A 10-day itinerary gives a glimpse into the country’s diverse cultural landscapes and remnants of decades of conflicts.
Traveling by trains in Myanmar is a slow journey crossing scenic countrysides and observing livelihoods that depend on railways. In general, railway service is poor with aging passenger coaches and locomotives. Built by the British in 1877, the narrow-gauge 3 ft 3 3⁄8 in railway has not been updated since, and trains cannot run fast on narrow-gauge, and if it does, it is bumpy rather than smooth. At one point I thought my train was about to derail. Don’t freak out when your train flies in the air.
Myanmar stands out as one of my favorite countries in the region. Most of the country is safe for solo women travelers as I did this trip solo and did not encounter harassment. Make sure to check updated information if you intend to travel to conflict areas.
Fact: 111 languages are spoken in Myanmar
You might be interested in 2 days in Mindat: Face Tattooed Women & Katha: The Town that Inspired ‘Burmese Days’
Itinerary
Day 1 Yangon to Mandalay 4 pm night train
Day 2 Arrive in Mandalay at 6 am
Day 3 Mandalay to Myitkyina 11:30 am train
Day 4 Arrive in Myitkyina at 11 am
Day 5 Day Trip to Irrawaddy Confluence in Kachin State
Day 6 Myitkyina to Naba, from 8:30 am to 4 pm train
Day 7 Naba to Katha 7:30 am train
Day 8 Katha
Day 9 Katha Town
Day 10 Yangon
Best Time to Visit
October to March is the dry winter, considered the best time to visit. Noon in Bagan and Mandalay are hot.
Monsoon season begins in May, lasts till August, and even in October, light rainfalls in the central and southern states.
Warm clothes are strongly recommended. The first-class train is not an air-conditioned carriage, the windows are widely opened, even if it’s closed, the wind finds its way into the carriage. It’s bizarrely cold. Passengers travel with thick blankets. I visited Myanmar in mid-January, Mandalay’s morning and evening are pleasant but Myitkyina is slightly cold.
Getting Around Myanmar
Myanmar Railways don’t have a website. Book a ticket a few days before departure, or buy it early morning on the departure date for first class. For this trip, I did not pre-book tickets. I walked to the station’s ticket counter a few hours before the train departure. There is always a seat :). I did not try the sleeper class. Standard sleeper is a four-berth and two-berth compartments available on Yangon to Mandalay and Mandalay to Myitkyina, requires booking. Special sleeper, which is a self-contained compartment only available on Yangon to Bagan.
On an overnight train, food can be ordered from the train staff. Many vendors jump in and out of each station selling packed dinner, quail eggs, bamboo rice, and snacks, water, etc. On the train from Mandalay to Myitkyina, vendors offered the best food options, including banana leaf fish, and lunch boxes.
Tip: Travel with a roll of toilet paper, hand sanitizer or wipes, warm clothes, and a power bank for a pleasant journey.
Tip: Visit Seat61 for train details and schedules.
Travel by Bus. Buses connect major cities. Several bus companies offer comfortable seats. The overnight buses operate in the main cities. Overnight buses usually give water and a blanket, and most buses have a toilet.
Myatmandalartun goes to Mandalay, continues to Myitkyina or Lashio
Mandalar Minn Express
Bus Booking: Easybook, MyanmarBusTicket, MMbusticket
Visit Flymya.com for bus and flight booking, and car rental
Where to stay?
Mandalay: Celia Hostel Mandalay $11 // 4 pax female dormitory
Myitkyina: YMCA $10 (Very basic amenities: bucket shower & shared toilet)
Katha: Hotel Katha $10
Yangon: Lil Yangon Stay $12
Day 1 Night Train from Yangon to Mandalay
Day 2 Mandalay
Arrive in the Morning
If you plan to take the 4 pm train from Yangon to Mandalay, most likely the 6:30 or 7 am train arrives in Mandalay as if it is on schedule. The city planning of Mandalay is straightforward by naming most streets by numbers.
