myanmar travel blog

The Best of Myanmar: The Full Itinerary

03/03/2020 by Kristin Addis 27 Comments

This post was originally written by Ryan Brun for BMTM in 2014. While much of what he wrote is still true and remains in this post, I visited again in 2020 and have updated the post as well as added in new resources and spots to see. Enjoy! -Kristin

Myanmar isn’t a Southeast Asian country that is often on travelers “must see” lists, or planned for their great backpacking adventure. Which is a shame, because Myanmar is one of the most culturally preserved and exciting destinations in Asia.

Why isn’t Myanmar on everyone’s “must do” lists?

It honestly wasn’t on my list until I was invited by a friend. Before traveling to Myanmar, I didn’t know anything about the country except about how it was closed off from the world up until about a couple decades ago.

After backpacking through a large portion of Myanmar during their annual Thingyan Festival, I can without a doubt declare Myanmar as my favorite country in Southeast Asia.

Myanmar is a captivating and exciting country for many reasons. From floating villages, to valleys of ancient temples that beat out Angkor Wat, to multi-day jungle treks into mountain tea picking villages.

Ready to go yet? Awesome. Here’s my itinerary on the best of Myanmar, from where to go to what to do from my own personal experiences, and a few key tips and tricks to know before you go:

Best Myanmar Itinerary: Photo of Yangon train station, once capital of Burma, showing trees in bloom and old colonial buildings. Photo taken by Ryan Brown of Lost Boy Memoirs with Canon 650D Rebel T4i, edited in Adobe Lightroom.

Yangon ( former capital city of Rangoon ) is the highest populated city in Myanmar, and most likely where you will arrive. It’s the country’s bustling economic capital filled with colonial-era buildings mashed up against modern high-rises and Buddhist temples.

On arrival, Yangon can feel just as overwhelming as a city like Bangkok or Jakarta, but take a deep breath, settle into a hotel, and go for a wander. Here in Yangon you’ll get to experience the everyday lives of Burmese (people of Myanmar) who are usually too busy to try and surround you with goods to sell, but are happy to flash a smile. Explore the old and new of a fast growing city, and enjoy Yangon’s endless opportunity for street photographers.

Stay: Hotel Shwe Yee is perfectly situated walking distance from Shwedagon Pagoda and has great breakfast!

Most of the accommodation will be centered around the market streets and Chinatown area, and this is a great place to eat for your first night as you take everything in. 19th and 20th Street are the hotspots, and though it can be crowded and a bit funky smelling, there are plenty of restaurants to have a big meal with ample people watching.

Shwedagon Pagoda (Golden Pagoda)

Best Myanmar Itinerary: Photo of Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon Myanmar, the Golden Temple, with people sitting beneath the tallest spire at dusk. photo taken by Ryan Brown of Lost Boy Memoirs with Canon 650D Rebel T4i, edited in Lightroom.

Shwedagon Pagoda is the most sacred temple in all of Myanmar, and a popular pilgrimage for Buddhists. Legend has it that this golden pagoda and complex was built more than 2,500 years ago, which theoretically would make it the oldest Buddhist temple in the world.

Colonial Markets

I love walking through markets – you can get a real sense of life in a country there. Especially when nobody bothers you! These sprawling, ornate ironwork markets date back to British rule almost 100 years ago and will be a good escape from the heat as well as the best place to buy clothes, bags, and other trinkets if you need anything. Bonus, the vendors don’t chase you down like many other markets.

Quick Tips: Eat eat eat! Yangon will have the most diverse selection of food in Myanmar. Book accommodation ahead of arrival , hostels and hotels fill up fast, especially during holidays. Yangon will be the best place to get toiletries and supplies so stock up. Get a SIM card here if you want one (they are easy to find, and the airport has reasonable prices.)

Kyaiktiyo Pagoda and Golden Rock

East of Yangon is one of the top three most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Myanmar. Kyaiktiyo Pagoda is a massive golden rock barely balancing on the edge of an 1,100 meter tall mountain with breathtaking panoramic views of the jungle valley ( and a heart-pounding ride to the top ). To get to the pagoda, you’ll need to head out early in the morning and take a bus to Kinpun village. From there you will be packed into the back of a truck with monks and Burmese locals.

If you feel up for the challenge, you can hike the entire way to the top from the village which will be a 5+ hour trek through jungle and mountainous terrain, but it’ll be the ultimate way to experience the pilgrimage. Once at the top, buy a golden leaf and stick it onto the boulder (only men are allowed to do that)…just don’t be the one who finally pushes it over the edge!

Note from Kristin: Women are not permitted to touch the rock but are permitted in the outer courtyard. I don’t even have to tell you how I feel about that!

Stay: This hotel is 30 minutes away from the Kyaiktiyo Pagoda. There are also a few hotels located at the foot of the pagoda that are a lot more expensive.

Inle was one of the most beautiful towns I visited in Myanmar, which is hard to choose because many are. But, let’s just say, it was the most lush. About 9-10 hours north of Yangon by bus sits Inle Lake, a sprawling and beautiful natural contrast to Yangon tucked into a valley surrounded by green hills. It is a network of canals, irrigation waterways, farms, and a giant freshwater lake. It’s a perfect escape after experiencing the bustling city life of Yangon.

Boat Ride through the Floating Villages

Once in Inle Lake, the most known attraction is the floating villages. It is essentially a neighborhood on stilts, where locals live in huts built above a network of marsh and grass waterways. Take a boat and see what life is like living on the water and relying off of food farmed in the grassland or fished. The scenery itself is beautiful, and it’s relaxing sitting in the canoe cruising through the maze of houses watching children climb from one house to the next to wave you along.

Table of Contents

About an hour and 45 minutes from Inle, you’ll find the pagoda forest of Kakku. Though it’s a long drive, I found that it was totally worth it to get away from the tourist center of Inle and enjoy this gorgeous temple complex almost all to myself. More on how to get there and avoid the crowds here .

Trekking to Inle Lake

If you’re trekking and outdoor inclined like myself, hit Kalaw first and do the 3-day trek to Inle Lake that takes you through valleys and small villages where you’ll stay each night, experiencing rural Myanmar life. The cost is low, the views are spectacular, and the trek is life-changing. No hot showers, no electricity, no internet, just pure experiences with the nicest people on earth? Sign me up!

Quick Tips: Inle Lake is one of the more popular destinations so it’s good to book accommodation ahead. Just outside of the town limits, there is a vineyard and winery that’s worth a visit after a bicycle ride around the country roads.

Stay: Inle Cottage Boutique Hotel is an amazing value for the money, and the staff is so nice!

Bagan was one of my favorite experiences during my time exploring the country. Whether you hit Bagan before or after Inle Lake, it is still a must see when visiting Myanmar. Considered the Angkor Wat of Myanmar ( but I think it’s better ), Bagan is a UNESCO World Heritage site and valley of more than 2,000+ ancient temples built between the 9th and 13th centuries, which included the golden era of Burma in the 11-12th century time period. During the summer months while I was there, the valley is arid and covered in rust-colored red sand, but in the monsoon season becomes a vibrant green jungle climate.

Temple Raiding

Best Myanmar Itinerary: Photo of an ancient red stone temple in Bagan Myanmar with many other temples in the distance. Photo taken by Ryan Brown of Lost Boy Memoirs, edited in Lightroom.

At times, we were surrounded by hundreds at the largest temples, and at other times, completely alone to crouch and crawl through narrow passages of empty temples. Rent a scooter or bicycle and cruise around to some of the 2000+ temples around Bagan – but there’s no way you’ll see them all! Get adventurous and go down some of the dirt roads to the smaller temples where you’ll find yourself alone to explore, living out your Indiana Jones or Lara Croft fantasies. Scooters can be rented for $5-$10 a day and will make it much easier than bicycles to explore.

Quick Tip: From late 2019 it’s no longer possible to climb any of the temples or pagodas for a sunrise or sunset overview. For the best places to catch sunrise and sunset these days, check out this post by Kristin.

Hot Air Balloons over Bagan

Now that the temples are closed, what’s the best way to get that awesome overview? Jump in the hot air balloons ! Just before sunrise you can take a ride up in a hot air balloon and see the entire valley change from purple to gold with ancient temples as far as the eye can see silhouetted against the horizon. The cheapest and best-reviewed ride we’ve found can be booked here .

Stay : You can get amazing balloon sunrise and sunset views at the Aureum Palace Hotel , though it’s a pretty penny. To stay right in the heart of Old Bagan, I loved the Hotel @ Tharabar Gate .

Best Myanmar Itinerary: Photo of the Mandalay Hill and Temple in Mandalay Myanmar, with the golden spires pointing over the trees atop the mountain overlooking Mandalay. Photo taken by Ryan Brown of Lost Boy Memoirs, edited in Lightroom.

In central Myanmar, Mandalay is the second largest city in the country, and a good place to launch from for almost all activities and destinations. From Mandalay, you’ll be able to reach Inle Lake, Bagan, and Hsipaw in the far north. Since it’s another large metropolis, Mandalay will have plenty of delicious places to eat and a decent nightlife scene, with a couple swanky bars overlooking the river.

U Bein Bridge

I’m sure you’ve seen the photos of silhouetted monks walking across a long bridge with a fiery orange sunrise. That, my friends, is U Bein Bridge. By far one of the best sunrises I’ve ever experienced ( and I think it will be for you as well ), U Bein Bridge is the world’s oldest and longest teak wood bridge. I would have stayed there all day, but by 9am, it was swarmed with people, so make sure to arrive early! Just before sunrise, the monks follow the call to prayer and all walk across in their crimson robes to the temple across the river.

Mandalay Hill and Mandalay Fort

Get ready to break a sweat. I was panting by the time we reached the top, but it’s worth the long walk up to Mandalay Hill to the temple perched at the top for an incredible view at sunset ( and one helluva stair climb ). In the city center and surrounded by a large moat, Mandalay Fort is worth checking out.

All the Temples!

Mandalay has an abundance of stunning temples, pagodas, and stupas to check out in and around the city. Check out the ancient capital, the amazing Hsinbyume Pagoda, and more. The best way to see it all is by car. You can find out more here .

Stay: Hotel Yadanarbon was in a great location, has a rooftop pool, and an amazing breakfast!

Best Myanmar Itinerary: Photo of two monk boys in red robes playing outside of a temple that has a tree sprouting from the top in Hsipaw, Myanmar. Photo taken by Ryan Brown of Lost Boy Memoirs, edited in Lightroom.

Oh Hsipaw, how I miss those days. Mountains all around, trees that grow out of temples, lush farmland, waterfalls, and the best tea you’ll ever have — sound good? Hsipaw is the main township of the Shan State, and is located 200km northeast of Mandalay, perfect for anyone needing an escape into the outdoors. This will be the main destination for anyone wanting to do some serious multi-day trekking and to explore more untouched Myanmar in remote mountain villages.

We rented bicycles while in Hsipaw and explored for a couple of days. Though it can become quite hilly and rugged outside of town, every road you go down will have something fascinating to see. Don’t miss the ancient temple complex and check out the stupa that has a tree growing out of it. Watch young monks play games, wander the vibrant fruit and vegetable markets, and relax by the river.

Goteik Viaduct and Train to Hsipaw

Best Myanmar Itinerary: Photo of two Myanmar people looking out of the old train window from Mandalay to Hsipaw down into the valley from the Goteik Viaduct. Photo by Ryan Brown of Lost Boy Memoirs, edited in Lightroom.

For someone who is obsessed with train travel, I had to do what is said to be one of the greatest train journeys in the world. This, above most else, should be on your list of must-do’s in Myanmar. Along the 12 hour journey, you’ll also cross the Goteik Viaduct, considered a world masterpiece in engineering and at one time the world’s longest viaduct bridge at 2,260 ft long (and currently the highest in Myanmar at 335 feet!).

The old train to Hsipaw is a clunking and captivating journey that leaves Mandalay before dawn and takes you up mountains by zig-zagging its way forward and backwards, then down into lush valleys of rice and soy fields. Over 100 years old, it’s a technological marvel of its time period, and the coolest mode of transport to get to Hsipaw.

Quick Tips: Purchase tickets at the train station days before, and try to get first class seats for 2,000 kyat ($2.00). We could only get second class seats, and 12 hours on wooden benches is doable but brutal.

Hiking to Mountain Tea Villages

Best Myanmar Itinerary: Photo of people hiking through the Shan countryside from Hsipaw to a remote tea village in north Myanmar. Photo by Ryan Brown of Lost Boy Memoirs, edited in Lightroom.

Hiking in the countryside was one of the best excursions we did in Myanmar. On the 2-3 day trek you’ll meet rural farmers, tea pickers, and even rebel soldiers who are happy that you are experiencing their small world and sharing their everyday life. Don’t worry, even the soldiers were the nicest people I’ve ever met. Plus, the tea leaves there are said to help with longevity in life, so drink away!

We stayed in a small traditional hut and ate home cooked meals with a local family, and I drank some rice wine with soldiers ( shhhh ). Our guide, Ax Sai, was extremely knowledgeable, spoke English very well, and even took us to some secret waterfalls after a scorching day of trekking.

Quick Tips: Wear a hat, sunscreen , and bring extra bottles of water and snacks. And proper shoes! Pack things like peanuts or apples that won’t go bad in the heat. Look for Ax Sai, he’s awesome.

Myanmar has a beautiful coastline with white sand beaches and beautiful sunsets. As an added bonus, there are no buckets, all-night parties, nor fire dancers, which kill the peaceful ocean vibe for me! Ngapali is one of the loveliest beaches, though there are many down south worth checking out. You can read more about Ngapali here .

BONUS: Thingyan Festival

Best Myanmar Itinerary: Photo of crowds of Myanmar people in Mandalay partying and having a water battle during Thingyan Festival, with Ryan on stage dancing. Photo by Ryan Brown of Lost Boy Memoirs, edited in Lightroom.

Thingyan Festival, or the New Year celebration for Myanmar, will most likely be one of the craziest experiences of your life. Thingyan is Myanmar’s biggest holiday and a Buddhist celebration for the purpose of washing the previous year’s sins away and beginning the new year with a clean spirit. With millions of gallons of water.

From my experience at Thingyan , it lasted the full week and there was no escaping the chaos. It’s fun, but it’s also exhausting, and after a few days you’ll probably lock yourself inside. Luckily I had goggles after taking on the Rickshaw Run in India to protect me from the blasts to my face.

Quick Tips: Book accommodation and transport WAY in advance – everything sells out. Get a waterproof bag for money and phones. Don’t carry your DSLR, it’ll get destroyed. Remember, it’s their holiday and there is no escaping it, so have fun and don’t get mad. Bring goggles, they are a life saver (especially from eye infections). And buy the biggest damn water blaster you can find!

Arrival & Getting Around

Before Myanmar relaxed its tourism policies, getting visas for the country, let alone most everything else, could be a huge hassle. SIM cards used to be thousands of dollars, banks were scarce, and much more of the country was closed off to travel. Luckily it’s become much easier now to travel to. I found it actually easier than a lot of other countries I’ve visited.

eVisa: For your Myanmar visa you’ll want to apply for the eVisa, which takes a couple of days to process, and after approval, you will receive a government issued letter to print and show on arrival. There are only a few countries that don’t need to do this, but if you’re from the USA, be sure to apply for one and double check that all of the information is correct. I found out the hard way that being even one day off on your passport expiry date can mean being denied boarding for your international flight.

Buses: This was how Ryan mainly traveled through Myanmar. There are fancy VIP buses that are cheap and much comfier than much of Southeast Asia, with reclining seats, blankets, and snacks offered. Now that there is a main highway that runs from Yangon all the way to Mandalay, the road north isn’t too dicey.

Train: I only got to ride the train in Myanmar once, but it was my favorite way to travel. Train travel is another good option and can be taken from Yangon all the way north to Hsipaw with transfers. My recommendation from experience is to book a 1st class ticket on the train which won’t be much more expensive, and it’ll save your back and bum from a lot of pain. I know from experience.

Private Taxi: During our time in Myanmar, we mainly took buses when we could find them, but occasionally had to hire a private taxi to drive us to the next destination because nothing else was available. These drivers have nice cars with air-conditioning, but can be quite the speed demons even on roads with sheer cliffs dropping off the side. Our driver had to stop to hose off the breaks because they were smoking. A private taxi will run around $40-$65 for a full day drive to another city.

Flights: Much of Myanmar is accessible via air travel these days, particularly for Mandalay, Yangon, Bagan, Inle, and Ngapali. I flew Air KBZ and thought it was great.

Planning a trip to Myanmar in 2020? This is a wonderful, updated itinerary to help you plan the best trip ever. See the best stops all over the country, including Yangon, Inle Lake, Bagan, Mandalay, plus off the beaten path spots like Hsipaw, Ngapali, and a local festival. Get tips on getting around, accommodation, and more. #Myanmar

Myanmar isn’t quite the wild east of Asia anymore because the country’s relaxed tourism policies are spurring growth, but it was one of the most authentic cultural experiences I’ve had. Getting around Myanmar is much easier than it was even 3 years ago, and if you prepare before arriving by having visas and accommodation sorted, you won’t run into many hiccups. With infrastructure improvements, WiFi and 3G/4G available almost everywhere, and banks in every town, there’s not much difficulty in getting around.

But I can’t forget the best part. The most memorable aspects of Myanmar are the people . Always smiling, displaying unending generosity, and not once did I feel I was trying to be scammed from every direction. This, combined with the culture and fascinating places to visit, made it my favorite destination in Southeast Asia. And it’s bound to become your favorite as well.

About the Author

Ryan Brown is a corporate escape artist with a severe disdain for the mundane, an adrenaline junky, and a hammock addict. On his adventure travel blog, Lost Boy Memoirs , he shares his misadventures getting lost around the world through personal memoirs, photos, and videos. His mission is to experience cultures first-hand to break down barriers and to inspire YOU to escape your comfort zone. Not all who are lost need to be found.

*Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means that any booking you make through them supports us at no extra cost to you. We only recommend places we have stayed in and experiences that are priced right and well-loved.

About Kristin Addis

Kristin Addis is the founder and CEO of Be My Travel Muse, a resource for female travelers all around the world since 2012. She's traveled solo to over 65 countries and has brought over 150 women on her all-female adventure tours from Botswana to the Alaskan tundra.

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Myanmar travel blog — the fullest myanmar travel guide & suggested myanmar itinerary 7 days perfectly.

Myanmar or Burma, in the memory of Westerners, is a peaceful and beautiful country. If I had just heard the stories of the predecessors, for sure I would have figured out a few things, because anyone who return home without bringing an album “Burma in my heart” or something like that. For me, Myanmar has remained with me in an area of nostalgic memories of Vietnam, of Hanoi, of the gentle people, the simple and kind labor people that are strange, unreasonable. Going to Myanmar make me want to going forever, staying for as long as possible, not just a 1 or 2 week itinerary. Like the feeling of sitting in an empty temple in Bagan, silently watching the sunset go down slowly, time and everything seem stand still… Don’t think about what to do tomorrow, or always have to take advantage of time to go to the most beautiful place quickly to photograph, let it be, just enjoy it. So, what to do in Myanmar (burma) and how to spend 7 days in Myanmar (Myanmar itinerary 7 days, Myanmar 1 week itinerary) perfectly? Let’s check out our Myanmar travel blog (Myanmar blog, Burma travel blog,Burma blog) with the fullest Myanmar travel guide (Myanmar guide, Burma travel guide, Burma guide) from how to get there, best places to visit, top things to do…to find out the answer!

