Major city · Thailand
Mae Saiแม่สาย
Give Mae Sai one night as a border-market stop on the Chiang Rai loop, or skip it: the Myanmar crossing is closed to foreigners, so there is no day trip.
Mae Sai is Thailand's northernmost town, 61 km north of Chiang Rai on Highway 1, and it exists mostly as a border market facing Tachileik in Myanmar. The land crossing has been closed to foreigners, so the old visa-run and day-trip reason for coming is gone. What is left is a one-street market town, a hilltop temple with a giant scorpion, and the Tham Luang cave 30 km south. Come for one night on the way to or from the Golden Triangle, or skip it and use Chiang Rai as the base.
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- THB
- Best months
- Nov–Feb
- avoid Mar–Apr (smoke and heat), Jun–Sep (rain)
- Airport
- CEI
- Nights
- 1
Rules in force · 6Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Thailand ↗Check entry rules and any arrival card on the official Thai government sites for your passport; visa-exempt stays and pre-arrival forms change.
- Thailand ↗Do not criticise or mock the monarchy: insulting the royal family is a criminal offence.
- Thailand ↗Temples and palaces: shoulders and knees covered, shoes off before entering halls.
- Thailand ↗E-cigarettes and vapes are illegal to import or use; do not pack them.
What is in this basic guide9 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Official sites
Emergency numbers for Mae Sai191 ▾
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Mae Sai, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?Currency is the Thai baht (THB, ฿).Thailand-wide
- SIM or eSIMAIS and TrueMove H sell tourist SIMs at airport arrivals; passport registration is required.Thailand-wide
- Tap waterNot drinkable from the tap.Thailand-wide
- TippingSit-down restaurant: Leave ฿20–100 (≈ US$1–4) or the coins; skip it if a 10% service charge is on the bill.Thailand-wide
- Plugs & powerSockets A/B/C/O. US/Canada (A/B): fits · UK/Ireland (G): adapter · Australia/NZ (I): adapter. 220 V: US 120 V-only devices (hair dryers) need a converter; most chargers are dual-voltage.Thailand-wide
- SafetyMae Sai is a small, calm border town and violent crime against visitors is rare.
Show all 12 answers
- RestroomsWestern toilets in malls and hotels; squat toilets with a water bucket in rural stops.Thailand-wide
- Emergency numbers191 police · 1669 ambulance and rescue · 1155 tourist police (english) (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Sundays & holidaysMany Bangkok street-food vendors stay off the main roads on Mondays (street-cleaning day in several districts)…Thailand-wide
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- AirportCEI Chiang Rai Mae Fah Luang (About 1 h 30 min by road; no airport in Mae Sai.).
- Getting aroundMae Sai is a one-street town and the centre is walkable end to end in about 20 minutes.
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- CoffeeCoffee on the main road฿40–80 (≈ US$2–3)
- Street or quick mealThai rice or noodle dish฿50–120 (≈ US$2–4)
- Beerdraught in a bar / can at a shop฿70–120 (≈ US$3–4)฿35–60 (≈ US$2)
- Metro or bus rideBus Mae Sai to Chiang Raicheckabout ฿40 (≈ US$2)
- SIM or eSIM, a weekeSIM or data SIM, about a week฿250–500 (≈ US$8–16)
- Budget bedGuesthouse double room, a night, per room฿400 (≈ US$13)
- Mid-range bedGuesthouse double room, a night, per room฿700 (≈ US$25)
- High-end bedGuesthouse double room, a night, per room฿1,200 (≈ US$40)
A day, not counting the bed: Budget ฿700 (≈ US$25) · Mid ฿1,400 (≈ US$45) · High ฿2,800 (≈ US$90)
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- CEI Chiang Rai Mae Fah Luang (About 1 h 30 min by road; no airport in Mae Sai.)
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Feb
Best
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Mar
Avoid
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
Apr
Avoid
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
May
not flagged
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
Jun
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jul
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Aug
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Sep
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Oct
not flagged
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Nov
Best
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
Dec
Best
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
Best: Nov–Feb. Avoid: Mar–Apr, Jun–Sep. Month by month →
Warmest Apr (35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)), coolest Jan (13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C) low), wettest Aug (21 rain days), driest Jan (2). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Mae Sai: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
2 rd
Feb
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
2 rd
Mar
34°C (93°F)93°F (34°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
4 rd
Apr
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
8 rd
May
33°C (91°F)91°F (33°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
15 rd
Jun
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
18 rd
Jul
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
20 rd
Aug
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
21 rd
Sep
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
16 rd
Oct
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
21°C (70°F)70°F (21°C)
10 rd
Nov
29°C (84°F)84°F (29°C)
17°C (63°F)63°F (17°C)
5 rd
Dec
27°C (81°F)81°F (27°C)
13°C (55°F)55°F (13°C)
2 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Mae Sai is a one-street town and the centre is walkable end to end in about 20 minutes. Red songthaews run between the bus terminal and the border every 15–30 min for a fixed fare; blue songthaews to Chiang Saen and the Golden Triangle leave from a stand a few hundred metres from the border. The last blue songthaew to Chiang Saen leaves at 14:00 (check).
