Getting around Myanmar (Burma) by bus and coach
Go-Myanmar.com
Find us on :
- Home
- Destinations
- Yangon (Overview)
- Downtown Yangon & the riverfront
- Shwedagon Pagoda & other religious sites
- Yangon’s lakes & parks
- Museums, markets, art & refreshment
- Eating & drinking
- Yangon city tours & activities
- Accommodation in Yangon
- Getting around Yangon
- Getting to Yangon
- Getting away from Yangon
- Home
- > Travel and Transport
- > Getting Around Myanmar
- > Getting around Myanmar by bus
Travelling by bus is the simplest way to get around Myanmar if you are on a budget – and it is the only way to get to certain destinations (unless you are ready to pay for a private car ).
Bus routes are run by a diversity of different private companies, and they serve most parts of Myanmar– with the exception of some border and mountian areas such as Kyaing Tong and Putao (for some background on this issue, go to about Myanmar).
Please note that the bus map on the left indicates primary bus routes accessible to foreigners , not all bus routes.
Long-distance bus travel
In major centres such as Yangon, Mandalay and Bagan, the long-distance bus stations are located far from the centre of town , so you will need to buy your ticket online here or in advance from a booking office or hotel in the centre of town.
Tickets can be bought at bus stations, but it is recommended to book early for popular routes (such as Yangon to Bagan, Mandalay or Inle Lake), particularly during the tourist high season from November to to April. Things can get particularly busy during the Thingyan (Burmese fresh year) water festival in April.
Long distance bus tickets typically cost inbetween K6,000 to K30,000 , depending on the length of your journey; buses are usually quicker and cheaper than trains. Schedules may be unacquainted to many foreigners – long-distance journeys often commence inbetween 4pm and 10pm, meaning that you may arrive at your destination very early in the morning. Identically, buses sometimes leave very early in the morning (as early as 4am), particularly from more remote destinations.
To make online bookings go here, or go to individual destinations to find out about bus routes and times to specific places. When you book online, we can send you a ticket scan by email, which will be accepted when shown on your wise phone at certain bus stations (local bus ticket sellers are not always effortless to reach in larger cities). Note that it is cheaper to buy bus tickets locally in Myanmar than through this website, but we are able to suggest secure online advanced booking for peace of mind.
Local buses
In larger cities such as Yangon and Mandalay, there are local bus networks, which are popular and sometimes crowded. Understanding routes can be difficult for visitors as signs are not written in English and numbers are in Myanmar script, but with a little help from locals, buses can be a joy and cheap way to get around. Journeys uncommonly cost more than K300 .
