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Voykit pocket guide · Myanmar
Tachileik
Check current border status before planning. Tachileik is a small border town in Shan State, opposite Mae Sai, Thailand, with a market, pagoda and casinos. If the crossing is open, a day trip is enough; add a night for cheap drinks or a relaxed border exit. Do not rely on this page for travel advice — read your own government's travel advisory first.
Tachileik is a small border town in Shan State, Myanmar, opposite Mae Sai, Thailand. It offers a market, a pagoda, three low‑roller casinos and cheap duty‑free drinks. The border crossing has been closed to foreigners at times due to the civil war; as of early 2026 there are reports it may be open again by taxi. Any visit is conditional on confirmed entry and exit. Check current government travel advice and border status before planning.
- Country
- Myanmar
- Best months
- check
- Avoid
- check
- 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 5,000–9,000 excl. bed · Mid MMK 9,000–15,000 excl. bed · High MMK 15,000+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- Emergency
- Police 191 · Fire & ambulance 192
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | 30–50 baht |
| Beer (imported) | 20–55 baht |
| Trishaw ride (1 h) | 200–300 baht |
| Casino entry (low‑roller) | free, chips from 10 baht |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- THL · Tachilek Airport
- Flights to Heho, Yangon and other Myanmar cities
Typical fares
- Taxi from border to town centre
- ≈200 baht, 5 min
- Shared taxi to Kengtung
- ≈USD 12, 4–5 h (check)
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
Trishaws, motorcycle taxis and car taxis are common; short 1‑2 h tours cost 200–300 baht. Shared taxis to Kengtung cost about USD 12.
See and do
Known for
- Border market
- Low‑roller casinos
- Shwedagon Paya pagoda
- Duty‑free drinks
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Kengtung | Shared taxi or bus, about 4–5 h; permit arranged by driver (check current permit requirements) | ≈5 h (check) |
Sleep
- Platinum Star Hotel
- 3‑star, 1,000 baht standard room, Wi‑Fi, breakfast
- Allure Resort and Casino
- Luxury, 3,000–30,000 baht, casino on site
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | မင်္ဂလာပါmingalarpar |
| How much? | ဘယ်လောက်လဲbe laut le |
| Thank you | ကျေးဇူးတင်ပါတယ်kyay zu tin ba de |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Scams and watch-outs
- Border officials may monitor movements; keep a low profile.
- Market sells items that may be illegal to export; avoid buying endangered wildlife parts.
- Some vendors may decline kyat; carry Thai baht.
- The border crossing has been closed to foreigners at times; confirm it is open before you go.
Generally safe for short visits; stay aware of border checks and avoid illegal market items. The border crossing has been closed to foreigners at times — confirm it is open before you go.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Tachileik yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Border market
- Low‑roller casinos
- Shwedagon Paya pagoda
- Duty‑free drinks
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: Tachileik, revision 5221747 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5221747
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/tachileik). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.