Should You Take the Train in Burma?

Short Answer: Don’t

Long Answer: No, really. Don’t.

Ok, ok… Maybe I’m being a little harsh. After all, I’ve only taken one night train in Myanmar. These are my thoughts. I would be happy to hear from anyone else who had a different experience from mine.

Are the Burmese trains really that bad?

After all, my go-to train advice blog, The Man in Seat 61 doesn’t seem to think so. Let’s take a look.

Myanmar, commonly called Burma, is actually one of my favorite places to travel. After half-a-century of relative isolation, it’s now easier than ever to get a visa to visit Myanmar, a lesser-known and often misunderstood country located between Thailand, China, and India.

The Man in Seat 61.

Really bumpy! As in, getting several inches of clearance from the rock-hard mattress with each jolt bumpy. It really felt like the train might derail at a few points through the night.

The truth is, it was impossible to sleep. We were told that the train from Yangon to Mandalay would take “ten to twenty hours”. Fortunately for us, it took only sixteen.

$25 got a ticket in a first-class private compartment, but the beds were dirty, and the single, thin sheet that was provided didn’t even cover the moldy mattress.

The electricity didn’t work, nor did the fan. The window was stuck open,and it was raining all through the night. And the train’s public toilet… well… I have nothing to say about that.

That’s not to say it was all bad. The staff provided each compartment with fresh water and moist towelettes. That was nice at least. And rail travel is still one of the more environmentally-friendly ways to travel, although the train did seem to be putting out an awful lot of black smoke…

Interested in Burma? Check out my second book “Across a Golden Land” to read my travelogue of our slow journey across the country.

Comic: The Night Train

Our video showing the inside of a Burmese night train on the journey from Yangon to Mandalay.

Have you taken a train in Myanmar? Have a different opinion? Do you agree with The Man in Seat 61 or with me? We would love to hear your thoughts! What are your favorite rail journeys? Any tips for fellow travelers, or for us in the future? We would love to hear from you. Leave a comment below!