Travel Tips

Before You Come

How To Get There
Yangon International Airport and Mandalay International Airport are the main gateways into Myanmar.
There are regular flights to Yangon from Bangkok and Singapore. Also there are direct flights to Yangon from Abu Dhabi, Bandar Seri, Begawan, Bombay, Calcutta, Shiang Mai, Chaka, Hong Kong, Islamabad, Jakarta, Karachi, Kuala Lumpur, Kunminag, London, Osaka, Paris and Taipei. (International Flight to Myanmar). Also Cruise Ships call at Yangon Port with Visa on arrival being granted with prior arrangement.

Passport & Visa
A valid passport with Entry visa is required for all tourists & businessmen, applicable at Myanmar Embassies and Consulate General Offices abroad. Both Tourist Visa & Business Visa are valid for 28 days, extendible to 14 days for tourists & 3 months for business.

Visa on Arrival is granted on prior arrangement with the Ministry of Hotels & Tourism to chartered flights and cruises & to those package groups where Myanmar Foreign Missions are not stationed. Visa on arrival can also e arranged on special basis to package group tours applicable three days in advance to the Ministry of Hotels & Tourism. At present, Myanmar extends visa free facilities for ASEAN Government Officials holding diplomatic and official passports.

Overland entry is permitted to Thai tourists with border pass and for third party tourists with visa at Tachileik, Three Pagoda Pass, Myawaddy, Mongla and Kawthaung checkpoints along Myanmar-Thai Border; and similarly for Chinese tourists with border pass and for third party tourists with visa at Lwe-je, Nam Kham, Muse, Chin Shew Haw, Kyukoke, Kwanlong, Mong Lar along Myanmar-China Border.

Customs Formalities
Foreign currency exceeding the equivalent of US$ 2,000, jewelleries, cameras, video cameras, recording equipments and laptop computers must be declared at the airport. Failure to do so could end up in confiscation upon departure. Export of antiques and items of archaeological value are prohibited.

Health issues:
No immunizations are formally required, although malaria prophylaxis are often recommended by personal physicians. Occasionally, typhoid, hepatitis, tetanus and Japanese encephalitis vaccinations are also recommended. Drink only bottled or boiled water not any tap water. All hotels supply bottled water, as well as a good selection of Asia and Western foods. Use sunscreen liberally when exposed to the intense, tropical sun.

What to wear:
Casual and light clothing is recommended for Myanmar all year round. A light sweater or jacket will be useful during the cool season and when travelling in northern areas. Shoes and other footwear must be removed when entering religious buildings and homes. Mini skirts, shorts and revealing clothes are prohibited when visiting temples and pagodas.

Things To Buy
Shopping in Myanmar is better than ever now. Bartering is also quite acceptable .In larger towns and cities the best bargains are usually found in the public markets .Each place has its own especially such as lacquer -ware in Bagan , textiles such as silk , cottons , etc in Mandalay & Inle Lake ( Shan Bags can be found as well ) , wood carving , tapestries , marionette in Mandalay are main souvenirs from Myanmar .The rubies and jades are also famous but be aware before purchasing , Simulated antiques, fine ceramics and copies of famous paintings are also possible to buy .Most of the Souvenirs shops in the main town accept U$$ OR Euro but they are not favored . The most convenient currency to pay in Kyats -local currency all over Myanmar .

Foreign Exchange Certificates (FEC )
Foreign Exchange Certificates (FEC.) which is equivalent to the US$, are accepted by hotels, airlines, travel agencies, taxis, restaurants, and as payment of admission fees at museums and pagodas. FECs. can be exchanged for Kyats (Myanmar currency) at market rates at authorized money changers and can be used in Myanmar only.

FECs. are issued in four denominations:
(20) FEC. equivalent to US Dollar twenty
(10) FEC. equivalent to US Dollar ten
(5) FEC. equivalent to US Dollar five
(1) FEC. equivalent to US Dollar one.

