If you’ve been Googling the web for information on buses plying the Mandalay region, look no further than OK Express. We rode their minibus from Nyaung U to Mandalay on our trip to Myanmar earlier this month, and we were quite pleased with their service.
Routes
Mandalay to Myingyan to Taungtha and vice versa
Mandalay to Myingyan to Bagan, Nyaung U and vice versa
Pyin U Lwin to Myingyan to Bagan, Nyaung U and vice versa
Telephone numbers
Myingyan – 066-22623 / 09-33134444 / 09-256273337 / 09-256273338
Nyaung U – 09-33814444 / 09-31222244 / 09-256273331 / 09-256273336
Taungtha – 09-33133133 / 09-256273335
Mandalay – 09-33824444 / 09-31222233 / 09-256273332 / 09-256273334
Pyin U Lwin – 09-256604445 / 09-256604448
Pros
- Convenient door-to-door service. This is its biggest selling point, because the other bus companies only do station-to-station. OK Express picked us up at our hotel in Nyaung U and dropped us off at our hotel in Mandalay. It saved us two extra trips to and from the bus terminals.
- Price. We paid only 9,000 kyats (around USD 9) each for our tickets, which included free bottled water and wet wipes. I found a few sites selling tickets on other buses online, but I don’t know if they’re legit, and besides, the tickets they sell are more expensive at around USD 12-15 each.
Cons
- No online presence. OK Express doesn’t seem to have a website or even a Facebook page where you can reserve tickets in advance. We bought our tickets at their office at the bus station in Nyaung U, which was at least convenient for us since it’s the terminus of our overnight bus from Yangon, JJ Express.
- Frequent stops. The minibus isn’t actually an “express” service, but more like a local one that drops off and picks up passengers along the way. I didn’t mind this so much since I dozed off through most of the journey. The two toilet and snack breaks were also welcome, since they allowed us to stretch our legs for a bit.
- Scant luggage space. I assumed there would be some space at the back of the minibus for luggage, but they pretty much maximized the interior for seats. My suitcase wouldn’t fit in the overhead compartment nor under the seats; luckily there was some space up front next to the driver.
Ultimately, the cons are relatively minor and far outweighed by the convenience of being delivered straight from hotel to hotel. All in all, I don’t hesitate to recommend OK Express.