Lampi National Park

Visa Run: Samui to Ranong/Myanmar

Generally the process is thus:-

1. Take Minibus to Ranong minibus
2. Go to Saphan Phalar Jetty and immigration office (used to be 3 km away from the jetty) and stamp out
3. Get a boat to immigration office in Myanmar
4. Get stamped into Myanmar (you can stay up to 10 days with this visa), visit the town at Victoria Point.
5. Stamp out of Myanmar at the immigration office again
6. Get a boat back to Ranong and get visa stamped at Thai immigration
7. Go back to hotel

How to "go away and come back"

Many Visitors to Thailand's resort towns of Phuket, Hua Hin and Samuai - Surat, ended up enjoying the paradise longer than they have originally planned. This will require to renew one's visa in Thailand and mostly they do it via Ranong to Myanmar.

If you work on Samui, and Phuket, you best option is to run to Ranong.

There are options to go to the border at Sadao, way down past Hat Yai. Or worse still you can travel even further to Penang or Kota Baru in Malaysia, all quite lengthy journeys of many hours.

Here is your Guide to Visa Run To Kawthaung - Victoria Point.

From Samui you cross the channel by ferry and then take a cab or bus for 3 hours north from Surat Thani to Ranong. From Ranong it's half an hour over the water to Victoria Point in Myanmar. You don't even have to leave the jetty compound (immigration office) stay on Myanmar land for 15 minutes and come back to Samui. It is much closer than the Hat Yai / Sadao border visa run.

The Ranong visa run is one of the prices you pay for living in a tropical paradise. Prepared to lose a day, spend about 1,500 baht and have to pay a visit to the sleepy town of Kawthaung which seemed to lagged 15 years behind its Thai counterpart. The experience of 2 country 1 visa run worth the hassel. One thriving town with Gold shops, 5 star hotels and shiny cars and the other town with rusty jetties, falling river banks with Golden Pagodas trying to survive the state being left to rot by its own people.

According one traveller who has left his passport with a travel Agent ran into problems when upon hi return to Samui, he was informed that "the government is cracking down on corruption and we can no longer pay the border guards to pass your documents." He has only 2 days left on his Thai Visa.

Having little love of travelling in Malaysia (been there too many times) I headed off to Myanmar, the land of precious gems and thriving fishery & timber business. But the far south of Myanmar is rather a long way from the ruling generals way up in Naypyidaw. And being so close to Thailand with just a strip of water between them, they've more or less done an adaptation routine and you'd barely know you'd left Thailand anyway. Local Thais and Burmese travel daily between Thailand and Myanmar in a variety of vessels doing their business and trade.

The the details his journey will be a big yawn, particularly the part where he forgot to go sign out before he went to Myanmar so had to do a second crossing to get his visa stamped out of Thailand. Or the propeller on the boat breaking half way back across. Nor about the storm and yours truly spending an hour bailing the boat while we waited for a new propeller half way between Thailand and Myanmar.

Generally to travel there from Samui you would book the air-conditioned bus / ferry ticket to Surat Thani. From any point in Surat you'd book the minibus to Ranong. The minibus will drop you off at the location of your choice. The prices of these fares are the standard stuff for this region. Say, 250 Baht for the bus/ferry to Surat and then another 150/200 Baht for the minibus to Ranong.

In my opinion, the main points when you do a visa run to Ranong/Myanmar are as follows:-

1. Get a good hotel in Ranong with a swimming pool and a good restaurant nearby or on premises.
2. Make sure you get a good boat over to Victoria Point in Myanmar.
3. Make sure you stamp out from Thailand before you go over. The immigration office is now at the Saphamphalar pier (used to be 3 kilometres from the boat pier).

4. Upon arrival at the border town you can do straight to Saphan Phlar Jetty which is directly across from Myanmar. Thai immigration right at the jetty will check you in give you your exit stamp. This is also when you pay any overstay fees.

After you’ve paid any necessary fees and received your exit stamp you have to cross the Pakchan river to get to Myanmar. There are plenty of boatmen trying to take you. The boat trip costs about 250 baht for the whole boat charter. The boatmen will guide you to Myanmar immigration where you receive the right to enter the country for a fee of $10 US and can stay for 10 days. For Thais it will be 30Baht for 7 days.

Now you have the option to shop around for a bit if you like and enjoy the Myanmar way of life, buy some cheap booze or Pills as touted by the little guys at the jetty or you can take a day trip to the islands of Myanmar also known as Mergui Archipelago - famous for its pristine beauty and abundant of marine life. It is more convenient to buy the packages at Ranong in places like Pon's Place, Kiwi Orchid (near Bus Station), Jansom Hot Spa Hotel, or on the internet at www.ranongexpress.com . Some will take you back to Ranong and to the hotel with their own boats and cars.

After that make sure you leave Myanmar at 6:00 p.m before immigration close. Thai Immigration will tolarate a bit if you are as late as 7:00 p.m Thai Time (By the way Thai is 30 minutes ahead of Myanmar).

If you need to find out more try 0800659932.

4. Make sure you have transport back to the Thai immigration office at the boat pier and keep in mind that the office shuts completely at 6PM. If you are late you must go back first thing in the morning and fix the problem. It may involve a very small fine.


Contact :
Ranong Express Tour
Jansom Ranong Hot Spa Hotel
ranongexpress@gmail.com
http://ranongexpress.com/visa_news.htm

Border Tour  Information

Visa run is possible at Ranong to come into Kawthaung (Victoria Point) Myanmar for all expats in the southern part of Thailand. There are convenient longtail boats to ferry across the border strait.

Visa fee is 10$.

There also is a well maintaind golf course in Kawthaung.

Victoria Point, Mergui Tours, Myanmar (Burma)

"Victoria Point (Kawthaung - Myanmar - Burma) about 300 km north of Phuket Town, is famous for Myanmars southern most border town. Situated on the mouth of Pakchan River with lush green hills and fishing boats and surrounded by beautiful islands within 3 hour boat ride, the place is a hidden treasure for adventure lovers. Our tours starts at Victoria Point - fascinating, as is the town itself. It is the southern most part of Myanmar's land mass. Get your credit card and book a tour now! Normal 5$ visa allow you to stay up to 3 days in Myanmar side. You can make the most of this trip by visiting the islands for Day-Return-Trip (Recommended), 2-days-1-night or 3 days 2 night. For longer tours you have to get Prearranged Visa on Arrival (www.myanmarvisa.com) which costs 20$ for 28 days tourist visa. With this Tourist Visa, you can travel to Yangon and any other tourist destinations in Myanmar."

There are 2 types of Tours :
(A)Island Hopping Tours and(B)Sight Seeing Tours
Price :

I. Day Return, starts from 8:00 a.m and ends at 5:00 p.m

A.Island Hopping : Go to nearby islands such as Salone , Horse Shoe, St. Luke, Red Monkey (subject to time permit). Activities : Snorkeling, Sun bathing, Kayaking, Swimming, Fishing and adventure trekking.

B. Sight Seeing Tours : Go to Kawthaung Shopping, View Point and Welcome Sign, Plone-Tone-Tone Beach, souvenir shops, 555 hill, Pagoda Hill visits.

II. 2-Days-1-Night : (Please call, SMS or email us 078110569)

III. 3-Days-2-Night : (Please call, SMS or email us 078110569)

Inclusive : Welcome kit at Myoma Jetty, Free Use of Rest Rooms at GEC, Drinking Water, Facial Towels, transport, guide.

Inclusive : Welcome kit at Myoma Jetty, Free Use of Rest Rooms at GEC, Drinking Water, Facial Towels, transport, guide.