Thailand-Myanmar Border Changes Could Affect Overland Travel Costs
Photo: Unsplash
Thailand's actively positioning itself as a "bridge" to help Myanmar reintegrate with ASEAN after their elections. While this sounds like pure politics, it could actually affect budget travelers who use overland routes through Myanmar.
Right now, overland travel through Myanmar is basically off-limits for most tourists. The border crossings that used to connect budget routes from Thailand to India or China have been closed or severely restricted since the military takeover.
What Thailand's Doing
Thai officials are pushing for Myanmar to address ASEAN's concerns and rejoin the regional community. They're positioning Thailand as the mediator to help bring Myanmar back into normal diplomatic relations.
The announcement came during meetings in Phuket, where Thai diplomats outlined their strategy for post-election engagement with Myanmar's government.
Why This Matters for Your Budget
Before the restrictions, you could do epic overland journeys through Myanmar for a fraction of flight costs. A bus from Bangkok to Yangon used to run around ฿2,500 ($71) versus ฿8,000+ ($229) for flights.
More importantly, Myanmar was a key link for the classic backpacker route from Southeast Asia to India. Now you're stuck flying, which adds thousands of baht to any multi-country trip.
The Reality Check
Here's the thing — even if Thailand succeeds in this diplomatic push, don't expect borders to reopen to tourists anytime soon. Myanmar's situation is complicated, and tourist-friendly policies aren't exactly a priority right now.
But if things normalize over the next few years, it could bring back some of the cheapest overland routes in Asia. The Thailand-Myanmar friendship bridge crossings at Mae Sot-Myawaddy and Mae Sai-Tachileik used to be major budget travel gateways.
What to Watch For
If you're planning long-term Asia travel, keep an eye on:
- ASEAN summit outcomes
- Myanmar border policy changes
- International airline route resumptions to Yangon
For now, budget your Asia trips assuming Myanmar stays off-limits. But this diplomatic push could eventually bring back some serious money-saving overland options.
Source: Bangkok Post
Planning a multi-country Asia trip? Calculate your Thailand budget first — you'll need it while Myanmar stays expensive to reach.
Book Activities:
- GetYourGuide — Tours & experiences
Book Transport:
- 12Go Asia — Buses, trains, ferries
Planning a trip to Thailand?
Use our free budget calculator to see what things actually cost. Real prices from real trips — no BS, no guesswork.
Calculate Your Budget →
