Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
As with most forms of transport in Myanmar, journeys by boat can take far longer than ad-
vertised, particularly during the dry season (Dec-May) when water levels are low and the
vessels - particularly the large, heavy IWT ferries - can get stuck on sand banks.
Fares
for boat journeys are quoted throughout the Guide, with IWT ferries generally work-
ingoutmuchcheaperthanfastboatsifyou'repreparedtotravelondeck,ratherthanincabin-
bound comfort.
By car
As yet, self-drive holidays are not really a realistic prospect in Myanmar - current laws re-
quire that foreign drivers get permission from two different government departments and
have a local driver on board at all times. Red tape aside, at the time of writing no interna-
tional car rental companies had a presence in Myanmar, although this will surely change.
Fortunately, it's relatively easy to arrange a
car and driver
(from around $40/day) through
your accommodation or a tour operator - it's best to work through the latter if you want any-
thingmorecomplicatedthanaday-trip.Straightforwardasitmaybetofindamanwithacar,
do take care to specify exactly what is included. Useful questions to ask include how much
mileage or petrol will be included, who will pay for the driver's food and accommodation,
and whether you are expected to tip or not in addition to the daily rate.
By bike and motorcycle
Cycling
is a brilliant way to explore parts of Myanmar, and bicycle tours of Bagan and Man-
dalayareaparticularhighlightformanyvisitors.Bikesarewidelyavailabletorentforaround
K2000 per day. In some parts of the country it is also possible to rent a
motorcycle
, typically
for K8000-10,000 a day plus fuel. Note that motorcycles have been banned in central Yan-
gon since 2003 when, rumour has it, a motorcyclist almost knocked over a senior general.
Petrol can be bought at filling stations or, more commonly in the countryside, from stalls set
up along the roadside selling one-litre bottles. Safety helmets may be provided, although not
always - be aware that you can be fined for riding without one. Before renting a motorbike,
check that your travel
insurance
covers you for such activities.
There are numerous
hazards
for cyclists and motorcyclists: traffic can be very heavy in the
cities, while in rural areas the roads are often in poor condition. Adding to these dangers is
the fact that most cars are right-hand drive imports from Japan or Thailand even though My-
anmar
drives
on the right, meaning that cars have large blind spots.
Motorbike touring
is relatively new in Myanmar. Mandalay Motorbike Rental (
www.mandalaymotorbike.com
)
organizes group motorcycle tours as well as rentals, and
Southeast Asia motorbiking site GT Rider (
gt-rider.com
) also has some basic information
on riding in the country. Cycling being more established, cyclists have a greater range of op-
tions, with several operators organizing multi-day tours of the country.
