Myanmar Travel Guide by Asian Trails Myanmar

Myanmar Travel Guide

Myanmar Travel Guide
Myanmar is considered to have three seasons. The hottest season is from March until April, and temperatures are cooling off during the rainy season from May until October. The peak tourism season is the cooler season from November until February. Temperatures in Myanmar can climb as high as 36°C in the city of Yangon but in the cooler season, temperatures are usually between 28°C to 32°C.

Myanmar Travel Guides

Asian Trails offers interactive destination guides such as for Bagan - Inle Lake - Mandalay and Yangon.

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FOR MYANMAR STARTS
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DESTINATION UPDATE

Myanmar is South East Asia’s largest continental country, covering around twice the size of Vietnam. Inside its border it contains both South East Asia’s highest peak, the Hkakabo Razi, part of the Himalayas and reaching a height of 5’881 meters, as well as some of Asia’s most pristine and untouched beaches. Around 135 different ethnic groups live inside the country, making it one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world.

After over 34 years of nearly complete isolation tourism started anew in 1996, when visa regulations where changed and tourist visa were issued with more ease. Though the numbers of tourists increase the country remains one of Asia’s last mysterious and unknown destinations. The infrastructure on which tourist can count on has improved much ever since but is still not really up to international standards at all levels and a spirit of adaptation and tolerance is sometimes necessary to visit Myanmar.

A range of two to five star hotels is available in Yangon and Mandalay. In Bagan and the Inle Lake region travellers have a choice of charming, traditional accommodation built in local styles at scenic locations. Ngapali Beach and Ngwe Saung Beach offer both several world class resorts. Four private airlines, Air Mandalay, Air KBZ, Asian Wings and Air Bagan provide reliable domestic air transportation by modern ATR-72, ATR-42 and Fokker 100 aircrafts. The roads linking the main provincial cities and areas of cultural interest have improved in recent years though in comparison to neighboring countries traveling time still takes longer. A wide choice of food including Chinese, Indian, Thai and Western dishes are served at major locations throughout the country. Myanmar is also increasingly on the world map for organizers of incentive travel and special interest groups as well as team building acitivities.

Transport
After three years of stagnation, a new vitality, due to the increase in foreign arrivals, is taking shape in the international flight scene to and from Myanmar. During the past years a new four time weekly direct flight from Hanoi to Yangon has been operating by Vietnam Airlines, contributing to make intra-Indochina trips easier. Air Asia, Asia’s biggest low cost carrier, has instead increased its Bangkok-Yangon flight from once to twice daily and has introduced a new daily flight from Kuala Lumpur, helping to make Myanmar easier to visit also for travellers on a budget. Air Bagan, Myanmar’s largest domestic airline, also started twice weekly flights to Chiang Mai and new to Phuket. Myanmar Airways International added flights to Guangzhou and Siem Reap as well as to Jakarta (via SIN).

Domestic flights are run by the four private airlines, Air Bagan, Air Mandalay, Asian Wings and Air KBZ. Yangon Airways suspended its services in December 2010.

A new motorway, up to international standard, was opened between Yangon and Naypidaw, the new capital, and has contributed to cut road travel times from Yangon to upper Burma. The motorway extension to Mandalay is now finished and overland transportation to upcountry especially for groups is now a viable option to the flights.

A new more modern train was introduced on the Yangon to Bagan overnight service. The train, although not up to European standards, might be compared to trains found in other South East Asian countries. This said only adventure seeking travellers should avail themselves of this service.

Speedboats from Sittwe to and from Mrauk U are now available for rental most of the time, subject to confirmation. The journey by speedboat cuts the travelling time from 5-6hrs to just 3 hours.

Hotels update:
Nyaung Shwe the starting point for excursions on Inle Lake will see the addition of the Viewpoint lodge to its existing already available accommodation. The project is overseen and managed by Boris Granges proprietor of the restaurants Le Planteur in Yangon and Viewpoint in Nyaung Shwe. The lodge is due to open in October 2011 and will feature 19 tastefully decorated bungalows.

A new Aureum Palace resort will open in October 2011 on Inle Lake. The hotel is part of Myanamar’s premier luxury chain and is sure to become a favorite for more demanding guests while travelling on Inle Lake.

Inle Spa Resort is scheduled to be open in October 2011 on Inle Lake. The hotel will consist of 16 wooden bungalows.

Ngapali Beach Hotel was sold during the 2009-2010 winter season and no new opening is expected under the new management. The hotel is said to be completely refurbished but no timeframe has been given.

Ngapali Bay Resort is scheduled to be open in November 2011. The hotel will consist of 32 bungalows and every bungalow will have a private pavilion.

Amara Ocean Resort Ngapali will open in November 2011 in Ngapali after major delays. The hotel is a sister property of the Amara in Kalaw. The hotel will definitely be a competition for Sandoway with luxurious free standing villas (all with sea view) and a high class spa and a restaurant offering sumptuous food menus. An additional USP of the hotel is its 700m stretch of private beach in a lovely bay north of Thandwe airport.