Opposite from the train station, cross the pedestrians to 30th street, a few breakfast restaurants are crowded with early birds. I ate in the restaurant, served milk tea and steamed bun stuffed with meat; fresh and hot from the wooden steamers.
Where to Stay?
Celia Hostel Mandalay $11 // 4 pax female dormitory
The family-run hostel offers a good vibe and a spacious common area with breakfast
Mansion Hostel $10 // 4 pax female dormitory
Cozy hostel
Thiri Thitsar Hotel
What to See?
The sightseeing points in the city of Mandalay are near the palace, and are walkable. It’s an option to hire a taxi or a scooter driver to navigate the traffic (scooter drivers are found outside of Mandalay palace, cost $10 a day to see ten places) or rent a scooter. I walked around the city.
Mandalay Hill
is not to be missed for sunrise, and a view of the city landscape. Su Taung Pyae Pagoda is located at the hilltop.
In walking distance, where hosts the largest book is Kuthodaw Pagoda . The text from Tripitaka inscribed on marble slabs thatwere cemented inside 729 whitewashed stone-inscription pavilions.
Downtown Mandalay
In the bustling downtown, peek into the dim light shophouses. On 81st street, cross 27th street, found Joon Mosque , opposite is a Hindu temple’s tower-structure-gate of south Indian architecture, which stood out, which is Sri Ganesh Temple . A street of shops owned by Hindus and Sikhs that serves the small community. In an old laddoos (sweets) shop, motichoor laddoos, cashew kati, and others made of milk and sugar sweets were displayed behind the glass.
Clock tower serves as the landmark into a cluster of markets that sell fabrics, daily commodities, spices, etc. Zay Cho Market somewhat functions as a wholesale market. Grab a bowl of noodles on the sidewalk.
Another walking distance market is on 34th cross 77th street, near Golden City Light Hotel, a local market that sells vegetables, sweets, fermented tea paste, and essentials for rituals.
Try it: Coconut Milk with Yam
U Bein Bridge in Amarapura, about 10 km from Mandalay, is the last stop for every tourist to view the sunset. In January, the lake dries up and boating comes to a stop. Kids love running on the narrow, shaky, teak-wooden bridge, making the squeaking noise. It’s very crowded.
More days in Mandalay?
Three Ancient Cities
Exploring the ancient cities of Sagaing, Ava (Inwa) and Amarapura. Hostels do organize a daily tour. Hsinbyume Pagoda is one of the popular visits.
Heading to Shan State?
Gokteik Viaduct is a 280km train ride from Mandalay to Lashio, the highest bridge in Myanmar with construction starting in 1899. It is considered the most scenic journey.
Pyin Oo Lwin is a former colonial’s summer capital. Ride from Pyin Oo Lwin to Hsipaw is the highlight of the Gokteik Viaduct.
Hsipaw is a great destination for trekking to see hill tribes and tea plantations.
Ayeyarwady Ferry
Visit Inland Water Transport to plan your trip along the Ayeyarwady.
Day 3 Overnight Train to Myitkyina
Train to Myitkyina left Mandadaly at 11:30 am, and arrives the next morning at 11.
Myitkyina is the capital of the Kachin state, with the majority converted to Christians. Open-fire persisted between the government military and the Kachin Independent Army, many areas are restricted to tourists. It is not currently permitted for foreigners to travel to Myitkyina by boat.
If you want to save time, four flights per day operate from Mandalay to Myitkyina.
Where to Stay?
YMCA $10
Basic room. No wifi. Hot bucket shower. 2 minutes walk from the train station. Walk-in.
Hotel United $25-$30
Basic room & amenities with wifi behind YMCA, 3 minutes walk from the train station.
Hotel Myitkynia $60-80
Cartel Hotel $72
Many vendors jumped on the train carrying a pink-plastic basket of food or a tray of food packed in a plastic bag.
