Myanmar

[valeriano]

I've read in a traveller's website that it is forbidden to enter Myanmar by car.
Anyone know the reason?

[charlieaarons]

They have a paranoid, xenophobic military dictatorship.

Charlie

[valeriano]

So, there is no way of entering this country by car?
Or is there a chance to get in by a small border?

Like Iran. Any foreign car entering this country has to pay a fee of 1000 euros. But there is a (dangerous) border near Iraq where you can get in without paying the fee.

[charlieaarons]

No way I know of.

Charlie

[thairish]

it is a very porous border and certainly possible. can it be done legally right now? not sure.

[thairish]

here is a pic from a few years ago when things were more relaxed

[egn]

So, there is no way of entering this country by car?
Or is there a chance to get in by a small border?


I have read that a few years ago some people entered Myanmar from India by car. They had much trouble in India to reach the border, and much more trouble followed after entering Myanmar. They were not allowed to drive their car by them self. The roads were very bad.

Here (http://wikitravel.org/en/Myanmar) you find some information.

It doesn't seem to be totally impossible. (http://www.worldtrip.de/Weltreise-Forum/cgi-bin/weltreisen/YaBB.pl?num=1120823676/0)

A lot of information can be found in this Thread (http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1359256&tstart=15).

Here (http://www.daearly.com/burma_road.htm) are infos from a real trip.

Here (http://www.ananda-travel.com/UK/myanmar_authorized_zone.htm) more current info.



Like Iran. Any foreign car entering this country has to pay a fee of 1000 euros. But there is a (dangerous) border near Iraq where you can get in without paying the fee.

I don't know any real problems regarding entering Iran. I know a lot of people that went last year from Europe to India through Iran.

[valeriano]

I have read that a few years ago some people entered Myanmar from India by car. They had much trouble in India to reach the border, and much more trouble followed after entering Myanmar. They were not allowed to drive their car by them self. The roads were very bad.

Here (http://wikitravel.org/en/Myanmar) you find some information.

It doesn't seem to be totally impossible. (http://www.worldtrip.de/Weltreise-Forum/cgi-bin/weltreisen/YaBB.pl?num=1120823676/0)

A lot of information can be found in this Thread (http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=1359256&tstart=15).

Here (http://www.daearly.com/burma_road.htm) are infos from a real trip.

Here (http://www.ananda-travel.com/UK/myanmar_authorized_zone.htm) more current info.

Thanks for the links!


I don't know any real problems regarding entering Iran. I know a lot of people that went last year from Europe to India through Iran.


There is a brazilian couple doing the world trip and they had LOTS of trouble there. You may read their experience here: http://www.viagensmaneiras.com/PELOMUNDO/76/IRA.htm

The site is in Portuguese, but google may help you with the translation.

[thairish]

some views from the thai side

[luangwablondes]

A few years ago there were people driving into to the country via China. It's worth the effort to get in. I spent a month in '95 and '97 there and it was a magic place.

[adventurebuddies]

When I was in Myanmar in 2003 they were not allowing any overland entry into the country. There was a guy who had flown a bicycle in and was trying to use it to move freely within the country and they threw him out. Those generals want tourist dollars, but they want to control what you see and having people mobile in their own vehicles is not good for that.

[thairish]

it is possible to drive in now, but one must be accompanied by a guide, follow a preplanned route within restricted areas, etc. much of the country is still off-limit to tourists, particularly the border areas where the ethnic minorities are.

[thairish]

policy change: as of about a month ago the generals are no longer allowing self-drive into myanmar

[Mr Rehab]

Don't know if you're still interested in self drive into Myanmar but the info below came from some email correspondence with a Myanmar based tourist agency in May 2012:

1/ "Many thanks for your mail. We have pleasure to hear that you intend to travel with your own vehicle into Myanmar. We can certainly help you with arrangements, however you will have certain restriction to respect which until now are still in place

- Foreign cars need to give a detailed programme to the Authorities of the day by day routing. This then needs to be approved.
- You will have two choices of ‘escort’ or guide: either we put one person into your vehicle, or if this is not possible, then you will have a car driving with you as an escort.
- Accommodation: has to be in government approved hotels or guesthouses, you cannot sleep in your car where ever you like (camper car).
- Border entries: You can enter by car from the Chinese side (Ruili/Muse) and exit at the Indian side (Tamu) provided you have all the necessary authorization to travel through Manipur (India). This can be a tricky part.
- Entering from Thailand: as per my current information, the borders with Thailand are still not open for tourists. You can enter from the north of Thailand into Kengtung area, however you will not be allowed to travel further into the Shan State. Hence, this entry point is of no use to you.

I am planning a meeting with the ministry of tourism sometimes next week, and I can bring this subject up to get hopefully more updated information. I will get back to you no sooner I have had the meeting."

2/ "Thanks for your patience. I have met with the high up authorities, and for the time being, self driving can be arranged for caravan groups only. We would need to apply for permission to travel where we need to give the exact routing and time.
Entry from Thailand is only possible in Tachilek, hence your overland drive into the country does not work, as you cannot do the overland part from Tachilek to Taunggyi. Other borders with Thailand are still not open for tourist vehicles.
The easiest would be to enter through China (Muse/Ruili) and exit the same way again.
We can assist you with the permits provided that you give us an exact routing which we can submit to the authorities.

As the country is opening fast, you might want to wait for a year or two by when the situation might be different and requests like yours would actually be possible without too much hassle."

So, its possible to enter Myanmar on a self drive trip but the restrictions on entry/exit points and on travel in country don't look appealing.

[Christian P.]

These guys just rode their bike there, with a guide. Looks phenomenal.

http://overlandsphere.com/overland-travel/asia/south-east-asia/myanmar/myanmar-burma-wonderful-country-full-of-wonderful-people/107592?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=myanmar-burma-wonderful-country-full-of-wonderful-people