Myanmar with big bikes - it is possible!
 

We have great news! :clap:

In only a few days we will cross the border from Thailand to Myanmar with our bikes! We finally got approval from the officals and the visas are in preparation... our friend Joerg in Bangkok where we are currently staying did a great job in persuading the officals.... after 4 months of negotiating and a lot of work we eventually got the ok only 2 days ago. Apparently it was offically discussed even in the cabinet of Myanmar, where it was officially approved that we can enter the country. We will be the first group of foreign bikers that are allowed to travel the country with big motorcycles..... so exciting!

Now we are busy with final preparations.... we will keep you updated how everything goes, and probably come back with lots of information....

Good luck guys wish you all the best and keep us updated.

Cheers

Congratulations! This is a huge event for biking in SEA, I wish I was with you guys. Enjoy.

Superb Initiative!
 

Ground Breaking.

I’m sure you will prove to be great ambassadors for the whole overland travellers' community.

Best wishes
.

Good news, please keep us posted how it wend and when you have the time please give us an update about the process and the steps you went through. I guess it will be very valuable information for all which will follow you.

Have a safe trip and enjoy this trip!

cheers Sascha and Kerstin

This is huge! Subscribed.

Wow, fantastic news Heike. We'll be touring S.E. Asia for the next two or three months and after that making our way towards India. It would be fantastic to ride there!

Subscribing.

Congratulations, Heike, I'm glad for this success of yours!

Say "hello" to Filippo from me... :D

You rock! Safe ride and enjoy this amazing experience.

Wow, fantastic news, well done guys! Looking forward to hearing all about it :clap:

Wow thats great news guys! well done! Are they going to let you travel through to Rangoon/Yangon and onwards?

We were there a couple of months ago just as everything was changing and were able to hire a 125 in Ngwe Saung on the coast which was an amazing experience but I'm not sure it was legal as such. The people in Myanmar will be so happy to see you.

Have an amazing time and thanks for persevering! :scooter:

Excellent news.

:welcome: to Myanmar :scooter:

Have a good trip.

Congrats, Heike, those are amazing news. A big step forward for the overland community!

Enjoy Myanmar, amazing place!

2 years ago we rented a couple of 125 scooters in Mandalay... which we got them confiscated by the Tourist Police arguing it was not legal for foreigners to ride/drive, but only to go as a pillion.

After having gone around everywhere crossing many policemen during the whole day, we said we were not going to leave the bikes unless the owner came (there was no deposit, but it was our responsability before him anyway), so we waited for him and yes, we had to come back to the hotel by rickshaw. Legal or not, it was in a grey line, and the owner probably paid a bribe to the policeman to get the bikes back...

Well done indeed.

But - be careful with what fuel you put in them. Vehicles in Myanmar have ration books that let them have only a limited amount of fuel from government filling stations, and none at all if they go outside their division. If they don't have this ration book, want more than the monthly ration or are outside their division, they have to buy it on the black market and the quality can be DREADFUL. So while you have time, see if the visa people you are dealing with can sort you out with a ration book, and which works across the whole country.

I met a French couple in Myanmar in 2008 who had succeeded in getting their French-registered Landrover in. They didn't have this ration book and had to threaten a diplomatic incident every time they wanted to get fuel!!

Also let the HUBB community know, if you find out, whether it will become possible to get 4-wheeled vehicles in. The French I met were definitely an exception.

Hey where are you guys at?

Also, here is a shot of one of the fancy new stations popping up everywhere...At night, they light up with LEDs and neon really a sight late at night on a dark country road, where before was nothing. Waaay overstaffed, as usual.... ;)

Has anyone any idea if its possible to cross from Thailand into Burma on a bicycle now?

They did it. For pictures have a look at:

5 foreign registered bikes Myanmar parliament in Naypyidaw (the capital)


CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!! :clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap:

Hey everybody,

we are back from our trip to Myanmar - what an exciting experience.... we are still overwhelmed and trying to comprehend everything. It was a very intense time, and of course we received a lot of questions. We are sorry that we didn't manage to provide you with some information earlier, we simply didn't find the time.

But now we have summarised the organisational part in a new blog post on our website: Myanmar by Motorcycle | 2 Live The Dream

And one comment regarding fuel: Most petrol stations have only 92 Octane fuel, and the quality is often very bad... even Heike's 650, which normaly burns almost everything had to struggle.... but the availability is no problem. Petrol stations are everywhere....

Once more: it was such an exciting experience, and I wish all of you that you will get the chance to visit the country as well!

