Mae Sai is Thailand’s northernmost town, located on the border with Myanmar, and is frequented by foreigners who need to extend their visas for Thailand as well as Thais who are curious to experience the atmosphere of a bustling border town.
There are no must-see sights, but it makes a convenient stop-over if you are touring the northern reaches of Chiang Rai Province, as there’s a reasonable range of hotels and restaurants here. It is connected to Myanmar by a bridge over the narrow Mae Sai River where a steady stream of non-Burmese and commuters walk across every day.
Entry permits valid for 14 days are issued at the Burmese immigration in Tachileik, your passport is held and you receive a temporary travel permit, which is exchanged again for your passport upon returning to Thailand. Particularly at weekends and on national holidays, hordes of Thai people from as far as Bangkok come to Mae Sai for inexpensive shopping.
The huge market in Tachileik sells everything from VCD players to Burmese handicrafts. Young Burmese men with hawker’s trays try to offer you all kinds of things here; however, it is recommended only to purchase goods in the numerous stores. After coming back to Mae Sai, you may carry on shopping, but only purchase gemstones if you are an expert since they might turn out to be glass stones.
Mae Sai is only a small town but it stretches for a long way north to south beside the eight-lane Phaholyothin Road, which begins about 1000 kilometers south in Bangkok and ends at the bridge by the border. Besides this road, there are just a few side streets near the border crossing that are all occupied by shops selling everything from fake gems to electronic gadgets that mostly originate in China.
Where to Go
- Wat Phra That Doi Wao: A colorful hilltop temple overlooking Mae Sai and Tachilek.
- Tham Luang: A deep cave located in the countryside.
- Tham Pla: A temple that promotes its zoo-like attractions, including monkeys and crocodiles.
When to Go
Mae Sai’s weather is the same as the rest of North Thailand. That means a fresh and sunny cool season from November to February; a stifling, humid , hot season from March to June; and a wet rain season from July to October.
Things to Do
There are no real tourist attractions in Mae Sai. Some might say that shopping is the main activity here, but that’s really only for Bangkokians looking for some souvenir they can’t find in the Big Mango to take home. Most foreigners will find the goods on offer in the endless rows of shops decidedly tacky—dubious-looking gems, kids’ toys, cheap home decor items such as coasters, and knock-off DVDs.
The only attraction in town worth heading for is Wat Phra That Doi Wao, which sits on top of a hill just near the border. At the summit, you can watch locals making offerings at the various altars and peek down into the neighboring town of Tachilek.
Otherwise, you’ll have to head about 20km south of town and then turn off to the west (right) to find a couple of caves, Tham Luang and Tham Pla, which are worth a look if you’re into caves. Don’t forget to take a torch.
Getting There
Buses depart frequently to Mae Sai from Chiang Mai (4 hours, 30 minutes) and Chiang Rai (1 hour), and there are daytrips taking tourists to the town and the Golden Triangle. Chiang Rai Airport is a 1-hour, 30-minute flight from Bangkok. The bust station is about 1.5km south of the bridge.
Getting Around
The best way to get around Mae Sai is by motorbike taxi, which charge about 20B-40B depending on where you are going.
Where to Stay
As a border town, Mae Sai has a fair number of hotels and guest houses, but nowhere to get really excited about. Since it’s only just over an hour’s drive from Chiang Rai, it can easily be included with a day trip to Sop Ruak (the Golden Triangle) and Chiang Saen, so there’s no real need to stay here.
Howeever, if you find the need to overnight here, there are a few acceptable mid-range and budget options, though no top-end places.
Where to Eat
Since few foreigners overnight in Mae Sai, there aren’t any restaurants that cater to their needs, though there are a few places around the bridge that include some items in English to catch the walk-by trade.
If you feel you must have a smart environment, air-con and an English menu, your options are limited to the restaurants in the few mid-range hotels that we recommend (Khanthongkham, Piyaporn Place or Wang Thong), though you’ll probably find the food rather bland.
Where to Party
As a small town, Mae Sai doesn’t have much in the way of nightlife, but if you find you can’t sleep, take a wander along Phaholyothin Road, where you might find a bar with a few locals drinking rice wine and singing karaoke tunes very badly.
Where to Shop
Despite the hundreds of stalls clustered in the lanes around the bridge selling all kinds of gadgets and souvenirs, there’s nothing really worth buying in Mae Sai unless you want to stock up on pirate DVDs, which are often poorly recorded. Be especially wary of anyone offering you gems, as you are almost certainly being invited to be the victim of a scam.
Need to Know
- Worth it? Only if you need to extend your Thai visa or like shopping for tacky souvenirs.
- What to do: climb the hill to Wat Phra That Doi Wao for a glimpse into Myanmar.
- Best time to go: between November and February.
- How long? A half-day is sufficient to see Mae Sai.