Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
When to Go?
Boats run all year between Mandalay and Bhamo.
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Journeys are fastest in autumn when water levels are high. By February, sand-
banks mean that the IWT ferry will have to moor overnight, adding up to a day to
southbound journey times.
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April is difficult with boats packed full of local travellers and ferries seriously over-
loaded.
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In summer, rain and high winds can make the passage very uncomfortable.
Where to Start/Finish?
North of Mandalay there are currently only three realistic start/finish points for for-
eigners on the Ayeyarwady adventure:
Bhamo
No rail or road link to Mandalay or Myitkyina, so the only way in is by air.
But accommodation is good and Bhamo to Katha is the most popular single sec-
tion of river trip due to the (brief) drama of the second defile. Shwegu, in between
Bhamo and Katha, is an offbeat highlight.
Katha
Popular for its George Orwell connections but guesthouses are basic. Three
daily trains connect to Mandalay, albeit at antisocial times and from a railhead 18
miles away. River scenery south of Katha is initially lovely but there's no easy jump-
off point till Kyaukmyaung.
Kyaukmyaung
Getting off at this interesting pottery town makes sense if you're
heading for Bagan, which you can reach across country via Shwebo, Monywa and
Pakokku. Continuing by boat to Mandalay you'll pass Mingun but IWT ferries won't
stop there.
How Long Will It Take?
The minimum time from Bhamo to Mandalay by IWT ferry will be two to three days,
assuming the boats are running to schedule. You can save time by jumping ship at
Katha and catching the express boat to Mandalay. Bear in mind that it takes two
days longer to travel northbound, upriver, than it does going in the other direction.
How Much Will It Cost?
IWT ferries are far cheaper than the other options. A deck ticket from Bhamo to
Mandalay is $12, whereas the express boat from Katha to Mandalay alone costs
K25,000.