What to do in Yangon? — 10 best, must do in Yangon & top things to do in Yangon
Inle Lake travel blog — The fullest Inle Lake travel guide & Suggested Inle Lake itinerary for 2 days
Mandalay travel blog — The fullest Mandalay travel guide & How to spend 1 day in Mandalay pefectly
6 day itinerary Myanmar — Suggest Myanmar solo travel itinerary for 6 days
Explore Shwezigon Paya — The first gold-plated & most sacred pagoda in Bagan, Myanmar

The country of Myanmar is still quite much ruins of a period of more than 50 years under the military regime, but fortunately now the political situation is getting better when a government is trusted by the people to lead. It is easy to see that the places need conservation, the historical sites they still preserve and promote extremely well, and for the cities that need economic development such as Yangon or Mandalay, they have a long term of vision and planning. In Yangon, there are no motorbikes, motorbikes only run in the small roads and alleys.

I came to Myanmar during the time when it had a strong earthquake in Bagan, many temples were badly damaged. But it seems that this doesn’t matter too much, still being a peaceful Buddhist country, people are really kind, hospitable and willing to help strangers. Today I heard somewhere on the television saying that Myanmar, they are ranked #1 in the world for charity, helping others, even though they are still a very poor country. They are still one of the safest countries to travel.

bagan blog bagan travel blog bagan travel guide22

Burma travel blog: Some things you need to know before going to Myanmar

For citizens of some countries in Southeast Asia, you do not need to apply for a visa before traveling to Myanmar, but unlike other countries in the region such as Thailand, Malaysia or Singapore issue visas to visitors within 30 days, Myanmar only issue tourist visa within 15 days. If you want to stay longer you will need to apply for a visa to extend the stay. Visa application fee is $50 and could be applied online here .

Money exchange

This is probably the problem I was most interested in on the last trip, because I went right on the time whe the Kyat currency of Myanmar low. Normally like last year the exchange rate is USD 1 ~ 970-1000 Kyat, but in during my trip, 1 USD was exchanged for 1270-1300 Kyat, which is down to nearly 30%, so it is cheap to buy anything.

There are very few and rare ATMs in this country, which means you will have to exchange cash directly. The optimal plan is to exchange USD at home and bring USD to Myanmar in exchange for Kyat. I see that the exchange rates are not much different at everywhere, exchanging at the airport is convenient and almost the best. Airport exchange counters bought – sold Kyat from USD respectively 1.270-1.280, too good because if you look at Bali – Indonesia, airport exchange counters they earn too much difference. Buying USD to exchange for Rupiah in Bali is 12.600 and selling is 13.600, too terrible. In Myanmar, you do not have to worry or think about exchanging money, you can spend it freely because of the good exchange rate, everything is cheap, when returning home and if you still have dollars, you can exchange it at the airport for USD. Remember you should bring new USD to exchanging, if old or crumpled, they will not exchange for. The exchange amount for 7 days in Myanmar is about $250-300 is too enough.

When arrival at the airport, go straight to the arrival hall and you will find the money exchange counter located in the middle, next to the door. I found the best exchange rate at this counter, when I returned they still accepted all the Kyat denominations at the same rate of 1.280 Kyat for USD1.

Culture and clothing

The first, when you meet anyone, always give a friendly smile and say Minglabar (Ming-gla-ba) – Hello. The Burmese are extremely friendly and gentle faces people, maybe you have not laughed and greeted, they have done it before, all from adults to children.

Myanmar is a Buddhist country, the people here are very devoted to Buddhism and respect the monks. Before entering all the temples you will have to remove sandals, wear pants over the knee (although I see quite a lot of temples in Bagan, shorts are okay). If you not wearingn pants they will ask you to buy or rent Longyi – a square cloth to wrap around the waist from the waist down, like the costumes of the men here. It is also because of this that you should prepare a pair of slippers to go because one day to visit many temples that have to take off your shoes all the time is inconvenient.

Novice monks with umbrellas running at temple, Bagan, Myanmar

Remember to always respect the culture and beliefs of indigenous people, places of high cultural and customary nature that you need to keep in mind, be quiet and not behave as freely as at other comfortable places.

Sim Card in Myanmar

Buying a Sim Card in Myanmar is quite easy and cheap, you just go to the convenience stores to buy. There are several major network operators: Ooredoo, Telenor and MPT. I chose to buy Sim Card from MPT and was very satisfied, the price to buy 1 Sim Card is 1.500 Kyat, top-up in different denominations of 1.000, 3.000, 4.000 Kyat. I top-up more 3.000 Kyat to my account to use for 1 week here, before buying a Sim they gave 500 Kyat, the first top-up they also gave an additional 1.000 Kyat. After buying, you should ask the seller to activate the Sim and 3G for you, the 3G access fee here is 6 Kyat/MB, so the amount of money I have loaded, I have 750MB in my account.

4G SIM Card (MY Airport Pick Up) for 15 Destinations by Tune Talk

Souvenir stalls, Htilominlo Pahto temple.

Souvenirs are available at any tourist destination. In Bagan, it is usually concentrated in temples or even children bring retail items, or in Inle , souvenir stalls gather at each stop if you buy a full day boat tour. There are many beautiful handmade items such as wooden dolls, wind chimes, or silver items that are sold everywhere. In Inle there is a traditional house that made silver items, so you can see directly they are making silver items when coming here. The average price for each item about 5.000 Kyat, particularly for sand or gold paintings in Bagan, around 10.000 Kyat.

Read more: Myanmar gifts — Top 9 cheap, famous gifts, souvenirs & best things to buy in myanmar.

Other experiences

In addition to big cities like Yangon or Mandalay, everything in Myanmar is underdeveloped in other locations, services are quite lacking. There are still have groceries but not many, pharmacies are almost rarely seen. Therefore, you may have to bring personal belongings from home as it is quite difficult to find similar items here.

In terms of payment, many places, hotels, and individuals provide services when they say the price they say both USD and Kyat prices, that is, you pay them USD, it’s also okay. But usually if you pay in USD you will lose more, so it is best if the price listed in Kyat should pay in Kyat. One more thing is that when buying and selling, everything can be bargain, keep in mind that you always bargain in most transactions, from buying tours, renting cars or anything else. Of course you should read the next information to know how the price is reasonable to have a basis for bargaining with them ^^.

Myanmar travel blog: When is the best time to visit Burma?

The weather in Myanmar is generally quite hot, but between different seasons there will be significant differences. You need to know what season is the tourist season and what activities to plan a trip appropriately. Note that Yangon time zone is 30 minutes slower than Hanoi.

A horse cart carrying tourists on dusty road at sunset in Bagan

Peak tourist season

Begining from the end of October to around February next year, this is also the time that I strongly recommend you to make a trip to Myanmar. In the middle of October it is still quite hot, but the temperature will gradually decrease until February to more than 20 degrees Celsius, it is nice and does not have much rain. But the most remarkable thing is that this season in Bagan they will have hot balloon tours – here called Hot Air – Balloon. You’ve probably seen the pictures of Bagan sunrise with hundreds of Air Balloon flying in the yellow sky, which will not be visible if you go in another season. It is best to go in November because I went to the end of October but the number of Air Balloon really doesn’t much. Going in this season, it is also accepted that the tour price, the room rate increases, sometimes not booked early there will be no beautiful rooms.

bagan blog bagan travel blog bagan travel guide121

Low tourist season

From June to September every year is the rainy season of Myanmar, but because of the rainy season is boring. During my trip, I only just met a rain in Mandalay but felt sad because I could not do anything, the rain was really heavy and persistent. For mountainous areas, or in Bagan, raining make the road becomes muddy, because of the dirt road, it is difficult to move, and it is difficult to see the golden sunshine “specialty” of Burma.

The rest of the year

From March to May the weather in Myanmar is extremely hot, the temperature in Yangoon can be up to 40 degrees Celsius. In some places with many temples that you want to visit, you will encounter the obstacle is hot floor is difficult to walk. But anyway this season less tourists, cheaper prices also have its own advantages.

Burma travel blog: Getting around Myanmar

Although still poor, transport in Myanmar is developing quite good, especially in big cities, transportation services are also adequate. Because Myanmar is very large, being the largest country in Southeast Asia after Indonesia, traveling by bus between regions takes about 6 hours or more. You can choose the plane next to the high quality long-distance bus.

Normally it sounds like a luxury, convenient and fastest vehicle, but not in Myanmar. The plane here is still a small ATR like the one that I fly of Vietnam Airlines to Phu Yen or Binh Dinh, annoying and hot. Sitting on this plane, I think I don’t think there’s a second time I’ll step on it.

Another thing for traveling in Myanmar by plane is that many domestic flights will not fly directly, but they also land at a third airport to catch more passengers, sometimes taking a plane is slower than taking a bus. If you still want to fly, you should book through the travel agent will have a better price though now Myanmar has the web to book tickets online. Or you can refer to this airline, the price is quite well: www.gmairlines.com .

You can book bus tickets to travel between cities in Myanmar such as Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, Inle through the online booking website of 12go.asia . High quality bus companies in Myanmar have JJ Express (the best and most famous), Elite and smaller firms, with lower quality. JJ is so great, even I find it is much better than many bus firms in other neighbor countries, with large seats, charging sockets, movie screens and good service.

If you not to book through third parties and contact them directly via facebook here , the price will be much better, the other option is to email them at: [email protected] . Details of bus routes and service quality I will write in another article.

VIP Bus Ticket (One Way) between Yangon and Bagan

Myanmar blog: Cuisine, eating and drinking in Myanmar

Similar to other countries in Southeast Asia, Myanmar’s traditional meals also have rice, meats and vegetables. In addition, noodle soup also has many types to choose from, the most famous is Shan noodles. The main flavor in Burmese dishes is usually Indian curry (Burmese Curry) but not as strong, perhaps best described cuisine of Burma is the combination of Indian and Thai cuisine.

The price of food in Myanmar must be said is quite cheap, their restaurants are almost not luxury ones, meaning that backpackers like me and you all can confidently order without hesitate. The food is affordable, average price from 500-1.000 Kyat/meal, you have a delicious and full meal. The most impressive thing for me is probably the traditional meal of local people, the price range is 4.000-6.000 Kyat, but quite full including rice, 2-3 types of meat (including: pork, chicken, beef), and dozens of vegetables and side dishes. A very full meal. After eating, they will give 2-3 desserts. Myanmar’s beer is also very delicious and unique.

Myanmar travel blog: Best places to visit, top things to do, where to to stay in Myanmar

Yangon capital.

Yangon (old name Rangoon) is usually the first destination of the journey, except for some cases you could be visit Mandalay first. My flight arrives at Yangon airport at 11am and stay here until 8pm I take the night bus to Bagan. So I have several hours to visit Yangon. From the airport to the city the most likely option is to take a taxi, price about 9.000 Kyat because it is also quite far. If you go with a group, you should rent a taxi all day depending on the number of points you want to go, as I go to visit 3 points, the price is 35.000 Kyat. You also can rent a private car to getting to the city via Klook here.

Some places you should visiting in Yangon

Shwedagon Pagoda: (Address: Ar Zar Ni, Road Pha Yar Gyi Ward, Yangon, Myanmar (Burma)). One of the largest temples in Myanmar, the most beautiful and majestic. Admission: 8.000 Kyat. So, you should coming here late afternoon before sunset will be the most beautiful time and avoid hot brick background because you will have to remove shoes outside.
Sule Pagoda: (Address: Maha Bandoola Rd, Yangon (Rangoon) Myanmar). Admission 2.000 Kyat, is a beautiful temple in Yangon just after Shwedagon.
Chauk-htat-gyi Buddha Temple (Reclining Buddha Temple): Inside the temple is a huge reclining Buddha image, although a bit small but also a place to see. Free entrance fee.
Bogyoke Market (Address: Bo Gyoke Rd, Pabedan, Myanmar (Burma)/9AM–5:30PM/Closed: Mondays): The market is not open every Monday, just like Ben Thanh Market or Dong Xuan Market in Vietnam, many stalls, souvenirs, food and drinks.

Besides, those who like to take photos of the street should wander a little in the corners, on the road or the bus station, the railway station. Those are the places that clearly reflect the lives of the people of Yangon.

Hotels in Yangon you should choose the central area easily traveling, book on Booking.com or Agoda.com .

Bagan ancient capital

Hotels: Royal Bagan Hotel – Room rates of $16/night including breakfast, booking on Booking.com or Agoda.com .

Bagan has 3 main areas: Old Bagan, New Bagan and Nyaung U, besides you can buy tours to visit Mount Popa. Going from the bus station to the Old Bagan area takes 10.000 Kyat taxi fare, and there will be a checkpoint that requires tourists to buy tickets. The ticket price for 5 days in Bagan is 25.000 Kyat, too expensive, you still don’t have to buy it if you find the way to escape. But you need to talk to your taxi first to go the other way without going through the checkpoint, or find some way to get in, because this station is only about 1km from the bus station and they are not too harsh, there’s no barrier or anything.

Bagan is quite small, so to getting around this area, the most popular way is renting an electric bike. You can rent at the hotel or specialized rental points. I rented right near my hotel is Royal Bagan Hotel cost only 6.000 Kyat/day. Rent 2 electric bike can pay the price of 5.000-5.500 kyat/day. You should spend at least 2 days to visit Bagan.

Some places to visit in Bagan

Old Bagan Area

This is the central area of Bagan where most of the ancient temples, restaurants and hotels are concentrated. Usually, visitors often book hotels here. Old Bagan attractions:

Bulethi Temple: The temple with good spot for watching the sunrise in Bagan, but I realize that watching here is not very satisfied my eyes because the temple is low, there are quite a lot of electric cables in front.

Shwesandaw Pagoda: The temple can enjoy both sunset and sunrise with Hot Air Balloons because the 4 sides of the temple are beautiful, tall and majestic. You should coming to the temple around 4:30 – 5am to find a good spot, the afternoon also should come a little early. This is also the only temple where they check your ticket to entry Bagan (the 25.000 Kyat ticket above), but you can tell your friend is holding the ticket and leave, the ticket clerk does not ask nothing more.

Ananda Temple: The most prominent temple in Bagan is painted brightly. Inside there are also many things to see as treasures, sophisticated Buddha statues, and even the artworks.

Dhammayangyi Temple: This is the largest temple in Bagan that if you watch the sunrise in Shwesandaw Pagoda you will see the direction of the sunrise near this temple. The temple is quite large but the stairs up are quite small.

Shwezigon Pagoda : This temple is also quite beautiful with the dominant golden color, located separately from the temple compound in Bagan. I didn’t go to the temple but there was a river wharf and especially the long corridor with the beautiful oblique sunlight for taking pictures.

The remaining temples you can consider visiting such as the highest temple of Bagan Thatbyinnyu, Htilominlo temple, Sulamani Temple.

New Bagan and Nyaung-U

To getting to New Bagan you have to go through Old Bagan, which is mainly home to hostels and hotels. There are not many tourists in New Bagan, the roads are also deserted, not crowded as in Old Bagan, it seems a bit dull. I haven’t been to Nyaung-U, but it doesn’t seem very special.

Mount Popa (Mt. Popa)

Similar to Golden Rock, this Popa mountain is not really very special but just a temple located on the top of a mountain with many monkeys. To reach the top of the mountain you must climb 777 steps around the ridge. If you wander in the center of Old Bagan, you will find many tours or taxis to Mt. Popa, take about 2 hours and the ticket price is about 10.000 Kyat/person.

bagan-full-day-popa-mountain-tour-banner

Mandalay is a large city of Myanmar with quite large area, the sights are far apart, scattered around the center of the city. However, compared to Bagan or Inle , Mandalay I do not feel very special except the highlight is the famous U Bein wooden bridge. If you do not have much time, you can just spend a day in Mandalay is enough, just go to the main points such as U Bein Bridge, Inwa Village, Mingun Village and Mandalay Hill and skip other side points because they are nothing special.

From Mandalay bus station to the city, you can take a taxi or motorbike taxi, motorbike taxi price range 2.500-3.000 Kyat, taxi range 5.000-6.000 Kyat. I took a motorbike taxi to go to the city and rented a motorbike for a day of 10.000 Kyat, loading gas by myself. If you go from 1-2 friends, you can rent a motorbike all day for 16.000 Kyat/motorbike, choose the places you want to go and be less tired. If traveling in large groups, you should hire a full-day taxi cost 60.000-70.000 Kyat, rent right at the bus station.

Attractions in Mandalay

U Bein Bridge: The longest wooden bridge in the world and a main place to catch the sunrise or watch the sunset.

Inwa Village: About 5km to the south of U Bein Bridge, to go to this village, you need to take a boat across the river about 5 minutes with 1.200 Kyat for round trip tickets. Getting around the village, the only means is a horse-drawn carriage, the price of 10.000 Kyat for an around the village within 2 hours and visiting 4 points. There are 2 points that you have to pay fee admission to get inside but I only go around without buying tickets. Riding horsecart around the village is also a very interesting thing.

Mingun Village: There are two ways to go to this village: by boat or by road by taxi/motorbike taxi. But by the road you have to go around so it will be very far, then again to turn around but more convenient because of you will take advantage of time. If taking boat you pay attention 1 day has only 1 trip from Myan Gyan Jetty wharf to Mingun village at 9am, ticket price of 5.000 Kyat, return trip at 1pm. Travel time is 45 minutes. The highlight of Mingun is the stunning white Hsinbyume Paya pagoda, followed by the Pahtodawgyi temple which was still under construction due to the earthquake, the world’s second largest bell Mingun Bell, and the lion butt statue.

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19 Reasons Why You Must Visit Myanmar

Myanmar is one of the most underestimated countries in Southeast Asia. Think of it as Thailand 50 years ago, with large undeveloped parts, relatively easy to travel, few tourists, and very affordable. It’s a great destination for a traveler who likes to experience an untouched country. Myanmar is set to become a traveler’s favorite destination, and here’s why:

1. The Locals

The locals in Myanmar are genuinely happy to see a tourist. They really want you to have a great time in their country. Tourists are unique and cool, which is why they want to take a selfie with you to share this with their family. This was our number one surprise when visiting Myanmar.

Please keep in mind: Always ask for permission when taking a photo of a person.

Order your Visa for Myanmar here

2. Temples of Bagan, Myanmar

The temple area of Bagan contains over 2200 small and big temples (pagodas). You can explore the African-looking area by bike or e-bike! Since July 2019, the region even received UNESCO World Heritage status which means that all temples are now closed for climbing to the top to watch the sunrise. Nevertheless, Bagan is still a great reason to visit Myanmar!

Read about: Best Bagan temples

3. Hsinbyume Pagoda

Just outside of Mandalay in Mingun lies the beautiful white, circular-shaped Hsinbyume Pagoda. Climb via the stairway to the top and have a great view of the neighboring river.

4. Ngapali Beach

Perfect palm trees line the coast with turquoise water and beautiful soft white sand. Ngapali Beach is a dream beach with not many tourists. Explore the 7-kilometer sandy area by bike, cruising between the palms, only stopping in small settlements. Ngapali is easy to get to with a domestic flight.

5. Few Tourists

Tourism in Myanmar is on the rise but is nothing compared to neighboring Thailand . About 10 times fewer tourists visit here, to be exact. In 2017, Thailand had over 35 million tourists, whereas Myanmar had just about 3.5 million.

The countries are about the same size, so there is a lot to discover, and you will mostly only meet larger groups of tourists in Bagan.

Book a tour to Bagan online

6. Bagan Balloon Flight

Floating in between 2200+ temples while you slowly feel the comfortable heat of the rising sun on your face. Experience Bagan in a unique way by joining a sunrise balloon flight ( book your flight here ). This is one of the best things to do in Myanmar!

7. Explore Inle Lake by Boat

Complete villages made of wood and/or bamboo stand on/above the waters of Inle Lake . See how the local people work in the floating gardens or on their fishing boats. Visit the long-necked women and clothing factories.

Here are all your hotel options in Inle Lake.

