Swegu to Bhamo - Fast Boat

If fast boats go downriver, they HAVE to go upriver again...how else can they continue to send fast boats downriver....??

Understood. However, I am more concerned about the comment in the Shwegu section that "foreigners are barred from taking the fast boats". It sounds like there are fast boats, but for some reason in Shwegu and Shwegu only, we aren't allowed to take them. Since in less touristed areas issues concerning tourists can get quirky in Myanmar, I was hoping someone can report recent experience that contradicts the LP guide.

I will try asking on Trip Advisor and see if anyone knows there.

A possible explanation for foreigners not being allowed on certain boats could for this reason- when I enquired about leaving Katha by boat, I was told that certain boats don't actually stop at certain places or pull into a jetty as such. What happens is that a smaller boat pulls alongside the bigger boats or ferries in mid-river and you literally have to jump from one boat to the other in the middle of the River! I'm guessing that the boat owners wouldn't want to have the responsibility of a foreign tourist attempting this and potentially Drowning! For me to get to the small place I was trying to get to by boat I would of had to jump boats in the middle of the river, which sounded a very scary (and stupid) thing to Attempt! Admittedly, I wasn't actually told that I wasn't allowed on the boat, but I guess the final decision could be down to each individual boat owner as to whether they are willing to take foreigners or Not! Bearing in mind the boat from Katha goes to Bhamo via Shwegu and various other small towns, this could be the reason why foreigners aren't allowed on Shwegu bound Boats! Hope this has been of some use to You?

I have done the jump from boat to boat several times in Myanmar and other countries. Once in Thailand we had to jump across 6 different boats before actually getting to ours. Most times it was fairly easy and there was always someone to pass my bag on to so I didn't have to try and jump across with it. Only once was it a challenge because the water was rough and making the boats bob more than usual. However, I am sure this and other logistics could be a reason boat owners don't want to take on tourists in Shwegu yet are fine with it elsewhere.

Anyway, I am hoping someone out there can confirm through personal experience whether tourists can or cannot get a fast boat from Shwegu back to Bhamo.

Hi all - I took a fast boat from Bhamo to Katha and then another from Katha to Mandalay - only last week I did this. It is ok. They go everyday and are open to foreigners. And yes, I believe the same can be done the other way, except of course they take longer because they are against the flow of the river. I had no troubles - was fun although the Katha to Mandalay trip was LOOONG. But gave me time to get to know my fellow travellers. I was the only foreigner on board. I think it was K10,000 from Bhamo to Katha and K25,000 to Mandalay. I definitely remember the Mandalay price, it might have been K9,000 Bhamo to Katha. Something like that.

Oh and sorry - just reading the jumping boat bit. Yes - that is definitely true and I think Shwego is one of those. One of my fellow travellers was going there, and while I was asleep he left :). I think he jumped boat.

Loong trip...???
Try the slow ferry....especially when river level is low.....the supposed 3day/2night trip when I did it one January took 5 days/4 nights...got stuck on sandbanks a few times.....that is a good stretch to hang out with the locals over cheap Myanmar whisky...

I have done long boat rides before in Myanmar and other countries and I definitely don't need or want to do it anymore. I guess what is puzzling is that I cannot find any information on the internet about tourists taking the fast boat from Shwegu to Bhamo or going upriver in that area, only going downriver. The very few post and blogs I have found about people stopping in Shwegu only mention going on to Katha, never back to Bhamo. I guess I am the only tourist that has ever wanted to just go to Swegu, then back to Bhamo for a flight to Mandalay. Adding that with the comment in the LP guide that foreigners are barred from fast boats at Shwegu, but not in Bhamo or Katha and I am just a bit too concerned about trying it. I don't want to go all the way to Bhamo and find I cannot go to Shwegu and back. I'm already looking at plans "B" and "C".

Thrive...my comment about taking a boat trip was a light-hearted response to Lazza (saying the fast boat Katha-Mandalay was a 'long' trip)....I thought that would have been obvious...

I took no offense and meant none in response. I was only attempting to say that I am feeling (dare I say it) too old for it anymore.