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Climate.
Myanmar enjoys a tropical climate with three distinct
seasons. The best time to visit is between September and
March, when the climate is cooler with lower humidity. The
dry hot season runs from March to May as the humidity builds
up before the rains begin. Temperatures will range from 30°C
in the central and southern areas 21°C in the more moderate
northern Shan and Kachin States. The rainy season comes with
the southwest monsoon, from mid-May to mid-September.
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What to wear.
Casual and light clothing is recommended all year round
including slip-on shoes or sandals and a sun hat. A light
sweater or jacket is also useful during the cooler season or
when traveling in hilly areas of the north. Visitors are
requested to dress decently in religious places and to
remove footwear before entering religious buildings or
homes. If visiting during the rainy season it's best to
bring an umbrella. It is usually too warm for waterproof
clothing.
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Religious buildings & Pagodas.
Dress conservatively when visiting religious buildings and
pagodas. Shorts or skimpy tops should be avoided. Going
bra-less is definitely not done in Myanmar.
Remove shoes and socks before entering religious buildings
and compounds. It is also polite to remove shoes before
entering a private home.
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Culture tips.
Myanmar is a country deeply respectful of its religious and
cultural traditions. The Myanmar people place great value on
propriety and decency. They shun inappropriate speech, dress
and manners and disapprove of any behavior that is
undignified. To avoid offence please take note of the
following:
It is improper to show too much emotion, losing your temper
over problems and delays will get you nowhere. It is far
better to stay calm at all times just as the locals do.
The head is regarded as the particularly holy part of the
body. You should never touch anybody's head intentionally,
and offer an excuse if you do so by chance. Accordingly, the
feet are literally the lowest part of the body and you
should not point your feet at somebody.
When handing someone money or a gift, use the right hand or
both hands. This is not so important when paying a bill in a
café or restaurant, as this is a more casual transaction.
Women should not ride on the roof of buses or boats. It is
offensive to the men or elderly sitting underneath. Women
should also avoid touching the body or robes of a monk or
nun. In Pagodas women are not allowed to visit higher
levels.
If you choose to wear Myanmar dress, be careful not wear it
carelessly, such as with knees showing or unbuttoned or, in
the case of women, without underwear. Women should avoid
wearing shorts and skimpy tops in the streets and especially
in Pagodas.
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At The Airport.
1. Airport Departure Tax
Airport departure tax at Yangon International Airpot is
US$10 or FEC10 (FEC = Foreign Exchange Certificates).
2. Reconfirmation
Visitors are advised to reconfirm international flights
before going up-country.
3. Customs
At the port of entry, all foreign currencies, jewellery,
electrical and electronic articles and cameras, which are to
be carried out upon departure must be declared on the
Customs Form. Export of antiques, archeological objects and
unset gem stones is prohibited.
4. Duty-free Shopping
There are duty-free shops in the airport arrival and
departure lounges. The duty-free allowance is two bottles of
liquor, two cartons of cigarettes, 100 cigars and half a
litre of perfume.
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Where to Stay.
In Yangon a wide choice of hotels up to "5 star"
international chains, are available to suite every budget.
Good hotels are also available in all main tourist towns.
Typically you can expect to pay from USD 10-15 for a single
room in a simple guest house to over USD 150 in a luxury
hotel. Check the hotel listings in this website under
"Useful links".
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Getting around inside Myanmar.
1. Domestic Flights
The main tourist centres are located at a distance from
Yangon, and it is convenient for visitors to travel by
domestic flights. Myanmar Airways, Air Mandalay, Air Bagan
and Yangon Airways all operate flights to major tourist
sites including Mandalay, Bagan, Heho, Thandwe, Myitkyina,
Tachileik and Kawthaung.
2. Rail Service
The train system in Myanmar is old, slow, noisy and can be
crowded, but it's generally cheap and a great place to meet
the locals. On many tourist routes, prices are fixed at high
rates, but trains to non-tourist places are very cheap.
There are 2 classes: high and ordinary with respectively
soft and hard benches.
Yangon-Mandalay is the main rail link with four express
trains running daily between Yangon and Mandalay. Furnished
coaches (Cherry and Padauk) for a group of 4 or 8 persons
are available. From Thazi on the Yangon-Mandalay line, a
branch line runs to Shwenyaung (the nearest station to Inlay
Lake) and to Taunggyi.
Current train schedules and fares can be obtained from the
railway stattion.
