How to get from Kawthaung to Yangon
Kawthaung is an entryway into Myanmar from Thailand but it is definitely not the most convenient place to enter the country. The Northern entrance of Mae Sot/Myawaddy is much closer to a lot of tourist destinations in Myanmar and besides has a much better roads connecting it to the capital. Kawthaung is quite remote and it takes several long travel days overland or some extra money for a flight to reach Yangon.
Note Though there is a direct bus between Kawthaung and Yangon, we can hardly recommend it as it's a torturous 36-hour ride. Roads in this part of the country are still waiting for their facelift so at the moment you – or rather your small back – have a chance to experience the overland travel in Myanmar in its whole authenticity.
Tip If you want to go to Yangon by land you are better off breaking up your trip with stops in the coastal cities of Myeik and Dawei. From Dawei, you can continue on to Yangon on one of the slowest trains in the world or take the bus. A flight is the fastest way to get to Yangon but it isn’t cheap.
Note You can enter Myanmar from Thailand via Kawthaung even without the full Myanmar visa. There are 3 days visas to Myanmar available at the check-point which cost USD10 allow you only stay in the city. If you decide to venture further up the country, you have to obtain your Myanmar visa in advance, either in your home country or in the embassy of Myanmar in Bangkok.
Flights from Kawthaung to Yangon
The two-hour flight to Yangon leaves a couple of times a week and is operated by both Myanmar National Airlines and Apex Airlines. The flight between Kawthaung and Yangon is one of the most expensive ones in the country. For a one-way ticket expect to pay around USD150-200.Both airlines also offer indirect flights via Myeik and Dawei. You could always break up your trip by stopping in both or either of these coastal towns before making your way to Yangon. They both have enough to keep you entertained at least for a couple of days but are rarely visited by tourists.
Getting to the airport in Kawthaung is fast as it's located fairly close to the city-centre. Expect to pay around MMK5000 to get there in a tuk-tuk.
Getting to the city centre in Yangon from the airport takes a lot longer and should cost around MMK8000 by taxi. There is also a public bus available but you will have to do some walking once you exit the airport to reach it.
Note Flights leave Kawthaung less frequently in low season during May-September so make sure to book in advance in order to secure your preferred date.
Tip If you are travelling to Yangon via Kawthaung from Thailand (what is the most likely scenario), do not enter Myanmar in Kawthaung – it makes no sense at all if you need a quick hop to Yangon and are not going to explore the south of the country checking-in in Myeik, Dawei or Ye. Instead, take a flight from Ranong to Bangkok and then connect to Bangkok–Yangon flight. At the end of the day you can even pay less than for a direct Kawthaung–Yangon flight.
From Kawthaung to Yangon by bus
There is a direct bus between Kawthaung and Yangon but it’s ridiculously long and passes through some pretty rough roads. The trip takes 36 hours and costs MMK35,000. If you are not up for that then there are some options to break up your trip along the way and explore the beautiful southern coastline while making your way up to Yangon.From Kawthaung to Yangon by bus via Myeik
Myeik is a great place to make your first stop on the way to Yangon. This bustling multicultural port is a mix of Chinese, Indian Muslim, and Bamar cultures.
Don’t expect a short and easy ride to get there though. The trip to Myeik takes 14 hours. It costs MMK25,000 for an A/C bus and MMK15,000 for a non-A/C one. There are both minivans and regular buses available, though spending 14 hours in a minivan in Myanmar – well, anywhere, actually! – is not the experience you may be longing for!
From Kawthaung to Yangon by bus via Dawei
Dawei is the next coastal town that can be a recommended stopover on your way from Kawthaung ot Myeik to Yangon. This city has some great beaches nearby and islands and jungle to explore.
Dawei is 20 hours from Kawthaung or only 6 hours from Myeik. From Kawthaung, the bus to Dawei costs MMK35,000. There is a minibus leaving from Myeik to Dawei for MMK12,000 and a regular bus for MMK8000.
Once in Dawei, there are modern buses leaving regularly for Yangon. The bus takes around 12-15 hours and costs from MMK25,000. The roads on this stretch are not very developed, either, so be prepared for an uncomfortable trip.
From Kawthaung to Yangon by bus and train via Dawei
Another option for overland travel from Kawthaung to Yangon is to get to Dawei by bus first, as described above, and then hop onto the train from Dawei to Yangon.
This slow-going train is one of the least modern trains in Myanmar – what is an adventure in itself, but, omg, a painfully slow adventure. No wonder that this train has been dubbed by some as the slowest train in the world (have they travelled from Yangon to Inle Lake by train, we wonder?!). The whole journey will take you 25 hours and please note that there are no sleeper cars available.
First, you will have to take the bus or fly to Dawei. Once in Dawei you can hop on to train 176 at 5.40am. You will need to change trains in Ye which only requires crossing the platform to the other side. The train stops in Ye, Mawlamyine, Kyaikhto and Bago before reaching Yangon. These are all interesting options for stopovers.
Onward travel from Yangon
After visiting the South there are still some of Myanmar’s most popular tourist destinations to visit like Bagan, Mandalay and Inle Lake. All of these places are easily accessible from Yangon.
The temples of Bagan are the most recognized site in Myanmar and not to be missed. You can spend days exploring the sprawling ruins and watching the sunrise over the temples is a highlight for many. Buses and trains are the cheapest way to get there. Buses are much faster. There are lots of options to fly to Bagan if you have the extra money to spend but as a bonus you get a wonderful view of the temples from above.
The second biggest city in Myanmar, Mandalay, can be reached by air, train or bus from Yangon. All options are decent. Going overland is the cheapest and flying is the fastest.
Another must-see spot on the itinerary of most travellers is Inle Lake. This chilled out destination is known for its stunning scenery and options for cultural experiences. The best way to get there overland is by bus as the train journey is long – really long! But the stretch of the railroad from Kalaw to Shwe Nyang is arguably the most picturesque one in the whole country so you may want to consider taking a bus to Kalaw instead to proceed your journey to Inle Lake by train from there. There are also lots of flights available at a cost.