WORLDCLASS DRIVES. Dawei. Highlights. Dawei

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1 Bawah Ma Yin Gyi KM0+000 Nabule Deep-sea Port & Special Economic Zone Development Project (approximate area ) Ital-Thai Construction Village Mudu Buddha Footprint oil & gas Shan Maw Maungmagan Panyit San Hlan petrochemical port Shine Thar Yar Beach Myaw Yit Samara Beach Kyaunt Mae Oo Sin Htauk Beach heavy industry Tizit (village) medium industry Boa Say Po Po Kyauk (Grandfather Beach) Nyau Pyin San Sa Aw Myin Kaw Aw light industry Pandin-in Launglon Sin Htauk WORLDCLASS DRIVES Kudo Seik to Ye 8 Daung Shaung Yebyu Shin Zalun Takyettaw (TVY) Shin Mok Htee Reclining Buddha Image Lee Khant Hill Nyaungzin Kyauk Ni Maw Aut restaurants Kyauk Wap in village Thabyechaung Shin Taut Pone Yebyu Thayetchaung Kyauk Wat Pyin Myat Shin Maw Projected dam & lake (approximate area) to Myeik Popa East 1 8 to Myitta Pagagyi N 0 kilometers 10 Section start Sightseeing locations Suggested sealed routes Unsealed routes Unsealed/4WD only Sealed road/highway Fishing village Beach relatively close to 4-wheel vehicle parking MYANMAR Highlights Located around 375 kilometers south southeast from Yangon by air (almost double that distance by road), the region and its friendly people enjoy a distinctive southern Myanmar culture. A city of around 140,000 people of Myanmar Buddhist and Karen Christian descent, much of (Section 1) has an atmosphere of a bygone era thanks to its many wooden buildings that have escaped conflagration or redevelopment. From a centrally-located hotel, the town center is small enough to walk around, but a car becomes convenient for cross-town trips and indispensable for longer day-return journeys (see Overnight in the Area page 4 for hotels). Out-of-town sightseeing covers three areas. Foremost is the 60-kilometer-long peninsular west the River estuary (Section 2). Its rugged west coast landscape of scenic bays backed by sandy beaches and picturesque fishing villages is of outstanding natural beauty. North of the peninsular, an almost straight 22-kilometer beach is divided by two inlets. This is where the Deep-sea Port and Special Economic Zone is scheduled for construction (Section 3). Hilltop temples on the mountains to the east of are easy to reach (Section 4), but day return journeys to places in the scenic hills along the road to Myitta and the Htee Pee border crossing to Thailand are limited by a lack of accommodation inland and the time required for a return journey.

2 About this Guide This guide is designed to make self-drive touring in Myanmar easier and must be used together with an online navigation application though we recommend Google Maps in general, Maps.me using OpenStreetMap data may be better for the area. This guide uses Google Maps spelling conventions for place names and distances, but actual distances from those shown in this guide may vary (±) by 2.5kms depending on starting point. Tip: Google Maps is not always as up-to-date as their satellite imagery. Revert to the satellite view for road networks when such is missing from maps, or try Maps.me. Use media such as Lonely Planet s Myanmar guide or Travelfish.org, or hire a guide for detailed information this guide only lists sights. Suggestions for restaurants, hotels (upscale USD75+/mid-range USD30 60+) and guides are given on pages 3 & 4. Before You Arrive & Drive Valid Driver s License To legally drive in Myanmar, you must have a valid international driver s permit or ASEAN driver s license. Smart Phone and Navigation Application Your smart phone should be preloaded with Google Maps or other navigation applications. Myanmar Sim Card Getting a Myanmar sim card on arrival (essential for Google Maps ) is recommended wifi in mid-range hotels is often inoperable. MPT coverage is good. Removable Device Holder Bring a detachable holder suitable to attach your device to the windscreen for driver s ease of vision and minimal distraction from the road. Contents/Planning Your Drive Average journey speeds will be far less than 30 kph on many of the roads in the area. Unless planning to stay in Maungmagan or Sin Htauk (4WD only), routes in this guide require returning to. Always fill your tank in a convenient gas station is on Ka Myaw Kin Road to Maungmagan, ± 600m east of the bridge over the River. Returning