Dawei to Kanchanaburi

Dawei to Kanchanaburi

Dawei (Myanmar) to Kanchanaburi (Thailand) via Htee Kee / Phu Nam Ron พุน้ำร้อน border crossing

Price: 19,000 MMK to Myanmar immigration or 22,000 MMK to Thai immigration, then 80 THB to Kanchanaburi bus station. (1 THB = 42 MMK, 1 EUR = 1600 MMK, 1 USD = 1350 MMK)

Duration (rounded): from Dawei bus station to Myanmar immigration 4 h 30 min, lunch break 40 min, different time zone forward clock 30 min, Thai immigration to Kanchanaburi bus station 1 h 15 min, total 7 hours.

When I booked the ticket a day in advance, the agent read a disclaimer to me that the car used for the trip depends on number of passengers, but as a general rule the operator will try to cram as many passengers as possible on the car, because he is a greedy bastard (the agent’s words!), and the agent does not take any responsibility if the ride is uncomfortable for me.

I was the only foreigner on the trip and got the front seat. Beside (here in both meanings: by the side of, on par with) / Besides the driver’s seat, the only seat acceptable by European standards. The rear bench was converted into a loudspeaker box, and the ladies who shared it were sitting on the clear plastic cover without cushion. About 5 local male passengers were sharing the back of the car.

Departure from my guesthouse 7:44, then stop at bus station 7:52-54 which is about here 14°05'05.4"N 98°11'59.1"E = 14.084825, 98.199756 (about 300 m W of Kyat Min Pagoda, on N side of the road). Our car in front of bus station:

To Myitta asphalt road in okay to good condition, after that dirt track. One stop for passport control at a one-way bridge:

One stop for toilet (in the bushes), no stop for lunch (as I had asked before, and brought something to eat). 

In parts, the road is so bad that the driver has to go down to 1st gear. The road is mostly two-directional (one lane in each direction), but parts are one-directional with enough space on the sides so two cars can pass slowly in opposite directions.

Myanmar immigration 12:23-28. There are computers, but I see my data is handwritten into a book.

13°53'17.0"N 99°04'46.3"E = 13.888064, 99.079532

Technically they have a lunch break from 12 to 13, but nonetheless stamped us all out. Road on the Myanmar side:

Then driver’s and other passengers lunch break, then about 850 m drive to border, change of time zone, forward clock 30 min.

13°53'39.8"N 99°04'55.0"E = 13.894394, 99.081949
The driver takes all our passports and presents them here. From dirt track to two-lane asphalt road, picture from google satellite:

Then continue 3.7 km to Thai immigration

13°55'27.4"N 99°04'58.7"E = 13.924265, 99.082983
and get processed there 13:40-43. Welcome to Thailand:

 

Van line 8191 for 80 Baht to Kanchanaburi bus station 13:48-15:03. Goes via hwy3512/3085/3209/3429 and enters town from the south.

This post can be considered part 2 of “International land and sea border crossings of Thailand”;

international meaning that people from elsewhere than Thailand or the neighboring country can pass and enter the country (unlike Singkhon Pass ด่านสิงขร / Maw Daung and Three Pagodas Pass ด่านเจดีย์สามองค์ / Payathonsu that give only day passes;

sea border to include Ranong ระนอง / Kawthaung which is by boat.

Part 1 Cham Yeam (Cambodia) to Baan Hat Lek (Trat Thailand)

Here: http://christianpfc.blogspot.com/2016/08/cham-yeam-to-baan-hat-lek-border.html

My experiences of Poipet to Aranyaprathet, Sadao (Hat Yai to/from Penang) and Huay Xai to Chiang Khong เชียงของ (Luang Phrabang to Chiang Rai) are less detailed shared elsewhere on my blog or on the gay Thailand forums or thaivisa.

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