Myanmar Travel Tips
When To Go?
The best time to visit Myanmar is from November to March when temperatures are relatively low (average 15 – 30 degrees centigrade) and when there is practically no rain. Note that in December and January the temperature can drop to near freezing at night in the highlands of the Kalaw, Pindaya, Taunggyi and Inle Lake area. In April and May which is the hottest season the temperature often tops 40 degrees centigrade in Yangon, and in Mandalay and Bagan it can get even hotter. The monsoon starts between mid-May and mid-June bringing frequent rains particularly in the southern as well as western region of Myanmar which last until September.
Passport And Visa
All travellers to Myanmar require a valid passport with minimum 6 months remaining and a Myanmar visa. There are two ways to obtain a Myanmar Visa.
Myanmar Embassy or Consulate
Apply for a tourist visa at any Myanmar Embassy or Consulate. Tourist visas are issued for a duration of 28 days at all Myanmar Embassies or Consulates and can be extended in Myanmar up to a maximum stay of 90 days. Any tourist whether travelling on a package tour or individually will receive the same type of tourist visa.
Pre-arranged Visas on Arrival
Pre-arranged visas on arrival can be arranged through Interstar for travellers arriving at Yangon International Airport. Interstar requires passengers’ passport details including name as spelled in your passport, nationality, passport number and occupation together with scanned copy of passport which shows clients’ pictures latest 3 weeks prior to arrival in Myanmar. Interstar will apply for tourist visas and send a visa confirmation letter issued by the Myanmar authorities to the travel agency or traveller by email attachment. Travellers will have to show this visa confirmation letter to the airline when boarding the international flight to Yangon. Upon arrival at Yangon International Airport travellers have to contact the Visa on Arrival counter, show their visa confirmation letter, hand over 1 passport photo and pay the visa fee of US$ 20 per person (subject to change without prior notice). Interstar charges a handling fee for all visas on arrival of US$ 10.
Health Requirements
No vaccinations are officially required for a visit to Myanmar. Travellers should check with their doctor or a travel immunization clinic regarding the advisability of inoculation against typhoid, hepatitis, tetanus and Japanese encephalitis as well as Malaria Prophylaxis. It is wise to use an insect repellant against mosquitoes, especially in forested areas. The sun can be remarkably hot, and a hat and high-factor block cream are advisable. Take along any prescription medication with sufficient supplies. Myanmar hospitals are not considered to be of international standard, however there are two private medical emergency clinics in Yangon with rather good facilities.
Domestic Flights
The 4 domestic airlines operating in Myanmar are Myanmar Airways, Air Mandalay, Yangon Airways and Air Bagan. Interstar uses only the last 3 of these, which are all private-sector operated and up to international service and safety standards. Flights are however frequently delayed, with explanation for the delay rarely being provided, and travellers should be prepared for unscheduled waits at domestic airports. Frequent flights are operated to major tourist destinations countrywide with ATR-72, ATR-42 and Fokker 100 aircraft. Baggage allowance on domestic flights is limited to 20kg. Excess luggage can be left in Yangon hotels for collection on return.
Hotels
There are no official hotel categories in Myanmar. Hotel categories are rated by Interstar according to general international hotel criteria. Yangon, Bagan and Mandalay offer a wide choice of accommodation including boutique hotels and international five star properties. In other regions travellers should not expect top deluxe properties, though increasingly there is charming and traditional oriental style accommodation available. In some regions accommodation can be simple and basic.
Post and Telecommunications
The postal service in Myanmar is unreliable and letters sometimes take months to arrive at their destination. The country code for international calls is (95) and these can be made from major hotels and the Central Telegraph Office in major cities. The service is improving but connections are poor and international calls are expensive. There is no public phone system with a pre-paid call card. Internet is available at several locations throughout the country. Travellers should however be aware that their email websites might not be available due to government restrictions (e.g. Yahoo, Hotmail and many other email websites cannot be accessed).
Restricted Areas
Myanmar is a vast country and it is generally one of the safest countries in the world to travel. Insurgency problems near the Indian and Thai borders are in areas far off the beaten track and will not affect a traveller’s journey through Myanmar in any way. While Myanmar has opened most areas of the country to foreign visitors, there are still a few areas for which government permission is required. In such cases Interstar will endeavor to gain permission where possible.
