Page 55 - The Rough Guide to Myanmar (Burma)

Travel essenTials BASICS 53
Wmyanmartourism.org Official tourism website with general requirements. specially adapted accommodation
background information, although note that the list of places that are off is also virtually nonexistent, although given that
limits or require permits is usually utterly out of date. most accommodation outside Yangon and
Wseat61.com/Burma This excellent website covers all things Mandalay is typically laid out in one-storey
railway-related in Myanmar. bungalow-style buildings, accessibility, at least,
Wtourismtransparency.org Good background on responsible travel shouldn’t be a major obstacle.
in Myanmar, although the site isn’t regularly updated and is now in terms of sights, many of the major ones in
becoming rather out of date. Yangon and Mandalay are relatively accessible,
although the densely crowded pavements of
Travellers with disabilities downtown will present serious difficulties. Burmese
temples are typically set at the top of long flights of
Myanmar is poorly set up for travellers with steps, although some of the biggest (including the
disabilities, although with a bit of determination shwedagon in Yangon) have lifts, making them
and pre-planning you can still enjoy much that relatively accessible. Many of Bagan’s temples are
the country has to offer. Getting around is the first also fairly easy to visit, often with fewer steps (and,
challenge. Public transport by bus or train is a in any case, it’s often the exteriors of these temples
total non-starter for disabled travellers, meaning and the surrounding landscape that provide the
that you’ll have to contact a local or foreign tour main draw). River cruises should also be possible
operator (see p.25) to arrange for suitable on dedicated tourist boats (but not public ferries),
transport by private vehicle. The various domestic though this does not really extend to inle lake,
airlines should be able to take care of you, where vessels are small, narrow and difficult to
however, given appropriate notice of any special negotiate at the best of times.

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