Local buses depart from Mindat, which is located just outside Nat Ma Taung National Park. But, if you are travelling to parts of Myanmar to the east, including Bagan and Mandalay, you will have to go to Pakokku first, and change there.
The Mindat to Pakokku public bus costs K5,000, but is very slow and uncomfortable (it departs 8.30am and arrives 5pm); there are also better air conditioned minibuses that operate on this route, costing K8,000.
There is also a public bus to the Chin mountain town of Matupi from Mindat, which costs K12,000. If you wish to travel from Mindat to the northern Chin towns of Hakha or Falam, you will have to travel via Gangaw (the road through central Chin State north of Matupi is usually impassable). Mindat to Gangaw takes 6 hours and costs K8,500.
The bus station in Mindat is at the market in the centre of town; some minibuses depart from the main road nearby.
All public transport options are much slower than getting your own car – and when you get to Nat Ma Taung National Park, you need your own transport to get to Kanpetlet or the Mount Victoria trail head. Because of the difficulty of access to the national park by public transport, most people choose to go on a guided tour from the Bagan area.
