Myanmar Bus: The Chosen Transportation

Myanmar Bus is the cheapest and simplest way to get around Myanmar. Although plane ride could be an option too for other tourists to reach their destination faster, Myanmar bus is a great alternative if you have extra hours to spare. Through local bus networks, Jobelle and I were able to reach the most sought tourist destinations in Myanmar—Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, and Inle—without spending an arm and a leg.

In this article, I will be sharing with you my personal experience with the Myanmar local buses. I started my bus journey in Yangon at Aung Mingalar Highway Bus Station. Aung Mingalar Bus Station is the major pick-up and drop-off point of most local bus networks in Yangon. For travelers, getting there is by taxi or by ride-hailing (grab or uber). The ride from downtown may take about 40 minutes to an hour depending on the traffic and may cost about 7,000-9,000 kyat. If you are going directly to Aung Mingalar Bus Station from the airport, airport taxi is readily available at the arrival area.

FAQ

Question: Is it difficult to get an airport taxi?

Answer: No. You will see airport taxi drivers by the arrival hall. You can do the ride negotiation right on the dot.

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Q: Did you (the writer) consider using public transportation from the airport?

A: Yes I did. However, the Myanmar locals at the time couldn’t converse with me in English. No one could give me proper direction or information. Hence, I opted for airport taxi service.

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Q: How will you know if the operator is an official airport taxi service?

A: You will find a sticker seal next to the City Taxi number.

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Q: Is there a standard charge? What currency do they accept?

A: Yes. Airport taxi service costs a little more than a regular taxi but not to the point they’re overcharging tourists. They accept Kyat or US Dollars.

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Yangon to Bagan to Mandalay to Inle to Yangon

Prior to getting off the taxi or ride, you ensure you inform your driver about the local bus company you are traveling with. Aung Mingalar Bus Station is a huge place with so many local bus companies. I personally experienced the chaos there and you don’t want to get lost there if I were you. Since our tour guide did the bus ticket purchase over the phone, he knows where exactly to take us.

Typically, tourists can book bus tickets ahead of time by doing an online purchase but with higher fees. Some will buy it from local travel agency, where travel agents can arrange everything for you. Hotel front desk staffs are the best people to ask for a recommended travel agency. Local intercity bus have day and night buses. In this trip, my friend and I chose to travel at night so we could maximize our tours during the day.

Bus Route: Yangon to Bagan

Bus Company Name: MIN THAR BUS EXPRESS Fare Price: 18,500 kyat (13.70 USD) / person Bus Class: VIP Seat Configuration: 2 + 1 Restroom: Yes Departure Time: 8:00 am Arrival Time: 5:30 am (Bagan Shwe Pyi Highway Bus Terminal) Stop/s Made: 1 Amenities ·         Neck Pillow ·         Blanket ·         Hygiene Kit ·         500 ml Bottled Water (Wynn Purified Drinking Water) ·         Plastic bag ·         Small Snack MIN THAR BUS EXPRESS PHOTOS

Upon arrival at Bagan Shwe Pyi Highway Bus Terminal,  local guides  flocked on us and tried to persuade us to book a tour with them and drive us to our hotel for a ridiculous amount. I highly recommend you contact your accommodation by sending them an email or giving them a ring soon as your arrive in Myanmar and ask if they can pick you up from the bus station. I booked with Thazin Garden Hotel via Agoda and they were able to accommodate my request. The front office staff asked for the bus company details & arrival time and their shuttle service picked us up right on time.