8. Hike Hpan Pu Mountain

To hike up the small Hpan Pu Mountain, you will need to catch a local canoe boat in Hpa An , pass the river, and walk through a village where they grow vegetables. From to top of the mountain, you will have a beautiful view over the area. This area is pretty much disconnected from the normal road, so expect a lot of surprised faces when they see you (a tourist).

9. Burmese Cuisine Myanmar

One of Asia’s lesser-known cuisines is Burmese Cuisine. Seafood and plant-based meals served with rice are basically found in every meal. Like its neighboring countries, spices are used to make the dish flavorful. These were our absolute favorite places to eat in Myanmar:

Paw Paw Restaurant (Inle)
The Moon2 (Bagan)
Mingalaba (Ngapali)

10. Lush Green Rice Fields in Hpa-An

Hpa-An’s green rice fields are located further away from the usual tourist route. Here, they grow rice multiple times a year, meaning there’s a good chance you’ll wander through the fields.

reasons must visit myanmar rice fields Hpa An

11. Mergui Archipelago

Imagine the Phuket region in Thailand without tourists. The Mergui Archipelago lies in the Andaman Sea off the coast in the deep southern tip of Myanmar. At the moment, this part can only be visited by guided boat tour.

12. Shwedagon Pagoda Yangon

In the former capital, Yangon, stands a 99-meter-high gold pagoda, one of the country’s most famous sights. It is also known as one of the oldest pagodas in the world. Make sure to experience this beautiful pagoda at sunrise, when it slowly lights up.

reasons must visit myanmar yangon pagoda

13. Mingun Pagoda

The highly underestimated Mingun Pagoda on the Irrawaddy River, which is about 90 minutes from Mandalay, is a huge square-shaped pagoda. On a few sides, it’s been damaged by a heavy earthquake, but we believe that made it even more special.

14. U-Bein Bridge

Near Mandalay, you’ll find the longest wooden bridge in the world: a 1200-meter-long wooden footbridge over shallow water. It draws many visitors, both local and foreign, who cross it during the day.

reasons must visit myanmar u bein bridge

15. Visit Myanmar to see Golden Rock

In between Yangon and Hpa-An lies the world-famous Golden Rock. At 1100 meters in the sky, this 20-meter-high golden rock is seen as the most important Buddhist site in Myanmar. It’s quite an experience to reach to top from the base camp by bus.

16. Mount Zwekabin

If you’re up for a real hike, then get out in the early morning and test your hiking skills on a 2.5-hour journey to the top of Mount Zwekabin in Hpa-An. From up top, you’ll get rewarded with an incredible view over the surroundings.

Travel Insurance Don't forget a travel insurance for your Myanmar trip! Heymondo covers medical emergencies, theft, delays, cancellations, lost luggage, and more, with 24/7 worldwide assistance and medical chat. As a Salt in our Hair reader, we've got you 5% off! Check Heymondo here

17. World’s Largest Book

One pagoda, surrounded by 729 smaller white pagodas, contains a marble stone book page. Together, they form the world’s largest book. The Kuthodaw Pagoda is located in Mandalay and is a must-visit in Myanmar .

reasons must visit myanmar white worlds largest book

18. Shwe Inn Dein Pagodas

This forgotten field of 1600 pagodas lies west of Inle Lake and can only be reached by boat through a narrow creek. Be sure to visit in the right season, as the creek dries in the summer, making it impossible to visit the pagodas.

19. Myanmar is safe

We often get the question: is Myanmar safe? The answer is YES! Myanmar is safe to travel to. The horror stories you’ve read in the news are true, but don’t forget that Myanmar is a huge country and that the locals can’t help what has been going on.

Try to spend your money at local establishments so those people will stay positive and can live their normal daily lives. We haven’t felt unsafe for a single second! We shouldn’t forget that the locals and the government are not the same people.

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Hpa-An, little hidden Treasure of Myanmar

The ultimate travel guide to bagan, myanmar, ngapali beach in myanmar: one of asia’s most beautiful beaches.

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OMG!!! This place is so lovely!!!! And surprisingly it’s in the neighborhood of my country!!! So will visit it very soon for sure!!!

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Myanmar Travel Blog

Myanmar is a unique country located in Southeast Asia. In fact, Myanmar is one of the most popular destinations in Asia. It has something for everyone – backpackers, couples, solo travelers, luxury travelers, etc.

Myanmar offers several experiences – from street food to trekking, from traditional ceremonies to outdoor activities, from busy markets to remote villages, from amazing temples to beautiful views – you should find something that suits your needs and interests.

If you’re planning your first trip to Myanmar, this guide should answer any questions you may have. We’ll talk about travel facts, the best time to visit Myanmar, the best destinations, travel costs, travel essentials and how to prepare for your trip.

Best Time to Visit Myanmar

Myanmar is a large country with various altitudes. Depending on your destination, you may be facing different types of seasons. We decided to split this section into three sections to help you understand the seasons:

Myitkyina (Northern Myanmar)
Taunggyi (Inle Lake)
Yangon (Southern Myanmar)

Top Destinations in Myanmar

Myanmar Travel Tips & Costs

In this section, you’ll find general information on costs and how to prepare for your trip. Finally, you will find a table that will provide an overview of cost and options depending on your travel budget.

Accommodation

In Myanmar, you’ll find limited options when it comes to accommodation. If you are on a budget, you may struggle to find hostels in certain destinations in Myanmar. Although, the big cities usually offer dorms. As a solo traveler, you may find some places to be a bit expensive. When I was traveling in Myanmar, I met friends along the way so we shared rooms when possible to save money. Usually dorms start at $4.

When it comes to food, you can find different types of restaurants. If you eat local food, you can eat for less than MMK 5000. Obviously, you may find elegant restaurants around the country and you can pay more if you wish to. The cheapest options are usually in small local restaurants and in the night markets.

Some activities such as hiking or beach bumming are free. Although, if you’re planning on visiting temples and pagodas, taking a boat ride in Inle lake, going on a trekking trip or going on a hot-air balloon ride, you will have to pay for it. You can browse activities in Myanmar here t o have an idea of the costs.

Transportation

In general, it’s pretty easy to get around Myanmar. You can either fly, or take a bus or the train to reach your destinations.

To book your transport between destinations, you can book via 12GO . You can also book via travel agency in person.

Safety in Myanmar

Overall, traveling around Myanmar is safe. Of course, you should always lock your valuables especially if you’re staying in a hostel .

With common sense, you’ll be able to travel the country safely. The locals are friendly and ready to help if you find yourself in a tricky situation.

Please note that there are some areas in Myanmar that are affected by the civil war and tourists are not advised to travel there. The ongoing conflict between Myanmar’s army and the Rohingya Muslims has also raised questions about human rights violations in Myanmar. Neither of these situations directly affect the tourists, but it’s good to know what is going on outside the touristy areas.

What to Pack for Myanmar

Apart from the travel essentials, here are the things you should absolutely bring along with you in Myanmar. Click on the images to shop on Amazon. You can also check out this list of travel essentials in Asia .

Universal adapter

Quick-dry towel

Selfie stick

Visa for Myanmar

Usually, you can apply for you visa online. It can take days to receive it, so make sure you apply several days before your departure.

You can verify your visa requirements here .

Preparing Your Trip to Myanmar

Browse flights on Skyscanner to find deals.

Go To Skyscanner

Book your travel insurance for as little as $42/month.

Go To SafetyWing

Booking.com

Find accommodation anywhere in the world.

Go To Booking.com

Check the visa requirements and apply for a visa if needed.

Go To iVisa

Worldpackers

Volunteer abroad in exchange for free accommodation.

Go To Worldpackers

Book transfers, tours, and activities in advance.

Go To Viator

Myanmar eSIM Plans

It’s hard to find a good data plan when you’re traveling. You have to research the best deals, go to a store, and hope they have a prepaid SIM card for travelers and tourists.

And if they don’t? You could be without service for the rest of your trip. Not only is that frustrating, but it can also be time-consuming.

eSIMs are the solution to your travel woes. With an eSIM plan, you can stay connected no matter where you go. Plus, there are no contracts or cancellation fees, so you can change your plan whenever you want.

If you’re looking for an eSIM plan while in Myanmar, then be sure to check out the providers below. They all offer great plans that will keep you connected while you’re there.

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Myanmar Blog Posts

Myanmar SIM Cards: Everything You Need To Know

Visiting Myanmar soon? Make sure to know what to expect when it comes to purchasing a Myanmar SIM card. Fortunately, Asia is one of the best places where you can buy a SIM card easily. You should be able to find a cheap SIM card pretty much anywhere in Asia. In fact,...

UNESCO World Heritage Sites In Myanmar

Boasting sublime temples and stunning natural landscapes, it’ll come as no surprise that some of Myanmar’s popular sights and attractions have made it onto the UNESCO World Heritage list. But, just how many World Heritage Sites in Myanmar are there, and why are...

Perfect Myanmar Itinerary

Myanmar was one of my biggest highlights in Southeast Asia. This country simply stands out in comparison with its neighbors. I had a huge crush on the people too. Burmese are very friendly. They are more than happy to have a quick chat with foreigners so they can...

Here’s Why You Should Add Lashio To Your Myanmar Itinerary

That typical question; Where have you been so far? As soon as I mention Myanmar, I get many more questions. How was it? Did you like it? Where did you go? I have an easy answer too: You need to go to Lashio! Lashio was my favorite destination in Myanmar and...

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Myanmar Travel Guide – Everything You Need to Know

Welcome to Myanmar, a land of ancient temples, rich cultural heritage, and unspoiled landscapes. Formerly known as Burma, Myanmar is a country that captivates with its timeless charm and intriguing history. From the awe-inspiring temples of Bagan to the serene waters of Inle Lake and the bustling streets of Yangon, Myanmar offers a unique blend of tradition and modernity. With its warm and welcoming people, diverse ethnic groups, and a sense of authenticity, Myanmar invites travelers to embark on a journey of discovery and exploration unlike any other.

What’s the Best Time to Visit? 📅

The best time to visit Myanmar as a tourist largely depends on the weather and your preferences for outdoor activities. Myanmar experiences three distinct seasons:

This is considered the best time to visit Myanmar. The weather is pleasantly cool and dry, making it ideal for sightseeing and outdoor activities.
The temperatures are comfortable, especially in the central regions and northern areas like Mandalay and Bagan.
This is also the peak tourist season, so popular sites can get crowded. It’s advisable to book accommodations and transportation in advance.
The hot season can be extremely warm, especially in central and southern parts of the country. Temperatures can reach high levels.
While it’s less crowded compared to the cool season, the heat might limit outdoor activities.
The rainy season brings heavy monsoon rains to most of Myanmar. While it might not be the best time for sightseeing, it’s a good time to explore areas like Bagan and Mandalay, which receive less rainfall.
Rainfall can disrupt travel plans, especially in more remote areas with limited infrastructure.

Each season has its own advantages and drawbacks, so the best time to visit Myanmar depends on your preferences. If you’re looking for pleasant weather and vibrant landscapes, the cool and dry season is ideal. However, if you prefer fewer crowds and are willing to manage some rain, the rainy season can offer unique experiences and more affordable accommodations. Be sure to check the weather forecasts and regional conditions before planning your trip.

What’s the Best Way to Get Around? 🚌

Getting around Myanmar as a tourist involves a combination of transportation options due to the country’s varying landscapes and infrastructure. Here are the main ways to travel within Myanmar:

Domestic flights are a popular and efficient way to cover long distances between major cities and tourist destinations. Airlines like Myanmar National Airlines, Air KBZ, and Golden Myanmar Airlines operate domestic routes.
Buses are widely available and connect different regions. They range from basic local buses to more comfortable long-distance coaches with air conditioning.
Train travel offers a scenic way to see the countryside. While trains might be slower than buses, they provide a unique experience, especially on longer routes.
Hiring a private driver or taking a taxi is a convenient option, especially for exploring areas with limited public transportation.
In areas with rivers and lakes, boats and ferries are used for transportation. For example, taking a boat along the Irrawaddy River provides a leisurely way to see the landscapes.
Renting a motorbike or bicycle can be a great way to explore smaller towns and rural areas at your own pace.
In some areas, like Bagan, horse-drawn carriages offer a unique way to explore historical sites.
In places like Bagan, e-bikes are a popular and eco-friendly way to explore the temples and ruins.

It’s important to plan ahead, especially for longer journeys or during peak travel seasons. Infrastructure and road conditions can vary, so travel times might be longer than expected. Research the options available in the specific regions you plan to visit, and consider a mix of transportation methods to make the most of your time in Myanmar.

What’s the Official Language?

The official language of Myanmar is Burmese, also known as Myanmar. Here are some basic Burmese words and phrases that can be useful for tourists:

Hello : မင်္ဂလာပါ (Mingalabar)
Thank you : ကျေးဇူးတင်ပါတယ် (Kyay zu tin bar te)
Yes : ဟုတ်ကဲ့ (Ho deh)
No : မဟုတ်ဘူး (Ma ho bu)
Please : ကျေးဇူးပြုပြီး (Kyay zu pyu pyu)
Excuse me / Sorry : ကြောင့်အသေးပေးမယ် (Kyaung yay ba meh)
Goodbye : ကျော်တော့မယ် (Kyaout twar meh)
How are you? : နာမည်ကိုယ်ပိုင်ရေးလဲ (Nama koe pyo gyi leh)
I don’t understand : ကျွန်တော်သွားမဖွယ်ပါ (Kyoun twar ma pyawt ba)
How much is this? : ဤကြောင်းကိုဘယ်တန်းကျော်လဲ (Ei kyaung ko beh ta na kaout leh)

While English is not spoken as widely as Burmese, it’s commonly understood in tourist areas and major cities. However, using a few basic Burmese phrases can enhance your interactions and show respect for the local culture. The people of Myanmar generally appreciate your efforts to communicate in their language.

Where to Stay? 🏨

Myanmar offers a range of accommodation options to suit different preferences and budgets. Here are some types of places to stay as a tourist:

From budget to luxury, you’ll find a variety of hotels in major cities like Yangon and Mandalay, as well as popular tourist destinations like Bagan and Inle Lake.
Guesthouses and hostels are popular among budget travelers and backpackers. They provide a more social atmosphere and are often found in tourist areas.
Many boutique hotels in Myanmar offer a unique blend of comfort and local charm. They can be found in cities and towns known for their cultural heritage.
In destinations like Ngapali Beach and Ngwe Saung Beach, you’ll find beachfront resorts offering luxury accommodations and stunning ocean views.
In rural and nature-rich areas, you might find eco-lodges that offer sustainable accommodations and a closer connection to the environment.
In Inle Lake, you have the opportunity to stay in unique floating accommodations, providing an authentic experience.
In some rural areas, you can experience local life by staying with families in traditional homestays.
Some monasteries offer basic accommodations to travelers, providing a chance to experience traditional Burmese living.

When choosing where to stay in Myanmar, consider factors such as location, amenities, budget, and the type of experience you want to have. In popular tourist areas, it’s recommended to book accommodations in advance, especially during peak travel seasons. Additionally, check online reviews and travel forums to gather insights from fellow travelers about their accommodation experiences.

What to Eat? 🍽️

Myanmar’s cuisine is influenced by its neighboring countries and regional flavors. Here are some must-try dishes for tourists exploring Myanmar’s culinary delights:

Considered Myanmar’s national dish, mohinga is a flavorful fish-based noodle soup served with rice vermicelli, fish broth, and various accompaniments.
A unique and popular Burmese dish made from fermented tea leaves mixed with a variety of crunchy ingredients like fried garlic, peanuts, and beans.
Originating from the Shan State, these noodles are served with a choice of meat (chicken, pork, or beef) and come in a delicious broth.
Try various Burmese curries, such as chicken, pork, or fish, accompanied by a variety of side dishes like pickled vegetables and condiments.
Savor a variety of skewered meats and vegetables grilled over open flames and served with dipping sauces.
These spring rolls are filled with ingredients like cabbage, vermicelli, and minced pork, and they’re often served as a snack or appetizer.
A coconut-based noodle soup served with various toppings like crispy noodles, boiled eggs, and a medley of condiments.
A noodle dish made with thick rice noodles and a sauce of chicken, fish, or pork, typically topped with crunchy fritters and chili.
Satisfy your sweet tooth with traditional Burmese desserts like mont lone yay paw (shaped rice cakes), hsa nwin ma kin (sticky rice with coconut), and shwe yin aye (a colorful coconut milk dessert).
Enjoy the Burmese tea culture by sipping strong tea with sweet or savory snacks like deep-fried fritters and samosas.
A hearty and comforting dish featuring fresh fish or prawns cooked in a flavorful broth, served with rice.
A traditional Rakhine dish consisting of fish-based curry and rice, typically served with a range of condiments and side dishes.
A popular breakfast dish featuring rice noodles, vegetables, and your choice of protein, all topped with a spicy sauce.

Exploring local markets, street food stalls, and traditional restaurants will provide you with a deeper understanding of Myanmar’s culinary diversity and the chance to savor its rich flavors.

What to See? 🔍

Myanmar boasts a wealth of cultural, historical, and natural attractions that offer a glimpse into its rich heritage. Here are some must-see places for tourists in Myanmar:

This ancient city is famous for its thousands of well-preserved temples and pagodas. Watching the sunrise or sunset over the Bagan plains is a breathtaking experience.
Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon :
One of the most sacred Buddhist sites in Myanmar, this golden pagoda is a magnificent sight, especially during sunset.
Inle Lake :
Known for its unique floating gardens, stilted villages, and traditional fishermen, Inle Lake offers a serene and authentic experience.
The last royal capital of Myanmar, Mandalay is home to historic temples, monasteries, and the iconic U Bein Bridge.
Golden Rock (Kyaiktiyo Pagoda) :
Perched precariously on the edge of a cliff, this golden boulder is a significant pilgrimage site and offers stunning panoramic views.
Sule Pagoda and Colonial Architecture, Yangon :
Explore Yangon’s downtown area, where the Sule Pagoda stands amidst a blend of British colonial-era buildings and bustling markets.
Mount Popa :
An extinct volcano and pilgrimage site, Mount Popa offers panoramic views and is home to nat spirits in Burmese folklore.
This picturesque town is surrounded by karst landscapes, caves, and lush fields, making it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
Mahamuni Pagoda, Mandalay :
This revered pagoda houses the famous Mahamuni Buddha statue, which is covered in layers of gold leaf by devotees.
Similar to Bagan but less visited, Mrauk U features ancient temples and is rich in history and local culture.
A gateway to Myanmar’s northeastern Shan State, this area is known for its ethnic diversity and trekking opportunities.
Experience the local way of life at this bustling market, where you can find fresh produce, textiles, and handicrafts.
Visit the Shwemawdaw Pagoda, the largest pagoda in Myanmar, and the Shwethalyaung Buddha, a reclining statue.
Relax on the pristine shores of Ngapali Beach, known for its white sand and clear blue waters.

These are just a few highlights of the many incredible destinations Myanmar has to offer. Each place provides a unique window into the country’s history, culture, and natural beauty.

