Visarun To Burma

[boogiewoogie]

1 Easier alone or thru agency?

2 is there a secured motorbike parking on a pier on Samui or id have to leave bike at home?

3 Is it possible to do whole trip to Burma and back home in one day?

4 where is a pier to burma in ranong and an imigration?

Also would love to hear some stories from people who already been on this route

[NHJ]

we're going to malaysia the 22nd november with our own minibus and will cut the price with people present in the car, last time we were 9 and the total trip was 860 baht.

let me know if you wanna come.

[maenam]

went 2 years ago to ranong with the car. can do in 1 day.

maybe easier to book with agency. there is a pier and on the other side a resort, but forgot the name.

i recommend to spend some more days and stay in hongkong or kl. much more happening and fun.

[PoorSucker]

The Andaman Club.

Thaivisa threads on the Andaman Club

[MSingh]

Ranong is the Gaff to head for in Thailand, Victoria is the place in Burma where you will go to..Make sure you bring back some Ruby's & Saphirre's..

[Thongkorn]

Go to the Immigration office just before the pier (in Rannong) get your visa stamp to exit Thailand , Then go to the pier and get a boat, its just up from the pier about a half a mile on the same side. you can just go get your visa stamp and return , it should take about 2 hours Thats the easy bit , The problem you will have is every Thai will try to get you to use them as your agent , As soon as you get any were near the pier you will be mobbed. Ignore them it is easy and cheaper to do it yourself , i have seen people give there passport to some of the Thais who say they will do every thing for you , Disappear with there passports and money never to be seen again. get your own boat it will be better , don't let anyone who is not with the boat go with you, If a Boy gets on make it clear you do not want a guide, unless you do want one, because you will be expected to pay for every thing he wants , IE food drink and a few things thrown in, all the way there he will pester you to buy things , Viagra drugs ext ext , When you get to Burma and you go for a walk around you will be followed by street kids in a gang of about 50 or more , they will be watching your every move wether you like it or not , also by the local police informer.waiting to see if he can make some money from you . I have been twice, once i made the mistake of trying to go for a site visiting walk , never again , thats why i am informing you to take care, The place is very poor ,If the Andaman club is still going , Go that way , you get about to an Island it takes about 45 mins, Get your stamp then strait back on the same boat it was about 800baht , I hear ed it had finished , I don't know if that is true maybe some one can tell you better than i can. , Also there are very few places to stay in Rannong ,heres a number of a Place i have stayed in a lot, its good and friendly . The owner (boss) will take care of every thing you need if you want him to do it for you , The number is 0 7783 2585 or 089 873 5123. Hope this helps you .

[Gulfsailor]

Andaman Club is still operating. Last week I drove back from Hua Hin to Samui and since I had to do a visarun before November 18th, I decided to drive via Ranong to do the visarun to Burma. I thought about doing the traditional longtail crossing to Victoria Point the next day after staying the night in Ranong, but just before entering Ranong I saw a sign for the exit to the Andaman Club. At that time it was 16:40 and didn't know what time they would operate, so I decided to call them. They informed me that their last sailing was at 17:00 and if I could make that one, I could get onto the same boat back (17:30). So I quickly drove towards the Andaman Club pier and arrived there 16:55. I went through Thai immigration and got onto the boat to the Andaman Club Island (left a bit late at 17:15). There I received the entry and exit stamp from Burma and as promised, the boat (last one of the day) to take me back waited for me. Between arriving at the Pier and being back at the pier took only a little over an hour! Great service and highly recommended. Total price is THB 850. If you do the traditional way, you will have to pay for longtail and USD 10 for the visa, together also nearing THB 850.

[fcfarang]

would also recommended this, done this four times now.

[Thongkorn]

I agree its a lot easier and safer,

[happylarry]

There are many hotels in Ranong....when I stayed there I used a hotel on the main road that had a pool built into the ground floor that had the hot water pumped in dirct from the local hot springs. Believe me there is nothing like spending 10 minutes soaking in that water to make you feel good. Well worth staying the extra day. And I also recommend the Andaman crossing.

HL

[boogiewoogie]

anybody know where this andaman club pier located and how to get there? IS there any schedual for their ferries?

[boogiewoogie]

happylarry, u remember name of a hotel?

[happylarry]

boogiewoogy ...at this moment the answer is no mate but give me some time and I will try and find it. Watch this space.

HL

[happylarry]

http://www.hotelthailand.com/ranong/jansomhotspa/

boogiewoogie....check out the link above mate. It was a real good way to do a visa run. I drove up on day one and relaxed in the pool. Second day went to the Andaman club, stayed there a few hours and had lunch in the restaurant which was very reasonably priced, I didnt spend any money in the casino but enjoyed watching others lose theirs, then back to Ranong and another relaxing evening including another soak. Third day drove back to Samui.

If you can afford the time and the hotel then its the best way I reckon.

HL

[MaenamMtb]

Just to add some info, if you don't want the Andaman route:

Locate the pier in Ranong, signposted from the main road - immigration is now here so you can park up and complete your formalities in one place.

By the time you've checked out of Thailand a Burmese lad will be trying to get you on his boat - this is normal. The last two occasions we've paid 100 bt per person for the return trip.