3. Road Transport
Most tourist sites are also accessible by road although be
prepared for some long and uncomfortable journeys. There are
12 Highway Bus services running between Yangon and Mandalay
using air-conditioned coaches. Travelling time is about 14
hours with brief stopovers at Taungoo and Pyinmana.
In all the cities, you can find small pick up trucks going
to another town. For short trips (less then 4 hours) this
can be acceptable, but for longer trips it can get
uncomfortable. These pick ups can get extremely crowded
taking about 30 to 40 passengers while normally only 15 are
allowed. Some companies don't allow foreigners on their
buses because they don't have a licence to do so.
4. Public Transport In The Cities
Public transport in the cities also uses pick up trucks. It
can be quite uncomfortable, but it's a great way to get to
know the locals.
Limousine taxis and mini-buses are available in Yangon for
sightseeing and up-country tours.
5. River Transport
Myanmar has many rivers and a large delta in which the
Inland Water Transport operates a huge fleet of double and
triple-decker boats. There is a regular service between
Bhamaw and Mandalay and between Mandalay and Pyay (Prome)
via Bagan.
The boat from Mandalay to Bagan is the most famous. There is
now a fast boat connecting these two cities and includes a
bar and a small restaurant.
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Tourist information.
Tourist information is available at the Arrival Hall of
Yangon International Airport;
Head Office is in downtown Yangon at 77-91 Sule Pagoda Road
(Tel: 95-1-252859).
Bagan Office (Tel:95062-70217).
Mandalay Office (Tel: 95-2-22540) at Mandalay Swan Hotel.
Taunggyi Office (Tel: 95-081-21611, 95-081-21302) at
Taunggyi Hotel.
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Travel Agencies & Tours.
There are numerous licensed tour and travel agencies that
can assist with travel and tour arrangements. Travel agency
counters are located at Yangon International Airport and
there are many travel agency offices in downtown Yangon. For
further information on tour operators please view the
"Useful Links" page of our site.
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Sightseeing.
Entrance fees are collected at well-known pagodas, temples,
monasteries, museums and archeological sites.
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Credit Cards & Travelers Cheques.
In general no credit cards or travellers cheques are
accepted in Myanmar, However some foreign managed hotels
will provide this service for their guests. It's a good idea
to check with individual hotels.
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Shopping.
You are advised to buy gems, jewellery and silverware only
at authorized shops, where you will be given a voucher with
a permit for export. Ignore touts who may offer guide
services, foreign currency exchange or gems.
You cannot post parcels home although some shops will
organize shipping for you. It is best to ask first before
buying anything bulky.
The Myanmar authorities do not allow the export of antiques.
So it's better to avoid buying anything that looks like an
antique (even if it isn't) as custom officers may confiscate
it anyway. Only buy jewellery from authorized dealers and be
sure to get a receipt because you must show it to Customs on
departure.
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Tipping.
If a service charge is not included, you should tip for good
service.
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Security.
The crime rate in Myanmar is very low and it's safer than
most countries. However, it's always a good idea to remain
cautious. Always keep your passport and money in a safe
place, especially when travelling by train or bus. Report
any loss as quickly as possible to the nearest police
station as well as to your embassy.
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Photography.
Photography in airports, railway stations and
near any military installations is forbidden. Please use
discretion when photographing people. For close-up shots
always ask first.
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Currency.
The local currency is the Kyat (pronounced
"chat"), which is divided into 100 pyas. Kyat notes are
issued in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 45, 50, 90, 100,
200, 500 and 1000. The exchange rate can vary greatly and
quickly, so please check on arrival.
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Business Hours.
Banks are open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to
15:00, and government offices on weekdays only from 09:30 to
16:30. Shops are generally open longer but the hours vary.
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Myanmar Facts and Figures.
Area : 678,500 square kilometers.
Time : GMT + 6 hours 30 minutes.
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Electric Power Supply.
230 volts AC. 50Hz, UK plug
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Religion.
80% of Myanmar people embrace Theravada Buddhism. The rest
practice a mixture of Christianity, Islam, Hinduism or
animism.
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Language.
Myanmar. However, English is widely used.
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Population.
The Union of Myanmar has a population of over 50 million;
The major racial groups are Bamars or Burmans, making up 69%
of the population, with the Kachin, Chin, Shan, Mon, Kayah,
Kayin and Rakhifle, making up the remainder.
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