lonely-planet-myanmar-burma-11-edition

220MANDALAY & AROUND MANDALAYAirA daunting 28-mile drive south of the centre,Mandalay’s huge, gleaming airport is nominallyinternational, thanks to two daily fl ights to Kunming,China. All other services are domestic.The government-run Myanma Airways (MA;Map p 206 ; %36221, 87458; 81st St, 25/26;h9am-2pm) has a lacklustre reputation andsells its own tickets directly, generally only possibleone day ahead. Use an agency for Air Mandalay(AM), Asian Wings (AW), Bagan Air (BA)or Air Kanbawza (AK) – the latter two airlinesowned by Tay Za (p 26 ) and Aung Ko Win (p 373 )respectively.BoatUnless otherwise stated, all boat services listedstart from or near Gawein Jetty (Strand Rd at35th St), the exact point varying somewhat accordingto river levels.BAGANFor a readers’ report of a boat ride to Bagan, seep 120 . There are several options:GOVERNMENT SLOW BOAT (deck/cabin$12/33) Departs at 5.30am Wednesday andSunday, taking 13 to 15 hours when water levelsare OK. Should you beach on a sandbank (quitepossible in February and March) it might takea day longer. Buy tickets one day before sailingat IWT (Map p 200 ; %36035; 35th St; hsales10am-2pm). See p 21 .MALIKHA 2 ($36, nine hours) A private expressboat with view deck. It departs 7am on certaindays in season. Frequency varies widely from 24trips a month in January to barely one per weekin March. Book ahead through hotels, agents orMalikha Travels (%72279; www.malikha-rivercruise.com; 26th St, 82/83)SHWEI KENNERY ($33, nine hours) Similar toMalikha 2, but runs to Bagan only a few times perseason. See p 221 .CRUISE BOATS River lovers can opt for oneof several sleep-aboard tours (see boxed text,p 214 ). These tend to be very pricey and are soldas part of a package. Read very carefully what’son offer. Some packages are as long as fi ve days,four nights, but as the journey itself takes only afew hours, such packages may simply be usingthe boat as a hotel while doing over-priced landbasedtours. Is that really what you want?KATHA & BHAMOGOVERNMENT FERRY ITW ferries to Bhamo(deck/cabin $9/54, three to fi ve days) depart at6am on Monday, Thursday and Saturday. Usefulstops en route include Kyaukmyaung ($4, 11 to15 hours) and Katha (deck/cabin $7/42, at leasttwo full days). Carefully read the boxed text onp 239 before jumping aboard. Tickets are soldon departure. Double-check schedules with IWT(Map p 202 ; %36035; 35th St). See also p 21 .FAST BOAT Departures are at 5am once everytwo days to Katha (K45,000, around 14 hours),where you’d have to change boats for Bhamo.MANDALAY AIR ROUTESSample rates with peak-season schedulesDESTINATION PRICE $ FREQUENCY AIRLINESBhamo45Thu, SunMAHeho 42 several daily AM, AW, BA, AKHomalin 55 Tue MA (permits required)Kalay(myo)85Mon, FriAWKengtung 95 Sat (via Tachilek)TueBAMAKhamti 70 Sun MA (permits required)Kunming2812 dailyChina EasternLashio 70 irregular AWMyitkyina 95Mon, Tue, Thu, Fri, SunMon, Wed, Fri, SatBA70MANyaung U (Bagan)42dailyAM, AK, BAPutao 105 Tue, Sun BA (permits required)Tachileik 9565dailyThu, SatBAMAYangon 92 several daily AM, AW, BA