Transportation

Local Transport: Myanmar’s transportation infrastructure continues to improve. More frequent domestic flights reach more distant destinations, while the railroad and some 30,000 kilometres of roads serve almost the entire country. River cruises are on the rise, and for around-town, transportation varies from taxis to ox carts.

Flying remains the fastest, most comfortable method of moving around Myanmar. Currently, Myanmar Airways, Air Mandalay and Yangon Airways serve a dozen domestic airports, several of which were constructed by international joint ventures. Regular routes take in the capital, Mandalay and the Bagan and Inle Lake areas, while remote locales like Sittwe and Thandwe on the Bay of Bengal and Tachilek and Kengtung in the Shan State are attracting more tourists.

Myanmar’s extensive 4,000-plus km railway network remains one of the most cost-effective ways of getting around Myanmar. The 716-kilometre Yangon-Mandalay express continues as the country’s most used line, with stops at major cities between the two hubs. Trains with “soft and hard” seats depart Yangon for Thaton, Pyay and Bagan, which links to Pyinmana. Mandalay lines reach north to Myitkyina in Kachin State and Lashio in Shan. 

The selection of riverboat cruises on Myanmar’s thousands of miles of waterways is widening. Daytime tours and overnight cruises join week-long voyages in renovated 100-year-old British steamers to present Myanmar’s attractions. Boats sail between Yangon and Mandalay, with many pulling anchor in Madalay for Ayeyarwady trips to Bagan and Pyay.

Inexpensive express buses pound the nation’s paved highways and gravel roads, but long rides over occasionally bumpy roads can test the most seasoned travellers. However, short jaunts from major tourist centres in privately owned coaches or vans are quite tolerable. Vans can also be rented with drivers for more personal tours and itineraries.

All kinds of vehicles crisscross Myanmar’s various cities and towns, but only Yangon has taxis, many of which are now metered. Bicycles can be rented in most tourist destinations, and guides run rickshaws for a daily rate in tourist centres like Mandalay. Horse carts in Bagan are a great way to see that city’s sites and can be hired for the entire day.