Ye (happily, pronounced Yay!) is located about halfway between Mawlamyine and Dawei.
The area was only opened to tourists by the ruling Junta around the end of 2013, so there is not too much information on getting there.
This guide details how to get to Ye from Yangon, as well as Hpa-An and Mawlamyine.
Contents
How to get to Ye from Yangon
By Bus
From Yangon, make your way to Aung Mingala Highway Bus Station. It’s big and hectic and can be quite confusing, so make sure you ask the taxi driver to take you to a particular bus company.
If you get lost while you are there, just ask someone, people are accommodating and will point you in the right direction.
Prices will range from 8000 Kyats to around 15000 kyats. There are smaller busses too, but they pack them with people, including putting seats in the aisles. It’s a long bus trip and can be bumpy, as Myanmar’s roads aren’t that great.
The following bus companies will get you from Yangon to Ye.
- Aung Ya Da Na – 3 pm and 4 pm
- Shway San Set Jya – 6 pm, 8:30 pm, and 9 pm
- Mann Ya Za – 4 pm
- Myu Set Tit – 7 am and 7 pm
- Shwen Lay – 7 am
- Shwe Wai Minn Express – 1 pm
By Train
You can also take a train from Yangon to Ye, which is slower than the bus, and even bumpier.
Both options are reasonably priced, but the train is cheaper – anywhere from 3250 to 6500 Kyats depending on whether you take the ordinary seat or the upper-class seat.
There are no sleepers on this train, just seats, and the journey is meant to be around 16 hours but expect it to take a little longer.
Are you looking to go overland from Thailand? Check out this itinerary!
How to get to Ye from
Hpa-An or Mawlamyine
From Hpa-An
If you’re in Hpa-An (pronounced Pa-An), make your way to the bus stop near the roundabout (see map); this bus will take you to Mawlamyine.
If you can get your hotel/hostel staff to help you write a sign in Burmese script, it will be easier, and people will point you in the right direction.
The cost is 1000 Kyats each, and it took around 2 hours. They leave on the hour, starting at 9 am. Please double check bus times while there as they may have changed.
From Mawlamyine
From Mawlamyine (pronounced Moulamine), there are two main bus stations marked on Google Maps.
The bus from Hpa-An will terminate at Mawlamyine Highway station, but the one you want is Zeigyo Bus Station, so get off at the big roundabout before the bus turns right down (see map).
If you end up at the central bus station as we did, don’t worry, you can easily get someone to take you to the correct one.
It was raining when we went, so we opted for a tuk-tuk instead of the back of a motorbike, and that was 1000 Kyats each – there were three of us.
Once at Zeigyo Bus Station, ask around and tell people you want to go to Ye (always repeat this and say it twice – Ye, Ye), and someone will direct you, or your tuk-tuk driver might take you straight there as ours did.
When you enter through the gate, the place where you buy the tickets should be on your right with a restaurant next to it.
If I am reading the sign right in the photo below, there are three busses for the day, one at 9 am, 10:30 am, and 1 pm.
You can buy your tickets from the counter for 3000 Kyats each, and the bus should take about 5 hours. Unfortunately, it’s not the most comfortable bus ride.
When you buy your tickets, they should assign you a seat; try to get one at the front of the bus if possible. Once in Ye, the bus stops outside the Pagoda, and everything is pretty much walking distance from there.
If you would like to take the train from Mawlamyine to Ye, it is near the Mawlamyine Highway bus station on the right-hand side before the bus terminates.
Once in Ye, if you are looking for somewhere to stay, we recommend Starlight Guesthouse. Dave, an American, and his wife run it together, and he’s very accommodating and helpful. Check out the current prices here.
Check out our post here for the top things to do in Ye, including visiting nearby Banana Mountain!
