Tours through Myanmar commencing Yangon

Hi,

We are planning a trip to Myanmar in Feb/March 2008. We live in Australia. Can anyone suggest reputable travel company for small groups of up to 12 which which is economical without being totally basic accommodation. We are in our late 50s but quite enjoy backpacking so long as we have a nice bed at the end of the day.

Should we carry mostly American dollars, or what do you suggest. I gather credit cards/travellers cheques are not particularly welcome. Are there many ATMs?

bye...Pambo

Tours through Myanmar commencing Yangon

Hi,

I would advise you carry US dollars in large denomination notes such as USD100 or USD50 notes in the main, plus some smaller notes of USD1; USD5 and perhaps USD10 for pagoda and tourist sight entry fees. Not coins. You lose out with other currencies because they will convert first to USdollar equivalent (rates are usually low) then back to US dollar equivalent local currency Kyat. THERE ARE NO ATMS ANYWHERE! - for tourists%26#39; use. Credit cards used to be acceptable even in quite a few local shops (especially where the tourists go) until US %26amp; the West slammed the economic sanctions. Unfortunate because it just affected the local businesses. Not even a scratch on the government!

Reputable travel company: I used the following; (I once did go with a crowd -up to 9 in my case) I normally use this agent on my own as well over the past three visits:

Indochina Services

e-mail: info@is-myanmar.com

Fax: +951 65 10 02

Web: www.indochina-services.com

When you make transactions they may refer you to their regional offices like Bangkok or in Vietnam. that is because they can%26#39;t make transaction in/from Myanmar (the sanctions). Or they may ask you to book through their regional offices. I%26#39;ve come across both occasions.

let me know how you got on.

Best Wishes,

Khayeethe

Tours through Myanmar commencing Yangon

Thanks very much for the info. Did you prefer to travel with a group or on your own with the travel co you went with, and what were the pluses and minuses? What sort of accommodation did you have? Did you pay for your trip beforehand by visa through an office prior to arriving, or did you book it and pay once you arrived in yangon?

Also, flights from Bangkok to Rangon....do you have to book many days ahead, or can you pretty much book one or two days beforehand?

thanks..pam

Khayeethe has pretty well summed it all up.. just to add that credit cards can still be used... only problem is that the few hotels etc. who will accept them and even give you cast advance on them.. will do so... at a cost of anything from 7% to 30% fee.. (they do it through agents.. mainly in Singapore.. and don%26#39;t do it as a favour:-)

Flights.. The best deal right now is airsasia.. you can get a return flight for a bit more than USD 120.00.. Also look at Air Bagan...

Jetstar Asia run a flight between Singapore and Yangon.... Cost more though.

Also Mandalay air can fly you into Mandalay from Chiang Mai.... Cost for onw way is about the same as an airasia return brom Bangkok.

Re; travelagents and tours... for some, a tour is better.. having everything sorted and pre-arranged.. I would suggest though... that if you are reasonably used to doing a bit of travelling then making your own arrengements is not difficult.. people in Myanmar are exceptionally helpful and lots of people.. young and older.. go there and just follow their nose.. and a guidebook.. Much better value.. and much more fun.... to my way of thinking.

The airasia flight.. they are a budget airline and you get the best price when you book early.. especially if you want to go during the high season (December through February).

Hi Pambo1,

I always book my Bangkok - Yangon or Singapore - Yangon flights well in advance. That is because I don%26#39;t want to risk it or hang around the airports. As Mosegrisen replied, there are regional cheap flights.

Tours in Myanmar: if you are not too restricted for time, say you have about 3-4 days in Yangon first, you should be able to ask your hotel for help with regards travel agents for making your arrangements. I normally book hotels with mid-price range. USD 115 is the most I%26#39;d paid for (so far) for the hotel in Ngapali during the Christmas/New Year (2006-07) period. I am not sure of the ratings of the mid range, perhaps 3-4 star? I/we do travel at leisure, so I make arrangements when I get there if it is only for myself or for 2 with a friend.

Travelling with a group: my group was a group of 9 friends, all from UK; so perhaps it will be different from a group tour. I got help from a friend at the time in Yangon, so the organisation went well; and being assured we will be arriving in Yangon, we were able to pay on arrival. I am sure it will be different if I didn%26#39;t have a friend to liaise in Yangon.

I do like company to share the experience; but I would travel on my own if I have to.

Khayeethe

Thanks to you all ... we have booked our flights today and will sort our 5 weeks traispsing around Burma/Thailand as we go.....you have been a fantastic help. Thanks.

pambo

You are very welcome... best wishes for your journey...

get some good books to ';fire up the belly%26#39;... ';The White Umbrella'; by Patricia W. Elliot may give you some backgound... not really political.. just a well written book about people and issues in the country.. Please feel free to ask for feedback on your travel plans.. or any advice on where to go.. what to do.. etc..

Hello Mosegrisen

I checked with Air Bagan and Air Asia as you suggested for cheaper flights. I%26#39;m a little confused with Air Bagan as they have two prices shown - one is and Overseas Price of US87 and next to it is has Price in Myanmar is US280. Can you advise me as to what this difference actually is so that I don%26#39;t make a blunder somehow.

Also, do you suggest malaria tablets for Feb/March period?

We are looking at a trip with Indochina Services which looks super to us.

The air line price that we would pay... would be the ';over seas price';... I havent%26#39; bought tickets with air bagan... but my guess is that this price is the nett price.. they would add fuel and other taxes to that.

When we bought our mandalay air ticket the listed price from chiang mai to mandaly was USD84.00.. this is still the same on their web page... They then added a fuel tax.... and now also the Thai airport tax will be added.. so the $84.00 becommes USD 119.00....

You can get an idea of the taxes if you look at the airasia web site.. if you select a bangkok %26gt; yangon fare... the taxes will be shown.

Myanmar departure tax is USD 10.00 per person by the way.

If you are going to be buying air-tickets for internal flights.. just wait until you get there.... its cheaper and seats are no problem.. even a few days before or, in most cases on the same day.. Your hotel/guesthouse or a local travel agent will get you the best deal.

Re: malaria.... many people suggest that malaria is only present in areas where travellers don%26#39;t go and the time you mention is the dry season.... We did take doxycyclene, on advice of our gp.... I would suggest that you check out the pros and cons with your own gp.

As for tour company.. sorry.. we just went with the flow.. hired a car here and a boat there.... Happy and safe journey.

I just looked at Indochina travel.. not sure if its the same site as you are looking at, as I couldn%26#39;t really find any tours or prices....

Here is a good site for general info on Myanmar:

http://wikitravel.org/en/Myanmar