i had just changed, they said i need to pay with $20 or $10, they could not take $100. so i went back to thailand first to get a smaller bill...

you know what a pita it is to change baht to usd? especially if you want $20-$50? i cannot find a legitimate place, that sells usd, i tried 4 exchange offices, 7 banks and finally the guy at the tmb(?) bank's counter right at the border pointed me to a woman, selling jewlery on the street in front of the bank. she had what i wanted, but the rate sucked, 40 baht/1 usd when official rate was 34.

now i allways buy my $ from her on the street at an outrageous rate, i just dont know an alternative.

my wife pointed me to an exchange office in tachileik, they supposedly change any currency, but when we got there, they said they dont sell usd.

i am thinking about having someone from bangkok send me $10 notes in the mail.

[goski]

It's always good with information but I got stuck on one technicality. Why did you go back to Thailand for smaller bills and then back into Burma to pay the immigration there? What did you pay them with in the first place before you went backand what's the point of doing it twice?

[sceadugenga]

Well if he was refused entry into Burma because his money wasn't acceptable he wouldn't have paid the first time would he?

And if the the Thais had refused him re-entry because he never had a Burmese exit stamp he'd have been stuck on the bridge with the beggars for the rest of his life.

I'm surprised that some enterprising person hasn't set up a little private enterprise money exchange on the Thai side selling USD$10 for 400B each. Currently he'd make 50B a transaction and the traveler would save a 100B.

(If you see a Thai Visa member doing it next time you go there tell him it's my idea and I want a 10% cut).

[Bastian]

i did go back to the thai side to get smaller bills, i told the officer on the thai side, the burmese wanted me to change money before i could enter burma, so they kept my passport and let me back into thailand to change money, i returned after a few minutes with small bills, picked up my passport and proceeded back to burma immigration, then everything went as usual.

the money changer selling $10 for 400 baht already is sitting there, right in front of the border, it is the woman selling jewlery on the street, she just doesnt advertise.

once, comming from tachileik, i was just filling out my immigration card, when a group of about 30 farangs tourists came from burma, they reentered thailand without filling out any cards or even showing their passports, they were just herded through. i thought that was very strange at the time. their tourgroupleader must have had some agreement with the officials there. ever seen anything like that?

[sceadugenga]

Some of the tour group leaders go ahead with all the passports. Not strictly legit but I dare say some tea money changes hands. I had the visa done by an agent in Lao once and he walked me past the line up. Cost about ten bucks on top of the visa.

Thanks for the info on the $10 bills, I'll watch out for her next time. (The 100B saving is two DVD movies these days).

A word of advice on the immigration cards, get some spares from somewhere and fill one out at home, no waiting to fill it out then.

[meadish_sweetball]

i was just filling out my immigration card, when a group of about 30 farangs tourists came from burma, they reentered thailand without filling out any cards or even showing their passports, they were just herded through. i thought that was very strange at the time. their tourgroupleader must have had some agreement with the officials there. ever seen anything like that?

Not in Mae Sai, but some 8-9 years ago (which is the last time I crossed the land border between Thailand and Malaysia) it was standard procedure when crossing the border between Thailand and Malaysia in a minibus that the guide would take everybody's passports and handle the official business, while the passengers remained seated in the bus for the crossing.

[altman]

jan, 2009. just back from border run to mae sai. a couple of bits of info i couldn't find before i left.

the border is open 8 AM to 5 PM (note: clocks on burma side are 1/2 hour different from thai side but i failed to remember whether it is ahead or behind. someone else may be able to clear that up.)

when i say the main road ... it is that road which you will bump into if you walk straight ahead after checking into the burma side of the border

i stayed on burma side this time to adjust my visa schedule. the erawan hotel is 500 B and is roughly equivalent to a 500 B thai side GH. maybe just a bit more like a 400 B but in that range there isn't a lot of difference. turn right at the main road, go 200 meters or so to a side road (Mahabandoola st) off to the left and it is 20 meters on the left side down that soi.

there is a liquor store in town, burma side, that sells liquor cheaper than the duty free shop. it is to the right on the main road about 1 km or so and on the right hand side. small shop. keep an eye out for it. nice lady.

good burma side restaurant, valentines cafe and tea. or similar. to the right on the main road just past the kmz bank sign.

and just a point of interest. the erawan hotel business card lists it's address as 'east shan state', not burma or myanmar.

