Leading Myanmar Travel Tips
Myanmar or Burma? Why Did it Modify Its Name?
The country officially referred to as Burma acquired independence in 1948 from occupying forces, however it wasn't up until 1989 that the ruling military junta changed the nation's name from Burma to Myanmar following a military coup.
Politically, the name Burma was seen as a relic of the country's former British colonial past, and Myanmar as more inclusive of the numerous ethnic groups in the nation. Other names were additionally changed, which is why you will certainly see Rangoon now referred to as Yangon.
For tourism, Burma travel is Myanmar travel. Same same, as they say in Southeast Asia.
Both the names Burma and also Myanmar are still made use of interchangeably, on the ground and also on the world stage. This short article breaks down the modifications, what you 'should' say and the concern: does it even matter?
Best Times to Go To Myanmar
There are usually 3 seasons in which you can visit Myanmar:
October to March: Dry, winter
March to May: Hot, summer season
May to October: Damp, rainy period
The popular, high period is November to February when the weather is warm however not stifling, as well as attracts the greatest number of visitors. This, consequently, makes the minimal lodging options difficult to secure and also will imply attempting to book ahead or deal with paying for the a lot more expensive choices left over.
March to May is the time when the temperature rises in Myanmar as well as upcoming rains are due. There is a minimal number of tourists that makes it very easy to book holiday accommodation but it is exceptionally warm.
Visas
An e-Visa is readily available to visitors from these 100 nations.
To obtain one, go to the official e-Visa web site. You'll need to upload a passport photo as well as pay a cost of $50.
It takes under 10 minutes to apply and you should obtain authorization within 3 working days.
Print out your e-Visa letter, show it when you get here and you're in.
Your e-Visa letter is valid for 90- days from the date of issue and permits you a 28 day stay in Myanmar
Obtaining a visa from your local embassy may be more affordable-- if you wish to save some cash, making an application for a visa by means of your local Myanmar embassy might be less expensive. As an example, the cost is simply ₤ 14 in the UK however $40 in the USA, so do your research and don't forget to consider mailing costs.
It is only possible to get in Myanmar on an e-visa at Yangon, Mandalay as well as Nay Pyi Taw international airports; and at 3 Thai-Myanmar land border crossings Tachileik, Myawadi (Myawaddy) as well as Kawthoung (Kawthaung). Read the immigration site for the latest at the time you take a trip.
Getting to Myanmar
Flights to Myanmar are the typical choice for visitors as the initial mode of entrance, with normal scheduled services from Bangkok. Yet, taking into consideration where Myanmar is located-- bordered by China to the North and northeast, Thailand and Laos to the eastern and India as well as Bangladesh to its west-- there are numerous avenues for land entrance, although not every one of them are recommended because of safety.
No matter, you have to specify a "Port of Entry" in your on the internet application which denotes how you will certainly be reaching Myanmar. You will certainly be given a list of alternatives, from which you will need to choose one of the following:
Myanmar Designated International Airports:
Mandalay (located right in the center of Myanmar)
Yangon (located in the south)
Nay Pyi Taw (situated in between Mandalay and Yangon)
Going Across at Land Boundary Checkpoints:
Tachileik (in the Shan State of eastern Myanmar on the boundary to north Thailand)
Myawaddy (in the Kayin State of southeastern Myanmar on the border to western Thailand)
Kawthaung (in the most southern part of Myanmar, in the Tanintharyi Area on the boundary of the Thai Peninsula as well as the collection of islands)
Tamu (in the Sagaing Region of northwestern Myanmar on the border to northeastern India).
Rih Khaw Dar (a six-hour drive from the border village of Khawmawi in the northwestern Chin State of Myanmar on the border of Southeastern India).
In reality, you can enter Myanmar at any designated "Port of Entry" yet it is best to stay with the one you initially specified ideally to avoid any type of hold up in the handling of your visa upon arrival.
