November/ December 2018
In the first minutes in Myanmar , while I’m still on my way from the Thai Border to Hpa an in Myanmar I realized that my heartbeats were rising, I’m falling for Myanmar. All I can see is a big smiles all around me and wide red mouths revealed, the betel nut was thrown in spit to the floor and the red colors taking over me while I’m looking forward to the horizon, the mountains get covered by a beautiful sunset colors, and all I can think is, oh, how great that Myanmar time has come.
Visa to Myanmar –
Most of the countries do need to apply in advance visa request to Myanmar.
You can apply on this website which is the official one, pay attention there is some scams webs.
To Myanmar you have to apply visa request before arriving and you will do it online and probably you will get approved in a few days.
The price to 28 days of visa is 50$.
How to get from Yangon airport to the city center?
Bus – YBS Company operates buses to the airport, the duration is 60-90 minutes and the price is 500 kyat.
Taxi – through Grab App, a taxi from the city center will cost 7000-9000 Kyat.
How do I manage my 28 days in Myanmar?
Hpa an – one night
Night bus to Inle lake
Inle lake – 3 nights
Day bus to Hispo
Hispo – 2 nights
Half-day train to Pyin oo lyin
Pyin oo lyin – 3 nights
Two hours “pick up” from Pyin oo lyin to Mandalay
Mandalay – 2 nights
Night train to Bagan
Bagan – 4 nights
Night bus to Yangon
Yangon – 4 nights in total
Thabarwa center – 2 nights
Night bus from Yangon to Ngwe saung beach
Ngwe saung beach – 2 nights
Important to know –
1$ – 1470 Kyat
AYA ATM – the best atm for a few reasons, first there is low commotion comparing to others and the second reason is that you can withdraw 600,000 kyats in one time.
Local sim – the good companies are Telenor and Mytel (5000 kyats for 5GB)
Important apps – Grab (for taxis) Maps me (offline navigation app)
When to visit? – The best time is between October to March.
So I started my trip on the eastern side of Myanmar after I had crossed the border with Thailand (I will explain about the border process at the end of this post).
so has I said I started my trip in Hpa an in Mae sot border, from there I took a taxi to hpa an town, 5 hours driving and 10000 Kyat per person.
After a long 5 hours I arrived at 19:00 to Hpa an, it was only 7pm believe me, but it felt like 11pm. Most of the places were already closed, lucky me that there are only a few hostels around and all of them pretty attached.
You should ask the driver to drop you in Galaxy hostel.
In Myanmar the hostels comparing to other south Asian counties are expensive (backpackers budget), but in that price you will get a privet room and probably AC.
For example, I stayed there in 25,000 including breakfast.
What to do in Hpa an?
Cave tour – most of the hostels suggest that tour, and it’s really nice, in my opinion, is better to take tok tok and to go around by yourself.
Zwegabin Mountain – the highest mountain in the area, a nice option for a day tour – one day in this national park will cost you 4000 Kyat. In the peak of the mountain, there is a monastery, in the past It was also an option to layover in there but now it’s forbidden.
Kaw ka Taung Cave – nice cave, full of Buddha’s statues, you may see monks around.
Yathaypyan Cave – another Buddha’s statues cave, this cave a bit far from the city, what I particularly liked there was the view from the entrance and the monkeys that were playing around.
Kawgun Cave – another Buddha’s statues cave
Saddan Cave – a huge impressive cave, in the end of this cave you will see an amazing pastoral view, I really recommend to go back with the boat at the end of the cave. the entrance fee is 1000 kyat, boat price is 6000 kyat up to 5 people.
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Kyauk ka lat Pagoda -The hanging pagoda, on one cliff in the middle of the lake there is a stunning pagoda.
Bat Cave – the best attraction around, at sunset time thousands of bats leaving this cave, this is a spectacular view.
Nice Restaurant in Hpa an –
Wadee restaurant – a nice cozy restaurant with local and worldwide dishes.
Sunset point in Hpa an – go to the pier of Hpa an (close to the big pagodas)
Transportation in Hpa an –
Rent a motorbike – 8000 Kyat from sunrise to sunset – 1 Litter of Fuel is 1000 kyat.