[mcgriffith]

Very timely and informative- thanks for that altman!

I've always been tempted by the concept of a very brief visit to Tachilek- you've filled in a few blanks for me.

Maybe check it out soon....

[brahmburgers]

there is a place to change baht for US dollars on the Mae Sai side:

it's on the west side (left side) of the main street leading to the bridge. Just past the Chinese place with the dragons, there's a Chinese-run coin shop. Their rates aren't great, but you still save some baht (compared to paying Bt.500 at the Burmese office).

Why isn't the new bridge being used - the one 6 Km east of the regular bridge?

Let me guess, Burmese and Thai authorities can't agree on simple protocols for its use.

One thing for sure; they'll be calling it the 'Friendship Bridge" as that's the only name they can think up - to use for bridges between SE Asian countiries.

[DaMan]

Went up to Mong La in early December.

Here's some random tips.

$10 at the border accepted without question.

If you want to go beyond Tachileik, don't forget to get the right permit at the tourist office next to the bridge. You'll need a copy of your passport, 3 photos and 50 Baht 'service charge'. Don't be a divvy like me and go to the bus station without your permit. You won't leave Tachileik.

Paid 600 Baht for a share taxi to Chieng Tung. Another traveller I met said he paid 500 Baht. The bus is 350 Baht apparently.

Stayed at Noi Yee. Very cheap. $5 per night. Extremely noisy owl frequents that area. Apart from the border fee and the guest house, nobody wanted US Dollars in Chieng Tung. It's Baht or Kyat. You can change money at good rates in the market. You'll need to head to the centre of the market and find the dudes with cardboard boxes full of notes. Note the rates differ between the exchangers so know the rates before you go down there. Mid-morning is best.

Amazing deforestation all the way from Tachileik to Mong La. Contrast with Thailand which has some forest protection.

Mong La is China. Chinese is spoken. Only Yuan is accepted. You should change some money to Yuan before you go in Chieng Tung market. On the way you'll have to pay 36 Yuan at a Wa checkpoint.

The Chinese border post is a proper affair on the Chinese side. The Burmese side has a couple of sleepy guys just waving you through. Foreigners cannot cross into China here without special permission. The Chinese border town is Daluo. All the motorbike taxis will shout at you, "Daluo" meaning "To the border?"

Mong La is pretty vulgar in that uniquely Chinese way. If you're familiar with mainlanders you'll know what I mean.

One strange thing here is the hotels all required a large deposit which was returned on inspection of the room at check-out. The Chinese must trash the hotels or more likely burn them as smoking is mandatory for all Chinese men, it seems.

The cost of the share taxi to Mong La from Chieng Tung is a steep 15,000 Kyat each way. Or you can stand up in the back of a lorry for 5,000 Kyat.

Back to Noi Yee in Chieng Tung. BTW, speaking Thai in Chieng Tung works well with many of the natives. Tried to hire a bike from Harry's but she would only rent to people staying there.

You should visit the pagoda north-west of Chieng Tung. You can see it up on the mountainside. It's a half hour on a bike to the Palaung village and then a 3-hour walk up.

Also visit the hot springs. It's about 5 kms along the road to Taunggyi and then turn right at the bridge. All your motorbike taxi drivers know it. It's the only place I found ABC Stout on sale. At 50 Baht a can. But worth it.

Caught the bus back to Tachileik. 350 Baht. Motorbike taxi 4 kms or so to the border 40 Baht.

Got my bags scanned coming back.

^ This is an excellent post, I found it to be a 100% correct. Excellent all around Kengtung info.

