Yangon Stopover Tour
. Yangon - Bago – Thanlyin - Yangon
Yangon Stopover is tour for those with limited time for Yangon. Price is $350/person. Tripadvisor Reviews
We had a wonder full tour from Yangon to Bago. Our Tour start at hotel at 8am.... Read 450 Tripadvisor Review. Only $350/person, daily departure.
Overview
| Day | Destination | Activities |
| Day 1 | Yangon Arrival - sightseeing | Welcome pickup and half day city tour to visit the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda and Sule Pagoda.. |
| Day 2 | Yangon - Bago sightseeing | Visit to Kyaikpon four seated Buddha Images. Kyakhatwine Monastery, where a thousand of monks who take their last meal of the day at 10 am in total silence, Kanbawza Thardi Palace |
| Day 3 | Yangon - Thanlyin, departure | Drive to Thanlyin, home to two splendid pagodas; the Kyaikmawwin (Yele) Pagoda, situated on Island. Meet local people at the Kyauktan Market |
Itinerary
Yangon Stopover Itinerary
Day 1: Yangon arrival & sightseeing
Arrive at Yangon International Airport, welcome by our tour guide. On the way visit to the Lawka Chanthar Arbayar Laba Muni Buddha Image (Kyauktawgyi) and Royal White Elephant camp… Check in to hotel and Yangon sightseeing; visit to Chaukhtatgyi (Reclining Buddha) Pagoda a colossal reclining Buddha, Karaweik Hall Royal barge on the Royal lake for photo stop, Yangon’s city center featuring Sule Pagoda at city center and colonial building, drive in downtown visit China Town with the fruit market and Yangon’s city center covering World famous Shwedagon Pagoda. Witness the golden dome light up sunshine at the sunset. Overnight in Yangon.
- Meals: Dinner
- Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon
Day 2: Yangon – Bago – Yangon
After breakfast at hotel, day return sightseeing trip to Bago. Visit to Kyaikpon four seated Buddha Images. Kyakhatwine Monastery, where a thousand of monks who take their last meal of the day at 10 am in total silence, Kanbawza Thardi Palace built by King Bayinnaung, Kalayani Sima (Ordination Hall), Shwemawdaw Pagoda, Shwethalyaung Pagoda, the world’s most beautiful reclining Buddha, Wood Carving Industry and Bago local Market. Visit enroute World War II Allied War Grave Cemetery near Taukkyant. Drive back to Yangon. Overnight in Yangon.
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: Yangon
Day 3: Yangon – Thanlyin - Yangon Departure
After breakfast at hotel, half day trip to Thanlyin across Yangon River on Thanlyin Bridge. Thanlyin is home to two splendid pagodas; the Kyaikmawwin (Yele) Pagoda, situated on Island. Meet local people at the Kyauktan Market and then to Kyaikkauk Pagoda. Return to Yangon. Proceed to Bogyoke Aung San (Scott) Market where you can buy many souvenirs. And then transfer to airport for departure from Yangon.
- Meals: Breakfast
- Accommodation: N/A
List of Suggested Hotels
Hotels & Prices
Hotel Categories | Private Tour | |
01 May - 30 Sept | 01 Oct - 30 Apr | |
Notes*:
- Checkin time: 14:00pm/Checkout time: 12:00pm. Early checkin/late check out is not included.
- Our quotation based on lowest room type at all the hotel. Upgrade can be done with surcharge.
- All prices are in USD per adult, in Double/Twin sharing
- Similar hotels are selected if any of above are booked
- Surcharge will be applied for single traveler or single room request
Holidays Inclusions/Exclusions
Tour Inclusions
- Meals as stated in the itinerary
- Services charges and government tax.
- Experienced English or French speaking guide.
- Private pick-up & drop-off services and transfer
- No additional charge/surcharge after confirmation
- All entrance fees and sightseeing tickets as per itinerary.
- Personalized customer service with 24/7 hotline support
- Accommodation at selected hotels (twin/double sharing) with daily breakfast
Tour Exclusions
- Travel insurance
- International flights
- Drinks and beverage
- Myanmar visa fee
- Other services not mentioned above.
- Personal expenses, tips and gratuities
- Peak season or Public holidays surcharge if any
- Compulsory Gala dinner on X-Mas or New Year if any
End Yangon Stopover
IMPORTANT NOTES FOR MYANMAR
Visas
1. eVisa is now on live. 1 tourist already arrived Myanmar. More than30 tourists already applied and got approval letter through eVisa system.
