Top Myanmar Travel Tips

Leading Myanmar Traveling Tips
Myanmar or Burma? Why Did it Modify Its Name?
The country formally referred to as Burma gained independence in 1948 from occupying forces, however it wasn't 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 viewed as a relic of the country's previous British colonial past, and Myanmar as much more inclusive of the many ethnic groups in the nation. Other names were additionally changed, which is why you will certainly see Rangoon currently referred to as Yangon.
For tourism, Burma travel is Myanmar travel. Same same, as they say in Southeast Asia.
Both the names Burma as well as Myanmar are still used interchangeably, on the ground as well as on the world stage. This article breaks down the changes, what you 'should' say and the inquiry: does it even matter?
Ideal Times to Go To Myanmar
There are generally 3 periods in which you can go to Myanmar:
October to March: Dry, winter
March to May: Hot, summer season
May to October: Damp, rainy season
The popular, high period is November to February when the weather is warm however not stifling, and also brings in the greatest number of visitors. This, in turn, makes the minimal lodging options tricky to secure as well as will certainly indicate attempting to book in advance or deal with paying for the a lot more pricey choices left over.
March to May is the time when the temperature level rises in Myanmar and impending rainfalls are due. There is a minimal number of visitors which makes it very easy to book lodging however it is unbelievably warm.

Visas
An e-Visa is readily available to travellers from these 100 nations.
To obtain one, go to the official e-Visa website. You'll be required to submit a passport photo and also pay a charge of $50.
It takes under 10 minutes to apply as well as you should get 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 stands for 90- days from the day of issue as well as allows you a 28 day stay in Myanmar
Obtaining a visa from your local consular office may be more affordable-- if you intend to save some cash, looking for a visa via your local Myanmar embassy may be cheaper. For example, the cost is simply ₤ 14 in the UK but $40 in the U.S.A., so do your research and do not neglect to consider mailing costs.
It is only possible to get in Myanmar on an e-visa at Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw international airports; and also at three Thai-Myanmar land boundary crossings Tachileik, Myawadi (Myawaddy) and Kawthoung (Kawthaung). Read the immigration site for the most recent at the time you travel.
Reaching Myanmar
Flights to Myanmar are the normal option for tourists as the very first mode of entrance, with normal scheduled services from Bangkok. But, thinking about where Myanmar lies-- bordered by China to the North and northeast, Thailand as well as Laos to the eastern as well as India and also Bangladesh to its west-- there are multiple for land entrance, although not every one of them are encouraged due to safety.
Regardless, you have to specify a "Port of Entry" in your on the internet application which denotes exactly how you will certainly be reaching Myanmar. You will be given a list of choices, from which you will certainly need to pick one of the following:
Myanmar Designated International Airports:
Mandalay (located right in the center of Myanmar)
Yangon (situated in the south)
Nay Pyi Taw (located in between Mandalay and Yangon)
Crossing at Land Border 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 boundary to western Thailand)
Kawthaung (in the most southern part of Myanmar, in the Tanintharyi Area on the border of the Thai Peninsula and the collection of islands)
Tamu (in the Sagaing Area 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 go into Myanmar at any designated "Port of Entry" however it is best to stick to the one you originally stated ideally to avoid any type of hold up in the handling of your visa upon arrival.
You can leave at any one of the International Airports and Land Border Checkpoints considering that your exit point does not require to be specified up-front. Additionally, you might exit at the Htikee Land Border Checkpoint, although entrance from here is not possible.
Flying in as well as out of Yangon is less expensive as well as has much more connections than Mandalay.
Navigating Myanmar-- Long Distance

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Myanmar's local transport alternatives might be aggravating yet the cross country propositions are much more enticing.
Distances are far, road travel is sluggish and also flying is budget friendly so it may be your much better choice.
You can still reserve flights the old-school means by wandering into a travel agent.
Flying within Myanmar is a little bit like flying in the older days-- check-in includes ticking people off a list of printed names, luggage claim can mean leaving the flight terminal as well as grabbing your bag off a trolley by the aircraft and flight announcements are made by an individual holding up a sign and calling your flight (in incomprehensible English). It actually is an experience. And also a great deal of fun if you don't let it get you stressed.Buses are economical with competing firms and a series of luxury levels.

