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Sailing Down The Irrawaddy - Traveling by Boat from Mandalay to Bagan/Nyaung U

17/1/2014

 

Traveling by boat from Mandalay to Bagan is one of the nicest ways to get around Myanmar. And the most memorable! Join us as we talk about our journey sailing down the Irrawaddy on the Mandalay to Bagan boat. (Updated 2021).

​This post contains affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase, we may be paid a small commission.

Sailing from Mandalay to Bagan on the MGRG Express Boat Irrawaddy River TurnipseedTravel.com
Greeting the morning on the Irrawaddy River in Mandalay. Sailing in Myanmar is a great way to get around.
Thousands of travelers stream into Myanmar every year, anxious to catch of glimpse of the ancient temples and famous hospitality that for so long have been kept in isolation. Unfortunately, transportation routes have not kept pace with the flow of visitors and it still takes considerable time to travel between cities that are quite close to one another. This was the transportation dilemma we faced as we debated whether to include the Mandalay to Bagan boat in our plans.

We needed to go from Mandalay to Bagan, but the expense of flying was out of the question and neither the lengthy bus nor ancient train offered a comfortable or efficient option (as we would find out later in the trip!) That left the Irrawaddy River. As such we decided to travel from Mandalay to Bagan by boat and it made for a decidedly slow but relatively pleasant commute. 
Rattan deck chairs Mandalay Bagan MGRG Express Boat Irrawaddy River TurnipseedTravel.com
This is where we parked ourselves for the better part of 10 hours as we travelled from Mandalay to Bagan.
With an increasing amount of service providers operating on the Irrawaddy  and recent guidebooks already out of date, I wanted to give a detailed account of our trip with MGRG Express (Myanmar Golden River Group) to help other travelers make an informed choice.

Update in 2021! The website we mention in the paragraph below contains information that we can no longer verify. MGRG's website no longer seems operational (or maybe we are just having trouble accessing the information from Canada?) However, every year since this post was written, we diligently checked the prices and the remained steady. If you are also having trouble finding a website, a local business like a Myanmar hotel or guesthouse might be able to help. We'll update as we find out more.

We booked our passage on the Mandalay to Bagan boat the day before through our guest house, paying $50 US per person (ticket plus their service fee). On the MGRG website (it used to be parked at http://www.mgrgexpress.com/) the rate is listed as $45 US per person. Our trip included two meals, water, and soft drinks. From what other travellers have told us, prices have remained steady since our trip in late 2013.
Mandalay Bagan MGRG Express Boat Irrawaddy River TurnipseedTravel.com
Approaching the famous bridge via MGRG Express.
It's important to note that there really is no such thing as an "express" Mandalay to Bagan boat for passengers on the Irrawaddy. There are slower options, such as taking a multi-day 'cruise' or taking a passenger boat more heavily favored by locals, but there's not really any fast option. It is worth noting that it is about an hour faster to travel downstream, as we did, than to take the trip in reverse.  For more information on local transportation, I found The Man in Seat 61 to be an invaluable resource. 
Mandalay Bagan MGRG Express Boat Irrawaddy River TurnipseedTravel.com
A view of the interior seats.
Mandalay Bagan MGRG Express Boat Irrawaddy River TurnipseedTravel.com
Relaxing on the upper deck.
The MGRG Express was quite comfortable, reasonably clean, and carried safety equipment. There was a choice of above deck seating in rattan lounge chairs or on padded benches, as well as an enclosed sitting area featuring padded chairs (which felt rather narrow - or maybe those seats were trying to send me a message!). There were two small washrooms which were clean. Part of the walkway around the edge of the boat was open and didn't have a safety railing - be careful you don't fall overboard!
Mandalay Bagan MGRG Express Boat Irrawaddy River TurnipseedTravel.com
Starting to add on layers of clothing in the chill.
Mandalay Bagan MGRG Express Boat Irrawaddy River TurnipseedTravel.com
Time for a sweater and scarf!
Vanessa eats breakfast on the Mandalay Bagan MGRG Express Boat Irrawaddy River TurnipseedTravel.com
Settling in to enjoy breakfast on the Mandalay to Bagan boat.
We noticed a few mosquitoes on the water while we were waiting to depart but they quickly were blown away by the river breeze once we set sail. With a gentle wind blowing and without the midday sun, it was very chilly on the upper deck and we were soon adding layers to keep warm. Before long, my sleeves were rolled down, my shorts were swapped for jeans, a scarf was added, then a sweater! Of course, 4 hours later all the layers were coming off again and Ryan actually got a bad sunburn! Anyone traveling on the Irrawaddy would be wise to bring a warm layer of clothing at the top of their pack, along with a bottle of sunscreen!
Breakfast plate of pastries and eggs Mandalay Bagan MGRG Express Boat Irrawaddy River TurnipseedTravel.com
Breakfast on the MGRG Express.
Breakfast was served after about a hour of sailing and consisted of a pastry, a croissant style bun (which was delicious!) a banana (pre-sliced!) and a hard boiled egg (which unfortunately still had a raw spot.) Instant Burmese style coffee, with plenty of powdered creamer and sweetener, was served in large plastic cups. (It's worth noting that many guest houses include breakfast in their price and will prepare a breakfast box to go for early checkout. I mention this because often the price difference between boat companies lies in whether or not they include meals or serve breakfast)
Plate of noodles Mandalay Bagan MGRG Express Boat Irrawaddy River TurnipseedTravel.comNoodles and veggies for lunch!
By mid morning the staff went around to take lunch orders. We had a choice of noodles or rice, both of which were served with a scant amount of chicken and a bit of stir fried veggies, plus sliced raw tomato and onion on the side. The staff were happy to accommodate Ryan's request for vegetarian noodles (Ryan is allergic to shellfish and found it easiest to request vegetarian dishes in Myanmar instead of getting into the details of good fish/bad fish). Vegetarians should take note that noodles might have been prepared with a chicken based stock, but certainly there was no meat in the dish. Overall, the heaping plates of noodles and rice were very tasty and filling. Bottled water and soft drinks were free and large bottles of the  local "Mandalay"  beer was available for about 1,500 Kyat.