What to Do? 📸

Myanmar offers a range of captivating experiences that allow you to immerse yourself in its culture, history, and natural beauty. Here are some must-do activities for tourists in Myanmar:

Hot Air Balloon Ride Over Bagan :
Soar above the ancient temples and pagodas of Bagan during sunrise in a hot air balloon for a breathtaking view.
Boat Trip on Inle Lake :
Explore the unique floating gardens, stilted villages, and traditional leg-rowing fishermen on Inle Lake.
Visit Local Markets :
Experience the vibrant colors and bustling atmosphere of local markets, like the Bogyoke Aung San Market in Yangon.
Sunrise at U Bein Bridge :
Witness the sunrise at the iconic U Bein Bridge in Mandalay, one of the world’s longest teakwood bridges.
Climb Mandalay Hill :
Climb to the top of Mandalay Hill for panoramic views of the city and its surrounding landscapes.
Explore Colonial Architecture in Yangon :
Wander through the streets of Yangon to admire its colonial-era architecture, including buildings like the Yangon Railway Station.
Visit Monasteries and Temples :
Explore the serene surroundings of monasteries and temples, such as the Mahamuni Pagoda and Shwedagon Pagoda.
Trekking in Hsipaw and Kalaw :
Embark on trekking adventures in places like Hsipaw and Kalaw to experience the local way of life and stunning landscapes.
Participate in a Traditional Ceremony :
Immerse yourself in Burmese culture by participating in traditional ceremonies, such as almsgiving to monks.
Visit workshops where artisans create intricate crafts, including gold leaf, wood carving, and marble carving.
Explore the stunning landscapes of Hpa-An, including its caves and temples, like the Bat Cave and Saddan Cave.
Venture to the remote town of Kyaing Tong to interact with various ethnic groups and learn about their customs.
Attend traditional dance and puppet shows to witness Myanmar’s rich performing arts heritage.
Sample Burmese dishes like mohinga, laphet thoke, and Shan noodles, either at local eateries or through cooking classes.
Engage in a meditation retreat at a monastery to experience mindfulness and learn about Buddhist practices.

These activities provide a diverse and enriching perspective on Myanmar’s culture, landscapes, and way of life. Whether you’re exploring ancient ruins, engaging with locals, or simply savoring the local cuisine, you’re sure to create lasting memories.

Culture and Safety 🦺

Culture in Myanmar :

When traveling to Myanmar, it’s important to be respectful of the local culture and customs:

Greetings : Greet people with a smile and a slight bow, especially when meeting elders or monks. Using “Mingalabar” (hello) is a friendly way to start conversations.
Dress Modestly : Wear modest clothing, especially when visiting religious sites. Cover your shoulders and knees, and remove your shoes before entering temples and pagodas.
Buddhist Customs : When visiting temples, pagodas, or monasteries, show respect by sitting lower than monks and not pointing your feet at sacred objects or people.
Monks and Nuns : Do not touch monks or nuns, and give them space. Women should avoid physical contact with monks.
Feet and Head : The head is considered the highest part of the body, both literally and spiritually, while feet are the lowest. Avoid touching people’s heads and pointing your feet at sacred objects or people.
Removing Shoes : Remove your shoes when entering homes, monasteries, and certain shops.
Public Displays of Affection : Avoid public displays of affection, as they are generally considered inappropriate in Myanmar’s culture.
Conservative Behavior : Be respectful of conservative attitudes and behaviors, especially in rural areas.

Safety in Myanmar :

While Myanmar is generally safe for travelers, it’s important to take certain precautions:

Travel Restrictions : Stay informed about travel restrictions and advisories, especially if you plan to visit areas with ethnic conflicts or tensions.
Health Precautions : Drink bottled or purified water, and use insect repellent to prevent mosquito-borne diseases. Be cautious with street food and ensure the food is cooked properly.
Local Laws : Familiarize yourself with local laws and customs, and respect the regulations regarding photography, interactions with monks, and the export of cultural artifacts.
Scams : Be aware of common tourist scams, such as overcharging for goods or services. Always agree on prices before purchasing items or services.
Political Discussions : Avoid discussing sensitive political topics with locals, as these conversations could potentially lead to misunderstandings.
Currency : Handle currency transactions at authorized exchange counters or banks to avoid counterfeit money.
Traffic and Transportation : Be cautious when crossing streets, as traffic can be chaotic. Choose reputable transportation options and avoid overcrowded vehicles.
Emergency Numbers : Know the local emergency numbers and have the contact information of your embassy or consulate.

By respecting local customs, staying aware of your surroundings, and following safety guidelines, you can have a positive and enjoyable experience while exploring Myanmar’s rich culture and diverse landscapes.

In conclusion, a visit to Myanmar offers a captivating journey through its ancient temples, serene landscapes, and warm-hearted people. From the awe-inspiring temples of Bagan to the floating gardens of Inle Lake, and the bustling streets of Yangon to the tranquil villages of Hpa-An, Myanmar presents a tapestry of experiences that blend culture, history, and natural beauty. By embracing the local customs, savoring the diverse cuisine, and immersing yourself in the rich traditions, you’ll create cherished memories that reflect the unique charm and authenticity of this enchanting country.

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Culturally Immersive & Responsible Travel

Two Weeks (14 days) in Myanmar: Guide for Backpacking Burma

About this blog: This is a sample two week long itinerary to explore Myanmar. This allows enough time to travel through all the Big 4 travel destinations of Myanmar: Yangon, the erstwhile Burmese capital known as Rangoon, Bagan, Mandalay and Inle lake . The suggested itinerary takes you from North to South in Myanmar, over 14 days and gives you an idea of the offbeat destinations and cultural nuances of Myanmar.

S and I are in our late 20s and travel with a focus on experiencing local food and culture of a new destination. We love photo-walks in cities. We also prefer not to do very touristy things and stay away from animal activities. If these sounds similar to your style of travel, read on!

2 weeks in Myanmar a travel itinerary. Myanmar Travel Guide

“Burma – a land whose cities had streets paved with gold and where Bengalis were at such a premium that they were lifted bodily from ships carrying them the moment the latter touched the shore, and carried away by Englishmen to be showered with jobs, money, power and prestige.” An excerpt from Srikanto by Saratchandra Chattopadhyay.

Myanmar. Despite being in the well tread travel circuit of South East Asia, remained a country shrouded in oriental mystery for years. Indian Hindu mythology illustrated visuals of ivory white elephants roaming free in the dense teak wood forest of erstwhile Burma, now Myanmar. We grew up with Saratchandra’s hero chanting nationalist slogans against the British colonists from Rangoon. Myanmar was a make believe place yet we knew so less about the country.

Having been around the fur flung travel destinations of Myanmar for a little over two weeks, I can state the country is beautiful and so much more. It is calm. It has saved its soul from the maddening race of advancement.

All through the history comprising of a grim past by the British Raj, and that of Japan and ravaging world war 2 memories, people remain unchanged. Their skin is bright with Thanaka paste. They hardly understand English. In Myanmar, a smile and body language can gift you with unprecedented friendship. If you breath a full chest, you get an unadulterated aroma of the Earth. It is dry at the central highland of Bagan, it is sweaty humid down south in Yangon by the edges of Irrawaddy, it is azure blue by the Inle lake. And its people. What do I say? Eloquent eyes linger and speak volume as they prepare that exotic “ paan “!

I am aware of the Rohingya exodus and ethnic genocide that took place over the years. I have written about how being a Bengali in Myanmar felt like , and how I weighed t he ethical question of visiting Myanmar as an upcoming tourist destination .

Whether you want to support the regime with your travel expenditure is totally upto you. From visa fee to flying with state airlines and paying for those tax stamps accompanying every receipt and tourist fee, there is no escaping them.

However, please know, in the process of avoiding a tyrant government, many locals miss out from parks of tourism. Locals who strive everyday to make ends meet. Locals who have hardly a say what the military junta decides. You can argue these locals also form a part of the huge populace supporting and propagating hate. I agree. The world is not white and black. And I am sure this argument can be implemented for a number of countries. Anyway, this discussion deserves a different blog post.

What to expect from this blog: Myanmar in 2 weeks

This is a mammoth blogpost with a couple of Myanmar itinerary . Both are about traveling in Myanmar for two weeks. One goes from North to South of Myanmar, that is, Mandalay to Yangon or Rangoon. This is essentially recommended if you are road-tripping from India. The other one takes you from South to North of Myanmar, from Yangon to Mandalay . You can easily cross the border with Thailand, travel to Hpa An, reach Yangon and continue with traveling in Myanmar.

I will first list an outline of both the Myanmar itineraries and you can decide which one you want to stick to.

Along the way, I also discuss essential travel tips to make your life easy when traveling in Myanmar.

And finally, I shall delve deep into each destination. I shall tell you about the alternate and offbeat travel experiences in Myanmar . I shall tell you about the grass root travel organizers in Myanmar who are actually working with locals, including a handful of former political prisoners, so that your expenses are directed towards the locals of Myanmar at the grass root level.

Two weeks in Myanmar. Start from North or South?

Myanmar is a fairly large country. It is suggested you start at one end and continue further. I have personally traveled from North to South and find it the easiest and fastest route . However, it entirely depends on the international airport or port you are flying into.

Also read: 2 weeks in Malaysia for the cultural traveler!

Suggested 2 weeks in Myanmar Itinerary

Myanmar travel from Mandalay to Yangon (Rangoon)

This is the itinerary we followed during our two weeks in Myanmar. We flew into Mandalay from Bengaluru, India. Mandalay should be your first destination in Myanmar, in case you are over-landing from India from Tamu checkpoint.

Tamu is at the border crossing between Manipur, India and Myanmar. Long distance bus and shared vehicle go through this point. It is possible to reach even Thailand using this international highway. It is suggested to reach Tamu checkpoint as early as possible to make the most of the day and avoid traveling at night. Read more about over landing from India to Myanmar here.

Day 1-2: Mandalay and the ancient cities nearby
Day 3-5: Temples of Bagan, UNESCO Heritage Site
Day 6: Day trip to Mount Popa
Day 7-8: Mount Kalaw and Trekking
Day 9-10: Inle Lake, UNESCO heritage Site
Day 11-12: Yangon (or Rangoon)
Day 13: trip to Bago and Golden Rock
Day 14: Fly out of Yangon

You can add Ngapali beach instead of Mount Kalaw if you are looking for a few days of pristine beach vacation. It is accessible from Yangon by bus or a short flight.

If you are interested in hiking, do add Hpa An to this Myanmar itinerary. It is also a cool stop over before you overland to Thailand from Myanmar.

However, lately I have found plenty of cheaper flights frequent Yangon international airport . If you are pressed for time and have to fly, choose to travel in Myanmar for two weeks, starting from Yangon.

2 weeks in Myanmar Itinerary: from Yangon(Rangoon) to Mandalay

Day 1-2: Yangon (Rangoon)
Day 3: Trip to Bago and Golden Rock
Day 4-6: Temple Town of Bagan (UNESCO site)
Day 7: Day trip to Mount Popa
Day 8-9: Inle Lake (UNESCO site)
Day 10-11: Mandalay and surrounding cities

Night bus from Mandalay to Yangon which reaches Yangon at 6 am in the morning. The bus is run by JJ Express bus company. The overnight Yangon bus costs $12 and leaves Mandalay at 9 pm.

Day 12-14: Yangon-Ngapali Beach
Day 15: Fly Out of Yangon

Optional addition: Mount Kalaw to Inle lake can be trekked in three days if you want to skip the beach vacation at Ngapali.

If you can, add 5 more days to your itinerary. This way you can fit in Ngapali beach, Kalaw, Hpa An, Mawlamyine and Ngwesaung beach apart from the big 4 of Myanmar.

I am a bit skeptical about mountains because after the Himalaya in India (especially that in Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh ) and Nepal , and Kilimanjaro in Africa, I expect so much more from the highlands! I know this comparison is lame however my heart refuges to get over the romance of Darjeeling ! You ought to listen to Anan Dutt’s music to understand what I mean!

The sprawling land of Myanmar is dotted with an overwhelming number of Buddhist relics. Well, it does not overwhelm me. My Indian mind is conditioned to see different manifestations of faith, consecutively, at every turn of the road. (Hello Varanasi , Rameswaram , Kolkata , basically everywhere in India!)

From north to south, Myanmar is no different when it comes to abundance of religious relics, with Yangon being an old cosmopolitan metropolis. So there is a fair chance of you getting “Templed out” (is that even a word?) over two weeks!

But the route embraces drastic changes in scenery. Many opine, if you have to remove one spot in Myanmar, Mandalay it is. Well, I would differ.

Mandalay and its surrounding ancient towns house some of the finest ancient Buddhist stupa, temples and relics. However it the the prized sunrise experience at U Bein bridge that remains vibrant in my mind. It is straight out of the cover of the book, the River of Lost footsteps.

U bein Bridge Myanmar SUnrise picture. Mandalay day trips to amarapuri

I will now delve deeper into each destination of Myanmar and talk about my experiences. I will start out with a few handy travel tips as I figured in my two weeks in Myanmar.

Travel Tips from Myanmar which will help you plan a DIY trip for 2 weeks.

Currency in Myanmar is known as Kyat ($1 = 1500 Kyat) Currency Exchange shops are available at all major tourist places in Myanmar. ATMs work fine as well, at Mandalay and Yangon.
There is a tourist entry fee at the entrance of each Travel destination, say Inle Lake or Bagan. Your bus will stop. You have to pay a sum of money and get a receipt in return, which you may be asked to produce at certain checkpoints. For example, we were in Bagan and shooting a sunrise at some dilapidated temple ruin. While returning we were asked to produce the ticket which we had left in the hotel room. We were asked how much we paid and then let go. Tripadvisor has a thread where latest entry fees are updated by tourists.

Tourist entry fee to Inle Lake: $10

Tourist entry fee to Bagan: $20

Dollars are accepted at handful of places. Please bring currency exchange.

JJ Express Bus connects the entire Tourist trail of the country. You can rely on them and book at the website directly. Seats are comfortable. Buses are air conditioned. They also provide simple snacks on the way and a bottle of water. There is no washroom on board the bus in Myanmar.
Every destination you visit, you should collect the route map of the surrounding from hotel or hostel. If you enjoy exploring a city by foot, these maps will be your best friends in Myanmar. (Same while traveling in Hanoi and Luang Prabang as well).
Wifi in Myanmar only worked fine in Yangon. Which also means, Inle and Bagan were particularly cases of forced digital detox. You can definitely collect a sim as you leave the international airport at Mandalay or Yangon. (Heho is 2019 was a cute time travel experience. I think we were back in 1960s?)
Mobile sim is priced at $10 and gives upto 10 Gb data. Works for a month. And you can recharge it online.
Cities like Mandalay and Yangon had Grab Taxi (download the app) apart from easy and effective public transport. Rest had quick and cheap transport system, including auto (Tuktuk as you know from Bangkok).

Tourist Visa for Myanmar

28 days validity for single entry
Evisa available for 100+ countries
$50 Visa fee

Myanmar issues e-visa for travelers for entry. Check out this website to procure a Myanmar Tourist e-visa before you go. Generally visa application gets approved in a day’s time however, I suggest get you visa formalities done at least a week before.

Evisa for Myanmar costs $50 and valid for 28 days. You shall get an email document which needs to be printed out and presented at the airport during immigration in Myanmar.

Traveling in Myanmar. Boating at Inle lake

Train travel in Myanmar

Ever since Anthony Bourdain traveled to Bagan in one of those vintage looking Burmese trains, everyone has been hustling to get a taste of that intense cultural experience. And then, it is delightfully economic.

And it is understandably so. Trains in Myanmar has been equated with that of horse carriage by Lonelyplanet, with its characteristic narrow gauge lines, whimsical timing and slow paced movement.

In Myanmar, the most famous tourist route by train is that of Yangon to Mandalay. There are air con coaches and dining car on board. The train system in Burma, very much like India, carries British legacy. However, they are yet to have a Rajdhani or Palace on wheels in the country.

I recommend a train travel if you have a spare day at hand and traveling on budget. Otherwise, stick to the circular train during Yangon sightseeing and hop onto a bus to travel in-between cities. More on that later.

Also read: 20+ scenic Rail-journey across Europe!

Safety and Tourist Permit in Myanmar

Let us face it. Myanmar, like many other Asian countries, is going through a turbulent politics where ethnic communities are protesting against the government with armed uprising. This is prevalent in certain parts of Shan, Kachin state beyond Rakhine which regularly makes headlines in international media of Rohingya persecution.

This also mean uncharted road leading you to hidden landmines and armed groups, which I am not really interested to encounter on a holiday. It is always a good and responsible idea to stick to a tourist trail. For offbeat experiences, even hikes, do hire a local guide.

Locals in Myanmar are the most honest and friendliest lot I have ever met in the entire South East Asia. Please practice general safety precaution if you are a solo female traveler.

Snakes and mosquitoes are not as friendly as locals. So beware of them, and street dogs .

Best time to visit Myanmar

We were in Myanmar in December-January and the weather was pleasant, with a rare nip in the air at the wee hours of the day, as we were chasing sunrise in Bagan or at Ubein Bridge at the outskirts of Mandalaya.

Yangon, like her soul sister Kolkata, was mercilessly sweaty sticky humid. Though Kolkata becomes cold in winter. Yangon was not.

Myanmar has an intense rainy season from June to September which is best avoided if you are keen on exploring nature trails. March to May are the summer months, meaning bright sunshine and scorching heat. These months, in my opinion, are best avoidable for Myanmar travels.

Best time to visit Myanmar is from October to February, with pleasant weather and warm water.

In Myanmar, the annual water festival Thingyan is generally scheduled in mid April. This is the Burmese New Year celebration and a lot like that of Songkran in Thailand .

How many days are needed to travel in Myanmar?

If I could I would have spent an entire month in the country. That is the maximum e-visa would allow me anyway.

However, for those with time constraints, 2 weeks time in Myanmar is decent enough to cover the major attraction of the country. In two weeks, you will be traveling from the north to south, thus experiencing different cultures as well. However, with another extra week added to your Myanmar itinerary, you can very well cover the offbeat attractions like Ngapali beach and Hpa an. More on that discussed later.

Budget for traveling in Myanmar (2 weeks)

We spent INR 60,000 (USD 850) in Myanmar for two weeks apart from flight tickets and visa fees.

We dined at local restaurants, fine dined when in Yangon, traveled in Myanmar bus and one internal flight and explored the city mostly on foot. The major part where we spent money was (and I think you will also end up spending here) at the hotels.

Hotels are expensive in Myanmar, especially in Yangon. Hostels are less in number. Food and activities are rather economically priced compared to that of Bangkok from neighboring nation. Most of the tourist attraction has entry fee.

Mandalaya: Day 1 and Day 2

For hotels in Mandalay, check out Booking website.
Luxury : Hilton , Rupar Mandalay , Mercure Mandalay Hill .
Budget : Downtown Mandalay , Emperor
Hostel : Ostello Bello (highly recommend), Mansion

Explore Mandalay Town by foot/ cycle

The day we reached Myanmar, we spent the afternoon exploring Mandalay’s regal relics.

You will have to purchase an entry ticket for Mandalay Archaeological zone at the price of 10000 Kyats which will let you access all the major Mandalay attractions.

We started from Mandalay Royal Palace . There are N number of royal enclosures and it will take at least a couple of hours to see all of them. I had been beautiful Buddhist temples in Bangkok, Thailand and Luang Prabang , Laos. Needless to say the Tibetan monasteries of Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh are ancient and sombre with inexplicable heritage. Yet, Mandalay palace stunned me!

Things to do in Mandalay: 2 weeks in Myanmar backpacking

Exquisite work of gold and glass panels adorn the walls, complimented with wood paneling.

Check out the following places located close to Mandalay Palace:

Shwenandaw Palace (former Royal Palace): Burmese teak is widely acclaimed in South Asia. One look at the Shwenandaw monastery and you will know why! Tales of Jataka (lives of Buddha) are carved on the teak wood panels which basically builds the entire monument. Needless to say, it is a few centuries old and a worthy contender for the UNESCO tag.
Mahamuni Pagoda : If a Kasavu saree could have been built into a temple, it would look like the gorgeous Mahamuni Paya, an ensemble of gold and white tones to behold! Also the Buddha statue housed inside in profound.
Kuthodaw Pagoda , often touted as the world’s largest book, is basically a cluster of more than 700 Stupas. The gilded pagoda at the center stands as a shining star. Each of this stupa has a marble slab inside, with Buddhist teachings inscribed on it, thus earning it the name, “World’s largest book” . If you have been to the temple of literature in Hanoi, you shall grasp the idea of Kuthodaw pagoda.
Mandalay hill allows you to have a lingering view of sunset vista over the town.