We also posted some photos on our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/2LiveTheDream

Congratulations! We weren't able to get the permit so we just walked across the border in Mae Sai / Tachilek where you can get a two week visa on arrival but are not allowed to take your vehicle across.

Hey I have the newspaper article about you all in Burmese. If you guys want a copy, send me a PM...there is a photo of you all in the city and 2 columns worth of text in Burmese...GREAT JOB!!! You guys are sooooo famous in Myanmar!!!! Everyone asked us if we were you.....Woohooo!

Hey, that's cool! Is it the articlefrom the Myanmar Post? We have it already.... but no idea what it says! :)

http://2livethedream.com/wp-content/...yanmarPost.jpg

1500 us thats stupid
 

posibol or not i dasent justify the 1500 dolars that yuo have to pay four 1 person and that yuo have to have 1 car that folows yuo whid 2 people and ar only alowd to stay in preboked goverment hotel that is a lot off money four 1 weak hope the military dictaorship have fune four the money yuo have suported them whid and that yuo are happy whid the atencion that yuo got .this trip aint whourth the efert and the money some people have more money than brains :thumbdown:

Well that's a bit harsh comment. Actually seems kinda similar to how travellers go China. I think the critical question is, can you arrange to go Thailand<-->India? My understanding is that there are some very troubled areas in the western part of the country. And border areas in eastern states of India could also be a problem, even though Burma is probably a bigger one.

Still quite a long way off from becoming part of an overland-route between South and Southeast Asia. But I wish the signs of a change are for real this time, then it might happen one day.

Is it right to travel in countries controlled by dictators?
 

Bad babba,

You raise important issues here. As travellers we often want to go to places where local people suffer under cruel dictatorships and harsh conditions. I can't speak for anybody else but my my attitude with respect to Burma is that I welcome the "opening up" and I think by encouraging it, we are helping the people of Burma move towards freedom and hopefully a better qualify of life. It's still a dictatorship but at least they are moving in the right direction and if the rest of the world shows that it is appreciated, we are encouraging further improvements.

I'm not saying this should change the opinion of anybody else, but I am just explaining why I would feel comfortable about travelling there right now.

By the way I know that Aung San Suu Kyi said it is correctly called Burma and that "Myanmar" is the name made up by the dictatorship.

100% Bad Babba comment. Nick's adjective proved (again) to be well chosen.

We had that concern when deciding whether to visit Myanmar or not. We just stayed in cheap/small/family-run guesthouses and only took local buses, so that our money went to the right hands, we hoped.

But this is a totally different issue, it means one big step towards opening the borders. It even appeared on the news, it's light at the end of the tunnel for Burmese people. So, I'm not here to judge it more. Well, actually YES: THUMBS UP AND WELL DONE, GUYS.

PS: +1 ColinD.

Visiting Burma
 

It's great that someone got in . . . the cost and where the money went, less so. China doesn't want anyone baring witness - I've travelled there extensively and remotely for quite a long time.

But Burma is a bit different. Suu Kyi advocated a complete embargo. I doubt she'd repeat that position. Having visited "the Golden Land" too many times to admit since '93 - you need witnesses. I've seen and "captured" more than my share of forced labor, village burning, etc. And a visit to a place like Mae Sot in Thailand shows you the result of massive internal displacement, mines (right along the Moei river), and heaps of illegals from as far away as the Rakhine state pursuing basic medical care at the Mae Tao Clinic. Personally, I think people should visit and attempt to spend their money carefully, it can be done, and without difficulty since '96.

It is a remarkable place. In Rangoon the men, at least the young, rarely wear longyi anymore but outside of Rangoon it's amazing how little has changed.

People should consider the potential repercussions of their actions on the way to collecting their badges.

Thank you four your comment - very nice and extremly friendly.... you can have your opinion, no problem with that - but you should watch your words. No need to insult other people you don't even know....

And who said that we paid 1500 $? I didn't.....
We paid about 1000 $ incl visa, accomodation, permits, car, government guide, etc.... extra: fuel + food (which is cheap in Burma)

I can tell you, it was worth the money! Every cent of it. We had so many wonderful encounters with the local people - they were so friendly and welcoming... wonderful!!!!

And if it would be possible to do a tour through the country from India to Thailand or vice versa it would save you the shipping costs from Kathmandu, which is also rather expensive (about 900 $ min. per bike plus your own flight ticket which is about 200 $). Plus: you get the experience of travelling through a wonderful country with wonderful people....

Of course, a lot of the money goes to the government.... And I don't like that idea. But we also spend money in local shops, restaurants etc. And it may be a sign for the people that the country is opening up. We had the feeling that especially in areas where you have not many tourists the people were happy to see us.... so, there are pros and cons...

