Check Your Passport

It is a standard requirement for entry into any country in the world that you have a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the date you expect to complete your travels. If your passport has less than 6 months validity, you should to apply for a new one before you start your trip. If you do apply for a new passport, make sure you can get it before your travel date. If your passport has only a few blank pages left, you should have more pages inserted.

In most parts the country you will have to show your passport when checking in to hotels, resorts and guesthouses. You will also need it when buying airline tickets, changing airline dates, and sometimes for changing money.

Passport Copy 
Traveling to/though the country, it is highly recommended that you make a photocopy of your passport; the first page with your information and photo on it, as well as a copy of the visa page (if you are compulsory to apply for visa) then keep this copy separate from your passport. If your passport is lost or stolen, report it at once to your tour operator office, local guide or tour leader. You must also report it to the local police and the nearest embassy or consulate of your country. We will assist you with this.

Visa Information
A valid Passport with Entry Visa is required of all visitors. A Tourist Visa allows a stay of 28 days, extendible for an additional 14 days.

Visa on Arrival will be suspended at the Yangon and Mandalay International Airports starting from 1st September, 2010 till further notice. The Visa on Arrival rules is (temporarily) back to the previous where tourist visa have to be applied before arrival. Contact to your nearest Embassy or contact us for the assistance.

Overland entry is permitted for Thai tourists with border pass and for third party tourists with visa at Tachileik, Three Pagoda Pass, Myawaddy and Kawthaung check points along Myanmar-Thai Border; and for Chinese tourists with border pass and for third party tourists with visa at Lweje, Nam Kham, Muse , Kyukoke, Kwanlong, Mont Lar along Myanmar-China Border. 

Travel Documents & Vouchers 
When you book your tour, you will be issued with a Confirmation Invoice. Please ensure that all the services which you have booked and paid for are shown on your travel documents, and that all names have been spelled correctly. If you have booked additional services (ex. extra night accommodation, transfers or excursions), please make sure that these are shown on your Confirmation Invoice, and that you have been issued with a voucher for these services. (Please contact the sales agent regarding service vouchers)

Money/Currency Exchange
Myanmar is only just starting to introduce ATMs, and even then only in Yangon and major tourist hubs. Currently these should not be relied upon, and travellers should bring enough US dollars to cover their entire trip when they enter Myanmar.

Travellers should ensure they arrive in Myanmar with their entire travel budget in US dollars, as ATMs are still very hard to come. The bills should be unmarked and in excellent condition, as money changers are reluctant to deal with damaged notes.

US dollars can be changed at Yangon airport and others, banks (which give the best exchange rates) and some hotels (which charge more but can be handy at a pinch). Black market money changers are prolific on the streets of major tourist hubs, but generally give a much worse price for Kyat.

Credit Cards & Travellers Cheques
Credit cards and travellers cheques are essentially useless in Myanmar. Surprised tourists in Yangon found themselves helpless when trying to use them. However, a couple of high-end hotels in Yangon and Mandalay are able to accept credit cards, and sometimes give cash back.

When you leave, be sure to change any local currency back into dollars at the airport or when you cross the border as local currency are not convertible outside the country.

Safety

We are, Travel Loops you can be assured that your safety and well-being is our prime concern. Over the years we have built up a network of local staff and local offices which enables us to maintain constant contact, and to monitor events on the ground in each of our destinations, and thus ensure that every aspect of your tour goes as smoothly as possible.

Do not worry about all the terrible things that “might” happen to you while traveling in Myanmar. Remember that in this country traveling is quite safe, and group travel is even more so.

Health & Medical

Insurance

Please remember that our tour prices do not include insurance. However, it is a condition of joining our tours that travelers are fully insured for any medical expenses they might incur while traveling. At the start of your tour, the tour guide or coordinator will request to see your insurance documents, and will note down the policy number and emergency contact numbers.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all participants in our tours, and you need to have travel insurance coverage before your departure. This insurance is needed in the event of a medical emergency, and it will cover hospital and medical expenses, and evacuation if it is needed. It covers expenses related to accidents and unforeseen illnesses which may arise.

Vaccinations & Medication

Vaccinations are officially required by the local authorities; however immunization against cholera, hepatitis, typhoid, tetanus, polio and Japanese encephalitis is advised. Please consult your health care provider for advice. It is also a good idea to bring mosquito repellent and wearing long-sleeved shirts and slacks from dusk onward, and avoiding perfume is also recommended. In addition, you should bring a supply of any prescription drugs you are taking. Your prescription medication may not be available here. You should also have your prescription with you in case your medication gets lost. Medical standards in Myanmar are generally lower that those found in western countries.

Personal Medical Kits
It is your discretion to bring a personal supply of basic medical items like band aids, aspirin, insect repellent etc. You may also want to bring medicine for headaches, diarrhea, constipation, insect bites, sore throats, eye drops, etc. For traveling in/outlying areas with limited medical facilities, some travelers prefer to bring their own emergency medical kits. This may also aid local medical staff in case of accident or illness.

 

Cycling/Active/Adventure Trips:
Our cycling tour guide/leaders are equipped with a comprehensive First Aid Kit (including a sterile pack) for emergencies, however they cannot dispense medicine.