Mandalay Palace and other nearby monuments generally start closing their doors by 5 pm.

Backpacking Myanmar fo rtwo weeks. Kuthodaw Pagoda

Support the locals in Mandalay: Moustache Brothers

At night we visited the Moustache Brothers show. Often touted as one of the resisting voices against Military Junta, Moustache brother was a tiny shop, which looked like the front room of a household. One of the brothers have died. Performers are mostly family. The remaining brother is now joined by his wife to perform the skits.

Moustache Brother show claims to fame with its humorous critique of the Junta. There was critique about bribery et al, however voices significantly meek against many other brutalities of the regime, including Rohingya Exodus. In the age when corporate media houses are basically government spokesperson, we cannot blame a one man show for a controlled demeanor, can we? Please note, they have been into trouble with the government before for the content of the show. Now the show at Mustache brother is more of a mix of stand up comedy, dance and heritage with a few sprinklings of mild critiques.

Dine at the Chinatown Night market: Lasho Shan Kao Swe, 33rd St, Mandalay

Night markets at Mandalay wrap up early so make sure to be there before 8 pm. They do not speak English but body language is a savior. For example, I ordered a plate of river crabs fried which was too hot (even for my Indian palette). The shopkeeper lady gave me a plastic to wrap around my fingers (that hot, no kidding) and eat those crabs! Kindness from strangers!

If you love fish, Lasho Shan Swe is a heaven. The fish steamed in lemon sauce served with rice is a things of heaven!

This market shows the true meaning of bustling in the morning, which I just glanced past as I was running to board the bus to Bagan. If you have time, I strongly recommend the mandalay China Town for a morning breakfast for an intense cultural experience.

Day 2 at Amarapura, Mandalay

Sunrise at U Bein bridge

The next morning, we rented a Tuktuk and reached Amarapura. At the edge of the lake, an astonishing Sunrise took place. U Bein Bridge , two hundred years old teak wood structure, elevated that experience to a large extent. We were there, alongside a handful of Chinese travelers, and a few hundred locals.

I fear a day will come when these locals will have to make space for an ever growing tourist influx, and their regular morning routine will subside from U Bein bridge experience.

Amarapura also houses Maha Gandayone Monastery . A number of young monks study here. The site of them having lunch is a beauty to behold.

Explore Mingun Pagoda on the other bank of river

The day at Amarapura is best spent while exploring the nearby ancient city of Mingun by boat.

Laze around the bridge for a while. If you are keen on photography, the adjacent flower market is a coveted spot. A typical Burmese breakfast can be enjoyed at the morning market too.

At 9 am, the boat on river Irawadi will start for Mingun. One of the ancient capitals of Burma.

Round trip boat journey will cost you 5000 Kyats. Entry fee to Mingun temple is 5000 Kyats too. The same ticket can be used to access Mingun Bell and the Hsinbyume Pagoda (Myatheindan). The latter is the ivory white Instagram famed pagoda of Mandalay with “Dragon teeth”. Ironically, this too was built in the memory of late wife of Bagydaw prince, immortalizing his love for the queen. We have a similar story closer home! Hello, Taj!

Legends has it, Mingun Pahtodawgyi was intended to be one of the largest stupa monuments but the king feared a death bane and abandoned all the work. Time was not kind to it either, an earthquake hit and the stupa now features a prominent crack at the entrance. A reminder to the gnaw of time. Located close to it is the second largest bell of the world, the Mingun Bell. You can strike it with a wooden baton too.

On your way back, you can explore the King Galon Gold leaf workshop show room and Jade market . Jade is a prized stone in entire South east Asia and has found many manifestation in plenty of priceless ancient Buddha statues. If interested, you can check out silklooms and teakwood workshops too. Generally, there was no haggling in Mandalay.

When in Mandalay, you can rent a bicycle to explore the town and rural outskirts. Cost was close to 3,000 kyat (US$2.20) per person for a day.

Considering day 2 in Mandalay starts as early as Sunrise, you may want to take it slow in the evening and spend the night eating and drinking.

Trip to Inwa (Ava) the ancient Town

However, if you are an history enthusiast, I recommend a visit to the former royal capital Inwa (also known as Ava) during sundown. Remember the Mandalay site seeing ticket you bought earlier? This will let you enter this temple cluster.

The traditional horse cart rides are still available though the horses looked famished.

Things to see at Inwa (Ava):

Ancient royal palace, now slowly crumbling down. also known as the leaning Tower of Ava.
Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery where brick and stucco style married into each other
Bargayar Monastery made of impressive teak wood curving
The Nanmyint Watch Tower for a lingering sunset view over River Irawadi.

If you have more time at Mandalay, consider following alternate, offbeat activities:

There are beautiful waterfalls close to Myanmar at Dattawgyaik ( Anisakan Falls). Dee Doke is another one which reminds me of Kuang Si Falls of Laos .
Train ride to Hsipaw . Hsipaw was an ancient Shan capital and a sleepy town in the lap of northern mountain ranges. Hsipaw is the quintessential hiking capital of Myanmar. However, the train ride to Hsipaw allows you to experience the Gokteik Viaduct . One of the tallest and oldest railway trestle in this part of the world. Guided tours are available from Mandalay if you do not want to take the 11 hours long train journey. At Hsipaw, we recommend this beautiful hotel for stay.
Visiting Sagaing Hill , the Spiritual heart of Myanmar: The Sagaing hil is studded with numerous pagoda, stupa, monasteries. More than 3000 monks call it home. Close to Sagaing, lies Monywa (4 hours drive from Sagaing, hence you should ideally spend a night here). Monywa is famous for a few 500 years old murals in sandstone caves. However, world’s tallest Buddha statue adorns the land. Tourists can even climb halfway through the statue.

Exploring Bagan (UNESCO World Heritage): Day 3 to Day 5

For hotels in Bagan, check out Booking website.
Luxury: Heritage Bagan Hotel , Aureum palace, Thiripyitsaya
Budget: Temple view , We stay boutique
Hostel: Ostello Bello (book this ASAP), Bagan vibes

How to reach Bagan?

We traveled by JJ express bus from Mandalay to Bagan. The bus journey was comfortable, with two toilet and snack stops on the way. It took us 5 hours to reach Bagan. It was reached on time.

Alternatively, you can take a traditional boat and sail down Irrawaddy from Mandalay to the banks of Bagan, the temple town, now a UNESCO world heritage. Burmese kings preferred this leisure cruise.

If you are keen on saving a night, take a overnight bus journey to Bagan. It costs somewhere $12 and reaches Bagan at around 6 am.

The closest airport to Bagan is Nyaung-U , a 20 minutes hour’s drive. Train station is available as well. Being the prime tourist attraction spot in Myanmar, Bagan is well connected with Yangon, Mandalay and Inle lake.

Bagan and its outskirts has four major areas: Nyuang U, Old Bagan, New Bagan and the Central Plains. central plains is where the real action takes place! If you want a bit of a nightlife, you must stay at the New Bagan.

Arid rusty earth kisses some 3000+ ancient Buddhist temples scattered across Bagan. Bagan, the name is derived from a Pali word meaning scorched earth . Once a sprawling capital by the banks of Irrawaddy river and a prime liberal Buddhist study center of South Asia, Bagan fell prey to war and drought consecutively and shrunk to a mere village.

Temples of Bagan are best compared to the ghats of Varanasi. King, nobleman of his court and wealthy businessmen were instrumental behind the landscape of Bagan, which is dotted with Temples, Pagodas, Stupas of various shapes and size. Bagan does not have any local habitat close-by. thanks to tourist influx, New Bagan has grown in haphazard way.

Some of the temples in Bagan are maintained by families and you can only enter inside if they have unlocked the key.

Top travel tips for Bagan

Pay $20 for ticket to Bagan Archaeological Site one time and roam around Bagan as much as you want for next 5 days.
There are numerous temples and you can enter almost all of them. Local families are designated to maintain these temples and sometimes they will show you their paining, and try to sell them. You do not need to pay anything for showing the temple.
Bagan is safe and tourist friendly however after 6 pm it is pitch dark off the main road and best avoided, if not for men but for snakes.
Bagan is best explored on a rented scooty (only place in Myanmar where you can rent a scoory). We rented from the Heritage Bagan Hotel , where we were hosted during our stay in Bagan, and it charged us close to 20k Kyats. Local shops will be cheaper.
Bagan is the best place to buy souvenirs from Myanmar: Clay dancing dolls, umbrella, sand art paining, faux lacquerware, hand spun cotton clothes etc etc etc.
If you are really interested in history, Bagan will keep you occupied for three or more days . Ask yourself if you have been to Angkor Wat in Cambodia beforehand. Bagan is similar with different style of temples on the field. Otherwise, two days are fine for few temple hopping and the sunrise-sunset view in Bagan.

inside the temples of old Bagan: Murals and old Buddha statue

Horse cart rides are available everywhere in Bagan with famished looking horses. have some mercy and let them be. However, I doubt if their master gives them enough food if none rides the horses.

Prominent temples of Bagan

I will soon publish a blog post to help you explore some of the oldest and finest temples of Bagan on a self guided tour. However, here is just a sneak peak to the must visit temples of Bagan !

Shwezigon Pagoda

We started with the Shwezigon Pagoda. The temple heads are gilded in gold and glisten in the sunlight. Shwezigon is standing strong since early 11th century.

The famed Shwedagon pagoda of Yangon had many similarities with this, we later discovered. But the fact that it is open to worship and regularly receives large number of devotees plays a part in this too.

Gubyaukgyi (Also known as Wetkyi-Inn)

Handpainted ancient murals narrating stories of Buddha Jataka are found on its walls. Stucco art decor on its wall is admirable too.

Annada Temple

Among all of these temples in Bagan, the thousand years old Annada temple won my heart. The Mon art inspired white temple houses four profound Buddha statues in the inner sanctum, facing 4 sides, addressing human beings of the world. Annada’s Hti (the pagoda top which melts in gold during famed Bagan sunsets) is 52 metre high and soars over the rolling plains of Bagan.

Other notable pagoda and temples of Bagan:

Damayangyi Temple
Payarthonezu Temple
Mon styled Nanpaya temple
Bamar styled Htilominlo,
Apyeyandanar Temple
Lawkannandar temple
900 years old Thatbinnyu Temple (Also refered as “temples of omniscience”)
The Sulamani temple

Sunset at bagan Myanmar from a secret temple: Two weeks in bagan

Support the locals in Bagan

In my three days in Bagan, I hardly had the time to go out from the old Bagan area. There was so much to discover, right from the pages of history, at every turn of the road.

However, it is important to address the locals who stuck to the ancient Burmese capital, who had long lost its heydays.

An early morning visit to Nyaung Oo market shall let you interact with farmers from surrounding villages. I chose to apply some thanaka on my face like the locals do as natural sunscreen. It is derived from the bark of certain trees. Usage of Thanaka is most prevalent in Bagan. Mani-Sithu Market is another choice of local market, with almost same variety of fresh produce.

Many choose to visit the local villages close to Bagan, Min Nan Thu Village (more used to with tourists), Phwar Saw Village (slowly gaining a place in tourist map). It is very much like regular rural visit, which in my honest opinion, was very similar to those in India, with people speaking different language and Cigar being hand rolled instead of Bidi.

Catch the Sunrise and Sunset in Bagan

Pretty much every tourist in Bagan wants to climb one of the old temples and shoot a Sunset or Sunrise. It still is, with more stringent government rules being applied to save the old structures. Honestly, I appreciate it. Those crumbing thousand years of temple tops in Bagan are not prepared yet to receive truckload of tourists ready to go any extent to shoot that perfect sunset.

All the blogs I found on internet were basically outdated, hence I would not mention any name of the temple where you can climb and shoot Bagan Sunset. However, there are few designated spots which still receives tourists and stages a beautiful sunset over Bagan plains.

Bagan Tower: View was decent.
Sunset viewed from a boat on Irawardy river. I loved it. I always love rivers so that way it has to make it to the list. yet, this may not be the best spot if you are keen on catching sunset rays spreading over the temple top.
Hot air Balloon ride over temples of Bagan. It is expensive but it IS the best thing to do in Bagan. I did not get a spot because tickets were sold out. I suggest book earlier if you are keen.
The following pagodas were open when we visited for sunset viewing, however they may not be open to receive guests any more: Ta Wet Hpaya Temple, Utrecht Temple, Buledi temple.

The best Bagan Suset shot I could manage in bagan was near a local market. There was a pagoda open at that point of time for climb, the locals pointed it to us. We climbed, alongside 25 other people and was constantly worried if something breaks. A few young boys helped with torch light and immediately asked for money. We did view those post card perfect sunset but that experience was not very commendable.

Eat your heart out in Bagan!

Bagan had the best variety of food available. From Indian to Italian to cute cafes and local food, you name it and you get it in Bagan.

Golden Bagan : The best place to eat in Bagan. Not just because they serve KACHIN food but also the owner is extremely generous and kind. He does not speak English but he fed us the best food in entire Myanmar, for two consecutive nights. It should have been on the main road for more people coming in nonetheless, this calls for at least one visit when in Myanmar. The same street also has a coupl of foot massage parlours, fish spa etc. Find it on map .

Black Bamboo: Just opposite Golden Bagan. More expensive than nearby cafes but set up is very pretty. Perfect place to celebrate a romantic date night in Bagan.

Sharkys : Run by an European lady, this one can double as a digital nomad hub in Bagan. Serves mostly European food with burger and Fondant etc. Loved the atmosphere. Suggest going in the morning.

La Terezza : Who knew we will have the finest pizza of Southeast Asia in Bagan. Another family run place and serves delicious pizza in Bagan.

Squid curry sold at 7 sisters is highly acclaimed by foodied in Bagan. ALso try fried shrimp by the banks of Irawardy, from where those boat rides starts.

Also read: India’s Far east, road trip from Guwahati to tawang in Arunachal Pradesh

Day trip to Mount Popa from Bagan: Day 6

Located at an hour’s drive from old Bagan, Mount Popa is an intense cultural experience, especially if you are game for a not very challenging hike.

You can catch a bus to Mount Popa from Nyaung U Highway Bus Terminal for 1500 Kyat. Rented taxi for the whole day should cost you close to 30000 Kyat. Most hotels in Bagan can also arrange for an organised tour upon request.

A volcanic monolithic rock stands with a monastery named Taung Kalat on top of it. The monastery is home to 37 Nats (spirits worshiped in Myanmar and other Buddhist countries in Southeast Asia). 777 steps are to be climbed in bare foot to ascent the mountain. Views are extremely rewarding from the top of it, with eyes stretching as far as the plains of Bagan on a clear sunny day.

However, the real challenge lies with your skills to maneuver your way through the wild monkeys. Not just a group of them, at certain steps. Monkeys at Mount Popa have unabashedly claim the entire staircase, marking their territory with feces and urine, often dried up and littered across the floor, which mind you, needs to avoided as you make your way up barefoot.

Last I heard, they have taken the monkey poop critique seriously and have employed cleaners too. I reckon it is a good practice to carry small changes as well, to tip them en route the peak.

Mount Popa is also known as Monkey Mountain. I am scared of monkeys and if you are too, you can avoid the trip. Physical exhaustion coupled with monkey fear is not the best travel experience. But then, the views are to die for. Especially at Sunset. Sunrise too, if you are staying here overnight. Mount Popa has an exquisite resort located close by with an infinity pool looking over the rock.

You can choose to stay at mount Popa for a night and return to Bagan the next stay and continue with your trip further.

Book a stay with Mount Popa

Mount Popa is open for climbing from 8 am to 3 pm. Entry fee is $5 per person.

Kalaw: Day 7 and 8

For hotels in Kalaw, check out Booking website.

Fancy a trek through dense green foliage that opens to one of the most astonishing water body on the Earth? Head towards Mount Kalaw and embark on an epic three day trek to Inle Lake. You can also choose a 2 day 1 night trek. You get to stay at the home stay en route. Ensure you are doing this during dry season to avoid muddy slopes. Physical fitness is required for this trek.

How to reach Mount Kalaw

From Bagan, Yangon or Hsipaw (in case you are coming from the north), buses plying towards Nyaung Shwe (starting point of Inle Lake) will make a stop near Kalaw town. A slow train operates from the nearby town Thazi. Nearest airport is Heho from where shuttles ply. Train journey, though slow, is very rewarding with views of verdant valleys.

Things to do in Kalaw if you are not interested in Trekking

To be very honest, without trekking and experiencing the beautiful countryside of this Shan state, Kalaw does not have anything drastically different to offer. Also, trekking is Kalaw allows Shan community to get direct benefit from tourism. Trekking cost is anywhere close to $50 with food for three days.

During this trekking, you will walk 60 km over 2 days , and there is no steep incline. You can also deposit your luggage which will reach Inle lake separately. Uncle Sam is the one who has gathered quite a nice reputation for conducting trekking in this route. However, there are plenty of other shops where you can get a guided tour from.

Apart from trekking, you must explore the Central Bazar of Kalaw. Watch them hand roll cigar. Sell fresh produce in abundance. Sample delicious Shan cuisine , eg banana wrapped steamed fish. Laze around at the tea shops and go out on one of many hiking trails around the town (Cloud Hill is one nice hike).

Mount Kalaw houses a beautiful elephant sanctuary, which did not start to cater tourists but truly with the intention to rehabilitate Timber elephants. It is named as the Green Valley Elephants Camp where old elephants retired are now housed. Visit is priced at $100. Time is from 9 am to 3:30 pm.

Inle Lake, UNESCO World Heritage Site of Myanmar, Day 9 and 10

For hotels near Inle Lake, check out Booking website.
Luxury: Sofitel , Amata Garden , Aureum , Sky Lake
Budget: Spring Inle Lodge , Amazing Inle , Trinity Family Inn , Ananta Inlay
Hostel: Ostello Bello , Song of Travel , Baoba Bed

Lake Inle is the most beautiful natural spot in Myanmar and definitely features in my list of top 5 destinations in entire South East Asia. I loved Inle and I could live by this pristine and massive water-body for the rest of my life, despite adjoining town Nyaungshwe being one of the overtly touristy town with pushy boatmen and vendors.

Things to do at Inle Lake. Intha Fishermen of Myanmar.

How to reach Inle Lake

The town located by the banks of Inle lake is known as Nyaungshwe. It is where you will live for next few days and laze around apart from taking boat rides. Bus: Upon reaching Nyaungshwe, you can rent a local rickshaw and reach your hotel. We used JJ Express Bus service. Train station: Shwe Nyaung is the nearest staion and from the station, Inle is another 12 km drive. Airport: Nearest airport to Inle Lake is Heho. From there, Inle is an hour’s drive.

Where to stay at Inle: On the lake or at the Nyaungshwe town?

When we were traveling, I found hotels on the lake were all closed. Probably a bad season. However there are hotels on the lake, quite a few luxury ones. Staying on Inle lake does not really go well with my style of travel, so I would probably choose only a day if I stay at all. But I preferred my stay at the Spring inle Lodge, Nyaung Shwe.

Quick Travel Tips for Inle

Swimming at Inle Lake is strongly discouraged since a large population live nearby and the trash from the soceity eventually finds a way into the lake. It can make the swimmer very very sick.
The boat ride is usually scheduled for day long and generally comprise of visiting very touristy places, like cigar factory, lady with lock neck ready to pose for a few penny, silk weaver etc. I almost gave up until the tour began, upon requesting the boatman repeatedly. Be sure to t ell your boatman what you want to see.
The southern part of Inle lake, also known as Shankar (22 KM waterbody so it is HUGE) is not touristy and is accessible depending on water level.
At Nyaung Shwe, you can rent a bike to explore the hidden trails of countryside. We cycled around the town till late night and loved it!

