SarahAB

We're arriving in Myanmar on 3 February for 28 days. We're well-travelled (back-packers) in South East Asia and normally don't pre-arrange any accommodation or transport, preferring to have a very loose and flexible itinerary. For this trip we think we need to be more organised and I have tried to put together a possible itinerary. I'm aware that I've crammed a lot in, but this is the first attempt to see what is feasible, so I'm certain we will end up amending the plan. It seems that Myanmar is changing very rapidly now, and we'd like to try to get to see some lesser visited places before they become well and truely 'discovered' which is why I've left out Bagan in favour of Mrauk U.
Any advice/thoughts would be really welcome.
Many Thanks.
Sarah

Day 1: Bangkok - Yangon
Day 2: Yangon
Day 3: Fly Yangon - Lashio. Hopefully bus to Hsipaw same day.
Day 4 - 5: Hsipaw
Day 6: Hsipaw - Mandalay by bus.
Day 7: Mandalay
Day 8: Mandalay to Nyaungshwe by bus for Inle Lake
Day 9-10: Inle Lake
Day 11: To Heho and fly to Kengtung
Day 12 - 14: Kengtung
Day 15: Fly Kengtung - Heho. Heho to Kalaw by bus/taxi
Day 16: Kalaw
Day 17: To Heho and fly to Thandwe.
Day 18 - 21: Ngapali
Day 22: Fly Thandwe to Sittwe
Day 23: Sittwe - Mrauk U
Day 24 - 25: Mrauk U
Day 26: Mrauk U - Sittwe
Day 27: Fly Sittwe - Yangon
Day 28: Fly Yangon - Bangkok

Kathie

Sarah, as much as we loved Mrauk U, I think it is a mistake to omit Bagan.

I think you are trying to cram way too much into your itinerary. Burma lends itself best to slow travel. I think you need to cut a couple of destinations.

Also, travel is more complicated in Burma. I don't believe you can fly from HeHo to Thandwe. I think you have to fly from Yangon. That typically means spending a night in Yangon on your way.

I know you want to see less-visited places. In comparison to probably every other country you've visited, all of Burma is less-visited.

Craig

I second Kathie's comments - way too much and do not cut out Bagan. Inle Lake area is worth 3 full days, for example. You will never "see" anything with this itinerary. Allow more time for travel from place to place and just soaking it all in...

SarahAB

Kathie & Craig, thanks for your advice.
This was a rough itinerary and I thought it would be too much, but just wanted some feedback to try and make some informed decisions about what to leave out. I'll probably, reluctantly, omit Mrauk U as this will free up a few days, and also try to bypass Mandalay. Am also considering not going to Hsipaw, as by all accounts it seems much busier than I'd anticipated.

Do you think we will we be ok leaving flight bookings, etc as we go along. I just hate idea of being really committed to a rigid itinerary as I know from past travelling we like to have the freedom to change our plans.

Thanks again!

Sarah

Kathie

Burma has received the most visitors ever this year. While February isn't the highest of the high season, I expect there will still be plenty of visitors there, no doubt many more than in past Februaries. The problem is that the tourist infrastructure in Burma is limited. There are only so many hotels and guesthouses, only so many seats on flights, etc. So if you opt not to do any advance booking, you may find yourselves unable to get a flight you want or to spend half a day looking for a place to stay. I'd recommend you book as much as you can ahead. If you work with a good travel agent, they can make modifications as you go when other options are available.

wintersp

I had no trouble in Myanmar with changing - dropping or picking up flights (or the airlines cancelling the flight. However, that was with a Travel Agent. I was rather surprised at how easily they changed things since in US you wouldn't change flights without charges etc.
I knew the flights etc before I went, but the TA got the tickets. I got sick and had to cancel one flight every day for 4 days. I don't believe that I could have done that alone. It is very easy to use a TA to do only those tasks (buying and sometimes changing flights) that you desire. It is the only place I've used a TA but I would have been lost without their back-up there. And when you change a flight, there's usually a hotel reservation involved.

I used Rubyland Tours but several others have also been used and mentioned on this board. And I believe that they are all flexible. I suggest you make a rough framework, go through a travel agent and let them help you make changes as needed.

wintersp

The bus trips you've incorparated will be looonggg and sometimes, it is hard to get a bus ticket even. My trip incorporated one bus trip at my request but in the end, the hotel could not get me a ticket and I had to put in a last minute call to the TA in Yangon. He called someone he knew in Bagan that picked me up the next am, took me to the airport and bought a plane ticket for me. I don't believe that I could have done that alone.

And yes, as others have already said, that is way too much. Part of the charm of Myanmar is how slow and laid back it is.

gmoz

I can only echo the comments of the others. Burma is not like other countires, as already writtten in Burma there is a lmited supply of rooms and transport. Burma.is not like Cambodia or Lao where there is always a room or transport available.
A travel agent in Burma will save you a lot of money and hours of your time. You can not book rooms or transport as cheaply as an agent can, let alone the time spent doing it. Like Kathie says book as much in advance to save time and money.
I would recommend Shan Yoma travel as very professional and cost effective but others like Santa Maria. Get a few quotes.
As for missing Bagan, to me thats like going to Cambodia and not seeing Angkor Wat. Important historical places like these are popular for a good reason.
In Burma it is best not to try to check off a list of places to visit but rather to enjoy the leisurly pace of the country and its history.