Ryan drinks beer on board the boat - Mandalay Bagan MGRG Express Boat Irrawaddy River TurnipseedTravel.com
Ryan samples the local beer, "Mandalay".
One of the things that attracted us to taking the boat as a means of transportation was the vivid guidebook descriptions about seeing so much of the countryside and bustling river activities as you sailed along. We wouldn't just be moving from A to B, we'd be enjoying a seldom-seen side of the country as well! Things started off well...
Mandalay Bagan MGRG Express Boat Irrawaddy River TurnipseedTravel.com
There's lots of activity along the water in Mandalay.
Mandalay Bagan MGRG Express Boat Irrawaddy River TurnipseedTravel.com
Not all communities had this level of maritime activity!
Mandalay Bagan MGRG Express Boat Irrawaddy River TurnipseedTravel.com
Note the large communications tower on the hill in the background!
Mandalay Bagan MGRG Express Boat Irrawaddy River TurnipseedTravel.com
Golden pagodas loom over humble fishing villages.
Mandalay Bagan MGRG Express Boat Irrawaddy River TurnipseedTravel.com
The bridge is one of Mandalay's most famous sites.
We passed a number of commercial and residential boats and could see the riverbanks teaming with activity. We passed impressive golden pagodas in the hills and sailed underneath Mandalay's famous teak bridge. But as the day went on the river widened until the banks were so far apart there was nothing to see but their dim shape in the distance. There was little in the way of river traffic and, aside from the occasional village or cow, there was little to look at for the bulk of the trip.
Mandalay Bagan MGRG Express Boat Irrawaddy River TurnipseedTravel.com
Sometimes there wasn't much to do but stare at the water.
Mandalay Bagan MGRG Express Boat Irrawaddy River TurnipseedTravel.com
A calm and peaceful day on the river.
Mandalay Bagan MGRG Express Boat Irrawaddy River TurnipseedTravel.com
Look, a tree! After the 7th or 8th hour, a large tree became an exciting focal point.
When we finally arrived in Nyaung U after 10 hours, we were happy to finally get back on solid land. Nyaung U lacks a formal pier and we disembarked via a few wooden planks. A dozen or so taxi drivers and their negotiators greeted us with what can most cheerfully described as overwhelming enthusiasm! We paid 5000 Kyat for the two of us to ride in the back of a jeep to the Amazing Bagan Resort (which was the hotel furthest away from the pier), while those traveling just a kilometer or two paid about half that rate (and those willing to go in horse drawn cart spent about 2000 Kyat!)
The side of the riverbank as the boat pulls awayMandalay Bagan MGRG Express Boat Irrawaddy River TurnipseedTravel.com
Taxi drivers came right up to the edge of the water to bargain for our custom.
We had a good experience with MGRG Express - the staff were friendly, the service ran on schedule, and the boat was fairly comfortable. I would encourage anyone traveling in Myanmar to consider making part of their journey by river boat. It was calm, quiet, and relaxing - and, while the journey eased into boredom and we didn't see as much as we hoped, it was still a nice way to experience the countryside - and I hope you enjoy it too!
​