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The majority of buses travel overnight which is great for not losing a day of sightseeing, but isn't so excellent 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 hours waiting on a 'top-up' snooze. Think about if it will certainly be less expensive to fly if you're going to book accommodation the exact same evening to sleep straight away.
Buses are extremely cold, the luxury buses will certainly give you a covering but, wear your warm layers.
Even the VIP bus does not have a toilet onboard so anticipate to stop every couple of hrs for a food as well as toilet break-- a bit discouraging if you're attempting to rest through the night.
Night buses are not sleeper buses, although these are the buses which bring you to your destination around 3 or 4am. What's even more, some still play their funky local music CD's and tacky music videos up until the early hrs of the early morning. Pack your iPod, invest in some durable extreme ear plugs or kindly request the sound to be turned off.
Never ask a vehicle driver regarding he time of arrival. Because of superstitious notions based upon a belief system of nats (spirits) that existed before Buddhism came to the fore, asking when you will arrive at a location invokes bad spirits and also is taken seriously. The outcome? You will not obtain a response.
You will generally book buses via your hotel, hostel or guesthouse-- they will generally bill a cost however be aware that the fee can differ dramatically.

Credits: seat61.com

Check whether pickup is included in your ticket price - this really does differ depending upon destination, mode of travel and company. Search for a business that does include pick-up as taxis are outrageously priced.
Reserving buses online is more difficult-- There isn't one useful on-line booking site as well as the ones that do exist have a minimal number of tickets. If you're told they're sold out, it does not necessarily mean the bus is full. Try booking in other places.
If the company has a Facebook page, message to book without charges.
Buses are almost always faster than the trains, however bus rides are bumpy-- you could consider taking tablets for nausea. Boats are additionally an option for some routes; the Mandalay-- Bagan service is popular among tourists.
There are no international car-rental firms, but a lot of travel agencies in Yangon, Mandalay as well as Bagan-- along with guesthouses as well as hotels in other places-- can organize cars and also drivers.
Myanmar's Local Transport

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Myanmar is still developing and also this is most frustratingly apparent in the local transport.
With minimal public transport, taxis will be your primary means of navigating especially for getting to as well as from airport terminals and also within cities like Yangon and also Mandalay.
Taxi prices are past extortionate-- prices are set on the spot (after a quick 'how much can I get away with' computation) as well as you're going to need to negotiate hard. It's not unusual to hear prices of $1-$2 per kilometre. Usually the taxi to and also from the airport/bus will certainly be greater than you spent for your flight or intercity bus.
1,000 Kyat per kilometre is a good approximate amount for taxi fares.
Taxis for the day may be your better bet-- it can be around $35 for a day of taking in the sights in Bagan as well as $28 for a few hours in Mandalay.
Distance is a much larger variable than time in determining the price of hiring a driver: a 12 hr trip around Yangon can cost USD 70 while taking a trip further afield to Golden Rock, a 2.5 hr drive each means, can be quoted at USD 200. Gas is expensive in Myanmar and is a huge contributing factor to the cost.
Every person intends to take you to a craft shop, a silk factory or a nut manufacturer throughout your sightseeing and tour trips. Do not be afraid to say no when you're paying for your own personal transportation. Besides, that's the reason you are paying a premium. On the other hand, a few of the side trips can be intriguing as well as drivers may take you to some cool areas that aren’t on your schedule and you may be happy you opted for their recommendations!
Hiring bikes as well as e-Bikes (electric motorbikes) outside the cities is much more inexpensive but beware of the dust-- Myanmar is without a doubt among the dustiest locations, and also almost all travelers create a dust coughing. Pack sunglasses and also something to cover your mouth.
Don't take an e-Bike if you can't handle it-- or else you'll be one of the lots of tourists walking around toting head to foot road rash as well as bandages.
The large cities are gridlocked so walking may be quicker-- Yangon has some of the worst traffic. 1.5 hrs to cover 15 kilometres should provide you an idea. The time suggested for reaching the bus terminal (22km far from the centre) is 2.5 hours.
Car quality is hit and miss so don't count on air-conditioning as well as leather seats-- that 1.5 hr journey in Yangon could all be done in 38 degree heat with nothing more than the heat of the engine fan to 'cool' you down.


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Get ready for the unforeseen. When your night bus to Bagan arrives in the really early hrs of the morning, your only option to get to my hotel may be via horse and cart. There is still a haggling process to be had, however given that this is the major form of tourist transport here it is only natural that they are awaiting new bus arrivals.

