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TravelTips24 : Asia : Southeast Asia : Thailand : Central Plains : Kanchanaburi : Three Pagodas Pass

Three Pagodas Pass

Three Pagodas Pass (Thai: ด่านเจดีย์สามองค์ Darn Chedi Sam Ong) is on the Thai-Myanmar border, but only accessible to foreigners from the Thai side. It is located between Sangkhlaburi in Kanchanaburi Province (Thailand) and Payathonzu in Kayin State (Myanmar).

Culture and History

The Three Pagodas Pass was for centuries along the main land route between India and South East Asia. The strategic location was last exploited by the Japanese during World War II, who used POW labor to build the infamous Death Railway to ferry supplies across.

Travel to Three Pagodas Pass & Visa Requirements

From Thailand: the nearest major town is Kanchanaburi. There are frequent bus services from Kanchanaburi to Sangkhlaburi (4-5 hours), from where you can continue by pickup truck (30-40 min, departures hourly).

From Myanmar: the nearest town is Payathonzu, however foreigners can only get there from Thailand via Three Pagodas Pass, can only leave by returning to Thailand via Three Pagodas Pass, and cannot stay in Payathonzu overnight.

Tours & Getting around Three Pagodas Pass

At the final songthaew stop either walk (head for the Three Pagodas and then turn right) or take a motorbike to the border (you'll be very limited in what you'll be able to visit without a motorbike). As of July 2006, it is not a problem to take a motorbike, even a rented one, across the border, but things can easily change.

At the Thai border you need a photocopy of your passport and 2 passport photos; your passport will be held at the checkpoint, and you must return on the same day. At the Myanmar checkpoint you need US$10 (if paying with US$ notes) or 500 baht (if paying with Thai currency) - therefore it's best to change some baht to US$ before leaving Kanchanaburi. Don't expect the border officials to know about anything called Euro. There are no banks here, the nearest (Siam Commercial Bank) is back in Sangkhlaburi. You only need US$ for the Myanmar entry permit - once in Myanmar, Thai baht is accepted for everything else.

Back at the border your passport will be returned and you can head back the same way back as you came. There is also the possibility to take a bus directly from Kanchanaburi to the Three Pagodas Pass. Note that you will not receive any passport stamps (neither Thai exit or entry stamps, nor Myanmar entry or exit stamps) - hence this border crossing cannot be used for "visa runs".

Three Pagodas Pass attractions and sightseeing

The Thai side of the pass consists of the three smallish chedi, a couple of shrines, a market oriented around Burmese goods (carved wood, gems, textiles), and the border gate to Myanmar.

In Myanmar you can take a look at a few temples as well as a market. None is really in any way very special. However there is one temple that is up on a hill, from where you get a great view across the border land.

On 3 may 2008 the border was closed for crossing.

Three Pagodas Pass city tours

Three Pagodas Pass souvenirs & shopping

Burmese wooden furniture, jade carvings, and textiles are popular purchases.

Three Pagodas Pass Restaurants: cheap, moderate and expensive

On the way from Sangkhla Buri there is a concrete bridge. Down to the right is a small restaurant on the river. There is also another restaurant on the roadside just past this on the right hand side that does meals for around 25 baht.

Just before the Three Pagodas themselves there is a resort with a restaurant attached but this was not open in February 2008.

Three Pagodas Pass nightlife, bars, clubs & pubs

Three Pagodas Pass cheap and luxurious hotels, youth hostels & lodging

There is a Three Pagodas resort just uphill from the border, but this was closed for refurbishment in February 2008. The accommodation consists of about 20 small air conditioned chalets.

Stay safe

The area around the pass has occasionally been the site of skirmishes between the Myanmarese army and various Karen and Mon rebel groups. However, any such activity will mean that the pass is closed, so risk to tourists is minimal.

Get out

The Burmese side of the border is a dead end for tourists, so the only way out is back to Thailand.

This page was last edited at 08:09, on 14 May 2008 by Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel. Based on work by Matthew Caldwell and Jani Patokallio, Wikitravel user(s) Morph and Anonymous user(s) of Wikitravel.

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