Mandalay-Bagan Travel Resources.

A monk stands on the riverbank wearing red robes Traveling on the Irrawadddy River in Myanmar Mandalay to Bagan
  • Want to hear more reviews about MRGR and other river boats in Myanmar? Check out this listing on Trip Advisor.
  • Want to hear more about different transportation options in Myanmar? My favourite resource is The Man in Seat 61.
  • In Mandalay, we stayed at the Mandalay View Inn, which we were very happy with. You can see reviews and search for bargains on Trip Advisor and Expedia.
  • In Bagan, we stayed at the Amazing Bagan Resort, which really WAS amazing! But don't take our word for it - you can see what everyone else thought about it on Trip Advisor and Expedia.

Please check out our other blog posts about Myanmar!

The BEST Travel Experience of my Life: Balloons Over Bagan
​The WORST Travel Experience of my Life: The Overnight Train from Bagan to Yangon
​Where to Stay in Bagan
Where To Eat In Bagan
Min-Ga-La-Ba Myanmar! All About Mandalay Airport
Day 9 of our Round-The-World Trip: Mandalay
Besotted with Bagan: Day 10 &11 of Our Round The World Trip
At Long Last: Yangon. Day 12 &13 of Our Round The World Trip
​Guesthouse Review: Motherland Inn 2, Yangon

We'd love to hear from you! 

We have more visitors to this article than anything else on the blog and we're SO excited that so many of you are traveling to Myanmar! We'd love to hear about your trip and, in particular, hear your thoughts about traveling on the Irrawaddy. 

New to TurnipseedTravel? Check out THIS PAGE to learn more about us, our travels, and to sign up for our newsletter.


We leave you with a few more pictures from our day along the Irrawaddy.
Traveling on the Irrawadddy River in Myanmar Mandalay to Bagan
Traveling on the Irrawadddy River in Myanmar Mandalay to Bagan
The boat as seen in the very early morning Picture
Mandalay boat ramp
Travis link
18/1/2014 05:01:30 am

Wow! This looks like a very cool experience! I guess even if it wasn't always the most interesting or comfortable - it's at least a great story! At least the boat didn't seem jam-packed...love the photos! Safe travels!

Vanessa
18/1/2014 05:16:07 am

Thanks Travis! You're right, the boat wasn't packed at all. There were maybe 30 of us in total, all travelers. We were a bit tired so we weren't at our social best but we did chat a bit with our neighbours and there were folks making fast friendships all around us.

PETER TIU
16/6/2014 09:01:35 am

Thanks for the story and fotos. I will be in Mandalay in July2014 and plan to travel to Bagan by boat.

Vanessa
16/6/2014 10:45:20 am

My pleasure - I hope you have a fantastic trip and I can't wait to hear how it goes! Let me know if there are any Mandalay or Bagan questions I can help with.

Penny Sadler link
7/9/2014 02:26:26 am

What a lovely journey. I love those woven seats on the boat. Look much more comfy than metal.

Vanessa
7/9/2014 09:14:37 am

They were pretty comfy - I managed to nap for a few hours in mine!

Svetlana
28/9/2014 12:31:25 am

Please, give me a link to Myanmar Golden River Group's website - I can't find it! Thank you in advance.

Vanessa
1/10/2014 08:22:52 am

Here you go - good luck! http://www.mgrgexpress.com/

Luiz
6/10/2014 10:13:53 am

Thanks for the account of your journey. As i'm preparing some sort of flexible itinerary for my trip this coming november, and considering this boat trip, it was very enlightening....