The only thing I would add is that if you would like some kyat before you head to kengtung, go about 30 yards past the tourist info office (Lady very helpful in that office by the way) until you see a green awning on the left hand side, head down the stairs. You will see 2 desks across the street. I went to the woman on the right, you can change baht to kyat only. She's cool, no funny business whatsoever.

Went to the hot springs and had a couple cans of the the aforementioned ABC stout. Lost in the Euphoria of drinking actual beer, I forgot my favorite swimming shorts at the hot spring (long way from town).

Did see ABC stout on sale at a chinese market for 1200 kyat a can. The only way I can describe how to get there is walk down the road from the main circle towards the golden banyan restaurant. Big chinese sign on the left. I excitedly gobbled up a few cans to take back and lugged them them all the way to Tachilek, only to see cans on sale directly on the bridge, right before you leave, for 50 baht a can.

My bags were scanned, if that is important to you, too bad the woman missed the sack of opium and AK47 as she was too busy with her nose inhaler.....................

[sceadugenga]

Just got back from the border.

Tachilek quiet so we wandered off a bit into the town. Found an interesting shop selling wild animal products, the owner was reluctant to have it photographed for some reason.

Had a Coke in Johnny's bar and a South African gent told me I could get celery in Lotus, and I was overjoyed to find that they had some. First time I've seen real celery up here, plenty of the leafy stuff though.

I found the lady mentioned in this forum who sells USD10 bills for 400 baht. She's right in front of the bank on your right facing the border. A saving of 100B for both of us entering Burma.

[el jefe]

I've done lots of touring and trekking from Kyiang Tung but the Myanmar govt won't let you spend the night outside Kyiang Tung. Is there really any point any more in going to Mong La now that the Chinese have closed their casino? There's a very nice museum but otherwise it's little more than a red light district with a lot of bored girls. The best thing about Mong La is that it's better than Dulao on the Chinese side. Of course the only way to get to Dulao is via Jinghong.

Went up to Mong La in early December.

Here's some random tips.

$10 at the border accepted without question.

If you want to go beyond Tachileik, don't forget to get the right permit at the tourist office next to the bridge. You'll need a copy of your passport, 3 photos and 50 Baht 'service charge'. Don't be a divvy like me and go to the bus station without your permit. You won't leave Tachileik.

Paid 600 Baht for a share taxi to Chieng Tung. Another traveller I met said he paid 500 Baht. The bus is 350 Baht apparently.

Stayed at Noi Yee. Very cheap. $5 per night. Extremely noisy owl frequents that area. Apart from the border fee and the guest house, nobody wanted US Dollars in Chieng Tung. It's Baht or Kyat. You can change money at good rates in the market. You'll need to head to the centre of the market and find the dudes with cardboard boxes full of notes. Note the rates differ between the exchangers so know the rates before you go down there. Mid-morning is best.

Amazing deforestation all the way from Tachileik to Mong La. Contrast with Thailand which has some forest protection.

Mong La is China. Chinese is spoken. Only Yuan is accepted. You should change some money to Yuan before you go in Chieng Tung market. On the way you'll have to pay 36 Yuan at a Wa checkpoint.

The Chinese border post is a proper affair on the Chinese side. The Burmese side has a couple of sleepy guys just waving you through. Foreigners cannot cross into China here without special permission. The Chinese border town is Daluo. All the motorbike taxis will shout at you, "Daluo" meaning "To the border?"

Mong La is pretty vulgar in that uniquely Chinese way. If you're familiar with mainlanders you'll know what I mean.

One strange thing here is the hotels all required a large deposit which was returned on inspection of the room at check-out. The Chinese must trash the hotels or more likely burn them as smoking is mandatory for all Chinese men, it seems.

The cost of the share taxi to Mong La from Chieng Tung is a steep 15,000 Kyat each way. Or you can stand up in the back of a lorry for 5,000 Kyat.

