Yangon to Tachilek

The main (probably – the only) reason you can find yourself travelling from Yangon to Tachileik is if you need to cross the border and get into Thailand. Though there are several sights of average interest in and around Tachileik, they are definitely not worth a separate visit.

Bus and airplane and the combinations of the two are the two available options for travelling from Yangon to Tachileik.. The routes to Tachileik are pretty much three: by plane from Yangon airport to Tachileik airport, by bus inside Burmese lands or – rather unexpectedly – by bus via Mae Sot in, which means crossing the border into Thailand and then back into Myanmar. The latter is the most doable of the two overland routes but does not make much sense.

Flights from Yangon to Tachileik

Flying to Tachileik is very straightforward and comfortable. Despite skipping on the experience of crossing a scenic countryside, it does save a lot of time for travellers that are in a bit of a tight schedule.

The easiest way to get to the airpot in Yangon is by taxi. The price, depending on location, should vary from MMK12,000 to MMK15,000, hence USD9-USD11. Bare in mind that with Burmese traffic it an take up to an hour to make it to the airport.

From Yangon airport there are flights departing everyday towards Tachileik starting at 8am with the last one is at 2.20 pm. The flight takes one hour and thirty minutes. The companies are Myanmar National Airlines, Air KBZ and Air Mandalay. This last one operates the 2.20 pm flight and has the best reviews. Depending on the day, the time and when the booking is made, flights can vary from around MMK136,000-MMK273,000MMK/USD100-USD200.

If direct flights are not available on your date of travel, consider connecting flights with layovers in Heho airport, Lashio airport or Mandalay airport. Yangon Airways has flights departing from Yangon at 11.15 am and arriving at Lashio airport at 1pm. Then the same airplane will depart towards Tachileik at 1.15 pm and arrive at 2.20 pm.

Tip Make sure to check dates and prices as this route isn’t a common one.

From Yangon airport KBZ, Myanmar Airlines, Yangon Airways, Asian Wings, Myanmar International and MAY fly everyday to Mandalay airport, with flights scheduled from 7am until 4pm. The flights take an hour and thirty minutes. Then, flights from Mandalay to Tachileik depart from 9.10 am to 2pm; so make sure to book the flights accordingly to make the connection, considering that not every company departs everyday. Prices are similar to the direct flight from Yangon to Tachileik.

The last option is to make a stopover in Heho airport. Flights leave Yangon from 7am till 3.50pm to Heho airport and take an hour and ten minutes. From Heho to Tachileik, there are only flights on Tuesdays and Thursdays, starting at 9.35 am until 1.55pm, and it takes fifty-five minutes to reach the final destination. Prices are similar to the direct ones from Yangon to Tachileik, but make sure to book in advance and on the right day.

Once at the Tachileik airport, a taxi to the border will take around ten minutes and costs MMK7,000/USD5.5. They will drop you almost at the border, where you will have to walk a few minutes to the Mae Sai border checkpoint.

From Yangon to Tachileik by bus

Going from Yangon to Tachileik by bus can take up to an entire day, although it’s much cheaper than travelling by plane. There is only one route that does the journey entirely by bus, that is from Yangon to the border of Mae Sot, crossing into Thailand and from there crossing back into Myanmar at Mae Sai.

However, there are options like taking buses from Yangon to Mandalay and Lashio, and then flying to Tachileik or flying from Yangon to Kengtung and then taking a bus to Tachileik.

From Yangon to Tachileik via Mandalay

Buses depart everyday from Yangon to Mandalay starting at 5pm until 9.30pm. A taxi from your accommodation to the Yangon bus station can take up to an hour and cost MMK8,000/USD6.

The trip to Mandalay takes around 9 hours depending on traffic, and the cost of the tickets goes from MMK10,500-MMK23,000/USD8-USD17. You can book online or at your accommodation.

There are different types of buses, from normal ones to VIP buses with better seats, less people, and snacks. The best-reviewed company is JJ Express.

