The Yangon Circular Train tour is open to anyone who can find their way to a train station in the southern city of Yangon in Myanmar.

Inside the main entrance of Yangon train station.

Taxi drivers outside the station, waiting for a fare.

Three ladies; two with cell phones and one lost in thought.

I went with a friend I had met the day before, a lovely lady from Holland who turned out to be a fantastic travel buddy. We met at Yangon station, grabbed our tickets for only 200 kyat (approx. 0.23 CAD) and waited for our train to arrive. The route goes around the outskirts of the city of Yangon in a leisurely 3 hour circuit.

The main circuit shown is the route of the circular train.

Locals board the train as well so this isn’t some ritzy, bedazzled tour. It’s simply an inexpensive way to see the countryside and enjoy some time observing your surroundings.

A view from behind: local housing.

The backside of a local cemetery.

Passengers are free to jump on or off at any stop on the circular train. If you buy a ticket for the round trip, you’re covered all the way around so you’re welcome to take off and explore whenever you like. There are passenger control officers strolling through checking tickets though so make sure to keep it on hand. Some stops are busier than others. Some have roadside restaurants next to the platform, some have vegetable markets springing up and some have nothing but a gate and path that leads into a village.

Even the locals like people-watching on the train.

If you’re curious about this train ride, I say give it a go. You can always get off when and if you’re bored and it’s a relaxing afternoon out of the sun. There are local vendors selling pre-cut fruit and cold drinks throughout the ride, so you’ll never go hungry and the views are unique compared to what you see in town.