Posts Tagged ‘travel tips’
How to cross the border from Ranong/Thailand to Kawthaung/ Myanmar
To cross the border in Ranong / Thailand to Kawthaung in Myanmar is quite easy and a great start into your Mergui Archipelago adventure. You must cross the border river which separating the two countries. For those who try to make this way by themselves we did a step by step guideline how to do and what you need 😊
There are a few things you need to bring along with you on the journey. Bring your passport, a copy of your passport and the little white departure card, you received when you entered Thailand (TM6). For the Myanmar side, you need the printout E-Visa form or the visa which is already stamped in your passport from a Myanmar Embassy, as well as some new, nice, and crisp US$ Notes. The officers do not accept any other currency or old US$ notes. The amount payable depends on the length of stay in Myanmar. The Myanmar Authorities do not accept any other currency than US$.
Start point is the Saphan Pla Pier and Immigration Checkpoint in Ranong.
The Saphan Pla Pier in Ranong is a small pier hidden behind the PTT petrol station and the 7/11 convenience store.
Google map: 9.948098, 98.594781
Here are the directions in Thai, in case you want to show them to your driver:
กรุณาไปส่งที่ ท่าเทียบเรือ
เทศบาลตำบลปากน้ำระนอง
ถนน เฉลิมพระเกียรติ
As soon you arrive many of tout will offer you a boat to cross over to Kawthaung, the gateway to the Mergui Archipelago. The prices are different and most of the time these guys are trying to fill up their long tail boat with more people, so maybe it can a little bit time to departure. But you can also negotiate for a private boat. The usual price is around 300-500 THB per longtail or if you join in the prices per person is between 50 – 100 THB.
But before you jump into one of the longtails, do not forget to visit the officer at the Thai Immigration Checkpoint as you must check out of Thailand. The Immigration office are 2 small windows on your right side when you come in. Please make sure you have your passport ready.
The Officer will ask you where you are going and how long you are going to be away for, because they are looking for people who try to do multiply visa runs by crossing the border. By Thai Immigration Law, every foreigner can cross the Thai Border per land only two times per calendar year. If you needed a visa to visit Thailand, please make sure to get a re-entry visa before leaving Thailand, if you are planning to return to Thailand after your trip to Myanmar and your adventure within the Mergui Archipelago.
After you got your passport with an exit stamp in it back, just walk to the Longtail boat pier. The small and somewhat adventurous looking boats there, are the only available transport option to Kawthaung.
A tip: Bring a copy of your passport as the little boats need a copy for the passing checkpoints. Otherwise you can make a copy at the little shop next to the Pier in the little kind of supermarket, the longtail guys are also happy to make a copy for you the prices are usually between 5-10 THB.
Crossing the river
The Longtail boats have a cover, so you are protected from the sun. Please put one of the life Jackets before the boat departs.
On the way to Kawthaung, you will stop an Immigration points, where Thai passports were taken up to be stamped. There was a Customs checkpoint next to it. Sometimes they will ask you to show your passport, sometimes not. The process is always different, but you do not have to leave the boat as your captain and crew will take of this whole process, just hand them over your passport which you will get returned as soon as they back.
30 – 40 minutes later you will arrive in Kawthaung, the entry point to the Mergui Archipelago.
On the Way
After this quick stop at the Thai Immigration Checkpoint you will pass the Thai Customs before you get out to Ranong area to cross the river between Thailand and Myanmar. Enjoy the cruise along stilt houses on your way.
On the way you will pass on a tiny island the Thai Army station.
Before you reach the mainland of Myanmar you will stop or slow down at another tiny island with Myanmar Army present, also here you must show the passport by just holding it up, you do not have to get of the boat.
Sometimes the driver just must show the passport to the officers by collecting your passport, but you will get them back immediately as before.
Arriving in Kawthaung, Myanmar
In Kawthaung you will be welcome from many touts and men on motorbikes. Just ignore them and make your way to Immigration.
After disembarkation, turn left along and walk along the road until you get to the: Walk along this road to get to the Immigration Office which is located at the Myo Ma Jetty also called the Myanmar Immigration Pier, on your left-hand side. Just have a look for the sight that says, “Warmly Welcome and Take Care of Tourist”.
Enter the pier area and turn behind the little building left to the small Immigration Building.
Get in and give the officer your passport, a copy of your passport and visa. They will stamp your passport and take a picture from you, same as they do in Thailand. If the camera is not working, what can be happen sometimes, have a passport picture ready. After the Check in process you are ready to enjoy your time in Kawthaung.
