lonely-planet-myanmar-burma-11-edition

(Axel Boer) #1

220


MANDALAY & AROUND


MANDALAY


Air
A daunting 28-mile drive south of the centre,
Mandalay’s huge, gleaming airport is nominally
international, thanks to two daily fl ights to Kun-
ming, China. All other services are domestic.
The government-run Myanma Airways (MA;
Map p 206 ; %36221, 87458; 81st St, 25/26;
h9am-2pm) has a lacklustre reputation and
sells its own tickets directly, generally only pos-
sible one day ahead. Use an agency for Air Man-
dalay (AM), Asian Wings (AW), Bagan Air (BA)
or Air Kanbawza (AK) – the latter two airlines
owned by Tay Za (p 26 ) and Aung Ko Win (p 373 )
respectively.

 Boat
Unless otherwise stated, all boat services listed
start from or near Gawein Jetty (Strand Rd at
35th St), the exact point varying somewhat ac-
cording to river levels.
BAGAN
For a readers’ report of a boat ride to Bagan, see
p 120. There are several options:
GOVERNMENT SLOW BOAT (deck/cabin
$12/33) Departs at 5.30am Wednesday and
Sunday, taking 13 to 15 hours when water levels
are OK. Should you beach on a sandbank (quite
possible in February and March) it might take
a day longer. Buy tickets one day before sailing
at IWT (Map p 200 ; %36035; 35th St; hsales
10am-2pm). See p 21.

MALIKHA 2 ($36, nine hours) A private express
boat with view deck. It departs 7am on certain
days in season. Frequency varies widely from 24
trips a month in January to barely one per week
in March. Book ahead through hotels, agents or
Malikha Travels (%72279; http://www.malikha
-rivercruise.com; 26th St, 82/83)
SHWEI KENNERY ($33, nine hours) Similar to
Malikha 2, but runs to Bagan only a few times per
season. See p 221.
CRUISE BOATS River lovers can opt for one
of several sleep-aboard tours (see boxed text,
p 214 ). These tend to be very pricey and are sold
as part of a package. Read very carefully what’s
on off er. Some packages are as long as fi ve days,
four nights, but as the journey itself takes only a
few hours, such packages may simply be using
the boat as a hotel while doing over-priced land-
based tours. Is that really what you want?

KATHA & BHAMO
GOVERNMENT FERRY ITW ferries to Bhamo
(deck/cabin $9/54, three to fi ve days) depart at
6am on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Useful
stops en route include Kyaukmyaung ($4, 11 to
15 hours) and Katha (deck/cabin $7/42, at least
two full days). Carefully read the boxed text on
p 239 before jumping aboard. Tickets are sold
on departure. Double-check schedules with IWT
(Map p 202 ; %36035; 35th St). See also p 21.
FAST BOAT Departures are at 5am once every
two days to Katha (K45,000, around 14 hours),
where you’d have to change boats for Bhamo.

MANDALAY AIR ROUTES

Sample rates with peak-season schedules
DESTINATION PRICE $ FREQUENCY AIRLINES
Bhamo 45 Thu, Sun MA
Heho 42 several daily AM, AW, BA, AK
Homalin 55 Tue MA (permits required)
Kalay(myo) 85 Mon, Fri AW
Kengtung 95 Sat (via Tachilek)
Tu e

BA

MA
Khamti 70 Sun MA (permits required)
Kunming 281 2 daily China Eastern
Lashio 70 irregular AW
Myitkyina 95

70

Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sun
Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat

BA

MA
Nyaung U (Bagan) 42 daily AM, AK, BA
Putao 105 Tue, Sun BA (permits required)
Tachileik 95
65

daily
Thu, Sat

BA
MA
Yangon 92 several daily AM, AW, BA
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