We flew in to Yangon, the capital of Myanmar, from Kuala Lumpur via Airasia. Located in the south of Myanmar, this is where most visitors would land - as it is home to the largest international airport within the country.
Our one week roadtrip itinerary of Southern Myanmar covered the regions of;
Yangon > Bago > Hpa An > Mawlamyine
Keep on reading to find out how we traveled through all of South Myanmar via multiple land transportations, namely taxis, trains, busses & motorcycles!
Day 1-2 : Yangon via Grab
Whizzing around Yangon is pretty easy with a Grab. All you need is a smartphone with internet connection, and you're good to go. Your Grab driver doesn't even need to speak the same language, since the destination is entered on the app itself.
Day 3 - 4 : Bago via train
The journey from Yangon to Bago via train will take slightly less than two hours. Having gone through my fair share of trains around Asia, I was pretty impressed by the train standards in Myanmar.
It was pretty easy to get a train ticket over the counter without prior booking. Tickets were very cheap, the ordinary class from Yangon to Bago was only 600 kyats (MYR2 = USD 0.40)!
The train ride was pleasant, with the exception of a random stopover midway that lasted over an hour. Managed to sneak in a couple of shots of locals to fill up our time.
"Would you like some snacks?"
Day 5 - 6 : Hpa An via bus
The bus ride from Bago to Hpa An took about 4.5 hours, priced at 7,000 kyats (MYR 20 = USD 5) with airconditioning. Journey was overall smooth but the bus itself was freezing so don't forget your jumper. The bus is able to stop anywhere on the main road and even dropped us off right in front of our hotel!
Day 7: Mawlamyine via motorcycle
Once we had a taste of riding the motorcycle, it became pretty addictive. The open road seemed so carefree, it lets you enjoy the scenery and get up close and personal with the locals. We have met so many kind souls through our 150km ride from Hpa-An to Mawlamyine, which we started around 10am and ended by 5pm.
Beauty of its natural landscapes enchanted us
Having taken various transportation options across Myanmar, I can conclude that my favourite was the motorcycle. You are free to go at your own time, with your own pace and at your own route.
Having said that, each transportation method has its own pros and cons. Let me know which transportation you prefer most down below!
1 thought on “Roadtrip Transport across Myanmar”
Awesome post! Keep up the great work! 🙂