Thread: Visa run to Kanchanaburi now possible

Originally Posted by somtamslap

Originally Posted by Bangyai

Needless to say ...........there was no Burmese visa in the passport.

If there had been, Bangers, would it have taken up a full page? Any ideas?

Can't speak from experience but it's a pretty fair bet that a Burmese visa probably takes up as much space as everyone elses so likely a full page wasted if you are only doing an in out. But as everyone knows....you don't really need a visa for this ......... its just a scam. From where you are ST ( Pak Chong ? ), if you were contemplating a visa run to Burma, Mae Sot would be nearer. The Burmese stamps there are nicely small and waste a minimum of space. The other good thing is that hotels in Tak are the best value in Thailand. 380 baht will get you a nice room with all mod cons and a bit of breaky thrown in. Nice town too.

Kanchanaburi is good if you live in Bangkok, especially if you are west of the river. The drive there is built up all the way and pretty dull with lots of traffic. Only gets quieter the other side of Kan. Still cheaper than Cambodia too.

You pays yer mooney and takes yer choice.

Just found this on the net



So there you have it.

They won't be processing a visa on arrival with a full page and photo at a random land border anytime soon. It is just a scam, but it's cheaper and easier than Cambodia.

I will be doing it myself in a couple of weeks and will report back.

^^ Thanks for the info Bangers.

Pretty sure Mai Sot is a bit further but I've just decided that I'm not gonna bugger about and have opted for Poipet instead.

Only got two pages left in the p-port is all.

Originally Posted by somtamslap

^^ Thanks for the info Bangers.

Pretty sure Mai Sot is a bit further but I've just decided that I'm not gonna bugger about and have opted for Poipet instead.

Only got two pages left in the p-port is all.

Ah.......well, you'll have less than one after a trip to Poipet ( Ban Laem ? )

Still, looking at the map you are right, Mae Sot is further than Kan. Still , only 500 baht or $10 at Mae Sot and very easy. Or Kap Choeng even but I know you've been there so you will know which is easiest. The bummer is that next time with a full passport you won't have a choice unless you get the passport sorted.

Originally Posted by somtamslap

^^ Thanks for the info Bangers.

Pretty sure Mai Sot is a bit further but I've just decided that I'm not gonna bugger about and have opted for Poipet instead.

Only got two pages left in the p-port is all.

They also accept the Cambodian E-Visa at Poipet. $25 and saves a page in the passy. Be warned they also have xray scanners coming back into Thailand now, so will nab your extra whiskeys.

I got caught with 4, I was very polite and they said I could keep 1, with 3 of them confiscated, a more senior guy sitting a bit away shouted over in a malicious questioning tone 'No problem?' to the 2 officers, they replied 'no problem'.

I guess some farang freak out and get angry at their alcohol being taken away from them after they've paid for it, and probably get taught a little bit of Thainess and manners by way of total confiscation and fine or trip to the cells.

Originally Posted by Malcom

I got caught with 4, I was very polite and they said I could keep 1, with 3 of them confiscated, a more senior guy sitting a bit away shouted over in a malicious questioning tone 'No problem?' to the 2 officers, they replied 'no problem'.

Well played Thais. Sounds like they'll be drinking on you for a few nights.

Isn't the rule 2 x bottles at land crossings? At least, is always has been at Mae Sai.

Originally Posted by 9999

Originally Posted by Malcom

I got caught with 4, I was very polite and they said I could keep 1, with 3 of them confiscated, a more senior guy sitting a bit away shouted over in a malicious questioning tone 'No problem?' to the 2 officers, they replied 'no problem'.

Well played Thais. Sounds like they'll be drinking on you for a few nights.

Isn't the rule 2 x bottles at land crossings? At least, is always has been at Mae Sai.

No, you're wrong. The law is the same every other entry point, 1 liter. Though many officers have their own rules and regs set by themselves.

They must get so much at Poipet that 99% of it gets sold back to the casino or dealers. Good if they make a decent wedge this way, lessens the chances of them resorting to stitching up people with yabaa then extorting them.

I brought 6 bottles on my last flight over in December: Bulleit, Knob Creek, 2 bottles of moonshine (apple and blackberry) for my wife's family, and 2 bottles of fine California red for my birthday pizza party. Didn't really care, if I got caught I got caught and I lose my liquor.

I'm doing this run tomorrow.

Originally Posted by War Elephant

I'm doing this run tomorrow.

How was/is it?

Originally Posted by angsta

Originally Posted by War Elephant

I'm doing this run tomorrow.

How was/is it?

Can't send PM until I have 20 posts.

This run is so easy. The road is smooth all the way, the border isn't crowded, there's a nice coffee shop to sit at right up against Thai immigration, and there aren't any of those scummy, sleazy Burmese guys that hang out at some of the other land borders i.e. Ranong.