 

Existing Medical Conditions (Cycling/Active/Adventure Trips):
All persons participating in our tours are assumed to be in good physical health, and to have a sufficient level of fitness to complete the itinerary. If you, or anyone in your group, have an existing medical condition or disability you must make this known to us at the time of booking. If you are accepted on the tour, you must also make this condition known to the cycling/adventure tour guide/leader.

What to Pack?
Travel Light
The first thing to remember when you are packing for your trip is that your airline baggage allowance is almost certainly going to be no more than 20kg. You should also remember that apart from those few occasions when a hotel porter will take your bags from the hotel out to a tour bus, you will be carrying your own luggage.

Luggage
For ease of use and carrying, the best type of bag to bring is a backpack, or a hold-all with some sort of shoulder strap. This type of bag is much easier to handle than a rigid suitcase. Wheeled suitcases might be useful for airport concourses, but not for on the road.

In addition to your main bag, we also recommend that you bring: 

1. A smaller day pack for items like camera, water, sun cream, hat, etc. 
2. A money belt or waist pouch (bum bag) for your travel documents and money

Remember that your luggage, bags and personal belongings are your responsibility at all times.

Luggage Requirement Checklist
As a guideline we have compiled a list of things that you might need on your tour. Naturally you will have your own ideas, so please remember that with the exception of The Essentials, these lists are only intended as a guide, and you should choose the items you wish to bring.

- Money (Keep a note of the emergency contact number for your Visa or ATM card, and the  

Our Suggestion for Cycling/Active/Adventure Trips:

- Comfortable clothing for cycling/Active/Adventure Trips allowing your legs to move freely

- Waterproof jacket (rain is always possible in South East Asia)

Our Recommendation for cyclist:

Better to hire the bicycle from us as it is convenience with a light travel.

Medical / Personal for your trip:  

- Personal medical supplies (aspirin, paracetamol, plasters, bandage, safety pins, antiseptic      cream, diarrhea tablets, tampons, etc.)

Note: If you are taking any medication, or you have a condition that needs specific medicines (e.g. asthma) you must bring all necessary medication with you. You must also inform the tour leader or guide of your condition at the start of your tour.

Clothing

Recommend for general travellers:
As a general guideline, clothing should be lightweight, sturdy and easily washed. Most people tend to bring too many clothes, so try to travel as light as possible.

Recommend for cyclist: 
Please remember that special cycling clothes and shoes are not easy available in Cambodia, especially the size. You may want to bring SPD shoes or sandals with overshoes. You do not want to have to go looking for specialized cycling clothes and shoes during your journey, so bring what you will need with you.
 

Photography
Still photography is not a problem at historical sites, but please remember that climbing or leaning on statues and walls is not acceptable. Also, always ask before taking photos of other people.

However, if you want to take video at historical sites, special permits are necessary. Also be aware that video cameras must be declared at customs on arrival in many countries.

Film vs. Digital 
Film may not always be available locally and can be of variable quality, so you should bring plenty with you. If you use a digital camera, be sure you have an adequate supply of memory cards, and bring spare batteries, especially if they are of an unusual size. (Although batteries and most memory cards can be bought in the cities) Two sets of rechargeable are best so one set is always full. Don't forget to bring the charger as well as a travel plug adapter.

Many internet shops or photo shops can burn photos from memory cards onto a CD, but do not delete any images from the card until you have checked the CD on a different computer.

Emergency Contact 
If someone needs to contact you while you are on tour; the best method is for them to contact your sales agent, who can then pass on the message. If your sales agent is unavailable, and someone needs to make urgent contact with you, they should telephone our hotline in the tour operation department in Travel Loops office. Emergency Contact details are shown in each service voucher. We recommend that you leave a copy of your trip itinerary, service voucher and details of how to contact us / you with someone at home.

Phoning Hotels/Mobile Phone
There are 2ways for calling to overseas from Myanmar:

1.       Make a phone call from your hotel to your friends and relatives, but then it extremely expensive (US$6-7 per minute)

2.       Purchase a SIM card cost approximately US$20 that could use during the trip but not be able to send SMS to overseas. Be able to apply for 3G with the SIM card via the additional cost.

You can use your own cell phone if you come from Europe, Asia or Australia (GSM 900/1800). If it is not yet unlocked, it can be easily done here. For those from the USA or Japan, you may need to buy a cell phone when you get here. You may want to do this anyway. If you have an expensive mobile phone, you may want to leave it at home, and buy a cheap one here in case it gets lost, stolen, or broken.

To apply for SIM card you will need to show your passport, and/or give them a copy of it.

Cell phone shops can be found in Yangon or Mandalay only. However, not all mobile phone companies cover all parts of the country, especially in remote areas there may not be any coverage

E-mail

 

The internet is starting to spread out but quite slow. Could easily to get the internet from the internet shops, hotels cafes, guesthouses, etc. Chat and webcams are also available at some internet shop. Internet use is free for guests in many hotels and guesthouses. Using the internet in internet shops is about US$0.50 – US$1/ hour, depending on the location.