Money as well as ATM Machines in Myanmar

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You can make use of 2 currencies in Myanmar-- dollars as well as the local money, kyat (pronounced ‘chat').
If you're going to use dollars, they have to be immaculate. What's pristine/brand new-- unfolded, uncreased and also more recent than 2006. Each individual note is checked thoroughly for defects, discolouration as well as folds at the money exchange kiosks. You could likewise have trouble changing notes with the AB/CB serial numbers.
Some vendors demand payments in US dollars so you can bring some United States dollars to spend.
Using kyat is likely to be less costly because the USD currency exchange rate is informal-- someplace between 1,300 to 1,400 kyat, the currency exchange rate is generally applied on the spot, most likely depending upon how rich you look.
There are ATM machines and they mainly work but see to it you have cash prior to turning up at more remote places like the beach. Sometimes they might be out of service.
You'll pay an ATM cost of about $4 for each withdrawal which is in addition to any charges your financial institution could bill. And also you most likely will not be able to withdraw greater than $150 at a time.
ATM machines give kyat only. There are lots of exchange places about, but mainly the transactions are to change immaculate dollars into local money.
Wait for the big cities orinternational airport terminal to change money back to dollars.
Some hotels do not have credit card machines as well as call for cash payment. If you have reserved your hotels ahead of time online this might save you taking added cash money for accommodation.

Credit cards are accepted mainly only in top-end hotels. Some travel agents in Yangon and also Mandalay also take them, generally charging a little charge, for purchasing flights.
Cost of travel in Myanmar
Myanmar is a whole lot more pricey than the rest of Southeast Asia-- infrastructure is still being constructed. That includes guesthouses as well as dining establishments. Companies are recouping their expenses.
Holiday accommodation expenses
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 dingy, no-frills room.
For hotels, luxury resorts can be priced at over USD 200 a night (the Inle Princess Resort being an example where deluxe comes with a cost of $250 per night) with various other excellent alternatives coming in at $100 to $150 (eg Zfreeti hotel in Bagan which sets you back around $120 a night). A modern hotel can set you back USD 75-80 a night (the Smart Hotel in Mandalay).
Popular 'package tourist' locations like Ngapali beach can cost as much as $100 a night for a 2-star resort (though there are a couple of hostels there as well). On the plus side, you usually obtain a cost-free morning meal with your lodging.
Food costs
Street food is most budget-friendly-- around $1-$2 for a plate of something basic. Local restaurants cost around $2-$4 a meal. Anything remotely western (air-conditioning or featuring something like pizza) will set you click here back $7-$12.
Drink costs
Mineral water is cheap, under 50 cents a litre. Beer is additionally affordable at a couple of bucks per bottle.
Sightseeing costs
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 taking pictures. 'Foreigner payments' are preferred in the more touristy areas.
It's possible to bargain on prices of products like mementos however if you bargain too hard the locals lose interest and leave.
Tipping is not usual method in Myanmar, and also it's only foreigners who tip.
Sightseeing in Myanmar

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We were up and out most days for dawn as well as out cold by 10pm! The heat is frequently excruciating during the peak sunshine hrs and the arrival of the tourist buses make it more difficult to get impressive pictures and walk around freely.
Not everywhere on a map of Myanmar is open for exploration. The far northern, mountainous location of Myanmar, alongside the western Chin State as well as the far, crime levels are remarkably low.
Still, you ought to take the usual safety measures of making use of hotel lockers or safes for your belongings. Female visitors should not experience any kind of harassment or different treatment.
Do take hand sanitiser-- the money is gross and there isn't always soap in washrooms so use your sanitiser before you touch anything that will certainly go near your mouth.
Watch out for the dust- Myanmar can be very dusty so do carry something to cover your mouth and also nose when biking around. Also take care with your a/c-- Myanmar can be as warm. As a result, several travellers use the a/c in their room but sleeping in low temperatures can make you ill.
Fruit is simple to find so top up your immune system with nutrients in this way. Nevertheless, as it's usually pre-cut, look for a seller that has actually kept the flies away and also if it's sluiced with water, make certain it's filtered water.
Safety and security
Most government advisories caution against travel to parts of Rakhine (Rakhaing) State in western Myanmar, where clashes between local authorities as well as the minority Muslim (Rohingya) communities has resulted in the mass displacement of thousands of people. Some other parts of the country continue to be shut to foreigners as a result of dispute between the government as well as various ethnic militaries gathered in eastern and northern Myanmar. These areas are mostly in Kachin and also Shan States, near the frontiers with China as well as Thailand, and far from the significant tourist destinations.
Exact info on conflicts and also closed locations can be tough to come by. 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 source of information from travellers on the ground.