Back to Noi Yee in Chieng Tung. BTW, speaking Thai in Chieng Tung works well with many of the natives. Tried to hire a bike from Harry's but she would only rent to people staying there.

You should visit the pagoda north-west of Chieng Tung. You can see it up on the mountainside. It's a half hour on a bike to the Palaung village and then a 3-hour walk up.

Also visit the hot springs. It's about 5 kms along the road to Taunggyi and then turn right at the bridge. All your motorbike taxi drivers know it. It's the only place I found ABC Stout on sale. At 50 Baht a can. But worth it.

Caught the bus back to Tachileik. 350 Baht. Motorbike taxi 4 kms or so to the border 40 Baht.

Got my bags scanned coming back.

^ This is an excellent post, I found it to be a 100% correct. Excellent all around Kengtung info.

The only thing I would add is that if you would like some kyat before you head to kengtung, go about 30 yards past the tourist info office (Lady very helpful in that office by the way) until you see a green awning on the left hand side, head down the stairs. You will see 2 desks across the street. I went to the woman on the right, you can change baht to kyat only. She's cool, no funny business whatsoever.

Went to the hot springs and had a couple cans of the the aforementioned ABC stout. Lost in the Euphoria of drinking actual beer, I forgot my favorite swimming shorts at the hot spring (long way from town).

Did see ABC stout on sale at a chinese market for 1200 kyat a can. The only way I can describe how to get there is walk down the road from the main circle towards the golden banyan restaurant. Big chinese sign on the left. I excitedly gobbled up a few cans to take back and lugged them them all the way to Tachilek, only to see cans on sale directly on the bridge, right before you leave, for 50 baht a can.

My bags were scanned, if that is important to you, too bad the woman missed the sack of opium and AK47 as she was too busy with her nose inhaler.....................

[scotbeve]

Lots of good Maesai/Tachilek info above Are they still taking Dollars? If so, do they still have to be in pristie condition?

Yes, still taking $$$ and I advise the use of them over Thai Baht as it's either US$10.00 or 500 Baht. Go figure.....

[Soulwy]

What about accomodations in Mae Sai?

[sceadugenga]

There's plenty of hotels and guest houses there.

[penngwe]

you can find ten us bill for 370 bath in a gold shop on the left side of the main road between the chinese temple and the little street leading to the temple ontop of the hill (it is no more than fifty meters from the border ,if you dont want to loose a visa (i mean your visa is still valid for more than fifteen days )you must tell the thai immigration officer :NO STAMP ,he will ask you 100 bath and a copy of your passport,you can visit tachilek and you wont fill the thai immigration form .when in tachilek on the bridge you 'll see touk touk drivers offering to visit the town ,it's worth it ,costing about 150 bath ,DO NOT accept extra visit i.e. brothels hilltribes and others ,except if it is the purpose of your visit .many hotels and guest houses in maesai in salom joy off the left side of the border post from150 bath up to 500bath ,you can even find the cheapest pizza inthailand in this street ,less than 100 bath ,dont expect an italian one but the thai pizza is o.k.

[sceadugenga]

Thanks penngwe, welcome to the forum.

There's a lady with a little stall right in front of the bank/ATM who'll sell you $10 for 400B as well.

[Soulwy]

There's plenty of hotels and guest houses there.

Not many to find online, and the reviews aren't really positive.

If you know a nice room up to 500 baht it would be more than helpful.

[penngwe]

yeesun hotel ,salomjoy ,tel:053733455 room 500 bath

yunnan hotel opposite the mosque main road less than 5OO

blue sky appartement salom joy less than 4OO

[Soulwy]

yeesun hotel ,salomjoy ,tel:053733455 room 500 bath

yunnan hotel opposite the mosque main road less than 5OO

blue sky appartement salom joy less than 4OO

Which one has WIFI?

Read also something good about Mae Sai Guesthouse & Daw Guest house.