to a hotel in before dark requires leaving out of town destinations in the afternoon well before sunset (repeating outbound distances). If traveling after dark (not recommended), drive very slowly and be ultra-cautious pedestrians, vehicles with no lights, confusing road works (at night), piles of rocks and are other unlit hazards are common! Page Section 1: 3 Section 2: The Penisular West to Maungmagan Beach (± 17 kms) & South to the Myat Shin Maw (±85 kms) Section 3: Nabule & The Deepsea Port Special Economic Zone (± 40 kms) Section 4: Inland from Religious sites south on the Myeik Road & East toward Myitta (± 50 kms) & the Htee Kee Border Crossing (± 145 kms) Driving in Myanmar All Yoma Fleet rental vehicles are left-hand drive (right -hand gear shift) for driving on the right in Myanmar. Traffic Speeds are relatively slow. Myanmar drivers are usually polite and often give way, especially outside of major cities like Yangon and Mandalay. Due to old policy, more than 80 percent of vehicles are right-hand drive vehicles. This may contribute to uncertainty and greater caution. Approach intersections and circles cautiously and you will get through. Lane discipline approaching intersections is strict. Drivers do not enter empty left-turn lanes and then cut back in they may pass on the inside (right side)! Sealed main roads are generally good, but beware of frequent uneven surfaces and abrupt gradient changes do not drive faster than the speed limit of 100 kph! Narrow one-lane provincial highways require extra care; drivers must slow and put offside wheels on the unsealed hard shoulder to pass oncoming traffic! Tolls are common on Myanmar s roads and usually vary from MMK Keep plenty of small notes of Myanmar currency to hand in your vehicle. Night Driving should be avoided since unlit vehicles and other hazards raise the accident risk factor. Gas Stations: Please only top up your tank at new gas stations near large towns. These are less likely to serve contaminated fuel from old storage tanks that can lead to a breakdown of your vehicle! Hotline (09 YOMAFLEET) Contact: aung@yomafleet.com Further information: yomacarshare.com

3 Section 1 airport is northeast of the town center and, depending on traffic, only a few minutes drive (± 3.5 kms) from downtown. The capital of Thanintharyi Division, s former English appellation of Tavoy (reflected in the city s airport code TVY) was changed in When spoken in Burmese, the D of beomes a T. For most of its history the town has been part of the Myanmar polity, whether under the kings of Bagan in the 11 13th centuries, the Toungoo Dynasty in the late 16th century or the Konbaung Dynasty from 1760, or as part of British Burma and then Myanmar since independence in However, the area was also part of former Siam three times in its history; under the Kingdom of Ayutthaya from 1287 to 1564, from 1594 to 1614 and from 1740 to The heritage from Siam may be seen in some of the town s pagodas. With the Myanmar government giving the green light to the Deep-sea Port and Special Economic Zone (DPSEZ), a development project heavily promoted by Thai and international business interests, s economic future may once more orient towards Thailand. As is the custom in Myanmar, sightseeing in the town can begin with a visit to the city s main pagodas, which are located close to each other in a religious quarter easily reached by heading along Payar Street, the road that goes northeast from the intersection of Yay (Ye) and Niban Roads downtown. Going northeast, the first monastery on the west side of Payar Street also runs an orphanage. If you are in the area around the time of the alms round in the morning, you may see the pagoda s few young novices (in robes) being followed by the young children living at the temple. Continue along the street to the Shwe Taung Zar Zedi, the city s grandest pagoda. Notice boards near its entrances give the names of the structures on a plan of the pagoda. Other pagodas may be of equal architectural interest but it will be best to hire a guide for detailed help. The must see main market is on Azarni Street, to the west of Yay (Ye) Road and the city hall (built 1841) and contemporary government offices opposite. At the far west end of Azarni Street is the fish market. About 1500m on Seikkan Thar St northwest