A new mid range accommodation namely Ayeyarwaddy River View hotel was open March 2011 in Mandalay. The hotel consists 56 rooms and is facing to the Ayeyarwaddy River.

Kandawgyi Palace, the Golden Teak Hotel on the Royal Lake in Yangon is currently (at the time of printing) in total renovation and making considerable progress. The hotel has installed a new lift and a central air-con system equipment as well as will add two more facilities, a new French Restaurant and a top floor Executive Lodge, both offering splendid views of Shwedagon Pagoda and Royal Lake.

Aye Yar River View Resort in Bagan is currently (at the time of printing) in total renovation and making huge progress. By October 2011, the hotel will have a total of 108 rooms, in a 12 acres of land, at the bank of Ayeyarwaddy River.

There are two new hotels in Pyin Oo Lwin already opened 2009-2010 winter season, The Royal Reward and Win Unity which is the sister property of Win Unity Monwya. A new hotel, The Hotel Pyin Oo Lwin which aims to be the best in Pyin Oo Lwin is open since October 2010. One more new resort on eighty acres land, called Dat Taw Giyant Waterfall resort is open in January 2011 and there are eighty bungalows in this huge land. This hotel is especially for nature lovers and honeymooners that want a secluded location.

A new hotel was opened in Mrauk U, in Rakhine State, the Shwe Thazin. The hotel is a sister property of the hotel of the same name found in Sittwe. The hotel is a good choice for mid range accommodation.

Zwekabin Hotel was opened in December 2009 in Hpa An, Kayin State. The hotel is a very welcome addition to the local scene, where previously only very simple accommodation could be found. With the opening of this new hotel Asian Trails Myanmar tour “River and Rocks” can now be recommended also to more discerning guests.

Kaytumadi Hotel was opened in Taungoo, a former capital of Myanmar found half way between Mandalay and Yangon. The hotel can be recommended for clients travelling by car from Mandaly or Inle Lake to Yangon and wishing to break their journey along the way.

Several other hotel projects seems are in the pipeline in various regions of the country. Asian Trails Myanmar is concerned to provide the best possible information but we do not report on rumors. We only announce new properties if we feel that the project is going to happen (even with the usual delays) or construction started already.

Flights
All domestic flights operated during the past season inside Myanmar borders have been reconfirmed, including flights from and to Putao in the far north. The runway extension at Ngapali Beach / Thandwe airport is completed, so we can expect for the future jet flights with Air Bagan’s Fokker 100 from and to Yangon, with extra capacity. As informed new international services to Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh as well as an increase in budget flights from Bangkok and a new service to Kuala Lumpur were started during the past year.

Cruises
Cruises on the mighty Ayeyarwaddy River remain one of the most popular ways of traveling in Myanmar. The historical RV Pandaw and the newer RV Paukan ships, are our preferred river cruise boats between Mandalay and Bagan. RV Pandaw 1947 also plies routes along the still little known Chindwin River and the upper reaches of the Ayeyarwaddy. Amara River Cruises can also be recommended for good service and nice ambience onboard. Several simpler but charming private boats operate on the river including the RV Yandapo, the Malikha and Shwekeinary. The Road to Mandalay, owned by Orient Express, which restarted operations in 2009 after a one-year break, also plies the middle Ayeyarwaddy route between Bagan and Mandalay, offering also other cruises further upstream during the low season.

Restaurants
Now lovers of food from the Arab world will be very pleased. The Inya lake hotel has added a Lebanese restaurant to its already existing food outlets.

Amata Boutique House in Bagan was open in July 2011. It offers a fine dinning experience with traditional performance dance and cultural show for evening entertainment in it’s the Irrawaddy Fine Dinning Restaurant. At a corner of the restaurant, the Coffee shop is set quietly and Wifi internet is accessible. My Bagan Gift Center and the Blossom Spa are also available inside the same compound.

Sightseeing
These are the new programmes and possibilities that Asian Trails Myanmar has prepared for the upcoming season.

Full day trip to Twante by boat
Cruising an ever more popular activity in Myanmar is now also available for day trips to Twante. Enjoy a leisurely day leaving Yangon at 9am and cruising through a channel to Twante. Enjoy your time onboard including a nice lunch. A guide will take you around Twante famous for its rural lifestyle and Pottery. Return to Yangon in the afternoon which gives you enough time to relax before dinner.

Yangon by night
You always wanted to see what Yangon looks like by night? Enjoy a sunset cruise followed by dinner on the Yangon River. You will see what Yangon looks like by night while you can enjoy various drinks and a sumptuous meal. If you wish your guide will later show you the night life of Yangon.

Art school in Mandalay
You always wanted to know how art is taught in Myanmar? Whether it is music, painting or any other form artistic classes enjoy a tour through a school of Art in Mandalay. You will have the possibility to look over the shoulder of various artists working there, sitting into music classic if you like and talk to local artists about the Myanmar art scene.

