MYANMAR 2019 | YANGON - BAGAN - INLE LAKE
Date Travelling: 1 - 7 February 2019
Pre-Travel
9.45pm: Malindo Air Flight to Yangon from KLIA after 2h 35m arrived at Yangon airport.
Total Cost (Inclusive Shopping): RM3,830 for 2 person (Inclusive flight, train, bus, grab, e-bike, car rental with driver, hotels, meals, tourist permits, tipping, shopping, souvenirs, tours)
No. of person travelling: 2
No. of person travelling: 2
Pre-Travel
- Purchase flight tickets to Yangon from Malindo Airlines with Expedia promotion price at MYR264 (Inclusive 25kg luggage and meals).
- Purchased Train tikets HERE (Yangon to Bagan) and bus tickets HERE (Bagan to Inle Lake and Inle Lake to Yangon) online.
- Made a hotel booking via BOOKING.COM for all locations (Yangon, Bagan and Inle Lake). Other 3 nights on train and bus.
- Applied Myanmar e-visa HERE the official website for USD50. Approval was fast (less than 24 hours). DO NOT use other website, high chance they are SCAMMER.
- Purchased Travel Insurance (We purchased annual travel insurance from AIG).
- Saved all important documents such as flight tickets, Bookings, passport scanned and etc in Google Drive.
- Packed some foods and medicines.
Day 1 (1 Feb) Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to Yangon, Myanmar
9.45pm: Malindo Air Flight to Yangon from KLIA after 2h 35m arrived at Yangon airport.
- Plan to buy sim card at the airport so I can use GRAB app but all shops selling sim card already closed.
- Money changer also closed when so had to withdraw some burmese kyat from ATM for the taxi. (withdrawal MMK100,000 + fixed fees MMK6500/withdrawal)
- Taxi to Hostel cost MMK15,000
- Checked-in, ate instant noodles, bread and coffee...and sleep.
- Sleep at Hostel H Way Yangon MMK12,750 for 1 double bed room shared bathroom -
Review on the hostel: Very small but comfortable bed (expected because of the price), noise from mainroad (already prepared an ear plugs), satisfying breakfast and clean bathroom , toilet and free wifi.
Review on the hostel: Very small but comfortable bed (expected because of the price), noise from mainroad (already prepared an ear plugs), satisfying breakfast and clean bathroom , toilet and free wifi.
Day 2 (2 Feb) Yangon to Bagan, Myanmar
After breakfast, packed our luggage and checked out. Went out to nearby telco shop, purchased Ooredoo sim card (Starter pack cost MMK1500 and add 1G Internet data valid for 30 days for MMK999). Since it was Saturday, we need to collect our paper train ticket at the travel agency office before 12.30pm (closing time). If your arrival is on Saturday night and plan to take a train on Sunday, so it's A MUST to have them deliver to your hotel (with additional charge = USD10). The name of the office is PEGU TRAVEL. Below is what's written in the booking.
For bookings from Yangon:
Office of our partner is located about 800 meters from Yangon Central Railway Station.
Link to Google Maps: https://goo.gl/Pj3rVG
Address: No. 15, Nawaday Street, Fantastic Condominium, 6th Floor, Dagon Township. Yangon, Myanmar
Working hours:
Mon-Fri 9.30-17.30
Sat 9.30-12.30
Sunday and Public Holidays - closed!
Our train departed at 4.00 p.m. ,so to kill time, we went to Shwedagon Pagoda (someone told us to go back at dawn and stay until night but we dont have time for that) and walked to Kandawgyi Lake instead. Then by grab/taxi back to area nearby Hostel H Way Yangon, had lunch, exchanged some cash, bought strawberry and walked back to the hostel. Shower, changed clothes and went to the Railway Station. I think the easiest way to go around Yangon is by Grab taxi and it’s cheap (around MMK2.000 to MMK3.000 per trip).
For bookings from Yangon:
Office of our partner is located about 800 meters from Yangon Central Railway Station.
Link to Google Maps: https://goo.gl/Pj3rVG
Address: No. 15, Nawaday Street, Fantastic Condominium, 6th Floor, Dagon Township. Yangon, Myanmar
Working hours:
Mon-Fri 9.30-17.30
Sat 9.30-12.30
Sunday and Public Holidays - closed!
Our train departed at 4.00 p.m. ,so to kill time, we went to Shwedagon Pagoda (someone told us to go back at dawn and stay until night but we dont have time for that) and walked to Kandawgyi Lake instead. Then by grab/taxi back to area nearby Hostel H Way Yangon, had lunch, exchanged some cash, bought strawberry and walked back to the hostel. Shower, changed clothes and went to the Railway Station. I think the easiest way to go around Yangon is by Grab taxi and it’s cheap (around MMK2.000 to MMK3.000 per trip).