I showed up, gave the guy 700 baht, he stamped me out and stamped me in. I didn't even go into Myanmar. It took about half an hour at the border. 45 mins drive or so from Kan. The Myanmar stamp is slightly larger than the Thai stamp. All four stamps could take half a page if they conserve space. I didn't have a visa for either country. I got 30 days in Thailand, too. Don't know why, maybe there's been a change in the rules, but it's been a long, long time since I've got 30 days from a land crossing. This is by far the best (Thai) border crossing I've ever been to.

They changed the 30 day rule a few months back. Cheers for the update. I am off tomorrow.

Originally Posted by War Elephant

Originally Posted by angsta

Originally Posted by War Elephant

I'm doing this run tomorrow.

How was/is it?

Can't send PM until I have 20 posts.

This run is so easy. The road is smooth all the way, the border isn't crowded, there's a nice coffee shop to sit at right up against Thai immigration, and there aren't any of those scummy, sleazy Burmese guys that hang out at some of the other land borders i.e. Ranong.

I showed up, gave the guy 700 baht, he stamped me out and stamped me in. I didn't even go into Myanmar. It took about half an hour at the border. 45 mins drive or so from Kan. The Myanmar stamp is slightly larger than the Thai stamp. All four stamps could take half a page if they conserve space. I didn't have a visa for either country. I got 30 days in Thailand, too. Don't know why, maybe there's been a change in the rules, but it's been a long, long time since I've got 30 days from a land crossing. This is by far the best (Thai) border crossing I've ever been to.

What he said. I was driven into Burma and stayed in the car for 2 mins whilst the passport was stamped. Driven back to Thailand and dropped off at immigration where I walked through with just a cursory glance at my passport. Simple.

Originally Posted by angsta

They changed the 30 day rule a few months back. Cheers for the update. I am off tomorrow.

Yeah I read that. I think it was for only a handful of countries. I think there was one major country like France left out and they only get 15 days still. Forget which country it is.

Just got back from Ban Nam Phu Ron/Htee Khee and there have been some changes since last month. Due to "Myanmar raising the price" the fee is now 900 baht. Also, you don't drive your own car across the line anymore. Instead, you are put in a minibus with the other visa runners and bussed to the immigration station inside Myanmar. It was lightning fast, no more than 20 minutes. I actually wanted to drive across because I wanted to take some pictures and look around the market, and there was no time for that with the new procedure.

Another note: When I balked at getting into the minivan, the Burmese guy assured me it was better because then I wouldn't have to pay the 'vehicle fee'. This leads me to believe that you'll be charged more if you drive across, unlike last time. Also, you pay the money to the Burmese guides, who are operating out of a portable building just in front of the Thai immigration exit station. No money changes hands between you and the Thai officials.

Originally Posted by katie23

Hi, here are some questions.
1. Is public transport available (bus, minivans, songthaew, etc) from Kanchanaburi to this Ban Nam Phu Ron/Htee Khee border crossing?
2. Can I get "stamped in" to Myanmar, enter and explore the border town, then be "stamped out" after a few hours? I've read that this is possible for the Mae Sot border, but is this possible here?
3. Is there anything worth seeing in Htee Khee, like temples, museums, etc? I haven't googled it yet.
4. Are there guesthouses in Htee Khee? Is it safe to O/N there? Or is it better to just take a day trip there and stay in Kan for the night?
5. Has anyone tried the Three Pagodas Pass? On maps, it says it's a border crossing, but I don't see much reports of it. Or maybe it's just for Burmese/Thai?

I'm planning a backpacking trip later this year, and I haven't finalized my route. Everytime I see new info, my mind changes, haha. I don't need a visa to enter Myanmar, as the visa restrictions were lifted early this year. Thanks for all the help, will be much appreciated.

1) probably a sporadic songtaew service to Phu Nam Ron from Kan but you would then have to get a motorcycle taxi to the actual border ( a few k )

2) There is no town on the Burmese side...its just a border checkpoint. There is absolutely nothing to see.

3) No

4) No

5) You can enter Burma at the three pagodas pass and apparently there is a small un noteworthy market there ( no town ). You can't as yet, travel any further into Burma and as far as I understand you don't get stamped out of Thailand and into Burma. It can't ( as yet ) be used to renew your Thai Visa.

If you have a proper Burmese Visa, you can cross at Phu Nam Ron into Burma then take a minibus from the checkpoint , down to the Burmese coast at Duwai. Takes about 4 hours over a bad road with good scenery.

.................................................. ..........................................

As for War Elephants update ................why am I not surprised. Just 6 months ago you could go across yourself on a motorcycle taxi and do it for 500 baht.
Three months ago, you couldn't . The Burmese touts had to do it for you while you waited ( no options or getting around it ) ...........cost 700 baht.

Now they have sussed they can squeeze another 200 baht out of it by taking you over in a van. Presumably because they now understand that they are still the cheapest option.

Hopefully, Singhorn will open soon then at least you will be able to combine your visa run with a beach break.