from the fish market is the Thanintharyi Region Cultural Museum (09:30 16:30 closed Mondays). The museum is worth visiting for the insights it provides into local history and culture. Other places a guide may take you to in town are a shop that produces crisps made out of fish, a cashew nut factory, and one of the last shops in town where women still weave on handlooms finely woven cloth for use in women s tubeskirts is a specialty of. That said, on whichever street in you may be, you are almost certain to see fine examples of the wooden houses with hipped roofs covering second floor balconies, a style typical of this town. Apart from the charm of local people, it is the abundance of well-preserved wooden and colonial architecture that makes special and helps give the town an ambience and a more traditional appearance when compared with other large Myanmar towns. Given the economic development that has swept through Myanmar in recent years, that so much wooden architectural heritage remains in is a blessing for visitors. Dining in For Myanmar food, Daw San has garnered much attention but for friendly local feel and equally good inexpensive local food, try the Irrwaddy Myanmar Food Shop (sic) or other similar local Myanmar food restaurants ordering is no harder than selecting any of the curries in the pots on display by pointing. The Thaharya Bakery & Cafe (on Bogyok Street) offers interesting local alternatives to hotel breakfasts all day. English menus can be found at local Chinese-type restaurants as well as the Tavoy Kitchen. Hotel restaurants include the fifth floor restaurant of the Golden Guest Hotel, the two-floor resturant of the Zayar Htet San Hotel and the upmarket Hotel. Other possibilities include the grand sounding Royal Pyaewa Restaurant, which has a local beer garden atmosphere and a long English menu (on the road to Maungmagan opposite the Mediland Hospital) or any of at least three restaurants serving Thai food. 3

4 At the risk of driving after dark, which is not recommended due to the profusion of motorcycles, numerous unlit hazards and near lack of reflective road markings, the most interesting places for a seafood meal come the evening are at Maungmagan beach, where many of the restaurants have English menus and stay open until around 9 p.m. If returning to a downtown hotel in at night, please be very careful watch in particular for pedestrians, motorcycles and farm vehicles without lights, road works and other unlit hazards. Drive slowly! Overnight in the Area The Hotel the sole hotel in with a pool is the top choice for a room. Otherwise, apart from the mid-market Golden Guest Hotel and Zayar Htet San Hotel (with restaurants already mentioned) the Garden Hotel and the economical Shwe Moung Than Hotel can be considered. Booking in advance at peak times is recommended for all hotels in. At least two places to stay at Maungmagan Beach are commendable. First is the Maungmagan Beach Resort, which is uninspiring in design but located next to the beach; the second is the friendly Coconut Guest House some 500m back from the beach. Other new resorts can be expected to open up since easy access helps make Maungmagan Beach the focus of beach tourism development in the area. Two other places to stay are near the southern tip of the Peninsular (west of the estuary of the River), but neither is directly accessible by car. The Myanmar Paradise Beach Bungalows are at least a 45-minute walk along a motorcycle (only) track from the road. Sinhtuak Beach Bungalows (sinhtaukbeachbungalows.com) offers nice-looking beach bungalows built of natural materials at mid-market prices. It is about 15 minutes walk from the nearest parking. Unfortunately, the road to Sin Htauk is very rough at the pass and is therefore only suitable for 4-wheel-drive or pickup type vehicles with high clearance and tough suspension. No other accommodation is to be found at any of the beaches on the peninsular. Nor is there any accommodation on the road inland toward Thailand. Unless staying at Maungmagan then, plan on staying in and making day return trips. For locally-based guides, contact your hotel, Panorama Travels (0) or Titan Travels & Tours (0) Section 2 The Peninsular (± 85 kms) The 60-kilometer long north-south peninsular formed by the hills west of the River Delta is a