Entering Myanmar from Ranong (Thailand) and traveling up to Mawlamyine

I'm looking for any recent info (2024) on entering Myanmar from Ranong in Thailand, as well as the journey up to Mawlamyine. Are there any restricted areas?

I think we’ll have to wait until those who’ve done it come back to VF.

Sure thing! :)

Hi there,

I’m responding as a French national who’s lived in Myanmar for a long time (see my travel journal from 2020). The Ranong-Kawthaung border is currently open to foreigners. I crossed it myself in August 2023. E-visas are accepted there. However, I’m 100% sure you won’t be allowed to take a bus from Kawthaung to Yangon. You’ll need to take a domestic flight from Kawthaung to Yangon.

Visiting Myanmar right now is doable for an experienced traveler. Security remains volatile. I strongly recommend avoiding any long-distance road trips. You could enter at Kawthaung (the crossing is stunning), then fly to Yangon. From there, take another flight to Bagan and/or Inle Lake (the southern part of Shan State has stayed relatively calm).

Forget any pre-2021 travel blog advice. Ngapali, where there used to be a Hilton, is now a war zone. Make sure to bring plenty of cash in both dollars and kyats.

If you come to Yangon, I’d love to meet up for coffee.

Hi Travel 1234, and thanks for your reply. I already have my ticket to enter via Yangon. I’d like to head down to the Thai border and take a boat to Ranong. The crossing was indeed allowed in early 2024. Is it still possible in the other direction? - From Yangon, how far south can I go without any issues? (I’ve already been to Myanmar five times.) - I saw there are flights from Dawei to Kawthaung. Can I get down to Dawei by bus or train in several stages? - Why do I need to bring a lot of cash? Is it for bribes, or have prices skyrocketed? - Do you have any airline recommendations for domestic flights (online booking)? I can’t find anything online. - No worries about coffee—I land in Yangon on January 10th.

Thanks again,

Thierry

"- How far south can I travel from Yangon without issues? (I’ve already been to Myanmar five times)"

You can’t travel very far south without running into problems. Beyond Bago, the situation becomes tense.

"- I saw there are flights from Dawei to Kawthaung. Can I get to Dawei by bus or train in stages?"

I went to Dawei last year (by plane), and the situation was extremely tense. Almost all trains are currently off-limits to foreigners. Unfortunately, the only solution I see is taking a domestic flight from Yangon to Kawthaung. Unless you have high-level connections and a special permit, I’m pretty sure you won’t be allowed to reach Dawei by road. From the latest updates, Kawthaung remains relatively calm (stay informed regularly).

"- Why bring a lot of cash? Bribes or prices have skyrocketed?"

Given the country’s volatile situation and the unreliable credit card systems, it seems wise to carry significant amounts of cash for emergencies.

"- Do you have any airline recommendations for domestic flights (online booking)? I can’t find anything online." https://oway.com.mm/ Check this site.

Hi there! Finally, some news from Myanmar! My last trip was back in February 2020, when I returned on one of the last Singapore Airlines flights due to Covid. My favorite region is from Gwa to Ngapali—is it still possible to go there? Is the entire coast south of Gwa up to Chaungtha, using the new bridge, accessible? Are these areas risky? I used to take a bus from Yangon to Gwa and then figure things out with local transport, making stops along the way.

Hi there,

Unfortunately, no. Ngapali and part of Gwa are controlled by the Arakan Army... In other words, 300% off-limits. Local tourists (mostly from Yangon) still go to Chaungtha and Ngwe Saung. Bagan and Inle are also relatively safe if you fly there.

I’d absolutely advise against going off the beaten path in Myanmar right now.

Thanks for all this info! I’m gonna postpone my trip. I’ll head to China instead. Too bad about the coffee! Or maybe in Bangkok.

Thanks again, and maybe another time.

Thierry

hi, which airline are you flying with to Bangkok? And were you able to find a good deal on the price? I'm looking but it's not easy to find a great tip right now...

Hi there,

Assuming you're talking about flights from France to Bangkok, you'll have much better luck on the Thailand forum...

For Yangon to Bangkok, AirAsia is often the cheapest option. Check TripAdvisor to compare.

As a little consolation, here are some photos from my Ranong-Kawthaung crossing in 2023.



Ranong port



My boat



Heading to Myanmar



Myanmar immigration



A funeral procession



The Victoria Cliff Hotel in Kawthaung.

Hi Richman, Up until now, I was convinced the borders were closed and that I’d have to take a flight to fly over the country, which bothers me—but safety before curiosity! I’m traveling by bike (solo) and would like to go from Thailand to India via Myanmar. You recommend avoiding long distances on the roads. Is it still possible to cross the country, or is it absolutely unthinkable—too risky? Best regards, Elodie.

Hi there,

It’s absolutely out of the question right now to cross Myanmar from Thailand all the way to India—like, 300% impossible. Almost all border crossings are closed to foreigners, except for Kawthaung. You *can* cross the Thailand-Myanmar border at Kawthaung, but from there, it’s impossible to travel overland to Yangon due to restrictions. There are flights from Kawthaung to Yangon, though.

That’s what I thought. Thanks for your reply. Does the fact that you’re suggesting flying to Yangon still imply it’s possible to cycle from Yangon to a border crossing with India? If I have to take a plane, I might as well do Thailand-Bangladesh, but if it’s possible to cycle even half of Myanmar, that would already be fantastic! Thanks again for your time—I really appreciate your help. It’s pretty tough to find up-to-date info on this topic. Kindly, Elodie.

hi, the entire region north of Yangon is at war—police checkpoints won’t let you through anyway, and the rest of the country is the same with checkpoints everywhere

Indeed, crossing the India-Myanmar land border right now is unthinkable. It would be more of extreme adventurism than tourism. Check out Bertil Lintner’s book *Land of Jade*, where he illegally crossed Myanmar from India to China in the 1970s... He never had visas, just moved from one rebel group to another. Anyway, I flew Yangon-Calcutta direct last week with Myanmar Airways International for around $100. So if you want a small taste of Myanmar, you can: - Cross the Ranong-Kawthaung border by boat. - During the dry season, there are some beautiful islands you can visit around Kawthaung. - Fly Kawthaung-Yangon. - Even though a lot of forum users badmouth Yangon, after living there for years, there’s still plenty to see and do—it’s not just about the Shwedagon Pagoda. - Fly Yangon-Calcutta (I personally love Calcutta. Six days ago, I took a 22-hour train to Delhi afterward).

Indeed, crossing the India-Myanmar land border right now is unthinkable. It would be more like extreme adventurism than tourism.

It was doable without too many issues a few years ago, but not anymore.

Patrice Franceschi recounts his adventure in Nagaland (among other things) in his book—what an absurd situation!

https://www.arthaud.fr/avant-la-derniere-ligne-droite/9782081236851

Well, the faint glimmer of hope I had is gone again. Might as well fly over the country in one go (I don’t particularly feel like boxing up my bike repeatedly for short hops). What a shame, really… but we’re just travelers frustrated at not being able to visit the country as we please. Here’s hoping the situation improves soon for those who live within these borders! Thanks so much for your time and replies!