Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
MYAWADDY-MAE SOT BORDER CROSSING
Since the Myanmar government removed a rule requiring foreigners to leave their pass-
portsatthe
Myawaddy-MaeSotbordercrossing
in2013,numbersofoverlandtravellers
using this border have increased dramatically. The Myanmar border post (daily
6am-5.30pm)isonthewestsideoftheMoeiRiver.Foreignerscanuseasmallimmigration
office, rather than queuing with the locals. From here, it's a short walk over the Friendship
Bridge to the Thai side of the border (6.30am-6.30pm Thai time) and a 50
baht
pick-up
ride to Mae Sot's bus station, from where there are direct buses to Bangkok (6 daily; 8hr)
and Tak (hourly; 1hr 30min). From Tak there are direct buses to Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai,
Lampang and Mae Sai.
ARRIVAL AND GETTING AROUND: MYAWADDY
By shared taxi
Minivans to Mawlamyine (6hr) and Hpa-An (6hr) leave from the main road
justbeyondtheborderpostwhenfullandwhentheroadisopenintherightdirection.Itcosts
K10,000 per person to either destination. A branch of Vega Travel ( 09 0440 9590), inside
the immigration office, also arranges minivans to Yangon for K45,000/person.
By motorbike taxi
A motorbike taxi costs K500/person for a ride anywhere in town.
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
River View Guesthouse
By the river 058 51061 or 08 2774 4006 (Thailand).
Visible
fromthebridge,
River View
isanadequatemid-rangeoptionwithspacious,cleanroomsscen-
ted with mothballs and furnished with the usual assortment of orphaned furniture. It's also
oneofthemostpopularplacestoeatanddrinkinMyawaddy.Themenuhasagoodselection
of fried dishes, salads and cold draught beer, but it's on the expensive side, startin
g at K20
00
for a salad. Decent wi-fi and a good breakfast in the riverside restaurant included.
K20,000
Yuzana Guesthouse
Yuzana St 09 312 23912.
The only budget option in town,
Yuzana
is
tucked away down a side street just south of the border post - look for its blue walls. The
crampedfan-cooledroomsarethecheapestoption,anda/
croom
sstartfromK15,000(or500
baht); all have shared bathrooms. Breakfast not included.
K8000
DIRECTORY
Banks
The KBZ Bank has an ATM as well as currency exchange upstairs - the rates are
better than the branch of CB Bank opposite, but neither bank will exchange Thai baht. To
change baht you'll need to stop in at the Vega Travel desk inside the immigration office, or
take your chances at one of the roadside booths.
