Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
ARRIVAL AND DEPARTURE
Most visitors arrive in Myanmar at either
Yangon or Mandalay airports, as the
international airport in the capital
Nay Pyi Taw is used by very few airlines
(although there is a handful of flights
from Bangkok). he cheapest way to fly
to Myanmar from outside the region is
usually via a major regional hub such as
Bangkok or Singapore, but there are also
flights to Yangon from Phnom Penh,
Siem Reap and Kuala Lumpur. Airlines
have been developing services to
Mandalay, including from Dehong,
Kunming, Chiang Mai and Bangkok.
here are also short flights to
Mawlamyine from Mae Sot (hailand).
he rules about overland border
crossings have been in flux recently, so
check on the latest information before
relying on a particular crossing.
visa-on-arrival system does exist, it
applies only to business visitors or
conference guests who are able to provide
documents such as letters of invitation.
You will therefore need to obtain a
tourist visa from a Myanmar embassy or
consulate before you travel to the
country, as you will not be able to get one
at the border. In order to apply, your
passport must be valid for at least six
months from your proposed date of
arrival. Tourist visas typically last for 28
days from the date of entry, which must
be within three months of issue, and cost
around $20-30. Some embassies, such as
the one in Bangkok, offer a same-day
service for an additional cost.
Tourist visas cannot be extended, but it
is possible to overstay them. A fee of $3
per day of overstay for the first 90 days,
and $5 per day thereafter (plus,
sometimes, an additional $3 for
“administration”) will be collected on
departure at the airport, before you are
stamped out of the country. Visitors have
reported overstaying by three weeks or
more without o cials at the airport
raising any objections. he only possible
hitch is that guesthouses occasionally
express concern about expired visas.
A special meditation visa (see p.526) is
also available for people staying at a
recognized meditation centre.
7
OVERLAND FROM THAILAND
here are five border crossings with
hailand: Ranong-Kawthaung; hree
Pagodas Pass (Sangkhlaburi-Payathonzu);
Ban Phu Nam Ron- Htee Khee; Mae
Sot-Myawaddy; and Mae Sai-Tachileik.
Of these, hree Pagodas Pass is the least
useful as it allows only a day-trip across
the border. he rest had similar
restrictions until 2013, but they have
now been opened up. hai visas are
available at the border but Myanmar
visas are not, other than a one-day permit
($10 or 500 baht) used for visa runs. If
you plan to cross at Mae Sai-Tachileik,
note that it is not possible to travel
overland from Kengtung (see box, p.568)
further into Myanmar.
GETTING AROUND
Many parts of Myanmar, particularly
border areas and regions where the
government is in conflict with ethnic
minority groups - such as large parts
of Shan and Kachin states - are
completely closed to foreign visitors or
require permits that may take several
weeks to obtain.
here's a list of such areas on the
Ministry of Hotels & Tourism website
( W myanmartourism.org), although it is
rarely up to date and closures and
requirements can change without warning.
If you want to obtain a permit then
government-run Myanmar Travels &
Tours (MTT; W myanmartravelsandtours
.com) o ces - found in most major
tourist destinations - may be able to help.
OVERLAND FROM CHINA
here is a border crossing open for
foreigners between Ruili (Yunnan
province) and Muse. For some years
it has been used only by organized
tour groups , although there are
rumours that it is due to be opened
to independent travellers.
VISAS
All foreign nationals require a visa in
order to visit Myanmar. Although a
 
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