Unless you're desperate to wander round Victoria Point on the Burmese side don't bother, there's nothing there - just get off the boat, go straight to immigration (remembering you're crisp, 10 dollar note), do the business and get straight back on the boat. Whole boat trip takes about an hour and a half and there's not really much hassle. There's various checkpoints on the way over and back where you're passport will be checked.

I reckon you'd struggle to get back to Samui same day so stay the night - make you're way to the market area and there's a few places to stay. also a few bars and restaurants to spend the evening.

Regards

[happylarry]

Hey Boogiewoogie....hope you come back on here and let us know how you got on.

HL

[happylarry]

Gawd....what is the point of all that stress to do the whole journey in a day?

Take it easy mate and enjoy a two day trip.

And you may pay a tiny bit more to go via the Andaman club but you dont have all these worries about parking bikes and being ripped off by the boatmen. Enjoy life!!!!!

HL

[boogiewoogie]

Gawd....what is the point of all that stress to do the whole journey in a day?

Take it easy mate and enjoy a two day trip.

And you may pay a tiny bit more to go via the Andaman club but you dont have all these worries about parking bikes and being ripped off by the boatmen. Enjoy life!!!!!

HL

How to do it thru Andaman Club? I know they have shuttle from Phuket, but heard nada about such transfer from Samui -Surat thani area. So howd i do it? Just go to ranong to a Andaman Pier?

[happylarry]

yes boogiewoogie, you have to go to Ranong then follow the signs for Andaman club. Immigration will point the way anyway.

Have a good day.

HL

[boogiewoogie]

Well, we got back already

we decided to take a car and spend few days extra at a beach in Ao Nang.

Got to Ranong in 4 pm, got back from Burma at 6 pm. Took a longtail boat with my fellow farang for 500 bahts, plus spent 65 bahts on a Myanmar Whiskey bottle(didnt sample it yet).

Visa cost 10 bucks(crisp, mint-mint condition). No change for 20-50 dollars bills. Saw how farangh had to pay 500 bahts instead of 10 dollars, so be prepared.

I liked car ride, will do the same next time.

+: u can ride anywhere u want, not depend on bus scheduals.

- : u can be late for ferry, like we are. We had to pass one ferry both ways, becouse there were a lot of trucks and pickups.

[kosh]

Gawd....what is the point of all that stress to do the whole journey in a day?

Take it easy mate and enjoy a two day trip.

And you may pay a tiny bit more to go via the Andaman club but you dont have all these worries about parking bikes and being ripped off by the boatmen. Enjoy life!!!!!

HL

Why a place so complicated? With a bike you can go to Hat Yai, cross the border to Malesya in 20 minutes for free and come back.....

[happylarry]

20 minutes....from Samui....wow.

It took me all day when I went to Malaysia, and that was non stop.

HL

[kosh]

20 minutes....from Samui....wow.

It took me all day when I went to Malaysia, and that was non stop.

HL

20 minutes from Hat Yai....

Samui-Hat Yai by minibus will take forever, but with a bike is much faster than burma, e no boat at border.

[maenam]

20 minutes....from Samui....wow.

It took me all day when I went to Malaysia, and that was non stop.

HL

20 minutes from Hat Yai....

Samui-Hat Yai by minibus will take forever, but with a bike is much faster than burma, e no boat at border.

sorry to ask, but you mean from Hat Yai to Kota Baru?

[kosh]

20 minutes....from Samui....wow.

It took me all day when I went to Malaysia, and that was non stop.

HL

20 minutes from Hat Yai....

Samui-Hat Yai by minibus will take forever, but with a bike is much faster than burma, e no boat at border.

sorry to ask, but you mean from Hat Yai to Kota Baru?

I do not remember the name of border village, i passed it towards Penang but it is so close to Hat Yai that there no need to go any farther. Just turn back, il shopping needed between the two border there is a duty free zone.....

[PoorSucker]

Sadao.

[happylarry]

Kosh you missed the point of my post I think.

When I was talking about the stress of the journey, I was talking about the whole day, (racing to get there and back before the last ferry) not just the bit where you physically cross the border.

And I think the Malaysia run from Samui is slightly further than going to Burma, BUT I could be wrong, either way its a hel_l of a drive.

HL

[MSingh]

I beleive a Samui/Myanmar Visa Run Bus had a smash over the weekend, a Friend of mine was on it..

No one seriously hurt but smashed windows etc & pretty scary, he said the driver was " a f*%$(# Maniac "..

[MSingh]

I beleive a Samui/Myanmar Visa Run Bus had a smash over the weekend, a Friend of mine was on it..

No one seriously hurt but smashed windows etc & pretty scary, he said the driver was " a f*%$(# Maniac "..

Jing Jing..

[kosh]

I beleive a Samui/Myanmar Visa Run Bus had a smash over the weekend, a Friend of mine was on it..

No one seriously hurt but smashed windows etc & pretty scary, he said the driver was " a f*%$(# Maniac "..

With the last boat at 6pm a one day border run is a risk, the van must fly.....

I even lost the last boat on a 2 day trip, they always cancel van if not full.......

I will never go farther than Hat Yai (Sadao), an hotel there is cheap....