Day 4 Myitkyina
The train arrived at 11 am, the vibes of the train station combining with a pleasant January weather, Myitkyina seems like a nice small town to stay longer. I walked into Hotel United and YMCA to check availability and price. Many new hotels operate by Chinese-Burmese rapidly grow to meet the local demand in the capital of Kachin.
The city built on the west bank of the Irrawaddy River, I enjoyed the walk to the riverfront, and watched lives along the water bank. A boat crosses the Irrawaddy, wakes up the tranquil river. It’s waiting for the monsoon. Tumbledown-bamboo houses and small-scale corn farms are on the river bank.
Where to eat?
Walk down to the Summer House for late Burmese lunch and the river view.
Market
Late evening locals flocked to the farmer market for supper shopping. It’s outside of the Myitkyina Central Market. I got an eye on purple boiled corn and local snacks. The friendlier locals even shared food.
Day 5 Irrawaddy Confluence
Breakfast
In the early morning, the YMCA neighborhood is still sleeping, with no shops open and few people walking on the street. I’d breakfast inthe Morning cafe or a discreet small tea shop opposite from Shree Ramjanki Temple .
A small community of Sikhs owns shops along the Irrawaddy River. The only Sikh Temple in town, painted gold domes and white walls, symbolically represented the flourishing of the community. It’s a place of identity that holds the community together, the same for Sri Jagannath Temple, Shree Ramjanki Temple, and Dragon Chinese Myanmar Temple in the neighborhood.
Irrawaddy Confluence
The confluence is 46 km from Myitkyina, about 1 hour 20 minutes drive. Irrawaddy Confluence is where the Mali Kha and the N Mai Kah met.
A dam project signed by the former military regime and a Chinese construction company has been put on hold as a result of local and popular opposition. Boats are available for hire. Grilled fish is the most popular served in restaurants.
The ride to the confluence is very interesting in itself, sightseeing villages, churches, and farming activities. On the way, Kachin Theological College & Seminary is an interesting institute to visit and understand students’ lives and education in Northeastern Myanmar.
Where to go after Myitkyina?
Indawgyi Natural Lake is the least visited, the 3rd largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, about 180km from Myitkyina.
Transport: Take train to Hopin and one hour drive to the lake.
Stay: Indaw Mahar Guesthouse, in the village of Lon Ton, is the only village foreigners can stay.
Day 6 Train to Naba
Morning Train
The earliest train from Myitkyina to Naba starts at 8:30 am and arrives at 4 pm. When I arrived in Naba, the train that goes to Katha has long gone. The only train from Naba to Katha operates at 6:30 am. Naba to Katha is about 20km. Guesthouses in Naba do not have a permit to accept foreign tourists.
Option 1: Hire a tricycle motorbike onward to Katha
Option 2: Arrange a pick-up with Katha Hotel
Option 3: Stay a night in Indaw, about 9km from Naba. It costs the same if choosing option 1. Transport has to arrange to pick up at 5:30 am to catch the morning train to Katha.
Where to Stay?
Indaw
Indaw Lake is one of the attractions in addition to the monasteries.
Indaw Hotel $10 dormitory
Basic hotel equipped with hot water and wifi.
Aung Myittar Restaruant
Try the Lemon Juice Fish
Katha
Hotel Katha$10
Day 7 Katha
Katha built on the bank of the Irrawaddy, where on a good water level day, boats operate to Bhamao. Despite its small size, the population reaches 27,000, and minorities such as Chinese, Nepalese, Urdu speakers, and Indians as they referred to me in conversations, share the space of the small town.
Before the crack of dawn, farmers arrive in the station with baskets or rice sacks of vegetables to sell in Katha. The train ride is not scenic, rather riding on a historical journey as George Orwell did. The locomotive is old, manufactured in 1964, with two passenger coaches, takes 90 minutes.
