Travel Tips

pan_tool Custom's formalities on arrival

Regulations are generally relaxed for tourists arriving by air in Yangon. All foreign currencies (if bring more than US$ 10,000) may be declare at Custom. Traveler's check, jewelry, cameras and electronic goods etc. must be recorded on the customs form which may be checked on departure. Bringing in or taking out Myanmar currency is not allowed. Gems and jewelry purchased from authorized dealers are allowed to be taken out however antiques are not allowed to be taken out of the country.

euro_symbol Currency Usage and Exchange:

Visa Card, Credit Card and traveler checks can be used for cash withdrawing (Myanmar Kyat only) in 24 hour ATM machines which are available nationwide. Payment by card are increasingly recognized, but with sometimes high fees. It is still strongly recommended to bring enough cash (US$ is most advisable). The euro is increasingly accepted in Yangon and other major cities for exchange. The currency exchange (US-Dollar or Euro -> Kyat) should take place in the money-changers, which can be found in many places of the bigger cities. There are, depending on the size of the banknote, various exchange rates. 100 US dollar bills get the cheapest exchange rate, 1 dollar notes are exchanged at a correspondingly lower price.

US dollar notes of the series before 2000 will not be accepted. The same applies to worn, damaged, heavily kinked or soiled notes. It is recommended to bring only absolutely new, undamaged and smooth dollar bills. Although there is a renewed attempt to establish the Myanmar kyat as the main means of payment, certain services (including hotels, domestic flights, and ship tickets) could be paid in US dollars by visitors.

Myanmar currency is Kyat(s) and the denominations are K-1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 5000, 10000. The tourists are allowed to exchange the money up to US $ 10,000 (or other currencies equivalent to US $ 10,000) with their passports.

settings_cell Tele-Communication

International roaming with an increasing number of foreign mobile networks is now possible in Myanmar; the situation is changing fast, so it is best to check with your operator. Free Wi-Fi is available at hotels, restaurants and many public areas.

You can buy local sim card anywhere in mobile shops with your passport and at a reasonable price. Local sim card can access 4G network and fits any kind of GSM handsets (Macro, Micro or Nano). You may encounter a block on data usage or SMS text messaging even if you are able to make and receive calls, and if this is the case you should go to a licensed Telenor, Ooredoo or MPT shop for advice (there are many in the downtown areas of larger cities).

local_taxi Transportation

Myanmar is a considerably large country with better road condition. There are several luxury buses plies between Yangon and all major cities in Myanmar. There are five domestic airlines served all major tourist destinations. Myanmar has a great river system and both express ferries and luxury cruises are plying both schedule and charter basis. Private taxis are available in Yangon and other major cities however, they do not have meter. The convenient online Taxi services such as Grab, Oway, Getride are now widely available in major cities. It is highly recommended to use any of them as it is very convenient and safe with a fixed price.

The two-seater tricycles are a fun way to see the sites but they mostly have limited access with in the cities. Bicycles can be rented from bike shops or hotels by the hour or day.

record_voice_over Language

The national language is Myanmar. English language is not widely spoken except at the tourist areas such as airports, hotels and tourist sites. Our guides are multilingual, but we provide only English language guide on most trekking routes.

access_time Business hours

Banks and Government offices open at 09:00 till 16:00, Monday through Friday. Most private offices open at 09:30 till 17:00, Monday through Friday and 09:30 till 12:00 on Saturday. Offices are closed on Sunday and public holidays.

feedback Health

The same precautions as anywhere else. Drink only bottled or boiled water, avoid eating raw vegetables, and eat fruits that you can peel or cut yourself. It's important to use insect repellent to keep mosquitoes away which could cause malaria and in the worse scenario case dengue fever. Use sunscreen literally when exposed to the intense, tropical sun. A 24-hour, medical clinic, with internationally trained medical staff is available in major cities.

healing Inoculation & vaccination

Medical certificates of inoculations are essential especially for visitors coming from an infected area or yellow fever zones. Vaccination certificate is not necessary.

cloud_queue Climate

The average highest temperature in Myanmar would be 36-40 °C and the average coldest temperature would be 20 °C. The best time to travel in Myanmar is from October to March weather-wise.

accessibility What to wear

Dress with respect and have respect for the Culture and Religion. Light clothing, cotton and cool fabrics are suitable the whole year around. For winter, sweater or sport coat and may be socks are needed in places like Kalaw, Inle, in Shan State, as it is quite cold during the night. Wearing shorts skirts, miniskirts or revealing clothing are forbidden in Pagoda and Temples. Foot wears: please bring Sandals as it is convenient. It is required to take-off foot wears at every religious site and when entering private home for polite sake. Flip- flops or Myanmar slippers can be purchased locally.

What to bring

An antibiotic pills and cream for minor cuts and scratches, prescription medicines prescribed by a doctor, insect repellent, especially for mosquito are recommended to bring. Bring umbrella or rain coat if you travel during rainy Season and for trekking program, bring hiking shoes. And also bring hat, Sun glasses, Sun protection for your face and body.

room_service What to Eat/Drink

Avoid tap water and drink only bottled water and soft drinks that haven’t been opened yet. For hygiene reasons, eat only in decent restaurants. When not available, always eat heated food.