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Myanmar - Travel Guide

 

Type of Myanmar Holiday

Deciding what to include on a tour of Myanmar depends of course on your interests, time and budget. We can tailor make any itinerary to suit your exact requirements.

Our tailor made Myanmar Tours can include just flights, hotels and transfers without any excursions or your trip can be tailored to include a mix of guided excursions with time to explore independently (which we think is usually the best mix).

Temples & Heritage

Myanmar is a very cultural destination with most of the main sights such as Bagan, Mandalay and Yangon having extraordinary temples, pagodas and monasteries.

Yangon's Shwedagon Pagoda is one of the wonders of Asia, easily rivalling Bangkok's Grand Palace.

World Heritage Bagan with it's hundreds of temples dotting the plain by the Irrawaddy River is also one of the most amazing sights in South East Asia.

It's nice to break up the journey a little bit with something different and beautiful Inle Lake and the Hill Station of Kalaw offer some beautiful landscapes and cultural experiences.

Myanmar River Cruises

The Irrawaddy River is one of Asia's iconic waterways and Myanmar offers a few great options for an Irrawaddy River Cruise.

Luxury Cruise options include the E&O and the newer Oracella, both of which offer luxury Irrawaddy River cruises between Bagan and Mandalay, or vice versa.

Pandaw Cruises offers a different kind of Irrawaddy River Cruise, aboard a replica colonial river steamer.

Pandaw Cruises also offer more exploratory trips up the Chindwin River in addition to the Bagan to Mandalay route.

For a short overnight trip there are also options to do the Bagan to Mandalay transfer by river, which makes for a more interesting option than flying.

Wildlife & Nature Tours

Myanmar has only minimal opportunities for wildlife holidays. However there is no shortage of natural attractions in Myanmar including the languid Irrawaddy River and it's dusty plain, the Himalayan Foothills in the north, the hill country of the west and steaming jungles in the far south.

Active Holidays

Myanmar offers plenty of opportunities for a more active style of holiday, from trekking between hill stations and villages in the Shan State to cycling around Inle Lake.

Many day excursions in Bagan and Mandalay in particular can also be done by bicycle.

One popular and very rewarding day walk is to the Golden Rock at Kyaiktio. Diving in Myanmar is best around Myeik and we offer Myanmar dive holiday packages.

Undiscovered Myanmar

There is a fairly well-trodden route through Myanmar, visiting the main sights such as Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay and Inle Lake.

Getting away from the main areas in Myanmar means already being off the beaten track.

Interesting areas of Myanmar which receive few visitors include Moulmein and the Myeik Archipelago, Mrauk-U in the west, the hill country of the Shan State and anywhere in the north of the country.

Family Holidays to Myanmar

Myanmar is a very cultural destination with lots of temples and cultural sights, so bear this in mind if deciding whether Myanmar is a good choice for your family.

Younger children usually enjoy river journeys, ox-cart rides or ballooning over Bagan.

Our Myanmar Family Holidays include activities such as dressing in traditional Longyi, visiting local markets, trying exotic food and enjoying activities such as ox-cart rides.

Bear in mind that temperatures can be high and the choice of food not as wide as in neighbouring countries such as Thailand, but Myanmar is a great option for an adventurous family holiday.

Yangon

Formerly known as Rangoon, Yangon is the largest city in Myanmar and home to one of the finest temples in the Far East, the totally beguiling Shwedagon Pagoda.

Yangon is located at the confluence of the Yangon and Bago Rivers and is one of Asia’s least developed major cities. There are some great old colonial buildings in Yangon and the Strand Hotel is one of the Far East’s great heritage hotels.

Most people touring Myanmar spend at least a night in Yangon as it’s the only real international gateway.

Bagan

Bagan is a Unesco World Heritage Site and one of the most compelling archaeological sights in Asia.

Over 3,000 stupas and pagodas dot the plain of Bagan creating one of the most incredible locations in the Far East, especially during a misty morning or at sunset.

