PLAN YOUR TRIP
PLANNING YOUR TRIP
Putting Together
Your Own Package
If you’re used to having a car at the airport
waiting for you, and guides showing you
where to go, that can be done and arranged
privately. Just because many roads are rough
doesn’t mean you have to sacrifi ce all com-
forts. Either contact a Yangon-based agent
(p 69 ) before a trip, or give yourself a couple
of days to do so once you arrive. The agent
can help set up private guides, transport and
hotels. Ask to pay as you go to ensure that
your money is spread out and to use diff er-
ent guides at each destination rather than
one guide for the whole trip (see p 21 ). Talk
with more than one agent, telling them what
you want, to gauge off ers.
We know that some agents are keen to
ensure you have adequate travel insurance
covering medical emergencies for your trip.
Their concerns are well-founded, as quality
medical care in Myanmar isn’t readily avail-
able. Therefore an insurance policy that cov-
ers medi-vac is wise.Budgeting
Having decided on all the above, you’ll be
in a position to budget more accurately for
your trip. If you need extra help, see p 12.
In the vast majority of cases, you’ll be
paying for everything in cash – either US$
or the local currency, kyat – once you get to
Myanmar (see p 364 ). With a few very rare
exceptions, credit cards are not accepted for
local payment. Sometimes, if you’re dealing
with a travel agent, you can pay in advance
for some of your expenses, on top of which a
processing fee of around 5% is charged.
Also remember to bring brand new green-
backs. Myanmar ATMs don’t accept interna-
tional cards, and with one exception, it will
also not be possible for you to get a cash
advance on a credit card. Thus, you need to
bring all the cash you think you’ll need with
you – and not just any cash. Brand-new US
dollars – 2006 or later bills that have colour
and are in absolutely perfect condition: no
folds, stamps, stains, writing or tears – only
will be accepted for payment or exchanged
for kyat; see p 13 for more details.HOW TO SKIP OVERNIGHT BUSESThere’s not one obvious way to travel by bus between Myanmar’s four big destina-
tions: Yangon, Inle Lake, Mandalay and Bagan. Most travellers start in Yangon and
bus to Mandalay one night, then pick between Inle Lake or Bagan next; this requires
at least a couple of overnight buses. Also note, there’s a dearth of direct buses from
Mandalay to the Inle Lake area that are willing to take foreigners, and there’s only
one direct bus daily going to Kalaw/Taunggyi from Nyaung U, departing at 4am.
If you like being able to see scenery out the window, or sleeping in beds, you can
travel to these places without taking an overnight bus. But it takes pre-planning and a
bit more time – around a week of travel time and a total cost of K44,900 if you take the
following buses and/or pick-up trucks:ROUTE DURATION (HR) COST (K)
Yangon-Taungoo 9 3500-4300
Taungoo-Meiktila 6½ 4000
Meiktila-Taunggyi (for Inle
Lake)6 2500-4000Taunggyi-Kalaw 3 2500
Kalaw-Mandalay 9 8000-10,000
Mandalay-Nyaung U (for
Bagan)7-8 6500Bagan-Magwe 8 5500
Magwe-Pyay 7 4000
Pyay-Yangon 7 410030