River trip around Mandalay
Discover less visited villages and learn about the local lifestyle while enjoying a river cruise.

Biking around Inle Lake region
Being active during holidays becomes increasingly more important. Therefore Asian Trails Myanmar has explored new biking trails around Inle lake. Ask us for details.

Loikaw
Loikaw the capital of Kayah State is an area not open since long but becoming increasingly more popular. Take the boat for 5 hours down until the southernmost tip where you change to the car for 1 ½ hours. The second day experience the sights and sounds of Loikaw. The next day drive by car back to Inle lake. Important: This area requires a special permit which takes time to acquire. As with all areas that require special permits those permits are subject to the respective ministries decision to approve them. Access to the area is at no time guaranteed and it’s strictly forbidden to leave the city area of Loikaw.

Myanmar – Cambodia combined tour
Availing itself of the new Siem Reap-Yangon direct service Asian Trails Myanmar, in collaboration with Asian Trails Cambodia, is now offering a new programme covering the most interesting parts of both Myanmar and Cambodia. The new programme allows for a nice overview of both countries.

Incentives
Team building activities are gaining popularity in South-East Asia and around the world. Whereas team building in the past concentrated on physical challenges and physical training, today’s business education environment seeks for more diversified options. A different approach to corporate training resulted in Asian Trails and their team building partners creating unique team building programmes in the Inle Lake region and in Bagan. Every team building programme is adapted to the individual requirements of each company. Fore example, treasure hunting; taking social, creative, logistical and leadership factors as the main elements are some of our most popular options. Contact Asian Trails to tailor make your own corporate programme.

Visas
All travelers to Myanmar require a visa. There are two ways to obtain a Myanmar Visa.

A. Myanmar Embassy or Consulate
Apply for a tourist visa at any Myanmar Embassy or Consulate. Tourist visas are issued for a duration of 28 days at all Myanmar Embassies or Consulates. The EVT Package Tour visas have been abolished. Any tourist whether travelling on a package tour or individually will receive the same type of tourist visa. The compulsory exchange into FECs (Foreign Exchange Certificates) was abolished in 2003. EVT Package Visa exception letters are not required anymore.

B. Pre-Arrangement Visa on Arrival
Pre-arranged visas on arrival can be arranged through Asian Trails for travelers arriving at Yangon International Airport. In general visas on arrival can only be organized for guests coming from countries where no Myanmar embassy is present. Asian Trails requires passengers’ passport details including name as spelled in passport, nationality, passport number and occupation latest 4 weeks prior to arrival in Myanmar. Asian Trails will apply for tourist visas and E-mail a visa confirmation letter issued by the Myanmar authorities to the travel agency or traveler as an attachment. Travelers will need to show this visa confirmation letter to the airline in order to board the international flight to Yangon. Upon arrival at Yangon International Airport the travelers need to contact the Visa on Arrival counter, show their visa confirmation letter, hand over 2 passport photos and pay the visa fee of US$ 30.- per person (subject to changes without prior notice). Asian Trails charges a handling fee for all visas on arrival of US$ 10.-- per person.

All items of jewellery, cameras and foreign currency in excess value of USD 2,000.- must be declared upon arrival on the currency declaration forms. No Myanmar currency may be imported or exported. Duty free allowance is 200 cigarettes and one litre of wine or spirit. Export of Buddha images, gemstones and antiques without an official receipt is prohibited. Officially it is not permitted to bring mobile phones into the country; however, this regulation is not enforced since many years.

As you might already know - ‘This is Burma, and it will be quite unlike any land you know about’. This famous phrase written by Rudyard Kipling in 1898 is true even today. Myanmar is a fascinating mix of eastern cultures, ethnic minorities, scenic diversities, magnificent beaches, Buddhist traditions, golden temples and pagodas. In the main cities, especially in Yangon some inhabitants have gone from hut to high-rise, school children have accelerated from pencil to Microsoft and there have been a few attempts for building department stores. But step back one street and it is a charming time warp, step outside the towns and time stands still, and many things remain same as the have been for decades or even centuries.

THE TWELVE MOST ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT MYANMAR

1. WHAT IS NEW? WHAT IS NOT NEW?

The past year was a positive one for tourism to Myanmar. After years years of stagnation, due to the events of 2007 and 2008, the situation has improved markedly, with fully booked accommodation and flights registered for the first time. New international flights to and from Myanmar were launched and a few new hotels were opened also in more outlying and previously little visited area. Unfortunately the proper visa on arrival system introduced last year has been cancelled again. Still tourism to Myanmar is booming and early reservation is important. Even more important is flexibility. Not all clients wishes can be fulfilled due to the high demand but with flexibility in travelling dates, routing, accommodation etc. surely our reservation staff will find a suitable solutions.

2. WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO TRAVEL?

The best time to visit Myanmar is from November to March when temperatures are relatively low (average 15 – 30 degrees centigrade) and when there is practically no rain. Note that in December and January the temperature can drop to nearly freezing at night in the highlands of the Kalaw, Pindaya, Taunggyi and Inle Lake area. In April and May which is the hottest season temperature often tops 40 degrees centigrade in Yangon, in Mandalay as well as in Bagan it can get even hotter. The monsoon starts between mid-May and mid-June bringing frequent rains particularly in the southern as well as western region of Myanmar which last until September. Nevertheless the central region of Myanmar, where both Bagan and Mandalay are located, remains protected by the Arakan Mountains from the strong monsoon rains. The weather in this area is much drier than on the coast, allowing for an enjoyable visit even during this season.

3. IS IT SAFE TO TRAVEL? ARE THERE PLACES TO AVOID?

Myanmar is a vast country and it is generally a very safe place to travel. Myanmar’s insurgency problems near the Indian and Thai borders are in areas that are far off tourist tracks and they will not affect a traveller’s journey through Myanmar in any way.

4. DO’S AND DON’T ‘S

Never drink tap water – purified, bottled water is available everywhere. Eat at established restaurants and avoid peeled or cut fruit as well as ice cubes. It is wise to guard against sunburn, dehydration and heat exhaustion. Light clothing made from natural fibres is useful most of the year around and a sweater or jacket is needed when touring hill areas and the Inle Lake region from November to February. When visiting pagodas and other religious buildings great care must be taken to appear modest and correctly dressed. Women should not wear shorts, braless T-shirts or have bare shoulders when visiting such places. Shoes and socks must always be removed at pagodas and monasteries. Taking photographs in airports, railway stations and near any military installation is forbidden.

5. WHAT MONEY SHOULD I TAKE?

Myanmar is a ‘US Dollar country’ and in principle only US Dollars in cash in small denominations are accepted. Please take note though that your bills need to be in perfect condition otherwise they may be declined. Old and worn notes, as well as notes with spots and/or inscriptions written on them will be refused. Credit cards are only accepted by a few hotels which mostly charge high commissions on credit card payments. Traveller checks and Euros are not recommended as these cannot be exchanged at local banks. It is recommended that travellers only change a small amount of US Dollars into the local currency (Kyat) as US Dollars are accepted throughout the country. Never change US Dollars on arrival at the airport in Yangon where the rate is around half of the offered one in downtown. It is recommend to rather ask your Asian Trails guide or the hotel reception for assistance on changing money.

6. WHAT ARE THE VISA REQUIREMENTS AND CUSTOMS FORMALITIES?

All travelers to Myanmar require a visa. There are two ways to obtain a Myanmar Visa.

A. Myanmar Embassy or Consulate
Apply for a tourist visa at any Myanmar Embassy or Consulate. Tourist visas are issued for a duration of 28 days at all Myanmar Embassies or Consulates. The EVT Package Tour visas have been abolished. Any tourist whether travelling on a package tour or individually will receive the same type of tourist visa. The compulsory exchange into FECs (Foreign Exchange Certificates) was abolished in 2003. EVT Package Visa exception letters are not required anymore.

B. Pre-Arrangement Visa on Arrival
Pre-arranged visas on arrival can be arranged through Asian Trails for travelers arriving at Yangon International Airport. In general visas on arrival can only be organized for guests coming from countries where no Myanmar embassy is present. Asian Trails requires passengers’ passport details including name as spelled in passport, nationality, passport number and occupation latest 4 weeks prior to arrival in Myanmar. Asian Trails will apply for tourist visas and E-mail a visa confirmation letter issued by the Myanmar authorities to the travel agency or traveler as an attachment. Travelers will need to show this visa confirmation letter to the airline in order to board the international flight to Yangon. Upon arrival at Yangon International Airport the travelers need to contact the Visa on Arrival counter, show their visa confirmation letter, hand over 2 passport photos and pay the visa fee of US$ 30.- per person (subject to changes without prior notice). Asian Trails charges a handling fee for all visas on arrival of US$ 10.-- per person.

All items of jewellery, cameras and foreign currency in excess value of USD 2,000.- must be declared upon arrival on the currency declaration forms. No Myanmar currency may be imported or exported. Duty free allowance is 200 cigarettes and one litre of wine or spirit. Export of Buddha images, gemstones and antiques without an official receipt is prohibited. Officially it is not permitted to bring mobile phones into the country; however, this regulation is not enforced since many years.

7. WHAT LANGUAGE WILL THEY UNDERSTAND?

The official language is ‘Myanmar/Burmese’ with numerous regional languages and dialects. English is spoken at all major hotels. In the Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay and Inle Lake area travellers will always find someone who will at least understand a few words of English. Asian Trails provides guiding services in English, German French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese and Russian.

8. HOW ABOUT MY HEALTH?

No vaccinations are officially required for a visit to Myanmar. Travellers should check with their doctor or a travel immunization clinic regarding the advisability of inoculation against typhoid, hepatitis, tetanus and Japanese encephalitis as well as Malaria Prophylaxis. Take along any prescription medication with sufficient supplies. Myanmar hospitals are not considered to be of international standard; however there are two private medical emergency clinics in Yangon with rather good facilities.

