Page 28 - The Rough Guide to Myanmar (Burma)

26 BASICS Visas • GETTiNG aROUND
MYANMAR-BASED AGENTS AND the Phu Nam Ron–Htee Kee and Three Pagodas
OPERATORS Pass border crossings with Thailand.
There are lots of tour operators based in Yangon and Mandalay, and Tourist visas cannot be extended, but it is
a few more in Bagan, around Inle Lake and in some of the other possible to overstay them by up to as much as
tourist hotspots. Most offer a fairly standard set of tours, tailored ninety days (at a cost of $3 per day, payable on
itineraries and car and driver hire. The following operators are all departure at the airport). The only possible hitch
highly recommended. is that guesthouses occasionally express concern
Ayarwaddy Legend Travels & Tours T01 252 007, about expired visas.
Wayarwaddylegend.com. As well as the full range of standard tours
around Myanmar, this operator runs exciting treks into Chin State. MYANMAR EMBASSIES OVERSEAS
Khiri Travel T01 375 577, Wkhiri.com. This is one of the more Australia 22 Arkana St, Yarralumla, ACT 2600, Canberra T02 6273
adventurous tour companies, with kayaking trips and a variety of cultural 3811, Wmecanberra.com.au.
immersion options. Canada 336 Island Park Drive, Ottawa, Ontario K1Y 0A7 T613 232
Myanmar Delight Travels & Tours T09 5165 1833, 9990, Wmeottawa.org.
Wmyanmardelight.com. Offers exciting trekking opportunities in the China 6 Dong Zhi Men Wai St, Chao Yang District, Beijing 100600
far north and east, as well as bicycle trips and cultural tours. T010 6532 0351, Wmyanmarembassy.com; Consulate-general,
Myanmar Good News Travel T09 511 6256, 99 Ying Bin Lu, Guan Du Qu, Kunming, Yunnan Province T0871
Wmyanmargoodnewstravel.com. High-end private tours that can be 6816 2804, Wmcgkunming.org.
customized to your budget and interests. Also rents excellent cars and South Africa 210 Leyds St, Arcadia, Pretoria T027 12341 2556,
good drivers. The owner, William, is endlessly helpful. Wmyanmarembassysa.com.
Pegu Travels T01 371 937, Wpegutravels.com. One of the best Thailand 132 S Sathorn Rd, Khwaeng Khlong Toei Nuea, Sathon,
tour companies out there, with a highly knowledgeable team that can Bangkok 10120 T022 337 250, Wmyanmarembassybkk.com.
put together almost any kind of trip. Also runs the highly informative UK 19A Charles St, London W1J 5DX T020 7148 0740,
travel information website Go Myanmar (Wgo-myanmar.com). Wlondonmyanmarembassy.com.
SST Tours T09 5125 5536, Wssttourism.com. An eco-tourism US 2300 S St. N.W. Washington D.C. 20008 T202 332 3344,
operator running fabulous birding trips to remote parts of the country, Wmewashingtondc.com.
as well as tours that mix the classic tourist sights with a wildlife-
watching twist.
Tango Tour & Trek T09 7310 9637, Wtangotours.webs.com. Getting around
Offers a variety of standard and tailor-made tours tours throughout
the country. Getting around Myanmar can take as
much or – at least travelling between
major cities – as little time as you like. At
Visas one end of the scale, it’s possible to zip
around the major destinations by plane,
All foreign nationals, apart from citizens while at the other you can join the locals
of a few Southeast Asian countries, on bumpy trains and unhurried river-
require a visa in order to visit Myanmar. boats. Somewhere in the middle lies
Although a visa-on-arrival system does Myanmar’s surprisingly modern bus
exist, it applies only to business visitors network, its speedy air-conditioned
or conference guests who are able to coaches providing a winning combina-
provide documents such as letters of tion of quick(ish) journeys and
invitation. reasonable ticket prices.
You can apply for a visa at your nearest Myanmar
embassy or consulate, although it’s generally By plane
easiest to apply online for a tourist e-visa at Wevisa
.moip.gov.mm. in order to apply, your passport in addition to state-owned Myanmar National
must be valid for at least six months from your Airlines (Wflymna.com), which has long had a
proposed date of arrival. Tourist visas typically last poor reputation for the condition of its aircraft
for 28 days from the date of entry, which must be (though standards have improved somewhat over
within three months of issue, cost $50 and are the past few years), an array of private airlines –
usually issued within a couple of days. E-visas are among them air KBZ (Wairkbz.com), air Mandalay
valid at Yangon, Mandalay and Naypyitaw interna- (Wairmandalay.com), air Bagan (Wairbagan.com),
tional airports and at all land crossings apart from apex airlines (Wapexairline.com), asian Wings

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