How to travel from Yangon to Mandalay by bus

A range of bus services are available from short-trip vehicles that can be rather rustic to luxury air-conditioned buses for longer travel. Buses frequently do not have bathrooms on board; however, the drivers should make numerous pit stops for travelers' comfort.

Departure Station: Aung Mingalar Station

Arrival Station: Kywel Sel Kan 

Stop at Front of Train Station and Kywel Sel Kan Bus station

Bus company: ELite and Khaing Mandalay

Depart at 7.00 PM, 8.00 PM, 8.30 PM, 9.00 PM, 9.30 PM

Duration: 8 hours

Travel tip: 

• Most big buses compagnies have recently bought brand new Scania buses for Europe. The overall quality has jumped...
• There is very convenient, very fast and cheap DAY TIME buses between Mandalay and Yangon. If you want to save a lot, and you do not want to spend a night in the bus, this is a very convenient and comfortable way of travelling (and very cheap compare to train, plane or worst, car).
• Some premium companies now include a snack and drink during the bus trip. 
• Bring warm clothes, it can be very cold in winter AND summer (air con), bring eye curtain also.
• Sometimes if it is really better to come at the bus station early to get the best seat (you may have to pay a little extra).

Book your bus ticket from Yangon to Mandalay online at www.yourlocalbooking.com

How to travel from Yangon To Mandalay by flight

Price: $92 USD
Duration: around a 60 minute flight
Myanmar’s domestic carriers (Air Bagan, Mandalay air, Yangon Air and Myanmar Air).

Flight schedule

Book air ticket from Yangon to Mandalay at www.yourlocalbooking.com

How to travel from Yangon To Mandalay by Train

Taking the train from Yangon to Mandalay is a bit bumpy, but an amazing experience. You're riding the British-built colonial railway, and can smell the village cooking fires on the breeze that wafts through the window, passing rural life and the occasional golden stupa. A train trip takes about 16 hours. The trains are fairly comfortable and frequently have sleeper and dining cars. Seats are set aside for foreigners, who should try to purchase tickets at least a day in advance at the train station.

Price: $30/$35 USD.

There are 4 trains a day: 5.00 (express), 5.30, 6.00 and 12.15 pm. 

The 12.15 offers a sleeper, air-con option for $35/$40 and if the train is as late as normal, you’ll be arriving in Mandalay very early in the morning.

People wanting to take the sleeper train just should be aware that it might be not a comfy train journey like for example a sleeper train in Thailand.

Before the train left there were enough people selling food, snacks and water outside or even came onto the train. We took food with us as well as water.

Don't expect to get much sleep as the train is really noisy and the ride is extremely rough

Why you should take train instead of bus from Yangon to Mandalay?

• It's more expensive than the bus but you don't have to stop every 2 hrs and get off
• It has an on board toilet which most buses don't. 
• The train stations are also centrally located which saves another long taxi ride into the city centre.