9. WHAT FOOD WILL I FIND?

Myanmar cuisine mainly consists of rice, noodles and a side dish. These dishes vary from Indian style curries with meat or fish to vegetables and regional salads and soups. Chilli is popular in Myanmar and is often used in spicy dishes such as curries; however the meal itself is more often not as hot as the Thai cuisine. Myanmar can boast with a broad range of cuisine with Chinese, Thai and Indian restaurants sprinkled around the major cities. Western food can be found in a few French or Italian restaurants in Yangon as well as at major international hotels in Yangon and Mandalay.

10. HOW IS THE SHOPPING AND WHAT DO I TIP?

Shopping is plentiful in most areas of Myanmar with colourful markets and stalls adoring most streets. Most popular buys include antiques, embroidery, gems, lacquerware, mother-of-pearl, hand-woven silk longyis, traditional woodcarvings, customary puppets and tribal crafts. Jewellery should be purchased through an authorized dealer who will issue a receipt so that the items can be exported. Bargaining is an elemental part of Myanmar life in small shops and markets. Major hotels and restaurants usually add 10 % service charge to bills. Where it is not included a tip of up to 10 % of the bill would be appropriate if the service is satisfactory. Porters should be tipped at Kyat 500 per bag.

11. WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE ITINERARY?

See http://www.asiantrails.travel/myanmar/index.php

12. WHERE CAN I FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE COUNTRY IN GENERAL?

See http://www.myanmar-travel.com

TRAVEL TIPS

AIRPORT TAX

Departure tax for international flights is USD 10.-- payable in US dollars. Passenger Service Charge for domestic airport is Kyat 1,000.-- per person per sector. Subject to change without prior notice.

CEREMONIS AND FESTIVAL DATES 2012

1– 23 Jan'12 - Bagan - Ananda Temple Festival
6 – 7 Feb'12 - Mandalay - Mahamuni Festival
3 - 8 Mar'12 - Pindaya - Pindaya Cave Festival
6 - 7 Mar'12 - Kakku - Kakku Festival
7 Mar '12 - (Full-moon day of Tabaung)
Yangon - Shwedagon Pagoda Festival
12-16 Apr’12 - Myanmar - Thingyan Festival
17 Apr’12 - Myanmar - Myanmar New Year
19 Jul - 2 Aug'12 - Mandalay - Kane Ball Festival
27 - 31 Aug'12 - Near Mandalay - Taung-Byone (Nats) Festival
16 Oct - 2 Nov'12 - Inle Lake - Phanungdaw Oo Pagoda Festival
23 - 28 Nov'12 - Taunggyi - Fire Balloon Festival
29 Nov'12 - Yangon - Robe Weaving Festival
21 Nov - 13 Dec'12 - Bagan - Shwezigon Pagoda Festival

All festival dates are subject to changes without prior notice due to various reasons beyond Asian Trails control. Other minor festivals are held throughout the country during the entire year. Contact Asian Trails for further information.

CLIMATE

Tropical, generally hot and humid. Cooler in mountain areas.

Coolest months: November-February (average temperatures 15-24 C; in mountainous regions such as Kalaw, Pindaya and the Inle Lake area, as well as in the desert plains near Bagan temperatures can drop to 5 C at night and warm clothes are needed)

Hottest months: March-May (average temperatures 30-45 C)

Monsoon, rainy months: May-September (although in central areas the weather is much drier than on the coast)

CURRENCY AND EXCHANGE

The official Myanmar currency is Kyat (pronounced ‘Chat’). The official exchange rate is 6 Kyat to USD 1-. The unofficial or market rate (at the time of printing) is as high as 750.-- Kyat to the dollar. There are several authorized money changers in Yangon who will exchange USD into FECs (Foreign Exchange Certificates) and Kyat. One FEC equals USD 1.-. It is not compulsory to exchange foreign currency into FECs and not recommended. Myanmar is a ‘US Dollar country’ and in principle only US Dollars in cash in small denominations are accepted. Credit cards are only accepted by a few hotels which mostly charge high commissions on credit card payments. Traveler’s cheque and Euros are not recommended as these cannot be exchanged at local banks. It is recommended to only change a small amount of US Dollars into the local currency (Kyat) as US Dollars are accepted throughout the country.

Travelers are also advised not to change any money at airports both in Yangon and Mandalay as the exchange rates are unfavorable. It is recommended to change USD cash at local money changers, Asian Trails guides and staff will brief travelers accordingly upon arrival in Myanmar.

CUSTOMS AND FORMALITIES ON ARRIVAL

All items of jewelry, cameras and foreign currency in excess of USD 2,000.- must be declared upon arrival on the currency declaration forms. Travelers should have completed these forms during the flight to Yangon and should submit them upon arrival. No Myanmar currency may be imported or exported.

An Asian Trails representative will join travelers on arrival after immigration and customs control points have been passed. The representative will display an ‘Asian Trails’ sign for easy recognition. Duty free allowance is 200 cigarettes and one liter of wine or spirit. Export of Buddha images, gemstones and antiques without an official receipt is prohibited.