2. Since it is something new to us, there are areas to improve. Currently 43 countries are granted through the eVisa online. Now again adding 24 more countries and will add more countries later & later.
3. The normal pre-arranged visa on arrival process is still available. So, for those who are not in the eVisa listed countries, we can apply by pre-arranged visa on arrival as usual.
We have 3 channels to get Myanmar visa:
1) Myanmar Embassy abroad
2) E-Visa
3) Normal pre-arranged visa on arrival
The full information of eVisa can be checked: http://www.myanmarevisa.gov.mm, http://www.mip.gov.mm
Your passport must be valid for at least (6) months after your entry date into Myanmar. Note that you must provide a copy of your e-ticket flight into and out of Myanmar with your application. For most people that will be your short flight from Bangkok to Yangon. If for some reason you cannot provide a copy of your ticket, a letter of explanation with planned entry and exit dates on company letter-head should do the trick. Several airlines service this route daily, including Thai Airways and Bangkok Airways. See more below under Airlines. For most citizens of most countries, including the United States and Canada, tourist visas for Thailand may be obtained upon arrival in Bangkok free of charge.
Insurance
Trip insurance that includes trip cancellation coverage is highly recommended. This way in case something happens and you are not able to go at the last minute, the cost of your trip is covered. And you won’t be mad at us!
Medical insurance, including emergency evacuation, is also highly recommended. If your current medical insurance does not cover this, excellent comprehensive coverage plans by companies who specialize in this area are available and inexpensive. We find HTH Worldwide to be the best and easiest to work with.
Medical
Vaccinations are currently not required for travel to Myanmar, unless you are traveling from an active yellow fever zone. However, it’s a good idea to at least have your tetanus inoculations up to date. You may also consider vaccinating for Hepatitis A and/or B, just know that the 3-shot inoculation schedules vary and can take 6 months to complete. There are a host of other inoculations against dreaded infections you are not required to have and are unlikely to contract, but these decisions are up to you and your doctor. Malaria pills are most often more trouble than they’re worth, may not even be effective, but again this up to you and your doctor.
Be sure and bring any prescription medications you may need. Include something for headaches and stomach ailments, just in case. A few band-aids and a tube of anti-biotic ointment might not be a bad idea either. Mosquito repellant may prove useful, and don’t forget your sun-block!
What to Bring
Start with as little as possible and work down from there. One of the key essentials to traveling well is traveling light. We cannot overstate this. You’ll need less than you think, and you can always buy things. The more space you leave in your bag the more room you’ll have for gifts to take home.
Clothing
Visitors should not wear shorts, mini-skirts or other skimpy clothing when visiting pagodas and monasteries.
One way to pack light is to invest in super lightweight travel clothes sold by ExOfficio, REI and others. Three pair of pants weighs next to nothing and rolls up nicely. They resist dirt and wrinkling and dry very quickly. Convertible pants with quick-release Velcro (custom) rather than a zip, allow you to go from shorts to long pants and back in a jiff. Get front zip pockets for your passport and money. Myanmar is quite safe generally, but you don’t want to risk a passport slipping out of a pocket or a bad luck run-in with a rare Yangon pickpocket.
Do note that early mornings can be chilly, and early morning boat rides on Lake Inle pretty darn cold. But it will warm up quickly, so leave your parka at home. Just bring a sweater or sweatshirt and/or a windbreaker, something you can stuff in a backpack or don’t mind leaving with a boatman or carriage driver.
Footwear is a strategic affair, as none are allowed inside monasteries, certain religious sites, or people’s homes. Even socks must be removed. So you want ease of use along with as much support as you require. If you wear sandals and don’t mind dusty feet, bring them. Okabashi’s are often recommended. If you are a hiking boot person, do not bring them. You’ll go nuts unlacing and lacing. Broken in walking shoes work best overall.
Miscellaneous
Watch with reliable alarm; A universal plug adapter; A good hat to keep the sun off; Sunblock; Insect repellent; Sunglasses with strap; Laundry line; Listerine spray used liberally helps avoid getting a cold on the long flight over; Small LED flashlight; Travel size toiletries; Antibiotic cream.
Money
Limited ATM Access!
In late 2012, Myanmar’s first international ATM’s have finally arrived! However, they are limited to 36 CB Bank locations around the country, including the airport in Yangon. If you have MasterCard, Maestro or Cirrus you can withdraw the local currency.
For a full list of CB Bank ATMs in Myanmar which accept MasterCard and Maestro/Cirrusbranded cards, please use the ATM Locator tool available on www.mastercard.com.
