Not as a trip you should plan. Thailand and Myanmar have official land checkpoints at Mae Sai, Mae Sot and Ranong, but no official source we could read in November 2026 confirms that any of them is open to foreign tourists, Myanmar issues no visa on arrival, and the UK government advises against all or all but essential travel to every Myanmar town opposite them.
For years the short hop from Mae Sai to Tachileik, or by boat from Ranong to Kawthaung, was a routine day trip and a favorite visa run. Those days are over for now. This page goes through the four crossings travelers ask about, what the UK government says about each, and what to do instead if you want to see Myanmar or simply need a new Thai entry stamp.
Thailand–Myanmar land border: status on 9 November 2026
- Open to foreign tourists?
- Not confirmed at any crossing by an official source
- Myanmar visa
- Required before travel; no visa on arrival (UK FCDO)
- Mae Sai – Tachileik
- UK advises against all but essential travel
- Mae Sot – Myawaddy
- UK advises against all travel; bridge reopened 28 May 2026 for cargo only
- Ranong – Kawthaung
- UK advises against all but essential travel
- Three Pagodas Pass
- Myanmar side (Payathonzu) in the UK no-travel zone
- UK advice last updated
- 4 August 2026, still current on 9 November 2026
What UK government advice says about the border
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) splits Myanmar into zones. Its strictest level, "all travel" advised against, covers Kayin State, home to Myawaddy across from Mae Sot, and Mon State. One level down, "all but essential travel", it puts Shan State South and East, where Tachileik is, and the part of Tanintharyi Region south of Tanintharyi township, where Kawthaung lies. It also notes that Myanmar itself limits where foreigners may go near its borders, and that the army is carrying out air strikes and artillery attacks there.
The FCDO also warns that the military regime "can introduce travel restrictions at any time", and that cyber-scam centres and human and drug trafficking operate on the borders of Shan and Kayin states. Traveling against your government's advice can invalidate your travel insurance. We could not read the US State Department's Myanmar page, which blocks automated access, so check it yourself if you travel on a US passport.
Mae Sai to Tachileik
Mae Sai is Thailand's northernmost town, in Chiang Rai province, and its border bridge leads straight into Tachileik. In February 2025 Thailand cut electricity and fuel supplies to several Myanmar border points to disrupt scam networks; a local newspaper reported that people and goods still crossed normally at Mae Sai the next day. We found no official notice for November 2026 on whether foreign tourists may cross.
Since the FCDO puts the Tachileik side in its "essential travel only" zone and names Tachileik township for scam centres, we would not go. The Thai side is easy to see as part of a trip around Chiang Rai and the far north, and the view across the rivers at the Golden Triangle near Chiang Saen does not require crossing anywhere.
Mae Sot to Myawaddy
Mae Sot, in Tak province, faces Myawaddy across the Moei River. The Second Thai–Myanmar Friendship Bridge checkpoint had been closed by the Myanmar authorities since mid-2025 because of fighting in Myawaddy. It reopened on Thursday 28 May 2026, but as a trial for cargo trade; the reports said nothing about travelers.
Myawaddy is not a day trip from Mae Sot. Kayin State is in the FCDO's highest warning category, and the FCDO names the Myawaddy district for cyber-scam centres. Do not cross, and be wary of any job offer that involves being driven to this border. Our page on fake job offers and scam compounds explains how the recruitment works.
Ranong to Kawthaung
From Ranong, boats used to cross the estuary to Kawthaung, in Myanmar's far south, and it was one of the best-known visa runs in the south. We found no report from 2026 on the status of that boat crossing for foreigners. Kawthaung falls in the FCDO's "essential travel only" zone for southern Tanintharyi.
Ranong itself is worth a stop for its hot springs and as the gateway to the islands; see our Ranong town and province guide. From the beaches of Koh Phayam, the quiet island off Ranong, you can look across to Myanmar without leaving Thailand.
Three Pagodas Pass
The road north of Sangkhlaburi in Kanchanaburi province ends at Three Pagodas Pass. On the far side lies Payathonzu, in Kayin State, which the FCDO tells travelers to avoid entirely; neighboring Mon State now carries the same warning. We found no official confirmation of the checkpoint's status for foreigners, and the old "day pass" advice in older guidebooks should be ignored. See the three pagodas from Thai soil during a stay in Sangkhlaburi, the Mon lakeside town.
Myanmar's own entry rules
Even where a crossing works, you cannot turn up and buy entry. The FCDO is plain: "You must have a visa to enter Myanmar … You cannot obtain a visa on arrival." Myanmar offers a tourist e-visa online, but we could not open the official e-visa site to check which land crossings it accepts, so do not assume a land border is on the list. The FCDO also advises carrying cash, because many ATMs reject foreign cards, and declaring more than USD 10,000.
Coming back into Thailand counts as a new entry, with the usual checks; our guide to Thailand's 30-day visa exemption explains what officers can ask for.
Why this is not a border run
Most people asking about these crossings want a fresh Thai entry stamp. Visa-exempt entries over land are generally limited to two per calendar year, and with Myanmar requiring a visa in advance and the UK advising against the towns opposite, a Myanmar run makes little sense. Our visa-run guide for 2026 sets out the entry limits and which crossings still make sense.
The other neighbors are no easier. No one has been able to cross into Cambodia by land since June 2025; see why the Cambodian border is shut. The practical overland options in 2026 are Laos and Malaysia; see crossing overland from Malaysia. If you want to visit Myanmar itself, check your own government's advice first and fly rather than cross by land. For the Thai side of these border areas, our page on whether Thailand is safe to visit gives the context.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Mae Sai border open to tourists in 2026?
We found no official notice confirming that foreign tourists can cross at Mae Sai in November 2026. The UK advises against all but essential travel to the Tachileik area, and Myanmar requires a visa obtained before travel, so a casual day trip is not something to plan.
Can I do a visa run to Myanmar from Ranong?
It is not a good idea in 2026. Kawthaung is in the UK's "essential travel only" zone, we found no 2026 report on the boat crossing for foreigners, and visa-exempt land entries into Thailand are generally limited to two per calendar year.
Did the Mae Sot–Myawaddy bridge reopen?
The Second Friendship Bridge checkpoint reopened on 28 May 2026, but as a trial for cargo trade after about ten months of closure. Nothing in the reports concerned tourists, and the UK says not to go to Kayin State, the Myanmar state that Myawaddy belongs to, at all.
Does Myanmar have a visa on arrival?
No. According to the UK FCDO, you must have a visa before you arrive in Myanmar and cannot get one on arrival. A tourist e-visa is available online, but check which entry points it allows before you plan any route.
Sources
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – Myanmar travel advice: warnings and insurance (updated 4 August 2026; checked November 2026)
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – Myanmar: regional risks (checked November 2026)
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – Myanmar: entry requirements (checked November 2026)
- UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office – Thailand: safety and security (checked November 2026)
- Khaosod English – Mae Sot–Myawaddy border crossing reopens after 10 months (28 May 2026; checked November 2026)
- Pattaya Mail – Mae Sai–Tachileik border operations unaffected (6 February 2025; checked November 2026)