Mae Sai

Mae Sai (แม่สาย) is the northernmost city of Thailand. It is mainly a stepping stone for visits to Myanmar and has a few attractions of its own. Wat Pha That Doi Wao is an interesting temple complex on a hillside overlooking the border crossing. It has a large scorpion facing (pointedly) toward Myanmar! The market in Mae Sai is marginally more expensive than that across the border in Tachilek, but has a slightly wider range of goods.

Mae Sai Halal Explorer

Travel to Mae Sai

Travel on a Bus in Mae Sai

By bus from Chiang Rai or Chiang Mai. Buses from Chiang Rai are very frequent (every 10-15 min), cost 40 Baht (one way) and take about 1.5 hours, while buses from Chiang Mai take about 4 hours (310 Baht one way).All public buses terminate at a bus station well south of Mae Sai, so you have to continue onward to the city proper with red songthaews waiting outside (20 Baht per passenger fixed fare). The blue songthaews to/from the Golden Triangle and Chiang Saen, on the other hand, leave from a stand in the downtown a few hundred metres down the street from the border crossing. The last blue songthaew that departs for Chiang Saen leaves at 14:00.

There are day-tours taking visitors to Mae Sai and the Golden Triangle, and a couple of other places to see on the way as well. Tourist shuttle vanes are more expensive (around 1800 Baht for a day tour from Chiang Mai including lunch) and, if fully loaded (but this is not always the case), are much less comfortable.

By car

Mae Sai is 61 kilometers from Chiang Rai on Highway 110.

Get around

Mae Sai is a one-street town and the centre is easily covered on foot.

MaeSai Scooters has rentals and tours at a great price to see the most of this ethnic border town.

There's really only one place to visit in Mae Sai, but many visitors breeze past it on their way to Myanmar.

• Wat Phra That Wai Dao | Built on a small hill up a steep staircase, overlooking Mae Sai and Tachileik, this temple and its stupa are unremarkable, but there are a few interesting monuments around it. Next to the stupa is a small Burmese temple that gives a nice taste of what awaits on the other side. Towards the river is a multistoried monument to King Naresuan, a Lanna king famous for beating back several Burmese invasions and dispatching the Burmese crown prince in a duel, and just in case the message of this isn't clear enough and there's also a giant scorpion statue brandishing its claws towards Tachileik.
• The gate that purports to mark the northernmost point of Thailand (good for pictures, but the actual northernmost point is few kilometers east from the town, where the Sai river joins the Ruak river coming from Myanmar).

Top Muslim Travel Tips for Mae Sai

• Cross the bridge into Tachileik, Myanmar (which the Thais call Tha Khi Lek ท่าขี้เหล็ก). An entry permit valid for up to 14 days costs USD 15 or alternatively 500 Baht. Travellers using this option are given a paper entry permit and their passports are held at the immigration office until they return to Thailand. Stop at the entry point and talk with the (Thai) officials to organise this.

It is easily done, but beware that if you're leaving Thailand shortly before your visa or, especially and the 30-day stamp expires, you may be questioned and they even may not allow you to go to Myanmar due to the current policy against "border runs", which once were a very popular reason for the foreigners to go to Tachileik for a few hours and back to get another 30 days in Thailand visa-free. In the Tachilek market just over the border, expect to be assaulted by any number of persons offering affordable cigarettes and Viagra/Cialis. From here, you can travel as far as Kengtung (Thai Chiang Tung), 160 kilometers away, but to travel to the rest of Myanmar, a visa in advance is needed. Transit travellers can arrange for a visa and can obtain their passport sent to their port of exit. Some local NGOs are worth visiting to see some of their humanitarian work.

The infamous cave where a youth football (soccer) team (12 players plus a coach) was trapped for more than two weeks in 2018. The team was successfully rescued in an international mission that involved 90 divers, though one diver died.

Muslim Friendly Shopping in Mae Sai

There are plenty of small shops lining both sides of the street leading to the border crossing that sell:

• Cheap jewels (rubies, emerald and jade) imported from Myanmar
• Cheap curio items, many of which are imported from China
• Fresh cut fruit

Muslim Friendly Food & Restaurants in Mae Sai

To be updated

Drink

There are several comfortable Coffee shops on the primary street leading to the immigration checkpoint.

Buy Muslim Friendly Condos, Houses and Villas in Mae Sai

eHalal Group Mae Sai is a prominent real estate company specializing in providing Muslim-friendly properties in Mae Sai. Our mission is to cater to the specific needs and preferences of the Muslim community by offering a wide range of halal-certified residential and commercial properties, including houses, condos, and factories. With our commitment to excellence, client satisfaction, and adherence to Islamic principles, eHalal Group has established itself as a trusted name in the real estate industry in Mae Sai.

At eHalal Group, we understand the importance of meeting the unique requirements of Muslim individuals and families seeking properties that align with their cultural and religious trainings. Our extensive portfolio of Muslim-friendly properties in Mae Sai ensures that clients have access to a diverse selection of options tailored to their needs. Whether it's a luxurious villa, a modern condominium, or a fully equipped factory, our team is dedicated to assisting clients in finding their ideal property.

For those seeking a comfortable and modern living space, our condos are an excellent choice. Starting at US$ 350,000 and these condominium units offer contemporary designs, state-of-the-art facilities, and convenient locations within Mae Sai. Each condo is thoughtfully designed to incorporate halal-friendly features and amenities, ensuring a seamless integration of Islamic values into everyday living.

If you are looking for a more spacious option, our houses are perfect for you. Starting at US$ 650,000, our houses provide ample living space, privacy, and a range of customizable features to meet your specific requirements. These houses are located in well-established neighborhoods in Mae Sai, offering a harmonious balance between modern living and Islamic values.

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Muslim Friendly hotels in Mae Sai

• Please check the latest Hotel Rates for Mae Sai

• Navy Home - A quirky hotel with an unusual character. The owner is a former (Thai) naval officer. The place is nicely clean, Wi-fi works as well as anywhere in Thailand, beds are hardish but not (Thai) concrete. Economical place to stay.

• Piyaporn Place Hotel - Standard (Thai) hotel with clean well-presented rooms containing all the usual amenities of a hotel in this class. The loud maid phones on each floor which resonate down the corridor may put some off. Ask for a room at the opposite end of the corridor.

• Thip Sukon House Hotel | This hotel is probably the best of the lot. From the 3rd floor you have a view into Myanmar and the Sai River.

• Top North Hotel | Standard budget Chinese-run (Thai) hotel, air conditioning and hot shower but there may be no window in the room. In the middle of the busy market during the daytime, but the street (as well as the whole town) gets deserted by 22:00.

Go next

• On foot across the short bridge to Tachileik, Myanmar
• By bus or vehicle to Chiang Rai and beyond

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