Once in Mandalay, the bus will drop travellers at either one of the three stations in the city: Chan Mya Shwe Pyi (the furthest away), Pyi Gyi Myat, and Thiri Mandala (the closest one to the city). Taxis to the city centre range from MMK3,000-MMK7,000/USD2.20-USD5.20. Taxis to the airport from the station also vary in price and can go all the way up to MMK10,000/USD7.50.

Note From Mandalay to Tachileik travellers will have to fly, since entering to certain parts of Myanmar is forbidden for foreigners. The path from Mandalay to Tachileik is one of those forbidden areas.

From Yangon to Tachileik via Lashio

Buses depart from Yangon to Lashio everyday at 5pm and arrive in Lashio the next day between 8am and 9am (around fifteen hours). Depending on the company, the price for a regular bus is of MMK15,000/USD11 or MMK22,000/USD16.3 for a VIP bus.

Make sure to book the buses accordingly, because flights from Lashio to Tachileik don’t depart everyday.

Tip Also, consider that some Burmese think foreigners are not allowed into Lashio, although you are and it’s safe. Remind them that you either have a booking at a guesthouse or a tour, or that you are simply taking a flight the next day.

From the bus station to the airport, it’s recommended to take a line car (a small truck) which does a loop around the city and can take you for MMK200/USD0.15 to the airport. Otherwise, hire a taxi and pay up to MMK3,000/USD2.20.

From Yangon to Tachileik via Kengtung

This route involves flying from Yangon to Kengtung and then taking a bus from Kengtung to Tachileik. This leg is currently open for overland travels for foreigners, but you always have to check in advance as the situation can change. Buses take 5 hours to get to Tachileik and cost MMK10,000.

To get to Kengtung, choose between Yangon Airways and Myanmar National Airways: altogether they offer a handful of weekly flights to Kengtung priced between USD120 and USD180.

Yangon to Tachileik by bus via Thailand

This is the only truly by bus route that travellers can take to go from Yangon to Tachileik, and it involves crossing into Thailand at Mae Sot and then back into Myanmar at Mae Sai.

The first step is to take a bus from Yangon to Myawaddy (the border town in Myanmar). Buses depart everyday at 7.30 pm and cost MMK23,000/USD17. They can be booked online or through your accommodation.

Once at Myawaddy, you can walk to the border checkpoint by walking across the bridge, and after you make it into Thailand, get a tuk-tuk to Mae Sot for just THB10/USD0.30. The border crossing into Thailand is pretty straightforward, with no scams since most countries can access Thailand without the need of a visa.

Once in Mae Sot, buses departing to Chiang Mai leave at 8.30 am or 1.10 pm and cost THB320 /USD9.30, and the bus takes six hours. You can buy the tickets at the Asian Highway office or online at Green Bus website.

Once in Chiang Mai, you can buy bus tickets to Mae Sai at the same bus station for THB210 /USD6, and the bus takes approximately four hours. You won’t be dropped at the border, but at the Mae Sai bus station which is far south, which means you need to take a red taxi from the station to the border for THB15/USD0.40.

Once at the border, get your stamp out of Thailand at the office, cross the bridge, then proceed to the Myanmar office and present your passport with the visa permit that you need in advance. There will be no scams as the Burmese authorities are pretty strict and honest with all the visa process.

Once in Tachileik, there are a few guesthouses and accommodations if you wish to spend the night. Otherwise, look for a taxi that can take you to the airport for MMK7,000/USD5.5.

Note Bare in mind that to enter Myanmar most countries need a visa paid for in advance online, and then the proof must be presented at any entry point, airport or land crossing. If you enter by air, you can stay up to thirty days, by land only fifteen days. To re-enter the country, you will need another visa. Therefore, from Yangon to Tachileik by bus crossing through Thailand, you will need to get another visa to be allowed back in.

From Tachileik to Thailand

If you decide to cross from Tachileik into Thailand in Mae Sai, there are buses and vans departing to Chiang Rai almost every hour, the last one at 5.30 pm, costing THB40 /USD1.15, and take around one and a half hours. Otherwise, there are buses from Mae Sai’s bus station leaving towards Chiang Mai, costing THB210 /USD6, and take around four hours.