Mae Sai Border Run...help!

[Jonrek2012]

I dont really understand this border run in Mae sai. I have never tried to go on border run in Mae Sai, just in Laos.

I am a german citizen.

Can i travel to the border(mae sai)?

do i need to apply for visa?

Can anyone help me??

[CMweb]

You can go with bus

go with mini bus

go with car

go with big motorbike, the last is the most fast way.

You don't need a visa, just need to pay 500 THB to the Burma immigration, pay and get stamp, go back to Thailand, you need all day for this trip.

Note: from some weeks ago they start to count the entry to Thailand, maximum 4 times and you need to get a visa

You get 14 days as a German

Edited March 13, 2013 by CMweb

[trainman34014]

Best way to go is by 'Green Bus' from Arcade Bus Station, book some days before you travel if you want VIP seats which are the best. It's about 650 Baht return. When you get to Mae Sai you will get off the big bus and get on to a Red Songthaew which will take you up to the border for 15 Baht.

Once at the border you go into Thai Immigration and present your passport and white card and they will stamp you out of Thailand. Then cross over the bridge to Burma changing from left to right hand side of the road as you go and enter Burmese Immigration. Present your passport with 500 Baht note and they will take your photo' etc and keep your passport and hand you a temporary visa/passport until you return to Thailand the same day. Proceed to the town of Techilek and enjoy some shopping and collect your duty free and watch out for the many scammers and tuk tuk drivers offering 'bang bang'. You only need to be in Burma for 30 minutes before returning back onto the bridge and collect your own passport on your right hand side (the opposite to where you reported when you came in ). Walk back over the bridge changing sides again and report to Thai Immigration after filling in a new white card.

Hope this helps.

[Jonrek2012]

And how for a Filipino? Is it the same?

[trainman34014]

Don't know about Filipino's but I do know that if two of you are going you must not present Burmese Immigration with a 1,000 Baht note for two people as they do not give change. You must put separate 500 Baht note in each passport.

[masuk]

On the way back from the Burmese Immigration, and before you enter Thai immigration, there is a duty free shop (maybe more) on the right.

I was told I could take 3 x 1 litre bottles of drink back into Thailand, which was correct, and they have a good range of the better known European tipples, such as BOLS, etc.

[Mario2008]

Duty free is officially only 1 liter of alcohol.

[whatsupdoc]

Duty free is officially only 1 liter of alcohol.

But at Tachilek you can always take more. Just ask the salesgirls what is currently allowed. Last week it was 2 bottles for a Thai, 3 for a foreigner.

[rene123]

Nobody mentioned this, because it depends on what type of tourist visa you have. Do you have the standard 30 day tourist visa? If that is the case then you only get another 14 days if you leave Thailand and WALk back into the country... such as you would at Mae Sai. However, if you walk or drive out but FLY back into Thailand then you get another 30 days.

However, if you have a multi-entry tourist visa (which you would have purchased in your own country) then you get to start the next portion of your multi-entry tourist visa. You can purchase single entry (60 days), double entry (2 times 60 days) or triple entry (3 times 60 days) tourist visas prior to leaving your own country.

[bobl]

The border run is very easy - there are buses leaving CM at around 8am every day for 750 baht, that's just one company off the top of my head (I think I saw their ad on the CM section of the classifieds) but there are many. I prefer to drive but if I didn't have a car I'd do that.

The question is, why do you need to do a border run? If it's because your visa is finishing (and you've already extended by 30 days at immigration) I hope you know you'll only get 15 days from a border run? On the other hand if it's to 'activate' the next entry of a multiple entry visa, no problem just cross and back, and you'll get your next 60 days activated. If you don't want to do any shopping, just tell them "no shopping" and they'll stamp your passport in/out and hand it back to you, you can walk straight back to the Thai side.

As others have mentioned you don't need a visa for Myanmar. It's cheaper than crossing to Laos and back, just 500 baht (you MIGHT be able to use a crisp, new US$10 bill but unlike Laos, whether they'll accept US$ is very hit & miss).

[hellodolly]

The border run is very easy - there are buses leaving CM at around 8am every day for 750 baht, that's just one company off the top of my head (I think I saw their ad on the CM section of the classifieds) but there are many. I prefer to drive but if I didn't have a car I'd do that.

The question is, why do you need to do a border run? If it's because your visa is finishing (and you've already extended by 30 days at immigration) I hope you know you'll only get 15 days from a border run? On the other hand if it's to 'activate' the next entry of a multiple entry visa, no problem just cross and back, and you'll get your next 60 days activated. If you don't want to do any shopping, just tell them "no shopping" and they'll stamp your passport in/out and hand it back to you, you can walk straight back to the Thai side.

