Travel during public holiday period April | Myanmar - Lonely Planet Forum

ONLINE

Mon, 22 Feb 2016 13:39:55 +0000

Hi guys,

I'm currently planning to go to Myanmar for appox. 3 weeks after my time in Thailand. I will arrive in Yangon at April 15th, in the middle of the Thingyan Water Festival. In other topics on this forum I've already read some tips, but after some enquiries at a couple of tour operators I start to worry a bit whether I will be able to get public transport in this period. I don't like to plan my whole itinerary before arrival, but if I need to arrange some tickets in advance because of scarcity of tickets, I have to.

I asked three tour operators whether they can arrange a train ticket from Yangon to Bagan on April 17th. All three give different answers (which is quite funny on itself), form which the 2nd and 3rd agent try to sell me a flight ticket, which is pretty expensive.
- first one says they can arrange a sleeper ticket for $25
- second one says there are NO trains running in the period April 7th until April 24th(!)
- third one says there are NO trains running in the period April 12th until April 22th

I can imagine less trains operate during the period of the Water Festival itself (13-17 April), but it's hard for me to believe there will be no public transport until the 24th of April.

Does anyone travelled in this period before and used public transport? Which information from the above three reactions is most probably to be true? Do you think it won't be a problem to travel further to eg. Mandalay after 2 days in Bagan?

Thanks in advance for your help,
Stephan

ONLINE

Wed, 24 Feb 2016 00:51:59 +0000

trains run during the festival period, and flights go...only buses are stopped/very limited. IF one can pre-book a sleeper ticket then go for them...but note the trains in Myanmar are very slow and rough rides, and you wont sleep much (do ask for a BOTTOM bunk). I'd recommend forget the train and fly. Many agents do not want/cannot book train tickets, so maybe that is why 2 and 3 say there is no train..
You can book and pay for plane tickets yourself on most of the airline websites, check some out to see which fly the route you want - Asian Wings, Air KBZ, Mann Yandanarpon, Golden Myanmar, Myanmar Airline, etc.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.

ONLINE

Fri, 26 Feb 2016 10:39:01 +0000

In response to #1

Thanks for your reply 'rivaltribal'. I've found some flights, but it will cost 4 times the price of a train ticket.
Good to know trains and flights keep on running during this period, so I'll find enough transportation options.
For now I'll think about whether to go by train or air.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.

ONLINE

Sat, 27 Feb 2016 00:47:45 +0000

'cost 4 times the price of a train ticket.' - yes, of course...what did you expect...they are also 20 times as fast....
As I mentioned - IF you decide to go by train overnight, make sure you get a bottom bunk, and don't expect much sleep.

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.

ONLINE

Sat, 27 Feb 2016 13:28:42 +0000

In response to #3

Off course it meets my expectation. I just use it as an argument for my preference to avoid air transport.
Thanks for your tip about the bottom bunk!

Copy and paste the url below to share the link.

Tue, 28 Feb 2017 01:00:43 +0000

This topic has been automatically locked due to inactivity. Email community@lonelyplanet.com if you would like to add to this topic and we'll unlock it for you.

Pro tip