General Information & Travel Tips

CLIMATE
Generally, Myanmar has three seasons. The monsoon or rainy season is from May to October, the cool dry season from November to February, and the hot season from March to May. During the rainy season, rainfall varies from 75cm in the central dry zone to 500 cm in the coastal region. Average temperature ranges from 21C in the northern highlands to 32 C in central and lower areas.

TIME
GMT + 6.5.

ELECTRICITY
230 volts AC, 50Hz.

CURRENCY
Myanmar currency is called Kyat, comes in notes of 5000,1000, 500, 200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5 and 1 kyat. Three currencies are basically circulating in Myanmar : US$, FEC & KYAT.

FOREIGN EXCHANGE
Visitors may bring in any amount of foreign currency but it must be declared to the customs if it exceeds US$ 2000.
FECs, (Foreign Exchange Certificates), are issued in $ 20, $ 10, $ 5 and $1 denominations and FECs can be purchased with US Dollars or Pounds Sterling. FECs are accepted by hotels, airlines, travel agencies, taxis, restaurants, and as payment of admission fees to museum and pagodas.

CURRENCY EXCHANGE
US dollars in small denomination notes are recommended to bring in Myanmar. Authorized money changers through out Myanmar will only accept US dollars and will exchange US$ into FEC and Myanmar Kyat.

CREDIT CARDS & TRAVELER’S CHEQUES
Currently credit cards and traveler’s cheques cannot be used in Myanmar. So please make sure you bring enough United States dollars in cash for your intended purchases and avoid disappointments.

BUSINESS HOUR
Government office : 09:00 to 16:30hour (Monday to Friday)
Private owned office : 09:00 to 17:00 hour (Monday to Friday)
09:00 to 12:00 (Saturday)

AIRPORT FACILITIES
Yangon International Airport is located 20 km from downtown Yangon. The Arrival Terminal is located separately from the Departure Terminal and the Domestic Terminal and simplified procedures ensure that on arrival and departure, international passengers are processed quickly through immigration and customs.

LIMOUSINE SERVICE
A Limousine Service Counter is located in the Arrival Hall. Major hotels provide transfer services and taxis are also available. Passengers are advised not to use the services of tours for taxi or other services. SHWE KAINNAYI TRAVELS & TOURS CO.,LTD will arrange a luxury coach for those who take our package tour.

DUTY FEES
The following goods may be taken into Myanmar by persons over 17 years of age without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g tobacco; 11 of alcohol; 0.51 of perfume or eau de cologne.

AIRPORT TAX
Airport tax is US$ 10 per person on international departure. No departure tax is required for domestic flights.

PROHIBITED AND RESTRICTED ITEMS
Playing cards, gambling equipment, antiques, archeological items and pornography are prohibited. Jewellery, electrical goods and cameras must be declared; failure to do so may result in visitors being refused permission to export it on departure. Video cameras will be held in safe custody at the airport and will be returned on departure.

ENTERTAINMENT
There is not much in the way of western style entertainment in Myanmar but Yangon has some good western restaurants and there are a few bars and nightclubs, notably in the city’s international hotels. In the rest of the country entertainment is mainly confined to some good Chinese and Burmese restaurant and the ubiquitous teashop.

TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Before your arrival in Myanmar, after your tour is confirmed SHWE KAINNAYI TRAVELS can send you the list of all hotels used in Myanmar with their e-mail address, fax number, phone number, and address in every town. But some hotels like in Kalaw, Pindaya and Inle, as these are remote places. There is only phone to contact. Most of the 3 stars and above hotels in Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, Inle, Ngapali and Ngwesaung have internet email access. And there are numbers of internet cafe around in Yangon, Mandalay and Taunggyi. But, Yahoo, Hot Mail, G-mail and most of the free email accounts are banned in Myanmar. But, some of the internet cafes have the way to past the government fire wall.

MYANMAR FOOD
The basic Myanmar food is mainly rice and curry. Mohinga, rice noodles with fish gravy and Ohn-No-Khaukswe, noodles with coconut and chicken curry are popular Myanmar dishes for breakfast and light meals.
There are a variety of desserts like San Nwin Makin (Myanmar sweet cake) and Kyaukkyaw (Sea weed jelly) : Jaggery and laphet (Pickled tea leaves) are the most common ones.
Myanmar is also a country of seafood. Crabs, prawn, lobsters and other shellfish are among the popular dishes available at most Myanmar and Chinese restaurants in Yangon and in other parts of the country.
Typical Myanmar Restaurant serve both meat and vegetable dishes. Most restaurants in Myanmar serve Chinese and Indian food.
Other Asian food includes Thai, Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean and Singapore-style. European food is served mostly at the hotels and there are a couple of restaurants in Yangon serving Italian and French cuisine.
There are several fast food centers and snack bars in Yangon and Mandalay.

LEAVING LUGGAGE
Hotel in Yangon where you’re staying –if you are returning there or SHWE KAINNAYI TRAVELS & TOURS office in Yangon will be happy to look after your left luggage or belonging while you’re making a trip up country.

DOMESTIC AIRLINES
Air Mandalay and Air Bagan are operated throughout Myanmar. There is a 20 Kilo limit for baggage per person and excess baggage fees may be charged.

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS
Yangon has direct air links with Bangkok, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Taipei, Osaka, Chiang Mai, Dacca, Calcutta, Karachi, Bhutan, and Kun Ming. The Myanmar Airways International (8M), Thai Airways International (TG), Bangkok airways (PG), Silk Air (MI), Malaysian Airline (MH), Mandarin Airlines (AE), Druk Air-Royal Bhutan Airline (KB), Biman (BG) and Indian Airlines (IC) all fly to Yangon.