Hello guys.
I'm about ti enter Myanmar. I also applied for the MTT permit with 7 diamonds in order to reach India. Initially I thought MTT permit was needed to travel between Mandalay and Tamu but I come to know that route is doable without any permit.
So what's the actual point in having the MTT? Won't they let me out Myanmar? How would that be possible if I have (and I do) an Indian visa? Thanks, nic
what is so hard to understand about this...?
It has been explained a few times...the MTT permit has NOTHING to do with travel between Mandalay and Kalay/Tamu....the MTT permit is only for CROSSING THE BORDER. It also has NOTHING to do with Indian Visa.
No, if you do not have the MTT permit when you arrive at Tamu Immigration they very likely will not let you cross the border.
It doesn't matter what is written on it in Burmese, or what the point of the permit is...the fact IS you need to have it to enter/exit at that land border (Same as you did at the Kengtung-Taichileik border until 1 year or so ago..)
I crossed the boarder a few days ago:
1. Getting the permit
Official Myanmar tourist information sent me to Seven Diamonds. Taxi to there 4.000 kyat from Downtown Yangon. Other offices in Mandalay, Lashio, Nyaung U, Taung Gyi (I don't know if u get the permit at these beaches)
Information from Seven Diamonds:
- permit will be in hotel in Tamu (Shwe Oakar), there is no need to come back to a Seven Diamond office
- no guide necessary to travel to Tamu
- particular date necessary for crossing the boarder (I heard from a girl that this is not longer necessary; she crossed although the particular date was gone)
- agency does not help with Indian site
- not dangerous, 'many' people cross the boarder
- 100 $ cash
Bagan - Monywa (bus)
10:30 am - 3 pm
3.500 kyat
Not many hotels in Monywa (13 - 50 $)
At the jetty you get the boat ticket to Kalewa. Ask local ppl. Not many tourists here. I saw 3.
Monywa - Kalewa (boat)
4 am - 6 pm (can be faster but the river was really shallow and we had problems to get through)
16.000/ 22.000 kyat (ordinary/ upper class)
They give you lunch for free and ppl come to sell drinks/ snacks)
I stayed in Kalewa one night (9 $) because there was no public transport to Kaleymo.
Kalewa - Kaleymo - Tamu
7 am - 3 pm
2.000 kyat to Kaleymo and 2.500/ 5.000 to Tamu (front seat/ back seat)
Road to Kaleymo is ok, sometimes sealed road, road to Tamu is perfect.
Three police checkpoints to Tamu. Passport control. I met a Burmese woman in the bus and she invited me to stay with her family. But the police in Tamu found it out and prohibited it. So I had to stay in the hotel Shwe Oakar (12 $).
walk to Moreh (10 min)
Way to Imphal (taxi)
Different times when car full with people and other stuff
500 rupies, ca. 5 hours with all controls
Military and police controls all over the way. Show passport and tell them where you want to go. No problem.
In total it's easy. No other tourists there. Take some rupies with u. ATM in Moreh but is not working all the time/ no money exchange. Not dangerous (what I can say) and good road conditions everywhere but a lot of military and police on the way and in Imphal.
note: allow longer to get from Moreh to Imphal...it is 5 hours, driving time only, IF there are no 'problems'...I spent 4-5 hours just sitting at a large army checkpoint waiting for all west-bound vehicles to be searched.
Also...it is possible to change Kyat into Rupee in Moreh...just ask around / at the minivan stand.
Hi there,
Again thanks to all for your reports. Also, i am a cyclist who got the permit and will enter Myanmar in the next few days.
I have no news from another fellow cyclist who has been turned back 80kms after Monywa (back to Monywa) beeing informed he was not allowed to cross the border to India...
Any one who has news about that would be very appreciated.
Safe travels to all.
its quite possible they could be turned back by some local Immigration officer along the way (I have had similar issues in areas of Naga hills where you supposedly no longer need the MTT permit, but some still want it)...it is absolutely incorrect though re: the border crossing, as you certainly can cross the border, as long as YOU HAVE the MTT permit.
Might be safer bet to put your bike on the bus to get as far as Kaleywa anyway, rather than try cycle it...??
Yes, this can be one solution. As well, taking the boat from Monywa. They maybe will try to charge another ticket for the bicycle i guess.
But for now, i will enter , cycle and see what happens. Still no news from that fellow cyclist who has been turned back.
Thanks for the advice.
yep boat is the other option, as far Kalewa anyway (then van or ride to Kalay and on to Tamu)...you might just get charged locals price on the boat, or you might get charged 'tourist' price + bike...
I'm planning on taking the route Monywa(boat)-Kalewa-Kalaymyo-Tamu, which others have done so hopefully there won't be too many surprises.
Psst, @BCPacific
So what ever happened with your trip? Do you have any updates to post to this thread?
For anyone interested, Seven Diamonds now has a fully organized tour for this crossing. See their page about it on
http://sevendiamondtravels.com/2013-07-13-08-52-07/border-crossing-information.html