Officially it is not permitted to bring mobile phones into the country: however, this regulation has not been enforced for many years.

ASIAN TRAILS SIGHTSEEING TOUR POLICY

The main tourist attractions of Myanmar include a large and unique number of religious and historic monuments, magnificent scenery, and a rich and diverse cultural legacy. These monuments are a fundamental part of any tour of Myanmar. In addition Asian Trails seek out the less popular but interesting and often unique off the beaten track sights such as colorful festivals, traditional vocations and local markets to supplement the traditional attractions wherever they coincide with travel plans. The tastes of traditional Myanmar cuisine will be included throughout the differing regions as well as the opportunity to meet the local people in their own environment.

Asian Trails endeavor to go the extra mile to make your trip to Myanmar a memorable and diverse experience.

DOMESTIC FLIGHTS

There are four domestic airlines operating in Myanmar. Namely Asian Wings, Air KBZ, Air Mandalay and Air Bagan. Asian Trails only use all of them mentioned which are all private sector operated and up to international service and safety standards. The airlines operate frequent flights to all major tourist destinations country wide with ATR-72, ATR-42 and Fokker 100 aircrafts. Baggage allowance on domestic flights is limited to 20kg. Excess luggage can be left in Yangon hotels for collection on return from upcountry.

ELECTRICITY

Please note that electricity is not always available and even in Yangon power cuts are the order of the day, especially during the dry warm season. All international standard hotels in Yangon, Myanmar, Bagan and Inle Lake do have generators, which work when power is absent. In simpler hotels in outlying areas as well as at some hotels at the beaches, especially in Ngwe Saung, generator are either absent or are not running 24hrs.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

No vaccinations are officially required for a visit to Myanmar. Travelers should check with their doctor or a travel immunization clinic regarding the advisability of inoculation against typhoid, hepatitis, tetanus and Japanese encephalitis as well as Malaria Prophylaxis. It is a wise choice to use an insect repellant against mosquitoes, especially upcountry and in forested areas. The sun can be remarkably hot and a hat and high-factor block cream is advisable.

HOTELS

Yangon and Mandalay offer a wide choice of accommodation including boutique hotels and international five star properties. In Bagan and Inle Lake region travelers can expect smaller but nevertheless cozy properties. See our detailed hotel descriptions at each destination for further information. There are no official hotel categories in Myanmar. All hotel categories in all our documentation are rated by Asian Trails according to general international hotel criteria. Travelers are reminded that in some areas of the country accommodation can be simple and basic.

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS

Direct flights to Yangon are available from Bangkok, Calcutta, Chiang Mai, Guangzhou, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Kuala Lumpur, Kunming, Singapore, Siem Reap and Taipei. Airlines currently serving Yangon are Air Asia, Air Bagan, Air China, Bangkok Airways, China Southern, Indian Airlines, Mandarin Airlines/China Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Myanmar Airways International, Silk Air, Thai Airways International and Vietnam airlines. Direct flights to Mandalay are available from Kunming.

INTERNET HOMEPAGES

http://www.asiantrails.info
http://www.myanmar-travel.com

LOCAL TIME

GMT + 6 1/2 hours.

PASSPORT AND VISA

All travelers to Myanmar require a visa. There are two ways to obtain a Myanmar Visa.

A. Myanmar Embassy or Consulate
Apply for a tourist visa at any Myanmar Embassy or Consulate. Tourist visas are issued for a duration of 28 days at all Myanmar Embassies or Consulates. The EVT Package Tour visas have been abolished. Any tourist whether travelling on a package tour or individually will receive the same type of tourist visa. The compulsory exchange into FECs (Foreign Exchange Certificates) was abolished in 2003. EVT Package Visa exception letters are not required anymore.

B. Pre-arranged Visas on Arrival
Pre-arranged visas on arrival can be arranged through Asian Trails for travelers arriving at Yangon International Airport. In general visas on arrival can only be organized for guests coming from countries where no Myanmar embassy is present. Asian Trails requires passengers’ passport details including name as spelled in passport, nationality, passport number and occupation latest 4 weeks prior to arrival in Myanmar. Asian Trails will apply for tourist visas and E-mail a visa confirmation letter issued by the Myanmar authorities to the travel agency or traveler as an attachment. Travelers will need to show this visa confirmation letter to the airline in order to board the international flight to Yangon. Upon arrival at Yangon International Airport the travelers need to contact the Visa on Arrival counter, show their visa confirmation letter, hand over 2 passport photos and pay the visa fee of US$ 30.- per person (subject to changes without prior notice). Asian Trails charges a handling fee for all visas on arrival of US$ 10.-- per person.

All items of jewellery, cameras and foreign currency in excess value of USD 2,000.- must be declared upon arrival on the currency declaration forms. No Myanmar currency may be imported or exported. Duty free allowance is 200 cigarettes and one litre of wine or spirit. Export of Buddha images, gemstones and antiques without an official receipt is prohibited. Officially it is not permitted to bring mobile phones into the country; however, this regulation is not enforced since many years.

