MYANMAR (BURMA) TRAVEL GUIDELINES

Transcription

1 MYANMAR (BURMA) TRAVEL GUIDELINES ENTRY & EXIT FORMALITIES If you have your visa ready and a valid passport ith at least six months of validity from the time of entry in hand, you should have no trouble entering Myanmar either by air or land. There is no requirement for you to sho an onard ticket out of the country in order to enter Myanmar. E-Visa Citizens of 100 countries can apply online for tourist visas via Myanmar's Ministry of Immigration and Population ebsite: The cost is US$50. After your application is processed, you'll be ed an approval letter. Print it out and give it to the passport official on arrival at the airport or designated land borders ith Thailand and you'll be stamped into the country. E-visas can be used at Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Ta international airports; and at three Thailand Myanmar land border crossings, Tachileik, Myaadi (Myaaddy) and Kathoung (Kathaung). You can exit the country at any overland border crossing (although you ill need a permit and permission to exit to China and India). Citizens of 50 countries can also apply online for business visas (US$70, valid 70 days), but you'll need a letter of invitation from a sponsoring company and proof of your company's registration or business. Customs regulations For the vast majority of visitors, clearing customs is a breeze, but it's important to be aare of the restrictions; for further details see.myanmarcustoms.gov.mm. Page 1 of 5

2 Visitors are permitted to bring duty-free: cigarettes - 50 cigars - 250g of tobacco - 2L of alcoholic liquor - 150ml of perfume It's not a problem to bring a camera, video camera, laptop or mobile phone. You cannot bring in antiques, pornographic materials or narcotic drugs. HOW TO DEAL WITH AS A TRAVELLER Currency KYAT Is the Myanmar currency. Updated exchange rates can be found ith this link While in the country, you'll use a mix of US dollars and Myanmar kyat. Most hotels and domestic airfares, travel Agents, tour guides, some entrance fees ill be in USD, hile everything else (food, souvenirs, uses etc) ill be in Kyat. What kind of currency should you bring? Along ith USD, it is easy to exchange Australian dollars at the banks and the registered money changers, but please note that the money changers at the airports may not be accepted Australian dollars to change. You ill visit the money changers in tons to exchange them. It is essential that bills are in first class, good condition, ith no folds, rips or riting. Ne is best and keep them flat, maybe beteen to pieces of card. 100's and 50's ill get the best exchange rate. All $ bills must not be older than the 2006 issue but any later than that, in perfect condition, ill be fine as ell as the latest issue from August ATM's There are no over 2000 ATM's in Myanmar ith a choice at major airports and idespread availability at donton Banks. 24 hours ATM are in all major tourist destinations such as Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan and InLe Lake. They only dispense kyat. Do note that there is a fixed charge of 5000 kyat, plus your on Bank's charge and a maximum ithdraal of 300,000 kyat, up to three times daily. Many smaller villages and small tons have yet to get an ATM but those that have a Bank branch in ton ill either have one or get one soon. There have been reports that Banks in some counties still follo the outdated US embargo so do check ith your Bank that your card ill be accepted. Credit cards Are accepted by airlines, hich are bookable on-line ith immediate e-ticket issue. Many quality hotels ill accept Credit Cards, although some may charge a merchant fee. Banks in Myanmar (Burma) have partnerships ith Visa and Master card (and Chinese "UnionPay"). That means no Discover, American Express and no other funky cards for the moment. As alays, it's best to call your credit card company and bank in advance to let them kno you'll be traveling, so the chance of your card being blocked is reduced. You can usually find the number on the back of the card. Where should I exchange money in Myanmar? The best places to exchange are the banks and the registered money changers at the airports and in Page 2 of 5

