1. CLIMATE

Tropical, generally hot and humid. Cooler in mountain areas.

Coolest months: November-February (average temperatures 15-24 C)

Hottest months: March-May (average temperatures 25-33 C)

Monsoon, rainy months: May-September

2. CURRENCY

The official Myanmar currency is Kyat (pronounced ‘Chat’). The official exchange rate is 6 Kyat to USD 1-. The unofficial or market rate (at the time of printing) is as high as 800 Kyat to the dollar. There are several authorized moneychangers in Yangon who will exchange USD into FECs (Foreign Exchange Certificates) and Kyat. One FEC equals USD 1.-. It is not compulsory to exchange foreign currency into FECs and not recommended. Myanmar is a ‘US Dollar country’ and in principle only US Dollars in cash in small denominations are accepted. Credit cards are only accepted by a few hotels and shops which mostly charge high commissions on credit card payments. Travellers cheques and Euros are not recommended as these cannot be exchanged at local banks. It is recommended to only change a small amount of US Dollars into the local currency (Kyat) as US Dollars are accepted throughout the country.

Travelers are also advised not to change any money at airport both in Yangon and Mandalay as the exchange rates are unfavourable. It is recommended to change USD cash at local money changers, Asian Trails guides and staff will brief travelers accordingly upon arrival in Myanmar.

3. PUBLIC HOLIDAYS

01 Jan 2005 Sat            New Year’s Day
04 Jan 2005 Tue           Independence day
12 Feb 2005 Sat           Union Day 
02 Mar 2005 Wed          Peasant’s Day
24 Mar 2005 Thu           Full Moon Day of Tabaung 
27 Mar 2005 Sun           Armed Forces Day
13-16 Apr 2005             Thingyan Festival
17 Apr 2005 Sun            Myanmar New Year
01 May 2005 Sun           World workers Day
22 May 2005 Sun           Fullmoon day of Kason
19 Jul 2005 Tue             Martyr’s Day
20 Jul 2005 Wed            Full moon day of Waso
17 Oct 2005 Mon           Full moon of Thidigyut
15 Nov 2005 Tue           Full moon day of Tasaunmone
25 Nov 2005 Fri             National Day
30 Dec 2005 Fri             Karen New Year (Karen People only)
25 Dec 2005 Sun           Christmas Day

4. AIRPORT TAX

Departure tax for international flights is USD 10.- payable in US dollars or FECs. No departure tax for domestic flights. Subject to change without notice.

5. PASSPORT & VISAS

PASSPORT AND VISA
All travellers to Myanmar require a valid passport of minimum 6 months and a Myanmar visa. There are three ways to obtain a Myanmar Visa.

Myanmar Embassy or Consulate
Apply for a tourist visa at any Myanmar Embassy or Consulate. Tourist visas are issued for a duration of 28 days at all Myanmar Embassies or Consulates and can be extended in Myanmar upto a maximum stay of 90 days. The EVT Package Tour visas have been abolished. Any tourist whether travelling on a package tour or individually will receive the same type of tourist visa. The compulsory exchange into FECs (Foreign Exchange Certificates) was abolished in 2003. EVT Package Visa exception letters are not required anymore.

On-line Visas
Since June 2004 visas to Myanmar are available on-line. The Myanmar government has simplified visa applications and travelers as well as travel agents can apply for Myanmar visas on-line. See www.visa.gov.mm for further information.

Pre-arranged Visas on Arrival
Pre-arranged visas on arrival can be arranged through Asian Trails for travellers arriving at Yangon International Airport. Asian Trails requires passengers’ passport details including name as spelled in passport, nationality, passport number and occupation latest 2 weeks prior to arrival in Myanmar. Asian Trails will apply for tourist visas and email attach a visa confirmation letter issued by the Myanmar authorities to the travel agency or traveller. Travellers will have to show this visa confirmation letter to the airline boarding the international flight to Yangon. Upon arrival at Yangon International Airport travellers have to contact the Visa on Arrival counter, show their visa confirmation letter, hand over 1 passport photo and pay the visa fee of US$ 20.- per person (subject to changes without prior notice). Asian Trails charges a handling fee for all visas on arrival of US$ 10.- per person.
Whichever way a Myanmar visa is obtained all travellers whether travelling on a package tour or individually will receive the same type of tourist visa. The compulsory exchange into FECs (Foreign Exchange Certificates) was abolished in 2003 for all tourists.

6. HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

No vaccinations are officially required for a visit to Myanmar. Travelers should check with their doctor or a travel immunization clinic regarding the advisability of inoculation against typhoid, hepatitis, tetanus and Japanese encephalitis as well as Malaria Prophylaxis. It is a wise choice to use an insect repellant against mosquitoes, especially upcountry and in forested areas. The sun can be remarkably hot and a hat and high-factor block cream is advisable.

7. RESTRICTED AREAS

Whereas Myanmar has opened most areas of the country to foreign visitors, there are still a few areas for which a government permission is required.

8. POST AND COMMUNICATION

The postal service in Myanmar is considered unreliable and letters sometimes are taking months to arrive at their destination. The country code for international calls is (95) and these can be made from major hotels and the Central Telegraph Office in Yangon and Mandalay. The service is improving however the connection is sometimes still poor and international calls are still expensive. There is no public phone system with a pre-paid call systems or Internet cafes available for email services.

9. TRANSPORTATION

Public train, ferryboat and bus are transportation services that are available throughout the country, however, these services are generally of a lower standard and uncomfortable for some. The boat trip between Mandalay and Bagan is operated by a local Chinese-built ferry (except on Wednesday and Sunday when a local slow ferry is used) and takes about 8 hours (depending on the river conditions it might take longer).

10. INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS

Direct flights to Yangon are available from Bangkok, Calcutta, Chiang Mai, Dhaka, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Kunming, Singapore and Taipei. Airlines currently serving Yangon are Air China, Air Mandalay, Biman Bangladesh Airlines, China Airlines, Indian Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Myanmar Airways International, Silk Air and Thai Airways International.

11. DOMESTIC FLIGHTS

Myanmar Airways is the country’s official domestic airline. The air service has improved significantly in recent times and privately operated carriers are now flying to the most popular tourist destinations throughout Myanmar. Baggage allowance on domestic flights is limited to 20kg. Excess luggage can be left in Yangon hotels for collection on return from upcountry.

12. CUSTOMS AND FORMALITIES ON ARRIVAL

All items of jewelry, cameras and foreign currency in excess of USD 2,000, must be declared upon arrival and on the currency declaration forms. Travelers should have completed these forms during the flight to Yangon and should submit them upon arrival. No Myanmar currency may be imported or exported.

Upon arrival your passport and visa will be checked and FIT travelers are required to exchange USD 200.- into FECs.

Duty free allowance is 200 cigarettes and one liter of wine or spirit. Export of Buddha images, gemstones and antiques without an official receipt is prohibited.

It is not permitted to bring mobile phones into the country. Even if they are not connectable to international networks such as GSM, they will be confiscated upon arrival at Yangon International Airport and released only upon departure.

13. HOTELS

Yangon and Mandalay offer a wide choice of accommodation including boutique hotels and international five star properties. In Bagan and the Inle Lake region travelers should not expect deluxe properties, but have a choice of charming, traditional accommodation or Chinese style multiple-storied hotels. Due to a limited hotel supply outside of Yangon and Mandalay Travel-here cannot guarantee specific hotel requests and reserves the right to substitute accommodation of the best available alternative standard. Travelers are reminded that in some areas of the country accommodation can be simple and basic.