Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
waysInternational(78thSt,at27thSt; 0269551);YangonAirways(78thSt,between29th
and 30th sts; 02 34405).
Destinations (domestic)
Bagan (at least 3 daily; 30min); Bhamo (9 weekly; 45min-1hr
55min); Heho (9 daily; 25min, sometimes via Bagan); Kengtung (4 weekly; 50min); Lashio
(1daily;45min);Myitkyina(atleast1daily;45min-2hr);Naypyitaw(3daily;50min);Putao
(3 weekly; 2hr 20min); Tachileik (4 weekly; 1hr 10min, sometimes via Kengtung); Yangon
(19 daily; 50min-2hr 5min).
BY BUS
Bus stations
Mandalay has three bus stations. The main terminus is teeming Kwe Se Kan
(Main) Station, which serves destinations south and lies around 10km south of the centre. If
your ticket doesn't come with a pick-up or drop-off service, make use of the motos (K3000)
and taxis (K6000) that ply the route. Pyi Gyi Mat Shin Station is 3km east of the centre and
serves destinations to the northeast. Finally, Thiri Mandalar Station is the most central of
Mandalay's three stations, though only covers a few destinations.
Booking tickets
You may have to jump through a few hoops before leaving Mandalay by
bus.Ingeneral,forlong-distancejourneysit'sbesttobookahead-notleastbecausethemain
station is quite a distance from the city centre. You're best advised to book at your hotel, or
makeuseofthemanytravelagentsdotted
aroundtown
;they'llchargecommission(anything
up to K2000), but this works out far cheaper and less time-consuming than taking a motor-
bike taxi or taxi out to the main station and back. In addition, many of these offers include
transferstothestations,atwhichit'susuallyhardenoughtofindyourbus,letalonebuytick-
ets too. There's a great glut of them in the area bordered by 80th, 83rd, 30th and 33rd sts.
Mostlong-distance servicesalsoinclude“ferry”shuttlestoorfromthestations,withpick-up
eitheratyourhoteloroneofthebookingoffices;dodouble-checkthetimes,though,assome
pick up too early, or too late for comfort.
Destinations (Kwe Se Kan Station)
To Bagan there's not much choice, though Shwe Mann
Thu (32nd St, between 82nd and 83rd sts) have at least 6 daily a/c services (7hr) between
7.30am and 10pm. To Inle Lake (7-8hr) there are various services, all via Kalaw; some stop
at the entrance to Nyaungshwe, others drop off in Shwenyaung on their way to Taunggyi,
and most services come with pick-up. There must be a dozen operators heading to Yangon
(frequent; 8-10hr), and again you'll have a choice between express services (featuring two-
plus-oneseating,smallTVsontheseatsandon-boardtoilets)andordinaryservices;theseare
also your best option if heading to or from Bago (4 daily; 10-12hr). There are also services
to Hpa-An (12 daily; 15hr); Magwe (1 daily; 8hr); Mawlamyine (2 daily; 12hr); Meiktila (7
daily;3hr);MraukU(1-2daily;25hr);Naypyitaw(7daily;4hr);Pyay(2daily;13hr);Sittwe
(1 daily; 30hr); and Taungoo (2 daily; 7hr).
