Dirt-biking through Burma, Part Two Now that you have the preliminary pre-travel general, health and travel documentation squared away, it’s time to focus on what you’ll need on the road. (Fall 2021 Issue Part 1)
Navigation, weather and accommodation It is vital to remember that good English maps for Myanmar are virtually impossible to get ahold of. This is even more true if you plan to visit the more remote mountainous areas to the west of the country. In addition to that, there does not exist any English road signs or markings, as everything is only in Burmese. Considering that the country is more than 260,000 square miles (or 676,000 square kilometers), our original expedition plans included hiring a seasoned local Burmese that would provide translation and navigation assistance with the numerous tribes we
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were going to encounter. This individual was unfortunately missing in action when we arrived in Mandalay and left us in a precarious position at the start of our trip. We therefore decided to purchase a data sim and for the entire expedition relied on Google Maps via our mobile phones strapped to our Honda 250 motorcycles. Even in the thickest jungle we had unbelievably strong 4G reception via cell phone towers. It does help to carry a spare power bank as electricity/charging is not always guaranteed on arrival at your chosen destination. In terms of safe accommodation, we did some intensive research for clean and safe bed and breakfasts that had previous travel recommendations. It would be useful to study a map of Myanmar beforehand to familiarize yourself with the general topography of the country. The country is divided in 14 provinces which consists of seven
states and seven regions. The terrain, weather conditions and fauna/flora differ greatly between the areas. Bear in mind that Myanmar has a monsoon climate with three main seasons. The hottest period is between February and May, when there is little or no rain and temperatures can rise above 40°C (104°F). The rainy season is generally from May to October. The period during October to February provides better dry and cooler weather which is what we would recommend for travel. Plan your trip accordingly. With regards to the types of roads that you will experience in Myanmar, a proficient skill level of riding is required should you choose to do it via dirt bike. Originally, we would have preferred machines in the 690 to 800 cc range, but it is virtually impossible to rent off-road motorcycles of this capacity in Myanmar, never mind true adventure bikes. Nearly 95 percent of all twowheelers are cheap 125cc Chinese
