How to get from Bangkok to Mae Sot

Why visit Mae Sot?

Mae Sot is a small city in western Thailand. It shares a border with Myanmar and that is one of the main reasons why travellers make their way here. But even if you’re not visiting Burma, you may still experience a bit of Burmese culture in Mae Sot.

Many aspects of everyday Thai and Burmese life are tightly intertwined in this city. You only need to visit Mae Sot’s night markets to get a taste of Myanmar. It’s also an interesting place to experience a fusion of cultures because there are said to be around 135 different ethnicities living in Mae Sot!

There are 3 ways to travel the 500 kilometers (311 miles) from Bangkok to Mae Sot. You can choose between the bus, private transport and flight. The journey takes 1 hour 10 minutes to 11 hours 30 minutes and the quickest way is by flight. If you're on a budget, the cheapest option is by bus with tickets starting at 431 THB ($12.90).

Taking the bus from Bangkok to Mae Sot is the cheapest option and also produces fewer emissions compared to flying. Several bus companies are operating on this route.

It is a long trip but luckily, the buses from Bangkok to Mae Sot offer a comfortable airconditioned ride with reclining seats. The staff will also provide you with a blanket which is quite useful as buses more often tend to be too cold than too warm.

Both day and night buses are available from Bangkok to Mae Sot.

Departure and arrival stations

Sasanan Tour departs from Bangkok Bus Terminal (Chatuchak – Mochit). You can reach this by MRT, BTS, a public bus, tuk-tuk or taxi. During non-peak hours, Mochit Terminal is only about a 15-minute taxi ride from the city centre, but the ride can take up to 1 hour if you’re using public transport.

Khao San Tara Tour departs from its headquarters, about a 10-minute walk from Khao San Road.

All buses arrive at Mae Sot Bus Station, located 5 km west of the city centre.

Nok Air is the only airline that offers flights from Bangkok to Mae Sot. Bear in mind that Nok Air operates smaller propeller-type aeroplanes for this route. If this concerns you, we suggest taking the bus.

The airline used to operate 6 flights from Bangkok to Mae Sot every day but due to the pandemic, it’s limited to 3 flights a day. Still, enough choice with daily departures at 08:15, 11:00 and 15:30.

Flights depart from Don Mueang Airport (DMK) which can be reached by taxi, train or public bus.

Tickets for this flight from Bangkok to Mae Sot start at 2,270 THB ($68). You can use Skyscanner to find the cheapest rates and book your flights online.

The small airport in Mae Sot is located about 5 km west of the city centre.

TIP: If you decide to travel by plane, please consider including a carbon compensation fee to reduce your impact on the environment.

A private transfer is a convenient option when travelling in a group from Bangkok to Mae Sot.

Rates start from 8,820 THB ($265) for a 7-seater private transfer. Divide the cost and that’s about 1,260 THB ($38) per person. Travel time is around 8 hours.

Private Transport options from Bangkok to Mae Sot