TravelTips24 : Asia : Southeast Asia : Thailand : North : Chiang Rai : Mae Sai

Mae Sai

Table of Contents

Travel to Mae Sai, visa requirements / Get around / Mae Sai attractions and sightseeing / City tours / Shopping, Mae Sai souvenirs / Good restaurants and cheap meals / Mae Sai nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs. / Hotels, youth hostels, lodging / Get out

Mae Sai (แม่สาย) is the northern-most city of Thailand. It is mainly a stepping stone for visits to Myanmar and has no attractions of its own.

Travel to Mae Sai & Visa Requirements

By bus from Chiang Rai (there are day-tours taking visitors to Mae Sai and the Golden Triangle)

By car which can be rented in Chiang Mai and other cities

Tours & Getting around Mae Sai

On foot, exploring the border area which is probably the only place worth seeing

By car

Mae Sai attractions and sightseeing

The border

Mae Sai city tours

Take a picture with the gate marking the northern-most point of Thailand

Cross the bridge into Tachileik, Myanmar. As of September 2006, a single-day entry permit costs US$10 - travellers using this option are given a paper entry permit and their passports are held at the immigration office until they return to Thailand. Short-term visas-on-arrival are available at this border crossing but they only allow travel in the local area - to travel to the rest of Myanmar, a visa in advance is needed.

- May 2008 the entry fee to Myanmar is 500 Thai Baht or $10 US, and this gives you a 14 day entry permit to the local area. This entry permit has photo id and you are required to leave your passport with Myanmar immigration. Transit travelers can arrange for a visa and can have their passport sent to their port of exit.

Mae Sai souvenirs & shopping

There are plenty of small shops lining both sides of the street leading to the border crossing that sell:

Cheap jewels (rubies, emerald and jade) imported from Myanmar
Cheap curio items, many of which are imported from China
Fresh cut fruit

Mae Sai Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

Mae Sai nightlife, bars, clubs & pubs

Mae Sai cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels & lodging

Thip Sukon House Hotel = This hotel is probably the best of the lot on the same road as the old King Kobra hotel.From the 3rd floor you have a view right into Myanmar and the Sai River.

Get out

On foot across the short bridge to Tachileik, Myanmar

By bus or car to Chiang Rai and beyond

This page was last edited at 18:03, on 4 July 2008 by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by Philipp Schäufele, brynus, Jani Patokallio and Robert Biuk-Aghai and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel.

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