Recommended drivers and guides

Based on a very recent trip, I thought it might be helpful to recommend some drivers / guides whom I used and found excellent.

In Yangon / Rangoon, Myo Sway is a very charming and knowledgeable guide who speaks impeccable English. Myo can be retained for a short, half day tour of the city%26#39;s sights, but as an official, registered guide he is also available for long tours of the whole country. He is used by major tour companies but can be contacted directly for freelance work. Tel (01) 385 458, email whatever13@gmail.com. Myo is not a driver, but obviously he can arrange transport.

In Mandalay, a good English speaking driver is Ye Lwin . As well as local excursions, he can drive you round most of the major tourist sights- especially on the well travelled Mandalay-Bagan-Inle Lake route. Ye is very honest about whether it is worth your while- financially- to retain his services for an extended trip. If it is not, he can arrange other drivers, for example in Bagan.

Ye%26#39;s father Maung Maung (pronounced Mau Mau) also speaks excellent English. He%26#39;s a tuk tuk driver, but can be hired as a guide and is able to organise a car and driver if Ye is not available. Ye and Maung Maung can be reached on email mdyswan@mptmail.net.mm or you can find Maung Maung by going to the tuk tuk rank opposite the Sedona hotel in Mandalay.

Recommended drivers and guides

We are in Vietnam at the moment and regret not including Myanmar on our SE Asia itinerary. And so, we%26#39;re not making time without any advanced research and really just word of mouth. Your e-mail couldn%26#39;t have been timed better. Any other advice on places to stay, etc.? What would you say is the minimum amount of time you would spend to get the best experience in each of Inle Lake and Bagan (we hear these are the highlights).

Any advice much appreciated.

Recommended drivers and guides

hello ,I am just newly one in here ,yesterday I become a member,so I am a tour guide and arrange all of tripto the guests,So I live in Yangon for the tour season and off time I back to my home town Monywa,I have 6 years experiences in your ism,And I would like to help you and make happy your trip in our country,

So if you need me contect this my mail,

kopwint@gmail.com

wish you happy and get free in your days,

hope you will drop me a line,

kopwint(G-6046)

English and spanish guide

reply to Girl in the know

I%26#39;ve not posted on TA before, and don%26#39;t know whether it%26#39;s possible to send a private email.

At any rate, in answer to your questions, if you have limited time, it%26#39;s best to cut Rangoon / Yangon from your itinerary. Most of the sights are up North. There are a few direct international flights to Mandalay.

You need 2 full days in Bagan, spending a minimum of either 2 or 3 nights there. I strongly recommend the Golden Express- c $20 a night, with many of the facilities that the much more expensive hotels have. If you can afford the high prices, I also recommend a trip with Balloons over Bagan. Alternatively, climb a suitably high temple at sunset !

There are many fewer sights in Inle Lake, but you%26#39;d still need 2 nights there to soak up the atmosphere. The pricey Inle Princess is great.

In Mandalay itself there are relatively few things to see, but nearby are Mingun, Inwa and the U Bein bridge. Again, factor in 2 nights there too.

Hope this helps...

reply to Girl in the know

I%26#39;ve not posted on TA before, and don%26#39;t know whether it%26#39;s possible to send a private email.

At any rate, in answer to your questions, if you have limited time, it%26#39;s best to cut Rangoon / Yangon from your itinerary. Most of the sights are up North. There are a few direct international flights to Mandalay.

You need 2 full days in Bagan, spending a minimum of either 2 or 3 nights there. I strongly recommend the Golden Express- c $20 a night, with many of the facilities that the much more expensive hotels have. If you can afford the high prices, I also recommend a trip with Balloons over Bagan. Alternatively, climb a suitably high temple at sunset !

There are many fewer sights in Inle Lake, but you%26#39;d still need 2 nights there to soak up the atmosphere. The pricey Inle Princess is great.

In Mandalay itself there are relatively few things to see, but nearby are Mingun, Inwa and the U Bein bridge. Again, factor in 2 nights there too.

Hope this helps...