Bagan was the former capital of the Burmese Empire and a major religious centre, before being sacked by an invading Thai army in the 13th century.

Inle Lake

Inle Lake is a popular destination on any tour of Myanmar, because of its beautiful surroundings and the famous Intha lake fisherman, who have a unique style of “leg-rowing”.

Inle Lake is surrounded by fishing villages and floating gardens and the best way to tour Inle Lake is by boat. Close to Inle Lake, the temple complexes of Kakku and Thar Khauk make for very rewarding excursions.

Mandalay

Former capital of Burma, Mandalay is a must on any tour of Burma.

There are plenty of fascinating sights around Mandalay including the impressive rock carved pagoda at Mingun, picturesque Sagaing monasteries and the former Royal cities of Ava and Amarapura.

Mandalay itself is Burma’s second largest city, the cultural centre of the country and has some impressive sights of its own, including Mandalay Hill and the Shwenandaw Pagoda.

Mandalay is also the best place in Myanmar to do some handicraft shopping.

Ngapali Beach

Ngapali Beach is Myanmars' prime beach resort destination and a popular add-on to a tailor-made tour of Myanmar for a few days of relaxation.

Reached by domestic flight, Ngapali offers a long stretch of golden sand, back by swaying palms and dotted with simple beach resorts.

Ngapali Beach has an old style beach resort ambience, little touched by larger resort development.

There are a couple of very nice boutique style resorts in Ngapali Beach however which are great for a few days at the end of a tourof Burma.

Getting There

There are no direct flights from the UK to Myanmar. Flying time including connection is usually around 15 hours. Yangon is the main international gateway with connections via all the major Asian cities such as Bangkok, Singapore & Kuala Lumpur.

There are also direct flights from Saigon in Vietnam and also between Mandalay and Bangkok.

Visas

Visas are required for Myanmar and are required in advance. Applications may be made to the Myanmar Embassy in London. http://www.myanmarembassy.com/english/visa.htm

Please note that visa information is subject to change at any time, so please check you have the correct documents for travel.

Costs & Money

Costs within Myanmar are very low and much lower than neighbouring Thailand.

The Myanmar currency is the Kyat (pronounced 'Chat'). Dollars are used widely and we recommend taking enough US Dollars with you, in cash, to cover your expenses.

Try to ensure that the dollar bills are crisp and undamaged as many vendors and money changers will refuse to accept torn, damaged or even just 'old looking' notes.

It is useful to take all cash into Myanmar that you think you will need, plus some extra for emergencies as ATM's aren't always reliable.

Although this is changing quite rapidly now, and more and more ATM's are appearing, don't go with the expectation of finding working ATM's within easy reach.

Credit cards are becoming more commonly accepted.

Travellers cheques are mostly not accepted.

The currency in Myanmar is the kyat (pronounced 'chat'). As in many countries of the area, the US Dollar is the most useful currency to carry but we recommend changing some money into kyat on arrival.

In many local restaurants and shops, kyat is the only method of payment allowed.

The US Dollar is the best currency to take to Myanmar although the Euro is becoming more popular, especially in Yangon.

The exchange rate in Yangon is generally better than upcountry and the larger the bill, the significantly the better the rate (i.e.100 USD notes receive 10% more Kyat compared to 50 USD notes).

Bring new series US Dollar bills ("big heads" instead of "small heads") and with series numbers not starting with AB or CB as these are not accepted in Myanmar due to rumours of these series being counterfeit.

Notes should be in very good condition and not torn, dirty or washed as these will not be accepted in Myanmar, even in many hotels!

There are currently three 'official' exchange counters offering a better rate than the black market.

We recommend changing your currency here as you are issued a receipt, the service is monitored and there is no chance of being 'ripped off'.

Your guide can assist to direct you to any of these places and it is expected more will open in the near future. Two of these counters are open at the Yangon International Airport in the arrival lounge.