You can exit at any of the International Airports as well as Land Border Checkpoints considering that your exit point does not need to be specified up-front. Additionally, you may exit at the Htikee Land Border Checkpoint, although entrance from here is not possible.
Flying in and out of Yangon is less expensive and also has extra links than Mandalay.
Getting around Myanmar-- Long Distance
Credit: myanmartours.us
Myanmar's local transportation options might be aggravating but the long distance propositions are far more attractive.
Distances are far, road travel is sluggish and also flying is affordable so it might be your much better option.
You can still book flights the traditional means by wandering into a travel agent.
Flying within Myanmar is a little bit like flying in the older days-- check-in involves ticking individuals off a listing of printed names, luggage claim can mean leaving the flight terminal and getting your bag off a trolley by the airplane and also flight announcements are made by an individual holding up a sign as well as calling your flight (in incomprehensible English). It really is an experience. And a great deal of fun if you do not let it get you stressed.Buses are affordable with competing businesses and also a series of high-end levels.
Credits: seawander.asia
Most buses travel overnight which is terrific for not losing a day of sightseeing and tour, yet isn't so great for sleep. Also, you'll have a tendency to arrive at strange times in the morning as well as will not be able to check into your hostel or hotel until 2 p.m. That's a lot of hrs waiting for a 'top-up' nap. Take into consideration if it will certainly be cheaper to fly if you're going to book accommodation the exact same night to rest immediately.
Buses are really cold, the deluxe buses will certainly provide you a blanket however, use your warm layers.
Even the VIP bus does not have a toilet onboard so expect to stop every few hrs for a food and toilet break-- a little bit discouraging if you're attempting to rest through the night.
Night buses are not sleeper buses, despite the fact that these are the buses which bring you to your destination around 3 or 4am. What's even more, some still play their funky local song CD's as well as cheesy video up until the early hrs of the morning. Pack your iPod, invest in some heavy-duty extreme ear plugs or kindly ask for the sound to be switched off.
Never ask a vehicle driver about he time of arrival. Due to superstitions based upon a belief system of nats (spirits) that existed before Buddhism came to the fore, asking when you will reach a destination summons bad spirits as well as is taken seriously. The result? You won't get a response.
You will mainly book buses via your hotel, hostel or guesthouse-- they will normally charge a cost however know that the cost can vary substantially.
Credits: seat61.com
Check whether pick-up is included in your ticket price - this really does vary depending on destination, mode of traveling and company. Search for a business that does include pickup as taxis are extortionate.
Booking buses online is harder-- There isn't one useful on-line booking website and the ones that do exist have a minimal number of tickets. If you're told they're sold out, it does not always imply the bus is full. Attempt booking in other places.
If the company has a Facebook page, message to book without fees.
Buses are generally faster than the trains, but bus rides are bumpy-- you could consider taking tablets for motion sickness. Boats are additionally an option for some paths; the Mandalay-- Bagan service is popular amongst tourists.
There are no international car-rental companies, yet most travel agencies in Yangon, Mandalay as well as Bagan-- along with guesthouses and hotels somewhere else-- can arrange cars as well as drivers.
Myanmar's Local Transport
Credits: asiancorrespondent.com
Myanmar is still developing and also this is most frustratingly noticeable in the local transport.
With limited public transport, taxis will be your main method of navigating particularly for getting to as well as from flight terminals as well as within cities like Yangon as well as Mandalay.
Taxi prices are beyond extortionate-- rates are established on the spot (after a fast 'just how much can I get away with' computation) and you're going to need to negotiate hard. It's not uncommon to hear rates of $1-$2 per kilometre. Typically the taxi to as well as from the airport/bus will certainly be more than you spent for your flight or intercity bus.
1,000 Kyat per kilometre is a good approximate quantity for taxi prices.
Cabs for the day might be your far better bet-- it can be about $35 for a day of taking in the sights in Bagan and $28 for a couple of hrs in Mandalay.
