Four wheel drive into the unknown

Yin Min Tun

If you are the adventurous type for whom an element of the unknown provides that extra frisson of excitement, the four-wheel-drive tour could be for you. For the pioneering spirit in search of something new, the best time is between October and April. There are only a few companies in Myanmar providing four-wheel-drive tours.

One such company is Asian Trails Tour Ltd, which, as well as the more usual Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan and Shan State mini-bus tours, has been providing four-wheel-drive tours for three years. Asian Trails offers the promise of new experiences in places that are difficult to reach with normal cars.  "Different people have different ideas," said Mr Laurent Kuenzle, the Managing Director of Asian Trails. "The itinerary depends on how much adventure the client wants to have, how far he wants to go, what he wants to experience." The company operates wherever four wheel drives are available - in Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, Taungyi and Kyaingtone. An agent can arrange to fly you to a prearranged starting point for the trip. The starting point and the ending point will be the same, but you can choose where to go in between. Mount Victoria is very popular, the starting point for which is Bagan.

Most tourists like to combine different experiences, adding walking, bicycling and a bit of boating to the trip.  "We set the itineraries and adapt them according to the customer’s interest," Mr Kuenzle said. "We go to Mu-se and Bhamo by four-wheel-drive from Mandalay or Lashio. And from Bhamo, mostly we go by boat on the Ayeyarwaddy River down to Mandalay, then by four-wheel-drive to Monywa and Pakokku, on which the route is pretty adventurous."

The time taken depends on the itinerary. "It’s at least three days if you want to go quickly to Mount Victoria," he explained.  "On another route we go from Yangon to Bago, Hpa-an, Mawlamyine, Thabyuzayat and back to Yangon by an unusual way." The cost depends on how far you go and how long it takes. The cheapest tour is US$350. Some areas in Myanmar require a permit. The business is not yet well known by tourists, Mr Kuenzle said. "So far, most are German, American, Australian or Swiss. "They prefer Land Cruisers and Pajeros."