Here you also have the chance to exchange any leftover Myanmar currency at the end of the trip.

Note that the airport counters frequently run out of money by 3 pm, so this service currently is best for morning arrivals only. There is also one centre downtown on Thein Byu Road which is open seven days a week until 4 pm.

All three locations accept US Dollars, Euros and Singapore Dollars. 

It is no longer a requirement to exchange money into FEC (Foreign Exchange Certificates) at the airport.

Only some upscale restaurants and some hotels accept credit cards (with a surcharge of 3-8%).

Don’t rely on paying by credit card, as connections can often not be made to put the payment through, even if the vendor will accept the card.

Travellers Cheques currently cannot be used or exchanged in Myanmar.

Health & Safety

Myanmar is a very safe country for travelling if you follow the usual precautions. To see the latest travel advice we recommend the Foreign Office Travel Advisory website.

Bear in mind that the FCO advice does tend to err on the side of caution, but nevertheless is a good guide to health and safety considerations if taken within context.

Vaccinations

We aren't medical experts and prefer to leave medical advice to those more qualified. Some GP's will offer very good advice, but many will not be as up to date on travel health issues.

The main vaccinations for travellers are usually available at GP surgeries.

We find MASTA Travel Clinic extremely good and very thorough and those looking at doing any amount of travelling in South East Asia would do very well to contact the nearest MASTA clinic.

Bear in mind that many vaccinations need to be planned well in advance of travel.

Money

Make sure you read the Currency section in 'Planning' as it is very important to be aware of the money - currency situation in Myanmar.

Getting Around

Road travel allows visitors to see more of the country and is a great way to get closer to the land and its people. However some distances are quite long in Myanmar, and they are even longer because road conditions make (relatively) fast travelling difficult.

Roads are in poor conditions although efforts are being made to upgrade most roads especially after the yearly rainy season which ends in October.

The relatively old vehicles used in Myanmar also make long distance travel less comfortable than in neighbouring countries.

Vehicles used in Myanmar (from 4-seater saloon cars to 45-seater buses) are generally of an older manufacturing date (which can be 10-15 years back) as the import of new vehicles is currently not possible or prohibitively expensive, given the current economic situation in Myanmar.

While every effort is made to provide the best possible and available options, visitors have to be prepared to travel in less comfortable vehicles than in neighbouring countries like in Thailand, Laos or Cambodia.

All vehicles do have air-conditioning and we provide all our clients with complimentary water and towels in ice-boxes in each vehicle.

Mobile Phones

Your mobile phone will not work in Myanmar as Myanmar currently has no roaming agreement with any country. Prepaid cards in value of USD/FEC 50 (CDMA-450 MHZ) are available for purchase within the country.

The USD/FEC 50 card is maximum 90 days validity after activated. These prepaid mobile phone cards are aimed at tourists visiting Myanmar who wish to keep in touch with friends and family.

A phone rental system is availabe from the Yangon International Airport. A despoit of 200 USD (cash) is required and the daily fee is 2 USD for regular phone or 4 USD for smartphone.

Phone credit is an additional cost with cards available for 10,000 - 30,000 Kyat (must be paid in cash). These top up cards are available for purchase throughout the country.

 

Shopping & Precious Stones

There are many fantastic local products in Myanmar that make excellent souvenirs and memories from your trip. Traditional crafts include lacquerware, especially in Bagan, woodcarvings, stone carvings, bronze work, rattan, silver jewellery, silk longyis and hand-woven textiles.

Myanmar is well known for its riches in precious stones, especially rubies (pigeon-blood) and jade (imperial-jade). It's easy to be tempted into buying something, but do so with extreme caution.

A relative guarantee for the quality of purchases is given by an official receipt and certificate issued by government-licensed dealers.

Prices in such shops are higher but are more credible and would theoretically allow you to return the purchase in case you are unhappy or if it is of lesser value.

The issued paper can also be shown when exiting the country as export of gems and stones, and without such a government-issued paper are illegal.

