Kawthaung Border office

[martabak]

I'm planning on travelling from Ranong to Kawthuong & onwards (by plane - I've given up my plans to go by road ). I was wondering if anyone could share any crossing experiences?

I'd like to catch a 10:30 flight to Yangon, so ideally I'll cross at the crack of dawn - I'm certain that I can get a boat at pretty much any time of the day (like anywhere in SEA), but I'm particularly concerned about what time the border office opens, and how long I might expect to wait.

Thanks!

Edited November 12, 2014 by martabak

[SeaVisionBurma]

Hello martabak

It is unlikely you could cross the border and jump on a flight the same morning.

Kawthaung is unusual in that respect. You normally cross over, and then find a local agent to book a flight and the earliest will be the next day as they have to apply for tickets a day in advance.

You might be lucky.

Flights do not depart every day from Kawthaung to Yangon/Myeik and can be cancelled from day to day.

However send me a PM and I will give you some contact details for a local person in Kawthaung who may be able to get a reservation in advance

Hope this helps

SVB

[martabak]

I actually already have a ticket with Air KBZ, I'm weighing up whether I need to re-schedule it in light of the border processing issues.

Thanks, I'll be in touch if I need a later flight.

[Tomtomtom69]

Border there opens at 6am; not sure if it's 6am Thai time or 6am Myanmar time. At other border crossings with Thailand, it's 6am Myanmar time so you can assume the same at Kawthoung, but as SVB has said, flying out of Kawthoung the same day might prove difficult unless advance arrangements have been made.

[phuketrichard]

should be no trouble

be there when immigration opens

grab a boat for 250 baht one way on ur own takes about 15 minutes to cross

no idea how far the airport is thou

as long as it doesn't cancel and if so, u stay for a night there, no big deal

[Tomtomtom69]

should be no trouble

be there when immigration opens

grab a boat for 250 baht one way on ur own takes about 15 minutes to cross

no idea how far the airport is thou

as long as it doesn't cancel and if so, u stay for a night there, no big deal

I haven't been to the airport there, but I hear it's about 12km north of Kawthoung. So shouldn't take more than about 30 mins to reach there from the pier? But the key is buying a ticket first and that is better done in town than at the airport. I have never flown domestically in Myanmar but can imagine it might be difficult to purchase a ticket at the airport and you would be directed to a travel agency.

[SeaVisionBurma]

should be no trouble

be there when immigration opens

grab a boat for 250 baht one way on ur own takes about 15 minutes to cross

no idea how far the airport is thou

as long as it doesn't cancel and if so, u stay for a night there, no big deal

I haven't been to the airport there, but I hear it's about 12km north of Kawthoung. So shouldn't take more than about 30 mins to reach there from the pier? But the key is buying a ticket first and that is better done in town than at the airport. I have never flown domestically in Myanmar but can imagine it might be difficult to purchase a ticket at the airport and you would be directed to a travel agency.

OP already has a ticket

[nara80]

I have done it before.

I went to Ranong immigration office at Ranong Pier on 7:30 (Open daily 7:00 - 18:00)

8:00 we took long tail boat crossing to Kawthang.

I stopped at Myanmar custom office which boat driver took my passports to their office it take 2-3 min.

I was awaiting on boat and then boat driver returned passports back.

I arrived Kawtahung Jetty on 8:15 local time (8:45 Thai time), I went to Myanmar immigration officer which is the small building on the right hand side is the border control by Myo Ma Jetty. I took only 30 min to completed

Then I had tea with my Burmese friend and arrived Kawthaung airport 9:30, My flight schedule is 10:30 as well but I actually leave on 11:20 due to flight delayed.

Good luck.

[martabak]

Ranong to kawthoung was painless, however I didn't go to the immigration office - I assumed that the first stop was where it happened... That would explain why one hotel said they couldn't find my entrance stamp.

I guess I'll wait and see what happens when I leave tomorrow. Could be interesting

Incidentally, the flight out from kawthaung to yangon was a little tedious. After buying a ticket (the agent refused one crisp 100USD bill because of a slightly folded corner - the rumours are certainly true) I was urgently whisked away to the airport, which is a 30 minute ojek away. There I waited for at least three hours. There is nothing to look at or do other than read a book and drink tea.