Distance is a much larger factor than time in dictating the cost of hiring a driver: a 12 hr journey around Yangon can cost USD 70 while travelling further afield to Golden Rock, a 2.5 hr drive each method, can be quoted at USD 200. Gas is pricey in Myanmar and also is a significant contributing variable to the price.
Everybody wishes to take you to a craft shop, a silk factory or a nut producer during your sightseeing and tour journeys. Do not hesitate to say no when you're paying for your own personal transport. After all, that's the reason you are paying a premium. On the other hand, some of the side journeys can be intriguing as well as drivers may take you to some cool areas that aren’t on your travel plan and you may be happy you chose their suggestions!
Hiring bikes and e-Bikes (electrical motorcycles) outside the cities is much less expensive yet beware of the dust-- Myanmar is by far among the dustiest areas, and also nearly all tourists establish a dust cough. Pack sunglasses and also something to cover your mouth.
Do not take an e-Bike if you can not handle it-- or else you'll be just one of the lots of travelers walking toting head to foot road rash and bandages.
The big cities are gridlocked so walking may be quicker-- Yangon has a few of the worst traffic. 1.5 hrs to cover 15 kilometres ought to provide you an idea. The time recommended for getting to the bus station (22km far from the centre) is 2.5 hrs.
Car quality is hit and miss so do not count on air-conditioning and leather seats-- that 1.5 hr journey in Yangon could all be done in 38 degree heat with absolutely nothing more than the heat of the engine fan to 'cool' you down.
Credits: globaltravelmate.com
Prepare for the unforeseen. When your night bus to Bagan arrives in the really early hours of the early morning, your only alternative to reach my hotel may be through horse and cart. There is still a bargaining procedure to be had, yet given that this is the major form of tourist transportation here it is just natural that they are waiting on new bus arrivals.
Money and also ATMs in Myanmar
Credits: mmtimes.com
You can use 2 currencies in Myanmar-- dollars and the local money, kyat (pronounced ‘chat').
If you're going to use dollars, they must be immaculate. What's pristine/brand new-- unfolded, uncreased as well as newer than 2006. Each individual note is reviewed for flaws, discolouration and also folds at the money exchange booths. You might also have problems changing notes with the AB/CB serial numbers.
Some vendors demand payments in United States bucks so you can bring some US dollars to spend.
Making use of kyat is most likely to be cheaper since the USD exchange rate is casual-- someplace between 1,300 to 1,400 kyat, the exchange rate is generally applied on the spot, probably depending upon just how rich you look.
There are ATM machines and they mostly function but make certain you have cash before showing up at more remote areas like the beach. Often they may be out of service.
You'll pay an ATM machine charge of about $4 for every single withdrawal which is in addition to any costs your bank may bill. As well as you most likely won't have the ability to withdraw greater than $150 each time.
ATM machines dispense kyat only. There are a lot of exchange places around, however mostly the transactions are to change immaculate dollars into local money.
Wait for the big cities orinternational flight terminal to change money back to dollars.
Some hotels do not have credit card machines and call for cash payment. If you have actually booked your hotels ahead of time online this might save you taking extra cash money for lodging.
Credit cards are accepted primarily just in top-end hotels. Some travel agents in Yangon and Mandalay also take them, usually charging a small charge, for purchasing flights.
Cost of travel in Myanmar
Myanmar is a great deal more pricey than the rest of Southeast Asia-- facilities is still being constructed. That includes guesthouses and dining establishments. Companies are recouping their expenses.
Lodging prices
A dorm bed will set you back around $20-$30 a night. You can get a basic private room with en-suite from around $35 for a single bed. In visitor hotspots like Bagan, you can pay US$35 to US$40 for a run down, no-frills room.
For hotels, high-end hotels can be priced at over USD 200 a night (the Inle Princess Resort being a good example where luxury comes at a rate of $250 per night) with various other excellent alternatives being available at $100 to $150 (eg Zfreeti hotel in Bagan which costs around $120 a night). A contemporary hotel can set you back USD 75-80 a night (the Smart Hotel in Mandalay).