Money
The currency in Myanmar is the Kyat. Present denominations are in notes:
Kyats.: 1000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, 1.
It is advisable to bring for personal expenses like meals, drinks, buying souvenirs etc. enough US$ or EURO in cash to Myanmar.
It is advisable to bring for personal expenses like meals, drinks, buying souvenirs etc. enough US$ in cash to Myanmar. You can use old and new US$ notes here in Myanmar. In case of using 100 US$ notes , ONLY new notes after 1996 will be accepted normally. All other currencies are not widely accepted. We suggest to bring US$ only as it may be difficult to change EURO; BRITISH POUNDS or other currencies!!!

Credit Cards & Traveler Cheques
Due to recent sanctions of U.S to Myanmar Government, all the credit cards are not possible to use around the country since 01 Sept'03. So, the travelers are recommended to carry hard cash for their own using amount.

Vacuums
No vaccinations are presently required .The Classical routes are not the malaria zones such as Yangon , Bagan , Mandalay & Inle lake .There is malaria only in the extreme northern part and some parts of very high mountains and forest .So, actually it is not really essential to take any anti malaria pills but malaria prophylaxis is often recommended by traveler's personal physicians .Not required unless you are coming from an infected area.

Language and Religion:
There are over one hundred ethnic groups in Myanmar, all with their own languages and dialects. The majority speak Myanmar (Burmese), although English is widely spoken. 85% of Myanmar are Theravada Buddhist. The rest embrace Christianity, Islam, Hinduism or Animism.

Etiquette
It is recommended that you avoid doing from kissing and hugging in public, pointing at things with your feet, sitting with your back to a Buddha image, improper use of or behavior toward a sacred thing as a Buddha image, and touching a monk.

Climate & Weather:
Myanmar has three "seasons": - (1) Hot Season (March to May), (2) Rainy Season (June to September), (3) Cool Season (October to February). The ideal time to visit Myanmar is during the cool season.

Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included in your tour price. It is the passenger's responsibility to verify whether his/her local health insurance carrier provides coverage while traveling inside of the Myanmar. Please contact your insurance carrier for details. We are strongly advises that you purchase a comprehensive travel insurance policy to cover all aspects of your tour; including the loss of deposits through cancellation, lost of baggage and personal items, personal injury and death. A waiver must be signed if insurance is declined.

Mobiles Phone
Your mobile phones could not be used in Myanmar as Myanmar still do not have network yet. You have to leave your phone at the airport at custom counter and custom will give you back the slip, which you have to claim back up on your departure. As your mobile phones are not able to use in Myanmar, we are providing the telephone and fax number for you to left with your family and friends to contact you during your stay in Myanmar. Email service is available at most of the hotels in Yangon and some international chain hotels in Mandalay.

Local Time
Myanmar is about 6 and a half hour ahead of GMT.
Electricity
The voltage is 220 V throughout the whole country.

When You Arrive

Airport Facilities
Yangon International Airport is located 20 km from downtown Yangon. The Arrival Terminal is located separately from the Departure Terminal and the Domestic Terminal and simplified procedures ensure that on arrival and departure, international passengers are processed quickly through immigration and customs.

Airport Tax
An international airport tax of 10 USD per person is payable cash in USD or FEC (Foreign Exchange Certificates) when departing Myanmar on an international flight. There is no airport tax on domestic flights.

Limousine Service
A Limousine Service Counter is located in the Arrival Hall. Major hotels provide transfer services; and taxis are also available. Passengers are advised not to use the services of touts for taxi or other services.

Duty Free Shopping
Duty Free shopping facilities are available in both the Departure and Arrival Halls of Yangon International Airport.

Camera
Please request before you take the pictures or ask your guide which you can or not. Never try to take the Military person.

Food
Traditional Myanmar food such as Mohinga, On-no-Khaukswe, assorted baked and fried delicacies and a variable at reputable Myanmar restaurants. Chinese cuisine or tasty Indian dishes are available at popular food outlets in major towns and cities.

