Air Travel
Visa
Getting to the Sule Shangri-La Hotel-Yangon
Basic Travel Notes
Additional Resources

Air Travel Information

International airlines
The following airlines currently fly into Myanmar: Thai Airways, Bangkok Airways, Myanmar Airways International, Malaysia Airlines, Biman Bangladesh, Indian Airlines, Mandarin Airlines, Air Bagan, Silk Air, Vietnam Airlines etc.

Yangon International Airport (RGN) is located about 30 minutes north of the city center. The airport is known locally as Mingladon and is currently undergoing significant renovation. Both domestic and international terminals are located here. For more information, see Airport details

Airport tax
An international airport tax of US$10 per person is payable in cash when departing Myanmar on an international flight. Departure tax is not charged for domestic flights.

Visa Information (Updated Sept. 2, 2014)

Making travel arrangements to Yangon and obtaining the necessary travel documents is the sole responsibility of the traveler. Travelers should also be very familiar with the passport and visa requirements. All travelers to Myanmar are required to have a visa to enter. Contact your local Myanmar Embassy or Consulate General to apply for a TOURIST VISA. To find one in your country or region, click on this link: Ministry of Foreign Affairs or at Embassy of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar for USA. We highly recommend submitting your application for a tourist visa early to allow sufficient consular processing time. Check with your local Consular Office for visa requirements and processing timeline. Please note that VISAS ON ARRIVAL are available only for entering travelers who are currently or will be doing business in Myanmar, with invitation from sponsoring companies and any other documentation as issued by related approving Ministry.


On September 1, 2014, Myanmar’s Ministry of Immigration and Population launched a website to process E-Visa for travelers to apply online for TOURIST visas. Processing time will take up to 5 working days. Please see below for more details or go directly to the E-Visa website: http://evisa.moip.gov.mm/index.aspx
For more details click here

Basic Travel Information

Money
Myanmar is a cash-driven economy. In Myanmar, you are likely to pay for almost everything with cash. Travelers are advised to bring U.S. dollars—AUD, EUR, GBP and other currencies are not widely accepted. is known as the “kyat” (pronounced “chat,” and abbreviated K). Travelers should ensure they arrive in Myanmar with enough US dollars for all expected expenses.

ATMs are generally not available, and where available, are limited to main tourist destinations such as Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan, and Inle, ATMs offer local currencies only and withdrawals are limited in very small amounts (currently about US$20 equivalent) and incur a very high service fee per transaction.

The bills should be unmarked and in excellent condition, as moneychangers are reluctant to deal with damaged notes. US dollar bills have to be pristine - no fold line, no marks on the notes, no bent corners, no fading. US dollars can be changed at the airport, banks and some hotels. When bringing cash in US currency, it is useful to bring a wide range of denominations. The best exchange rate is for US$100 and US$50 notes, but the smaller ones (US$1, US$5 and US$10 bills) are indispensable for paying museum and temple entry fees, which are charged to tourists in US dollars.


Exchanging money
The $100 bill gets a slightly better exchange rate than a $50 or $20, and so on. It’s safest to change money at banks, hotels and shops, rather than on the street. Never hand over your money until you’ve received the kyat and counted them. Moneychangers give ready-made, rubber-banded stacks of a hundred K1,000 bills. It’s a good idea to check each note individually. Often you’ll find one or two (or more) with a cut corner or taped together, neither of which anyone will accept. The official rate is about 900 kyat to the dollar and it’s almost the same rate everywhere.
 

Credit cards & Travelers cheques
Credit cards and travelers cheques are generally NOT accepted in Myanmar. However, some high-end restaurants and hotels, including the Sule Traders Hotel in Yangon, are able to accept very limited credit cards.


Time
Myanmar observes UTC/GMT + 6:30 Standard Time year round


Electricity
The voltage in Myanmar is 220-230 Volts AC. Myanmar, especially Yangon, occasionally experiences intermittent power cuts and brown-outs. Most of the international hotels, including the Sule Shangri-La Hotel, have their own back-up generators. Other places may experience power cuts and voltage fluctuation which can damage equipment like computers. It is advisable to travel with the appropriate surge protection for your electrical items.


Weather
During the Forum, Myanmar will be in its “Cool Season” (October through February) with average temperatures 20-24 C (68 – 75 F).


What to wear
Myanmar is a conservative country, and that includes local dress. Avoid wearing shorts and other revealing clothes. When visiting any temple, dress appropriately and keep your legs covered (long skirts, halfway between knee and ankle, are fine; shorts, on men or women, are not). As with nearly all Buddhist monuments, footwear is not permitted. Visitors must remove their footwear and socks at the gates before even setting foot inside the complex.


Internet access
Internet access is confined to large hotels and internet cafés; however the connection is often slow. Due to bandwidth restrictions, Internet speeds can change markedly throughout the day depending upon usage demand. Be careful to not save your password or sensitive information when using public computer terminals.


Mobile phones
International roaming with a number of western mobile networks is now possible in Myanmar; the situation is changing fast, so it is best to check with your operator. However, you may encounter a block on SMS text messaging even if you are able to make and receive calls. The mobile phone industry and availability of SIM cards in Myanmar are in a state of flux. For many years, SIM cards were very expensive, but in April 2013 the price of a SIM card was reduced to K1,500 (US$1.70). However, these cards are currently only available to Myanmar citizens on a lottery basis. It is possible, however, to rent a SIM card (and hand set) from vendors in the arrival halls at Yangon, Mandalay and Bagan airports. This costs between $5 to $12 per day, depending on the rental period. Some outlets will sell permanent SIM cards to foreigners, usually costing around K150,000 (you typically have to pay an additional fee to enable 3G mobile internet). Phones work on a top-up basis, with K5,000 and K10,000 cards available. The best place to buy a SIM is at the airport on arrival in Yangon. Elsewhere in the country, they are difficult to find. Micro SIM cards (for use in iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and other high-end smart phones) are not available in Myanmar.


Tipping
Tipping is not compulsory but it is greatly appreciated throughout Southeast Asia, especially in the service industry. For reference, we have provided a general guideline below. Tour Guide/Drivers: If you are pleased with the services provided by your tour guide and driver, then a tip for their hard work will be very much appreciated. In general, we recommend around US$10 -15/day/traveler for guides and US$5-7/day/traveler for drivers if less than 4 people in a group. We recommend around US$5-10/day/traveler for guides and US$3-5/day/traveler for drivers if there are 5 people or more. Hotel & Restaurant Staff: A tipping of 5-10% of the total bill in restaurants is appreciated. If you stay a couple of days in the same hotel, a tip to the maid service of $2-3/day is appreciated. For porters, US$2-3/time/room is acceptable.

Additional Resources

1. http://www.dosanddontsfortourists.com/

2. First time travelers to Myanmar can gain lots of practical travel tips here from a handy travel guide written by USC Marshall alum and Myanmar native Tin Zaw.