Vanessa
7/10/2014 09:12:16 am

I'm so glad you found it helpful! Be sure to let us know how it goes and if there are any bits of new information we should use to update the post.

Girod christine
11/10/2014 02:06:20 am

I'm interested by the cruise on this boat from Mandalay to Bagan in November next. I'm a lady 69 years old, alone but used traveling.

Vanessa
11/10/2014 04:00:05 am

I hope you enjoy it! We saw people of all ages on the boat, including a gentleman in his 70s. The only aspect of the ride that might be a bit tricky is getting off, as you walk down wooden planks from the boat to the shore. I'm a big chicken and I managed it okay - I would ask the boat staff to take your bags for you so you don't have to carry or balance them as you disembark.

girod christine
12/10/2014 09:41:23 am

thank you for your MGRG; do you know the difference of price?
could you tell me the hour you leave early in the morning, the taxi or else et the hour you arrive in Bagan;
thank's a lot!

Vanessa
12/10/2014 09:57:45 am

You leave early in the morning - you go onboard around 6:30 for a 7:00am departure so we were up and moving around 6:00am. We took a taxi to the departure point and it was arrange by our guesthouse. We arrived in Bagan around 5:00-530.

Maddy
2/1/2015 04:00:49 am

Thank you for that information. That will save me from a day in the bus on bumpy roads.

Vanessa
2/1/2015 08:54:13 am

I'm so glad you found it helpful! Please check in again after your trip to let us know how your trip went and if there's any new information or updates on what the boat is like.

Zoe Knight
7/1/2015 06:36:30 pm

Would you be able to post a link to the MGRG website? i haven't been able to located one so far

Vanessa
8/1/2015 12:04:13 am

It's hard to find with Google search - it's not just you! http://www.mgrgexpress.com/

Janet
25/1/2015 11:12:21 pm

Hi thanks for the post - it was very helpful to short list different method of transportation towards bagan for our upcoming trip - the price of $45 is correct as I enquired and the company confirmed - probably you got it for $50 as you booked through the hotel and they charged a commission

Vanessa
26/1/2015 12:29:20 am

Thank you so much for the update Janet! I'm so glad prices have remained stable over the past year and I can't wait to hear more about your travels throughout Myanmar.

George
11/3/2015 06:21:12 pm

Nice post and pictures and thanks for sharing. Perhaps tell Ryan to keep his feet off the seats next time in South East Asia. It's considered very disrespectful.

Vanessa
7/4/2015 06:29:16 am

Thanks George! I had never heard that before - good to know.

Dominique Saavedra
7/4/2015 06:27:08 am

This post is really helpful! My boyfriend and I are planning a trip to Myanmar, Thailand, and hopefully HK. I've been doing a lot of research on ways to travel and this was really useful information. Do you think the boat service still available? Do you happen to have a link to their website?

Vanessa
7/4/2015 06:31:12 am

Hi Dominique - I'm so glad to hear that this piece is helpful for you. I can't wait to hear how your trip goes!

Readers report that the boat service is still in operation, at the same prices (about $45US if you buy direct, about $50US if your guest house pick it up for you). You can find the link to their website in the comments, just a few from the top. Good luck!

Lori M Zaino link
16/4/2015 10:53:18 pm

This was a very useful resource. We will be in Myanmar this summer and I am thinking we will do this cruise one way and then fly back the other way. I am assuming as it was a river cruise that it was relatively calm? My boyfriend gets seasick in a major way but usually not along river cruises, more ocean travel. Thats for posting!!

Vanessa
17/4/2015 01:01:08 am

Lori, tell your boyfriend that I 100% understand. My seasickness is notorious, including an incident at the Amsterdam Houseboat Museum.

I can honestly report zero seasickness on the river. For one thing, the water is extremely calm and the boat is a big, a bit older vessel (key, because this style of boat sits a bit lower and deeper in the water, making it less top heavy and hence sways much less). As well, there was constant fresh air and no restrictions on viewing the horizon, two things that make a big difference for me. And when there were waves (like we were passing another boat, which was rare) you could see the situation coming from a mile away and could react appropriately. I didn't have a hint of seasickness and I could actually read for a little bit - huge victories for me!

