Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Think Asia Travel & Tours
( 01-230 1293;
www.thinkasia-tours.com
/; 3rd floor, 14 Mar
Ga Rd, Ahlone) Yangon-based agency offering bike tours at Inle Lake, Kalaw and Man-
dalay.
Boat
A great variety of boats - from creaky old government-run ferries to swanky private cruise
ships - ply Myanmar's waterways; for more details
Click here
.
Rapidly changing sandbanks and shallow water during the dry season mean the skillful
captains and pilots have to keep in constant touch with the changing pattern of the river
flows.
In addition to the rivers, it's possible to travel along the Bay of Bengal between Sittwe
and Taunggok (north of Ngapali Beach).
Cargo Ships
132-136 Thein Byu Rd, Botataung), the government-owned ocean transport enterprise, is
only cargo now, but you can try to see about jumping on a boat to Thandwe, Taunggok or
Sittwe, or south to Dawei, Myeik or Kawthoung, at some point in the future.
Ferries & Private Boats
The government-run
Inland Water Transport
(IWT;
www.iwt.gov.mm
) boats tend to be
rather rundown and ramshackle, but provide remarkable glimpses into local river life.
Many of the passengers on the long-distance ferries are traders who make stops along
the way to pick up or deliver goods.
Along the heavily travelled 262-mile-long Yangon-Pyay-Mandalay route, there are 28
ferry landings, where merchants can ply their trade. IWT offices are usually near the jetty.
They can offer information, schedules and fare details, and usually tickets. IWT offices, of-
ficially, accept US dollars only.
Some short trips are handled with small covered wooden ferries that fit about 25
people. Often there are smaller, private boats you can negotiate to use with the driver. We
include private boat services whenever possible. However, because of their size it's not
always as safe riding with private boats compared with bigger government ferries. In 2004
a small private boat between Sittwe and Mrauk U capsized during a storm and several
Italian tourists were killed.
Luxury Boats
Several luxury ferries travel the upper and lower reaches of the Ayeyarwady River; for de-
tails
Click here
.
