Travel - Myanmar .net

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

8 weeks after cyclone Nargis the international news are reporting only very seldom about Myanmar and many people, who would like to visit Myanmar, ask themselves whether Myanmar journeys at present are possible, under the given circumstances meaningful, or tourists are at all welcome.

Journeys to the delta area are not possible at present and we will not offer trips to the delta area until further notice. All other areas, also Yangon and Bago, can be toured without any problems and all sights can be visited without restrictions.

Other tourist destinations such as Inle Lake, Mandalay, Bagan and also the beaches at Ngwe Saung, Chaungtha and Ngapali were not affected by the cyclone and tourist activities in those areas are operating as usual.

The clearing up work in Yangon is very far advanced, most roads are passable, the city circular train is running, the ferry boats crossing the rivers and also the pagodas including the Shwedagon Pagoda are open again. Electricity and telephone lines are repaired and also from the other damages, caused by the cyclone, is more or less nothing to see anymore.

Yangon International Airport serves regular international and domestic flights’ operations as from the 5th of May and all domestic and international airlines have resumed their flights. Hotels in Yangon are open and operating. Other tourist destinations such as Inle lake, Mandalay and Bagan were not affected and tourist activities in those areas are operating as normal.

Of course tourists are always welcome in Myanmar. Meeting other people gives them a few minutes to forget their worries and hope for the future.

Many people in Myanmar earn their costs of living in the tourism industry and most of them have relatives in the delta area to support for the coming weeks and months.

We are looking forward to your visit and remain with best regards from Yangon.

Shwe Yee & Klaus Dieter Mueller

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NEWS UPDATE

Yangon:
The Nagar Glass Factory had to close temporary due the high costs of gas. We will check with the factory from time to time and inform you as soon as the factory is open again

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Rakhine State / Sittwe & Mrauk Oo:
The road between Sittwe & Mrauk Oo is very bad and the trip by car takes at least 6 hours.
Therefore we have changed our Sittwe & Mrauk Oo program accordingly.
For safety reasons it is also not allowed anymore to travel from Sittwe to Mrauk Oo after 12 noon. As domestic flights are arriving in Sittwe only in the afternoon, clients have to stay the first night in Sittwe and continue by boat to Mrauk Oo the next morning.

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Kyaing Tong airport is open again:
The airport in Kyaing Tong is open again. Air Bagan is flying to Kyaing Tong 4 times a week (Mon, Tue, Thu & Sat) and Yangon Airways is flying to Kyaing Tong 3 times a week (Mon, Thu & Sat).

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Domestic flights:

Air Mandalay:
Air Mandalay is a schedule airline, based in Yangon . It operates flights to all major tourist destinations within Myanmar including Bagan, Mandalay , Heho and Ngapali Beach . Air Mandalay has schedule flights from Yangon to Chiang Mai.

Summer flight schedule of Air Mandalay:
01.05.08 – 15.07.08
16.07.08 – 30.09.08
 

Yangon Airways:
Yangon Airways has become a principal domestic airline in Myanmar flying scheduled and charter flight services to 13 prime commercial and tourist destinations in Myanmar including Yangon, Mandalay, Nyaung U, Heho, Kyaing-Tong, Tachileik, Dawei, Myeik, Kawthaung and NayPyiTaw.

Summer flight schedule of Yangon Airways:
01.05.08 – 30.09.08

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Air Bagan:
Air Bagan is now operating to 17 destinations including main tourist destinations as well as to other commercially important destinations such as Yangon, Mandalay, Nyaung U, Heho, Kyaing-Tong, Tachileik, Myitkyina, Putao, Dawei, Myeik, Kawthaung, Thandwe, Sittwe , Pathein , NayPyiTaw, Kalaymyo & Lashio. .

Summer flight schedule of Air Bagan:
01.05.08 – 30.09.08

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Express boat service between Mandalay to Bagan:
Please note, that there will be no express boat service between Mandalay and Bagan from 01.04.08 – 31.07.08. Schedule for August and September will be published as soon as possible.

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River cruises between Mandalay & Bagan:

The Road To Mandalay was closed for the season so there were no guests onboard. The ship was in Yangon for a scheduled dry-docking and was caught in the cyclone and was badly damaged.

At present, it is unlikely that either operation will be able to reinstate normal services for at least three months. Any passengers or guests booked to travel before 1st September 2008 are advised to contact their local Orient-Express office or travel agent to rearrange their travel plans.

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As you might have known by a press release of "Pandaw Cruises", Pandaw 1947 suffered some damages due to the storm. After 10 days of hard work by our engineers the ship is now floating again in the Yangon river.

Rv Paukan was not hit by the storm because it was in Mandalay but instead few days after it was affected by a fire in the housekeeping storeroom located on the stern of the ship in the main deck. The fire was extinguished in 45 minutes and the repairs are underway.

Please READ the attached file with the details of the incidents and the photos before and after it.

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Pandaw River Cruises:
Has significantly reduced the 2008/2009 schedule for the short river cruises between Mandalay and Bagan and will offer only 2 river cruises in a week between October and March.
Tuesday: Mandalay – Bagan (3 days / 2 nights)
Saturday:Bagan - Mandalay (3 days / 2 nights)

For an updated schedule, please click here.

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HOTEL UPDATE:

Governors Residence (Pansea Hotel) in Yangon:
The Governors Residence also sustained some damage. The hotel had few guests as it is currently the low season; all guests and staff are safe.
The hotel will be closed for renovation until the 31st of August 2008 and reopen on the 1st of September 2008.

