Mae Sot, Thailand

Located just 6km from Burma, Mae Sot is very much a border town, populated by a rich ethnic mix of Burmese, Karen, Hmong and Thais, plus a lively injection of committed NGO expats who work mostly with the refugees from Burma, many of whom live in camps nearby. The town is dependant both on its thriving trade in Burmese gems and teak, as well as, reportedly, on an even more lucrative cross-border black market in drugs, labourers and sex workers. For the casual visitor, however, it's a relaxed place to hang out, with a burgeoning number of good restaurants to enjoy and some interesting crafts and textiles made by Karen refugees, albeit no real sights. The short ride to the Rim Moei border market provides additional, if low-key, interest, but Mae Sot's main selling point is as a stopover on the way to the rafting and trekking village of Umphang, a remote 164km further south.