Day one at Inle Lake has to be on the water on a boat. While shared boat from the canals will charge you anywhere close to 5000 Kyats, the standalone boats can go upto 30000 kyats. Be sure to tell the boatman what is it you are looking for. There are plenty of local life and pagoda waiting to be discovered by the edge of the lake.

The southern part of the lake still an true uncharted map. It takes almost three hours one way to reach that place while scenic rural Shan life unfolds by the edge of the waterbody. Boat prices are on the higher side (think $40) and plays along demand cycle.

If you are going with the regular route, be sure to visit Inn dein Pagoda for a short hike off the shore. It takes at least an hour to explore the area. Plenty of old temples and stupas are erect here.

Hot air balloons fly over Inle lake at Dawn and demands prior booking.

From the boat, you shall see a lot of floating gardens, Intha fishermen, who now fish less and pose more in front of tourists for tipping, stilted villages, migratory birds.

At the heart of Inle located is the iconic Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda . During Inle Lake Festival in October, the regal barge ceremony of this monastery is a site to behold.

Kak Ku Pagoda is a cluster of golden gilded old Buddhist tombs located at a distance of 3 hours car drive. If driving to Kak ku, you will need at least 6 hours, thus taking almost half a day.

Take up a cooking class and learn nuances of Shan cuisine. Shan cuisine has rice as staple alongside many fresh herbs and fresh fish from the lake.

Red Mountain Winery is a short outing for the day where local wine is produced and tasted. If you have a few days at Inle, do consider a sundowner here.

The banks of the Inle Lake houses a rotational five day market with local tribeman. The Pa-O, the Paduang and the long neck Kayan tribes women with brass hoops on are some of the tribes from nearby hills, who come down to sell locally grown spices, vegetables, livestock, carvings and handicrafts. However, it is fast changing with more tourists heading in with camera and ready to pay for staged expressions.

Two days in Inle are best experienced on water on the boat, occasionally getting down to explore villages and monasteries and hopping on back to the boat, and be on the water again. Once, we went out on a short cycle ride and accidentally discovered a beautiful cafe named La Riziere Buvette (find it on map ). I recommend this place for a stunning sunset view at Nyaung Shwe.

Also read: The most beautiful beaches in Thailand!

Yangon, Rangoon the former Burmese capital, Day 11, 12, 13

For hotels in Yangon, check out Booking .
Luxury: Strand (iconic hotel, go for it), Pullman , Novotel , Mercure , Chatrium Royal
Budget: Lanmadaw Plaza (China Town), Best Western China Town , IBIS Style
Hostel: Backpacker , Tribe Theory (for digital nomads), Baoba Bed

I am a Calcutta girl. I fell in love with Rangoon at once. Oh, they call her Yangon these days.

We spent a good stretch of 5 days in Yangon, walking on her forgotten alleys, exploring old wooden bungalows, visiting the tomb of Bahadur Shah Jafar, the last emperor of the great Mughal empire, “Hindustan ka Badshah” whom the British did not bury on his own soil. I could picture the face of Kolkata high court at her namesake in Yangon. I could see hear proper British vowel being articulated at the pillared halls erect by the Yangon river. I walked and huffed and puff. It was January and I sweated. Kolkata whispered in my ears, “Palabar poth nei”, until I discovered a shop selling Rosogolla.

It was no surprise that I would fall in love with Yangon.

Yangon offers a bountiful of cultural experiences, spanning from ancient pagoda visit to tasting different culture. Colonists have left Myanmar but their remnants can be traced back in pockets of local cuisine.

I suggest, keep a day for visiting the iconic Shwedagon pagoda (2500 years old) and the other days for exploring the colonial heritage of Yangon. Entry fee to this Pagoda is $10 and the ticket is valid for three days. The stone flooring of the pagoda was changed to heat resistance tiled floor when we visited. We learnt donation was made from Indian PM’s fund.

Of course Yangon is best explored on foot. You can get in touch with Golden Harp , who runs different walks with the help of former political prisoners.

The century old Bagyoke market is the thriving heart center of economic activities at downtown Yangon. Number of shops selling exquisite fabrics, jade stone and studded ornaments, masks outnumber outside vendors. The market is closed on weekends and national holidays, so plan your visit accordingly. At a walking distance a local market thrives, which I loved.

Pristine Kandawgyi Lake is tucked away at one part of the city where Karaweik floats. This is a royal barge now turned into a buffet restaurant.

The Circular train ride in Yangon: Circular train of Yangon is what bullet trains of other metro cities, only it runs patiently, waits at every neighborhood and lets life paint its myriad colors on board. The Circular train in Yangon is one of the best cultural experience of Myanmar. Priced at 200 Kyat, the circular train ride takes 3 hours to circumnavigate Yangon. You can start from Sule pagoda and get back to Sule or get down anywhere in the middle. Run time is from 6:10 to 22:00. Pro tip: start early.

Visit to Dhala on the other bank of Yangon river is an adventure in itself. The jetty on Pansodan Street sells boat tickets for Dhala, from which you can visit Moe Goak Buddhist monastery.

The best place to dine at Yangon is the thriving China Town, especially at night. Golden Dragon ,99 Shan Noodles, Rangoon Tea house are other noteworthy places in Yangon for a foodie.

Then, a golden mystery upheaved itself on the horizon – a beautiful winking wonder that blazed in the sun, of a shape that was neither Muslim dome nor Hindu temple spire. As it stood overlooking everything it seemed to explain all about Burma. Kipling on the first glimpse of Shwedagon Pagoda, Rangoon. Excerpt from Kipling on Shwedagon Pagoda

Other attractions in Yangon

Sule Pagoda (existing since the time of Buddha, older than Shwedagon)
World War 2 cemetery (Taukkyan war cemetery, and there is a smaller one at Yangon. Plenty of Indian names fallen during WW 2 as employee of the British military)
San Pya Fish Wholesale Market- 24 Hr fish market
Marionette puppet show
Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda (reclining Budda)
Hlawgaw National Park (basically a zoo and can be avoided)
Saint Mary’s Cathedral
Musmea Yeshua Synagogue.
Aung San Suu Kyi’s House
a traditional Myanmar massage
Have a Mohingya Breakfast (traditional Burmese fish noodles)

Also read: Offbeat things to do in Goa!

Trip to Bago & Golden Rock: Day 14

Bago, yet another ancoient Burmese capital is housed at only a distance of two hours journey from Myanmar. The town houses religious shrines for which devotees accept hardship of traveling from distant corners of the country. The giant golden stupa at Shwemawdaw Paya and temple of reclining Buddha, Mahazedi Shethalyaung Buddha are notable among many.

However, close to Bago is housed the iconic Golden Rock . A giant rock strangely finds an equilibrium at the edge of a dangerous leap and sits still at the Valley of Kyaiktiyo. Legend has it, a strand of Buddha’s hair protects the valley from an unlikely event of the rock rolling down. Golden rock is an hour’s combined tuktuk and truck drive from Bago, followed by a barefoot hike (remember Mount Popa?). However, please be warned, after visiting Bagan and likes, a full day’s exhaustive trip to Bago may turn out to be underwhelming. the bus to yangon finds its way back from Bago at 5 pm.

If you can, squeeze out a day or two and combine with the last day to visit Ngapali beach instead. More on that in the next section.

Day 15: Fly out of Yangon

The 2 week long itinerary of Myanmar comes to an end at this point. You can tweak it a little and adjust a few days here and there depending on the activities that interests you. Generally speaking, if trekking is not your thing, you can still do Myanmar Big 4 (Mandalay-Bagan-Inle-Yangon) and add on Ngapali beach to it. In case you are headed towards Thailand, add on Hpa An to it and overland to Thailand. Either way, experiencing Myanmar for the first timers feels a lot like reading the pages of an unread epic.

Head to Ngapali (alternative option)

Check out Hotel in Ngapali in Booking.

Myanmar has an unspoiled long-stretched shoreline which has largely remained off limits for tourists. Lack of infrastructure and heavy competition from neighboring Thailand has somewhat shadowed Burmese beaches. However, Ngapali is slowly making its presence felt as a relaxing beach vacation in South East Asia. A number of hotels are being built. learning from impact of over tourism, Ngapali is not in a rush to bring tourists. Here, you can expect to laze around the beach as local fishermen set out of a boat to collect day’s catch.

Thandwe is the closest airport to Ngapali beach. Pearl island is a popular day trip from Ngapali.

Nhapali is an ideal spot for a beach holiday after a whirlwind trip of the country. Stay at one of the resorts for last couple of days before you fly out of Yangon.

If you are pressed for time and still looking for a quick beach vacation, consider Ngwe Saung , located at a distance of 6 hours drive from Yangon.

With time in hand and looking for a more exciting beach vacation, head out for Myeik/Mergui archipelago ,a UNESCO site at the extreme southern tip of the country. Often termed as the lost Asia, meaning Asia before economic boom, Myeik is one of the best dive spots in this part of the world.

Explore pristine Hpa An

Check out hotels in Hpa An on Booking .

In case you are making your way to Thailand (or entering Myanmar from Thailand by bus), do include this pristine town in your Myanmar itinerary. Hpa An is best known for stunning visa as viewed from the top of Mt. Zwegabin, especially during Sunrise. Monkeys do claim their share of the hike but are far lesser in number (so far). Not many tourists visit this place either, hence Hpa An remains one of the offbeat destinations in Myanmar. For the sunrise hike, you are required to start as early as 3 am.

From Hpa An, many choose to go with a river trip to Mawlamyine. the world’s largest reclining Buddha is housed nearby.

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13 Responses

Wow! So detailed. A real eye-opener. Great article!

Thanks! I loved traveling in Myanmar 🙂

I’d love to visit Myanmar! One of my dream destinations, so many wonderful places.

Visit before Myanmar becomes another Thailand or SIem Reap. Bagan is splendid and still remain largely “safe” from travelers.

Thank you for this post! I love detailed guides and if I ever visit Myanmar ?? this will be my go to guides! I loved the pictures! I will def our this on my list to visit when I go back to SE Asia

Happy to help. You can tweak this article and extend you trip in Myanmar from two to three weeks 🙂

Wow, what a fabulous itinerary, and your photos are so impressive. I feel like I have been here, and now I really want to go. Love the sunset fishing net shot.

That is sunrise shot at U Ben bridge near Mandalay 🙂 Thanks, have poured in everything I knew in that itinerary 🙂

This is a massively informative post! I’m going to have to really go back and read through this while taking notes, because there is so much useful information. I’ve played with the idea of visiting Myanmar since I’ve been traveling exclusively around Asia recently, but I’ll have to revisit that idea!

I will be happy if this massive Myanmar itinerary helps you a bit 🙂

Thanks for sharing this impressive blog. I really appreciate the work you have done, you explained everything in such an amazing and simple way. All images are so beautiful.

Pingback: A 3 Day Trip to Bagan | Travel Itinerary and Bagan Travel Guide | Myanmar

Myanmar is a beautiful, vast country full of rich tradition, delicious food and gorgeous natural sights. This blog reminded me of the pre-pandemic world, now the travelling situation has completely changed with the new variants, vaccines and travel restrictions. Thank You for this blog as it made me travel Myanmar without actually physically travelling to the country.

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Myanmar Travel Guide: 15 Things You Should Know

Updated: September 6, 2022 Amelie Nguyen in Myanamar Travel Tips 0 comment.

Get prepare for the necessary documents

Above all, the first thing you should get is the Myanmar visa. To enter Myanmar after the outbreak of COVID-19 cases, visitors must be fully vaccinated and deliver a passport valid for 6 months to apply for a visa. An e-tourist visa costs $50. The maximum stay in Myanmar is less than 28 days from the time of entry.

All foreign visitors before coming to Myanmar must have a Visa (visa) issued by the Myanmar Embassy or Consulate and must be valid for entry and exit. Besides, just don’t forget to bring a printed copy of your acceptance letter when entering and leaving Myanmar.

Visa Myanmar - the first thing to have for a trip to Myanmar

Visa Myanmar – the first important thing for a trip to Myanmar

The Must-go tourist spots in Myanmar

The ancient capital of Bagan is a must-see destination in the Myanmar backpacking itinerary. This place became extremely famous with 2000 temples and stupas, which preserves a lot of beautiful architecture and Buddhist history in Myanmar. Tourists can rent a bicycle or a horse-drawn carriage to visit and admire all the beautiful scenes in Bagan.

Ancient capital of Bagan

Lake Inle , also known as Nyaungshwe, is one of Myanmar’s most popular tourist destinations. Visitors can take a one-day boat tour to experience the locals’ life in a floating village, as well as fishermen fishing on the narrowboats, and numerous pagodas and monasteries.

Shwedagon Pagoda, the most important pilgrimage place. The most memorable thing of Shwedagon Pagoda is the ancient architecture and is inlaid with up to 90 tons of gold around the wall, the top of the tower is encrusted with thousands of 76-carat diamonds. Visitors must experience the mystical atmosphere with the pagoda lit up by spotlights.

Shwedagon Pagoda

The Mergui Archipelago retains its wild and rustic beauty. It consists of 800 large and small coral ecological islands with different shapes and colors. In order to experience the Mergui, travelers can rent a kayak or a boat from the locals. Tourists can go kayaking, snorkeling, take boat trips, set sail and go diving in Mergui, in order to relax and enjoy the impressive scenery.

Mergui Archipelago

Do not overspend the travel budget

Many tourists get hooked on shopping when they first travel abroad. However, you should not get caught up in this situation because surely it will destroy the original travel plan, as well as making travelers pay for the extra baggage on the return date and affect the other expense in the trip.

It is best to spend money only to buy necessary and unique items or souvenirs bearing the imprint of Myanmar.

What to avoid in Myanmar

The very first thing is never touch one’s head or use your feet to point at someone. Because in Myanmar, the head is considered to be the most sacred, and the feet are believed to be the dirty part.

Second, do not use your left hand. Myanmar people believe that the left hand should only be used for hygiene activities, so it is not clean. Therefore, they use their right hand to eat and drink. Next to the dining table will always place a basin of water for everyone to wash their hands before dining.

Third, do not stay at hotels that are not registered with the government agency. All foreign visitors entering Myanmar must declare the hotel or motel they will be staying at. So, if you accidentally land an unlicensed address by the government, you will most likely be detained and not allowed to enter the country.

Fourth, always be available and bring cash when traveling to Myanmar. Myanmar has very few ATMs and almost all services are used in cash. So visitors should bring cash, avoid making money crumpled or having strange traces. Credit cards can only be used at high-end hotels and restaurants.

The finest time to visit Myanmar

One of the frequently searched things about Myanmar Travel Guide is when to visit this country. And the ideal time to travel to Myanmar is autumn, which is the period from November to the end of February. This time is considered one of the most beautiful seasons of the year in Myanmar.

This time will last until the beginning of the year’s dry season from March to April. The months of July, August and September are the seasons with a low number of visitors because at this time Myanmar enters the rainy season, making it difficult to visit the places, inconvenient and unsafe when the traffic system has not developed strongly.

Get to know Myanmar culture

The Burmese people have their own, strong culture. First thing first, thanaka. Women in Myanmar use Thanaka as make-up powder on their face, neck and hands to protect themselves from the sun.

Myanmar girls use Thanaka as make-up powder on their face, neck and hands to protect themselves from the sun

Both men and women in Myanmar wear traditional skirts, also known as “longyi” skirts. The only difference is the way of tying, men tie the skirt in the front, and women fold it at the side.

In traditional Myanmar villages, temples are the center of cultural life. Monks are revered and people always kneel before them to show their respect. The initiation ceremony called shinbyu is the ceremony that marks the most crucial maturity of a boy when he enters a monastery for a short period of time. Girls also have an ear piercing ceremony when they reach adulthood. Myanmar culture is most evident in villages where local festivals are held throughout the year, the most important of which is the temple ceremony.

Is Myanmar a safe destination?

Safety is one of the top priorities for travelers when they look for the Myanmar Travel Guide. And Myanmar is safe in places where foreign travelers are allowed to visit. The incidents of street robbery and pickpockets, although occurring, are quite rare in Myanmar.

In fact, the only areas in Myanmar that have been considered dangerous are the off-limits areas. However, the government has already limited these conflict places to tourists. Luckily they do not overlap with places of interest like Bagan, Taung Kalat, Inle Lake, etc.

Budget in Burma

Always at the top of the most important things of Myanmar Travel Guide before traveling to Myanmar, there are expenses that every traveler should know. For accommodation, visitors often paid around 110.000 Kyat for each double room with breakfast included. For food, it will be extremely cheap if visitors eat in local restaurants in Myanmar. This is the best way to enjoy authentic dishes, which only cost around 4000 Kyat per dish with a drink. For traveling, motorcycle rental costs around 5000 Kyat, bus prices cost between around 8000 Kyat to 22.000 Kyats. Grab taxis usually cost 7000 Kyats for a one hour journey

Besides, visitors should also know some of the prices of well-known destinations in Myanmar, such as Bagan with an entrance fee of 25000 Kyats, or Shwedagon Pagoda with a cost around 10.000 Kyats.

Knowing about Myanmar’s Kyat

Kyat is known as the main currency used in Myanmar. In Myanmar, the use of Kyat money is not absolute, international tourists still use USD, however Kyat money is still the most popular. ATMs are not commonly used when touring Myanmar, so visitors should carry cash to pay for local things.

Kyat – Myanmar currency

For Myanmar currency, visitors should change to USD first, then travel to Myanmar and change USD to kyat to get a better price. You can look up the exchange rate between kyat and USD via this link .

A place to stay in Myanmar

Myanmar is increasingly a hot tourist destination and faces a shortage of accommodations, especially in popular tourist areas such as Yangon and Bagan, so most hotels are generally more expensive. Most hotels and hostels have their prices in US dollars, however, they’ll accept payment in both US dollars and kyat for visitors. However, in some places, paying for a room in kyat was cheaper.

It will be less expensive for travelers to stay in homestays. But the accommodation and facilities are usually pretty basic in homestays in Myanmar. Visitors can share the bathroom, and could have to bathe with a bucket of water.

What to eat in Myanmar

What to eat is one of the important things in Myanmar Travel Guide. The food here is usually quite greasy and spicy, so it may not be too suitable for visitors who can’t eat greasy and spicy food. The prices of the dishes are also quite affordable. A popular meal ranges from 7,000 to 10,000 Kyat.

The most popular Myanmar food is Laphet Thohk. The sour and bitter leaves are mixed with shredded cabbage, sliced tomatoes, nuts and peas. Besides, Mohinga is the unofficial national dish of Myanmar. The recipe to make this dish is quite complicated, it requires delicious noodles, the broth is stewed from fresh fish, herbs and chives. Mohinga is the favorite dish of many tourists.

Laphet Thohk – most popular Myanmar food

Travel between places in Myanmar

One of the most convenient means of transport that you can choose is a taxi. Ticket prices range from 5000 – 6000 Kyat for 1 hour. In addition, you can choose a bus that is both cheap and has good service.

Almost all taxi companies have spacious seats and almost all buses have sockets for charging phones. This is considered very convenient for you to ride while you can charge your phone battery.

In addition, travelers always took a night bus instead of flying because the cost was much lower to take night buses than flights around Myanmar.

Common scams in Myanmar

Be careful when buying gems. This place is famous for precious stones, especially gems and jade, but many scams still take place every day. If visitors decide to purchase a gemstone, be sure the gem has an official receipt or certification from a licensed government dealer. That’s because visitors will need to show that certificate when they leave the country or they may get into legal trouble.

How to stay in touch

For Internet connection, some hotels provide internet but the price is very high, and visitors also need to contact the hotel reception if they prefer the hotel’s wifi. In addition, the internet connection is extremely slow in Myanmar’s cafes, except for the shops in the city center.