Rent tok tok – 25000-40000 Kyats
Where to sleep –
Thanlwin pyar guesthouse – 25,000 kyats for a twin room with Breakfast
Inle lake –
From hpa an I went to Inle lake (19:00-08:00 bus, 25,000kyat) I took this route because of a big festival that takes a place in there in every November, this is amazing air balloons festival, all the provinces around comes with their air balloon and competition between them.
Entrance fee to inle lake –
You have to pay this fee every 3 days, the price is 15,000 kyat.
What to do in inle lake?
Boat tour at sunset or sunrise – I preferred sunrise, this is the most common attraction in inle lake and it totally must there, in this tour you will see the life on the lake, local industries and more.
This boat tour will cost for a boat up to 6 people – 20000-30000 Kyat
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Natural springs – around inle lake there is a few natural springs, click here for the location of one of them.
Htet Eain gu Cave – 15 minutes away with bikes.
The local market –nice Market with everything including fresh fruits.
The other side of the Lake – take a bike and go to explore the area, my suggestion is to ride to Maing thauk town, this is a beautiful way and there is few things to see on the way.
Maing thauk bridge – a long bridge over the lake, this is a nice place to sit and relax in sunset time, there is few restaurants in there.
Nice monetary – right in front of the bridge (in stand of taking right in the main road you should take the left)
Where to sleep in Inle lake?
Remember inn –nice hostel in a good location, 5$ for a shared room with Breakfast.
Nice restaurant in inle lake –
Taj Mahal – nice Indian restaurant
Linn Htet – Local Burmese Restaurant
Inle Pancake Kingdom – if you want something sweet, this place makes nice pancakes.
Transportation in Inle lake –
In my opinion, this is a pretty Flatty area, take a bike and go around.
How to get hispo from Inle lake?
The duration is around 9 hours and you can take a van or night bus, I chose the morning van, we departed at 08:30 and we arrived around 18:00, the price for that trip was 17,000 Kyat
Hispo –
pay attention lately this area considered as a war zone.
What to do in hispo?
1-night trek or 2-night trek –On regular days there is an option to take those tours around the villages.
Local nodal factory – just next to the palace of shan density there is a nice local factory, the entrance is free.
Shan palace – nice experience
Nam Hu nwe Waterfall – a big park with a beautiful waterfall, 250 kyat entrance fee, 30 minutes driving from the city.
Good restaurant –
La wun Aung – when I will be in Myanmar again there is no debut that I will visit this restaurant, their tomato Burmese salad is just perfect.
Sunset point in hispo – Golden deer hill –an amazing place to see the sunset, there is also a nice tree house over there.
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Transportation in Hispo –
Motorbike per 24 hours will cost you 8000-1000kyats
Where to sleep?
Red dragon – 6$ with shared bathroom and breakfast.
How to get Pyin oo lyin from Hispo?
The famous train (longer but nicer), the train road is amazing, you will cross fields and villages in beautiful landscapes. The price is from 1500-2750 kyat (depends on class level) and the duration is 9 hours.
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pyin oo lyin
Nice colony city with a nice atmosphere.
What to do in pyin oo lyin?
The clock tower – on the main road there is the pride of the city, the clock tower, don’t get confused with London.
The Botanical Gardens – this is a nice option for a few hours. The price is 5$.
The Chinese temple – impressive temple in the center of the city
Anisakan Falls – this is heaven on earth, you have to go there! 30 minutes driving from the city and you will be there.
From the top you can take the way by foot or to ask form the locals there to take you down with their motorbike, this is a very slippery way.
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Sinlan lake – 30 minutes away from the city.
Pyeik chin miang – one of the most impressive Buddha caves in Myanmar, this cave is located in a big park with a few small waterfalls, there is a lot of locals there, nice experience.
Where to sleep in pyin oo lyin?
Tha Ha Zar Ta Hotel – nice hostel with nice staff, 7$ for a room with shared bathroom, including breakfast.