Popular 'package visitor' destinations like Ngapali coastline can set you back as much as $100 a night for a 2-star hotel (though there are a couple of hostels there too). On the plus side, you usually obtain a cost-free morning meal with your lodging.
Food prices
Street food is most affordable-- around $1-$2 for a plate of something basic. Local restaurants cost around $2-$4 a dish. Anything remotely western (air-conditioning or featuring something like pizza) will certainly set you back $7-$12.
Drink prices
Mineral water is low-cost, under 50 cents a litre. Beer is also inexpensive at a couple of dollars per bottle.
Sightseeing prices
The tourist dollar is king. Expect to spend for the privilege of being a foreigner and also using squat toilets, getting in pagodas, storing shoes and also taking pictures. 'Foreigner payments' are prominent in the much more touristy locations.
It's possible to negotiate on prices of things like mementos but if you haggle too hard the locals lose interest and leave.
Tipping is not typical practice in Myanmar, as well as it's just foreigners who tip.
Sightseeing and tour in Myanmar
Credits: lonelyplanet.com
We were up and out most days for dawn as well as out cold by 10pm! The heat is typically excruciating throughout the peak sunshine hrs and the arrival of the tourist buses make it more difficult to get fantastic images and move easily.
Not anywhere on a map of Myanmar is open for exploration. The far northern, mountainous location of Myanmar, together with the western Chin State and also the far, crime levels are exceptionally reduced.
Still, you should take the common precautions of making use of hotel lockers or safes for your belongings. Women tourists should not experience any type of harassment or different treatment.
Do take hand sanitiser-- the cash is unclean and there isn't always soap in shower rooms so utilize your sanitiser before you touch anything that will go near your mouth.
Look out for the dust- Myanmar can be extremely dusty so do bring something to cover your mouth and also nose when biking around. Also take care with your air conditioning-- Myanmar can be as warm. Subsequently, lots of tourists use the a/c in their room but sleeping in low temperatures can make you ill.
Fruit is very easy to come by so top up your immune system with nutrients this way. Nonetheless, as it's typically pre-cut, try to find a vendor that has actually kept the flies away and if it's sluiced with water, ensure it's filtered water.
Safety and security
The majority of government advisories advise against traveling to parts of Rakhine (Rakhaing) State in western Myanmar, where clashes between local authorities and also the minority Muslim (Rohingya) communities has resulted in the mass displacement of thousands of individuals. A few other parts of the nation stay closed to foreigners as a result of dispute between the government as well as various ethnic armies gathered in eastern and northern Myanmar. These locations are mainly in Kachin and Shan States, near to the frontiers with China and Thailand, and far from the significant vacationer locations.
Precise information on conflicts and also closed locations can be tough to find. Check your government's advice before travelling, and inquire about the situation when you are in Myanmar. Lonely Planet's Thorn Tree travel forum is a great resource of news from tourists on the ground.
What to wear in Myanmar
A lot of the locals dress conservatively| and cover their shoulders and also legs in spite of the high temperatures, and you will make everybody much more comfortable if you do the same.
Knee length shorts, long skirts, elephant pants as well as tees are the outfit of choice. These are strongly encouraged and also commonly enforced for entering the temples as well as pagodas.
Credits: backpackinglikeaboss.com
Everyone uses skirts-- men and women alike-- the longyi, a long skirt, is the popular traditional dress in Myanmar for both males and females. Lots of tourists pick one up as they're breezy in the warm and also tick the 'conservative wear' box. They are convenient for sightseeing so get a cheap one a the marketplace if you have the opportunity.
Flip flops are important! Getting in pagodas implies going barefoot and flip flops are the very best footwear selection. Struggling with laces in the blistering heat is an undesirable interruption. Bring some cleansing wipes for your feet after seeing a pagoda.
Myanmar is a conservative nation so you'll blend better if you dress conservatively (covering your knees as well as shoulders). You will certainly find individuals in shorts and strappy tops in the cities and at the beach however somewhere else it's much less usual.