3 Yangon or Mandalay. They offer the best rates and the security that you'll get hat you should be getting. Do not exchange money on the streets. This is a great ay to get scammed, particularly in Yangon here the shady money changers often hang out near Sule Pagoda or the main Bogyoke Market. When you leave the country, you can exchange your kyat at the airport or banks before you take off. Keep in mind that no here outside of Myanmar ill be interested in exchanging your extra Kyat, make sure you get rid of your extra before you leave. Tipping Tipping is not customary in Myanmar, though little extra 'presents' are sometimes expected (even if they're not asked for) in exchange for a service. Airport: If someone helps you ith your bags, a small tip is elcomed. Restaurants: As ages are lo, it's a good idea to leave change for aiters in restaurants. Temples: A small donation is appreciated if a caretaker is required to unlock a temple. HEALTH The folloing advice is a general guide only and does not replace the advice of a doctor trained in travel medicine. Before you go Health insurance Make sure your travel insurance or separate private health insurance covers all possible health eventualities in Myanmar the country's health system is far from ideal and although there are international-standard hospitals in Yangon for major incidents, an air evacuation to neighbouring countries may be required. Health advisories Consult your government's ebsite on health and travel before departure: Australia ( Pre-travel checklist - Pack medications in their original, clearly labelled containers. - Carry a signed and dated letter from your physician describing your medical conditions and medications, including their generic names. - If you have a heart condition, bring a copy of your ECG taken just prior to travelling. - Bring a double supply of any regular medication in case of loss or theft. - Take out travel insurance DANGERS & ANNOYANCES For the vast majority of visitors, travel in Myanmar is safe and should pose no serious problems. - Some areas of the country remain off-limits due to ongoing civil ar and/or land mines. - In off-the-beaten-track places, here authorities are less used to seeing foreigners, the chances are high that you'll be kept an eye on. - If you have any tattoos of buddha on your body, keep them covered up. Government travel advice Consult your government ebsite for travel advisories and information on current hot spots before departure. Australia ( Page 3 of 5

4 Crime While not unheard of, crimes such as mugging are rare in Myanmar. Locals kno that the penalties for stealing, particularly from foreigners, can be severe. ELECTRICITY Connect (hen it's orking) to the electricity supply (230V, 50Hz AC). The folloing socket types are used: Transport and road hazards The poor state of road and rail infrastructure plus lax safety standards and procedures for flights and boats means that travelling can sometimes be dangerous. Safety often seems to be the last consideration of both drivers and pedestrians. Proceed ith caution hen crossing any road, particularly in cities here drivers are unlikely to stop if they are involved in an accident ith a pedestrian. Traffic drives on the right in Myanmar, but the majority of cars are right-hand-drive imports, hich add to the chance of accidents occurring. Tattoos and Buddha images Depictions of images of Buddha deemed inappropriate or offensive by Buddhists have caused serious problems for visitors to Myanmar recently. Pay heed to such local religious sensitivities and moderate your behavior accordingly. PHONE & INTERNET Many hotels and budget guest houses have WiFi or at least a computer ith ired internet for guests. Many restaurants, especially in tourist areas like Bagan, Yangon and Mandalay have WiFi hich may not be fast, but it is sufficient for checking s and facebook. SIM cards can be purchased for about USD $2. Pre-paid cell service included data service is affordable ith decent coverage throughout the country. For oversea calls, USD 2 Cents per minute ill be charged to call Australia from Myanmar. CLOTHING INFORMATION Yes, there are dress codes for hen you visit the temples of Bagan and the Shdagon Pagoda. Make sure you cover your knees and shoulders at all times. Shorts are okay, but I ould recommend you to buy a sarong ahead of time, there are some very light-eight ones you can get, so you alays have it handy and on t be denied entry hen you stumble across a temple or sacred site you ant to visit. And don t orry about shoes, you ill have to take them off at the pagodas anyays so it s best to opt for something simple and sturdy you can easily slip into, such as sandals. If you don t ant to alk barefoot throughout the temples, bring an old pair of socks to slip over. TOILETS - Apart from most guesthouses, hotels and upscale restaurants, squat toilets are the norm. Most of these are located don a dirt path behind a house. - Usually next to the toilet is a cement reservoir filled ith ater, and a plastic bol lying nearby. This has to functions: as a flush and for people to clean their nether regions hile still squatting over the toilet. - Toilet paper is available at shops all over the country, but not often at toilets. Some places charge a nominal fee to use the toilet. Page 4 of 5

5 - Sit-don toilets are not equipped to flush paper. Usually there's a small aste basket nearby to deposit used toilet paper. - It's acceptable for men (less so for omen) to go behind a tree or bush (or at the roadside) hen nature calls. - Buses and smaller boats usually don't have toilets. Weather Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec *Annual overvie of main tourist destinations Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan and InLe Lake Pleasantly arm C Hot & dry C Very hot & dry 35 C+ Monsoon C Hot & et C If you have any questions prior to your departure, please do not hesitate to contact us. HAVE AN AMAZING TRIP! Page 5 of 5