Major city · Myanmar
Katha
Spend a single day in Katha to see Orwell‑related sites and the riverside market, then return by train or boat.
Katha is a small Irrawaddy‑river town famous for its George Orwell connections. With limited attractions—colonial buildings, a market and a river bar—a half‑day to full‑day visit suffices. Travel options include cheap tuktuks from the train station, river boats from Bhamo, or the overnight ferry from Mandalay.
advisory country
More
More ways in
Local time, weather, currency, airports
- Weather
- see forecast
- Currency
- MMK
- Best months
- Nov–Feb
- avoid Jun–Sep (heavy rain, river transport unreliable)
- Airport
- none nearby
- Nights
- 1
Not a trip line yet
Rules in force · 5Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…Check your own government travel advice for Myanmar befor…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Myanmar ↗Check your own government travel advice for Myanmar before any booking; advice depends on your passport and changes without notice.
- Myanmar ↗The Myanmar e-visa site is the official application route, but approval does not remove the risks in your government's advice.
- Myanmar ↗Confirm that your travel insurance and medical evacuation cover apply to Myanmar before you rely on it.
Entry rules depend on your passport. Full visa guide
What is in this basic guide8 covered · 4 not yet ▾
In this guide
Not in this guide yet
- Walking areas with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Airport-to-bed timings and the last safe connection
- Field-checked times and prices
Emergency numbers for Katha110 ▾
- Police110
Tap a number to call from your phone. These are the numbers listed in this guide; a row marked check has not been verified.
EssentialsQuick answers and what things cost
Essentials
Quick answers and what things cost
Quick answers
The questions people ask first about Katha, one line each. Tap a card for the full answer.
- Cash or card?checkPayment and banking conditions are not assessed here; check with your bank and your government advice.Myanmar-wide
- SafetyNo safety line is published for Katha.
- Emergency numbers110 police (not 911, 999 or 000)
- Your embassyFind your embassy's 24-hour line before you fly.
- Getting aroundTown is walkable; tuktuks from Na Bar train station cost about 1,500 kyat (2019).
Cost cheat-sheet
Typical prices for the everyday things, as ranges. Your currency is shown next to the local price.
- Street or quick mealNoodles at the bazaar500 kyat
- Taxi, about 5 km (3 mi)Taxi, about 3 mi (5 km)Tuktuk from Na Bar station1,500 kyat (2019)
- Budget bedAyarwaddy Guest House fan room, a night, per roomMMK 8,000
- Mid-range bedAyarwaddy Guest House fan room, a night, per roomMMK 8,000
- High-end bedAyarwaddy Guest House fan room, a night, per roomMMK 8,000
A day, not counting the bed: Budget MMK 15,000 · Mid MMK 30,000 · High MMK 60,000
Local prices, with USD next to them (rates 2026-09 (approximate); change it in the header). Ranges are desk estimates: check locally. Every price and the budget calculator →
DecideWhat it is known for, and when the weather works
Decide
What it is known for, and when the weather works
At a glance
What the city is known for, how you fly in, and where to find the phrases.
- Airports
- none nearby: arrive by land or via another city
Map of Katha
Where it is, and the guides within about 120 km.
Best months at a glance
From the guide's best and avoid lists
Jan
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Feb
Best
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Mar
not flagged
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
Apr
not flagged
37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)
May
not flagged
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
Jun
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Jul
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Aug
Avoid
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
Sep
Avoid
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Oct
not flagged
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
Nov
Best
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
Dec
Best
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
Best: Nov–Feb. Avoid: Jun–Sep. Month by month →
Warmest Apr (37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)), coolest Jan (14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C) low), wettest Jul (20 rain days), driest Jan (1). Averages, not a forecast.
Weather and climate
Katha: next 7 days
Loading forecast…
Forecast: Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0), model data for this point.
Air quality
Loading…
Model estimate (CAMS via Open-Meteo), not a street-level station; readings near busy roads run higher.
Jan
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
14°C (57°F)57°F (14°C)
1 rd
Feb
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
1 rd
Mar
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
2 rd
Apr
37°C (99°F)99°F (37°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
4 rd
May
35°C (95°F)95°F (35°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
12 rd
Jun
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
18 rd
Jul
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
20 rd
Aug
31°C (88°F)88°F (31°C)
25°C (77°F)77°F (25°C)
20 rd
Sep
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
24°C (75°F)75°F (24°C)
16 rd
Oct
32°C (90°F)90°F (32°C)
23°C (73°F)73°F (23°C)
9 rd
Nov
30°C (86°F)86°F (30°C)
20°C (68°F)68°F (20°C)
3 rd
Dec
28°C (82°F)82°F (28°C)
16°C (61°F)61°F (16°C)
1 rd
High / low, both scales · rd = rain days
Arrive & moveAirports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Arrive & move
Airports are listed under At a glance; this is how to move once you are in
Getting around
Town is walkable; tuktuks from Na Bar train station cost about 1,500 kyat (2019). River ferries connect to Bhamo.