POST AND COMMUNICATION

The postal service in Myanmar is considered unreliable and letters sometimes take months to arrive at their destination. The country code for international calls is (95) and these can be made from major hotels and the Central Telegraph Office in major cities. The service is improving but connections are poor and international calls are expensive. There is no public phone system with a pre-paid call card. Internet is available at several locations throughout the country, however, travelers have to be aware that their email websites might not be available due to government restrictions (e.g. Yahoo, Hotmail and many other email websites cannot be accessed).

The trial system of new temporary SIM card especially designed for mobile phones started in 2008 has been abandoned again. Today clients can by SIM cards for USD 50.00 which runs on a locally produced CDMA phone. Asian Trails is able to rent those phones and acquire the necessary SIM cards. Please ask us for further details on this service.

PUBLIC HOLIDAYS 2012 IN MYANMAR

1-Jan-12 - New Year’s Day
4-Jan-12 - Independence Day
12-Feb-12 - Union Day
2-Mar-12 Peasant’s Day
7-Mar-12 - Fullmoon day Tabaung
27-Mar-12 - Armed Forces Day
12-16-Apr-12 - Thingyan Festival
17-Apr-12 - Myanmar New Year
1-May-12 - World workers Day
4-Jun-12 - Fullmoon day of Kason
19-Jul-12 - Martyr’s Day
2-Aug-12 - Full moon day of Waso
30-Oct-12 - Full moon of Thidingyut
28-Nov-12 - Full moon day of Tasaungmone
8-Dec-12 - National Day
25-Dec-12 Christmas Day

RESTRICTED AREAS

Whereas Myanmar has opened most areas of the country to foreign visitors, there are still a few areas for which government permission is required. Asian Trails will endeavor to gain permission where possible.

TRANSPORTATION

Asian Trails provides air-conditioned cars and coaches where available for all tours. Public trains, ferryboats and buses are other transportation services that are available throughout the country, however, these services are generally of a lower standard and uncomfortable for some. The boat trip between Mandalay and Bagan is operated by a local Chinese-built ferry (except on Wednesday and Sunday when a local slow ferry is used) and takes about 8 hours (depending on the river conditions it might take longer).

GENERAL INFORMATION AND CONDITIONS

RESERVATIONS

All tours and services can be booked directly with our office in Myanmar:
ASIAN TRAILS TOUR LTD.
73 Pyay Road
Dagon Township
Yangon
Union of Myanmar (Burma)

Tel: (95 1) 211212, 223262, 228849, 224989,211622
Tel: (95 9) 200 5659 / 24 hrs emergency mobile phone only.
Fax: (95 1) 211670
Email: res@asiantrails.com.mm

Our office in Bangkok will also be pleased to assist with information or reservations for all Myanmar tours:

ASIAN TRAILS LTD.
9th Floor, SG Tower
161/1 Soi Mahadlekluang 3
Rajdamri Road
Lumpini, Pathumwan
Bangkok 10330
Thailand

Tel: (66 2) 626 2000
Fax: (66 2) 651 8111
Email: res@asiantrails.org

CONFIRMATIONS

All reservations are confirmed by return with the up-dated booking status within two working days. Due to occasional difficulties in communication to destinations outside of Yangon it may take a few days longer to get confirmations for services up-country. Also please be reminded that Myanmar sometimes faces email as well as internet problems. In case you do not hear from us after 48hrs please assume that your email has not reached us and feel free to resend again.

RATES AND VALIDITY

All rates are quoted nett to travel agents in US Dollar at current rates of exchange and are subject to change without prior notice. Inclusions and exclusions in the tour packages are indicated at the end of each itinerary. Commonly our package tour rates include accommodation, transfers, meals as mentioned in the itinerary and other tour related services in Myanmar. Our tour itineraries do not include domestic airfares (quoted separately), visa fees, international airfares, international airport taxes and expenses of a personal nature. Validity of our rates is November 01, 2011 until October 31, 2012 unless otherwise specified.

SERVICES

Local English speaking guides are accompanying tours and transfers in each destination. German, French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Thai, Chinese and Russian speaking guides are available on request and subject to confirmation and a respective surcharge.

DELIVERY FEES

A delivery fee of US$ 20-30.- per delivery will be charged according to the distance traveled, if flight tickets are required to be delivered to clients hotel.

INFANT POLICY

For children up to 2 year old

- Hotel Sharing the same bed with parents at Free of Charge
- Car Sitting on lap of parents at Free of Charge
- Airfare Between 25-30 % of adult domestic airfare depending on domestic airlines

CHILD POLICY

For children in the age between 2 and 12 years following discounts are granted:

- Child in shared adults’ room with extra bed: 15% of total package price
- Child in shared adults’ room without extra bed: 25% of total package price
- Child in shared twin room: No discount (child airfare only)

A maximum of two children per party is granted such a discount.