Address:
35 Taw Win Road, Dagon Township, Yangon, Myanmar
Tel: 0095-1-229860
Fax: 0095-1-228260
E-mail: yangon@pansea.com
Website: www.pansea.com

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Hotel Nikko Royal Lake Hotel:
Hotel Nikko Royal Lake Yangon celebrated its 10th Anniversary on 20th March 2008. At the same time, the hotel was rebranded as “Chartrium Hotel Yangon” effective from 1st April 2008.

Address:
40 Natmauk Road, Tamwe Township, Yangon, Union of Myanmar
Tel: 0095-1-544500
Fax: 0095-1-544400
E-mail: chartrium@chartriumyangon.com.mm
Website: www.chartriumhotelyangon.com / www.chartrium.com 

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Royal Kaytumadi Hotel in Taungoo:
Located 175 miles from Yangon and good starting point to visit one of the Elephant Camps towards the Bago Yoma, which means Bago mountain ranges. It is the home of the best teak, and the topography of Bago Yoma is a place of genuine beauty.
The new Royal Kaytumadi Hotel (2-3*) has 48 Deluxe, 12 Executive Suites and 3 Royal Kaytumadi Suites.

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Inle Lake / Shwe Inn Tha Floating Hotel:

The Shwe Inn Tha Floating Hotel has upgraded all superior rooms to deluxe rooms and has now 31 deluxe rooms, 4 deluxe family rooms and 2 junior suites
Website: www.myanmarinlefloatingresort.com

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Inle Lake / Paramount Inle Resort:
The Paramount Inle Resort will be closed from 02.05.08 till 07.07.08 for season upgrade renovation work and re-open again on 08.07.2008
www.amazing-hotel.com

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Inle Lake / Inle Princess Resort:
Will be closed from 01.06.08 – 30.06.08

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Chaungtha Beach / Belle Resort:

The Belle Resort a 3* hotel was established in 2005, partly open in October 2006 and fully finished in January 2008.
The Belle Resort has 2 family, 12 deluxe, 12 superior and 18 standard rooms.
www.belleresort.com 

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PRODUCT NEWS:

Our special offers for 2008/2009
http://www.travel-myanmar.net/myanmar-special-phaungdawoo.htm
http://www.travel-myanmar.net/myanmar-special-overland.htm
http://www.travel-myanmar.net/special-offer.htm

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Our new itineraries for 2008/2009

10 DAYS NORTHERN MYANMAR

This round trip brings you to northern Myanmar, a mountainous region bounded on the NW by India and on the N and E by China and traversed by tributaries of the Ayeyarwady River. Visit Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State, drive by car to Bhamo, a small river town close to the Chinese border and drift on a chartered boat the Ayeyarwaddy downstream to Mandalay, the city of the last Myanmar Kings.
This round trip combines scenic interest with a study of local life and culture. We visit the main historic and cultural centres as well as many remoter places well off the beaten track. Such small towns and villages are part of a rich river economy and thriving with local industry and activity. Irrawaddy valley civilization has changed little in hundreds of years and wherever we go the people are warm, friendly and very hospitable.
The river varies enormously: it is vast with endless winding channels just above Mandalay and then dark and narrow through the 3rd Defile. It is a constantly changing landscape with a stunning back drop of mountains.

http://www.travel-myanmar.net/myanmar-travel-10days-northern.htm

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13 DAYS THE FAR NORTH OF MYANMAR

This round trip brings you first to Putao, the far north of Myanmar. Here on the borders of Tibet and Northern India, in one of the great wilderness areas in the world, is this exclusive lodge, with its focus on adventure, nature and cultural activities, offering a unique and exhilarating insight into this area in style, comfort and safety. From here fly to Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State, drive by car to Bhamo, a small river town close to the Chinese border and drift on a chartered boat the Ayeyarwaddy downstream to Mandalay, the city of the last Myanmar Kings.
This round trip combines scenic interest with a study of local life and culture. We visit the main historic and cultural centres as well as many remoter places well off the beaten track. Such small towns and villages are part of a rich river economy and thriving with local industry and activity. Irrawaddy valley civilization has changed little in hundreds of years and wherever we go the people are warm, friendly and very hospitable.
The river varies enormously: it is vast with endless winding channels just above Mandalay and then dark and narrow through the 3rd Defile. It is a constantly changing landscape with a stunning back drop of mountains.

http://www.travel-myanmar.net/myanmar-travel-13days-northern.htm

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BALLOONS OVER BAGAN
Update and news for 2008 - 2009 season

1. Capacity
The capacity will finally increase following a delay during this current season due to the recent drop in tourism numbers. We will therefore, as originally planned, be able to operate a maximum of four balloons at any one time. Total capacity will therefore increase to 40 passengers per flight from the 20th October to 31st March, and will be 24 passengers per flight from the 1st October to the 20th October.

2. Season
Next season will run from October 1st 2008 to March 31st 2009

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UPCOMING FESTIVALS

Festivals in July:

CHIN LONE FESTIVAL,Mahamuni / Mandalay
July 08 – 18, 2008
Chin Lone (Cane Ball) tournament held in Mandalay. It is used to held in Mahamuni Pagoda compound almost a month for every day and night. Cane ball players from all over the country come up to Mandalay to enjoy this festival. We can enjoy to see several ways of playing Chin Lone and racing by either team or individual together with local / folk music played while entertaining the audience.

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