Entertainment
There is not much in the way of western style entertainment in Myanmar but Yangon has some good western restaurants and there are a few bars and nightclubs, notably in the city's international hotels. In the rest of the country entertainment is mainly confined to some good Chinese and Burmese restaurants and the ubiquitous teashops.

Hours Of Business
Offices are usually open from Monday to Friday from 09:30H until 16:00H. Most shops are open every day; an exception is Bogyoke Market (Scott Market), which is closed on Monday, but more and more shops are starting to open on Monday as well.

Water
Please don't drink the water and that includes ice as well as tap water.Take care with fruit juice , particularly if water may have been added .Milk should be treated with suspicion , as it is often un- pasterised . Boil milk is boil if it is kept hygienically and yoghurt is always good. Tea or coffee should be OK since the water is boiled .In general , the juices , the milk , the water , the tea and coffee offered at the hotels and the restaurants we recommended , are safe . But bottled water and mineral water is safe and available everywhere. Ice in drinks is generally OK in good standard hotels and restaurants but it is best to avoid it on street stalls or in country areas.

Telecommunications
Central Post Office for your letters and post cards. IDD or local telephone bookings available at government offices, businesses and hotels.. Most hotels in Yangon, Bagan, Inle Lake and Mandalay now have IDD phones in rooms and it is possible to send faxes from hotels and post offices, although be warned these services are Expensive. Phone calls can be charged at a minimum rate even if no connection is established! It is difficult to make a phone call abroad from other areas in Myanmar. Post cards can be bought at all the main tourist sites and stamps are available from post offices and some hotel reception desks.
Mobile phones brought in from abroad will NOT work in Myanmar as there are no roaming agreements.
Most of the hotels have now internet terminals but free mail servers like Yahoo or Hotmail can NOT be accessed in Myanmar.

Shopping
Shopping in Myanmar offers many rewards but it also can be a frustrating experience. Normally a tourist's first foray in search of souvenirs, antiques and other more substantial items will lead them to Bogyoke Market. There they will find an amazing collection of fascinating items; finely crafted mother of pearl; lacquer ware products of every description; beautiful silk; bizarre knickknack dating from colonial times; cigars; gold and jewelry; jade bracelets and many other interesting items. Duty Free shopping facilities are available in both the Departure and Arrival Halls of Yangon International Airport.

Before You Leave

Ticket Confirmation
Make sure that you check your air ticket confirmation with respective airlines before you leave.

Airport Tax
The airport tax is US $10 for international passengers, payable in FEC (Foreign Exchange Certificates). There is no airport tax on domestic flights.

Customs
Gems and jewelry purchased from authorized dealers (with vouchers) are allowed to be taken out. But antiques are not allowed to be taken out of the country.The following items are illegal to take out of the country: Prehistoric implements and artifacts, fossils, old coins, inscribed stones, historical documents.

Duty Free Shopping
Duty Free shopping facilities are available in both the Departure and Arrival Halls of Yangon International Airport.

Some Useful Advices In Breif

• Visitors are requested to ignore touts who may approach your for offering guide services, for exchanging foreign currency into local currency or for selling gems of a doubtful nature. The offers may appear attractive but could get into trouble and spoil your visit.

• As there is a strict Foreign Exchange Control Regulation tourists are advised to change at your travel agent and hotel reception . US Dollars are accepted for change everywhere and the EURO is getting more . The exchange rate in Yangon is generally better than upcountry. Most hotels and better restaurants also accept payments directly in USD.

• Always keep your Passport and money in secure places, especially when traveling by train or bus. Report all losses to the nearest Police Station as well as to your Embassy.

• Tourist are requested to dress decently within the precincts of religious places. Food wear is strictly prohibited in Pagodas and monasteries.

• Weather is generally warm and dry and light clothing and comfortable shoes or sandals are recommended