Sophon's Hideaway

1. Do it yourself 'Visa Run'

2. Organsied (prepaid) 'Visa Run'

1. DO IT YOURSELF 'VISA RUN'

You will need:

Passport

$US5 for Burmese Immigration processing (if you have no dollar they will accept 300 baht),

Umbrella (or suncream) as it gets quite hot .

Bottle water (a cold beer or two is also great)

Make your way to Ranong Immigration (Sapan Pla Road) by Song Tail taxi (most songtails have there destination written in English. You are looking for the Sapan Pla songtail). You must go to Immigration first. It is not near the long tail pier it is about 800 metres back from the pier on the main Sapan Pla Road.

Stamp out of Thailand. Check that your documents are in order and stamped correctly. You will be hounded here by men whom organise boats. You can go with them and the boat trip will cost you 300 baht return (per person). If you are more adventurous you can make your own way to the peir and if you barter you may get a return trip for 100 baht but you will be waiting for the boat to fill before it leaves.

The trip to Myanmar will take 30-40 minutes in a long tail boat.

The boat will first arrive at Snake Island. Here you must pay your Myanmar Immigration Fee. You will probably have to get out of the boat and do it yourself but the boat driver or boat boy may do it for you.

The boat will now proceed to Kawthaung (Victoria Point) Pier. You must now go to Immigration which is about 2 kilometres up the hill from the pier (walk off the pier and straight ahead on the road in front of you). Immigration will stamp you back out of Myanmar.

YOU CAN STAY 2 NIGHTS IN KAWTHAUNG (VICTORIA POINT) ON YOUR 300 BAHT ($5.00US) VISA. IF YOU ARE RETURNING TO THAILAND STRAIGHT AWAY ADVISE THEM HERE.

Once Immigration has been processed you are free to roam Kawthaung until you are ready to return to Thailand.

(Remember that Myanmar is 30 minutes behind Thailand).

When you are ready to return to Thailand return to your boat. The boat will make its way back to Thailand and you may be required to stop at Snake Island again depending on the authorities mood. You may also be required to stop at a little Island on the Thailand side. The Thais have set up a military post to try and control the border.

When you return to Ranong you must go back to Immigration and stamp back in. THAI IMMIGRATION CLOSES AT 6PM SHARP??????

That's it !!

Easy wasn't it ????

NOT REALLY. THIS IS THE EASIEST WAY

2. ORGANISED VISA RUN WITH VISA QUICK

This can be organised by staff at Sophon's Hideaway or you can call 'Visa Quick' yourself on 09 7758787

You will need:

Passport

$US5 for Burmese Immigration processing (if you have no dollar they will accept 300 baht),

Umbrella (or suncream) as it gets quite hot

Bottle water (a cold beer or two is also great)

300 Baht for the Visa Run Company (Visa Quick) on the standard boat. Visa Quick also have a speed boat and the price is 400 baht return trip (maximum 4 persons in speed boat)

Visa Quick have an airconditioned vehicle and will pick you up from any destination in Ranong. They will take you to Immigration and assist with processing your documents. They will then take you to their boat.

The Visa Quick boat will cross to Myanmar in about 25 minutes (normal boat) or 10 minutes (speed boat).

You normally do not stop at Snake Island when you travel with Visa Quick.

When you arrive at Kawthaung (Victoria Point), your boat crew will take your passports to Immigration and obtain the necessary stamps. You are free to roam or have a beer for 30 minutes or so.

When your passports have been processed the boat will return immediately to Ranong without stopping at any check points.

On return to Ranong, Visa Quick will transport you to Immigration and after all documentation is completed they will return you to your original destination.