Good restaurant in pyin oo lyin –
Feel – nice restaurant on the lake
The Taj – also on the lake, Indian cuisine
Transportation in pyin oo lyin-
Inside the city, I highly recommend using a bike, out of the city you can rent a motorbike in 10000 kyats at andro place.
How to reach Mandalay from pyin oo lyin?
There is Pick up option, this is a nice local option, a van that takes you to Mandalay, in every hostel they will explain you about it, this is 2 hours of driving and the price is 2000 kyat.
Mandalay
I don’t know why but there is a lot of people that avoid Mandalay according to “there is nothing to do there”, this is bullshit, you have to be there, this is a really nice city with a lot of options.
What to do in Mandalay?
New MaSoeYein – an amazing monastery, if you are interested to feel the monk’s life not in a touristic place, this is a good option.
Amazing Buddha statue – this is not a famous place I face with this statue by mistake, click and see the location
Dee Dote – Heaven (if you are coming in the dry season – in the wet season the water isn’t clear) 40 minutes away from Mandalay this natural pool is located, entrance fee, thanks me later!
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U Bein bridge – the longest teakwood bridge in the world, also an amazing place to see sunset or sunrise.
Mahamuni paya – the famous golden Buddha, fee entrance, if you want to take a pictures you need to pay 1000kyats
Kuthodaw pagoda – the longest book in the world, this temple contains all the Buddhism scripts, 2$ entrance fee.
Mingun – a nice town across the river of Mandalay, you can cross with a bike ( a long road) or to take a boat from the pier.
Hsinbyume Pagoda – the white pagoda of Mingun.
Boat from mingun to Mandalay will cost you 1500 kyat.
Where to sleep in Mandalay?
Dreamland – cool dorms with a nice atmosphere, 6$ per night with Breakfast.
Transportation in Mandalay –
Inside the city, I recommend using a bike (3000kyat per day) I rent in rainforest.
Out of the city, you can rent a motorbike in 10000 kyats.
Nice Coffee place –
Nova caffè – perfect place for breakfast or a decent coffee.
How to get from Mandalay to Bagan?
Train – the cheapest but the longest way, every day at 21:00 there is a train to Bagan, you will reach Bagan at 05:00 in the morning, the price is 1400-2900 kyat depends on the class.
Bus or van – the fastest option, 5 hour driving, the price is 8500-10000 kyat.
Luxury cruise – the nicest way, 42$ per person, 9 hours of cruising, every early morning.
All these options will bring you to the same place in Bagan, from there you need to take a taxi to the city, it will cost around 10,000 kyats.
Bagan
One of the most magical places in Myanmar, I spent there a few days and I already miss Bagan. The sunset and the sunrise, everything is so perfect in there.
Bagan entrance fee
In Bagan you have to pay 25,000 as entrance fee, the taxies will take you to there, there is a checkpoint.
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What to do in began –
Basically I don’t think that there is a reason to talk about Bagan too much, you just need to go around the pagodas, to see there sunset and sunrise over the pagodas, ill write you in here the best pagodas to watch from them and I will write also about a few attraction around.
From where to see the sunrise or sunset in Bagan?
Option 1 – better for sunrise
Option 2 – sunset and sunrise option
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More attractions –
Popa mountain – 1 hour away from Bagan, you can also to take a day tour in 9000 kyats (08:30-12:30) this mountain is a big temple on the peak of the mountain with a nice view.
Wood carving workshop- pretty common in began, and this is a nice option for half-day 1000 Kyat per hour
Transportation in Bagan –
Bagan split to the new and the old city, the new city is better (Nyaung u), both of the side pretty connect but in the new city (Nyaung u) there is a lot of good restaurants
E-bike – Electric motorbike, the most common option to go around, one day is 3000-6000 kyat. The E-bike is not fast like a regular motorbike and it’s pretty safe.
Bikes – 1500-2000 kyat per day.
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Good restaurants in Bagan –
All of those restaurants are in the same street in the new city
Weather spoon – a very good restaurant, try the burger!
La pizza – a bit expensive pizza, but really tasty!
