Myanmar Backpacking Sept

[rollertoaster]

10 days itinerary :

SG - YANGON - BAGAN - LAKE INLE - MANDALAY - BANGKOK

do-able?

backpacking alone from 30 aug.

Anyone going there too?

Tips, sights, advice and accommodation suggestions will be appreciated!

 

[rollertoaster]

Anyone tried this route?

 

[Bak_Chor_Mee]

hi there, though i cant help u on this.. but i highly recommend u can try posting ur qn on tripadvisor forum if the respond rate here is slow

Myanmar Forum, Travel Discussion for Myanmar

 

[butterbarter]

10 days itinerary :

SG - YANGON - BAGAN - LAKE INLE - MANDALAY - BANGKOK

do-able?

backpacking alone from 30 aug.

Anyone going there too?

Tips, sights, advice and accommodation suggestions will be appreciated!

I don't see why not. i did SG-YANGON-MANDALAY-BAGAN-INLE-SG a couple of years ago. I took plane and ferry. Note that flight from Bagan to Inle *may* transit at Mandalay, so it's not the most efficient route.

 

[rollertoaster]

I don't see why not. i did SG-YANGON-MANDALAY-BAGAN-INLE-SG a couple of years ago. I took plane and ferry. Note that flight from Bagan to Inle *may* transit at Mandalay, so it's not the most efficient route.

Yes, my problem is actually figuring how to fit lake inle into the itinerary.

Howe best do i go to lake inle, from bagan or mandalay or on the way to bagan or mandalay? want to minimize the travelling and costs, as well as the time.

M arrangement is to fly into yangon and fly out of mandalay.

 

[ahwei86]

actually from Bagan go Mandalay is very fast. Maybe u can swop Inle Lake with Bagan in your itinerary order.

Btw, here's a pic of sunrise in Bagan near Winner Guest House

 

[rollertoaster]

yangon - inle - bagan - mandalay?

thks. am thinking if taking boat fr bagan to mandalay

actually from Bagan go Mandalay is very fast. Maybe u can swop Inle Lake with Bagan in your itinerary order.

Btw, here's a pic of sunrise in Bagan near Winner Guest House

 

[butterbarter]

yangon - inle - bagan - mandalay?

thks. am thinking if taking boat fr bagan to mandalay

I took a ferry from Mandalay to Bagan. It took 8 hours, and was supposed to be the "fast ferry". I thought this ferry would be the ferry of choice for the locals, which would make the trip more colorful and interesting.

It wasn't. The problem was that it was also the fancier, newer, tourist ferry, as the ticket price put it out of reach of the locals. So although it was a generally pleasant and very comfortable ride down the Irrawaddy river, it was completely devoid of any local flavor other than waving to friendly locals on the river bank. All the passengers were tourists, mostly angmos, and was thus quite a bland experience. I don't recommend it.

The local ferry, if you can get one, is much slower, taking more than 12 hours for the trip. You'll have to check the schedule. The ferries (local and tourist) don't depart everyday in both directions.

If you have time, take the local ferry. It will be much more interesting though less comfortable. The tourist one is very boring. Otherwise, fly.

Also, be warned that the ferry departs early in the morning. I had to wake up before 5am to get to the ferry terminal before sunrise to check in. Then wait till the sunrise for the ferry to set off. I'm sure you'll have to wake up even earlier for the local ferry. And if you do take a ferry, bring your own food. Even the tourist ferry doesn't sell food on board despite the 8 hour journey.

 

[butterbarter]

Yes, my problem is actually figuring how to fit lake inle into the itinerary.

Howe best do i go to lake inle, from bagan or mandalay or on the way to bagan or mandalay? want to minimize the travelling and costs, as well as the time.

M arrangement is to fly into yangon and fly out of mandalay.

Since you want to fly back from Mandalay, it has to be your last stop, so that limits your choices in your city itinerary. So Yangon-Inle-bagan-mandalay or yangon-bagan-inle-mandalay are both fine.

Do you intend to take ground transport or fly? I suggest flying, as ground transport is notoriously slow.

If you have 3 extra days, try a Mandalay-Maymyo(aka Pyin U Lwin)-Kyaukme (pronounced chao-mei, sounds like strawberries in Mandarin) side trip.

I took a shared taxi from Mandalay to Maymyo, spent 1 night there, then took a train to Kyaukme. On the way between Maymyo and Kyaukme (ticket price USD 2 for the 5-6 hour journey), the train will travel over the fabulous Gokteik Bridge, at one time the highest steel train bridge in the world. Sit on the left side to see the bridge best. Totally worth the train ride.

Maymyo is a small British mountain town like Malaysia's Fraser Hill, while Kyaukme itself is also a small mountain town that's popular for mountain trekking. It's also a good way to relax and unwind in the cool mountain air and just do nothing.

