Blackwolf,
So what do you need to take your own bike into Burma at Mae Sot? I assume the same paperwork for a Thai plated bike to go out of the country is the same everywhere, but I'm interested in finding out what I need for entry into Burma.
Do you know if you need to enter/exit at the same place if you have your own bike? Guides are not required?
Thanks.
The requirements to take your bike into Burma from Mae Sot are no different than at any other Thai-Myanmar crossing, or to temporarily export a bike from Thailand into any neighboring country for that matter.
However, unfortunately, the only way you can cross with your bike (or car) to Myawady without a guide would be on a one day trip, limiting you to an approximate 12km radius from the border. You would need to return the same way you came and thus this is only appropriate if you are doing a visa run or going shopping in Myawady and are returning to Thailand the same day as foreign registered vehicles cannot stay overnight in Myawady unless they go on an organized tour with guide.
That is also the requirement to leave town and travel throughout the country in your car or bike. If going on a tour, there is no need to return to the same place as you entered. You may exit at any legal international crossing as specified in your itinerary. Unless you are heading to India or China, most drivers/riders who enter at Mae Sot/Myawady who don't exit at the same checkpoint head down to Htee Khee/Phu Nam Ron, or occasionally Kawthoung/Ranong, which requires a vehicle ferry to transport your ride to the Thai side. Mae Sai/Tachilek is another option, but for the time being foreign nationals require permission in the form of a permit to travel the road between Taunggyi and Kengtung, which is the only road that connects the Thai border at Mae Sai with the rest of the country. I am aware of group tours that have traversed this road; I believe Top Gear was one of the first group of foreigners who drove their own vehicles along this road back in 2013.
Who knows what might happen after the new government comes into power on April 1. Here's fingers crossed to Myanmar opening up more after that with unguided self-drive tours hopefully going to become a reality fairly soon.
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Blackwolf,
So what do you need to take your own bike into Burma at Mae Sot? I assume the same paperwork for a Thai plated bike to go out of the country is the same everywhere, but I'm interested in finding out what I need for entry into Burma.
Do you know if you need to enter/exit at the same place if you have your own bike? Guides are not required?
Thanks.
The requirements to take your bike into Burma from Mae Sot are no different than at any other Thai-Myanmar crossing, or to temporarily export a bike from Thailand into any neighboring country for that matter.
However, unfortunately, the only way you can cross with your bike (or car) to Myawady without a guide would be on a one day trip, limiting you to an approximate 12km radius from the border. You would need to return the same way you came and thus this is only appropriate if you are doing a visa run or going shopping in Myawady and are returning to Thailand the same day as foreign registered vehicles cannot stay overnight in Myawady unless they go on an organized tour with guide.
That is also the requirement to leave town and travel throughout the country in your car or bike. If going on a tour, there is no need to return to the same place as you entered. You may exit at any legal international crossing as specified in your itinerary. Unless you are heading to India or China, most drivers/riders who enter at Mae Sot/Myawady who don't exit at the same checkpoint head down to Htee Khee/Phu Nam Ron, or occasionally Kawthoung/Ranong, which requires a vehicle ferry to transport your ride to the Thai side. Mae Sai/Tachilek is another option, but for the time being foreign nationals require permission in the form of a permit to travel the road between Taunggyi and Kengtung, which is the only road that connects the Thai border at Mae Sai with the rest of the country. I am aware of group tours that have traversed this road; I believe Top Gear was one of the first group of foreigners who drove their own vehicles along this road back in 2013.
Who knows what might happen after the new government comes into power on April 1. Here's fingers crossed to Myanmar opening up more after that with unguided self-drive tours hopefully going to become a reality fairly soon.