Page 27 - The Rough Guide to Myanmar (Burma)

GettinG there BASICS 25
permit. there is, however, an airport in tachileik Exodus UK T0203 131 7053, Wexodus.co.uk. Offers a small
with flights to Mandalay, Yangon and heho (for inle selection of two-week trips around the usual suspects of Yangon,
Lake) that you can visit without a permit. travellers Mandalay, Inle Lake and Bagan, along with a more interesting (and
planning to use the Phu nam ron–htee Kee challenging) trekking trip that will see you ascend Mount Victoria in
crossing should also note that the road on the Chin State.
Myanmar side of the border is largely impassable Exotissimo Thailand T02 633 9060, Wexotissimo.com.
during the rainy season, when it’s best to enter the Bangkok-based company with offices in Yangon and Mandalay, offering a
country elsewhere. good selection of tours countrywide lasting from a couple of days to a
month. There are family-friendly tours, as well as more adventurous trips
Overland from China to newly opened areas such as the jade mines around Mogok, plus
overland journeys from Mandalay to Yunnan, Chiang Mai to Kengtung
the Myanmar–China border crossing between and Yangon to Phuket.
Muse in northern Shan State and ruili in China’s Explore UK T01252 883 704, US T1 800 715 1746, Canada
Yunnan province (see box, p.331) is nominally open T1 888 216 3401, Australia T1300 439 756, New Zealand
to foreigners, but it’s necessary to hold a permit and T0800 269 263; Wexplore.com. Big range of small-group and
to be part of an officially sanctioned tour in order to tailor-made trips around Myanmar, ranging from nine to 21 days, with
either enter or leave Myanmar. a flexible approach and reasonable mid-range prices.
InsideBurma Tours UK T0117 370 9759, Winsideburmatours
Overland from India, Laos and .com. Reliable outfit that really knows Myanmar well. They offer tailored
Bangladesh tours and a selection of off-the-peg group itineraries; the latter include
a family holiday, off-the-beaten-track tours and an interesting “Kipling’s
the crossing between Moreh in india and tamu Burma” option, which weaves together aspects of colonial heritage
in Sagaing Division is open to foreigners, but a and local culture.
border crossing permit is required and this takes North South Travel UK T01245 608291, Wnorthsouthtravel
at least a month to be issued. You will also need .co.uk. Friendly travel agency offering discounted fares worldwide. Profits
to leave Myanmar again via the same crossing, are used to support projects in the developing world, especially those that
unless you have your own transport. however, the promote sustainable tourism.
good news is that you no longer need a permit to Panoramic Journeys UK T01608 676821, Wpanoramic
travel around much of the rest of Sagaing division journeys.com. This operator has a focus on ethical travel. Tours are often
or Manipur. arranged to coincide with festivals, and there are also several trekking
there are no official border crossings along trips and occasional forays off the beaten track. Private tours also
Myanmar’s short borders with Bangladesh, and available.
currently all areas close to this border are closed Regent Holidays UK T020 381 16184, Wregent-holidays.co.uk.
to foreigners and considered dangerous. there Specializing in offbeat tours, this operator has a range of itineraries that
are also no official border crossing points with include trips on Myanmar’s railways plus cruises along the Ayeyarwady
Laos, but there were persistent rumours of a new and through the Myeik Archipelago.
border crossing in the works at the time of STA Travel UK T0333 321 0099, US T1 800 781 4040,
research – check with the travel agencies in Australia T134 782, New Zealand T0800 474 400, South Africa
Yangon for the latest. T086 1781781; Wstatravel.co.uk. Worldwide specialists in
independent travel, also able to provide student IDs, travel insurance and
INTERNATIONAL AGENTS AND a range of other services. Good discounts for under-26s.
OPERATORS Steppes Travel UK T01285 601 767, Wsteppestravel.co.uk.
Operators specializing in cycling tours are covered under “Getting UK-based tour operator offering a range of tailored private tours
around” (see p.31). around Myanmar.
Asian Pacific Adventures US T1 800 825 1680, Wasianpacific Trailfinders UK T0207 368 1200, Ireland T01 677 7888;
adventures.com. Offers several group and private tours of Myanmar, the Wtrailfinders.com. One of the best-informed and most efficient
most interesting of which focus on ethnic minority regions in Chin and agents for independent travellers.
Shan states and river cruises along the Ayeyarwady River. Travel CUTs Canada T1 800 667 2887, Wtravelcuts.com.
Backroads US T1 800 462 2848, Wbackroads.com. Short cycling Canadian youth and student travel firm.
tours around Myanmar’s main tourist sights. USIT Ireland T01 602 1906, Wusit.ie. Ireland’s main student and
Belmond UK T0845 217 0799, US T1 800 524 2420; youth travel specialists.
Wvoyagesinmyanmar.com. Formerly known as Orient Express Travel, Wild Frontiers UK T020 8741 7390, Wwildfrontierstravel.com.
Belmond operates high-end cruises on its two boats, Road to Mandalay A small range of standard Myanmar journeys with an emphasis on
and Orcaella, along several Ayeyarwady itineraries. sustainable travel, and one or two more adventurous options.

022-053_Myanmar_B2_Basics.indd 25 30/06/17 2:20 pm