[Lordfoul]

Last October I noticed a new (I think) Hotel near the border, part of the row of shops on the main road. It had a nice newly redone shop front and advertised LCD TV and Internet access. I neglected to get the name or the phone number. Does any one who has been up there recently have any information?.

Thanks

[YoungerBrother]

Hello,

Isn't it so that most of us make a great effort to try to speak Thai in our daily lives, but when visiting the Tachilek border office behind the bridge one often is clueless how to talk politely in the local language ?

I am looking for some samples on how to pronounce the Myanmar language i.e. Mp3 files of key phrases like "Hello" and "Thank you" and "No, thank you".

I have googled some sites, but (so far) could not find spoken examples.

Although, I have found this remark "One might wonder to know that 45 million people speak 111 languages in Myanmar."

Many thanks,

YB

[goski]

You could always have taken the chance of actually asking someone Burmese when you go there. Pretty straightforward tactic don't you think? Social as well since that's what languages are all about.

I checked one site, youtube, and immediately found basic Burmese taught by a Burmese, video and audio. Check that out.

[svenivan]

A little story:

A month ago I was sailing between Phuket and Langkawi. One day (actually one night) I was in the dinghy and got a wave in the boat, my backpack got more than soaked by saltwater.

In the backpack were my wallet, my camera and my passport. The money I could make dry, my camera became history and all stamps in my passport got blurred, impossible to read. My visastamps were impossible to see!

I managed to get into Malaysia and out but arriving to BKK I got only 30 days instead of 90. I did not want to take the argumentation with the Imiigration in BKK so a week ago I went to Mas Sai.

I explained what happened and the first officer just told me to go out to Burma and get another 15 days.

But the other officer, the one that been there for years, he listened to me, talked to the new female boss and within 15 minutes they sorted everything out. I had to take copies two times of my passport, before they changed and after they changed the stamps.

It costed me 34 bath in copycosts and it took all together around 15 minutes!

I must say that during my 7 years here in Chiang Rai I have never had any problems with the Immigration. They have always been very helpful!

I just wanted to put in a very positive report about the Immigration!

[sceadugenga]

I don't think I've seen a bad report about the Mae Sai immigration office Sven, I've always found them friendly and helpful.

[mcgriffith]

A little story:

A month ago I was sailing between Phuket and Langkawi. One day (actually one night) I was in the dinghy and got a wave in the boat, my backpack got more than soaked by saltwater.

In the backpack were my wallet, my camera and my passport. The money I could make dry, my camera became history and all stamps in my passport got blurred, impossible to read. My visastamps were impossible to see!

I managed to get into Malaysia and out but arriving to BKK I got only 30 days instead of 90. I did not want to take the argumentation with the Imiigration in BKK so a week ago I went to Mas Sai.

I explained what happened and the first officer just told me to go out to Burma and get another 15 days.

But the other officer, the one that been there for years, he listened to me, talked to the new female boss and within 15 minutes they sorted everything out. I had to take copies two times of my passport, before they changed and after they changed the stamps.

It costed me 34 bath in copycosts and it took all together around 15 minutes!

I must say that during my 7 years here in Chiang Rai I have never had any problems with the Immigration. They have always been very helpful!

I just wanted to put in a very positive report about the Immigration!

Most excellent news, svenivan.

I personally have always had a very good experience with the Thai immigration office, both at Mae Sai and Chiang Mai.

[sceadugenga]

Had a trip to Tachilek yesterday with Austhaied an old mate from Chiang Mai.

Got there about 2pm and there was no one in the lines at all.

Interestingly the $10USD seller in front of the bank has increased her price to 450B which hardly makes it worth walking across there for a 50B saving at Myanmar immigration.

Bought a bottle of Hardy's Australian CabSav/Shiraz for 250B. Good wine and cheaper than you would pay in Oz.

The wild animal product shops seem to have increased in number, I counted three in one street. Could be the Chinese influence increasing. The lady behind the counter here did not approve of me taking her photo.

Edited April 3, 2009 by sceadugenga