Now easier to travel overland through Myanmar – everything you need to know

[EdwinBriels]

Since April 2018 regulations changed for travelling overland through Myanmar and it has become much cheaper and easier to bring your own car or motorbike into Myanmar and travel from India overland to Thailand (or vice versa)

Border crossings that are open at India border:
• Moreh (india) / Tamu (Myanmar)
• Zokhawthar (India) / Rihkhawdar (Myanmar)

Border crossings that are open at Thailand border:
• Mae Sot (Thailand) / Myawaddy (Myanmar)
• Ranong (Thailand) / Kaw Thaung (Myanmar) - attention though: crossing is by small boats; not possible to get car across as far as I know
• Mae Sai (Thailand) / Tachileik (Myanmar) – attention to get to this border you need special permits to cross Eastern Shan state

The border from Myanmar to China is NOT open for foreigners
The border from Myanmar at Htee Kee into Thailand is NOT equipped to handle over landers

You still need to go through a travel agency but there is no longer a compulsory government minder and follow car but you need to have a licensed guide along the trip in the car (to sort out any language problems and check points etc along the way) OR pay for an extra car & guide to travel with you.

Expect to be paying around 200 Usd per vehicle application fees including a compulsory insurance and all paper work AND about 125 Usd per day for the guide (IF the guide can sit in your vehicle) including the guide’s accommodation, meals, transport to and from the borders on his own etc.

You need to have a fixed travel itinerary in advance and while it is possible to stay longer or change a bit of the itinerary it means some extra paperwork and increase in costs (as you need a guide for more days).

In order to get all the permits for your car you need to send the travel agency the following info:
• Pictures of the car incl chassis number plate
• Car registration book (carnet de passage is NOT compulsory)
• Your passport copy
• Your driving license (international driving license is NOT compulsory)
• Dates and planned routing

You need to apply for an e-visa by yourself (best online) – use ONLY this official website and no others: https://evisa.moip.gov.mm/

A suggested routing (if you have limited time to visit Myanmar):

Day 1: cross border Tamu (meet our guide there who will come along with you in the car till Myawaddy) – drive to Kalaymyo (about 4 hrs) – overnight in Kalaymyo
Day 2: drive Kalaymyo to Bagan – about 10 hours
Day 3: am free in Bagan – pm drive to Nay Pyi Taw (4 hrs) – overnight in nay Pyi Taw
Day 4: Nay Pyi taw Hpa An – (9 hours) – stay in Hpa An (7 hrs) – stay in Hpa An
Day 5: Hpa An – Myawaddy (4 hours)

Total expected: 925 Usd which includes:
Overland permit for the car, compulsory Myanmar insurance for the car, all paperwork and handling fees for the paper work, guide to come along with you in the car (compulsory) incl the food and accommodation for the guide, road taxes and all bridge and toll way fees,


Count on about 3-4 weeks to get all paperwork approved

[Snakeboy]

Thanks for sharing these news, much appriciated!

About the Kaw Thaung - Ranong bordercrosing, which includes crossing of some kilomteres of sea - are there any vehicle ferries operating on this stretch so it will make an overland crossing possible? If so - how is the road condition down to Kaw Thaung on the Myanmar side?

[EdwinBriels]

Hi Snake boy,

Very good point that I overlooked; indeed there are no car ferries as far as I know so best to stick to Myawaddy border to enter Thailand. Thanks for pointing that out; I corrected it. Happy travels and let me know if I can help with anything (I am based in Yangon)

[Andre Sousa]

Perfect post!
What was the company that you have used?

[EdwinBriels]

Hi Andre,

Send me an email (edwin@khiri.com) and I send you all info!

[Redtape]

As said thank you for your informative post but would you happen to know if the above applies for motorbike travel equally and how would it differ regarding costs and guides .
Cheers