Mae Sot to Myawaddy - has this crossing really opened for overland travel?

yes apparently so with full embassy visa so go for it tere are regular bus services from myrwaddy to yangon or Moulmein/Hpa an previously only used by locals use this thread to tell us your experience

You can cross at this border and go all the way to Yangon, Mandalay, even the Chinese border city of Muse, basically any non-restricted part of the country. This topic has been running for ages and there are many articles, trip reports etc. confirming the opening of this border, which occurred on Aug 28. So just go. Incidentally, the road from the border city of Myawaddy to Hpa-an has been open to foreigners without a permit since March but very, very few foreigners knew this because noboby wanted to travel all the way to Myawaddy only to be told they can't cross into Thailand. Now that has changed of course.

You can also travel to any of the other 3 officially opened crossings, with Muse/Ruili coming soon (apparently in around 2-3 months) or any of the international airports to exit the country (Yangon, Naypyidaw, Mandalay, Mawlamyine).

I wouldn't bother with catching any bus from Myawaddy to Kawkareik unless you are a thrill seeker. The road is narrow, one-way, dangerous and often congested, and from time to time buses and trucks go over the edge. Also, you'll be held hostage to the departure times of the buses, which wouldn't be more than one every second day, because the road operates on that basis (even days going west, odd days going east). Do the smart thing and catch a ride in a share taxi or go by motorcycle taxi at least to Kawkareik, from where there's a decent road all the way to Hpa-an and Yangon, which you can travel by bus.

Many thanks Sympho!!!!

You are going at the right time. This time last year, I planned to cycle out of Tachileik to Keng Tung and other areas around Tachileik. To cut a long story short, I came across road blocks on EVERY road and at EVERY road block I was sent back to Tachileik. To cut a long story short, I wasted the best part of a day and didn't accomplish anything. I hope you have better luck.

It would be nice to hear if someone has successfully crossed from Myawaddy to Mae Sot. I was about to do Yangon - Hpa-An - Myawaddy - Mae Sot and went to government tourist info in Yangon to confirm that it really is possible. (We came to Myanmar by plane.) They told that officially the border is open. But you can only go if you have the Thai visa. Well, I don't need the Thai visa because they give the 15/30 days stay (land/airport) in the immigration on arrival. In the Yangon office they were aware of that but said that the problem is on the border. The officers there might not understand, even if I had explanation written in English or Burmese why I don't need the Thai visa. If I would have gone to the Thai embassy in Yangon they would have said I don't need the Visa (this was again told me at the office). They said that this problem is only at Myawaddy - Mae Sot border. I don't know what to believe. Why would the government office try to fool me or prevent me from crossing to Thailand by land, but hey, it's the government office...

I also had interesting information about the visa extending. Not possible but can overstay for a couple of days and just pay the few dollars fee. Officcially they said that the problem is you might not find a place to stay overnight, cause the hotels would have a sanction if they had me. Surely there would be a place, but the office told I could stay only in one particular expensive hotel close to the Yangon Airport... Probably run by the governent!

Well, I decided to fly and not overstay, but would be interested to hear other stories.

Yes a lot have already done the journey from Maesot via myrwaddy bto Hpa an ann d onward to Bago/Yangon just wash and go! there is now even a bus that will take you direct from Bangkok to Yangon non stop vaia myrawaddy for $40

Does anyone know of any accommodation for foreigners once you get out of Tachileik and Kengtung and head towards Mandalay? I'd like to cycle that route some day soon but I doubt there is much in the way of licensed accommodation since it has not been a route foreigners have taken in a long time.

I dont think you will be allowed to cycle for your own safety Its obnly just opened up for buses to be allowed taungyi methinks youll have to throw bike on a bus BUT saying that suck it and see again there is no regisrtered places to stay as yet BUT saying that if stuck gop to police station andtheye will register you somewhher let us know wjhat happens on this thread
ill wave if I see you from my bus Ha! Ha!

Cycling is now permitted from Myawady to Hpa-an and into the interior of Myanmar. I recently read an article about this and some foreign cyclists that did it (in the past 1-2 months I think it was). Cycling in Shan State might be a completely different story altogether though.

@montyman, so now it's possible to go by bus from Kengtung to Taunggyi? If so, that's excellent news!

@natuten, Burmese citizens need a visa to enter Thailand at Mae Sot (except for short stays near the border), which is why you were misinformed. Even during the many years of visa-run only entry to Myawady, you would always be eligible for a Thai visa waiver upon your return to the Thai side (provided your nationality is on the list of visa free nationalities; but in case Thailand required a visa for entry, they would check your passport for a valid multiple entry visa, re-entry visa or similar first before even letting you pass to go to Myawady).

In the past, Burmese immigration at Myawady didn't even check your passport and assumed you would be allowed to enter Thailand as the Thais already did all the work for them (and virtually everyone who crossed there came from Thailand - now things are different of course). I went with a Sri Lankan friend from Bangkok to Yangon overland and back in October last year via Mae Sot/Myawady. I don't recall the Burmese officers even checking his passport for a Thai visa or re-entry stamp. Yes, he had one (as he needs one) but the officers just assumed he had one and let him pass. Basically the Burmese authorities are very easy going and are limited in what they can do.

Don't ask them questions in an area outside of their jurisdiction (for example ask in Yangon about the situation at Myawady) - they won't know the answer. Better rely on this and other forums and just go there - you will easily be able to enter Thailand without a visa at any of the 4 official Thai/Myanmar overland crossings (and the next ones that will open in the near future).