As others have mentioned you don't need a visa for Myanmar. It's cheaper than crossing to Laos and back, just 500 baht (you MIGHT be able to use a crisp, new US$10 bill but unlike Laos, whether they'll accept US$ is very hit & miss).

Solid advice.

Also if you have the multiple 60 day visa be sure to check they stamp it for 60 days. My first experience with them they only stamped it for 30 days and I had to go back to Mai Sai to get it changed, They would not do it here in Chiang Mai immigration.

Seems every body else here was talking 500 baht. The last time we had a thread on this the talk was pretty much U S $10 bill are the times a changing.

[heybruce]

Nobody mentioned this, because it depends on what type of tourist visa you have. Do you have the standard 30 day tourist visa? If that is the case then you only get another 14 days if you leave Thailand and WALk back into the country... such as you would at Mae Sai. However, if you walk or drive out but FLY back into Thailand then you get another 30 days.

However, if you have a multi-entry tourist visa (which you would have purchased in your own country) then you get to start the next portion of your multi-entry tourist visa. You can purchase single entry (60 days), double entry (2 times 60 days) or triple entry (3 times 60 days) tourist visas prior to leaving your own country.

It's also important to note that if you have a one year visa but don't have a multi-entry stamp, you will invalidate your visa as soon as you cross the border. I don't think this applies to the OP, but this has caused problems for some people.

[ataloss]

What time does the bus leave Mai Sai for CMai? Best not to miss the return trip.

[hellodolly]

Nobody mentioned this, because it depends on what type of tourist visa you have. Do you have the standard 30 day tourist visa? If that is the case then you only get another 14 days if you leave Thailand and WALk back into the country... such as you would at Mae Sai. However, if you walk or drive out but FLY back into Thailand then you get another 30 days.

However, if you have a multi-entry tourist visa (which you would have purchased in your own country) then you get to start the next portion of your multi-entry tourist visa. You can purchase single entry (60 days), double entry (2 times 60 days) or triple entry (3 times 60 days) tourist visas prior to leaving your own country.

It's also important to note that if you have a one year visa but don't have a multi-entry stamp, you will invalidate your visa as soon as you cross the border. I don't think this applies to the OP, but this has caused problems for some people.

Especial in you are new. When I first toured in Myanmar I was new armed with my brand spanking new retirement visa. As I was crossing into Burma the Thai side informed me that I would only be allowed a 30 day apon return. I of course did not go until I had been to Immigration for a multi entry. At the time in Mai Sai it was extremely fast I was the only one in immigration.

[masuk]

Duty free is officially only 1 liter of alcohol.

Yes, so I was told, but also told that they allow 3x 1 litres.

[masuk]

What time does the bus leave Mai Sai for CMai? Best not to miss the return trip.

I think you'll find you have a choice of departure and return times. I allowed 3 hours after arriving to get everything done, have some lunch etc. Got back to Chiang Mai around 8pm.

Take ear plugs. at times they have the most ghastly entertainment on the on-board TV.

[whatsupdoc]

The border run is very easy - there are buses leaving CM at around 8am every day for 750 baht, that's just one company off the top of my head (I think I saw their ad on the CM section of the classifieds) but there are many. I prefer to drive but if I didn't have a car I'd do that.

The question is, why do you need to do a border run? If it's because your visa is finishing (and you've already extended by 30 days at immigration) I hope you know you'll only get 15 days from a border run? On the other hand if it's to 'activate' the next entry of a multiple entry visa, no problem just cross and back, and you'll get your next 60 days activated. If you don't want to do any shopping, just tell them "no shopping" and they'll stamp your passport in/out and hand it back to you, you can walk straight back to the Thai side.

As others have mentioned you don't need a visa for Myanmar. It's cheaper than crossing to Laos and back, just 500 baht (you MIGHT be able to use a crisp, new US$10 bill but unlike Laos, whether they'll accept US$ is very hit & miss).

Solid advice.

Also if you have the multiple 60 day visa be sure to check they stamp it for 60 days. My first experience with them they only stamped it for 30 days and I had to go back to Mai Sai to get it changed, They would not do it here in Chiang Mai immigration.

Seems every body else here was talking 500 baht. The last time we had a thread on this the talk was pretty much U S $10 bill are the times a changing.

Last Saturday they refused my crisp US$10 bill. First time this happened to me, but will try again next time.

[market trader]

Guess they finally got the message that the crisp U.S. $10.00 is now worth 292 bahts.

[Jonrek2012]

I have a double entry visa and I already make an extension for it.

Just $10 or 500bhat,Is this all you need to bring there in Maesi/Burma border?

[bobl]

I have a double entry visa and I already make an extension for it.

Just $10 or 500bhat,Is this all you need to bring there in Maesi/Burma border?

