Slow train to/from Kalaw

All trains in Myanmar are slow, some slower than others. Yes you can go from Thazi to Shwe Nyaung, check maninseat61 for times, think its about 10 hours, 5 hours from Kalaw. Have not done that route myself. Have done Kyaukme to Hsipaw which ok, scenery pleasant. There are some videos on youtube if you want to get an idea. Yes you can get bus from Bagan to Thazi or Kalaw.

Crossing The Goktiek viaduct by train on the way to Hsipaw is a truly amazing experience and worth the effort of trying to fit into your itinerary. I'm sure all the timetables listed on seat61.com are all reasonably up to date although there might be a few small changes. Bear in mind that the trains are notorious for running late and to arrive at your destination 2 or 3 or even more hours late is considered to be the normal and not something to moan About! Travelling by train is a great way to meet people because everybody shares there food on long journeys and the tickets are very cheap especially if you travel in the 2nd class carriages.

Hi Antheia,

According to my experience, the most scenic and interesting part is between Thazi - Kalaw, it's really amazing. For me, it is better than Mandalay - Hsipaw, but this route also good enough as you have to pass through the famous Goteik Viaduct. If you are interested to take train in Myanmar, you should take both, then you will see the different.
My idea is, you better take the direct train from Yangon - Inle Lake, of course it'll take longer but it's the most convenience way for you, just sit on the train and relax, otherwise, you have catch the other train, have to worry for ticket, accommodation between the gap time etc.
After Inle, take the night bus to Bagan, and then transfer to Mandalay by train, that will also give you different scenery as you are passing through the central dry zone.
After you explore Mandalay, you can proceed to Hsipaw by train, explore the Hsipaw, do some trekking, then, come back to Yangon by overnight bus. How about that? That's my suggestion according to my own experience. Low cost, see more than flight or night bus transportation. Moreover, you will get the great experience with local community. Wish you to have a great vacation in Myanmar.

Thank you guys for your answers!

Yes, the trip from Mandalay to Hsipaw does seem amazing, but I've also heard that the one to Thazi is very good, and as we will most likely do our hiking around Kalaw instead of Hsipaw, it does seem like kind of a detour to go there just for the train ride. But it is still an option, yes.

We're thinking of maybe flying to Heho from Yangon to save some time, taking the train to Kalaw from Inle Lake, do some trekking and stuff around Kalaw, and then maybe take the train to Thazi and then the bus from Thazi to Bagan. Are there a lot of buses running from Thazi, or would we have to take a taxi or something?

How long is the trainride from Bagan to Mandalay? I think we'll most likely take the bus from Bagan, as this seems to be the fastest choice. We will then fly from Mandalay fly to Ngapali, and back again to Yangon after a couple of days. (Or possibly the other way around, flying into Mandalay, going to Bagan.. and then flying to Ngapali from Heho) Does this sound feasible?

Hi Antheia,
Yeah, I totally agree that the most amazing part is Thazi to Kalaw. If you prefer to take the hiking in Kalaw rather than Hsipaw, it's also good enough. You can do the day return hiking around Kalaw and even you can take the two day one night or three day two night hiking to Inle Lake. That's another option for you. For this itinerary, you can take the night bus to Kalaw and continue to Inle by hiking or train or local bus or taxi whatever and then, continue to Thazi directly by train. Just the optional.

If you want to save time, your opinion is ok, fly to Heho, take the train to Kalaw, and continue to Thazi by train is also ok but only one thing, you will arrive to Thazi in the night around 7-8pm if the train is right time. Then, you will face some difficulty to transfer to Bagan, because there is no bus to Bagan and no good taxi as well, only local use truck, that's I don't want to recommend, it won't be comfortable but your option is if you want to take comfortable and arranged transfer to Bagan, you may need to call the taxi from Bagan that can arrange by local travel agent. A car will wait for you at the Thazi station for your private transfer to Bagan Hotel.

For your question, the train takes the whole day from Bagan to Mandalay and the bus takes half day but the scenery is about the same. So it's up to you. Then, you can fly from Mandalay to Ngapali and come back to Yangon. That's ok.

And for the other way around, you can fly or take the comfortable night bus to Mandalay, then transfer to Bagan by day bus or full day cruise along the mighty Ayeyarwaddy River, then use the private car from Bagan to Thazi and catch the train to Kalaw or directly to Inle Lake, you can also hike around the Inle Lake, the scenery is about the same with Kalaw but it's just for your information. Then, you can fly to Ngapali. But in this way, from Bagan-Thazi-Kalaw, there's a problem because the train leave from Thazi at 5am and 7am. From Bagan to Thazi will take around 3-4 hrs driving time, so you may need to transfer Thazi one night in advance otherwise you have to leave from Bagan very early morning around 2am. So, it's not ok. My suggestion is if you would like to take that route, you better leave from Bagan in the evening and stay one night in Thazi to catch the morning train, 5am or 7am is up to you.

So, now you choose. :) Wish you to have an great vacation in Myanmar.

Bagan to Mandalay scanery is nothing really, its just flat, many sandy almost desert landscape, some of scenes are quite interesting such as farming methods, using oxen, goats herds, ox carts etc. Bus takes about 5 hours, train is about 8 hours. Long distance trains are far more expensive than bus. Trains are generally not relaxing at all, its not like india or Vietnam, they bounce up and down, sway from side to side, if you do go over 20mph you think the carriage is going to tip over at any moment. Don't use the toilet unless you have to, you usually stop at each station for about 10-20 mins anyway.If you want to fit in Hsipaw to Mandalay, you can take bus to Hsipaw from Mandalay its about 6 hours, stay there 1 night and then take train which is about 9.30 in morning to Pyin U Lwin, then either take share taxi or bus back to Mandalay. Train from PUL to Mandalay takes about 7 hours, bus takes 2.

Yes, I was also thinking of flying to Mandalay from Yangon instead of to Heho. How does this itinerary sound:
Day 1: arrive in Yangon at 11 am
Day 2: Yangon
Dag 3: Fly to Mandalay in the morning
Dag 4: Mandalay - Bagan by bus in the morning
Day 5: Bagan
Dag 6: Bagan, and then take the bus to Thazi at 7pm
Day 7: Take the train from Thazi to Kalaw at 5 am
Day 7-9: Trekking around Kalaw
Day 10: Taking the train to Inle Lake
Day 10-12: Inle Lake
Day 13: Flying from Heho to Ngapali
Day 13-15: Ngapali
Day 16: Flying to Yangon in the morning
Dag 17: fly out of Yangon

From what I can see of the train going from Kalaw to Thazi, it seems to leave around noon, so this means that it will be dark for parts of the journey, right?

I don't understand, train from Kalaw to Thazi? If its noon and it takes about 5 hours, it will not be dark.

Why not walk to Inle from Kalaw?

In Kalaw I would avoid Golden Lily Guesthouse, if you wnat you can check reviews.

Itierary is ok but apart from Thazi its all tourist spots.

I would not fly to Mandalay, thats the easiest bus route from Yangon, better to fly to Bagan or Inle. If you less than 1 day in Mandalay maybe cut it out?