At the time I went, there was only 1 approved tourist hotel (around USD30 per night) in Kyaukme, so book in advance if you intend to go. I can also hook you up with a good English/Mandarin-speaking local guide for trekking if you want. I did the return journey from Kyaukme to Mandalay by shared cab, which was much quicker ( 2+ hours).

 

[rollertoaster]

many thks for sharing!

The train ride to maymo look fantastic. I would certainly try it if time allows. :O

Since you want to fly back from Mandalay, it has to be your last stop, so that limits your choices in your city itinerary. So Yangon-Inle-bagan-mandalay or yangon-bagan-inle-mandalay are both fine.

Do you intend to take ground transport or fly? I suggest flying, as ground transport is notoriously slow.

If you have 3 extra days, try a Mandalay-Maymyo(aka Pyin U Lwin)-Kyaukme (pronounced chao-mei, sounds like strawberries in Mandarin) side trip.

I took a shared taxi from Mandalay to Maymyo, spent 1 night there, then took a train to Kyaukme. On the way between Maymyo and Kyaukme (ticket price USD 2 for the 5-6 hour journey), the train will travel over the fabulous Gokteik Bridge, at one time the highest steel train bridge in the world. Sit on the left side to see the bridge best. Totally worth the train ride.

Maymyo is a small British mountain town like Malaysia's Fraser Hill, while Kyaukme itself is also a small mountain town that's popular for mountain trekking. It's also a good way to relax and unwind in the cool mountain air and just do nothing.

At the time I went, there was only 1 approved tourist hotel (around USD30 per night) in Kyaukme, so book in advance if you intend to go. I can also hook you up with a good English/Mandarin-speaking local guide for trekking if you want. I did the return journey from Kyaukme to Mandalay by shared cab, which was much quicker ( 2+ hours).

 

[wuso]

Yes, the Gokteik Viaduct is recommended but looking at your 10day itinerary, I doubt you can fit in. Unless you are willing to fork out money of course.

I went to Hsipaw instead of Kyaukme, which is also a delightfully laidback town. Note which side to sit depends on which direction u going of course.
Roving Light TravelPhotoBlog: Gokteik Viaduct, Myanmar

 

[butterbarter]

You are right. I didn't consider that TS only has 10 days. I would suggest extending the trip to at least 2 weeks.

Myanmar is a big country, and 10 days would be too rushed, esp when you have to factor in traveling between cities. 2 weeks would at least let you see the highlights leisurely and yet see 1 or 2 extra sights (like the Gokteik bridge I described above).

Yes, the Gokteik Viaduct is recommended but looking at your 10day itinerary, I doubt you can fit in. Unless you are willing to fork out money of course.

I went to Hsipaw instead of Kyaukme, which is also a delightfully laidback town. Note which side to sit depends on which direction u going of course.
Roving Light TravelPhotoBlog: Gokteik Viaduct, Myanmar

 

[excalibur324]

oops. kinda late but for the benefit of others who may come across did thread. 10days is very tight for yangon - bagan - mandalay - inle lake.

more relax pace will be 12-13 days.

 

[rollertoaster]

oops. kinda late but for the benefit of others who may come across did thread. 10days is very tight for yangon - bagan - mandalay - inle lake.

more relax pace will be 12-13 days.

In the end, I had to manage with only 6 days and dropped Mandalay

It became yangon - bagan - lake inle - yangon. I took overnight buses for the long 10 hr trips and slept on them instead of hotels.

It wasn't too bad as nightlife was rather minimal anyway. In fact the arrangement was ideal for Bagan, as I arrived at bus terminal at 4 am and was greeted by a full sky of stars! Plenty of time for the sunrise too

 

[stantough]

Hey I just got my leave approved and have 9 days to tour Myanmar. Going solo too.

Could you advise if it's feasible to just book accommodation and transport (to Bagan and Inle lake) when I reach there? Or did you book them in advance?

Thanks in advance!

 

[butterbarter]

Hey I just got my leave approved and have 9 days to tour Myanmar. Going solo too.

Could you advise if it's feasible to just book accommodation and transport (to Bagan and Inle lake) when I reach there? Or did you book them in advance?

Thanks in advance!

Disclaimer : this info was accurate 2 years ago.

You can book when you are there. In fact, it will be cheaper than booking in Singapore, since the middle men here take a bigger commission than the the ones in Myanmar. Many Burmese work as independent guides, and will arrange transport and accommodation for tourists. There are also travel agencies that will do the same.

But, I think the savings will add up only if you are staying for longer periods of time. Since you are only staying for 9 days, I'm not sure if the savings will be worth the risk of things screwing up due to your last minute bookings.

 

[Olegna]

http://saventravel.blogspot.sg/2015/05/mount-popa-mt-olympus-of-burma.html