A little bit of Bagan – a good restaurant with diverse dishes and cheap prices
Yammy restaurant – local restaurant close to the street of the restaurants
In the old city – Shwe ou food garden – homemade ice-cream, so good.
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Where to sleep in Bagan?
Golden crown – located in new Bagan, 9$ per night, shared room, with a perfect breakfast
How to Reach Yangon from Bagan?
Night bus – 13,000 (19:00-05:00)
Sleeper – 20,000 (19:30-05:000)
Both of the options will take you to the central station of Yangon, from there you need to use Grab app and to take a taxi, the price is 9000 kyat.
Mindat Village face tattoo ladies –
In the lasts years, Mindat became pretty famous because of the tattooed ladies.
From Bagan, there is no direct option to reach Mindat but you can take from there or from Mandalay “pick up” to the city pukuku and from there to take the bus to mindat, the price will be 20,000-30000 kyat for the all way.
Numbers of recommended easy riders in Mindat
+959452093429 tan tan
+959404095466 Moses
Yangon
What to do in Yangon?
Shwedagon Pagoda – the biggest pagoda in Myanmar, an amazing spiritual place.
the entrance fee is 10000 kyat, you need to come with humble cloths
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Sole pagoda –just in the city Centre, you literally can’t miss this pagoda.
Bogyoke Aung san market – the big market of the city, located just in front of the big mall of the city – Junction city
Paya Chaukhtatgyi – 66 meters of laying Buddha
Doburma Tour, Zayar tour – the best tour in Burma, you have to take this tour, Zayar will teach you about the local traditions, about the Burmese language and the food, in the streets, remoted villages and etc.
Call him! +959797298159 tell him that you came after Lital recommendation
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The circuit Train of Yangon – the intercity train of Yangon- does few times a day circuit route of 3 hours through the all neighborhoods.
In those hours it is the best option to take the train because you can drop off and to change detraction pretty easily – 07:35,09:25,10:35,12:25,14:25. The last circuit train depart at 15:20
Transportation in Yangon-
It’s pretty easy to go around buses and trains tickets cost 200 kyats
Where to sleep in Yangon?
Lotus Bed and Breakfast – nice hostel in Yangon downtown, 6$ per person in nice dorms, they serve there delicious breakfast!
Where to Volunteer in Myanmar?
Thabarwa Center – one hour away from Yangon, Thabarwa center is located, (34 or 31 bus), this place is basically a big monastery that serves also as a shelter for poor’s, olds, sicks addicts and more.
The center will provide you food and a place to sleep and you don’t have to volunteer at all, they accept everyone. There is on weekly bases yoga classes and meditation.
This is a hard place, and it’s not easy to volunteer with those hard cases, but there are also easier options, like to help the monks or to dance with the old people and so on.
Ngwe Saung beaches –
After a long Myanmar trip I felt that I need some remoted beach and not the famous ngapali beach, 6 hours bus from Yangon those beaches located.
I liked this place because it’s not a touristic place, it’s cheap, local, and there are amazing beaches.
Good restaurant in ngwe saung –
Breeze Garden – a good western option
Chai Thai – a really nice local restaurant with great food
Eakala Hotel – fancy hotel who serve ice cream
Where to sleep in ngwe saung?
Forest Home Resort – basic but close to the beach 11$ with breakfast.
How to cross the border from Thailand to Myanmar?
First of all the best border in Mae sot, Mae sot is pretty close to Chiang Mai in the north of Thailand, you can take the bus to the border from Bangkok or from Chiang Mai.
From Chiang Mai every day at 08:30 or 14:00 buses depart from terminal 3 in the central station of Chiang Mai to the border, the duration of the driving is 7 hours and the price is 300 baht.
How to buy a ticket?
- By the app green bus – in this case, you need to reach up to 2 hours from the purchase 7/11 and to take the tickets.
- To go to the central station in advance to buy in green bus stall.
After the 7 hours, you will arrive at the close central station of the border from there you need to take tok tok in the price of 50 baht per person to the border!
Good luck 🙂
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