Myanmar tours

Currency

The Burmese kyat is the country of Myanmar's official currency (MMK). At some establishments, such as high-end restaurants and hotels, USD is typically used. January 2018's exchange rate was $1 USD = 2103.23 kyat.
In the major cities, more establishments are accepting credit/debit card payments with a 2-3% fee (five-star hotels, upscale stores, and premium restaurants included).
Major cities have access to ATMs, with each one having a withdrawal cap of 300,000 kyats (about $143USD) every transaction. The exchange rate improves as the denomination size increases.
Due to its convenience, it is a good idea to carry a lot of cash with you when traveling to distant locations and keeping it on hand for emergency situations. There is little concern over transporting
Exchange rate
1 USD = 2103.23 Kyat (MMK)
1 EURO = 2230.35 Kyat (MMK)

Weather

 The majority of Burma has a tropical monsoon climate with three distinct seasons:
Cool: From November to February, the days are warm to hot, and the atmosphere is generally dry.
Hot: 90% of the country is extremely hot from March to May.
Rain is unlikely to fall during the heated and cooling seasons.
Rainy: The monsoon season lasts from June to October, with heavy rainfall.
 

Vaccinations & Medicines

Verify that all primary courses and boosters are current as advised for living in Britain, such as the seasonal flu vaccine (if indicated), MMR, and any other immunizations needed to protect against employment risks, lifestyle risks, and underlying medical disorders.
Programs or boosters typically suggested: Tetanus with Diphtheria.
Additional vaccines to take into account: Rabies, Typhoid, Hepatitis A, and B.
vaccinations that are only recommended for persons who are at the greatest risk: Japanese encephalitis; cholera.
A yellow fever vaccination certificate is necessary for travelers of any age arriving from a nation where there is a risk of spreading the disease as well as for those who have transited through its airport for more than 12 hours.

Phone & Internet Service

For a while, SIM cards in Burma cost a lot of money and were hard to find, but currently cards are typically sold by the Telenor, Ooredoo, Mytel, and MPT (Myanmar Post & Telecommunications) lines for a reasonable K1,500. Cards can be purchased in denominations of K1000, K3000, K5000, and K10,000.
Observing the launch of Ooredoo and Telenor since 2014 and today all three networks provide quick 4G coverage in major cities including Yangon, Mandalay, and Nay Pyi Taw. The major airports of Yangon and Mandalay, as well as the majority of larger towns, cities, and tourist destinations, all offer SIM cards and top-ups for sale.
The Telenor, Ooredoo, MPT, and Mytel logos are frequently seen on stores that sell cards.

Flights & Airports

International Airports 
Tourists most frequently enter Myanmar by plane. The majority of international flights arrive at Yangon Airport, and Bangkok is a popular destination for air transfers thanks to its frequent connections to Yangon. 
Additionally, there are direct flights from many other Asian cities to Yangon, including Chiang Mai in Thailand, Phnom Penh in Cambodia, Singapore, Dhaka in Bangladesh, Kolkata, Delhi, and Gaya in India, Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia, Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City in Vietnam, Beijing, Kunming, Guangzhou, Chengdu, and Nanning in China, Seoul in South Korea, Tokyo in Japan, and Doha in Qatar.
Flying to Mandalay is also an option from Singapore, Kunming, Bangkok, or Chiang Mai in Thailand.
Major airlines include Myanmar International Airway, Air Yangon, Air Mandalay, Air Bagan, Air KBZ, and Asian Wing Airline. These airlines all have official websites, but don't provide online booking; the only use is to view their respective routing maps. Besides, the routing map usually changes every quarter. The cost of a flight between domestic cities is generally less than $100.
Domestic Flights 
Each of Myanmar's seven states and seven regions has an airport.
With 34 flights daily to important locations across the nation, Yangon International Airport is the country's busiest airport. The second-largest and second international airports are both located at Mandalay International Airport.
Reliable Airline brands
Flights to the majority of the cities in the nation are offered by Nyaung U Airport, which is situated in Nyaung, Bagan.

Security

Myanmar is very peaceful in regard to individual security: foreigner-related crimes are very rarely committed. Furthermore, Yangon is regarded as one of Asia's safest metropolitan cities with no specific neighborhoods that should be avoided.
'Money changers' and persons seeking to sell you items may occasionally approach you (their claims ought not to always be taken for granted), but they will typically do so politely. In fact, you'll discover that most people who approach you only want to use the chance to strike up a conversation with a foreigner and possibly improve their English.

Language

The majority of those who live in the highlands and the plains both speak Burmese, which is the official language. English was adopted as the official language during the colonial era, but Burmese remained the dominant language spoken everywhere else. At schools and universities, Burmese and English were both required courses. Hindi, Chinese, and Burmese were the commercial tongues.
Tips for tourists: It’s safe and convenient for international tourists to hire an escorted English or French tour guide because there are some misunderstandings between Burmese and International tourists in terms of exchanging  necessary information and purchasing tourism products and services. 

Time difference

The time zone of Burma is UTC + 6:30, 4:30 more than in France in summer (5:30 in winter).

Electricity

At the end of 2022, Burma's energy sector is now having trouble keeping hold of foreign capital and maintaining a stable operating environment. Just half of Burma's population is wired into the national grid, making it the ASEAN nation with the lowest electrification rate. 80 percent of individuals living in rural areas do not have access to grid energy, according to data from the Myanmar Data Management Unit (MIMU). Kerosene, lights, batteries, and electric generators are used everyday by the vast majority of rural residents. In addition to endangering the nation's economic development, a lack of power also prevents buildings and manufacturing advancement from growing.
Even some developed cities including Yangon, Mandalay, etc are struggling with shortage of daily electricity supply. Moreover, the Ministry also stated that the four-hour power cut will apply in the whole country, meaning that taking turns in four-hours power cuts in different provinces. 
Therefore, international tourists need to check the electricity available in this nation before departing.