Credit cards in general and Travelers Checks still CANNOT BE USED for purchases or exchanged in Myanmar (with some rare exceptions in upscale restaurants and hotels). Unless you want to chance relying solely on CB Bank ATM’s, you should bring enough cash in US DOLLARS or EURO to fund your personal purchases. Other foreign currencies are difficult to change.
No worries, they have it all in Bangkok so you can cash up there if not at home. Please bring latest series US Dollar bills (“big heads” instead of “small heads”) and with series numbers not starting with CB. These are not accepted in Myanmar due to rumors these series are counterfeit. The EURO is more and more accepted, but not at the level of the US Dollar. Bank notes should be in very good condition and not torn, dirty or washed out. The currency in Myanmar is the Kyat (pronounced ‘chet’). As in many countries of the area, the US Dollar is the most useful currency to carry and it can be exchanged into local currency. However there is no need to change big amounts into the local currency as most of the places catering to tourists also accept payment in US Dollar bills. Furthermore, the biggest kyat bill is 5000, or about $6. Changing a lot of money leaves you with quite a stack.
Though no longer required upon arrival, there is a parallel official currency the FEC (Foreign Exchange certificate), which can be used (as you use cash US Dollars). It is at par (1:1) with the US Dollar, but make sure to spend it all before leaving Myanmar.
Banks are open Monday to Friday between 10:00 and 14:00.
Note: It is now SAFE to change money upon arrival at the Yangon airport. Two bank exchanges are now available near the exits, and they offer the going rate. There is no longer a need to change money on the black market. They may offer a slightly better rate, but they are also experts at sleight of hand!
Communication
Your mobile phone will NOT work in Myanmar. Myanmar has currently no roaming agreement with any country. But prepaid cards in value of USD $5 are available. The cards are valid for 90 days once activated. Clients can also rent mobile phones CDMA 450 & 800 MHZ with prepaid cards AT Yangon International Airport. These prepaid mobile phone cards are aimed at tourists visiting Myanmar who wish to keep in touch with friends and family.
Internet access is still in its development stages. Internet is also regulated in Myanmar and the access to some websites is filtered or impossible.
Most good hotels now have Wi-Fi access. If not, cities like Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan and NyaungShwe (Inle Lake) have Internet Cafes. Connections in the cafes are generally quite slow, so be prepared.
Food
The staples of Burmese cuisine are rice, rice noodles, and curries. The main ingredient of the meal is usually rice and the curries tend to be not as spicy as those from India or Thailand. A clear soup called hingyo accompanies most meals and a fermented fish sauce or paste called ngapiye is usually served to add flavor. It tastes better than it sounds! Excellent Chinese, Thai, Indian and Western food is available in most tourist places.
Shopping
There are many fantastic local products in Myanmar. Traditional crafts include lacquerware, especially in Bagan, woodcarvings, stone carvings, bronze work, rattan, silver jewellery, silk longyis and hand-woven textiles.
You can sample them all and more at the 2000 shops of BogyokeAung San Market in Yangon. If you arrive early on the first day, and shopping is your thing, we highly suggest a research trip to get an idea of what’s available and at what price. It’s also a great place to meet the locals and observe their haggling skills. What you don’t buy during your trip chance are you can find it back in Yangon before you depart.
Myanmar is also well known for its precious gems, especially rubies (pigeon-blood) and jade (imperial-jade). Should visitors chose to purchase gemstones, they do so at their own risk and should know what they are doing.
A relative quality guarantee of purchases is given by official receipt and certificate issued by government-licensed dealers. Prices in such shops are higher but are more credible and would theoretically allow you to return the purchase. The issued paper needs to be shown when exiting the country as legal export of gemstones.
Photography
Burma is one of the great photographic destinations anywhere, so bring plenty of memory. Kids, adults, monks and nuns usually enjoy being photographed, they love to help out. Believe it or not, it is still something of a novelty here, and they get a kick out of seeing themselves on your LCD screen. If you ask anyone to go above and beyond the call of duty to model for you for any length of time, consider it a tipping opportunity.
Print films are available in Myanmar but professional quality films (like slide films) are very difficult to find and it is better to bring your own. In towns like Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay and NyaungShwe, digital photos can easily be uploaded and burned onto a CD or copied to a thumb drive. It is not allowed to photograph facilities with strategic military interest, like bridges, army compounds, police stations, army personnel, etc. More information can be found under Photography Tours.
