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- On this page you can find information about Myanmar also know as Birma.
The focus is on how to get there and to get around by other means of transport then your bicycle. Attention is also given to visa, border crossings and tourist highlights.
All information is mainly in the form of links to other pages. We wrote it because for our 2004/2005 trip the options were Myanmar or Northern Vietnam/Northern Laos. We did not choose Myanmar. Mainly due to the current situation that makes it impossible to cross at least one overland border without having to fly onward. We will keep it updated because it probably is our next destination.
You can use the menu below to jump to the topic you are interested in.
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Visa, embassies and borders
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travelling in Myanmar
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Visa for Myanmar and Myanmar embassies abroad
 It is possible to get a visa upon arrival with a so called eVisa. "eVisa" is a web-based entry visa application service. The website allows visitors to the Union of Myanmar to apply for their entry visa online, right from their home or work without having to appear at a consulate in person. However, take care because currently entry into and exit from the Union of Myanmar for visitors with valid online-approved visa is limited to 2 ports - Yangon International Airport and Mandalay International Airport.
If you want to get a visa before you arrive in Myanmar, here you can find the Myanmar Consulates and Embassies worldwide.
For Dutch and Belgium people the closest place where you can get a visa is the Consulate in Breda:
Honorary Consulate of the Union of Myanmar
Baronielaan 59
4818 PC Breda
Tel: + 0031 76 5209054
Fax: + 0031 76 5209270
Email: consul@worldonline.nl
The foreign missions in Myanmar are also listed on this site.
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| Arriving in Myanmar by air
Most people will arrive at Yangon International Airport or Mingaladon Airport 19 kilometers North from the city. Currently no public transport is available. So if you want to go downtown you will have to take a taxi, or better assemble your bike and paddle to downtown Yangon. There are two taxi counters at the airport. The fixed rate is about 5 dollars to downtown Yangon. For a cheaper taxi contact the brokers outside the airport. Look here for the map of the airport.
If you want to leave on a flight from Yangon International Airport keep in mind the airport tax is 10 US$.
The whole of Myanmar is still is not open to tourists, some areas areas are still of limits. accompanying These areas are near the borders. For a comprehensive overview look here.
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| Overland bordercrossings & borders
Please take a look at The bordercrossing page where all bordercrossing to and from Myanmar are discussed. As said in the introduction it is currently not possible to cross overland into Myanmar. Although you can actually cross the Mae Sai - Tachileck bordercrossing you have to travel onwards by air.
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International and domestic flights
Yangon has direct air-links with Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Singapore, Hong Kong, Dhaka, New Delhi, Vientiane, Kuala Lumpur , Japan, Korea, Pakistan, Indonesia, Brunei, Bhutan and Kunming. The most extensive coverage of all routes and accompagnieing time tables can be found on the yellow pages with info regarding both International flights and Domestic flights.
But if you want to derive information directly from the pages of the domestic carriers take a look at the pages of:
Other carriers that currently fly on Myanmar (mostly Yangon) are: Thai Airways International, Silk Air, Biman, Aeroflot, Air France ,Air China (CAAC), KLM, Lao Aviation Airlines, India Airlines, PIA, Royal Brunei Airlines, All Nippon Airways, JAL, MAS, EVA Air, Condor Airline, and Druk-Air Bhutan Airline Service.
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Travelling by train
Thailand has a very good inter-province connecting rail system. It is a cheap and comfortable way to travel. We ourselves have travelled by train in Thailand several times and after biking it is our favourite way of transport in Thailand. We especially like the night trains that give us the opportunity to arrive early at the starting point of our trip. In the section below you can find the train Time tables.
Because the State Railway of Thailand website is often off-line also alternative links are included.
Train Time Tables
On the internet there are several sites that give the time tables and other info on the Myanmar railroad routes. Although none of them is the official one of the Myanmar Railways Corporation. The most extensive one is of Journeys Myanmar. Other sites with the time tables and relevant information are:
The seat61 page describing How to travel by train in Burma (Myanmar).
Page of a travel agency giving the Time table and Fares list.
Another travel agency site with the Time table and Fares list.
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Travelling by bus and boat
Saw Bwer Gyi Gone Highway Bus Station is the main bus station for long distance buses, it is near the Airport some 18km North from downtown Yangon. Buses to Mandalay, Bagan, Taunggyi and Pyay leave from here. The other bus station is Aung Mingalar Highway Bus Station, here you can take the bus to Bago and Kyaiktyio.
Bus time tables & fares
On several sites can be found on the internet
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Boat time tables
There is a boat service running between Yangon and Mandalay. Look for more information on the schedule and fares on the How to travel by train in Burma (Myanmar) site. Scroll down till you reach the Irrawaddy river steamers section
Another more extensive coverage of destinations and time tables try this site.
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Myanmar UNESCO World heritage sites
Yes... Yes ... you are right. There are no World heritage sites in Myanmar yet. But wait a few year and the temples of Bagan will be enlisted. Some nice virtual panorama photographs of Bagan temples you can see on the site of Deva Deep. I have listed a picture below to get you interested. (Quick Time is needed to view this photograph).
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Background information on travellers point Myanmar
For information on Myanmar, its history, politics, demography, geography and general information on its states and divisions look at wikipedia.
For a travellers point of view take a look at the following site that gives an extensive description of the most travelled places in the country.
For a general overview of Myanmar look at the following map, for maps with more details look at this page.
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News and Newspapers
Two english language internet sites with news on Myanmar are:
The New Light of Myanmar for those of us who are interested in officials cutting ribbons.
The Myanmar Times Myanmar's first international weekly.
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| Sites with links regarding Myanmar
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