Our guides are instructed not to recommend any specific shop. Even if pressed to do so by visitors, the sole responsibility for their purchase lies with the buyer.

Prohibited Items

Mobile telephones and laptop computers with modems are officially not allowed into the country but the rule is not enforced and they can be brought in.

However mobile phones will not work in Myanmar, as the country does not have any roaming agreements. Items of jewelry, cameras and foreign currency (above USD 2000) are supposed to be declared at customs upon entry.

Export of Buddha images and antiques or articles of archaeological importance is prohibited.

Gemstones can be safely bought only from government-controlled outlets and the buyer should ask for a certificate (please read more details under Gems/Precious Stones above).

What's the food like?

The staples of Burmese cuisine are rice, rice noodles, and curries. The main ingredient of the meal is usually rice and the curries tend to be not as spicy as those from India or Thailand.

A clear soup called hingyo accompanies most meals and a fermented fish sauce or paste called ngapiye is usually served to add to the flavor. Chinese, Indian and European food is served in restaurants at most tourist places.

What are the domestic airlines like?

We use the following domestic airlines: Air Mandalay, Air KBZ, Asian Wings and Yangon Airways. All four airlines fly French-Italian ATR turboprop planes (Avions de Transports Régionaux), a type of plane well suited for the local conditions, airports and distances.

The configuration is either 40 seats (ATR-42) or 70-seats (ATR 72) in rows of 4 seats with a middle aisle. Entry-exit is at the back of the plane. Standard One-class configuration.

We don't use Myanma Airways (domestic) flights (not to be confused with Myanmar Airways International).

More information on aviation safety can be found on aviation-safety.net.

Do I need to tip?

Tipping for good service is not expected but is always appreciated in a country where the average annual income is very low compared to Europe.

It is customary to tip tour guides and drivers at the end of a tour. Hotel and station porters also expect to be tipped.

Don't let a guide talk you into tipping more than you plan to. It is totally up to you who you tip, when and how much.

Currency

The Myanmar currency is the Kyat (pronounced 'Chat'). Dollars are used widely and we recommend taking enough US Dollars with you, in cash, to cover your expenses.

Some credit card companies operate in Burma. Most of the larger hotels accept credit cards.

There are some ATMs that will allow withdrawal of funds using foreign debit or credit cards although these are not widespread. Western Union has begun to operate for inward transfer of funds via Burmese banks.

It is likely that you will require US Dollars, in pristine condition, to fund your stay.

There is an official exchange rate available through authorised money exchange counters to exchange US Dollars into Kyats.

Because of concerns over counterfeit money, US Dollars with the letters AB and CB at the start of the serial number (top left-hand corner of the note) are not always accepted. Notes with pen marks, folds or tears are also not accepted.

Electricity

Myanmar uses 220V, and a mixture of flat 2-pin, round 2-pin or 3 pin plugs. It is recommended to bring a universal plug adaptor. Power outages are quite common but most hotels have their own generator.

 

Time Zone

Myanmar is 6h 30 min ahead of GMT in winter and 5h 30min in summer: 1500H GMT = 2130H in Myanmar (winter). Myanmar is 30 minutes behind Bangkok (Thailand) time: 1500H in Bangkok = 1430H in Myanmar.

Capital City

Naypyidaw is the new administrative capital

Yangon is the De Facto capital

Population

Myanmar has 50 million people.

Language

The national language of Myanmar is Burmese, of which there are over 80 different dialects spoken. The written language uses an amazing looking script based on ancient Indian characters. In the cities many of the older generation still speak very good English and it is also becoming popular again with the younger generation.

Religion

Buddhism is the dominant religion in Myanmar and over 85% of the population practice it. The monastery is the traditional focal point of village life in Myanmar and monks rely on villagers for donations of both money and food.

Every boy in Myanmar is expected to spend sometime as a monk. The remainder of the population are Christians, Muslims and animists.