Burma update

[Bensouthall]

In the process of planning my Singapore to London road trip in 2015 and wanted to gauge HUBBers reactions and get some responses on the current state of affairs with taking your own vehicle through Burma, entering east, exiting west.

Most of the posts I read here tell me its not possible but there are a couple of glimmers of hope, and it's those I'd like to hear more of.

Ultimately - can it be done!?

Be good to hear your thoughts,

Ben

[RogerM]

I think the major issue is the Indian side of the border and no permits being issued to enter that area.

[Surfy]

It can be done, at least at the oppsite direction...

This is the most recent documented crossing of Myanmar / Burma i guess:

The pensioner caravan:



4x4tripping: Die Rentner Karawane durch die Mongolei

Surfy

[TGS]

Hi,

I'm currently investigating crossing Myanmar overland around April/ May of 2014.

So far all sources have indicated that you can cross into Burma from Thailand at four points which allow onward travel.
- Mae Sot / Myawaddy (preferred)
- Mae Sai / Tachileik
- Phunaron / Htee Kee
- Ranong / Kawthaung

It seems you can then travel independently as far as Mandalay but traveling further - anywhere near the Indian / China borders; requires special permission.

I'm wanting to cross into India at the Tamu / Moreh checkpoint but this requires special government permission and possibly a guide.

I've been in contact with a travel agent in Yangon, but they require a detailed itinerary (which I don't yet have) and are reluctant to provide the permissions services without committing to book all accommodation etc through them.

If anyone has further information on this or will be traveling the same way I'd certainly like to hear from them

Cheers,

Tim

[mark manley]

Friends of mine crossed from India into Burma a week ago with their Africa Twin, I don't know the details, agency used, route etc, the photo on their Facebook show them at the Iron Bridge Gate crossing point.

They are on the HUBB so hopefully will post details sometime.

Here is the blog of somebody else's trip which shows the same crossing point. Interestingly it shows an old map of British India which includes Burma as part of the same country.

http://ridingtorangoon.com/blog/

[TGS]

Good to hear, I'd love to find out which agency etc they used if you've got any details?

Cheers,

Tim

[mark manley]

I hope that they will be putting a full report up here sometime but know from experience that the internet is pretty poor in Burma so it might be a while.

[divelandy]

I am hoping to do this route in late 2015, so will follow this thread with interest. I have been told by a motorcycle tour company in Myanmar that this is possible, but do not have any details.

[cardpostale]

Hi Mark, Hi everyone!
WE DID IT!!!! We have just crossed Burma, we exited yesterday to Mae Sot. Wow, it was really, really nice. For me it was the result of 9 months of research and work. There is an easy and safe way to cross Burma with your own motorcycle and it can even be not that expensive.
I will post a complete report when we'll reach BKK.
We are late on the website, poor connections in Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and Burma. We are working on it. I post right now one or two pictures of Burma on our fb account : cardpostale as I know that Mark wants some proof ;-)
Cheers!
Guillaume
Cardpostale | A honeymoon around the world

[Snakeboy]

Wow - Cardpostale. I will look forward to hear the details of the Burma crossing you did and I am sure many others will as well.....

[Amandre]

Hello! we are planning to cross Myanmar between February and March, we have a safe contact and thanks to him one group is crossing now (we are waiting for the report from our friend in the group) and another will cross early February. The cost with this guy can be around 1000 dollars including food and hotels (sleeping half night in the vehicles) and all the permissions with escort.
Prices are per vehicle for 5/6 days it can decrease depending on the number of participants. Anyone interested?

[jaykay]

I'm very keen to hear how you did it too, Cardpostale.

Please post up details soon.

Regards,

Jaykay

[jaykay]

This certainly seems to indicate that the borders are open:

Unlike everything else I've previously seen, this is from an official government website.

http://tinyurl.com/njkyfy5



Here are some other links I'm sure someone will find useful:
http://tinyurl.com/pw5fsbx
http://tinyurl.com/qj5olot

It seems like the restrictions are constantly changing, so the true restrictions will become apparent when you actually get to the border and border officials give you a list of where you can go.

Please bare in mind, however: I'm just doing web research from the comfort of my lounge in Australia - I have no on-the-ground knowledge of the region yet.

Whilst obvious in retrospect, google searches for "77/2013 myanmar", "list of restricted areas myanmar" and "burma map restricted areas" have produced the best results to date.

Safe travels

Jaykay


(apologies for the 'tinyURL', but I was having difficulty posting using the normal URL link for some reason)

[Snakeboy]

Jaykay: The first link you have there only tells that one can enter Myanmar from Thailand at the 4 bordercrossings mentioned - but you must also exit back to Thailand again. It doesnt mean that you can enter Myanmar from the Thai side and then travel through Myanmar and exit the country to for example India.

And even doing this - enter Myanmar from Thailand and exit back to Thailand again will take a decent amount of paperwork.

Anyhow - I would like to hear more from Cardpostale about how he/they did it.....

[jaykay]

Snakeboy: yes, we all would like this information from Cardpostale.

However, if you do any research on this yourself and find anything useful, feel free to post it up here too.

My first link indicate you can exit from whichever border you like:
" Those who enter/ depart from the aforesaid International entrance/ exits will be permitted to enter/depart from any International entrance / exits of Myanmar; Nay Pyi Taw International Airport, Yangon International Airport, Mandalay International Airport, Tachilek, Myawaddy, Htee Kee and Kawthoung."

If you had looked at the other links, however, I am making no claim that there is clear passage from one side of the country to the other. It seems the department of tourism in Myanmar wants you to pay local travel agents in order to get 'Special access' to the restricted zones, and thus travel from one side of the country to the other.

This article, published a couple of weeks ago has some helpful information:

http://myanmarforumonline.com/2013/1...es-in-myanmar/

Happy travels,

Jaykay


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