would love to hear from anyone who has travelled between Mandalay to Bagan recently either by plane or sleeper train.
How easy is it ro get tickets for the sleeper train? Can you pay by VISA? Read in LP (2014) this is an express, how comfortable is it?
Do any companies have jet planes operating between Mandalay to Bagan or are they all props? Again, how easy is it to get tickets?
thanks in advance
There is a night train to Bagan, however I don't think its a sleeper, just seats and it arrives about 5am, so you will arrive probably shaken after little sleep: http://www.seat61.com/Burma.htm#Mandalay - Bagan
Not sure you can use visa.
Yes there are plenty of flights only about 30 mins. Cost about $70 now. Think they are propeller planes. Yes easy to get tickets, either online or through agent or even Guesthouse. Airport at Mandalay is nearly 1 hour out of town. Bus is probably best way, the road is not bad now and it only takes about 5 hours, maybe even minivans ply tis route now.
We took mini bus about 4h30 minutes, quite comfortable and beautiful road. Ask your hotel if you need bus, they can help to arrange
You cannot use visa to pay for any train journeys. Payment is by Kyat only. I don't advise overnight trains. Even with a sleeper carriage you are not likely to get much sleep because the trains jump about to Much!
Hi, I took a minibus with OK Express this afternoon and it was about 4 1/2 hours and cost 9000 kyat (I was told-I paid much, much more through Mr. Myanmar, my shyster travel company). Do not, under any circumstances, take a night (or any) train in Myanmar. They are so far below the standard of other trains in Asia-slow, hot, bumpy, filthy, outdated, dangerous, loud, etc.-just generally awful.
Amazing! was hoping to reach someone who had maybe travelled "this year" not "today! thanks for the info. will the mini bus drop you off at your hotel in Bagan or a central bus station?
9000kyat=$7.5/ per person? could live with that...
If you flew in, may I ask how much the airport transfer was? thank you
Do not, under any circumstances, take a night (or any) train in Myanmar. They are so far below the standard of other trains in Asia-slow, hot, bumpy, filthy, outdated, dangerous, loud, etc.-just generally awful.
I agree about overnight trains, but there are some rewarding daytime journeys. You need to have a flexible schedule in case of delays or cancellations, however.
DO you mean transport from Mandalay airport to Mandalay city? If so Air Asia do sometimes run a free shuttle bus, if not there is a shuttle bus (minibus) for about 4,000 kyat I used it this year, AA bus was not running for some reason. Going back I shared a taxi from my Guesthouse was about $5 each.
Bagan is quite a small town although its 3 places, Old Bagan, New Bagan and Nyaung U, not sure about minibus, sometimes they do drop you at Hotel and pick you up.