THAZIN GARDEN HOTEL RECEPTION

Bus Route:  Bagan to Mandalay

Bus Company Name: MOE TUK OR THOUT HTUN EXPRESS Fare Price: 9,000 kyat (6.67 USD) / person Bus Class: Super Seat Seat Configuration: 2 + 2 Restroom: No Departure Time: 8:30 pm Arrival Time: 1:15am (Ace Star Bnb Backpackers Hostels) Stop/s Made: 1 Amenities ·         500 ml Bottled Water ·         Plastic bag ·         Cologne Towel

SHUTTLE BUS

MOE THUK HTUN BUS EXPRESS

 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank this stellar bus company, MOE TUK / THOUT HTUN EXPRESS, for the following reasons:

1. For picking us up at our hotel (in Bagan) without having to pay a dime
2. Essentially, for having a thoughtful bus conductor & driver
3. For dropping us off at our hotel in Mandalay

Bus Route: MANDALAY TO NYAUNG SHWE (INLE / INLAY LAKE)

Bus Company Name: SHIN THIT SAR BUS EXPRESS Fare Price: 14,500 KYAT (10.74 USD) / person Bus Class: VIP Seat Configuration: 2 + 1 Restroom: Yes Departure Time: 8:30 pm Arrival Time: 4:00 am (Bagan Shwe Pyi Highway Bus Terminal) Stop/s Made: 1 Amenities ·         Neck Pillow ·         Blanket ·         Hygiene Kit ·         500 ml Bottled Water (Wynn Purified Drinking Water) ·         Energy Drink (Speed) ·         Socket

TAXI RIDE ARRANGED BY ACE STAR HOSTEL TO MANDALAY BUS STATION

SHIN THIT SAR BUS PHOTOS

The small travel agency situated next to Ace Star Bnb Backpackers Hostel front desk arranged our bus ticket ride and I highly commend them for providing the best customer service. I would like to mention Lar Sett aka Moon Shine, the person who arranged our  awesome day tour in Mandalay and the same person who tried to get us bus tickets (Mandalay to Nyaung Shwe) despite of the purchasing difficulty due to high peak season.

ACE STAR BNB BACKPACKERS HOSTEL GROUND FLOOR

We arrived in Nyaung Shwe at 4:00 am and there were tuk-tuk drivers who tried to sell their tuk-tuk service for a very expensive price. I remember they were quoting us 4,000 kyat for two people. I literally walked out on them when I checked my hotel distance, which was 0.4 miles (11 minute walk) away from the bus station; they were not amenable to the price I was offering which was 2,000 kyat for two people. When this one tuk-tuk driver realized my friend and I were literally going to walk to our supposed destination, he offered to take us to our hotel with the price we both agreed on.

Bus Route: Nyaung Shwe to Yangon

Bus Company Name: FULL MOON EXPRESS Fare Price: 20,000 kyat (14.81 USD) / person Bus Class: SUPER SEAT Seat Configuration: 2 + 2 Restroom: No Departure Time: 6:45 pm Arrival Time: 7:30 am (Aung Mingalar Highway Bus Station) Stop/s Made: 1 Amenities ·         Neck Pillow ·         Blanket ·         Hygiene Kit ·         500 ml Bottled Water ·         Energy Drink (Speed) ·         Plastic bag ·         Small Snack – Bread (from Shwe Taung Tann Bakery)

FULL MOON EXPRESS BUS

The hotel staff at Aung Mingalar Hotel booked our bus tickets to Yangon with Full Moon Express. They informed us ahead of time that Full Moon Travel has a free shuttle pickup from the hotel to the bus station.  One of the things I didn’t like about the waiting area of Full Moon Express is the tiny space. About 5-6 people could fit inside the waiting area and although they set up chairs outside, outdoor seats provided weren’t enough.

The bus journey from Nyaung Shwe to Yangon took us almost 13 hours. Yup, sounds painful to the butt! We didn’t accept any local taxi offer at the arrival area. Rather, we requested for a grab taxi which I think is far more convenient and just. The pick-up point we indicated in the application is C B Bank Ming Aung Mingalar. The grab taxi driver took less than 5 minutes to pick us from the pick-up point.

I hope these bus experiences of mine help you with your future bus journey in Myanmar. I recommend the bus companies I mentioned in this article. They’re all awesome!

If you think this article will and could help a fellow traveler, friend, or family, you are more than welcome to share this!

Chay-tzoo-beh!

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Isabelle Segui