At the station, beware of young girls offering to buy drinks for you because they will charge you double/triple/4x the normal price. Just reach there early and purchase your own foods/drinks or prepare earlier from hotel. Bear in mind that this is a 17++ hours journey without cafe or people selling foods/drinks on coach so be well prepared. We bought a Sleeper class at USD25.20/person (Inclusive fee), it’s a private coach only for 4 people with private toilet. We were given a small pillow and thin sheet.It was very cold at night but with sleeping bag and jacket, it’s bearable and pleasant.
- Sleep on train -
Day 3 (3 Feb) Bagan, Myanmar
Woke up and sunrise from train. Feeling fantastic! before reached Bagan, the train stopped for about 15 minutes somewhere in the middle of nowhere. Local kids came running to us waiting for anything to giveaway (foods/cash). It's like a gift for the local kids. Happy kids!
Upon arrival at Bagan Railway station, we were approached by a man who offered a ride to our Hotel for MMK7.000. We agreed and less than 15 minutes later, arrived at the Hotel. Before that, the driver stopped at a toll booth for us to pay the Bagan Archaeological Zone fee (MMK 25000) which can be used for 3 days in Bagan. We stayed at Oasis Hotel booked via booking.com (USD63/night). The room was spacious and very clean. Just before sunset, rented an e-bike from our hotel for MMK3.000 (3 hours), ride to town, purchased some foods and to old Bagan for sunset. Ended the short ride with a delicious vegetarian dinner (MMK12.500).
- Sleep on train -
Day 3 (3 Feb) Bagan, Myanmar
Woke up and sunrise from train. Feeling fantastic! before reached Bagan, the train stopped for about 15 minutes somewhere in the middle of nowhere. Local kids came running to us waiting for anything to giveaway (foods/cash). It's like a gift for the local kids. Happy kids!
Upon arrival at Bagan Railway station, we were approached by a man who offered a ride to our Hotel for MMK7.000. We agreed and less than 15 minutes later, arrived at the Hotel. Before that, the driver stopped at a toll booth for us to pay the Bagan Archaeological Zone fee (MMK 25000) which can be used for 3 days in Bagan. We stayed at Oasis Hotel booked via booking.com (USD63/night). The room was spacious and very clean. Just before sunset, rented an e-bike from our hotel for MMK3.000 (3 hours), ride to town, purchased some foods and to old Bagan for sunset. Ended the short ride with a delicious vegetarian dinner (MMK12.500).
- Sleep at Oasis Hotel, Bagan USD63 per room -
Day 4 (4 Feb): Azdan’s Birthday, Sunrise, Bagan Temples, Sunset Cruise Irrawaddy River (Ayeyarwady River), Bus to Inle Lake.
Happy birthday Azdan! my travel partner for more than 10 years, the love of my life! hehe
Ok back to Myanmar....
We hired a car with driver from sunrise until sunset for MMK50.000. For the sunrise and hot air balloon watching, he brought us to a place called sunset hill where there’s hundreds of tourist especially from China. I don’t really like this so we walked around the area far from everyone else. You can actually went on your own to any unfamous small temple by e-bike and shoot a photo from there. Some samples can be found online and they are marvellous.
Then, went back to hotel for breakfast and rest for a few hours. We started emploring Bagan temples around 12 noon. Visited Swezegon Pagoda, Dhammayangyi Temple, Ananda Temple and a few more. Actually there were thousands of temples in Bagan and you can see all of them in a
day only by hot air balloon (USD300++/person). We had lunch at a vegetarian restaurant (2 bowls of rice, vege tomyam, omelette, okra, ice cream, black tea and 3-in-1 tea all cost MMK10.300).
The Bagan tour
- Sleep on Bus -
Day 5 (5 Feb): Inle Lake Tour
- Sleep at Spring Lodge Inle USD55.35 per room -
Day 6 (6 Feb): Cycling Inle Lake & Bus to Yangon
Bus to Yangon at 6.00pm
- Sleep on Bus -
Day 7 (7 Feb): Arriving Yangon, fly to Kuala Lumpur
- Sleep on Bus -
Day 5 (5 Feb): Inle Lake Tour
- Sleep at Spring Lodge Inle USD55.35 per room -
Day 6 (6 Feb): Cycling Inle Lake & Bus to Yangon
Bus to Yangon at 6.00pm
- Sleep on Bus -
Day 7 (7 Feb): Arriving Yangon, fly to Kuala Lumpur
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