Laura
12/6/2015 09:36:02 pm

Hi there,

Silly question, but I get quite sea sick. My husband and I are looking to do the river cruise but I'm a bit nervous about spending 10 hours on a boat. Did you find that anyone was suffering with motion sickness or is the river totally calm?

Thank you so much!
Laura

Laura
12/6/2015 09:38:05 pm

Ooops, I've just realised this question is dealt with above!

Vanessa
14/6/2015 12:57:16 pm

No problem Laura - I completely understand the need to double and triple check when it comes to motion sickness. I normally HATE being on boats, my motion sickness is so bad. But the river is so calm (and the boat so big and slow) that it was virtually impossible to detect any motion and you have an unobstructed view of the river banks at all time. If you are used to drinking Ginger Ale to keep your stomach in check, you might need to search for it a bit in Mandalay as there isn't any on the boat. (I can't remember seeing any in the shops we visited in Mandalay but then again I wasn't specifically looking for it). Good luck!

michele kaletsch
7/8/2015 06:09:19 pm

HI, Thank you very much for your wonderful photos and description of the boat trip from Mandalay to Bagan. We will definitely do this trip, hopefully there will be no problems due to the floods. You information was very helpful.

Vanessa
8/8/2015 08:55:47 am

Hi Michele,

I'm so glad this was a helpful post for you!! I'd love to hear how your trip goes and if there's any additional information you think should be added to this post.

We've been watching reports of the flooding and I know it has disrupted virtually every aspect of life in Myanmar. I hope things improve soon for everyone's safety, well being, and travel enjoyment.

Rajan sriram
27/8/2015 12:49:37 am

It is a great description of the boat journey. We are visiting Myanmar in October. Looking forward to the trip

Vanessa
27/8/2015 03:34:36 am

Thank you Rajan! I can't wait to hear about your trip to Myanmar. If you do this journey, please let me know if there's any new information I should add to the post. Safe travels!

madan tamang
2/1/2016 08:23:54 am

will be in myanmar, for 6 days in the month april. Bagan for 4 days and rest for break in Mandalay.

Vanessa
5/1/2016 02:34:16 pm

Have a wonderful trip!

Rajan Sriram
5/1/2016 05:28:25 pm

I was looking forward to taking the boat, during our recent trip to Myanmar ( October ), but unfortunately, due to time constraints, couldn't do it. A beautiful country with lovely people. Loved every minute of our stay there.

Vanessa
9/1/2016 09:59:36 am

Shoot! I was so looking forward to hearing a new boat report! But I'm so glad you enjoyed your time in Myanmar. As you can tell, we loved it too and we'd love to go back. Hopefully someday soon!

Chloe
27/1/2016 10:42:30 pm

Hello Vanessa. Really useful and intersting blog, Thank you! I live and work in Yangon and my parents are visiting Mandalay, whilst Im not accompanying them to Mandalay, I'm arranging for them to go there for a day to explore and then get the boat to Bagan. Can you let me know what guest house you stayed at in Mandalay and whether you would recommend them? Would they also arrange a day trip for my parents around Mandalay, as well as this boat trip to Bagan? Are they helpful? Thank you!

Vanessa
28/1/2016 09:49:26 am

Hi Chloe - Thank you so much for your kind comments! In Mandalay, we stayed at the Mandalay View Inn (You can read Lonely Planet's write up here: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/myanmar-burma/mandalay/hotels/mandalay-view-inn). We only stayed there for one night and we had a good experience. The staff were friendly and helpful and the rooms were clean and comfortable. Was it the fanciest place I've ever stayed? No. But I was impressed by certain amenities - good Wi-Fi, TV in all rooms, bowl of fruit in the room. The staff were very helpful for arranging our tickets for the boat and they also had boxed breakfasts for us to go when we had to get VERY early to catch the bus. I have no experience about whether or not they would be able to help arrange a day trip but I suspect they would be, given their helpfulness and efficiency with the boat. They are also partners with the Red Canal hotel (same owners). I hope this helps!

Jan
1/2/2016 07:49:23 am

Wonderful description of the boat trip. I will be headed to Myanmar 11th February and am planning exactly same trip from Mandalay to Bagan.As I fly in to Yangon I will visit MGRG office there and purchase ticket so I save $5. Thanks a lot!

Vanessa
1/2/2016 10:06:58 am

Hi Jan - Thank you so much for your kind comments! You raise a really important point - if you have some free time, you can definitely pick up the tickets in MGRG's offices.