Enough said now. We had a once in a lifetime experience - and we are happy with it...

Congratulations on this unique experience. Do you think it would be possible to enter from India? I would rather do that and then shipping from Nepal. I will read your blog tonight and maybe that will provide me with some info. It took 4 months to arrange everything I read before. But it mainly took so long because you guys were the first group right?

Anyway I'm currently I'm in Iran. When I'm in India I will take my time do research this some more. Maybe I can form a group with other travelers to split the tour costs ...

Groetjes

Hello All,
Just return from Myanmar yesterday. This is confirmed. Motorcycle is strictly prohibited in Yangon but OK outside this city. I was told by a reliable local resources that must register in their Transport Authority to get local license before drive or ride vehicle. I cannot confirm about rental bike by foreigners.
It is soon before we can get to ride Myanmar. In a simple similarity, Myanmar is Mindanao, Philippines less communication network.

:oops2:

Another group to Enter Myanmar (Burma) January 7
 

Another group has organized an "Adventure Border Crossers Singapore Bike Expedition" tour into Myanmar, scheduled to enter January 7. Their Burma Government approved route and story starts here:


http://www.rideasia.net/motorcycle-f...html#post22871

The heading of this thread is "Myanmar with big bikes", which makes me wonder:

Is there no problem entering Burma with smaller bikes, like 125-250cc?

no- as a foreigner on foreign plates, I got turned away a year ago- things might have changed but that's not likely. They had a very aggressive 'no- you not come in' response no matter how hard I smiled.
Read posts from heike- it looks like she done it with connections and throwing a lot of backsheesh... errr cough...sorry I mean 'administrative' fees at the problem.
Looks like some lucrative admin habits in some countries just do not really change

well it seems very much like there are problems regardless of cc.

Well, you can rent and book tours with small motorcycles in Myanmar already for a long time. Bigger bikes are not available in the country - and if you come overland it doesn't matter whether it is a big bike or a small one.... it's difficult.....

btw... some recent informations:

I heard that some other groups have been allowed now into the country. And I know that the organization of another tour is currently going on... but it is still like when we applied for the permissions, the officals like to play around and let you wait....

Regarding the crossing through from India to Thailand or the other way around: it looks like it is still difficult and not going to happen so soon. You also need a contact in India, because special permissions are required to enter the areas in India that are close to the border with Mynamar....

But I received now some information about overlander truck trips from China to Thailand going via Myanmar. Maybe another option..... Overland Between Kunming And Bangkok Via Burma - holidays by Dragoman .... but the prices - ouch!....

to travel in the region near burma bordear in india no problem bean thear 10 years ago and whid some fake travel permits the army dont have a clue and any papper whid some offical stamp the leat yuo trou in burma 1995 i traveld all over the place and same thing the army dont have a clue now the copy the chines basterds whid travel permits and guide to have RICH people come and pay the DICTATERS and KILLERS off the burmes people big money one idiot i meat in tailand traveld to north corea and paid 200 us a day four a permit to travel in the facist state off north corea whid alot off money yuo can travel every wear its pitiful what people do four a littel bit off atencion

I believe the longest sentence in western literature is contained within 'Les Miserables' and while the above may not be literature . . . it's a bit less that ~800 words.

Nice try, though.

bikes and Myanmar/Burma
 

Amazing to see people are getting into Myanmar with bikes. Seems to be groups though. Anyone know of individual or a couple of riders who have gotten in?
I have been to Myanmar/Burma several times since 2001 and have rented scooters locally many times for about $10/day. Never had a problem driving myself. Could see a lot of the country which is open to foreign travel this way.
Things are changing crazy fast there so hopefully it will get easier to ride in yourself. All border areas are "brown" or "black" areas and very restricted to foreigners so will be very difficult to cross and then continue into Myanmar. Certainly will have to have a gov't licensed guide with you.
re money going to bad gov't:if that was criteria for travel I would visit very very few countries, even my own(Canada) because they all suck. Gov't is not the country nor representative of the people. Traveling to places like Myanmar is the best thing you can do and you can easily mainly support local businesses.

We might all be in business soon. the recent news was that a highway linking India & Thailand through Myanmar was being constructed with completion scheduled for 2016. this recent article suggests they are stepping it up:

Myanmar, India to speed up construction projects - The New Indian Express

We rode the road across West Bengal to Assam in India a couple months ago (super crappy - much of it deeply cratered ) but they are in the process of converting it to smooth dual carriageway. Further east in India you still need permits but perhaps that will be relaxed when all this becomes reality. Permits have already been loosened somewhat.