What to wear in Myanmar
The majority of the locals dress conservatively| as well as cover their shoulders and legs in spite of the high temperatures, and also you will make everybody much more comfortable if you do the same.
Knee length shorts, long skirts, elephant pants as well as tee shirts are the attire of choice. These are strongly encouraged and also commonly enforced for entering the temples and also pagodas.

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Everyone uses skirts-- men and women alike-- the longyi, a long skirt, is the popular traditional dress in Myanmar for both males and females. Many vacationers pick one up as they're breezy in the heat as well as tick the 'traditional wear' box. They are practical for taking in the sights so grab a cheap one a the marketplace if you have the opportunity.
Flip flops are important! Going into pagodas indicates going barefoot and flip flops are the very best footwear selection. Struggling with shoelaces in the scorching heat is an undesirable interruption. Bring some cleansing wipes for your feet after going to a pagoda.
Myanmar is a conservative nation so you'll blend far better if you clothe conservatively (covering your knees and shoulders). You will certainly find individuals in shorts and also strappy tops in the cities and also at the beach but elsewhere it's less typical.

Culture

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The local people are extremely genteel and also not used to confrontation so pack your good manners as well as your patience. Travelling can be discouraging, hot and also slow-moving yet bear in mind: you chose to visit Myanmar which it's not the same as being at home is no good reason to take it out on the locals. However, bargain hard with the cab drivers.
You may get stopped a great deal by citizens that intend to chat. Vacationers are no longer a novelty in most of Southeast Asia but Myanmar is different. Usually individuals are wonderful as well as are happy to appear in photographs and also try and talk with limited usual words or sign language.
You mayadditionally get stared at a great deal which is typically best dealt with by providing a smile as well as a mingalabar (hi in Burmese). Burmese English can be hard to understand, be patient, pay attention as well as if you're paying for a guide, make certain they have great clear English before you book.

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The red stained pavements are a consequence of spewing red coloured saliva after chewing betel quids, little parcels that contain tobacco, spices and also areca nuts wrapped in a betel leaf. It's possibly popular| because it supplies a hit that amounts to six mugs of coffee. But, as well as being dangerous when chewed long term, the by-product is bright-red saliva which is spewed out, a lot of times onto the ground.
Lots of locals have the tell tale red discolored teeth and taxi drivers usually roll down the window in sluggish traffic to spew after eating on the betel quids.
There is some begging by kids in Myanmar and as heartbreaking as it is, you shouldn't give to the youngsters. Why not? Read this brilliant post by Uncornered Market.

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It's common to see yellow circles pasted on the faces of the Burmese girls. This is Thanaka, a cosmetic paste made from ground bark, which is a beauty product in Myanmar as well as additionally serves as a sunscreen.


It's also common to hear a kissing noise in the coffee shops and also dining establishments as residents utilize the kissing sound as an ask for service. Apparently it's easier for staff to identify the place of the kissing noise so do not be distressed!
Burmese Phrases
The two essential expressions you require in Myanmar are:
Hello there: Ming-gu-la-bah
Thanks: Jay-zu-de-bar-dee
Not only is it polite, but it is well received. Be prepared for many residents to giggle in response-- they are not mocking you; they are just not expecting it.

Other practical concerns in Myanmar
Laundry is typically done by hand and is charged per item instead of kilo so try to turn up with your clothes laundered and also unless you intend to turn over $20 for a load of washing, pick the items you truly need washing and also clean your smaller items yourself as you go.
Toiletries are easy to find by yet tampons are not so bring what you require with you.
You can not flush toilet tissue or sanitary products-- this is extremely common in developing countries where the plumbing system can not manage anything apart 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 several adaptors for European and 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, better still, acquire a local SIM. You can get one at the majority of airport terminals when you land or in one of the stores in the street and also the shop personnel will have you set up in about 5 mins. You can learn more concerning your network options below. Still, with 1 mbps thought about to be a 'rapid' connection, do not expect to be downloading video clips any time. On-line accessibility has improved, with wi-fi coming to be the norm-- most hotels, guesthouses as well as coffee shops have it for free-- as well as the net is currently spreading tofarther places. Yet tightly squeezed bandwidth and power blackouts can make using the web a frustrating exercise.
Do your research beforehand or pack a guidebook, and don't anticipate to Skype home extremely frequently, it's barely possible to get a messenger service to work at times!
You'll be better with a knapsack than a luggage. Travel suitcases aren't perfect on dusty, sandy, unevenroads. Entering and also out of myriad forms|types|kinds} of transportation and also hefting it up many steep staircases isn't far better.

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