A Practical Guide to Transportation in Mandalay & Surroundings (Myanmar)

What surprised us a lot during our stay in Mandalay was the size of the city. It is IMMENSE! Walking from one street to another requires a considerable effort for someone like me who :

1. hates to walk
2. hates heat
3. hates walking in the heat

We therefore suggest a few ways to make your trip to Mandalay easier. The rates are fromAugust 2016 and have nothing to do with Yangon (feel free to leave me a comment to update the rates – for other readers).

Since the guides only give Yangon info & rates, I thought I should give you the Mandalay rates which have NOTHING to see.

Mandalay is a rather flat city. Everybody has a scooter here (the cheapest scooter costs around 200$). Cabs are only used by tourists, hence the exorbitant price. We will see all the options available for you in Mandalay.

Cab fares Mandalay Airport -> City center

What transportation should I choose from Mandalay airport to the city center? You have three options:

1. Paid shuttle with air-conditioning: 4000 kyats/person, you will be dropped off in front of your hotel (the price indicated is 4$ but the Burmese simply consider that 1$ = 1000 kyats). There is no need to be in a hurry: the mini-bus has about twenty passengers and the driver stops regularly to ask the way to the shopkeepers.
2. Private cab: 12 000 kyats without air conditioning -> OK up to 4 people
3. Private cab: 15 000 kyats with air conditioning -> OK up to 4 people

A last option is to arrange with your hotel for a pick-up. It’s up to you to ask them for the rates.

On some blogs, they talk about the free Air Asia shuttle from the airport, but it no longer exists.

To go to the airport (from your hotel to the airport), it’s exactly the same rate as the outward journey. Ask for the shuttle or shared cab, the hotel will be able to book one for you.

Cab fares (car) in Mandalay

The cabs here do not necessarily have the illuminated sign “cab”, but they have a red license plate. To spot them, it’s very simple, go out in the street, they will signal you, but will stop far away from you, between 10m and 20m, you will have to run behind them, it’s a bit painful. The drivers speak little English, hence the importance of having Google Maps or a map on you to show them where you want to go. In general, a map + an indication such as “26th & 76th street” is enough for them to bring you to your destination.

Rates are negotiable, go on 1km = 1000 kyats, much more expensive than Yangon I grant you. If you take the cab from a touristic place, the rate will be even higher, try to negotiate as well as possible, but expect the price to be exorbitant.

This is the economical option if you are numerous. If you are alone, use motorcycle cabs instead.

It is quite possible to rent a cab for the day (for about $60). I have written down for you the contact information of a good cab driver who speaks and understands English: Kon Zin & Brothers 09402524355 or 09789023199 [email protected]

Pick-ups are an alternative to cabs, but communication is very difficult with the drivers, you share the pickup with several people…

Cab fares (motorcycle) in Mandalay

If you see a group of people doing nothing and staying close to their scooters, they are motorcycle cab drivers. Anyway, they will wave at you too. Sometimes they have a “TAXI” sign with them. The rates are a little softer, but each scooter can only bring one person.

Tariff level, leave on 1km = 600 kyats. Also, the rate varies depending on where you take the cab. It is possible to rent a motorcycle cab for a day (about 30$).

Scooter rental in Mandalay

The scooter is the means of transport that we recommend for Mandalay. It is inexpensive and so practical.

All you need here is an international (car) license to ride a scooter. A good hotel that offers scooter rental is Hotel 8 ( Agoda link) (15 000 kyats/day) but you have to book as soon as possible because there aren’t many of them.

I haven’t seen many scooter rental agencies, but if your hotel doesn’t offer it, I have two good addresses for you, which I have tested. The rates are rather similar, choose the agency according to the location of your hotel.

Myanmar Bike Rental, held by Tim. Tim is very conscientious. He gave us a briefing on “driving in Burma for dummies”. Exceptionally for us, he brought us the scooter directly to our hotel. We contacted him for a last minute rental (via the form on his site) and he answered very quickly. Tim does not ask to keep your passport, but a deposit between 100$ and 250$. Rental rates: from 10 000 kyats/24h for an automatic scooter.

Mandalay Motorbike Rental, held by Zach. It is marked on his site that we have to send him a message a few days before the rental, but in reality, we were able to book a scooter for the next day (yes, available only at 11:30 but it suited us). Zach is very nice, he searched his stock of helmets to find a pile of helmets in my size. Prefer the contact by phone for last-minute reservations. Zach asks for a passport as a guarantee (we can give it to him without any problem, don’t be afraid). Rental rates: from 15 000 kyats/24h for an automatic scooter.

6 things to know when you rent a scooter in Mandalay

• Remember to check that you have been given the scooter’s registration card. Here, 80% of the scooters don’t have one, so if the police want to make some money, they can stop any scooter
• Here, the orange light = red = stop. If you cross anyway, you risk paying a fine.
• Many private individuals sell bottles of gasoline for 700 kyats on the street. It is better to avoid buying them. Prefer real gas stations, it’s cheaper and of better quality
• The bridge on 35th Street, between 78th Street and 80th Street, is closed to scooters. It isn’t marked anywhere. It is better to make a detour, several policemen will be waiting for you there to fine you.

• To get to Inwa, you might be tempted to take your scooter on a boat, but Tim & Zach both told me the story of a scooter that ended up at the bottom of the river. Don’t do that! Take a detour by taking the bridge on the “Yangon-Mandalay Expy” road
• You can’t leave a scooter unattended on the street, even if you can block the front wheel (or even put a big chain on it at night). During the day, entrust your scooter to the guards of the unofficial parking lots (which are in front of all pagodas and tourist places), it will cost you 200 to 300 kyats. Ask your hotel, before renting a scooter for several days, if they can keep your scooter in a safe place at night. Most tourist hotels have guards. Our Palace View Hotel(Booking link) for example has a guarded and locked parking lot.

Bike rental in Mandalay

Cycling can be a good means of transportation if you aren’t too far from Mandalay Hill because the tourist sites are concentrated in this area. However, if you want to get out of the city or climb to the top of Mandalay Hill, it is better to have a scooter or rent a cab.

We were able to rent bikes directly at our first Palace View Hotel (link Booking) for 3000 kyats/day.

Another hotel that we were able to test, Hotel 8 ( Agoda link) (recommended for the service and good location), lends you bikes for free on a “first come, first served” basis.

If you liked this guide, check also my 12 days guide in Burma.