FAQs

In 2019, ATMs are blooming in Myanmar. You can find many ATMs in popular attractions such as Yangon, Mandalay, and Bagan. U.S. dollars are used more often than anything else in Burma. For other destinations, bring cash and traveler’s checks as a backup. For your cash, make sure that the bills are clean and new, without rips, tears, or wrinkles. Bring bills that are newer than 2006. That’s the same if you want to exchange your money from US dollars to MMK, remember to keep your money new, without rips, tears, or wrinkles money. Depending on your spending habits, consider carrying a couple of 100’s, a couple of ’50s and plenty of 5’s, 10’s, 20’s, and singles for smaller purchases. Burma is a very safe country, but you may want to put your passport and cash in a neck pouch under your shirt.

As in many Asian countries, tipping is not customary in Myanmar. It means that an act of generosity could potentially be misconstrued as an insult to the locals. Nevertheless, Myanmar tourism has been developing and more and more international tourist visits Myanmar each year; thus, the perception of tipping etiquette has been changed. Setting aside a small amount for restaurant staff, porters and other service workers is considered polite. With most Burmese people earning a low wage, a modest tip will be accepted graciously by most.

The Internet in Myanmar has been available since 2000 when the first Internet connections were established. Beginning in September 2011, the historically pervasive levels of Internet censorship in Burma were significantly reduced. Prior to September 2011, the military government worked aggressively to limit and control Internet access through software-based censorship. While internet access can be found in some cities and large towns, the speed may be slow and popular websites like Gmail, Facebook, Skype, and Yahoo are usually blocked. Thus, when traveling in Burma, be prepared to have a break from technology for a while.

Like in many Southeast Asian countries, tap water does not guarantee the hygiene so we highly recommend not drinking water in Burma. For environmental reasons, try to avoid buying bottled water. Instead, fill a reusable water bottle or canteen with filtered water. We strongly urge our tour participants to carry their own reusable water bottle and bring a water purifier, such as a SteriPen, so as to cut down on the number of plastic water bottles that get thrown out daily in Myanmar. It’s also advisable to avoid ice in drinks and peel fruit and vegetables before eating.

No, it’s not. Though it is one hot country, don’t wear too short. You’ll be best off wearing light pants, capris (below the knees), or skirts (again, below the knees). It is acceptable wearing shorts while you wander around the street. However, as you will visit many temples, it is appreciated to wear clothes that cover your knees and shoulder.

Burma uses the same sort of adapter as other parts of SE Asia. Buy one from a local travel store and chat with a salesperson to make sure you’ve got the right one.

You’ll want to check with your cell phone provider about coverage in Burma. If they do offer service there, it can be quite expensive, upwards of $4/minute. It’s best to not expect to use yours while you’re traveling in-country.

It really just depends on your spending habits. Generally, it costs about $35 for a budget day in Myanmar including food and drink. The price of traveling from Yangon airport to the city center by car is about $10. Traveling by taxi within the city center depends on your distance. The average journey is about $1.5. We often find that even those who say they don’t like to shop, end up falling in love with some of the unique crafts in Burma and end up bringing back more than they planned. Souvenirs are not as cheap as you’ll find in Thailand but they aren’t super expensive either.