How to get there:
The Green Bus Company offers 2 direct buses daily from Chiang Mai to Mae Sai – Buses leaves from the Arcade Bus station (210 Baht – 4 hours) . It is also possible to take a bus to Chiang Rai (every hour ~ 160 Baht – 3 hours) and change in Chiang Rai into a public bus to Mae Sai (every 20 min – 1.5 hour – 39 Baht) Expect a real worn down local bus, great for the real backpacker experience.
The Bus drops you 4 km south of the border – a songthaew already awaits the bus – price p.P. is fixed to 15 Baht.
For a more detailled information check out the Wikitravel Mae Sai page!
Accommodation:
North Gate Guesthouse is in the main street facing the border entrance 50 meter away) but there are many more hostels and hotels. Go directly towards the border but pass it by taking the small road left from it. When possible, turn left into the Thetsaban 21 Street – after the several street vendors begins the “hostel area” with plenty options.
Bamboo Guest house has simple but relatively clean rooms for 250 Baht, but expect no decoration.
EQ Guesthouse: Simple rooms 250 Baht, with shared bathroom 200 Baht, Dorm (100 Baht) – Brian, an american, takes great care of his customers and he is the big plus in this guesthouse, he knows everything and everyone in town and will go out of his way to make your stay enjoyable. Fast Wifi and some cooking facilites are there, also available are bicycles (free) and motorbikes for rent (200Baht). At the moment (02/2014) the owner, a strange burmese lady, is building a third and fourth floor on top of the hostel which is quite noisy and starts early.
Our personal recommendation after staying in 3 different hostels: Yeesun Hotel, simple hotel style but the rooms are big and clean and have TV, fridge and even have AC (not needed) for 400 Baht. Also located in the Thetsaban 21 Street – For the exact position see the map below.
Its always useful to read the recommendations for accommodation on Tripadvisor: Tripadvisor Mae Sai
Food and Drinks:
Apart from the obvious night market in the main road there is a burmese afternnoon market in town which is best reached by motorbike. Ask Brian from the EQ Guesthouse about it. There you get plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and fried tasty fingerfood (spring rolls, fried chicken, etc.) Good restaurants in Mae Sai are rather scarce and most of the food stalls close early before 7 o’ clock – so get you dinner in time…
Don’t miss:
Doi Tung
A tour into the mountains with a motorbike right on the edge of the thai-burmese border to Doi Tung. Roads are very steep, make sure your brakes will do the job and the bike is owerful enough.
The Golden Triangle & The Opium Hall at Sob Ruak
Also great and a far more easy drive is the visit to the Golden Triangle where Burma, Laos and Thailand touch each other and are only separated by the famous Mekong river. Shortly before you reach Sob Ruak and the golden Triangle you will find a new museum on the right side of the road: The Opium Hall is mentioned to be Thailand’s best museum and definitely worth a visit. We spend many hours in there and were fascinated by how they mannered to explain such a dramatic and hard part of the history in an interesting and enyojable way.
The countryside in this region is quite flat and the roads are in very good condition, therefore you only need around 30 minutes for the 35 kilometer drive from Mae Sai.
Wat Phra Dhat Pha-Ngao & Uposatha Hall (close to Chiang Saen)
Once you are at the Golden Triangle you should follow the road along the Mekong River south to the next town Chiang Saen. The city offers a local market and three Wats to see but in our opinion they are not worth the visit. Instead we highly recommend crossing town and following the river a few kilometers further until you reach the Wat Phra Dhat Pha-Ngao. Still in town the concrete road converts into a bumpy dirt track. Follow that road until you reach at the foot of a hill where you’ll find the Wat Phra Dhat Pha-Ngao on the right hand side.
We especially suggest you to afterwards follow the tiny road up the hill to the Pagoda. Although the Pagoda on the hilltop is nothing special, you’ll find on the way the Uposatha Hall, an old and priceless teakwood temple with amazing wood carvings. From there you also have a great view over the Mekong River. Best time to go there is in the late afternoon since you most likely avoid Chinese tourist groups.
Interested in reading more?
Why don’t you check out our blog entry:
Mae Sai – Visa Run & Golden Triangle | Towards New Horizons
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