Outside the Mya Ma Jetty English-speaking touts will await you to give directions and be waiting for you to exit the office to offer a taxi ride, hotel, guide or suggestions on things to do in Kawthaung.
Welcome to Kawthaung and the Mergui Archipelago!
Kawthaung Border Crossing Wrap-Up
Paperwork to bring: Passport, 2 copies of your passport and proper Myanmar and Thailand Visa, one Passport picture (just in case)
Price of boat: 300-500 THB for a boat or 50-100 THB to join in
Time on boat: 30-40 minutes including all the Immigration stops around 60-75 minutes
Time Zone: Myanmar is a half hour behind Thailand time : 7:00 pm Myanmar is 07:30 in Thailand
The Myanmar Immigration Office is open from 7:00 am to 5:30 pm local time
Explore the amazing Mergui Archipelago on one of our amazing Cruises or unique Resort. Combinations between them is also possible
How to cross the border from Kawthaung / Myanmar to Ranong / Thailand
Kind of the other way around.
- Check out at the Myanmar Immigration office (Check your exit stamp)
- Make your way back to the Myanmar Longtail pier and find a boat to bring you to Ranong
- Arriving at the Longtail pier in Thailand, go to the immigration office and collect your TM 6 arrival form
- Fill out the form and see the officer again to check you into Thailand (Check your entry stamp and expiration date)
*Terms and conditons applied
For more information, please contact us directy: South East Asia Dreams
Why you should not leave home without any and which one consider?
When travelling to a foreign country, preparation is important to ensure as much safety as possible during your trip. If you are planning to spend your savings into your holiday you should make sure that you are prepared for any kind of circumstances which would result that you may have to cancel all your plans or interrupt your journey.
Travel insurances are important to consider because they are numerous reasons. Even many people believe that this kind of insurance is just an additional expense on top of their vacation budget and the risk that something happen is quite slim. But you never know and is it not better to be prepared for a worse case scenarios?
Before you purchase any kind of insurance think and write down what kind of situation you like to get covered.
Modern Travel Insurance as for example WorldNormads are built for today’s travelers and is a good option either you just like to enjoy your time on the beach or if you add some adventure into your vacation.
A good travel Insurance should cover following circumstances:
– Medical Expenses / Emergency Evacuation with worldwide travel assistance. The majority of trip insurance policies offer medical coverage, important to divers, check if dive related incidence are also covered otherwise be on the save side and just get an separate diving insurance within AquaMed or Dan. A travel health / medical insurance are definitely a must when traveling because it will cover you for all illness, accident and emergency medical evacuation.
– Trip Cancellation / Trip Interruption / Trip Delays: If you are planning a dive trip or any kind of holiday which requires a good deal of money and requires a nonrefundable deposit payment in advance to secure your spot or getting a great early bird deal it is something to consider. Especially in these days where your travel plans can be affected due shaky economies, job layoffs, company closing or even if you or your travel partners are getting sick before.
Additionally there are more items which you may consider in your planning are policy to cover (but have a look most of the time these items are already in the standard policies) are: Baggage, personal items, Passport & Travel Documents – stolen, damaged or lost, some special event covering (for example in case of natural desaster, Liability etc.
Also when it comes to insurance timing is very important. Many times if you book your trip first and months later the trip-insurance, they may refuse to step in, because you purchased the insurance not within a time window of booking the trip. Make sure you buy your travel insurance the same time when you booked your trip.
Bring always all the copies of all the policy with you and add the 24-hour hotline number to your cell phone contact list. A travel health / medical insurance are definitely a must when traveling because it will cover you for all illness, accident and emergency medical evacuation.
But what kind of insurance you have to consider is depending on what kind of trip you are planning to take and what the insurance will or will not reimburse. Therefore think before you buy. Get your trip insurance through your travel agent to ensure you are dealing with a reputable company. All insurance companies have a hotline numbers which can be contacting in case of questions or claims.
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Holiday or vacation packages are just what you need when planning for your adventure or diving vacation. Everyone looks forward to having a vacation every year whether it is just your way to unwind or to bond with friends and family. The important thing is making sure that you would be able to have a vacation well spent. For this to happen, you need to plan your vacation well down and before you begin your search for vacation packages, there are things that you need to consider.
Either you like to do some days of shopping in many of the first class shopping center in at metropolis city, or enjoy nature and discover the beauty of fauna and flora, discover one of the best marine life underwater worldwide, learn more about Asians cultures and history, visiting world hesitates, or just like to relax on one of the amazing sandy beaches along the region.
There are some points which you have to think about before you go for your hunt of a amazing breathtaking holiday.