For public phones, travelers can hardly find any public phone booths in the city. All outbound calls are controlled and allowed by the government.

Keep in touch with the Embassy

Tourists must save the Embassy phone number and register information for the embassy when traveling to Myanmar. They can register their personal information with the embassy or consulate so that they can assist in emergencies such as natural disasters or political turmoil.

Hope that our Myanmar Travel Guide will help you have important informations about Myanmar before you travel to this beautiful country. If you have any questions or want a tailor-made tour in Myanmar, do not hesitate to contact us now.

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Amelie Nguyen

Hello, I'm Amélie NGUYEN. I was born, raised in Hanoi and have been to almost all places in Vietnam and Asia. Let me share with you more interesting information about travel !

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Myanmar Travel Blog – Travel Tips For First Time Travelers to Myanmar

This Myanmar travel blog is perfect for first time visitors. Covering what to expect, and things to see in Myanmar, start planning your trip to Myanmar here!

Myanmar travel blog

In December 2018 / January 2019, we visited one of the countries that had always been very high on my list – Myanmar, formerly known as Burma.

A large country which is home to over 135 ethnic groups, Myanmar is a great place to visit, although not for the faint-hearted.

Whilst it's nowhere near as challenging as some of the countries I cycled through in Africa , it is a next-level experience when compared to the mollycoddling nature of Chiang Mai . ( Note to self – Must use the word mollycoddling more in blog posts).

Where is Myanmar?

Myanmar is the second largest country in SE Asia, after Indonesia. It borders with Bangladesh to the west, China and Laos to the east, and Thailand to the east and south-east.

Although the largest part of the country is land-locked, it has an impressively long coastline of almost 2,000 kms, and several hundreds of islands.

What is Myanmar famous for?

In terms of sightseeing, the number one destination in Myanmar has to be the temples of Bagan . A huge area dotted with several thousands of Buddhist temples, Bagan is a definitive must-see in any Myanmar itinerary.

Other popular destinations in Myanmar are the following:

Inle Lake , a lovely area offering hikes, opportunity for boat rides and bike touring, and plenty of year-round festivals
Yangon , the sprawling capital of Myanmar, with amazing colonial architecture and lots of temples and markets
Mandalay , a big city with a rural feeling, home to some amazing pagodas and authentic, lively markets
Ngapali beach, a beautiful sandy beach on the west side of the country
The Mergui archipelago, with over 800 islands, not far from Thailand

What is Myanmar like?

You must check out the unique buildings like this one when in Inle Lake Myanmar

We spent a few weeks in Myanmar, and visited some of its most popular landmarks – Mandalay, Bagan, Inle Lake and Yangon.

Based on our experience in these places, Myanmar seems to be a lot less developed than the other nearby countries. There is much less modern western influence, smaller buildings and an overall rural feeling, even in the cities.

If I had to describe what country Myanmar is similar to, I'd say it would be Nepal . Not exactly the same… just a little similar.

What are the people like in Myanmar?

Time to photo-bomb some people in Myanmar

We found the Burmese people to be really friendly, and although English is rather limited, we could easily communicate pretty much everywhere. Learning a few words in Burmese was quite helpful, but as the language has its own alphabet, it would be very difficult to learn to speak properly in such a short time.

We would have really liked to visit Myanmar’s coast, especially Ngapali beach, however getting there proved to be quite time consuming and costly. Given our Visa was valid for 28 days and we would run out of time, we had to skip it, but would love to go there in the future.

Related: Authentic Travel Experiences vs Modern Convenience

Myanmar Culture

It would be very difficult to describe Myanmar’s culture in just a few lines. Myanmar is one of the most diverse countries in the world, as it is home to over 135 ethnic groups, with distinct traditions, costumes and food. As a result, there are hundreds of little rules that a visitor would be very unlikely to remember.

The predominant feeling was that Myanmar is a very religious country, where Buddhism permeates every level of life. Perhaps it's the adherence to Buddhism that makes Myanmar quite a conservative society, and we found the people to be friendly and honest, but also fairly shy.

It is recommended to dress modestly everywhere, especially in the Buddhist temples where you will need to cover your shoulders and knees and remove your shoes. For couples travelling together, it’s best to avoid holding hands, and other signs of affections in public are also not recommended.

I'm some sort of magnet

So whilst on the whole we considered the people to be fairly shy, on more than one occasion people came up for chats and asked to take a photo with me.

Chatting with Buddhist monks in a temple in Mandalay

This happens to me quite often in Asia. Not sure why! Above you'll see a couple of Buddhist monks in Myanmar. Below, was a photo taken in India back in 2004 or something.

I must have had my photo taken with random people hundreds of time now when travelling in Asia after they asked. I dread to think how many people's family photo albums I'm in… and why!

Food in Myanmar

We’ll be honest – apart from a few dishes, we didn’t think that food in Myanmar was particularly special, especially when compared to Thai food which was our favourite in SE Asia.

It's a shame really, because the food in Myanmar does look colourful. It's just a bit bland to taste.

As food in Myanmar has been influenced by all the neighboring countries, it’s fairly easy to find Indian and Chinese restaurants, especially in Yangon. I can't honestly say that we had a memorable meal in Myanmar though.

Tea Leaf Salad

That said, there is one dish that stood out, because it was so unusual, and that was the tea leaf salad. It's one of the most popular dishes in Myanmar with a combination of pickled tea leaves, roasted peanuts and other beans, sesame seeds and fried garlic.

We often found it served with chopped tomato and dried shrimp, but we also found it fully customized, with all the ingredients served separately, so that we could mix and match the ones we wanted. As such, you can add things like chillies, ginger, lime, and whatever else you see fit.

Mohinga Soup

Another dish we found pretty much everywhere was the mohinga soup. This was a soup consisting of fish broth, noodles, and several herbs and spices such as lemongrass, cilantro, ginger, garlic and onion.

While we didn’t find it as flavorful as the Thai curry dishes, it was quite tasty and definitely one of the dishes you must try in Myanmar. I seem to remember having this for breakfast on the boat trip from Mandalay to Bagan.

Tea Culture in Myanmar

Special reference goes to the Burmese tea culture, where strong, black tea is mixed with condensed or sweetened milk. You can find both hot and iced versions of the Burmese tea, and the icy version is a great way to keep yourself hydrated in Myanmar’s hot weather.

In terms of food hygiene, in our experience Myanmar needs a little attention. We actually got a stomach bug or some kind of flu three times while we were in Myanmar, but to be fair we weren’t particularly cautious. Like everywhere, it’s best to avoid consuming uncooked fruits and vegetables, and you should also pay attention to drinking water.

Finally, we can’t stress enough the importance of keeping hydrated throughout the day, especially when walking around hot places like Bagan. Always have some water to hand, and consider consuming some electrolytes to avoid dehydration and a possible sun stroke.

Transportation in Myanmar

Getting around Bagan on a weird motorbike rickshaw. It actually carried two people!

Finding transportation in Myanmar from one place to the next was fairly straightforward. There were several bus options, ranging from minivans to large, modern air-conditioned coaches. Arm yourself with patience, as bus rides can be really long, at the range of 10-12 hours.

If you are taking a bus in Myanmar, make sure you have enough warm clothes, as the air-con can be horrendous. It might be best to avoid drinking too much water, as toilet breaks are not super frequent, and there is no toilet on the bus.

In our experience, drivers will be happy to stop for a toilet break if you ask, but you will often find that there will simply be nowhere to stop for miles and miles.

We didn’t take any trains in Myanmar, but we read that they take even longer hours than buses from place to place, so they are probably best avoided if you want to save time.

Mandalay to Bagan River Boat

Finally, there are a few local flights serving the main tourist areas, however they are quite costly, and it might be best to book them in advance.

As for getting around the cities, we used local taxis and drivers, as well as the Grab app. Taxis in Yangon were really inexpensive, with the average ride costing less than 1.5 euro.

Visas for Myanmar

In order to visit Myanmar, you will need a visa. The application can be done online for a fee of 50 dollars, and in our experience it only took a few hours to receive our e-visas. There are several visa processing companies offering this service, but the best thing to do is visit the official e-Visa website .

You will need to fill in your details, including point of entrance and exit from the country. You will also need to upload a passport-sized photo which you can easily do with your mobile phone – no need to have your photo taken professionally anymore!

What is the best time of year to visit Myanmar?

Myanmar is a large country, and weather differs around the different places of interest. In general, though, you could say that Myanmar has roughly three seasons:

The dry and cool season – October / November to February
The dry and warm season – March to May
Rainy season – June to October / November

Based on this, the best time of year to go to Myanmar is between November and February. This is the time of year when temperatures are tolerable, and there isn’t too much rain.

In our experience travelling around Myanmar in December / January, the temperatures were mostly pleasant during the day, while they dropped considerably during the evening.

Bagan and Yangon were quite hot during the day, while Inle Lake was pleasant during the day and pretty cold at night. This was the only country where we experienced temperatures below 10-12 degrees in our 5-month trip, and that was in Inle Lake.

It’s best to avoid travelling in Myanmar during the monsoon season, which is June to October, as it will be very wet and we reckon that transportation might be affected. Furthermore, some places like Ngapali beach are completely closed down due to the heavy rain.

Accommodation in Myanmar

We had no problem finding hotels and rooms in Myanmar through Booking , even at short notice. Remember that staying at an unlicensed hotel / room is illegal in Myanmar, so if you want to do any of the popular hikes around Inle Lake on your own, make sure you ask in advance for places to stay legally.

Money in Myanmar

Myanmar uses the Kyat (MMK), with 1 euro = 1,713.16 Kyats at the time of writing – you can check the current exchange rate at xe.com . We use the popular Revolut card when we travel, through which we can withdraw up to 200 euros/month for free, whereas for everything extra we are charged a commission of 2%.

ATMs in Myanmar charged a small commission per withdrawal, and they had a maximum withdrawal limit which was normally around 300,000 Kyats. We only had problems withdrawing money in one ATM in Mandalay, but that was also over a weekend, so it is possible that it hadn’t been stocked up.

Overall we had no problems withdrawing money in Myanmar, while paying by card was possible at most hotels and larger businesses, sometimes for a small fee.

Unlike other travelers, we didn’t see the need to make any transactions in dollars, but if you decide to go down that path, make sure you check the rates the businesses are using.

Laundry in Myanmar

Depending on the type of accommodation you choose to go for, laundry in Myanmar can actually be quite costly, as some hotels charge per piece.

We found launderettes that charged by the kilo, but in more costly hotels we ended up doing a bit of handwashing – after all, clothes dried in just a few hours.

Is Myanmar Safe?

This is a question we have both been asked numerous times in the past for many places where we’ve been, including Athens . For Myanmar in particular, and with the ongoing Rohingya crisis, we had quite a few people ask us if it’s safe to go there.

While it can’t be denied that some areas of the country would not be ideal for visitors, these areas are off-limits to tourists anyway.

Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan and Inle Lake are some of the most popular destinations in Myanmar, and we found them all very safe, apart from the dreaded stomach bug, the odd rat and the holes in the ground.

In fact, Nyaung Shwe town in Inle Lake was one of the safest places we visited in SE Asia. With its friendly people always making sure we had the correct change, and with its relaxed atmosphere and beautiful nature, we felt kind of sad to leave for busy Yangon!

Is it ethical to travel to Myanmar?

Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, had a military junta regime from 1962 to 2011, when a civilian government – backed by the military – came into power. Keep in mind that democracy, as we refer to it in the Western world, is more of a rarity and novelty in this region than the norm. In this regard, Myanmar is no exception.

The ethical concerns for some travelers would centre on the Rohingya crisis. This is a personal decision each individual has to make. Or not make at all. It's not for me to tell you where you can and can't visit. You're your own person!

Myanmar travel guide - everything you need to know before planning a trip to Myanmar

Myanmar travel blog – Your thoughts

So there you have it, our thoughts and suggestions for Myanmar. Have you been to this country, and what did you think? Let us know in the comments!

Related: Best time to go to Chiang Mai

1 thought on “Myanmar Travel Blog – Travel Tips For First Time Travelers to Myanmar”

Thanks for the great information.

Backpacking in Myanmar – Your Most Comprehensive Budget Travel Guide

Featured , Myanmar

Last Updated on: Feb 10, 2023

About this blog: Myanmar is a beautiful country. A 2 weeks backpacking in Myanmar took us to some of the best places in the country. In this blog, we will share about travelling to Myanmar, mainly backpacking in Myanmar. This comprehensive Myanmar Travel Guide with our trip highlights is one of the most comprehensive ones and has all the necessary information for budget travel in Myanmar as well as some handy tips.

Exploring and backpacking in Myanmar was thus on our bucket list for a long time. There are beautiful pagodas all over. And then there are lakes, floating villages, breathtaking landscapes, the Irrawaddy and smiling people who welcomed us with open hearts. Myanmar is one of the most culturally exciting places in Southeast Asia.

Backpacking in Myanmar was like a dream come true. When we came to know that we can travel from India to Myanmar by road, we decided that we have to go there. The excitement of doing the unknown was great. It was our Grand Myanmar Road Trip where we explored the major places of Myanmar by buses, cars, trains and cruise.

Myanmar at a Glance | Pin this for a later read!

An infographic about myanmar backpacking trip - a complete Myanmar travel guide

Myanmar – Then and Now

Myanmar has long been considered a pariah state when it was under military rule from 1962 to 2011. Very few tourists ever visited the country and even travel agents had boycotted Myanmar in the fear that tourist funding is not helping the locals but is actually fattening the treasury of the militants! After 2010, gradual liberalization began and the free elections were held in 2015. Since then, tourist inflow has also increased. But somehow Myanmar is still under the scanner with the army operations in the Rakhine state.

Young monks on the roads of Bagan in Myanmar

So a lot of eyebrows were raised when we decided to visit Myanmar. Advice and warnings poured in. And this brings to the question – is it ethical to visit Myanmar and is it safe?

Is it Ethical to Visit Myanmar?

This is a pertinent question that you might face before travelling to Myanmar. With the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar and the stand of the country on the same, it might seem to be a difficult moral choice whether or not to visit Myanmar.

Smiling faces of Mandalay_Mandalay Travel Guide

Whether you want to travel to Myanmar is your personal decision. But the rest of Myanmar is separated from the region and there is no effect of conflict in the rest of the country. We would just like to say that tourism is helping the locals of Myanmar in a positive way after the liberation from military rule.

Is Myanmar Safe to Travel?

Yes. Myanmar is very safe to travel. Myanmar is now trying to attract tourists. Most of the main regions of Myanmar are quite safe to travel. Our personal experience says that the Burmese are quite helpful. We have not felt unsafe for a moment even when we did not actually know how the roads would be.

We had taken the land route to visit Myanmar. We had crossed the border at Moreh in Manipur and travelled to Mandalay by road. We did not have any previous point of reference about the roads and its conditions. We trusted our gut and travelled.

Infrastructure in Myanmar is beginning to grow. Myanmar now has first-class bus services between main towns. Sim cards are also easily available. There are a few restricted areas for foreigners to visit and permits are required. (List Restricted Areas of Myanmar)

Travelling in Myanmar was a great learning experience. The best part was that we did not know what was there ahead of us. While the language barrier was evident, the friendly locals made up for that. Every step we took, each journey in Myanmar was a learning process for us as travellers. Visit Myanmar with an open mind. You will come back with a fonder heart.

Yadana Hsimi Pagoda_Things to do in Mandalay

Is it Myanmar or Burma?

It is both. This southeast Asian country is known by both the names. While Burma more caters to the British colonial past, Myanmar is the name given by the Military government in 1989 after thousands were killed in an uprising. Many names were changed across the country. Rangoon became Yangon, Ayeyarwady became Irrawaddy, Moulmein became Mawlamyine. However, both the names are used interchangeably.

However, Burma describes only the ethnic Burmese, Myanmar is supposed to take in all those who are living in the country. Politically, Myanmar is the name, though we usually use both the names.

Where is Myanmar located?

Myanmar or Burma is that Southeast Asian country which is yet to see the large influx of tourism. The country is bordered on the north and northeast by China, on the east and southeast by Laos and Thailand and on the west by Bangladesh and India. The southern part of Myanmar lies the Andaman Sea and the Bay of Bengal.

Myanmar Travel Map

India and Myanmar

Myanmar or Burma as it was earlier called has a special connection with India. India has long since had a historical and cultural relationship with Myanmar. The cultural exchange included Buddhism and the Burmese script whose alphabets were adapted from the Grantha script. The last emperor of India Bahadur Shah Zafar breathed his last at Yangon. So much so that we have Bollywood songs that speak of Rangoon (Yangon).

How to get Visa for Myanmar?

You would need a Visa to visit the country. Indians can visit Tamu near Moreh in Manipur and Rhikhawdar near Zokhawtar in Mizoram without a visa. But going beyond these places would require a Visa.

Visa on arrival is available in Myanmar only for business travellers. But it is quite easy to obtain an e-visa. You can apply for a Myanmar Visa online . We got our e-visa within 3 days of application. A 28-days visa would take USD 50. Make sure your passport is valid for six months.

You can also obtain Myanmar Visa from Myanmar Consulate in your city.

What is the best Time to Visit Myanmar?

Myanmar essentially has a tropical climate having distinct wet and dry seasons. The country has warm to hot summers and mild winters.

We visited during October and got mixed weather. While Mandalay received rain and in Bagan, it rained for a day. We missed the sunset in both Mandalay and Bagan due to bad weather. However, the second day in Bagan was full of sunshine and Yangon had great weather.

How to reach Myanmar?

The most common way of entry to Myanmar is by flights. Flights from Southeast Asian countries to Myanmar are quite affordable. There are 3 international airports in Myanmar – Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw.

Myanmar has multiple land border entries as well. Currently, it is possible to travel freely overland between the Myanmar borders with India and Thailand. The border crossing with Laos is remote and requires special permission which is also quite uncertain. The borders with Bangladesh and China are closed to foreigners.

India-Myanmar Overland Border crossing

There are two open border crossings connecting Myanmar and India. Both accept e-visas, require no special travel permits and are not in areas of restricted travel.

Difference in time between Myanmar and India

Moreh is in the state of Manipur, India while Tamu falls in western Sagaing Division. We had taken this route to visit Myanmar.

Read here to know about travelling from India to Myanmar by road .

Remember, to visit Manipur in India, one requires an ILP (for Indians) and PAP (for foreigners).

Border crossing at Moreh-Tamu border during our Myanmar backpacking trip from India

Zokawthar/Rikhawdar

Zokawthar lies in Champhai district of Mizoram, India while Rikhawdar is in the remote northwestern Chin State of Myanmar.

Myanmar – Thailand border crossing

4 Myanmar/Thailand border crossings are open for travellers.

Mae Sot (Tak province, Thailand) – Myawaddy (Kayin state, Myanmar)
Mae Sai (Chiang Rai Province, Thailand) – Tachileik (Shan State, Myanmar)
Ranong (Ranong Province, Thailand) and Kawthaung (Tanintharyi Region, Myanmar)
Phunaron (Phu Nam Ron) (Thailand – nearest town Kanchanaburi) – Htee Kee (Tanintharyi Division, Myanmar – nearest town Dawei). This border is remote and e-Visa is not a valid entry at this border.

Read our detailed Guide on India to Thailand via Myanmar by road to know more about border crossing.

Remember, for e-Visa you have to mention the intended entry point in the eVisa application. You can enter from a different point but then it will take a longer time to process your Visa on arrival.

You can exit from any of the International Airports or land border checkpoints as this does not require to be mentioned upfront.

Getting around Myanmar

Long Distance

For travelling across cities, you have the option to take buses, trains, private taxis and flights.

Buses in Myanmar

For backpacking in Myanmar and budget travel, we feel the best way to travel across cities in Myanmar is by buses. Myanmar has first rated bus services. JJ Express and Elite Buses are quite comfortable and we found them to be better than bus service in India. The buses have reclining seats, provide blankets, a bottle of water and snacks too.

