artyguy

So I changed my flight to arrive five days earlier. Got ideas from guide books and curious what ideas you all have? My first fee days will be adjusting to the time zone difference and flying for 21 hours. Thinking a day outside the city? And walking and exploring the city with the train loop excursion. So welcome thoughts. Thanks

Kathie

You might consider a day trip or overnight to Bago. The circle train is a good idea. We did a walking tour of old buildings in Yangon. If you go to the Strand Hotel, they have a map and commentary they will give you. We enjoyed the self-guided walking tour and it was an opportunity to interact with lots of locals, who all wanted to help us find the buildings on the map - some of which are now gone. Spend some time wandering around Scotts Market. I didn't see much I had any interest in buying, with the exception of amazing textiles in a small shop on the second floor. If you are interested in ethnic textiles, let me know and I'll find the name of the shop for you.

Six days in Yangon is a long time. If it were me - and it isn't - I'd head somewhere else. With that much extra time you could go to Mrauk U.

Silverswimmer

You could do a 2 day trip to Golden Rock and also do try to visit over the river to Twante or Thanlin and Kyauktan.
And if you do the Kyaiktiyo trip (Golden Rock) then you can visit Bago on the way back and stop off at CWGC WW11 Taukkyan War Cemetery half way between the airport and Bago.
SS

sartoric

Take a public boat over the river as suggested by SS above, the pier is next to Botataung Paya.

Eat at Monsoon, around the corner from the Strand Hotel. It's very atmospheric, and not expensive. There's a craft store a few doors down which is supporting rural crafts with great displays of differing weaving techniques.

Head to Scott's market as suggested by Kathie, the shop she's thinking of is Yoyomay, on the second floor, go to the very end of the front veranda, and it's just around the corner. Authentic and inexpensive tribal goods, with very knowledgeable owner who will talk about the different textiles and their origins.

Go to Chinatown, stroll around Kandawgyi Lake, visit the nearby house of Bogyoke Aung San, now a museum.

The circle train will take at least 3 and a bit hours, you could get off at the halfway point and explore the market there, the town is Danyingon I think.

artyguy

Thanks so much! Originally I only had one day in Yangon, and thought would be smart to have a few more to get over the jet lag. I really didn't want to spend so much time in Yangon, but the only flight I could get was 6 days longer then wanted. So had no choice but to either have one day or 6 days. With your suggestions I can break the time up. Thanks

artyguy

I checked out Mrauk U and wish I had known earlier. Getting there isn't so easy. Seems a flight and a boat to get to Mrauk U.

Can't see how I can fit Mrauk U into the following schedule.

After Yangon, I fly to Bagan, and then the Inle Lake and Mandalay where I'm doing a Keng Tung Trek. All my flights and hotels are committed. Of course crazy me wonders about squeezing this in. lol

Kathie

It does take a lot of planning to get to Mrauk U. I suppose if you were able to arrange a flight to Sittwe the same day or following day when you get into Yangon you could do it. But you'd have to see if your agent could get you there. It would take up all of your extra days to do it.

Save it for your next trip.

artyguy

Thanks Kathie for your common sense there!

What about doing a two-three day beach to get over jet lag? Checking the weather at this time of year, it appears I will still be in Monsoon conditions? So maybe a beach may not be such a good idea? What are your thoughts?

Kathie

Remind me - when are you going?

If you are truly in monsoon season, the beach resort will be closed. If you are in "shoulder season" you should be able to get good prices.

artyguy

Hello Kathie, I arrive to Yangon on October 25th. And was departing for Bagan on October 31. So between those dates I could fit in a few days of beach time, mixed in with exploring Yangon.

Kathie

You will be there right at the end of rainy season, so I would guess the beach resorts will be open. Ask your agent to recommend a place.

artyguy

Almost finished with my 40 day trip plan thanks to all of your awesome support. However, I'm still struggling on how to resolve spending my time in Yangon.

Whether to get an intimate view of Yangon for the full five days or to take three days and hire a driver and explore beyond.

Thinking that Golden Rock might be spreading myself too thin, I selectively thought of First day: Yangon to Hpa-an Second day: Hpa-an to Mawlamyine Third day: Mawlamyine to Yangon. This will cost me $400 for car and hotel.

Trying to grasp if this will add to my entire trip experience, and if this will be worth the time and money and the hours of driving. I then have 15 days left to explore Burma and then 2.5 weeks to travel through Thailand. Anyone with thoughts? Thanks

Kathie

The options you outline don't thrill me. I wouldn't want to spend three days on a road trip in Myanmar, as the roads are pretty awful. With such wonderful things to see and do in Bagan and at Inle Lake, those days on the road would feel wasted to me, I fear. But we are all different - does this idea appeal to you? Also, the price seems high to me.

I can't remember why you can't just head to Inle or Bagan after a couple of days in Yangon - maybe you couldn't get accommodations... But I'd rather hang around Yangon than spend all that time on the road.

artyguy

Originally my flight was getting into Yangon on October 28th and my tour to begin on October 31st where I fly to Bagan. The TA couldn't revise my trip when I got an earlier flight to Yangon. The thinking was I would be jet lagged for a few days and couldn't really enjoy Yangon. So the only flight I could get gave me five extra 3 days.

And I agree with you I'm concern about spending so much time on the road. Unless the road sights were beautiful.

So kind of stuck to stay in the area and be back in Yangon for my flight to Bagan, where I got 5 nights there. I could eat the cost of the flight and take an earlier flight to Bagan... that's another option. Stay in Yangon for three nights and go stay in Bagan for7 nights. Which seems like a lot of time to spend there?

Hope this explains my situation.

Kathie

Ah, yes, I remembered there was some complication about trying to change your itinerary. I'm sure you can find things to explore in Yangon, even though it wouldn't be my first choice. I actually think it would be better to spend time there rather than on the road. One you see the sidewalks in Yangon, you'll realize just how bad the infrastructure is. You may well be able to change your flight to Bagan without losing any money. The airlines in SE Asia often allow you to change flights without losing money. Ask your agent. You might split the time between Yangon and Bagan.

artyguy

I did find out I can change my flight to Bagan. Presently have four nights in Bagan, and 6 nights in Yangon. Certainly another option is to remove one or two nights from Yangon and have 7 or 8 nights in Bagan. My Travel Agent would freak if I requested my entire trip to be revised. But can make this switch.

Much to think about, but better make those decisions quickly.

Kathie

I would certainly want more time in Bagan than in Yangon. There are some out of town trips you can take from Bagan such as Mt. Popa and Salay.

artyguy

Well I've decided to shorten my time in Yangon and take the extra three days for Golden Rock overnight, then to Hipa-an over night and back to Yangon. Also read the roads have improved in some areas and yes, there will be much driving. But going straight to Golden Rock so will have plenty of time to explore the mountaintop for Sunset and Sunrise. Then the drive to Hipa-an will be straight there and hope to have time to explore a few caves, and view the limestone mountains. Wish me luck on my journey, and thank you all for your help with not only Burma but also Thailand. One note on Thailand. My flight from Chiang Mai on Air Asia changed their departure from 9:45am to 1:15pm. Causes me to have to stay over night in Pak Bara and then boat over to Koh Lipe next morning. I'm praying there won't be any further changes on my flights.... huge thanks to you all!

Kathie

Do come back and tell us all about it! Have a wonderful trip.