Culture
Credits: parallelsandmeridians.com
The local individuals are exceptionally genteel and not used to confrontation so pack your best manners and your patience. Travel can be frustrating, hot and also slow yet bear in mind: you picked to visit Myanmar which it's not like being at home is no good reason to take it out on the residents. Nevertheless, bargain hard with the cab drivers.
You may get stopped a great deal by residents who intend to chat. Tourists are no longer a novelty in a lot of Southeast Asia yet Myanmar is different. Normally the people are beautiful and more than happy to appear in photos and attempt and also speak through limited usual words or sign language.
You maylikewise get stared at a lot which is generally best handled by offering a smile and also a mingalabar (hey there in Burmese). Burmese English can be hard to understand, be patient, pay attention and if you're spending for a guide, make sure they have excellent clear English before you book.
Credits: toddholdenarmstrong.blogspot.com
The red stained pavements are a consequence of spewing red coloured saliva after chewing betel quids, tiny parcels that contain tobacco, spices and also areca nuts wrapped in a betel leaf. It's most likely popular| because it provides a hit that's equivalent to six mugs of coffee. However, as well as being dangerous when chewed long term, the byproduct is bright-red saliva which is spat out, the majority of times onto the ground.
Great deals of locals have the tell tale red stained teeth and also taxi drivers usually roll down the window in slow traffic to spew after eating on the betel quids.
There is some begging by youngsters in Myanmar and as heartbreaking as it is, you shouldn't give to the children. Why not? Read this fantastic write-up by Uncornered Market.
Credits: mekongtourism.org
It's common to see yellow circles pasted on the faces of the Burmese ladies. This is Thanaka, a cosmetic paste made from ground bark, which is a beauty item in Myanmar as well as also works as a sun block.
It's also common to hear a kissing sound in the coffee shops and restaurants as residents make use of the kissing sound as a call for service. Apparently it's simpler for staff to determine the area of the kissing noise so do not be alarmed!
Burmese Phrases
The two most important phrases you need in Myanmar are:
Hi: Ming-gu-la-bah
Thank you: Jay-zu-de-bar-dee
Not only is it courteous, however it is well received. Be ready for most locals to giggle in response-- they are not mocking you; they are just not anticipating it.
Various other practical concerns in Myanmar
Laundry is generally done by hand and also is billed per item as opposed to kilo so try to show up with your clothing laundered and unless you want to hand over $20 for a load of washing, select the items you really need washing and wash your smaller sized items on your own as you go.
Toiletries are simple to find by but tampons are not so bring what you need with you.
You can not flush toilet tissue or sanitary products-- this is very common in developing nations where the plumbing system can't cope with anything aside from bodily fluids.
Myanmar has that odd half-hour difference| to its time zone so it's 6 and a half hrs in advance of GMT.
Most of the plug sockets of Myanmar have multiple adaptors for European and also North American 2-pin connects as well as British three-pin.
Wi-fi is bad in Myanmar so you either need to get over it or, far better still, get a local SIM. You can get one at the majority of flight terminals when you land or in among the shops in the road as well as the store staff will certainly have you set up in about 5 minutes. You can learn more about your network selections here. Still, with 1 mbps taken into consideration to be a 'quick' link, website don't anticipate to be downloading videos at any time. Online accessibility has improved, with wi-fi the norm-- most hotels, guesthouses and also cafes have it totally free-- and also the internet is now spreading tofarther areas. Yet tightly squeezed bandwidth as well as power failures can use the internet a discouraging exercise.
Do your research beforehand or pack a guidebook, and don't expect to Skype home extremely frequently, it's hardly possible to get a messenger service to operate at times!
You'll be much better with a backpack than a luggage. Suitcases aren't optimal on dusty, sandy, unevenroadways. Entering and also out of myriad forms|types|kinds} of transportation and also hefting it up many steep staircases isn't much better.