From Europe to India and then to Thailand - is definitively on my - "things i want to do" list.


Good to see that this seems to be possible soon :thumbup1:

Hello there,

We entered Myanmar thru the Moreh-Tamu border crossing from India on 2 March 2013. The thing is that in addition to visas, a special permit has to be obtained from the Government in Yangon. This we got by explaining our reasons for touring Myanmar. It took about two and half months for the Rome based Embassy to give the permit, written onto a letter in Burmese, from Yangon authorities.

The country is beautiful and the wait for the permit totally worth it. Roads from the border are in tough condition, calling for considerable skill, especially if you are travelling with a bigger bike like we are (BMW1200GS Adventure) with two up and luggage and i have been lucky with the worlds best pilot.

See us at www.facebook.com/wheelsontheworld

Hi,

are you travelling on your own through Myanmar, or did you have to take guided tour?

No burocatic problems with crossing the indian states close to Myanmar?

Cheers

Panny

Hi Guys,

Just had a look at the FB fotos, looks like Mayanmar is really beautiful! We would love to cross through from India to Thailand on two bikes ourselves. This may be a real stupid question (I'm afraid I only just came across your story now), but what was the reason for traveling through Mayanmar, that convinced them to write you the permit? Did the permit expire at some stage after it was granted? And did you have any restrictions as to where you were allowed to go?

Any hints/tips on how to get such a prized visa and permit would be great, if you have a spare minute that is.
Thanks loads in advance :mchappy:

http://followingtarmac.com/

The Economist in its May 23 issue had multi-article special report on Myanmar, highlighting how the country has been opening up. This is all great news for those of us hoping to ride the country.

This is the main piece from The Economist series. Congrats to Heike and Filippo! bier

A Burmese spring | The Economist

Hi guys, has somebody a latest news from Myanmar? Is it still ridable with big bikes?

Alex

Good work!

We are currently on route south through China, and had heard that this border crossing may now be possible.

We have been trying to negotiate our own crossing for 2 4x4s in September / October via the agency Putao Trekking House, and as yet do not have anything confirmed. It would be very helpful if you could pass on any contacts that have helped you get this approved.

Are you transiting through to Manipur, or exiting back into Thailand?

Have a fantastic trip!

even if I`ll succeed in geting to Myanmar from India I would try entering China.

Hi, I am traveling with my camper and also wanted to cross Myanmar to South Asia, did you get the confirmation or any other advice?

Thank you!

joru
furgonauta.com

When you want to cross the border?

Hey, actually it was set to go ahead until a few weeks ago when the Indian border closed.

We are now shipping directly to India from Malaysia. The border was said to be 'shut until further notice', so we will enquire again when we are due to make the return leg of our journey in December, but not holding our much hope!

Alright, trying to figure this out....

So if I am heading westbound from Thailand to eastern India, there is a chance that I could make it into Myanmar but not into India because the border is closed?

When is the weather good to travel there?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-xpNOtcTOke...a%CC%88nge.png


There was severall Travellers on their way recently. It seems to be easy to travel there - the crossing to india seems to be limited to Groups actually, but possible. Under the provided link are also samples with bike-travellers.

Surfy

Great article - thank for shaing bier

Crossing Myanmar
 

We just met Anders and Petra at the HU meeting in Western Canada and they were able to cross Myanmar from Thailand through to India! :scooter:


twobikersoneworld

sounds great, i want to do the tour with nepali registered bike from kathmandu to bangkok. (and return)
will i need a carnet de passage for india?
can i do it without an agent in myanmar?
anyone interested to join?

planned itinery is dep KTM 5/11/14 approx arr in BNK xmas
planned departure Bangkok mid to end of Jan approx arrival Kathmandu end of feb 15.

i live in bangkok, have office in kathmandu and planning to do this tour commercially later on...

i would be very grateful for any infos!!!

If anyone sees or hears about cyclists going into or through Burma, please let us know.

Hi,
there are two german bikers from Berlin, they will cross Myanmar west-east in a few weeks, you will find the contact here in the hubb. I crossed the country the last two weeks by own car, no problems at all.
Greetings from Luang Prabang, Laos
Ferdi

so when you crossed by car, did you do this with an agent? can you please give us more details, i am sure everyone is curious...
agentcosts, name, was there a second support vehicle needed with a guy from the government? how much did it cost you in detail?

Hi noname,
the contacts to the agencies you will find in the hubb, we took Mutu, very o.k..
Greetings from the Mekong in the Golden Triangle
Ferdi