Border town: According to the Dutch travel advice (as of 15 October 2026) the border crossing with Myanmar is only open to people with a Thai or Myanmar passport. Do not cross into Myanmar. Read the current travel advice (NederlandWereldwijd, Dutch) ↗
Border town: Border rules, opening hours and visa conditions can change. Check current information and the travel advice before you cross a border.
About Mae Sot
Mae Sot lies in Tak province in western Thailand, at about 210 m elevation, and shares a border with Myanmar. The city is an important trading post and has a large Burmese community, reflected in mosques, Burmese temples and markets. The Friendship Bridge over the Moei River links Mae Sot with Myawaddy; the Rim Moei market near the border is a good place to see Burmese clothing, tea and snacks. In town you can take art classes or yoga, and around Mae Sot lie mountains, waterfalls and villages. It is an ordinary working border town with a distinctive cultural mix, suitable as a stop on the road between Tak, Mae Sariang and Umphang. Mae Sot lies about 490 km northwest of Bangkok and is reached by a mountain road via Tak. The town is also known for its trade in jade and gemstones.
Best time to visit (indicative)
Best from November to February: dry, with cool mornings in the hills. March and April are hot; from June to October it is the rainy season and mountain roads and waterfalls are harder to reach. Weather varies from year to year; this is a guideline based on the climate.
Getting there
From Bangkok by flight (limited service) or bus; from Tak about 1.5 hours. On the way you pass mountain passes and checkpoints. Distances and travel times are rounded estimates.
Things to do in Mae Sot
- Rim Moei border market A market on the Moei with Burmese clothing, tea and food stalls.
- Burmese temples and mosques The community gives the town a colourful, mixed look.
- Art and yoga Small studios and workshops offer courses for visitors.
- Road to Umphang Mae Sot is the starting point for the long mountain road to Umphang.
