itinerary: Inle Lake - Bagan or Bagan- Inle Lake

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wes92
wes92

Hi!

I'm planning a 2 weeks trip to Myanmar at the beginning of October. As it will be my first time in Myanmar I want to visit the highights: Yangon, trekking Kalaw- Inle Lake, Bagan and Mandalay.

As I'm in Bangkok before, I suppose the best way is to fly into Yangon, and out from Mandalay. I'm in doubt about the sequence to visit the above mentioned places by public transport (I prefer not to fly). After Yangon, is it better to go first to Kalaw and Inle Lake and thereafter to Bagan, or the other way around (before heading to Mandalay)?

Hope to get some advice!

Thanks!

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herbie47
herbie47

Actually I don't think it makes much difference.
Either Yangon-Kalaw-Inle-Bagan-Mandalay
or Yangon-Bagan-Kalaw-Inle-Mandalay.

Buses do all those routes. You can take night bus to Bagan or Kalaw. Depends if you want to trek at beginning or near end of your trip. October canbe a bit wet so you may want to check the weather.

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wes92
wes92
In response to #1

Thanks for your quick reply! I will check the weather and decide which will be the best option at that moment!

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HtetPaing
HtetPaing

You can take the night bus to Kalaw from Yangon, the bus will arrive Kalaw early morning around 4am and stay there one day before you trek or start trekking if you don't tired. 2D/1N or 3D/2N route is your optional.
After that, take the night bus again to Bagan from Nyaung Shwe (the gateway town of Inle Lake).
Then, take the day bus from Bagan to Mandalay or take the train. I don't want to recommend for night bus in this route because it's only 5-6 hrs drive, so it can't consume the whole night and arrive to Mandalay at very early morning around 2-3am. And the bus are not good enough as other route.
If you prefer to take the night bus, Yangon - Bagan - Kalaw - Inle - Mandalay is better.
October is the end of the rainy season in Myanmar, not muddy but if your not lucky, you probably may face the rain. October is the tourist season so not only you. Wish you to have a great vacation in Myanmar.

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wes92
wes92
In response to #3

Thanks for your reply! I will take this into account!

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Mp63
Mp63

If you don't like flying why not go overland and enter/exit via Moulmein and Hpa an, or fly into Mandalay and exit overland back to Thailand.

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wes92
wes92
In response to #5

Thanks for your suggestion! It is not that I really don't like to fly (actually I really enjoy it ;)), but I prefer to see as much without flying and try/enjoy local transport and meeting people. Enter/exit overland was indeed a option, but I already applied for an evisa a few days ago, which requires that you arrive by plane. Based on the limited time and because I don't want to spend time in BKK to apply for a visa, I thought this was the best option. Flying into Mandalay and exit overland was probably better, I will remember that if I will go again in the (far) future :)

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Thorn Tree

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