Cruise Myanmar Travel Guide
Visas, money, dress and manners for a river trip in Myanmar.
Ask a River Cruise AdvisorCruise Myanmar Travel Guide: The Practical Side
This cruise Myanmar travel guide is for the day the situation allows you to go, or for travelers whose own governments advise differently. It covers what to sort out before a river cruise and how to behave once you are there. It does not replace the official advisory, which we summarize on our advisory page.
Before You Go
Visa
Apply through Myanmar’s official eVisa portal or a Myanmar embassy, and check which visa types and entry points are currently accepted.
Flights
Most visitors connect through Bangkok or Singapore to Yangon or Mandalay. Schedules are thinner than before 2020.
Money
Carry clean, new U.S. dollar notes as backup; card acceptance and ATMs can be unreliable.
Health
Ask your doctor about vaccines and malaria advice; bring a full supply of any medication.
Insurance
Confirm in writing that your policy covers Myanmar and medical evacuation.
Registration
U.S. citizens can enroll in Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).
Pagoda and Monastery Etiquette
- Remove shoes and socks before entering any temple or monastery grounds; there is usually a place to leave them.
- Walk clockwise around stupas.
- Do not point your feet at a Buddha image or a monk; sit with feet tucked to the side.
- Women should not touch monks or hand things to them directly.
- Ask before photographing people, especially at prayer.
Life on a Myanmar Riverboat
Riverboats in Myanmar are small and informal. Landings are often on sand or mud banks with a gangplank, so pack sandals that grip, a light rain layer and a hat. Days start early to beat the heat. Evenings are quiet; connectivity is limited and patchy. Tipping customs are explained by each operator. The ship’s guide is your best source on local manners and on anything that has changed recently.
Travel Guide Questions
Do I need a visa for Myanmar?
U.S. citizens need a visa. Myanmar runs an official eVisa portal; check which visa types it is currently issuing and the entry points they are valid for before you travel.
What should I wear at pagodas?
Cover shoulders and knees, and be ready to remove shoes and socks in every temple and monastery precinct.
What is the best time for a river cruise in Myanmar?
The cool, dry months from about November to February. The rains run roughly June to October, and March to May is very hot in central Burma.
Beyond This Trip
For trips closer to home, Best of the USA covers the best places in the United States, and the Official Travel Directory lists travel services of every kind. If helping other people plan journeys like this appeals to you, beatravelagent.com explains how to become a travel agent.
Planning Ahead for Myanmar?
Our cruise advisors at Mister Cruise will tell you what is sailing, what it involves and what to sort out first. Free quotes, no pressure.
Ask a River Cruise Advisor