potential jewel in the crown for beach tourism in Myanmar, outclassing the nation s more developed beaches west of Yangon. There is a sealed road extending down the sheltered east side of the peninsular, where most of the people live and farm the fertile plains formed by the delta. From this road, unsealed roads west snake over passes and drop down to small villages located behind scenic bays on the west coast. Roughly halfway down the peninsular, more than 20 kilometers of its western coastline consists of rocky points separating at least seven bays with sandy beaches. These are not accessible through the forests and hills along this coast. Only in the north between Maungmagan and Panyit is there something approaching a road linking west coast beaches. West to Maungmagan Beach (± 17 kms) ± 3.5 kms (from downtown ): junction After the bridge over the River, follow the road right for Maungmagan. The entrance for University is shortly after this junction on the west side of the road. ± 5 kms: junction for Shin Zalun Continue west on the road to Maungmagan or go right (north) to the Shin Zalun pagoda. Shin Zalun (± 9 kms from junction) The pagoda is inside the ancient settlement of Thagayar. Old circular fortifications around the settlement can be seen on satellite imagery. More information on this ancient site may be found at the Thanintharyi Region Cultural Museum. ± 15 kms: Maungmagan junction Go left (west) along Maungmagan s high street for routes west to the beach and the Myaw Yit. The road to the right (north) passes a turn-off to a hot spring on the way to Pandin-in (section 3) ± 16 kms: junction for Myaw Yit Follow the man road right to Maungmagan beach, or head straight (left) for the Myaw Yit (± 13 kms) and nearby beaches. 4

5 Myaw Yit (± 13 kms from Maungmagan) The narrow road south from Maungmagan to the passes through several villages. After ± 11 kms, where the road circles round to head north to the pagoda, a dirt road south that seems little used by 4-wheel vehicles, climbs over a point and drops down to a wooden bridge of uncertain condition. This is the start of the dirt road to Panyit. Given potential deterioration of wooden bridges on this route as well as rough surfaces on the pass over to Panyit, this route is not recommended for any Yoma Fleet vehicles. Please go to Panyit Beach via Launglon. Shortly beyond the turn off for the dirt road south, there is access to a parking space behind Samara Beach, which you will likely have to yourself, that is apart from fishing folk who may be living in huts near the south end of the beach. s give a reason for Myanmar people to go places and Myaw Yit is no exception. It consists of an image hall and zedis on rocks on an offshore islet reached by a footbridge above a rocky spit. ± 17 kms: Maungmagan Beach This is s main recreational beach, where local people enjoy playing in the surf with tubes, playing football or riding motorcycles and tandem bicycles on sandy flats exposed at low tide. The sealed lane behind the beach does a loop back to Maungmagan market. Unsealed tracks west from the road to the beach go to parking areas behind and in front of a row of local restaurants by a shady casuarina grove. Maungmagan Beach is the only beach in the area that has readily accessible restaurants (most close at 9 p.m.) as well as a few resorts. South to Beaches & the Myat Shin Maw via Launglon (± 85 kms) ± 3.5 kms (from downtown ): junction Turn left (south) for Launglon west of the bridge. N.B: Please note that though 4WD is only required for the roughest of the unsealed roads that cross the chain of hills running down this peninsular, care should be taken on all such roads. Some of these unsealed roads are likely to become temporarily impassable to vehicles without 4WD after rain! ± 22 kms: Launglon Coffee shops offer chance of a break. Side streets west (Gandamar Street) from the main road near the first 90 degree bend in the middle of town lead to the unsealed road over the hills west to Panyit and the Kyaunt Mae Oo. Panyit & Kyaunt Mae Oo (± 9.5 kms from Launglon) Buy water, food or anything else you need on the beach before leaving Launglon. Away from Launglon, the dirt road west has been sealed with concrete for about three kilometers in the steepest part of the pass over the hills to Panyit Village. The