Formalities on Arrival

You will need to clear customs and immigration before exiting to the Arrival Hall. All items of jewellery, cameras and foreign currency in excess of US$ 2,000 must be declared upon arrival. No Myanmar currency may be imported or exported. Duty free allowance is 200 cigarettes and one litre of wine or spirits.

Money (bring enough cash)

Since 2011 several private sector banks and money changers have emerged. These money changers can be found at domestic airports. US Dollars, Euro and few other currencies are accepted in cash. Bills must be in perfect condition without any creases or markings, otherwise they may be declined. Most of the official money changers are extremely picky about the condition of notes whereas traditional black market money changers offer slightly lower rates but are more flexible with notes condition. US dollar bills with the letters "CB" in the serial number may also be declined in some places. For the time being credit cards are only accepted by a few hotels which mostly charge high commissions on credit card payments (between 4-8%). It is recommended to carry both local currency Kyats and US dollars in cash, you will need both. Exchange rates in 2011 varied from 750-850Kyats per US dollar and 1000-1150Kyats per Euro.

Do's and Dont's

Never drink tap water.  Purified, bottled water is available everywhere. Eat at established restaurants and avoid peeled or cut fruit as well as ice cubes. It is wise to guard against sunburn, dehydration and heat exhaustion. Light clothing made from natural fibres is useful most of the year around and a sweater or jacket is needed when touring hill areas and the Inle Lake region from November to February. When visiting pagodas and other religious buildings great care must be taken to appear modest and correctly dressed. Women should not wear shorts, braless T-shirts or have bare shoulders when visiting such places. Shoes and socks must always be removed at pagodas and monasteries. Photography in airports, railway stations and near any military installation is forbidden.

Language

The official language is 'Myanmar/Burmese' with numerous regional and minority languages and dialects. English is spoken at all major hotels. Basic English is also spoken widely throughout the country, and travellers will almost always find someone who will at least understand and speak a few words of English. Expeditions Myanmar provides guiding services in English, German, French, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese and Russian.

Food

Myanmar cuisine embraces Indian style curries with meat or fish as well as vegetables and regional salads and soups. Chilli is popular in Myanmar and is often used in spicy dishes such as curries, though Myanmar food in general is not as hot as the Thai cuisine. There is a broad range of Chinese, Thai and Indian restaurants sprinkled around the major cities, and also Western food as well as many other types of food can be found in Yangon, Mandalay and some other tourist resorts.

Shopping

Shopping is plentiful in most areas of Myanmar with colourful markets and stalls adorning most streets. Most popular buys include antiques, embroidery, gems, lacquerware, mother-of-pearl, hand-woven silk longyis, traditional woodcarvings, customary puppets and tribal crafts. Jewellery should be purchased through an authorized dealer who will issue a receipt so that the items can be exported. Bargaining is an elemental part of Myanmar life in small shops and markets.

Tipping

Tipping is common in Myanmar and much appreciated. Tipping is entirely voluntary and should encourage to good and satisfactory service. Major hotels and restaurants usually add 10 % service charge to bills. Where it is not included a tip of 5-10 % of the bill would be appropriate if the service is satisfactory. Porters should be tipped at 300 Kyat per bag. Recommended tip for local guides is 3Usd per person per day and 1Usd pp per day for drivers.