^Thanks Bangyai. I guess I'll go to Mae Sot instad, since I want to explore a border town. Btw, your thread on the O'Smach visa run was what which led me to TD. I was looking for info on crossing that border to Cambodia, and your post showed up on Google. Cheers!

Originally Posted by katie23

Hi, here are some questions.
1. Is public transport available (bus, minivans, songthaew, etc) from Kanchanaburi to this Ban Nam Phu Ron/Htee Khee border crossing?
2. Can I get "stamped in" to Myanmar, enter and explore the border town, then be "stamped out" after a few hours? I've read that this is possible for the Mae Sot border, but is this possible here?
3. Is there anything worth seeing in Htee Khee, like temples, museums, etc? I haven't googled it yet.
4. Are there guesthouses in Htee Khee? Is it safe to O/N there? Or is it better to just take a day trip there and stay in Kan for the night?
5. Has anyone tried the Three Pagodas Pass? On maps, it says it's a border crossing, but I don't see much reports of it. Or maybe it's just for Burmese/Thai?

I'm planning a backpacking trip later this year, and I haven't finalized my route. Everytime I see new info, my mind changes, haha. I don't need a visa to enter Myanmar, as the visa restrictions were lifted early this year. Thanks for all the help, will be much appreciated.

Hi Katie. Bangyai is exactly right in his assessment. I'll add a few notes from my own personal experience.

1. Likely, but it won't be easy to find unless you speak Thai or are traveling with a Thai person. This is a remote place in the hinterlands that not even Thai people are aware of, so people probably won't know where you are talking about. If you did find a songthaew, it would probably involve multiple changes at various villages along the way. Also, in my experience, it is very difficult to get the songthaew drivers to play ball at the Kan bus station. What I mean is, as a foreign tourist, it's hard to jump on a songthaew and pay the fare. They want you to hire the whole truck and function as a de facto taxi. Along the route, it's a different, but the beginning of the road leading to the border is at least 12km from the Kan bus station. A better option might be to negotiate a one way fare with some of the minibus operators who are starting to get into the visa run business. I know for a fact that Jolly Frog has an advert for a visa run hanging in their travel agency kiosk.

2. It's probably possible, but they seem to want to hustle you in and out. You'd just have to negotiate this with the Burmese guides on the Thai side who seem to be running the show.

3. This is relative, but 'no' is probably the correct answer. 'Htee Khee' is busted ass ghetto slum border town carved out of the jungle. There is a 'market' springing up that gets bigger every time I go, but there is really nothing to see there. This place did not exist a few years ago. There is no temple, no history or anything. The Burmese people waiting at immigration stare at you like Col. Kurtz's tribe in Apocolypse Now so it may not be the most comfortable experience walking around either. There is one thing of value for me on the Burmese side, however: a paan-wallah. Burmese people chew paan, and if you see me in India or Nepal, I will chew paan several times daily.

4. There are no guesthouses (that I have seen) in Htee Khee or Ban Nam Phu Ron. The Thai side has a good, foreign managed coffee shop/steakhouse and several noodle/rice vendors, but no guesthouses. The Burmese side would probably not be comfortable or safe to stay in overnight, even if you could. You could probably sleep in the temple on the Thai side if you got stuck somehow.

5. Sangkhlaburi/Chedi Sam Ong is one of the best places to visit in Thailand. But, you cannot cross the border here. There are Thai minibus operators on the Thai side who run 'day' trips into Burma, but they will only carry Thai people. I know this for a fact because I was there last month my wife and I wanted to go but I got denied. I told them I would walk across on my own and they could pick me up on the road just over the border, but the guy just waved his hand and laughed. But things change quickly and randomly here and by the time you get there they may have service all the way to Moulmein for all we know. There's a big, interesting market on the Thai side at Chedi Sam Ong (jewelry, furniture, cheap booze and cigarettes, and many orchids and flowers plundered from the Burmese forests).

Sangkhlaburi is a small, quaint town set on a lake amid lush jungle with a burgeoning travelers scene and an eclectic mix of cultures. There's good food, interesting temples, and tons of activites, like boat trips on the lake and trips into the jungle. Sangkhlaburi cannot be recommended enough. There's regular service from the Kan bus station (NOT a VIP bus lol) and you can rent a bike or motorbike when you get there for traveling about. Chedi Sam Ong is about 20km up the road from Sangkhlaburi. There's a military checkpoint or two along the way but they won't be concerned with you.

Anyway, there's a lot more on this subject, so if you have any more questions just ask. I hope this has been helpful.

A few posts back was said that they changed the overland visa stay to 30 days. Is that true? is it at all land borders around Thailand?

@WarElephant - thanks for the info. I think I'll go to Mae Sot, since I want to be stamped in/out, and explore a border town of Myanmar in the process. Since Myawaddy has the Golden Pagoda, Crocodile temple and a market, those are good enough for me. Sangkhlaburi will be for next time, when/if they allow border crosses. Thanks again.