Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Destinations
Hopin (3 daily; 5hr); Mandalay (4 daily; 16-22hr); Naba (3 daily; 9hr 30min);
Shwebo (3 daily; 19hr).
Information
The
YMCA
produces a photocopied map of Myitkyina and its outskirts.
GETTING AROUND
By motorbike taxi
A motorbike taxi around town will cost K500-1000, while a trip up to
the area around Manau Park is K2000 and the journey to the airport K3000. The drivers wait
at designated spots on the streets, marked “Taxi”.
By cyclo-rickshaw
A cyclo-rickshaw around downtown Myitkyina will cost K500.
By bike and motorbike
The
YMCA
rents out bicycles for K2000/day and motorbikes for a
fairly steep K15,000/day.
Tours
The staff at the YMCA can arrange day-trips by motorbike to the sights around My-
itkyina with one of their English-speaking staff for around K20,000/day - pretty decent,
considering the cost of renting a motorbike alone. Snowland Tours ( 074 23499,
snow-
landmyanmar.com
;
on Aung San Rd can arrange tours further afield in Kachin State.
ACCOMMODATION
Central Myitkyina is stuffed with cheap accommodation, little of which is open to foreign
travellers - nowhere with “guesthouse” in its name will allow you to stay.
Hotel Madira
Yuzana Rd 074 29455,
madira.hotel.mka@gmail.com
.
Although its loc-
ation (2km northwest of the railway station towards the airport) is a little inconvenient, the
clean, bright rooms here are a cut above its tow
n-c
entre competition, with international TV
channels and minibars. Variable wi-fi available.
$65
NanthidaRiversideHotel
ZawJunRd 07422362.
Overlookingtheriver,thisold-school,
state-owned hotel is in a slightly awkward location at the northern end of Zaw Jun Rd, just
south of Hsu Taung Pye. Avoid the dingy bungalows, and opt instead for
on
e of the spacious
rooms in the main building with high ceilings, bathtubs and river views.
$45
New Light
70 Zaygyi St 074 23576,
newlight_47@yangon.net.mm
.
The cheapest
white-tiled rooms here are small and neat with shared bathrooms and cheerful Chinese-style
decoration, while their pricier (K40,000) counterparts have slightly ragg
ed en-s
uite bath-
rooms. Not to be confused with the
New Light Guesthouse
near the
YMCA
.
K20,000
Palm Springs Resort
7/8 Sitarpu Quarter 074 22938,
palmspringresort.com.mm
.
Around 4km north of town, this luxury hotel has wonderfully comfortable rooms set in bun-
galows around nicely landscaped garde
ns, a
tiny infinity pool overlooking the river, as well
as substantial government connections.
$120
United
38 Thitsa St 074 22085,
hotelunitedmyitkyina@gmail.com
.
Rooms here are
clean and pleasant, and the slightly more expensive ones ($45) have balconies facing the