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Voykit pocket guide · Myanmar
Kawthaung
Spend a day in Kawthaung for the town and a short boat trip to island diving; add a second day for hot springs or nearby islands.
Kawthaung sits at Myanmar's southern tip, bordering Thailand. The town offers a few budget hotels, cheap street food, and easy boat trips to the Mergui Archipelago. Limited transport and civil‑war restrictions mean a short stay is practical, with an extra day only if you want island diving or the hot springs north of town.
- Country
- Myanmar
- Best months
- Oct–Nov (clear skies after rainy season)
- Avoid
- May–Oct (monsoon, road closures)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- MMK
- Money
- Payment and banking conditions are not assessed here; check with your bank and your government advice.
- Daily spend
- Budget MMK 12,000–18,000 excl. bed · Mid MMK 18,000–30,000 excl. bed · High MMK 30,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- Emergency
- Police 999 · Fire/ambulance 999
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Bowl of noodles | 700 kyat |
| Myanmar Beer (glass) | 20 baht |
| Motorcycle taxi (short) | 700–1,000 kyat |
| Boat to island (one way) | ≈1,500 kyat |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- KHT · Kawthaung Airport
- Check current flight availability due to civil‑war disruptions
Typical fares
- Kawthaung → airport (taxi)
- ≈3,000–5,000 kyat, 10 km (6.2 mi)≈3,000–5,000 kyat, 6.2 mi (10 km)
- Motorcycle taxi (short)
- ≈700–1,000 kyat
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Motorcycle taxis dominate; 700–1,000 kyat for short trips, 3,000–5,000 kyat to the airport (~10 km (6.2 mi)).Motorcycle taxis dominate; 700–1,000 kyat for short trips, 3,000–5,000 kyat to the airport (~6.2 mi (10 km)).
See and do
Known for
- Andaman Club Resort casino
- Mergui Archipelago diving
- Maliwun hot springs
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kayin Kwa Island (Mergui Archipelago) | Boat from Kawthaung dock, about 30 min | ≈1 h total |
| Maliwun hot springs | Car hire or taxi, 40 km (25 mi) north, about 30 minCar hire or taxi, 25 mi (40 km) north, about 30 min | ≈1 h total |
| Myeik | Bus/minivan, 10–12 h; also flights from Kawthaung | ≈12 h |
Sleep
- Guesthouse (400 baht)
- Basic rooms, rooftop, outdoor toilets, intermittent water/electricity.
- Honey Bear Hotel (800 baht)
- Simple private rooms, better facilities.
- Higher‑priced hotel (price check)
- More comfort, limited options.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | တောင်းပန်ပါတယ်taung pan ba de |
| Thank you | ကျေးဇူးတင်ပါတယ်kyay zu tin ba de |
| How much is it? | ဘယ်လောက်ကျမလဲ?be laut kya ma le? |
| Where is the toilet? | အိမ်သာဘယ်မှာလဲ?ein tha be hma le? |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Scams and watch-outs
- Civil war limits overland travel; many bus routes are suspended (check current status).
- Entering Thailand from Kawthaung may be restricted; verify visa rules.
- Baht accepted widely but change can be scarce; use ATMs for kyat when possible.
Travelers should stay in town areas, avoid night travel on remote roads, and keep cash in small denominations.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Kawthaung yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Andaman Club Resort casino
- Mergui Archipelago diving
- Maliwun hot springs
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Kawthaung, revision 5278562 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5278562
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/kawthaung). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.