Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
While Kawthaung's outskirts sprawl along the coastline, the centre of town is compact and
easy to navigate on foot. As you arrive at the jetty you'll see the
clocktower
, 100m inland -
Airport Road curves uphill southwest of here, and the main market sits a block to the north.
It's possible to stroll around the southernmost point of mainland Myanmar at
Bayinnaung
Point
(originally named Victoria Point by the British, and provocatively renamed after the
Burmese king that sacked Ayutthaya in 1564) and to the north of town is the
555Viewpoint
,
which offers great views of the islands and away across the border to Ranong.
Further afield,
Maliwan Waterfall
lies 40km overland to the northeast, and you can sun-
bathe at
Palutonetone Beach
on Thane Island 7km northwest, which is reached across a
bridge from the mainland.
KAWTHAUNG-RANONG BORDER CROSSING
The
Kawthaung-Ranongbordercrossing
straddlestheKraBuriorPakchanRiver.Boats
(100-150 baht one-way) cruise from one side to the other while the crossing is open (daily
6am-5.30pm, Myanmar time). There's one short stop close to Kawthaung for Myanmar
passport control, and another closer to Ranong for citizens of ASEAN member states, be-
fore you reach Thai passport control. Once outside the Thai border post, there are ATMs
and it's a 20 baht pick-up ride to Ranong bus station.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE: KAWTHAUNG
By plane
Kawthaung's airport is 11km north of town (K3000 by motorbike taxi, K7000 in
a tuk-tuk). Air KBZ, Air Mandalay and Yangon Airways all operate daily flights to Yangon
that stop briefly in Myeik and Dawei. Friendly ticket booker U Zaw Min Oo ( 09 4100
5428), who works out of a booth 50m south of the clocktower, has the best prices.
Destinations
Dawei (3 daily; 1hr 45min); Myeik (3 daily; 45min); Yangon (3 daily; 3hr).
By boat
Kawthaung's jetty, for motorboats to Myeik and
Dawei
, and immigration office are
towards the southern end of Kawthaung's Strand Rd. Boats to Ranong in Thailand depart
from a temporary-looking jetty just north of where the fast boats arrive.
Destinations
Dawei (daily; 11-12hr); Myeik (daily; 7-8hr).
GETTING AROUND
By motorbike taxi and tuk-tuk
A motorbike taxi around town will cost K1000, while the
return trips out to Palutonetone Beach or 555 Viewpoint will cost K3000-3500 with waiting
time. The longer journey out to Maliwan Waterfall costs K8000-10,000, depending on your
haggling skills. Tuk-tuks will cost at least double the motorbike taxi fare. Drivers gather on
the street between the jetty and clocktower, and outside
J-Bon Coffee and Cold
on Airport
Rd.
