Forums > Travel Yunnan > travelling form Yunnan to Myanmar

I tried to cross from Ruili to Muse, to go overland to Mandalay in February this year. But that was not possible on the Burmese side.

There is still fighting and an unstable situation many places in the Shan state, as well as in the Kachin state. (Muse is in Shan state). You can visit Muse on day passes. But most of the Shan state (which you would have to pass on your way to Yangon) is off-limits. The Chinese authorities in Ruili asked me to contact a travel agency in Kunming for "organized" tours overland from Muse to Mandalay, so maybe you could check (but DON'T oder online Burmese visa then, as it only covers flying in).

Maybe your best bet would be to fly to Mandalay, and bike down to Yangon from there? I don't think biking through the Shan state will be possible in the near future. But good luck, and keep us updated!
As for Kachin, it is not possible to enter overland, but flying in to Myitkina from Mandalay is easy and quite cheap.

Forums > Travel Yunnan > travelling form Yunnan to Myanmar

I asked some Chinese travel agencies in Ruili about the overland crossing from Ruili to Mandalay. After getting in touch with Burmese travel agencies (it's better to contact these directly), the answer was that it's possible to cross overland, but you still need a special permit, which costs around 2000 rmb, and covers both ways, if you're coming back the same way. On top of that, you'll need to pay for transport costs - around 1000 rmb for a car from Muse to Mandalay, which can be shared between four people, and a guide; around 35 rmb a day.
The flight between Kunming and Mandalay would probably amount to similar costs, but off course the overland trip could provide some nice scenery on the way.

Forums > Travel Yunnan > travelling form Yunnan to Myanmar

I'm living in Ruili at the moment, and also planning to go to Mandalay overland from Ruili. I got the Burmese visa in Kunming, where they said it's allowed to go overland. I just have to get a travel permit here in Ruili. I haven't asked about it yet, but will do soon, and post what I find out.

There's just been violent clashes between Buddhist Burmese and Muslim Rohingyas in Mandalay, so there might be restrictions on travelling there, if it continues.

Also, most of Kachin state is off limits. This week I took a bus to towards Laiza, (where it's supposedly possible to cross the border, as it's not controlled by the Burmese government, but by the KIO), but was stopped at a checkpoint some 10 km. before Laiza and sent back. "For my own safety", they said.