Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
CYCLING TOUR OPERATORS
Grasshopper Adventures UK 020 8123 8144, US 1 818 921 7101, Australia 03
9016 3172; grasshopperadventures.com . Specializing in cycling tours, Grasshopper or-
ganizes half-day tours around Bagan and Mandalay, as well as longer trips (6-13 days)
around Inle Lake, Bagan and Mandalay.
MyanmarCyclingTours Myanmar 01371105, www.myanmarcyclingtours.com . The
local branch of Indochina Bike Tours, this Yangon-based company organizes everything
from half-day cycling tours of Yangon and Mandalay to 18-day countrywide fly-and-cycle
tours.
Spice Roads Thailand 66 2 381 7490, spiceroads.com . Southeast Asian cycling spe-
cialists, Spice Roads offer several multi-day bike tours of Myanmar, including a great
14-day trip from China's Yunnan province to Mandalay.
Veloasia US 1 415 731 4377, veloasia.com . Organizing small-group trips on a single
12-day itinerary that takes in the “Big Four” sights, this firm also customizes cycling trips
for couples and families.
Shared taxis, vans and pick-ups
Although not as common as in some Southeast Asian countries, shared taxis and shared
vans areavailableonsomeroutes,fromMandalaytoPyinOoLwinandHsipawforexample.
Prices are typically around fifty percent more than a seat on an air-conditioned bus, and you
will generally pay the full fare regardless of where you get on or off. They will usually drop
you wherever you like, however, which saves on transfer costs in towns where the bus sta-
tion is inconveniently located. Vehicles can be arranged either through accommodation or at
shared-taxi stands in town centres.
In addition to these routes between towns, which are primarily used by locals, there are a
handful of services aimed specifically at foreigners. These are typically round trips, such as
to Mount Popa from Bagan.
Local transport
Local transport in Myanmar is provided by a colourful mix of public buses, taxis, pick-ups,
tuk-tuks, motorbike taxis and cycle rickshaws. Public buses run only in the largest cities,
including Yangon and Mandalay, and are very cheap. Unless you read Burmese, it can be a
challenge to work out the routes, and consequently we have not covered them in detail in the
Guide, but if you aren't in a rush, riding on the buses is certainly an experience. The same
can be said of pick-ups or lain-ka - adapted pick-up trucks with seating in the covered back
portion - which cover set routes and pick up and drop people off on the way. They usually
departwhenfull,whichmayincludepassengersridingontheroof.Ifyouwantthemostcom-
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