latter is little more than a collection of dispersed houses near the dirt road. Beyond the village, the road tracks across a plain to an area of sand dunes and trees backing Panyit beach. Apart from the pagoda at the very north end of the beach, there are no buildings. On parts of the beach where few trees afford shelter, near desert-like conditions will likely prevail in the heat of the day. Shan Maw fishing village (± 3 kms from the Launglon-Panit Road) is a comparatively small fishing village with friendly folk who, when not fishing, appear to pass much time at simple soft drink stalls in the village. ± 23 kms: junction for San Hlan fishing village San Hlan Village & Lee Khant Hill (± 9.5 kms) Though not sealed, the road over to San Hlan is well travelled by vans and trucks. Park up somewhere near the temple at the southern end of the lane that goes into the village and walk in via the beach or the lane. The latter becomes narrow and jammed up with trucks handling fish. U turning will be tricky and your vehicle will be in the way. From the top of the pass over to San Hlan, a sealed lane south climbs steeply for ± 3kms to the Lee Khant Hill. At around 580m in elevation, the pagoda is one of the highest points in the area from which to enjoy views, especially to the east, south and west. ± 28 kms: junction for Tizit Beach Tizit Bay (± 7 kms) It is ±5 kms over a pass with switchbacks to a junction where a sign points south to Tizit. This lane goes through a village and passes through a ford before continuing to the beach, where there is nothing but sand and sea. Drivers of vehicles 5

6 without 4WD should look at the ford carefully before deciding whether to attempt to cross it. From the T-junction, the main lane continues northwest through the village and then across some flats to the fishing village at the north end of the bay. ± 40 kms: road narrows Road widening work southwards may be ongoing passing other traffic becomes more difficult! ± 54 kms: junction for Sin Htauk Beach Sin Htauk Beach (± 8 kms) Though the pass over to the west coast is quite low, the road surface is very rough and only suitable for 4WD vehicles. The track ends in Sin Htauk village by a steep ramp down to a ± 500m-trail across tidal inlets and sand dunes to the beach. Sin Htauk Beach itself has a small, quite attractive looking resort consisting with basic but fairly comfortable-looking (but not cheap) huts and a small restaurant on a covered deck in a shady grove. A promontory separates Sin Htuak Bay from the bay to the south, where an inlet divides a large arc of pristine beach into Tha Yaun in the north and Po Po Kyauk (Grandfather Beach) in the south. ± 63 kms: Kyauk Wat Pin junction The road goes straight into the largest fishing village on the peninsular. Turn right at the junction at the foot of the hill in the village to go south. ± 66 kms: Kyauk Ni Maw Two local restaurants have English signs. ± 70 kms: Aut Kyauk Wap junction Turn right (west) for Nyau Pin & Po Po Kyauk Nyau Pin & Po Po Kyauk Grandfather Beach (± 3 kms) A short sealed road crosses to Nyau Pyin, another relatively large fishing village with plentiful shops selling drinks. Drive to the road closest to the beach and turn right (north); continue through for the unsealed road that goes over a hill and down to Po Po Kyauk. Do not attempt this short road without 4WD if it has been raining. Parking near the beach is restricted to a small graded space by a drinks stall just above a shallow inlet at the very southern end of the beach. ± 70 kms+: motorcycle trail to San Sa Aw Beach Paradise Beach Bungalows ± 45 min walk ± 75 kms: fishing village ± 78 kms: Min Kwa Aw Beach Horseshoe Bay is undeveloped except for a drinks stall at the sharp corner where the road turns east to follow the beach. ± 81 kms: fishing village ± 84 kms: Myat Shin Maw Located at the tip of the peninsular, the pagoda has platforms with zedis and images at different levels on the steep rocky slopes dropping down to the sea. Local restaurants are by the parking area. Section 3 Nabule & the DPSEZ Project (± 40 kms) Given the quality of sightseeing on the peninsular to the south, driving north along the dusty road (roads are unsealed north of Pandin-in) through tracts of scrubland to Nabule pleasant though the people, villages and nearby cultivated