Ranong:- Relevant agencies are now trying to establish Thailand’s Ranong province as a gateway to Myanmar’s tourism.

“There are more than 800 beautiful islands around Myanmar’s Mergui Archipelago,” Ranong Tourism Association’s chairman Sonchai Uiteckeng points out.

He says his association is now working with the Tourism Authority of Thailand, the Ranong Tour Operators Association and Ranong Tourism Industry Council to make sure that Ranong can benefit from the Mergui Archipelago’s huge tourism potential.

“We plan to offer combined package tour allowing tourists to enjoy both Ranong’s attractions and the Mergui Archipelago’s islands,” he says.

In a related development, the TAT is promoting a new tour route that brings cyclists to both Thailand’s Ranong and Myanmar’s Kawthaung.

The route starts from Ranong, which offers interesting destinations like Pornrang Hot Spring, Ngao Temple, Ngao market, a local museum, a mangrove forest and a trail along the places that King Rama V visited over a century ago.

Cyclists can then take a ferry to the nearby Kawthaung and travel further to the Maliwan City, which hosts a Thai temple, on their bicycle.

TAT has described cycling as a great means to enjoy adventurous and eco tourism.

The 2nd Ranong – Kawthaung Relationship Cycling 2015 took place between February 28 and March 1 this year for 300 Thai cyclists to explore this tour route. The TAT has joined hands with various organizations including the Cycling Club in organizing the two-day trip.

“We would like to introduce tourists to attractions in border zones too,” Ranong Governor Suriyan Kanchanasilp says, “With the ASEAN Economic Community materializing, it will be easy to travel across borders here”.

That's a great plan but there are a few obstacles on the Myanmar side. First of all, someone better tell the Ranong tourism association chairman Mr. Sonchai that all foreigners (including Thais of course) need a permit to visit the Mergui archipelago and can't just show up there.

While it's now possible to travel overland from Kawthoung to Myeik (previously most people would fly or catch a fast boat) apparently you aren't allowed to cycle or ride a motorcycle between Kawthoung and Bokpyin, which is more than half way to Myeik. That means catching either an uncomfortable bus or taxi, although it wasn't that long ago that you were advised to catch a boat or fly. Even now some people might say you can't catch a bus, but in reality a number of foreigners have done so without much problem, but the ride is very, very long and uncomfortable.

See this interesting trip report for more information:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1036005

One more thing: since there's no bridge between the two countries there, how do cyclists "ride" between Ranong and Kawthoung? They would have to cycle Ranong first, get on a boat, stop off for immigration on the Myanmar side, get off the boat and then cycle around Kawthoung before returning the same way they came. Kind of inconvenient and time consuming, given that they can't really cycle directly across the border as they would be able to further north, at the Mae Sot/Myawady crossing, which also allows cyclists to continue over the mountain range to Hpa-an and beyond, without the ridiculous restrictions you'll find north of Kawthoung as outlined on the trip report above.