Eve
20/4/2016 04:54:44 am

Hi Vanessa, great post and photos!!
We are planning on doing this boat trip in October for our honeymoon, but we will have with us a large suitcase, around 75cm x 75cm x 30cm, weighing 20kg. Do you think it would be possible to bring this on and off the boat? I'm concerned about the flimsy embarkation bridge. Do you think the boat staff would manage to carry this onboard for us?
Thank you! Eve

Vanessa
20/4/2016 11:53:45 am

Hi Eve! I can't imagine a more wonderful honeymoon trip - Congratulations on your upcoming nuptials!

I dug through my old photos and I added two more pics to the bottom of the post that might help you. The first shows the boat at dawn in Mandalay - this is the kind of entryway you can expect to get on the boat. It's not exactly wide and luxurious but there's rails and I think you can likely just wheel your bag behind you right on board.

When you land in Bagan, to the best of my memory there's not a similar little "bridge" - the staff put down a couple of wide wooden planks. Given that I'm a huge wimp at the best of times, these made me a wee bit nervous but everyone else handled them with ease. I do seem to remember that the staff were there to help with bags, as I recall not wanting to part with mine as my pack helped with my balance. So between you, your new spouse, and the staff, I feel confident that this will go well (though, for the record, I would advise all travelers never to assume that staff will be there to help with bags and you should never travel with something you cannot carry with ease).

The second photo shows the concrete steps from the road in Mandalay down to the boat. In my opinion, these will be a greater challenge than getting on or off the boat. They are standard steps, in pretty good shape, but steps and stairs of any kind can be a pain when you have a large suitcase. So take heed that this journey will involve steps down to get onto the boat and then, when you land, there are unpaved roads.

Good luck and please report back!

Eve
21/4/2016 04:09:19 am

Wow, Vanessa, thank you sooooo much for your super advice! And for taking the time to hunt for those new photos and putting them up, a picture paints a thousand words. I couldn't find any advice online on luggage allowances for these river boats, and you have really helped! It looks like it will be possible to bring the suitcase along, and just get help from some strong men! We will definitely report back, and are looking forward soooo much to this adventure!
Thank you again, and have a great day,
Kind regards,
Eve

Tam
12/7/2016 09:35:42 pm

Vanessa, so happy to find the above information. Thank you to all who have posted. I am looking at traveling to Bagan from Mandaly this Dec with my husband and 2 children 15 and 16. I think the boat sounds like a great adventure....do you think teenagers will be okay. We have limited time. Originally flying from Rangoon to Nuang U and on to Bagan skipping river trip. Would like to do Inle lake as well. We have approx 4/5 days. Would appreicate any information.

Vanessa
14/7/2016 07:36:20 am

Hey Tam! Thank you so much for visiting the site and I'm so thrilled that you've found helpful information.

I think teenagers would be fine on the boat. The only issues that I can see is that it might be a bit boring (no WiFi, no plugs - so if you are using electronics make sure they're fully charged before boarding) and your options for buying snacks are non-existent on board. There's soda to drink but you might want to stop by a store and stock up on some treats. I found the breakfast and lunch pretty crowd-friendly food but it never hurts to have some back up.

As you can probably tell from reading the rest of the blog articles, we also did our trip to Myanmar in a short amount of time - we simply didn't have any other options as much as we wished we could have taken a month! We did a day in Mandalay, a day going down the river, a day in Bagan, and overnight train that night to Yangon, and then two days in Yangon (sorta - the overnight train arrived at noon and we left in the late afternoon of the second day). Our biggest "time saving" mistake was taking the train. It totally kicked our butts and left us without energy in Yangon. If I had to do it all over again I would have blown the budget to fly instead of taking the train - not just saving time but also sanity and comfort. So I think that's what you're facing - you will have to find a balance between time saving methods of travel versus seeing more of the countryside, enjoying slow travel, etc. I hope this information helps! Please check in and let us know how it goes! :-)

Victoria
22/5/2017 10:27:52 am

I'm just planning my trip to Myanmar and am super excited - your blogs have been super helpful.

I was just wondering if you travelled with just a backpack/carry on or did you have a suitcase? Did you notice anyone else with a suitcase and would it make travelling/the trip significantly more inconvenient?