Other than yourself, yes... If you're not shopping, the whole thing can be done in 5 minutes.

[Jonrek2012]

I have a double entry visa and I already make an extension for it.

Just $10 or 500bhat,Is this all you need to bring there in Maesi/Burma border?

Other than yourself, yes... If you're not shopping, the whole thing can be done in 5 minutes.

thats good then... i just want to activate my 2nd entry and thats it..

just go inside and exit, no?

[Greenwich Boy]

I have a double entry visa and I already make an extension for it.

Just $10 or 500bhat,Is this all you need to bring there in Maesi/Burma border?

Other than yourself, yes... If you're not shopping, the whole thing can be done in 5 minutes.

thats good then... i just want to activate my 2nd entry and thats it..

just go inside and exit, no?

I have just been to the bus station to book tickets to Mae Sai for next week. Fat Farang VIP seats at the front 364B each way. Leaves at 8am, return leaves at 3.30pm. No dramas but agree with the recommendation to book seats a little bit in advance and don't leave it until the day your visa expires - just in case - floods, pestilence and gawd knows what else.

[Bluenose BKK]

For anyone going to the Mae Sai/Tachileik border crossing,I've done it and it's absolutely stunning scenery through Chiang Rai to Mae Sai,some of ther most beautiful I've seen anywhere in Thailand!

It's not so far to drive,by memory maybe 3 or 4 hours each way and you can rent a car like a Toyota Vios in Chiang Mai for 1,000 baht a day.I strongly suggest you rent a car and drive there and back,rather than pay 650 for the bus.It's an easy journey to navigate anyway,head straight for Phayao and turn left at the big T-junction to Chiang Rai,then it's all signposted to Mae Sai.

I stayed overnight in Chiang Rai as it was in the middle of a tropical rainstorm at night but if you go early you'll be back early evening.

[Bluenose BKK]

I have a double entry visa and I already make an extension for it.

Just $10 or 500bhat,Is this all you need to bring there in Maesi/Burma border?

Other than yourself, yes... If you're not shopping, the whole thing can be done in 5 minutes.

thats good then... i just want to activate my 2nd entry and thats it..

just go inside and exit, no?

That's all you have to do,maybe stop for a Myanmar beer by the river!

[Semper]

I have a double entry visa and I already make an extension for it.

Just $10 or 500bhat,Is this all you need to bring there in Maesi/Burma border?

They might ask you to show 10 or 20K (depends on your visa) when you return to Thailand. This is not very likely, but sometimes it happens.

[bobl]

I have a double entry visa and I already make an extension for it.

Just $10 or 500bhat,Is this all you need to bring there in Maesi/Burma border?

Other than yourself, yes... If you're not shopping, the whole thing can be done in 5 minutes.

thats good then... i just want to activate my 2nd entry and thats it..

just go inside and exit, no?

If you don't plan to shop, yes.

I've seen people get confused at the Myanmar side and get ushered into the seat to take a photo / print a day pass - which you need to do if you're going to visit the market at the Myanmar side. There's no harm in doing so but in all honesty there's nothing much at the Myanmar side to write home about, other than getting hustled every 10 seconds by viagra, cigarette, 'tour' and 'short time' touts.

If you don't fancy that, when you arrive at Myanmar immigration simply hand them your pp with your 500b and tell them "no shopping" and they'll skip the photo/day pass and just stamp you in and out - do a u turn and walk straight back to the Thai side - there's plenty shops at the Thai side for picking up cheap tat, and the prices are pretty much the same as the Myanmar side.

[eyecatcher]

I do my border runs on the bus, and what I have realised now, is that the district border police get on the bus at least twice in each direction.

occasionally they will check everyones bag for some contraband or other, but they are jjust nontialently looking, and they are more interested in local movement of people.

Where they never look is on the overhead racks.....SO; if you happen to have a little more "allowance" than you are entitled to then always bung it up over your head where cant be linked to any particular passenger.

[kjhbigv]

I have a double entry visa and I already make an extension for it.

Just $10 or 500bhat,Is this all you need to bring there in Maesi/Burma border?

They might ask you to show 10 or 20K (depends on your visa) when you return to Thailand. This is not very likely, but sometimes it happens.

I would say HIGHLY unlikely....in 5 years and loads of times crossing in and out there, I have never been asked for proof of that. I know it is officially a rule but very unlikely!

[Jonrek2012]

Wew ! That was an Adventure.... We just Finish our Border Run.

A lil Bit chaotic there but cool area.

Thank you Guys!

[bristolgeoff]

if you like motor bikes hire a big bike and make a trip out of it.stay chiang rai or mai sai one night.visa runs are easy,no more 10 dollars because the exchange rate is low.so 500 baht is the cost at the border