On-site traffic

Flights: Yangon and Mandalay international airports are the top busiest airports in Myanmar. International tourists can make flight reservations for direct flights from most Asia countries like Japan, China, Vietnam, Malaysia, etc. There are daily frequent direct flights from Bangkok international airports to Myanmar, so BKK/ DMK is suggested as one of the most convenient air transfer points to arrive in Myanmar. 
Train: Railway is not a favorable transportation means for visitors to Myanmar. Not only was the country's railway built during the British colonial era, it is molded and old, runs much slower than cars, and the carriages are in relatively poor condition; however, the fare is more expensive than cars. 
However, the vehicle has a favorable position over the car and the plane in that it allows you to take in the gorgeous landscapes along the way. The main railway line running north-south from Yangon to Mandalay is the busiest.
Long-distance Buses: 
Travelers can choose from three options:

• Air-conditioned bus with 48 seats;
• VIP luxury bus with 27 seats;
• Air-conditioned minibus with 19 seats.

Since traveling long distances from provinces to provinces, total transfer time is approximately  from 5-9 hours, namely Mandalay-Bagan (5-6 hours), Yangon to Bagan (8-9 hours).
Scheduled short-distance buses: The advantage of this transportation method is pretty cheap although the boat routes are often not punctual and out-dated techniques.  
Another disadvantage is that most buses’ names written by Burmese language, so international visitors  find it hard to recognize its routes. 
Boat: It is undisputed that there are available speedboats and normal vapor vehicles in the peak seasons. To catch boats from Mandalay to Yangon, the daily routes are from 6 AM to 4:30 PM.
Notes: They are unavailable in the dry season. 
Taxis: There are a lot of taxis on the streets in metropolitan areas like Mandalay and Yangon, and they're usually second-hand Japanese cars. The average cost of visiting a city attraction is around 2,000 Kyats. Travelers can hire a taxi to get around the city, but visitors must agree on a price with the driver ahead of time. In general, renting a taxi in Bagan and Mandalay costs around 30,000 Kyats per day.

Useful addresses

United States of America, Embassy of the United States of America
Mr. Scot Alan Marciel
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary (25-03-2016)
Resident in Yangon.
Address :110 University Avenue Road, Kamayut Township, Yangon
Tel : (95-1) 536 509, 535 756, 538 038
Fax : (95-1) 511 069
Website : mm.usembassy.gov
Federal Republic of Germany, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany
Mrs. Dorothee Janetzke-Wenzel
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary (11.10.2017)
Resident in Yangon.
Address : No. 9, Bogyoke Aung San Museum Road, Bahan Tsp., Yangon
Tel : (95-1) 548 951, 548 952, 548 953
Fax : (95-1) 548 899
E-mail : info@rangun.diplo.de
Website : www.rangun.diplo.de
Republic of France, Embassy of the Republic of France
Mr. Olivier RICHARD
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary (26-09-2015)
Resident in Yangon.
Address : 102 Pyi Daung Su Yeik Tha Road,Dagon Township, Yangon
Tel : (95-1) 212 520, 212 523, 212 528, 212 532
Fax : (95-1) 212 527
E-mail : ambafrance.rangoun@diplomatie.gouv.fr
Republic of Italy, Embassy of the Republic of Italy
Mr. Pier Giorgio ALIBERTI
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary (15-06-2015)
Resident in Yangon.
Address : No. 3, InyaMyaing Road, Bahan Township, Yangon.
Tel : (95-1) 527 100-1, 525 375
Fax : (95-1) 514 565
E-mail : ambyang.mail@esteri.it
Website : www.ambyangon.esteri.it/ambasciatayangon/en
Kingdom of Spain,Embassy of the Kingdom of Spain
Her Excellency
Mr. Emilio DE MIGUEL CALABIA
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary (Designate)
Resident in Bangkok.
Address : Lake Rajada Office Complex, 23th Floor 193, Ratchadapisek Road, Bangkok 10110, Thailand
Tel : (66-2) 661 8284-6
Fax : (66-2) 661 9220
E-mail : emb.bangkok@maec.es
Visa : emb.bangkok.vis@maec.es
Website : www.exteriores.gob.es/Embajadas/Bangkok

Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal, Embassy of Nepal
Mr. Bhim Krishna Udas
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary (26-05-2017)
Resident in Yangon.
Address : 16 Natmauk Yeik Thar Street, Tamwe Township, Yangon
Tel : 545 880, 553 168
Fax : 549 803
E-mail : nepemb@mptmail.net.mm
Website : mm.nepalembassy.gov.np
Republic of India, Embassy of the Republic of India
Mr. Saurabh Kumar
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary (17-12-2018)
Resident in Yangon.
Address : 545-547 Merchant Street, Post Box No.751, Yangon
Tel : 391 219, 388 412, 243 972
Fax : 254 086, 250 164, 388 414
E-mail : amb.yangon@mea.gov.in/ hoc.yangon@mea.gov.in
Website : www.indiaembassyyangon.net
The Commonwealth of Australia, Embassy of Australia
Mr. Nicholas Coppel
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary (15-01-2015)
Resident in Yangon.
Address : 623 Pyay Road, Kamayut Township, Yangon
Tel : 230 7410
Fax : 230 7425
Email : austembassy.yangon@dfat.gov.au
Website : www.myanmar.embassy.gov.au