PAYMENT

Full pre-payment by bank transfer is required 3 weeks before commencement of services. Our bank account number is:

Beneficiary Name: ASIAN TRAILS LTD.
Beneficiary Address: 9th Floor, SG Tower, 161/1 Soi Mahadlekluang 3,
Rajdamri Road, Lumpini, Pathumwan, Bangkok 10330, Thailand

Account Number: FC2/0214USD (USD Account)

Bank: Siam City Bank
Address: 1101 New Petchburi Road, Makkasan, Rajthevee, Bangkok 10400
Tel: + 66 (0) 2 208-5000
Fax: + 66 (0) 2 253-6147-8
Swift Code: SITYTHBK

Important
Please do not mention the name ‘Myanmar’ or the address of Asian Trails Myanmar in any bank remittance documents. Do not mention ‘Asian Trails Tour Ltd’ or ‘Asian Trails Myanmar’. Only mention ‘Asian Trails Ltd’ and the Thailand address mentioned above as the beneficiary. Do not include any abbreviations such as ‘MM’ or email addresses .mm or any other abbreviations in any correspondence with your bank. These measures are necessary due to the sanctions imposed on Myanmar. Contact Asian Trails in case of any uncertainties or if you require any further information.

CANCELLATIONS

For cancellation of confirmed reservations, a fee according to the case incurred will be charged. Most hotels have a cancellation deadline of 33 days notice for groups and 16 days for individual travelers. Special conditions apply for cruises, beach resorts as well as for some of the boutique and landmark hotels. Cancellation conditions are mentioned in each program separately.

PROGRAM CHANGES

Asian Trails reserves the right to re-arrange the order of any tour program, to cancel or substitute elements of any tour itinerary without notice, when local conditions require such changes. All itineraries depending on domestic flight confirmations are subject to changes. The customers at the destination are requested to pay all supplementary and extra costs that may occur due to these changes on the spot.

LIABILITY

Asian Trails Ltd. acts as intermediary between the concerned airlines, hotels, all transport operators and local tourist offices providing the services. Asian Trails Ltd. is therefore not responsible for any loss, injury or damage sustained by the tourists, including those occurring outside the touring programs. Additional expenses incurred due to delay, accidents, natural disaster, political actions and unrest must be borne by the tourists. Programs and prices, services and conditions are based on those valid at the time of printing and are therefore subject to change without advance notice before or during the tour. Participation in our tours implies the tourist’s agreement to the above conditions.

CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY

Travel breaks down borders and brings people together: The nearly 900 million people who travel every year make the sector one of the biggest in the world, a major employer and a key element in the global economy. But this has its downside, too: increasing pollutant emissions from the tourist traffic, loss of coastlines and other landscapes through excessive building development and sexual exploitation of children are just some of the negative consequences of the growth in global tourist travel. In order to minimise the negative impacts and enhance the positive ones, Kuoni’s Corporate Responsibility Strategy focuses on four prime issues:

• Kuoni Group increases its efforts to ensure that children and adolescents in tourist areas are protected against sexual exploitation, one of the worst forms of abuse of young people today.

• Kuoni promotes fair working conditions, and sensitises its service provider partners to social and environmental concerns.

 • The supply and saving of clean water is a further key issue.

• Kuoni develops its own projects to meet the growing threat posed by climate change. Indeed, helping counter the adverse effects of global warming is one of the biggest challenges faced by the world tourist.

VISITING MYANMAR IS CONTROVERSIAL

The human rights situation in Myanmar is bad, its government still being one of the most repressive in the world but since the general elections in November 2010 the political landscape changed. The junta, which has been in power for more than forty years, has handed over power to a civilian government. Still some organizations are calling for a tourism boycott, asking not to visit the country until there is a even more democratic regime in place. Several organizations interpret any visitor as a symbolic and financial endorsement of the actual government. But the question is: Is a boycott appropriate or would it in fact only harm the people in the country, leaving the ruling class unaffected? Thus Kuoni believes that offering travel to Myanmar is beneficial to the people within a certain framework. Kuoni therefore commits to make the profit from tourism revenue available to private locals by choosing privately owned hotels and transport wherever possible, to communicate transparently and to offer something back to the people by supporting an educational project.  

CHANCE FOR A STRONG FUTURE

Therefore Kuoni supports the centre for vocational training in Yangoon, Myanmar’s most important city. This Centre for Vocational Training has set up a new 3-year apprenticeship for “Hotel & Gastronomy Assistant“. After the training young people will be in demand in every sphere of the professional field: in guest relations, in human resources, in administration, in the kitchen or at the reception of hotels and restaurants. They will either be able to take overall responsibility and open up something of their own. The apprenticeship is divided in two sections: In the first part the student works as an apprentice in a training company and learns the whole spectrum of tasks. By going to school one day per week the apprentices learn the theoretical side such as “food safety and hygiene” or “business management”. English and general culture, as well as ecology, are part of the program. After this parallel form of vocational training the students have widened their horizon and can count on a strong future.