Planes !!!! It is very straightforward:
- If you want to respect the rules, Do not fly on Myanmar Airways which does not comply with the
elementary rules of safety.
- Fly preferably on Yangon Airways, Air Mandalay or better Air Bagan.
These three companies have ATR 42 and
72 plane rented in France, maintenance is under European regulation and for Air Mandalay, some
pilots are expats or French.
Bus
- The big air-conditioned buses of the main companies are in good
conditions and are an interesting alternative to travel in Myanmar,
especially if one only travels. The cost of the tickets is very
reasonable.
- The local buses are funny for short trip. The road
safety, especially during the rain season is more random, or
bad. You have to be brave to take a small pick-up on a long way (up to 30 people, of which the half on the roof
during 10 hours...) In short, we strongly do not recommend travelling like this and we do not propose this kind of transport to our
friends.
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Train. Travelling by train is not especially dangerous but the maintance is not so good. There already were important derailments in
remote areas of Myanmar.
The major problems are the
very frequent delays.
Practically :
- The line Yangon- Mandalay does not pose any problem.
NB : There is no more night train and sleeping train between Yangon and Mandalay (update 10-10-2006). The first train is leaving Yangon for Mandalay at 04h00 AM.
- The other lines are so slow and uncomfortable that you will
certainly not want to travel by train.
- The Shipaw-Mandalay line is charming enough to use it (one day for 150 km). The landscape is superb and if you have to make one trip on train in Myanmar, choose that one.
Car This is the best way to discover Myanmar (except walking) if you are more than 2 people.
The renting fees are however higher in Myanmar
than elsewhere in Asia because of the shortage of spare part and the
cost of the gasoline.
As writtent in the latest edition of Lonely Planet, a standard renting price for a good car for "highway" drive between main city is around 60 to 100 USD. It is almost the same for a 5 or 7 seaters car, save money and charge the cost of the car.
You can not rent or drive a car in Myanmar and do not put
yourself , your guide or your driver in one very very bad
situation trying to drive.
Check carefully your driver and if the car is in good shape. You should know that you buy your driving licence in Burma (no exam !)
Ananda Travel Yangon can propose to you a vast choice of vehicle for
your trip in Myanmar. Usually, you can forecast that our
vehicles fit: 3, 5, 9, 16 people and all are air-conditioned.
Contact us for more information.
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