Mae Sot is located on the western border of Thailand with Myanmar, stretching to reach the Sangklaburi province South.
The town of Mae Sot is a busy border town, located just 5km from the border. The border is formed by the Moei River, flowing from South to North. The border is called Moei River Market. At present (October 2009) the border is open for a day crossing, but sometimes it is closed depending on the current political and military situation. In any case, the local people are always crossing the river to trade merchandise ranging from large teak wood to tiny precious gems.
Dozens of ethnic groups live in this area and on any day one can easily run into 4 or 5 different exotic hats and faces. The Karen, Hmong, Yao, Lahu, Buddhist and Muslim Burmese all live together in this frontier town speaking different languages, wearing different clothes, eating different foods, and dancing different dances. It’s a fascinating place to walk around and learn about many cultures and peoples.
From Chiangmai, Mae-Sot is 4 to 5 hours drive, via Tak. A fairly nice drive.
From Bangkok, a drive to Tak also and onto Mae Sot is also about 5 hours drive.
ActiveThailand can organize overland transport with vans or cars from both directions.
On the other side of the Moei river, in Myanmar lies the little town of Myawaddy. Foreigners can only cross the border to enter Myanmar for day trips. No overnight stays and no travel further inside Myanmar is allowed.
Border fees. At the bridge the Thai immigration check-point will stamp foreign visitors’ passports out of Thailand, and in when you come back. The Myanmar authorities will keep your passport, and charge visitors $US 10 for border pass fee.
Do not take any pictures of the bridge or the border post as the Myanmar army soldier are getting furious. (Even the bridge was built and paid by Thailand!).
Driving North of Mae Sot, one reaches Mae Sariang town and district, through a no man’s land road. The road follows the border all the way up, sometimes tracing the Moei river, which flows North along the border. Don’t travel at night as you will encounter nearly a dozen military and police check-points, where you may be searched (this is a sensitive border area). And you probably will certainly see nobody else on the road.
It is worth bearing in mind that after a minibus was attacked by hand grenades on this road (around Tha Song Yang) in 1995, and the subsequent Karen fighting the road was under curfew at night for a couple of years. It is no longer prohibited to travel by night, but not recommended.
The road is paved but in bad condition at a few places, especially with frequent landslides during wet season. If you intend to drive this road during raining season, you should use a 4WD or pick-up truck, and be equipped with ropes, tow cable and a large saw to cut eventual fallen trees or bamboo branches.
Passing the district of Tha Song Yang, there are large refugee camps. The refugees are Christian Karen’s from neighboring Myamar. They had to flee the country when they were overtaken by the Bhuddist Karen allied to the Burmese army.
The refugee camps with 3 or 4 sections host over 100,000 refugees, in thatched roof huts on the flank of the mountain. The camp stretches on a few kilometers.
An interesting cave which you enter on one side, explore through and exit on the other side before you trek back to the car park in front of the cave. Consider one hour or more to explore this cave. Local Karen children can be your guide with flashlight for a modest fee.
Umphang District — The remote wilderness!
On the road to Umphang, there are two large refugee camps. All the refugee camps are visited and looked after by Mae Sot based NGO’s from different countries.
Trekking and Rafting in Umphang
Umphang is a small district in the northwest of Thailand close to the Burmese border. It is 165 km south of Mae Sot and is reached by a scenic road which twists and turns through forests, hills and valleys.
Umphang is an undisturbed area for trekking where the people still maintain their traditional beliefs and ways of life. Its boundary connects with two national parks and three wildlife zones. This evergreen forest area is the largest and richest in Thailand, with a wealth of wildlife including monkeys, gibbons, bears, tigers and other wild cats, barking deer, giant squirrels, monitor lizards, and about 200 species of birds. Most treks or rafting trips descend on the Khlong river passing through the wildlife sanctuary.
River rafting along the Mae Klong river is nothing less than spectacular with beautiful scenery, waterfalls (including Thee Lor Su, the largest in Thailand), dramatic cliff faces and caves going deepl into the limestone mountains.
ActiveThailand.com offers an Umphang Trekking expedition departing from Mae-Sot, on private basis only. See our trip selection below:
Follow our expert trekking guides on a true expedition through wilderness of the Umphang valley. Visit Karen villages, Ti Lo Su waterfall and raft the Mae Klong river. Trip starts and ends in Mae Sot.
