In recent years, Myanmar has been put on the bucket list of most of travelers to the South East Asia. If you aim to visit this country, you might need to work on the way to travel from Yangon to Bagan, as they are among the must-see attractions of your Myanmar travel.
Yangon city is not the capital of Myanmar; despite that, it is the largest as well as most developed one in the entire country. In fact, a large numbers of international flights depart and arrive in the Yangon airport. On the other hand, Bagan is described as the ancient city, the “dreamy land” of Myanmar, lying more than 600 km to the north of Yangon. Depending on your budget and schedule, you can opt for an option to travel between these cities among the following methods: by private car, by bus, by train and by plane.
Yangon to Bagan by private car
- Price: US$350 – US$450 per way
- Duration: 10 hours
Apparently, this can be considered as the mode of transportation which provides you with much flexibility. The driver is paid to be ready at any time, picking you up from the hotel you stay in Yangon and bring you safely to Bagan. On the way, you can require the driver to stop at the places you like, of course not for too long, in order to reach Bagan in the same day. However, paying money on the high side is not an affordable thing for all travelers for just a transfer from a place to another place.
The reservation for a private transfer from Yangon to Bagan or vice versa should be made well in advance. It is highly recommended that you contact a local travel agent, or a Myanmar travel agency which is outside of Burma but specializing in the country’s tourism. They should give you helpful advice upon booking the private car for this journey.
>> Suggested Yangon city tour: Private City Tour In Yangon
Yangon to Bagan by bus
- Price: US$12 – US$25 per way
- Duration: 10 – 11 hours
Due to the huge distance, bus is a common and safe mode of transportation among all types. The increasing demand of travelers who want to travel between the two places have led to the fact that there are various reliable and new choices of bus company. The good buses provide customers with soft seats (the regular recliners), blankets, pillows, snack, water, wifi and air-condition. This is also a good way to enjoy the scenery all the way. The downside of getting a bus from Yangon to Bagan is the speed. Buses run quite slow in Myanmar because roads are not in the perfect condition.
Customers have 2 times to choose from, the day time or night time bus, in which, the night bus can help spare an amount of money because they do not need to book for 1 night at hotel. Popular names serving on this route are: JJ Express, Began Min Tha, Mandalar Min Express, Khine Mandalay Express. To take the bus, you need to first find the way to Aung Mingalar Bus Station where all the buses depart in Yangon. The bus station is roughly 20km from Yangon city center. After sitting on the bus for 10 hours, you will reach the Bagan Shwe Pyi Bus Station.
>> Suggested Bagan day tour: A Day Venture Out At Bagan
Yangon to Bagan by train
- Price: US$15 – US$25 per person
- Duration: 17 – 19 hours
Taking a train from Yangon to Bagan seems to be ideal for travelers who are seeking for a novel experience and who do not lack of time. The only time of train departing from Yagon to Bagan is 4 pm every day. Unless you have an extensive schedule travelling in Myanmar, you should leave out this type of transportation. Comparing the train condition of Myanmar with its neighboring countries such as Thailand or Vietnam, the quality has a huge difference. Usually, there is no air-conditioning on the train, hence, if you are about to take this mode of transfer, you need to be well-prepared.
For the most comfortable journey, it is advisable to book for a soft sleeper, in the cabin of 4 berths on the train. The soft sleepers might be sold out more quickly than the normal seats, thus booking in advance is necessary.
Yangon to Bagan by plane
- Price: US$100 – US$120 per way
- Duration: 1 hour and a half
Needless to say, taking a flight from one to another destination is always the fastest and most convenient way. Especially, there are numerous airlines operating the route from Yangon to Bagan. All are safe to travel, making the booking process easier for travelers. The list of airlines that you can choose from is: Air KBZ, Asian Wings Airways, Mann Yatanarpon Airlines, Myanmar National Airlines, and Yangon Airways. From downtown of Yangon city, it will take you around 1 hour to arrive at the airport with the taxi fare approximately US$10.
>> Read more about Myanmar visa
Suggested Myanmar private tours
It is always a good idea to organize your travel prior to the trip. Hopefully with this blog, it will partly help you reduce the burden of looking for the most suitable way to travel from Yangon to Bagan in your Myanmar tours.
Minh Vu – Travel Specialist