Transportation
Interstar provides air-conditioned cars and coaches where available for all tours. Public train, ferryboat and bus and other transportation services that are available throughout the country, however, these services are generally of a lower standard and uncomfortable for some. The boat trip between Mandalay and Bagan is operated by a local Chinese-built ferry (except on Wednesday and Sunday when a local slow ferry is used) and takes about 8 hours (depending on the river conditions it might take longer).
Do's and Dont's
Never drink tap water – purified, bottled water is available everywhere. Eat at established restaurants and avoid peeled or cut fruit as well as ice cubes. It is wise to guard against sunburn, dehydration and heat exhaustion. Light clothing made from natural fibres is useful most of the year around and a sweater or jacket is needed when touring hill areas and the Inle Lake region from November to February. When visiting pagodas and other religious buildings great care must be taken to appear modest and correctly dressed. Women should not wear shorts, braless T-shirts or have bare shoulders when visiting such places. Shoes and socks must always be removed at pagodas and monasteries. Photography in airports, railway stations and near any military installation is forbidden.
Local Time
GMT + 6:30 hours.
Formalities On Arrival
All items of jewellery, cameras and foreign currency in excess of US$ 2,000 must be declared upon arrival. No Myanmar currency may be imported or exported. Duty free allowance is 200 cigarettes and one litre of wine or spirits. Officially it is not permitted to bring mobile phones into the country: however, this regulation has not been enforced for many years. An Interstar representative will join travellers on arrival after immigration and customs control points have been passed, and will display an 'Interstar' sign for easy recognition.
What Money To Take
In principle only US Dollars in cash are accepted. Bills need to be in good condition, otherwise they may be declined, and bills with the letters "CB" in the serial number may also be declined in some places. Credit cards are only accepted by a few hotels which mostly charge high commissions on credit card payments. Traveller’s checks and Euros are not recommended as these cannot be exchanged at local banks. It is recommended to change only a small amount of US Dollars into the local currency as US Dollars are accepted throughout the country.
Changing Money
The official Myanmar currency is Kyat (pronounced 'Chat'), and there is a dual exchange rate system in Myanmar. The official exchange rate is 450 Kyat to US$ 1. The unofficial or market rate (at the time of printing) is as high as 1200 Kyat to the dollar. There are several authorized money changers in Yangon who will exchange US Dollars at the prevailing unofficial or market rate into FECs (Foreign Exchange Certificates) and Kyat. One FEC equals US$ 1. It is not compulsory to exchange foreign currency into FECs and not recommended. It is not recommended to change money at Yangon or Mandalay airports as the exchange rates there are unfavourable.
Language
The official language is 'Myanmar/Burmese' with numerous regional and minority languages and dialects. English is spoken at all major hotels. Basic English is also spoken widely throughout the country, and travellers will almost always find someone who will at least understand and speak a few words of English. Interstar provides guiding services in English, German French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese and Russian.
Food
Myanmar cuisine embraces Indian style curries with meat or fish as well as vegetables and regional salads and soups. Chilli is popular in Myanmar and is often used in spicy dishes such as curries, though Myanmar food in general is not as hot as the Thai cuisine. There is a broad range of Chinese, Thai and Indian restaurants sprinkled around the major cities, and also Western food as well as many other types of food can be found in Yangon, Mandalay and some other tourist resorts.
Shopping
Shopping is plentiful in most areas of Myanmar with colourful markets and stalls adorning most streets. Most popular buys include antiques, embroidery, gems, lacquerware, mother-of-pearl, hand-woven silk longyis, traditional woodcarvings, customary puppets and tribal crafts. Jewellery should be purchased through an authorized dealer who will issue a receipt so that the items can be exported. Bargaining is an elemental part of Myanmar life in small shops and markets.
Tipping
Major hotels and restaurants usually add 10 % service charge to bills. Where it is not included a tip of up to 10 % of the bill would be appropriate if the service is satisfactory. Porters should be tipped at 200 Kyat per bag.
Airport Tax
Departure tax for international flights is US$ 10 payable in US Dollars. No departure tax for domestic flights is required.