Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Destinations
Bago (3 daily; 7-8hr); Dawei (daily; 15hr); Kyaikhto (for Kyaiktiyo, 3 daily;
5hr); Thaton (3 daily; 2hr 30min-3hr); Yangon (3 daily; 9hr); Ye (daily; 6hr).
By boat
Chugging upstream along the Thanlyin River to
Hpa-An
(4hr) is a popular way to
depart Mawlamyine. Boat services to
Bilu Kyun
are covered in the “Around Mawlamyine”
section.
MAWLAMYINE TO HPA-AN BY BOAT
The three- to four-hour boat ride along the
Thanlyin River
from Mawlamyine's bustling
harbour, past bucolic villages of palm-thatch huts, to the dramatic limestone scenery
around Hpa-An is one of the most memorable journeys in southern Myanmar. Most people
choose to go from Mawlamyine to Hpa-An, leaving the best of the scenery to the end of
the trip. The most popular boat service (K7000), organized jointly by the
Soe Brothers
Guesthouse
in Hpa-An and
Breeze Guesthouse
in Mawlamyine, makes the round trip from
Mawlamyine to Hpa-An and back in a day - if there aren't enough people to run the first
leg, then the boat will not do the second leg either.
Elegant Myanmar
operates the more
expensive
Thanlwin Princess
(3-4hr; $12-15) that departs Hpa-An for Mawlamyine each
morningat8.30am,andsets outfromMawlamyine forthereturnjourneyat2pm.Theboat
service stops between June and October.
GETTING AROUND
By motorbike taxi
A short trip around town ought to cost K500. Longer trips start from
K1000 (from the market area to the Zeigyo bus station), up to K7000 for the return journey
to Nwa La Bo.
By bicycle
Bikes are available to rent from
Breeze Guesthouse
(K2000/day).
By motorbike
Motorbikes can be rented from
Breeze Guesthouse
and Kyaw Pool Club, one
block north of
Breeze
. Both charge around K10,000/day.
INFORMATION AND TOURS
Maps
Most of the hotels can provide city maps, although the
Cinderella Hotel
is version is a
cut above the rest with photographs and information about local sights on the reverse - you
can pick these up from the hotel reception.
Local tour operator, Thiri Hanthar ( 09 3176 9249,
thirihanthar15@gmail.com
), also or-
ganizesarangeoftoursaroundMonStateandtoHpa-An.IfyourequireanEnglish-speaking
guide during your stay, you can either find one through your accommodation or call Mr Myo
( 09 4252 60072), an experienced official guide, although he charges a rather steep $40/
day.
