My mate and I will be doing a visarun in the start of feb.

We were thinking of doing a little tour around of a few days into some natural park close to the thai/burmese border.

We are coming from Koh Phangan, but don't want to be travelling too far up north to cross the border and pay a visit to Burma.

So, if there is any southern border, any information is most welcome.

thanks!!

Ranong is the name of the Thai Town on the Thai Side. Take a boat across, prepare a crisp 10.- USD or THB500.- to pay for the stamp on the Mymanmar side.

Ranong would be your nearest crossing.

I have on reasonable authority that the northern border now requires B500 as a "fee" to cross. Of course, my friend freinds may be idiots but they are expats.

Does anyone know if Ranong (by longtail, not the casino) has a duty free? I have only done this run 3x and it has been years.

Another point on this - boat prices are whatever they can pry from you. Used to be about B250 to make the boat go. I hear its now about 400 and they have no problem taking B500 each from you if they can get it as happened to some Russians so says my friend on his visa run.

I should add if you are not in the gulf, don't go. Weather is record horrible! As for parks, try the Andaman side, Khao Lak/Sok. Parks up in Ranong area are quite inaccessable without a car/boat and Koh Kham in Ranong - no sleeping as most if not all Ranong parks.

There are accomodation possibilities in Laem Son national park close to Kaper, roughly 50 km south of Ranong. Of course in Khao Lak and Khao Sok there are plenty of places to stay. You could also go to the islands Koh Phayam and Koh Chang very close to Ranong.