Getting from Kengtung to the rest of Myanmar

Hi,

I%26#39;m currently in Thailand and I%26#39;m planning on traveling to Myanmar in about a week (I already have my 28-day visa). I%26#39;d like to enter Myanmar overland from Mae Sai into Tachileik and then head up to Kengtung, but I%26#39;m worried about getting from Kengtung to Mandalay/Taungyi/rest of Myanmar since the road is closed off to foreigners (unless this has very recently changed) and I%26#39;ve heard the flights are unsafe and don%26#39;t run very often. Anyone have any experience in traveling this route? Would I be better off skipping Kengtung entirely and just flying from Chiang Mai into Yangon or Mandalay? Any advice on this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Getting from Kengtung to the rest of Myanmar

No problem at all with flights. The domestic airlines (Yangon Air, Bagan Air, Mandalay Air) are very safe. At this time of the year there should be daily flights from Kengtung to Yangon.

The only problem you may have is entering the country overland and then continuing your trip from Kengtung. I think the government either prohibits or discourages tourists from making land crossings (via Tachilek) and then traveling around the rest of the country.

Getting from Kengtung to the rest of Myanmar

You cannot travel beyond kengtung if you cross the border at tachilek. I was turned back on sat 3rd feb despite having a full visa and a tachilek mandalay air ticket. You can now only enter myanmar proper via an international airport ie chiang mai - mandalay (always fully booked) or bangkok - yangon 150 usd plus ! Sorry but thats it folks.

You should be able to book the Mandalay airways flight... Chiang Mai to Mandalay on-line.. we did so before Christmas.. They will take your booking and you pay for in in Chiang Mai.. It now cost USD 97.00 incl. a recent USD 8.00 fuel surcharge.

Other (and cheaper option) is AirAsia... return flight Bangkok to Yangon... Around USD 60.00 each way.

Forget the landborders... You need a special permit.. as well as your tourist visa to enter.. and you must exit at the same border point... Not really feasible since October 2006.

But by now you have probably figured all this out anyhow.. just thought that others reading this might like to know...

Happy travels.