Mae Sai Border Checkpoint 1 — Local services in Mae Sai district

Used to be a very popular spot for expat visa runs until Thai immigration put a stop to it a few years ago. Since the upgrading of the 4 Thai-Myanmar border crossings to international status on August 28, 2013, this border has become popular as an entry/exit point for travellers to Myanmar. Note however that this border does not allow you to travel fully overland - the furthest you can go by road is to Kengtung or sometimes to Mongla on the Chinese border. Beyond that, you need to fly to Heho airport near Inle Lake to continue overland. The road between Kengtung and Taunggyi is closed to foreigners unless you pay a large amount for a special permit. As a result, and the relatively large distance from major attractions makes this crossing less attractive for foreigners than the Mae Sot/Myawaddy crossing. However, for daytripping Thais and expats with proper visas, Tachilek's market and other attractions make it far more popular than Myawaddy.

You can drive a car or motorcycle across the border but you won't be allowed to leave town unless you go on a tour. It used to be possible to drive up to Mong La without purchasing a tour but lobbying by Tachilek taxi drivers put a stop to that a few years ago. edit however, as of July 2018 I have been informed by Thai customs it may still be possible to drive a Thai car as far as Chiang Tung (Kengtung) and possibly Mong La without making pre-arrangements as long as you hire a guide at the border for 1000 THB a day (note this information is subject to change and Thai customs may not be in cohoots with Burmese customs). For travel within Tachilek and to the Golden Triangle casino on the Myanmar side no guide is required, only if you head north to Kengtung.

update August 2019 travel to Mong La, with or without a visa is uncertain at this time. Some sources say day time travel (with a guide) is your only option, others say no foreigners are allowed to visit Mong La at present. As for driving a car or motorcycle beyond the Tachilek city limits without a tour, this is uncertain. The good news however is that it's relatively straightforward to drive your own vehicle into Myanmar at this crossing and into the interior of Myanmar via the Kengtung-Taunggyi road if you apply for the permits and permissions through a travel agency. The only caveat is that it costs $$$

There are still two methods of entry even though this border crossing is now fully international: 1) entry with no visa using a border pass, allowing a stay of 1 or 14 days upon payment of US$10 or 500 Baht (better pay in US$) with travel permitted up to Kengtung (or depending on the security situation as far as Mongla) or 30 Baht + 10 Baht on the Myanmar side for Thai nationals not intending on leaving Tachilek 2) entry with a 28 day tourist visa or 70 day...

Mae Sai Border Get intimate with the bustling border town of Mae Sai, a city right on the edge of Myanmar busy with locals and tourists. Situated in the Chiang Rai province, it is the best-known town in the Golden Triangle region, the mountainous terrain where Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos meet. In Mae Sai, Thailand is geographically separated from Myanmar by the Ruak River, but culture and trade flow in both directions. Come here for a glimpse and taste of both Burmese and Thai heritage in one setting. Mae Sai is full of busy traffic, open air food stalls, and the usual outdoor market fares. Burmese citizens cross the bridge at the border to work in Mae Sai and then jet back to Myanmar by nightfall. For a small fee, you can walk across the bridge into Myanmar to shop at their local markets, or to make a quick visa run, as many travelers do. Myanmar immigration will allow you to shop and look around for a few hours with a 500 THB temporary pass. Shopping and Scorpions: There’s plenty to do, and more to buy. The Mae Sai Market stretches along the river selling an endless assortment of goods like tea, clothing, home appliances, gemstones, and knockoffs dispersed throughout their stalls. Walk deeper into the winding covered alleyways to stumble upon small cafes and restaurants. After exploring Mae Sai Market, get off the beaten path at Wat Phra That Doi Wao. This is the infamous Scorpion Temple that instantly stuns new visitors. Legend has it that the King of Chiang Saen kept scorpions as pets while reigning over the sanctuary. As soon as you reach the top of the temple’s hill, a giant black scorpion statue towers overhead, threatening the northeastern border with its claws. Views from the temple overlook Myanmar and Tachileik, the Burmese border counterpart to Mae Sai. There is a bit of a hike up the hill, so grab an ice-cold drink at Mae Sai Market before trekking up to the temple. Beyond the Border: Mae Sai draws some travellers in with its unique products and others with its reputation for being the country’s northernmost district in the Chiang Rai province. Instead of breezing past, take a moment (or many) to explore an often-overlooked city that can easily become an interesting day trip. Be sure to check on current Thai immigration policies if you’re interested in crossing over the border into Burma and back for shopping, sightseeing, or a...

I came to Mae Sai to do a border run and to visit Myanmar for the 1st time. I stayed at the Yunnan hotel which is only 20 minutes walk from the border. I exchanged 330 Baht for a 10 USD note. You will also be told by the Thai border guard (and the Lonely Planet) to pay 500 Baht to the Burmese border guard but 10 USD will also do the trick and save you money. You pass through the Thai passport control walk along the bridge (cross to the other side). Once at the Myanmar passport check put the crisp 10 USD note into your passport. You will be asked to sit inside an office. They will take down your details and the money and take your passport. You will get a receipt. I'm not sure how long you can spend in Tachiliek but I think it's until the border closes. I spent 2 hours there. You are free to wander around Tachiliek .I just wanted to see a new country and do a border run. Just after the border bridge there are some stairs on the right. There are market stalls selling cheap cigarettes etc etc. They kept trying to sell to me but I'm a non smoker. They are not aggressive at all. Just politely say no (or yes, upto you). At the end of the market street, the street on the left has a couple of duty free alcohol places, so I stopped and had a cheap Burmese beer for 35 Baht (everywhere accepts Thai Baht that I could see). I sat outside the shop, they have seating and chilled out. They were also selling Leo for 20 Baht so I had one of those. I didn't want to spend too long in Tachiliek as I was a bit nervous about my passport. I shouldn't have been worried. I crossed back over the bridge, handed over the receipt (my passport had magically gone to the other side of the bridge :-) and got my passport back. On the Thai side of the bridge I had to fill in a new departure card and got a new 30 day stamp in my passport. Both directions only took about 5 minutes I think. Border guards on both sides were very friendly and the experience was painless. 10 USD to visit a new country and to extend my stay in Thailand for 30 days, worth...