Sneek peak of the gravity-defying Kyaiktiyo Golden Rock Pagoda on my last days in Myanmar. The weather was cloudy the whole morning and most of the afternoon that I was in Kyaiktiyo. Fortunately, the sky magically cleared up at the peak of the golden sunset light.

Kyaiktiyo was one of the highlights of my trip to Myanmar and I was very happy that I included it in my itinerary.

Day 1

Yangon to Kinpun

• 7:00am – Arrival at Aung Mingalar Bus Terminal, Yangon
• Walk to loading station of buses bound for Kinpun (5 minutes)
• Pay for Yangon to Kinpun bus ticket – K7,000
  • A local showed me the way to bus stop for Kyaiktiyo / Kinpun. Kinpun is a “highway town” located at the base of Mount Kyaiktiyo.
• Buy Siopao (breakfast snack) – K500

• 7:30am – Departure from Yangon
• Yangon to Kinpun Bus (4 hours)
• 11:30nn – Arrival in Kinpun

Kinpun Hostel Check-in

• Walk to Sea Sar Guest House (right across the street from the bus stop in Kinpun)
• Check-in at Sea Sar Guest House
  • Single fan room (private TB; free breakfast) – $6 per night
  • Good value though very basic accommodations
  • Laundry (K200 per piece) – K1,000

Kinpun to Kyaiktiyo Golden Rock

• Walk to pick-up truck terminal (beside Sea Sar Guest House)
• Lunch at eatery at the pick-up terminal
  • Pork curry with rice and 1L bottled water – K1,800

• Pick-up truck from Kinpun to Kyaiktiyo (1 hour) – K1,500 per person
• 2:10am – Arrival at “topmost” pick-up station

• Walk from “topmost” pick-up station to Kyaiktiyo Golden Rock pagoda temple complex
  • Kyaikhtiyo foreigner entrance fee – US$6

• Noodles at stall outside temple – K500

• Ride last pick-up down – K2,500

• Dinner at roadside restaurant – K2,300
  • Chicken curry, rice, lemon soda

Sleep: Sea Sar Guest House, Kinpun
Day expenses: US$12 + K17,100 (estimate)

Day 2

Kinpun to Yangon

• Free breakfast at Sea Sar Guest House
• Buy Kinpun to Yangon bus ticket from Sea Sar Guest House – K7,000
  • Bus company was Win Express. Their office was located across Sea Sar Restaurant. Bus stop was beside the pick-up truck terminal.

• 10:30am – Departure from Kinpun
• Kinpun to Yangon bus (4 hours)
• 2:30pm – Arrival at Aung Mingalar Bus Terminal, Yangon

Aung Mingalar Bus Terminal to Yangon International Airport

• Taxi ride from Aung Mingalar to Airport – US$8 to 10 (forgot exact price)
• Early dinner at San Taw Win Food Center across the street from the Airport – K4,200

Day expenses: K14,200 (estimate)

Budget Summary

• Total Expenses: US$36.4
  • US$12 +K31,300 (estimate)
• Daily budget estimate: US$18 per day