Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
even if you get on or off part-way through. You'll also find smaller, 32-seat buses - these
should be avoided if possible for long trips, as they tend to be jam-packed with luggage. As
for
prices
, the 9hr trip between Yangon and Mandalay costs around K20,000 on express bus,
compared toK15,000byordinary bus.Note that onexpress buses,largeitems ofluggage are
stowed in compartments underneath the coach, while on ordinary buses bags are stored any-
where the owner can find space.
Some bus routes are
off limits
to foreigners (such as Bhamo-Mandalay), while elsewhere
bus passengers escape permit requirements demanded of train travellers (such as Mawlamy-
ine-Dawei). If in doubt about your route, check with local guesthouse staff at either end of
the journey, as they are often the most clued in on the local situation.
It's a good idea to
book
a day or two ahead for busy routes (such as Bagan-Nyaungshwe),
ones where only a few buses run (e.g. Ngwe Saung-Yangon) or where you're joining a bus
part-way through its route (in Kalaw, for example). Guesthouses can often help book tickets
for a small fee (usually K2000-3000), or you can buy them either from bus stations (which
in some cases are outside of town), from in-town bus company offices or from local travel
agents. Tickets booked privately often include
transfers
to and from the bus station, particu-
larly convenient when the station is out of town.
Note that all of Myanmar's bus services
close down
for a week or more over the Thingyan
WaterFestival;makesurethatyouhavealternativearrangements-typicallybyplaneortrain
- if you need to travel over that period. Finally, prepare for
delays
, particularly if travelling
during Myanmar's rainy season (June-Oct) each year.
By train
The
railwaysystem
inMyanmarisantiquated,slowandgenerallyuncomfortable.Theentire
network,whichdatesfromthedaysofBritishBurma,isnarrowgauge,andalthoughfrequent
repairs have been made (thankfully), train journeys in Myanmar are often comically bouncy
and timing unpredictable in the extreme. On most routes buses are faster and more reliable
- it is not uncommon for express trains to be delayed by several hours, and local trains are
even worse.
All that said, there are reasons why you might want to take a train at least once during your
trip. One is that on a few routes, such as from Mandalay up to Naba, Katha and Myitky-
ina, road transport is closed to foreigners. Another is for the experience itself: many routes
run through areas of great beauty, for example the rickety
Gokteik Viaduct
between Pyin Oo
Lwin and Kyaukme. Trains also offer more opportunities than buses to interact with local
people.
