I'm following the blog of an Estonian couple going RTW right now (ilmaring.ee - in Estonian), and they got in from Laos, at Thakhek. They don't say exactly what happened, just that they were riding south heading toward Cambodia, worried about all the permits and guides and stuff, decided to try the nearby border on a whim, and got across no problem. They've since gone on to Malaysia and Indonesia, no problems.

Hi Great news we have got another 3 different lots of motorbikes on the way to Plodd Stop all came in from MALAYSIA this time seperatly and none of them had a guide or permit, just Thai goverment insurance and a carnet, so in the past few weeks we have had people come in from Laos,Cambodia and Malaysia in vehicles of all shapes and sizes but nobody from Myanmar. So if anybody needs any help or advice about entering Thailand let me know, I offer this help free from one overlander to another.

Good Man Dave

What part of Thailand are you based in?

So to me, the important factor seems to be you need a Carnet.

Hi Nuff Said, Plodd Stop is about 1 hour south east from Bangkok International Airport and 10/15 minutes from Pattaya, good place to visit some of the nicer Thai Islands from, like Koh Samet, Koh Chang and Koh Si Chang. Coordinates N12*56.585 E100*56.101.
It really seems like the time you arrive at the border is very very important and that you have as much documentation all ready in place before arriving. Not all have used there Carnet in-fact only about half have, the others have just showed the Customs officer there Vehicle Reg Document,Thai insurance and a copy of an old Thai SIMPLIFIED CUSTOMS DECLARATION FORM (For motor car and motor cycle temporarily import or export) (as it says on the form),I have sent them a copy of this SCDF when I get the insurance policy for there bike,Motorhome or car, I get the insurance here in town and then scan and send them a copy to show the Customs officer. Just one more thing the Thai Government Insurance is very cheap and I would not like to have to claim off it, however, the Customs and the Police are very happy to accept it and I am sure if anybody wanted to up grade the insurance then this could be done if they visited the same office. I hope this gives overlanders more confidence in attempting to enter Thailand, I would always help with borders and timing etc.

Hi Dave

Thanks for the reply.
Sent you a PM.

we group of Riders Planning to ride our Motorbike from India to Vietnam via Myanmar. we would like to know the visa and permit process. Please help

For visas I suggest you contact the emabssies or consulates of the countries you plan to travel through.
For permits there are several companies that offers this both for Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. Just search this site or google.

__________________
In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Well it has just happened we have just got the first vehicle in to Thailand from the Myanmar/Thai border without a guide and without a permit, they are now heading towards Plodd Stop. I think this it Overlander History and it is great news.

It is great to hear. They are ,maybe, dropping this ridiculous concept of insisting on an escort hopefully now they are waking up to the income generated by long term travellers in their country. Now for Myanmar to do the same, or do they have something to hide?
It is hardly history though I travelled through Thailand for nearly a year and a half no questions and no escort well before this crapp came about but hey great news I have passed it along to others coming that way.

Its great that someone came through the Mae Sot border without having the permits and guide nonsense that Thailand has halfheartedly practised since 2016 but I wouldnt bet that this will be a permanent thing tho...

__________________
In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Hi Snakeboy I understand exactly what you mean, but I think I have enough paper work from there crossing to help others cross, fingers crossed

Hope your right...

__________________
In the end everything will be fine. If its not fine its not the end....

Hi, News from this last week we have had a Toyota Landcruiser cross from Malaysia, a Camper-van cross from Myanmar both last Sunday, a 4x4 crossed from Malaysia on Thursday and a BMW motorbike crossed last night (Sunday) all on there way to Plodd Stop all crossed without permits or guides. I think that we now have enough paperwork and understanding of the Thai border regulations at Plodd Stop to help most overlanders to cross most of the Thai borders. I would really like to help someone else to cross from Myanmar if only to see our system work there again, so if there is anybody wanting free assistance just let me know, I would use a slightly different approach to the border at Mae Sot to the other borders but I am pretty convinced that it would work. Dave

So in the last 2 weeks we have helped 3 vehicles successfully cross into Thailand legally, 1 from Cambodia and the others from Malaysia and all are going to or have visited Plodd Stop with no guide or permit. 1 motorbikes, 1 Landcruser and a 10.5 ton camper/truck.

I'd like to thank Dave from Plodd Stop for his help and advice getting me into Thailand. I'm travelling from KL to London and if it wasn't for a chance encounter with Mark Westlake who I met at the WA HUMM in Collie earlier this year, I might still be in Malaysia. Mark directed me to Les and his advice got me in the country and saved the adventure. I hope I can ride back to visit his place.
The HU community is awesome!

Even though, it seems you can get away without a guide, I also want to thank Miles and Bpuk at Thai Motorcycle Adventures for a great trip and helping me deal with Thai immigration and the missing TM2 form which Betong immigration should have given me.

Imre