Bagan to Guiyang overland: route, cost and stops
Bagan to Guiyang, overland all the way, across 3 countries, with every leg costed. This is the planner's own output for the corridor — 6 stops, 10 legs, 30h on the move.
Modelled estimates, not live fares. Last rebuilt 2026-09-23.
This is one version of the corridor. Change the budget, the pace, the dates or the bed type and the route rebuilds around them.
Open this route in the plannerThe route, leg by leg
Each row is the mode the planner picked as the best balance of time and money. Alternatives on every leg — including night trains and coaches — are in the planner itself.
| Leg | Mode | Time | Fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bagan → Mandalay | Rail | 2.3h | €5–€5 |
| Mandalay → Pyin Oo Lwin | Rail | 58m | €4–€4 |
| Pyin Oo Lwin → Lashio | Rail | 2.4h | €5–€5 |
| Lashio → Pangkham | Rail | 2.5h | €5–€5 |
| Pangkham → Kēng Tung | Rail | 1.7h | €5–€5 |
| Kēng Tung → Luang Namtha | Rail | 2.5h | €5–€5 |
| Luang Namtha → Dien Bien Phu | Rail | 2.5h | €5–€10 |
| Dien Bien Phu → Sapa | Rail | 2.1h | €5–€5 |
| Sapa → Kunming | Coach | 5.8h | €5–€10 |
| Kunming → Guiyang | Coach | 7.6h | €10–€20 |
What it costs
| Component | Low | Typical | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transport | €54 | €57 | €74 |
| Beds | €133 | €156 | €200 |
| Daily spending | €315 | €394 | €532 |
| Total per person | €574 | €687 | €898 |
Dorm beds, two people sharing where a room is cheaper than two dorm bunks. Daily spending is food and local transport, modelled per city rather than averaged across the trip.
Where you stop
Bagan, Myanmar
Worth the time: Temple plain at sunrise, e-bike routes
Eating: Curry sets €2
Beds near the centre:
Arthawka B&B (real place) · hostelYaung Chi Oo · guest houseBagan Hotel · hotel
Markets and cheap eats:
Sarabha · seafoodMhwe Restaurant / beer station, ask for Yu · localYar Pyi Vegetarian Restaurant · local
Mandalay, Myanmar
Kēng Tung, Myanmar
Sapa, Vietnam
Worth the time: Rice terraces, homestay treks, Fansipan
Eating: Homestay meals €3
Beds near the centre:
Fancy Sapa Hostel 2 · hostelVenus Sapa Hostel · hostelGreen Villa · guest house
Markets and cheap eats:
Chợ Sa Pa · marketSeoul Restaurant · koreanRed Dzao · regional
Kunming, China
Beds near the centre:
昆明背包时年青年旅舍(南屏街店) · hostel四季雲上酒店 · hostel大姨家民宿 · guest house
Guiyang, China
Beds near the centre:
岬舍 · hostelShangming's House · hostel锦江之星 · hotel
Worth a detour
Places just off the corridor, priced against the route you already have — the extra time and the extra money each one actually adds.
| Place | Fits | Extra time | Extra cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luang Prabang, Laos | after Kēng Tung | +3.9h | +€30 |
| Chiang Mai, Thailand | after Mandalay | +4.6h | +€39 |
| Myingyan, Myanmar | after Bagan | +30m | +€26 |
| Chiang Rai, Thailand | after Kēng Tung | +3.9h | +€30 |
Common questions
How long does the Bagan to Guiyang trip take?
Moving time is about 30h spread over 10 legs. Allowing 2 nights in each of the 6 stops, the whole corridor works as a 13-day trip. You can compress it by skipping stops, but the travelling time itself does not shrink much.
How much does it cost?
About €687 per person for 13 days in dorms, sharing with one other. That splits into roughly €57 of transport, €156 of beds and €394 of daily spending. The realistic range is €574 to €898 depending on how early you book and how much you eat out.
Can you do it without flying?
Yes. An all-surface version runs about 30h of travel and €687 in total — €-0 less than the version above. Switch on avoid flying in the planner to see it.
Which countries does it cross?
Myanmar, Vietnam, China — 3 in total. Check visa requirements for your own passport before you commit to the route; this planner does not model them.
What transport does it use?
Rail, Coach. Every leg is costed with a walk-up fare and an advance fare, so the range on each row is the booking-window spread, not uncertainty about the route.
Adjust it for your own dates, budget and party size.
Plan Bagan → Guiyang