Myanmar Travel Port - Arcadia Travels Limited

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We suggest that you pack a few necessities (a change of underwear, toiletries, medications) in your carry-on bag. It is also advisable to put your name and address inside each piece of your luggage. If you use a photocopy of the picture pages of your passport you will have an easy reference in the event that your passport is misplaced during the trip BUT PLEASE REMEMBER TO KEEP THE PHOTOCOPY OF YOUR PASSPORT TOGETHER WITH THE PASSPORT IN YOUR WAIST BAG OR CARRY-ON BAG FOR SAFEKEEPING YOUR PASSPORT INFORMATION.

Dehydration and fatigue contribute greatly to jet lag, and there are some things that you can do to minimize the effects of long flights: wear comfortable clothes, drink a lot of fluid (water is the most important) and sleep as much as you can. It also helps if you get up and walk about the cabin of the plane from time to time.

As you know, common colds can spread quickly in a group and in an aircraft. To minimize the risk of getting sick, start the trip rested and healthy. Remember to pack a supply of vitamins and medicines you take for common ailments such as colds, allergies of stomach upsets.

CLIMATE:

The best time to travel in Myanmar is between the months of October and March, when rainfall is minimal and temperatures are more moderate. High temperatures range between 88-95 degrees, while lows are between 66 and 73 degrees.

CLOTHING:

The primary consideration is comfort – lightweight, smart casual clothing will be appropriate for all excursions throughout the tour; formal dress will not be needed at any point.

During the tour you can expect to encounter warm to hot weather, often with a high degree of humidity. In general the heat and humidity intensify as you head south. The weather can be moderately humid (typically 70-85% at this time of year), and periodic rain showers are common. For those travlelers who visit during the period of May and October it’s essential to bring a collapsible umbrella and lightweight raincoat or poncho.

Note that due to Burma’s conservative society, ladies should plan to bring pants or longer skirts. For ladies, shorts are not generally accepted: men might be able to wear them, as long as they are knee length. In some places (outside hotels and some restaurants) we will be encountering Eastern-style toilets, which involve squatting. These are much easier for women wearing skirts, as opposed to pants. It is also advisable to bring a fanny pack or daypack to carry valuables; using a pack allows you to tour with your hands free, a definite plus when climbing into tour vehicles or taking off your shoes.

You may find that a walking stick or cane is helpful, as walking surfaces are often uneven, and there are many stairs and very few good handrails or ramps. Luggage shops or travel catalogs have collapsible models with a pistol grip, which give good and can fit in a suitcase when not in use. Please don’t forget comfortable walking shoes and a travel alarm clock.

At some of the temples that we visit during the trip, you will need to remove your shoes and socks before entering. I therefore suggest that you bring shoes that can easily be removed, such as slip-on styles. As it’s rare to find places to sit down while removing your shoes and socks, many find it easiest to wear shoes without laces or buckles. You also need to pack a pair of sneakers with good grip for some walking tour in Inle area and else where.

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HEALTH:

It is a must to take Malarone or Doxycycline for malaria in the country. I request you to consult with our family doctor. You should also pack bug spray (DEET) and sun screen in your carry-on. Bring the anti-diarrhea medication in case you have upset stomach.

CURRENCY:

Credit cards and travelers checks are not accepted in Myanmar because of political issues. There are also no cash machines in Burma. You will need to bring enough cash (dollars) to pay for hotels (which can be paid ahead), and any expenses incurred and any shopping that you do. Local currency is called Kyat (MMK) and approximate currency exchange rate as of the writing are: 1250 Kyats to 1 US Dollar.

TELEPHONE & E-MAIL SERVICES:

Even though telephone services are usable in hotels the charges are skyrocketing. Each minute called to any city in the United States cost $7 and can even be higher. Services of sending and receiving e-mails are available at a couple of dollars for one e-mail address through hotel’s E-mail address but checking your web mail box such as aol and yahoo is impossible at hotels. Due to the government monopoly on telecommunication mobile phones brought in by clients are of no use in Myanmar.

ELECTRIC CURRENTS:

The current is 220/230 Volts AC 50 cycles. Adapters should be taken into Burma as some hotels have inadequate supply.

VISA FOR BURMA:

All visitors to Burma must have a valid visa to enter the country. The validity for the Burmese visa is 28 days and can be obtained through the Burmese Embassy in your home country or through a visa service. Make sure you send your passport at least 3 weeks prior to your departure to obtain visa for the embassy needs a number of days for the process.

Please remember when planning your trip to our country that your PASSPORT must be:
*VALID FOR AT LEAST 6 MONTHS AFTER THE DATE OF YOUR DEPARTURE FROM BURMA.
*HAVE ONE, FULL BLANK PAGE IN YOUR PASSPORT FOR THE BURMA VISA.