Myanmar Travel Information
Visa Information
In order to enter Myanmar, you will need a valid visa.
We recommend you get your visa in advance in good time by application to the London consulate.
When you book your holiday with Dragon Travel, we will send a booking pack containing full visa application
details and application forms.
Airport Departure Taxes
You should remember to retain sufficient funds to pay international departure taxes (airport service
charges). At the time of writing, these are:
Yangon US$10
Money Matters
There are presently two parallel currencies in Myanmar, the ‘Kyat’ (pronounced ‘chat’) and the US$.
The official exchange rate outside Myanmar (quoted by xe.com) is about 1US$=6 Kyat. However, this bears little relation to reality.
The rate available at Yangon airport is 1US$=400 Kyat, but the rate available elsewhere may be over 1US$=1160 Kyat.
We recommend that you ask your guide to help you change a small amount of money
(no more than US$50) into Kyat. Please also note it is illegal to take Kyat out of Myanmar.
As all our tours in Myanmar are fully inclusive, you will require only enough Kyat for tips, drinks and small purchases. Please note that your
hotel will only accept payment for your 'incidentals' account in US$.
Credit cards are not accepted anywhere in Myanmar at present, nor can travellers' cheques be cashed. We recommend you carry enough US$ (in cash) to cover your incidental expenses and souvenir purchases whilst in Myanmar.
Mobile Telephones.
It is no longer a requirement that you depsoit your mobile phone on arrival at Yangon airport for collection on departure. However, your mobile phone will not work in Myanmar. Hotmail and several other webmail services are not available in Myanmar.
Health.
We strongly recommend you take medical advice from your doctor before visiting any part of South East Asia. He or she will be be able to advise you on the latest health-related recommendations and preventive measures. Water is drinkable in major hotels, but we recommend you stick to bottled water which is available everywhere.
Sensible Precautions.
Visitors to Myanmar rarely experience crime or other difficulties but please remember Myanmar is a poor country so please take sensible precautions as for any 'third-world' country.
Please do not carry passports, important papers or a lot of money when walking in the street: make use of hotel safes where available. Pickpockets may operate in markets or crowded areas. Ostentatious jewellery or watches are a temptation.
Taxis are usually poor quality and fares should be negotiated before entry. Please note that an advantageous import tax rate for taxi vehicles has led to there being a large number of vehicles on the street carrying illuminated taxi signs that are not actually taxis.
The sun is strong in Myanmar, sunscreen and a hat are advisable. For temple visiting, respectable dress is required, i.e. shoulders and knees covered for both ladies & gentlemen. Shoes and socks must always be removed, making a pair of (cheap) kick-off sandals a real time-saver.
Weather.
Yangon and the Ayeyarwaddy Delta
From November to February, the weather is mild, mornings can be quite fresh, but the day quickly warms up as the
morning progresses. The sun is strong and sunscreen and a hat are advisable. From March to May the weather gets hotter
until the monsoon breaks. June to October is the rainy season, tropical downpours are commonplace.
Bagan and Mandalay
The weather pattern for Bagan and Mandalay is similar to that of Yangon, however
both these places are in the rain shadow of mountain ranges to both the East and West. This means the climate is much drier.
In March, April and May, the weather is very hot, but it is a 'dry' heat. Rainfall during the rainy season is much
lower than that of the delta region.
