Bagan|The love for the city of thousands of pagodas is impossible to hide
🚎 Transportation: Yangon to Bagan overnight bus JJ Express
🕰️ Duration: 18:30 to 05:30 the next day, total 11 hours
🪪 Ticket purchase: 1️⃣ JJ Express (Aung San Football Stadium), ticket purchase requires showing a passport, ticket price 40,000 kyats, located near Yangon Central Railway Station, quite close to the city center, you can take a taxi or walk there. I walked from Chinatown all the way there and then went to a nearby massage shop. 2️⃣ The seats on this night bus are arranged 2+2, I chose the last row, and luckily no one was next to me, making it much more spacious to sleep at night.
🚏 Boarding: 1️⃣ Aung Mingala Highway Bus Terminal, a suburban bus station, find the JJ Express boarding point, check in at the counter and you will be given a sticker, then load your luggage and board the bus. 2️⃣ Take public transport or taxi (34,000 kyats) to get there; it takes at least an hour from the city center, and traffic jams are common in the afternoon, so it’s recommended to leave two hours early just in case. 3️⃣ There is a KFC and restaurants near the station, so if you arrive early you can have a meal or fill your stomach. 4️⃣ The bus provides a bottle of water and a blanket; the air conditioning is quite cold at night, so if you are sensitive to cold, dress warmly.
🏘️ Arrival: 1️⃣ The first rest stop is around 22:00, stopping for 30 minutes at a rest area (though it actually lasted over 40 minutes), with food stalls and small shops, Wi-Fi, and restrooms available. 2️⃣ The second rest stop is around 02:00 the next day, also 30 minutes; some people get off to have coffee, and the driver took a nap on the luggage rack at the back of the bus, snoring loudly. 3️⃣ The bus arrives at Bagan Shwe Pyi Highway Bus Terminal; after arrival, you can take a taxi to your hotel (usually 10,000 to 15,000 kyats).
🏩 Accommodation: Book your hotel in advance. I stayed in Nyaung U, which is lively at night. The location is marked on the map. Pay offline (online payment at the official exchange rate is not cost-effective) and check in. There are very few tourists in Bagan now, so most hotels are more than half empty, and you can check in immediately upon arrival in the morning.
🗿 Sightseeing: 1️⃣ There are many pagodas, suitable for leisurely exploring over two days. If you have enough time, you might as well relax here for a week. 2️⃣ Bring a pair of slippers or sandals, as you will frequently need to take off your shoes and socks when entering pagodas every day. 3️⃣ It’s still very hot during the day, so prepare sun protection like hats and sunglasses. The streets are dusty, so wearing a mask or face scarf is better.