Arrived in Katha around 9 am, I ordered a paratha and tea from the station teahouse. It’s pleasant and picturesque to sit here and look at the railway tracks and the enormous shady tamarind tree on the other side. But I wouldn’t recommend the paratha.
Finding George Orwell
Finding the footprints of George Orwell, who published his first novel, Burmese Days, based on a fictitious town, Kyauktada. It turned out to be Katha. When I mentioned the name George Orwell to locals, they pointed me to the Deputy Commissioner’s house, which has turned out to be a colonial museum today. The lady who lives opposite holds the key to the gate. She politely opened the gate when being asked. The British colonial double story house painted in red and black.
The English Club is serving as an office for a bank now. Staff is friendly, allowing to walk around. Orwell’s house occupied bythe Township Police Commander now. And Dr. Veraswami’s house is now a Township Agricultural Office. Emma Larkin’s Finding George Orwell in Burma probably provides more details on the author and his time in Myanmar.
A Quick Guide to Katha: The Town that Inspired ‘Burmese Days’
Day 8 Walk Around Katha
Morning
6 to 6:30 am Monks walk around the neighborhood collecting locals’ offerings.
7: 30 am Watch sunrise at the Irrawaddy Bank
Breakfast
A teahouse is a block from the riverfront, across the street from Mya Sati Pagoda, whose name I have forgotten. They open as early as 6:30 am. Owned by a Chinese family, they offer a few choices of dim sum, omelet, pork, and non-stuffed steamed buns. For vegetarians, I’d go for steamed buns without any stuffing (mantou). Get a seat outside, and soak yourself in the sun as locals do.
In the market near the train station, turn into a narrow lane, where ladies make Mon Lin Mayar, the rice flour snack, and a Muslim family-owned snack and tea shop. I sat here for an hour filling up my journal. I had lunch at a local house, on the same lane, where mostly local women patronized. It serves in buffet style. Otherwise, a bowl of Mohinga from the central market stall for lunch.
Visit Mya Sati Pagoda, Radha Krishna Temple, and mosque.
Day 9 Katha
Katha is a small town, easily spent a relaxed day by enjoying the riverfront walk and chatting with locals in the market. I spent most of my time in the teahouse filling journals. It’s the best way to end my short trip to Myanmar.
Another way to explore the outskirts of Katha is by renting a bicycle from the Katha hotel.
More days?
Bhamao is on the Irrawaddy riverbank in the state of Kachin. The only flight from cities or ferry/fast boat goes to Bhamao. The ruins of Sampanago, the ancient Shan Kingdom, can still be seen.
The fast boat looks like it operates every day from Katha to Bhamao at 9 am and to Mandalay at 5 am. Call +95 09423232240/+95 09400436212
Check Inland Water Transport
Mandalay – Bhamo (special express) Mon, Thur, Sat, 6 am
Day 10 Yangon
Where to stay?
Lil Yangon Stay $12
I checked in for half a day for a shower and the location.
501 Merchant $17
Niche interior design with great location.
Backpackers B&B Homestay $19
Bodhi Nava Boutique Hostel & Café $36
Urban interior design with spacious reception area
How to spend half-day in Yangon?
Downtown
There’s every reason for me to love downtown Yangon. It’s crowded but rather less hustle and bustle than its capital.
Bo Soon Pat Street + Neighborhood
I love to walk on this street and look into each balcony.
Rangoon Tea House
Fusion teahouse with a touch of modern design. I’d recommend Mutton Biryani and samosa. I love how the menu is designed like a newspaper. It offers a diverse selection of Indian, Chinese, and Burmese food.
Souvenir: HLA Day
A not-for-profit organization works with local artisans and other groups to produce handmade products. Handwoven fabrics stitched to contemporary dress and tunics. Next door to Rangoon Tea House. Beautiful handwoven table runners cost about $30.
Craving for coffee?
It’s the end of my trip. I want to pack some great Myanmar highland coffee beans home. So far, I still love the local brand, Genius coffee shops, or find them in supermarkets.
