Myanmar - New Frontier. Holiday by bike. (Picture reports)

[yempaul]

Myanmar has always enticed me since a couple of years back. Not until they officially allow foreign bikes to enter, I have been contacting with numerous travel agents in Myanmar as well as the Ministry of Trade and Tourism but all with unfavourable outcomes. The only time when I got the closest to Myanmar on the bike was to Tachileik, a small town of Shan State bordering with Mae Sai of Chiangrai. Those 3 occasions only limited us to travel within boundaries of the economic zone.

Big break came in mid 2013 when 3 heads put together to ponder on entering Myanmar from a relatively new border. Streams of emails right after another and eventually 6 blokes turned up at Kanchanaburi's Ban Phu Nam Ron border crossings.

Intact and spotless in terms of originality, Myanmar overland border checkpoints are still considered new in receiving foreign vehicles particularly at this precise perimeter.

Tantalizing scenes with appealing temples, stupas and monasteries.

Enjoy these pictures.

The famous Golden Rock of Kayityo

U-Bein bridge, World's longest wooden footbridge

World's biggest book in Mandalay

11 days of immense blow out. Nothing but great time.

You can catch one of the riders blogs of detailed commentaries

http://braapbrothers.wordpress.com/2014/03/20/road-to-mandalay-part-1/

and video by another at;

 

[CraigBKK]

Yes great post, looks well worth a trip.

Can you please expand: "Streams of emails right after another and eventually 6 blokes turned up at Kanchanaburi's Ban Phu Nam Ron border crossings." Did you travel independently or in a pre-arranged tour? What prior arrangements are necessary for a trip of this kind?

Many thanks!

 

[yempaul]

CraigBKK;299401 wrote: Yes great post, looks well worth a trip.

Can you please expand: "Streams of emails right after another and eventually 6 blokes turned up at Kanchanaburi's Ban Phu Nam Ron border crossings." Did you travel independently or in a pre-arranged tour? What prior arrangements are necessary for a trip of this kind?

Many thanks!

The fixer still applies. It took some time for approval since we are in going in a new border crossing. The area is controlled by the Kayan government (KNU), so it took a while before permission was given. Basically we provide them with our intended itinerary and the fixers arrange a government approved accommodation and agreeing on the costs before we submit a set of personal and vehicle documents including travel visas.

 

[TonyBKK]

Brilliant photographs!

I too am quite curious to know more details of your tour. Seems most riders who have taken their bikes into Myanmar have had to book packaged tours with set itinerary and guide. Was it the same for you?

Thank you for a very inspirational thread! :thumbup:

Edit: I see you already answered the question in previous post. Would you be willing to share with us the name of the tour company / contact(s) you used?

 

[yempaul]

TonyBKK;299408 wrote: Brilliant photographs!

I too am quite curious to know more details of your tour. Seems most riders who have taken their bikes into Myanmar have had to book packaged tours with set itinerary and guide. Was it the same for you?

Thank you for a very inspirational thread! :thumbup:

Edit: I see you already answered the question in previous post. Would you be willing to share with us the name of the tour company / contact(s) you used?

Sure ... i'll dig it up.

 

[CraigBKK]

Exiting Thailand so close to BKK to a new world of undiscovered adventure, sounds good to me! :happy1:

 

[yempaul]

TonyBKK;299408 wrote: Brilliant photographs!

I too am quite curious to know more details of your tour. Seems most riders who have taken their bikes into Myanmar have had to book packaged tours with set itinerary and guide. Was it the same for you?

Thank you for a very inspirational thread! :thumbup:

Edit: I see you already answered the question in previous post. Would you be willing to share with us the name of the tour company / contact(s) you used?

Here you go

 

[TonyBKK]

Thank you very much!!

 

[Ian Bungy]

Well Done Guys. Great Trip and thanks for Sharing!

 

[Moto-Rex]

Stunning photos Yempaul, thanks for sharing them.

I like this shot.

Moto-Rex

 

[yempaul]

We were lucky. Our fixer is an award winning photographer where his work has won awards at Havard University. ... He is also a local Bagan who lectures geology in local university. He has done extensive research in Bagan on almost all the 2000 odd architectures there. He knows great spots for photography.

 

[CraigBKK]

I contacted this company after the original post asking for general advice of independent motorbike travel in the country, entering from Thailand's Ban Nam Ron border crossing. I received a few responses this morning, the last of which informed me that this trip is best done in a group, due to government restrictions and costs.

I'll update this thread if I hear anything further.

 

[CraigBKK]

Some more details for those interested, graciously supplied by the contact San Hlaing:

A 10 day trip in Myanmar costs approx. USD1900-2000. Application for permission one month ahead of arrival. The group size should be 6 to 10.

Tour cost is in US$ and on a twin sharing basis.

Tour cost includes;

1. Border permission and formalities in Myanmar

2. Services of one staff vehicle leading convoy with two staffs

3. Local English speaking guide throughout the trip

4. Insurance of third party liability while driving in Myanmar

5. Accommodations in 3 star hotel in Myanmar including breakfast

6. Entrance fee, sightseeing

Tour cost excludes;

1. Myanmar Visa

2. Gasoline

3. Personal expense

4. Extra charge

5. Others expenses didn’t mention in the program

6. Toll gate fees

7. Lunch and Dinner

Anyone interested?

 

[ntb]

CraigBKK;299673 wrote: Some more details for those interested, graciously supplied by the contact San Hlaing:

A 10 day trip in Myanmar costs approx. USD1900-2000. Application for permission one month ahead of arrival. The group size should be 6 to 10.

Tour cost is in US$ and on a twin sharing basis.

Tour cost includes;

1. Border permission and formalities in Myanmar

2. Services of one staff vehicle leading convoy with two staffs

3. Local English speaking guide throughout the trip

4. Insurance of third party liability while driving in Myanmar

5. Accommodations in 3 star hotel in Myanmar including breakfast

6. Entrance fee, sightseeing

Tour cost excludes;

1. Myanmar Visa

2. Gasoline

3. Personal expense

4. Extra charge

5. Others expenses didn’t mention in the program

6. Toll gate fees

7. Lunch and Dinner

Anyone interested?

When you say twin sharing do you mean $2000 each person or for 2 people?

 

[CraigBKK]

Not sure, those details were supplied to me but I read that as $2K per person, based on shared travel with others. I would suggest contacting San Hlaing yourself for more details, he's very helpful.

 

[VietHorse]

In my wish-list quite long time already.
Thanks Yem for sharing this. No Vietnam biker done this, up to now.

 

[kchow24]

In my wish list too..
Scheduled when?

 

[Renzobkk]

Great Photo report, very nice!!!