Nearest full guides
Straight-line distance, not travel time
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 1 h each way
Songthaew or rented car south on Hwy 1, then local transport to the park entrance
The 2018 rescue cave; exhibits at the entrance, trams from the car park. The cave itself is fenced off — check current access before going.
Chiang Saen
goDoor to door: About 1 h
Blue songthaew from the stand near the border
Last departure around 14:00 (check); riverside ruins and Mekong views.Last departure around 2:00 PM (check); riverside ruins and Mekong views.
Door to door: 1–1.5 h
Blue songthaew or a rented car via Chiang Saen
Doable as a half day, but transport back is thin after mid-afternoon.
Door to door: 2–2.5 h
Bus or car via Mae Chan
Too far for a return day; sleep there.
Doi Tung
goDoor to door: 1.5–2 h
Car or tour via Mae Chan and Mae Fah Luang
Gardens and the royal villa; easiest with your own wheels.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Main road near the border gate
Guesthouses and hotels within a 10-min walk of the crossing; the whole street is quiet by 22:00.Guesthouses and hotels within a 10-min walk of the crossing; the whole street is quiet by 10:00 PM.
Around the bus terminal
About 5 km (3.1 mi) south of the centre; cheaper rooms, but you need a songthaew for everything.About 3.1 mi (5 km) south of the centre; cheaper rooms, but you need a songthaew for everything.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- ฿700–1,200 (≈ US$25–40) excl. bed
- Mid
- ฿1,200–2,500 (≈ US$40–80) excl. bed
- High
- ฿2,500 (≈ US$80)+ excl. bed
Trip budget
| Standard hotel double room1 × 1 night × ฿1,200 | ฿1,200 |
| Food, local transport, entries2 × 1 day × ฿1,400 | ฿2,800 |
| Songthaew, bus terminal to border2 × ฿20 · check | ฿40 |
| Bus Chiang Rai to Mae Sai, one way2 × ฿40 · check | ฿80 |
| eSIM, about a week of data2 × ฿300 | ฿600 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | ฿472 |
| Trip total≈ ฿2,596 per person per day, bed included | ฿5,192≈ US$160 |
2026 estimate in baht; flights and long-distance buses excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Coffee on the main road | ฿40–80 (≈ US$2–3) |
| Thai rice or noodle dish | ฿50–120 (≈ US$2–4) |
| Beer: draught in a bar / can at a shop | ฿70–120 (≈ US$3–4) / ฿35–60 (≈ US$2) |
| Songthaew ride in townFixed fare; check | ฿15–20 (≈ under US$1) |
| Bus Mae Sai to Chiang Raicheck | about ฿40 (≈ US$2) |
| eSIM or data SIM, about a week | ฿250–500 (≈ US$8–16) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- The Mae Sai–Tachileik land border is closed to foreigners as of Dec 2025; do not plan a Myanmar day trip. Crossing may be possible on an organised tour only — ask at the border before committing.
- Smoke season runs roughly Feb–Apr; air quality in the far north can be poor enough to change plans.
- The town empties by 22:00; there is no late-night scene and few taxis.The town empties by 10:00 PM; there is no late-night scene and few taxis.
- Border-market gems and curios are sold on trust: buy only from shops that give a receipt, and expect import duty at home.
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 191
- Ambulance and rescue
- 1669
- Tourist police (English)
- 1155
Pocket card
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Mae Saiแม่สาย
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
ไปที่ที่อยู่นี้To this address, please
Emergency
- Police191
- Ambulance and rescue1669
- Tourist police (English)1155
Embassy
No embassies in Mae Sai; the nearest consulates are in Chiang Mai, and embassies are in Bangkok.
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Songthaew, bus terminal → border: ฿20 (≈ under US$1) fixed, about 15 min (check)
- Bus Mae Sai → Chiang Rai: about ฿40 (≈ US$2), about 1 h 30 min (check)
- Bus Mae Sai → Chiang Mai: about ฿210 (≈ US$7), about 4 h (check)
Say or show
- สวัสดี — Hello (sawatdee)
- ขอบคุณ — Thank you (khop khun)
- เท่าไหร่ — How much is it? (thao rai)
- แพงไป — Too expensive (phaeng pai)
- ด่านอยู่ที่ไหน — Where is the border? (dan yu thi nai)
- จ่ายบัตรได้ไหม — Can I pay by card? (jai bat dai mai)
Border crossing status changes: ask at the gate before planning anything on the Myanmar side.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Mae Sai. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–Feb · avoid Mar–Apr (smoke and heat), Jun–Sep (rain) · month by month →
- 1 airport and 2 areas to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 5 day-trips, door to door
- 4 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- Airport-to-bed contract for CEI: last bus and songthaew times field-checked, taxi fallback, overnight rung.
- Border status fixture: crossing open or closed, checked monthly, so the decision line never goes stale.
- Walking cluster for the one street: border gate, market, Wat Phra That Wai Dao, coffee shops.
- Tham Luang access fixture with current opening hours and cave-closure status.