See & doDay-trips, door to door
See & do
Day-trips, door to door
Day-trips
Door to door: About 5–7 h
Fast boat downriver from the Katha boat station
16,000 kyat for foreigners (2019); locals pay about half. Season decides the run time.
Door to door: Check
Train north on the Mandalay–Myitkyina line, or road
Railhead town at the end of the line; sleep there, don't try a return day.
Door to door: Ferry 36 h; train check
Train down the Mandalay–Myitkyina line, or the overnight ferry
Ferry fare for foreigners was US$45 in 2018, kyat not accepted.
Door to door: Check
Road via Mohnyin, then local transport to the lake
Myanmar's largest lake; a separate trip, not a Katha day out.
Eat & sleepWhich area to sleep in
Eat & sleep
Which area to sleep in
Where to sleep
Areas, not hotels: pick the one that fits your arrival time and plans.
Ayarwaddy Guest House
Simple fan rooms, riverside; price 8,000 kyat per night.
PracticalWhat a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Practical
What a day costs, what to watch out for, and the pocket card
Cost per day
- Budget
- 15,000–30,000 kyat excl. bed
- Mid
- 30,000–60,000 kyat excl. bed
- High
- 60,000+ kyat excl. bed
Trip budget
| Ayarwaddy Guest House fan room1 × 1 night × MMK 8,000 | MMK 8,000 |
| Food, local transport, entries1 × 1 day × MMK 15,000 | MMK 15,000 |
| Tuktuk from Na Bar station1 × MMK 1,500 · 2019 fare | MMK 1,500 |
| Fast boat Bhamo → Katha1 × MMK 16,000 · 2019 fare; locals pay about half | MMK 16,000 |
| Buffer 10%Price creep, a taxi you did not plan, one splurge | MMK 4,100 |
| Trip total≈ MMK 44,600 per person per day, bed included | MMK 44,600 |
Riverside rooms cost the same; ask for one.
2026 estimate in kyat; flights excluded. Your choices stay in this browser.
Prices of common things
| Noodles at the bazaar | 500 kyat |
| Meal at Sein Restaurant | 1,500–4,000 kyat |
| Tuktuk from Na Bar station | 1,500 kyat (2019) |
2026 estimate; check locally.
Watch out
Safety
- Boat schedules vary by season; fast boats from Bhamo cost 16,000 kyat (locals pay half).
- The British Club is closed to visitors as of 2020.
- Overnight ferry from Mandalay charges US$45 for foreigners (price 2018).
Emergency numbers
- Police
- 110
Pocket card
Fill in, then print or save as PDF
Stays in this browser only; nothing is sent anywhere.
KathaKatha
Pocket card · Voykit
My bed tonight
—
—
—
ဒီလိပ်စာကိုသွားပေးပါTake me to this address
Emergency
- Police110
Embassy
My embassy: —
Fare anchors (2026 estimate)
- Na Bar station → Katha (tuktuk): about 1,500 kyat (2019)
- Fast boat Bhamo → Katha: 16,000 kyat (locals pay half)
- Overnight ferry Mandalay → Katha: US$45 (2018)
Say or show
- မင်္ဂလာပါ — Hello (mingalaba)
- ကျေးဇူးတင်ပါတယ် — Thank you (kyay zu tin ba deh)
- ဘယ်လောက်လဲ — How much? (be-lau leh)
- အိမ်သာဘယ်မှာလဲ — Where is the toilet? (ein-tha be-ma leh)
No embassy or consulate is listed for Katha; most embassies sit in Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw. Check before you travel.
Deep diveWhat this guide covers so far, and its sources
Deep dive
What this guide covers so far, and its sources
Not a trip line yet
This is a basic guide: no airport-to-bed contract, walking clusters or day plans are published for Katha. Airport, fare and schedule details are unverified; check the operators before you fly.
What we know, and what is coming
On this page
- Best months: Nov–Feb · avoid Jun–Sep (heavy rain, river transport unreliable)
- 0 airports and 1 area to sleep in
- Weather: a 7-day forecast and monthly averages
- Cost per day in 3 bands
- 4 day-trips, door to door
- 3 things to watch out for, with emergency numbers
Coming as the guide grows
- An airport-to-bed path that says whether a late landing still works
- Walking clusters with bag rules
- Day plans checked against opening hours
- Field-verified times and fares
Sources
Ask about Katha
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