The best way to come
The best way and the easiest way to come to Myanmar is by air. Yangon has direct air-links with Bangkok, Chaing Mai, Singapore, Taipei, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Kunming, Calcutta, Dhaka ,Vienna and Paro. Airlines that operate scheduled flights in and out of Yangon are:
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Myanmar Airways International (8M)
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Thai Airways International (TG)
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Silk Air (MI)
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United Myanmar Airlines
(UB)
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Mandarin Airlines (AE)
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Malaysia Airlines (MH)
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Air China (CA)
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Indian Airlines (IC)
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Air Mandalay (6T)
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Biman Bangladesh (BG)
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Phuket Airlines (9R)
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Austrian Airlines (Lauda) (OS)
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Druk Airlines (KB)
Mandalay International Airport, which has been opened recently, is linked with
Kunming by Yunnan Airways (MU), Bangkok with Phuket
Airlines (9R) and Chiang Mai by Air Mandalay (6T).
Entry by overland is allowed through Check Points along Yunan-Myanmar border at Lweje, Nam Kham, Muse, Kyukoke, Kwanlong and Mong Lar. Similarly, along Thai-Myanmar border at Tachileik, Three Pagoda Pass, Myawaddy and Kawthaung, the entries are permitted.
Visa Requirement
Entry to Myanmar requires a valid passport and valid visa issued by one of Myanmar Consulates or Embassies. Entry with the tourist visa will allow to stay in Myanmar for 28 days and extendible for additional 14 days.
Visa on Arrival is accepted only at Yangon International Airport with prior notice given to us. Thingazar Travels & Tours will have to prepare all necessary arrangements for this application and each visitor must bring (3) passport size photographs in person.
Customs
Customs Declaration Forms are required to fill up for such items, as all foreign currencies (above USD 2000), jewelry, electrical goods and cameras on arrival. Export of antiques and archaeologically valuable items are prohibited.
Duty free allowance: 400 cigarettes, 100 cigars or 0.5 lb of tobacco; Two liters of liquor and half-a-liter of perfume.
Airport Tax
Airport Tax of 10 US Dollars per person is payable for departures on international flights. No airport taxes for domestic flights.
Local Time
Myanmar Standard Time is "GMT+ 6 ½ HRS". If you are flying from Bangkok, retard 30 minutes. If flying from Singapore you have to retard one and a half hour. If coming from India you need to advance one hour.
Foreign Exchange
To obtain Package Tour Visa applicants need to
make a booking of Package Tour with a Tour Agency
before proceeding Visa Application at Myanmar
Consulates.
FEC, equivalent to US
Dollars, can be purchased with US Dollars or Pound
Sterling either in cash or Traveler's Cheques. FEC
can be exchanged for Kyats in market rates at
Authorized Money Changers. Travelers' Cheques are
normally not accepted around. To cash a Travelers'
Cheque into FEC is possible only at Myanmar Foreign
Trade Bank and its branches upon producing the
receipt or voucher for proof of purchase given by
the "Cheque issuing Bank". American Express, Visa
and Diner Credit Cards are accepted at airlines and
major hotels only. US dollars in cash, which is
exchangeable to FEC, is most convenient.
Safety
According to recently released United Nations statistics, Myanmar enjoys one of the world's lowest crime rates, ranking well above Europe and other mainstream Asian destinations in terms of personal safety.
However, involving with touts offering exorbitant exchange rates for currencies, cheap gemstones and such could bring nuisances. Cities and famous cultural sites are perfectly safe even for Free Independent Travelers without guides. There are certain remote areas like Putao, MraukOo, Kyaing Tong, etc. where only guided Package Tours arranged with a Tour Agency are allowed, and by adhering to such regulations, visitors can enjoy safety, comfort and satisfaction.
Telecommunication
All major Hotels have arrangements for International Direct Dialing facility and E-mail linkages. In all famous destinations at least operator-assist telephone linkage are established. For all circumstances, Tour Agency can advise and arrange possible means for visitors to be connected with home through out the tour.
Electricity
220~240 V AC.
Office Hours of Myanmar
Government Offices open from 09:30 to 16:30, Monday through Friday. Close on Saturday, Sunday and Public Holidays. Banking Hours is from 10:00 to 15:00. General Post Office handles: mails from 10:00 to 16:00, and parcels from 10:00 to 14:00.
Thingazar Tour 's office hour is from 08:30 to 17:30, every day.
Health Care
No immunizations are formally required, although malaria prophylaxis is often recommended by physicians. Bottled water is ubiquitous for drinking. Hotels and Restaurants serve choicest food with high hygienic quality. Skin care lotions should be used to protect from tropical sun.
Food
The basic Myanmar food is mainly rice and curry. Varieties of Myanmar curries are available at reputable Myanmar restaurants. There are restaurants offering Thai, Chinese, European, Italian, Indian and French cuisine at cities and major destinations. Throughout up-country Myanmar, the choice of food is limited to Myanmar, Indian and Chinese cuisines. Vegetarian's foods are quite common in local restaurants and they could bring out rich varieties mingling with Indian or Chinese styles. Wide variety of wine selection is available in major destinations with prearrangements.
What to wear
Generally Myanmar's tropical climate allows easy wearing dress like casual cotton apparel. Light winter jackets may be needed at hill stations and at winter time. If tour plans include serious mountaineering and trekking at Himalayan ranges of Northern Myanmar, appropriate wearing gears must be brought along.
Shoes and other footwear must be removed when entering shrines, religious buildings and private homes. Mini skirts, shorts and revealing clothes are prohibited when visiting shrines and religious buildings.
Language
There are 135 ethnic groups in Myanmar, all with their own languages and dialects. The majority speaks Myanmar (Burmese), although English is widely spoken. Tour guides who can speak major foreign languages can be booked through the Tour Agencies.