areas and beaches seem to be may feel less worthwhile. Should development activity following plans for the proposed DPSEZ increase, however, the entire area and conditions driving through it will undergo significant change. ± 3.5 kms: (from downtown ) Follow the road right for Maungmagan. ± 15 kms: Maungmagan junction Turn right (north), passing a turn-off to Padan Village Hot Spring after 1300m. ± 18 kms: Pandin-in village The road north becomes unsealed ± 29 kms: village in a shady grove ± 32 kms: intersection with east-west DPSEZ road Turn left (west) for the project offices (± 3kms) and the beach. An unfinished bridge near the KM marker on the main east-west project road may prevent direct access to the beach on that road. Turn right (east) along the unsealed DPSEZ eastwest road for Highway 8 (± 16.5 kms). ± 35 kms: Nabule Turn right (east) for the Buddha Footprint ± 45 kms: Mudu village Turn west after the bridge north of old Mudu for Bawah fishing village (± 3 kms): the unsealed lane passes through a construction village purpose-built by the Italian-Thai Group in an initial phase of the DPSEZ project. 6

7 Section 4 Inland from. (± 50 kms) Religious Sites South on the Myeik Road (± 30 kms) ± 3 kms: Junction Highway 8 turns sharply south. Go east (straight) here to visit Popa East Popa East (± 8.5 kms) ± 2 kms east of Highway 8, leave the sealed lane and take the dirt road that climbs up the hill almost directly ahead. This unsealed road follows the ridge up for more than 3.5 kilometers, passing several zedis and at least one Nat shrine. This site is in no way comparable to Mount Popa in Mandalay Division (See Yoma Fleet s Upper Myanmar s Historical Capitals WorldClass Drive). ± 5 kms: east turn for a Reclining Buddha (± 1200m) Though large, this image is modest in size compared to the Wein Sein image (See Yoma Fleet s East to the Mon Heartland WorldClass Drive). ± 10 kms: Shin Mote Htee The ornate pagoda is on the west side of the road. The area around the small hill to the south is the site of two other pagodas and an ancient settlement, but almost no trace remains of the latter. ± 27 Kms: east turn for the Shin Tauk Pont A sealed lane goes through an archway and an 1800m route up to the pagoda, which stands on a hill ± 220m in elevation. A viewing platform offers a fine panorama of the River estuary. East to Myitta (± 50 kms) (Htee Kee border crossing ± 145 kms) The route east from to the Thai border goes through scenic hill country over a low pass into an area drained by the headwaters of the Thanintharyi River, which flows into the sea by Myeik. People in the area are mixed Bhama, Mon and Karen. The latter predominate inland and are mostly Christian. Mining for tin and other minerals has taken place in this locale since colonial times; the largest mine is the Heinda Mine south of Taung Tone Lone Village. A few local restaurants are in Taung Tone Lone and Myitta, which are the largest villages on this route. East of Myitta, the road follows the Thanintharyi River, but the route may be broken up and dusty depending on the state of upgrading as part of the DPSEZ project. There are no hotels/guesthouses on this route, limiting the distance that may be traveled if wishing to enjoy overnight comfort by returning to before dark. If returning to along this road late afternoon, be very wary of youths speeding home on motorcycles after school! Going with a guide is the best way to understand and travel in this inland area. ± 3 kms (from on Hwy. 8 to Ye): junction east of the Hotel turn right for the road to Myitta ± 16 kms: Papagyi Village ± 19 kms: Pakha Village ± 30 kms: dirt road north for Thin Gon Tone Falls (data uncertain). ± 42 kms: unsealed road north to the upper headwaters of a tributary of the Thanintharyi River a scenic area (data uncertain) ± 44 kms: Taung Tone Lone Village ± 7km south to Heinda Mine (tin & other minerals) from a T-junction in the village ± 48 kms: junction east of Shwe Chaung Village Unsealed road south and a side road to Wu Zoung Chaung Falls and a small hot spring ± 51 kms: Myitta ± 145 kms: Htee Kee border crossing (data uncertain) Happy & safe driving! Hotline (09 YOMAFLEET) Contact: aung@yomafleet.com Further information: yomacarshare.com Created by cnxoliver@gmail.com for Yoma Fleet Limited, Myanmar. All rights reserved. 7