Mae Sot Travel Guide
Fifty miles from the capital city of Tak Province, Mae Sot sits on Thailand's border with Myanmar where the AH1 Asian Highway crosses. This is arguably the most important link between the two countries.
- Worth It?
- Only for gem dealers and tourists who need to renew their visa.
- What to Do
- cross the border to Myanmar, go shopping at the market.
- Best Time to Go
- from December to February when the weather is cool and dry.
- How Long?
- A few hours is more than enough.
- Trivia
- Mae Sot has attracted a number of NGOs working with the hundreds of thousands of Burmese refugees living here.
Myawaddy is across the border from Mae Sot, and it's possible to cross via the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge which was built more than a decade ago. The border is generally open during daylight hours, and international visitors may cross to explore the market but are not permitted to stay the night.
The only reason tourists go to Mae Sot is make use of the border crossing and renew their visa. The marketplace is novel and deals in a mixture of contraband and above-board goods. Gems are the most notable items for sale though everyday tourists are warned against investing much money in what's likely to be convincing fake.
Travel to Mae Sot - Getting There
Highway 105 connects Mae Sot to Tak, and the journey takes 1 hour, 30 minutes. Tourists can arrange minibuses from Tak to Mae Sot, where there's a regional airport with service to Bangkok (less than an hour flight). Mae Sot Airport is currently out of use, however.
Mae Sot Things to Do
Mae Sot Attractions
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