Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
TACHILEIK-MAE SAI BORDER CROSSING
Using this border to cross into Thailand has been a far, far simpler affair since 2013, when
fiddly restrictions were relaxed. You no longer need permission from Yangon to cross, or
pre-booked transport to the border, merely government permission to take the bus from
Kengtung. Coming into Myanmar is a slightly different matter; visas are not issued at the
border, so you'll need one arranged beforehand, unless you're opting for one of the free
14-day temporary visas (which allow you no further than the Tachileik city limits). The
border immigration offices are open daily 6am-6pm.
The pleasant Thai town of MaeSai hugs up against the border. Small red buses make the
trip between the border and the bus station for 15 baht, while it's more like 40 baht by mo-
torbike, or 80 baht by taxi. Mae Sai has regular connections to and from Chiang Rai (1hr
30min),slightlylessfrequentonestoChiangMai(4-5hr),andotherstodestinationsacross
Thailand.
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE: TACHILEIK
Byplane Tachileik'ssmallairportis10kmnortheastofthetowncentre,justeastoftheKeng-
tung road (100 baht by motorbike, or 300 baht by tuk-tuk). Note that while there's a daily
flight to Kengtung, the machinations of local flight schedules mean that flights only arrive
from there once a week. You can buy tickets from various agencies around the junction just
up from the Thai border; if you're in Thailand and intending to fly from Tachileik to other
parts of Myanmar than Kengtung, try to find out the schedule before crossing the border, or
you could be in for a boring few days' wait.
Destinations Heho(3weekly,sometimesviaLashio;1hr);Kengtung(1daily;25min);Lash-
io (2-3 weekly; 1hr 5min; Mandalay (1-2 daily; 1hr 10min); Yangon (5 weekly; 1hr 35min).
By bus Numerous companies have two daily services to Kengtung (5hr), all departing at
either 8am, then again at 11am. It's best to buy tickets at the town's hotels, even if you're not
staying. You'll also need official permission for this journey; the guards on the Burmese side
of the Thai border will tell you which particular office to head to, and you'll need to present
your bus ticket and passport. The permission slips must be photocopied up to six times for
presentation at local checkpoints - this can usually be done when buying the ticket, though
it sometimes incurs an extra fee. The station itself is 2km from the centre on the Kengtung
road, and easily accessible by tuk-tuk (10 baht) or motorbike (40 baht).
ACCOMMODATION AND EATING
In general, you'll get far more bang for your baht by staying over the Thai border in Mae Sai
instead. Baht's the preferred currency in Kengtung's hotels, though they'll accept kyat and
(usually) dollars too.
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