Weather
Myanmar has three seasons similar to many other parts of Southeast Asia. The Southwest monsoon starts at the end of May or beginning of June and lasts until the end of September. This season brings frequent and heavy downpours of rain, mainly in the afternoon and evening, especially in Yangon. The rest of the country is dryer. The rains give way to dry weather in October andtemperatures are generally lower and quite pleasant through February. In Temperatures between mid-March and June can be very hot, in the high 90′s with high humidity. Great for the sauna aficionado!
NOTE: Myanmar is in the northern hemisphere, so ‘winter’ is November to February. You need to bring some warm clothing for early mornings, especially for higher areas like Shan State, Lake Inle.
Water
It is not advisable to drink tap water but bottled mineral water is safe and available everywhere. All hotels provide a complimentary bottle of local mineral water per person in the room. Ice cubes in drinks is generally OK in good standard hotels and restaurants but it is best to avoid it in street stalls or rural areas.
Airlines
International Airlines
Since many international flights arrive in Bangkok late at night, you’ll want to plan for it. If you have the time you might want to spend a couple of days in Bangkok to get acclimated to the time zone. If not, either book an airport hotel or plan to spend several long hours in the airport before your flight to Yangon the next day.
The following airlines currently fly into Myanmar: Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Air Asia, Myanmar Airways International, Malaysia Airlines, Silk Air, Air China, China Eastern, Mandarin Airlines, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Indian Airlines and Vietnam Airlines. More and more are being added these days, so check around.
Domestic Airlines
We use the following 4 domestic airlines: Air Bagan, Air Mandalay, Asian Wings and Air Cambawza. All these airlines fly French-Italian ATR turboprop planes (Avions de Transports Régionaux), a type of plane well suited for the local conditions, airports and distances. The configuration is either 40 seats (ATR-42) or 70-seats (ATR 72) in rows of 4 seats with a middle aisle. Entry-exit is at the back of the plane. Standard One-class configuration.
Air Bagan operates 1 Fokker-100 Dutch-made jet aircraft with 95 seats, 12 of which are business class seats (Lotus Class 3 rows of 4 with middle aisle). Economy class configuration is: 2 seats –aisle- 3 seats. Entry/exit is at the front of the plane.
We do not use Myanma Airways (domestic) flights (not to be confused with Myanmar Airways International). If in the highly unlikely reason it becomes necessary, passengers will be asked to sign a liability waiver. Yikes!
On Arrival
Line up at the immigration counters with a filled out arrival card and your passport and visa. After passing immigration, collect your luggage from the luggage belt and proceed to –amazingly– another x-ray machine. Don’t worry about taking out your laptop, as nobody seems to care. Collect your bags and hand over your filled-out customs form. Note that items of value and currency in excess of $2000 USD are supposed to be declared and taken again on departure, but in practice things are made quite easy for tourists. Also note that mobile phones and laptops are no longer kept in storage on arrival as is still claimed in some guidebooks.
Note: It is now safe to change money at the airport, as the rates are the same as in town. Two banks currently have booths near the exits. Should there be no-one at the airport to pick you up (highly unlikely) we suggest waiting for at least 15-minutes before taking a taxi. They will ask 10,000 Kyats, but the true price at the beginning of 2018 is 8,000. Sometimes it’s worth paying more for a newer model car where the air con works! Ask to see the vehicle first, as it will not be at the curb, but just across the way.
Business Hours
Offices are usually open from Monday to Friday from 09:30 until 16:00. Most shops are open every day. An exception is Bogyoke Market (Scott Market), which is closed on Monday, on public holidays and full moon days (like all markets in Myanmar). Banks keep very short hours, 1000 to 1400.
Language
The national language of Myanmar is Burmese, of which there are over 80 different dialects spoken. The written language uses an amazing looking script based on ancient Sanskrit characters. In the cities many of the older generation still speak very good English and it is also becoming popular again with the younger generation.
Prohibited Items
Mobile telephones and laptop computers with modems are officially not allowed into the country but the rule is not enforced. So bring them if you want to, no worries. However, YOUR mobile phones will not work in Myanmar, as the country does not have any roaming agreements. If needed, you may purchase pre-paid phones once in Myanmar. It’s not expensive. Items of jewelry, cameras and foreign currency (above USD $2000) are supposed to be declared at customs upon entry.
Export of Buddha images and antiques or articles of archaeological importance is prohibited. This is not usually enforced for Buddha souvenirs and you can find Buddha images for sale in the airport departure area! Gemstones can be safely bought only from government-controlled outlets and the buyer should ask for an export certificate.
