Burma and/or Laos overland?

I would love to go to either of these countries. I%26#39;ll be in Kanchanaburi and Chiang Mai. Any advice on how to go to either of these countries would be great. I would prefer day trips if possible. I don%26#39;t mind squeezing a lot in one day.

Burma and/or Laos overland?

From what I鈥檝e known, from Chiangmai, there are borders to Burma but either they鈥檙e not international borders or some minority groups (Kae Leeieng, Thai Zai, Ka Tseeng, etc. about 10 minority groups) in these parts in Burma are shooting / fighting a lot. Too dangerous to go there. They set their own border and don鈥檛 think they鈥檙e Burmese. Every year when the rain season ends, they start to fight with Burmese government military. The area is like jungle / forest. No good roads. Sometimes they lose, they run to Thailand temporarily.

From Kanchanaburi to Burma, the area is not much dangerous. Mon people in Burma are not fighting much. I guess you can cross this.

The safest border gate which is very far from Chiangmai is Mae Sot. I crossed here to have lunch and visit a market then came back to Thailand on the same day. They charged a fee of 500 Baht per Thai citizen. I鈥檝e heard they are strict about visa at border there.

For going to Laos, the biggest Border Gate is between Mukdahan and Savannakhet. My friend drove his Thai car to cross this border.

A famous gate is near Vientiane and you need to go up to Nong Khai where many Vietnamese open their restaurants. There鈥檚 another border lower than Nong Khai but it鈥檚 not convenient.

Hope other posters will give you more info.

land

Burma and/or Laos overland?

bobbyearledotcom

from kanchanaburi you can travel to 3 pagoda pass which is the official border crossing point here between thailand and burma, taes about 3/4 hrs by bus. however it is dangerous here with frequent clashes between thai and burmese police/army. also you need to organise visa several months before crossing date.

from chiang mai to nearest lao crossing border is doable but for a day trip, it%26#39;s too long. at least 4/5 hours to reach border area. you really need to consider a few days to make it worth your while.

bkk3

Re.: Myanmar

Tachilek/Mae Sai:

A day pass for Tachilek only can be obtained at the border for 5US$

A 10 day border pass for the Tachilek-Kengtung-Mongla corridor can be obtained at the border at a cost of 10US$; the passport remains at the border checkpoint during those 10 days and onward travel to central Myanmar is not possible.

Kawthoung/Ranong:

A day pass for Kawthoung only can be obtained at the border for 5US$

Three Pagoda Pass:

Day pass at 5US$ only, no onward travel of any kind possible. No Thai visa stamp available here.

Myawaddy/Mae Sot,

Day pass at 5US$, no onward travel of any kind possible. Situation at this border is changing frequently, sometimes it is not possible to get a Thai visa stamp here, sometimes the border remains closed at all.

Re.: Laos,

day trips are not really feasible.. sure you can cross the border and get a lao visa.. (between USD 30 and USD 40.. depending on nationallity.... but you really need several days or a week to see or do anything.. please remember that travel in these parts of the world is very slow.. unless you fly and evenso.. it takes more time than you%26#39;d expect.

And also bear in mind that the Myanmar border situation changes all the time... right now (for the last year or so).. it has become increasingly difficult to cross and you may well find a crossing closed alltogether or closed for westeners.