Vanessa
23/5/2017 09:57:31 am

Hi Victoria! I'm so glad you found our site and that our blog posts have been so helpful - that means the world to me!

I took a search through our outtake photos to see if I could see other travelers and their luggage - but I didn't have any! We did just travel with one backpack each (and I had a purse).

Here's my take on it: The backpack's biggest pro is also its biggest con - you have to carry it on your back. This is a godsend when it comes to stairs and cobblestones and muddy unpaved roads and an absolute pain in the butt (back, shoulders, hips....) the rest of the time. Myanmar is definitely a place with bumpy roads and inconsistent sidewalks and I'm glad I had a backpack there. However, in general I would say that people around the world tend to travel with regular suitcases much more than backpacks. Assuming this holds true for the people who travel to Myanmar, I'd assume most of them are traveling with suitcases too. Certainly with the uptake in international tourism there in the past few years, I feel confident that no one would be surprised to see you traveling with a suitcase.

However, I'd have two strong pieces of advice on this. One would be to put a lot of research into a suitcase with sturdy wheels. I prefer the kind of wheels that are half-recessed into the bottom of the case than the kind that stick out on their own casings. You basically want something that is tough and can handle really uneven surfaces. I'd also recommend to only take a suitcase you can carry and walk with for short distances if necessary (say, climbing the stairs from the dock to the boat office).

Victoria
25/5/2017 08:03:10 am

Thank you so much Vanessa! That's super helpful and really good advice!

One more question - were there enough currency exchange places around the different cities? I'm from Canada - it sounds like USD is much more ubiquitous there in Myanmar so I plan on bringing some USD. Should I exchange to local currency at the airport or will there be other opportunities?

Thank you so much once again!

Vanessa
25/5/2017 11:49:27 am

Hi again Victoria! For this question about finances, I'd have to suggest checking in with a blogger who has been there in the past year - it's been a few since our visit and, during our time there, ATM machines were just becoming prevalent and credit cards were just starting to be accepted at some high end resorts. They may be more widespread now - but I wouldn't rely exclusively on that.

During our visit, US currency was required to change into kyat - and the bills had to be in PERFECT condition - no crumpled corners, no folds or creases.

We went to our bank in Ottawa, withdrew American funds and requested $20 bills in pristine condition and we explained why. The bank was happy to make sure we got perfect bills. We kept them crisp inside a small hardcover travel book. We made an exchange for kyat at the airport in Mandalay and we made some subsequent exchanges at money centers around Yangon. We didn't have any trouble finding places to exchange money - our hotel was easily able to direct us.

Unless things have changed significantly, US funds are the way to go - I don't think Canadian currency would be helpful.

Victoria
25/5/2017 10:23:50 pm

Thank you so much again Vanessa! Good to know you're a fellow Canadian too! :)

Jim
25/7/2017 12:18:15 am

I am glad to find this site as I have been trying to find a boat ride from Mandalay to Began for this December. I heard so much about the scenery along the river. I appreciate for all the questions and replies. They have been very helpful. Any information where to stay and must see in Mandalay and Began would be appreciated.

Vanessa
25/7/2017 10:04:21 am

Hi Jim! I'm so excited to hear about your upcoming trip - and even more thrilled that you've been finding everyone else's questions (and my replies!) so helpful. I've been a travel blogger for over 5 years now and this is by far the most popular post on the site - and that couldn't make me happier.

In Mandalay - This is what we planned to see, this is what we ended up seeing (and eating!) There's also a link to the inn we stayed at (Mandalay View Inn) that takes you to more reviews and such. http://www.turnipseedtravel.com/blog/kipling-orwell-and-harry-potter-a-day-in-mandalay-day-9-of-our-round-the-world-trip

In Bagan, here's a link describing the best travel experience we've ever had - taking a hot air balloon ride at sunrise over the temples. (http://www.turnipseedtravel.com/blog/the-best-travel-experience-of-my-life-my-ultimate-anti-adventure-with-balloons-over-bagan) and here's a link describing what else we got up to as well as info on our hotel, the Amazing Bagan Resort. http://www.turnipseedtravel.com/blog/besotted-with-bagan-day-9-10-of-our-round-the-world-trip.

Check back in and let us know how your trip went!!


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