Most of the buses travel overnight, which we thought was great. We would not lose the day of sightseeing in this way. But it also has a negative side to it. The buses will arrive at the cities at some odd hour in the morning and you will not be able to check in to your hotel or hostel until 2PM. So if you want to take a nap, there is a long waiting time!

View of Mandalay River while backpacking Myanmar

We happened to reach Mandalay early in the morning and could only check in to our hostel at 2PM. We kept our bags at the hostel and went out for sightseeing. Thankfully, the hostel allowed us to use the toilets.

How to book buses in Myanmar?

Most of the bus companies have online sites. We had booked our bus tickets from JJ Express. You can also ask your hotel/hostel to get bus tickets for you. But that will incur an extra cost in the form of commission. So it is better to book your buses online.

You can also turn up at the local bus station and buy your ticket there. But do this only if you know the schedule of the buses. Most of the bus stations are outside the town. It is not a good idea to pay for an expensive taxi and get back to the city again.

The bus stations are usually far from the main town . Most of the time, either pick-up or drop to your hostel is provided by the bus companies. So double check it.

Buses and Toilet Breaks

Bus journeys in Myanmar can be long, taking upto 10-12 hours. And the buses do not have toilets on board. But the buses provide regular toilet breaks after every few hours. Just be aware that most of the toilets are squat toilets although you will find Western ones also in a few places. Do carry toilet paper with you.

The air vents in the buses make the temperature really cold in the buses. Even though the buses provide a blanket, you need to wear a warm layer to beat that cold. Wear them, especially if you are travelling in winter.

Trains in Myanmar

We always find train journeys to be very beautiful. Trains in Southeast Asia can be quite unique and a perfect opportunity to get an insight into the local people and culture. It is the same no doubt in the case of Myanmar. The trains run across beautiful landscapes, but the trains are quite slow . So unless you really want a train journey experience, you might want to avoid the trains.

Do not look for air conditioned coaches. It is better to book a First Class ticket on the train as it is going to save a lot of hassles. For overnight journeys, an ordinary class is not recommended.

We had taken the train ride from Bagan to Yangon. It was a good 17 hours of the train journey. We had booked in 1st Class. While the seats were good and linen and pillows were provided and we got an entire coupe to us, the fan in the compartment did not work.

The trains in Myanmar are still left in the past. There are coups and a well dressed attendant came to carry our luggage to your cabin. He also came at intervals to check on us and to give us our dinner at night.

If you love train journeys and the nostalgia of the trains, only then take an overnight train in Myanmar. Otherwise, buses are more comfortable and cheaper too . You can always take a circular train ride in Yangon if you want to experience Myanmar Railways.

How to book trains in Myanmar?

In Myanmar, you can book tickets online. We had booked our train ticket from Go-Myanmar.com . They would issue an online confirmation of the ticket. You would require sending them the copy of your passport and the address of your hotel. They send the paper tickets to the hotel from where you can collect the tickets. Paper tickets are valid documents for travelling by train.

We took the slow train from Bagan to Yangon and also wanted to take the slow cruise ride. But it did not fall into place somehow.

Private Taxis

You can hire a private taxi to take you to the next destinations. But unless it is absolutely necessary, it is better to avoid them. There are no fixed fares and the prices are fixed at the spot on the whim of the driver. You have to negotiate a lot. You would be needing taxis to go to and fro the airport or bus station.

View of Sule Pagoda at Yangon Downtown _ Yangon Travel Guide

Within the city – Local Transport

Local transport in Myanmar is slowly developing and sometimes travelling within the city can become quite a task.

If you are travelling within the town, you can take a taxi . Most of the taxi drivers now understand basic English. But as I said before, you have to negotiate a bit with the fare. But unlike the taxis for intercity travel, taxi fares within the city are a bit more regulated. At Yangon we had asked different taxi drivers at different places and they gave us more or less the same price for renting the car for a full day.

Bigger cities like Yangon and Mandalay have good bus services, but it will be quite a task to get on the bus if you do not know Burmese. All the road signs and those on the buses are in Burmese. We found a peculiarity about the buses in Myanmar. Vehicles move on the right side of the road. And the buses have doors on the left side (like that in India where vehicles move on the left side of the road). It seemed that suddenly one day the Burmese authorities decided to stop moving the vehicles on the left and start moving them on the right side of the road. And then they did not change the buses!

Trishaws are used by the locals to move around at Yangon

Tuktuks or autos are also an option for short distances. Again, here also you have to haggle with the price.

You can also rent bikes at some of the places like Bagan, Mandalay and Inle. Bikes can be rented from your hotel or hostel as well as rental shops.

Getting off-the-beaten track in Myanmar

Getting off-the-beaten track in Myanmar is not easy. Myanmar is not open for exploration everywhere. Parts of Chin state and Mon state are restricted areas for foreigners and you have to get approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs &/or Ministry of Tourism before you can travel there. See the list here .

Best Places to visit in Myanmar

1. mandalay – the last royal capital of myanmar.

Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery_Inwa_Mandalay_Myanmar

Mandalay was the last royal capital of Myanmar. Myanmar’s second biggest city has a charm of its own. Surrounded by hills and numerous pagodas, the city is all about the beautiful temples, lakes and old cities.

There are a lot of things to do in Mandalay , but do not miss the U-Bein Bridge and the sunset from Mandalay Hill.

2. Yangon , the Business Hub

busy roads of Yangon - another stop in our backpacking Myanmar trip

Shwedagon Pagoda is one of the most important attractions in Myanmar as well as in Yangon . The largest city of Myanmar and the erstwhile capital of the country, Yangon is the bustling economic capital of Myanmar. Yangon is quite similar to Kolkata in India and we felt that they are twin cities built by the British. Other interesting places to visit in Yangon are the Sule Pagoda, Kandwagyi Lake, Downtown among many others.

All those breathtaking pictures of hot air balloons over the old temples in Bagan are in a way synonymous with Myanmar. Endless temples, hot air balloons, huge Buddha statues awaited us at Bagan. More than 3000 Buddhist temples and pagodas are scattered across the plains of Bagan, which was the site of the first Burmese kingdom.

Rent an e-bike and explore Bagan completely. The sunrise and sunsets of Bagan over the pagodas are world famous and should not be missed. Hot-air balloon ride is one of the most coveted things in Bagan, but it is not exactly for budget travellers. We were instead happy to see the sunrise from the temple top and see the balloons fly in the distance!

4. Inle Lake

The balancing Intha fishermen at Inle Lake - Myanmar Budget Itinerary

Inle is perhaps the most beautiful place that we visited in Myanmar. The sprawling and laidback Inle Lake is a sharp contrast to the bustling Yangon. Tucked in a valley and surrounded by canals and water bodies, Inle is a backpackers’ delight .

Inle Lake is so awe-inspiring that every visitor has something to take from here. Whether the water surrounded pagodas and temples, or the markets and floating villages, Inle is beautiful in all respects. If you have more time, then hike to the remote areas of Inle.

5. Hsipaw (famous for the train ride crossing Gokteik Viaduct)

Hsipaw train ride crossing Gokteik Viaduct Myanmar

Hsipaw is more known for short treks to Shan and Palaung villages. These treks lead to small villages, waterfalls, fields and also hot springs. Hsipaw is a historic town and was the home to the Shan princes once upon a time. Hsipaw has its own Little Bagan with old stupas, though not as impressive as Bagan. There is a 3-day trek from Hsipaw to Kalaw.

Also, you can take the train from Pyin Oo Lwin to or Hsipaw to get some of the most amazing views of the country. The famous Gokteik Viaduct falls during this train journey.

Kalaw is just the place for exploring Myanmar countryside. There are several trekking routes in the region. You can hike through the hills and meet the friendly locals while enjoying the monasteries, sceneries and quaint villages. There is a trek route from Kalaw to Inle lake for 3 days.

7. Ngapali Beach

Ngapali Beach does not fall in the most common tourist circuit of Myanmar. This beautiful beach with swaying palm trees, tempting blue waters and white sand is a welcome break from the pagodas and temples that we see so much around Myanmar.

Mrauk-u is the second most important archaeological site after Bagan in Myanmar. The temples here are quite different from that in Bagan. The temples have thick walls and are made mostly of stones unlike Bagan where bricks are used. The place is culturally and historically quite important for Myanmar and it was the capital of the Arakan kingdom. Mrauk-u has some beautiful countryside consisting of Chin villages.

However, Mrauk-u lies in the conflicted Rakhine state and is currently out of bound to travellers. There is however conflicting news about the place being closed to foreign travellers. But I would suggest you drop the plan to visit this place for the time being.

2 weeks Backpacking in Myanmar – Our Itinerary

Myanmar is a big country and has such diverse attractions like temples, lakes, mountains and virgin beaches; that a mere 14 days does not do justice. But since we have a job back home, we saw the best of Myanmar in these 2 weeks. What’s more, we also celebrated Durga Puja at Yangon!

Buddha statue at Sandamuni Pagoda in Mandalay_Mandalay Travel Guide

So here was our travel route in Myanmar:

Moreh (India) – Tamu – Mandalay – Bagan – Yangon – Inle – Mandalay – Tamu – Moreh

Myanmar Backpacking – Travel Advices

Money matters : what currencies can be used in myanmar.

The Myanmar currency is Kyat (pronounced as Chat). INR 1 was around 20-21 Kyats when we visited Myanmar. Kyats come in notes of value K50, K100, K200, K500, K1000, K5000 and K10000. There are no coins in Myanmar.

You can use both Dollars ($) and Kyats (MMK) in Myanmar. Initially, Myanmar used to accept US Dollars from tourists, but now they have started accepting Kyats from travellers as well. Infact, most of the hostels expected that we paid in Dollars.

But if you are bringing in dollars anyways, you have to bring in crisp, uncreased, unmarked, unfolded and fresh currency notes. That is a lot to ask. Also, pre-2006 dollar bills or ones with the letters AB and CB at the start of the serial number might not be accepted or exchanged (Don’t ask me why). So if you are carrying USD, carry them in pristine and flat condition.

Where can I exchange money in Myanmar?

You can exchange the dollars at Kyats in local banks of larger cities and at the airports. In Yangon, you can head to Bogyoke Aung San Market and exchange your currencies. There are numerous money changing shops here and they offer competitive rates. But visit the market before 4PM as these shops tend to close by that time.

Do not exchange money from the money exchangers on the street.

Travellers’ cheques are usually not accepted in Myanmar.

ATMs in Myanmar

Myanmar now has a number of ATMs in all the major cities and tourist destinations. We saw a number of ATMs at Bagan, Yangon and Inle. These ATMs now accept almost all international bank and credit cards.

ATMs in Myanmar dispense Kyat only . So you can withdraw the local currency from the ATMs.

Quite naturally, there is a fee involved with withdrawal of cash. For ATM cash withdrawals, there is typically a K5000 ($3) transaction fee, and a withdrawal limit of K300000 ($200) per transaction in addition to the fees that your bank may charge. So for every transaction, there will be a fee of $4-5.

You might not find ATMs in smaller towns in Myanmar. So keep cash ready for these places for you never know when the ATMs run dry or there is internet failure.

When to use Dollar and when to use Kyat

Typically dollars are used to pay your accommodation in Myanmar and transport like flights and luxury buses. Some high-end restaurants can also expect dollars. But otherwise, Kyats are good to use in Myanmar.

We exchanged our money at Moreh and used Kyats in all our transactions in Myanmar without any problem. We also exchanged money at Bogyoke Aung San Market at a good rate.

Go for marketing at Bogyoke Aung San Market at Yangon _ Things to do in Yangon

Is Myanmar expensive? Myanmar Budget Travel Tips

This is one of the major questions that most of you would have in mind. For Indians, the flight cost to Myanmar takes a major chunk of the budget. Otherwise, Myanmar is quite budget friendly and backpacking in Myanmar can be done on a budget. We will give a break up of our cost to travel in Myanmar.

Accommodation

We stayed at budget hostels and guesthouses. All our hostels were within 20000-22000 Kyats.

Budget stay: Dorms – $10-15, Double room – $25-30

Midrange: $35-50

High end: $60+

Food: There are many options to eat in Myanmar. We tried local restaurants while we were outdoors. Some of the nights we utilized the kitchen of the hostel also. Breakfasts were provided at the hostels. For lunch, we ate at the local restaurants. We would spend around $10 for food everyday.

Travel: It took a major chunk of the budget. Since there were three of us, we rented cars for sightseeing at Mandalay and Yangon. We also took a cruise ride at Bagan.

Backpacking in Myanmar | How much does it cost to travel?

Entrance Fees in Myanmar

A few of the pagodas have entrance fees for foreigners. And then there are the Archaeological Zone Fees.

A few of the pagodas have camera fees of 200-300 Kyats

Yangon River Cruise - Myanmar Travel Guide

Sim Cards in Myanmar

Earlier, Sim cards were a luxury in Myanmar. I remember our walking tour guide say that even 5 years back, Sim cards would cost as high as $260! But now, after Myanmar has opened up to tourism, Sim cards are easily available and the network is quite good. We took a Telenor Sim Card at 3000 Kyats (only around 1.9$) and 1 GB data took another 3000 Kyats. 1 GB data was sufficient for our 2 weeks trip as most of the hostels have a good wifi connection. But the same cannot be said in the case of the restaurants.

Food in Myanmar

The Burmese cuisine is quite diverse and is highly influenced by the neighbouring cultures. A traditional Burmese platter would contain rice, a curry, salad and a number of side dishes. We used to order rice and chicken or pork. Along with it came a number of other dishes which would invariably have a dried fish preparation, soup, salad made of fermented tea leaves and a lentil or bean preparation. The Burmese curries are mostly oily. You can also try the various types of noodles.

There are a number of Indian restaurants at Yangon, Bagan and Mandalay, though I did not see one in Inle.

Street food at these places is quite famous among the locals. The food shops in the corner never seem to be empty. Yangon also has a 2 km stretch where only street food is sold. But you need to have a strong stomach to try these.

Most of the hostels serve breakfast. There is usually one Burmese item at breakfast. Bread, coffee and tea are also served and you can have them as much as you want.

Do you get vegetarian food in Myanmar?

You will find vegetarian food at the Indian restaurants at Yangon and Mandalay. In Yangon, there are a couple of South Indian restaurants also. In smaller towns, the restaurant might have some veg items on their menu. But fruits like bananas, apples are easily available in Myanmar. Bakery items like cakes, buns and bread are also very easily available and they taste great.

Things to know before visiting Myanmar

In Myanmar, you have to remove your shoes before entering the house of your host . Infact, in hostels too, you have to leave the shoes outside at the shoe rack.
Also remember, there will be a lot of walking barefoot . While entering the pagodas, you have to keep your shoes outside.
The head is considered to be the most important part of the human body. Do not touch anyone’s head, even that of children. It is seen as a sign of aggression.
While accepting anything (even money), use your right hand to receive while holding the forearm with your left hand. Do this while giving also. This shows respect and courtesy. I was doing this back in India also for a few days after I came back from Myanmar.
Tipping is not usually expected in Myanmar. But you can always give some tips if you are happy with the service.
Respect their traditions and customs and pack some temple clothes. While visiting the pagodas and religious shrines, keep your shoulders and knees covered. In short, do not wear half pants and sleeveless dresses.
Carry your sun hat and sunscreen wherever you go. There is a lot of walking in the sun.
The Burmese are lovely people and are always smiling. They quite happily pose for photographs. Asking money for taking photographs has not yet gotten into them. But if possible, take their permission before taking a photograph.
You will face the fishermen of Inle Lake asking for tips while giving those balancing poses. If you wish to take photographs, you might have to shell out a few bucks.
Smile a lot and interact with the locals. Most of them know very little English and this is one of the major problems of tourism in Myanmar. But a smile says a lot and helps too.
Be ready for the snarling traffic in Mandalay and Yangon.
Alcohol is widely available in Myanmar. You will find beer stations at almost every town. There will be someone sitting at the table whatever be the time of the day it is.
In Myanmar, you will see almost everyone has applied something on their cheeks. This paste is known as Thanaka . Made from tree bark, it is a great sunscreen and gives a cooling sensation and protects from sunburn. You can try applying it in your face. I don’t know about its sunscreen properties, but it really feels good and gives a cooling sensation.

A few important Burmese words that you should know

We had a tough time at the local restaurants to explain what we wanted to eat. They took us to their kitchen and we had to show them what we wanted. Here are a few words that are good to know.

Hello – min-ga-la-ba
Goodbye – thaw:-meh-naw
Thank you – kyei-zu-bah
Where is – beh-hma-leh
How much is it? – beh-lau-leh
Bill – báu-cha
Menu – mi.nù

Backpacking in Myanmar (FAQs Answered)

Travelling in Myanmar is very cheap. Backpacking in Myanmar is quite popular and you can explore Myanmar on a shoestring budget. Public transport is quite cheap, food is also cheap at the local eateries and there are hostels for accommodation across Myanmar.

Myanmar is safe to travel. Myanmar is now attracting tourists and is developing the tourist infrastructure well. Avoid going to conflicted areas on your visit and you will have a safe and wonderful time in Myanmar. Please note: Due to Covid-19, we do not recommend travelling to Myanmar as of now.

Myanmar is pretty safe for solo female travellers, just as anywhere in the world. You are unlikely to encounter problems here. The locals are friendly and helpful. However, adhere to the dress code in this Buddhist country.

The best time to visit Myanmar is the winter months from November to March. October is also a good time and is just the beginning of the tourist season.

June to October is the wettest season in Myanmar with a high rainfall. The months between June to August experience heavy and longer periods of rainfall, particularly on the Bay of Bengal coast, Yangon and the Irrawaddy Delta region.

Two weeks in Myanmar is ideal for exploring Myanmar. You can visit most of the attractions within this time. If you have less time, you can still have a great experience in Myanmar, but it would need better planning. At least 5 days are required to visit Myanmar’s two best destinations.

If you are on a budget, then you will probably spend $25-35 per day in Myanmar including your food, stay and local transport.

It is recommended to dress conservatively in Myanmar. Most of the pagodas like Schwedagon Paya have a strict dress code. Shoulders and knees need to remain covered. Ladies need to pack conservative clothes. Shoes are not allowed inside the pagodas. As the temperature remains warm most of the year, it is recommended to wear light and airy clothes.

The official language of Myanmar is Burmese, spoken by the majority of the people. You will find English speaking people in all the main cities and touristy places like Bagan and Inle. However, in small towns and villages and offbeat places, you will find fewer people speaking English.

Myanmar is a wonderful place to visit. The place is still relatively new to tourism. If you have any questions about travel and backpacking in Myanmar, do let us know.

If you liked this post, please share this with your friends, family and neighbours.

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Agni Amrita

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54 comments.

I want to thank you for this very good read!!

Got thrilled after reading your tale of overland trip to Myanmar and Thailand from India. Excited to know about so adventurous couple and enthusiastic about traveling

Thank you so much for your kind words. Please keep reading our blog for more travel stories.

This is the most well described and informative article about Myanmar that has ever been mentioned. Myanmar has a very rich. history and also a very delicious and rich cuisine.

I’m so happy I found this. Definitely the most informative piece I’ve found about Myanmar on a blog yet. Thank you!

Thank you so much!

Thank you Agni & Amrita for your detailed info. It was very helpful. Hope I would visit someday.

Thank you so much! I hope you visit soon.

Now Myanmmar is on my list. I like their cuisine. The architecture looks beautiful also. It would be worth a long visit to see the quiet culture.

Yes, Myanmar is so beautiful. Hope you visit there soon.

This is very well written article on Myanmar. Is possible to go by own car? How much does carnet and escort service charge? I agency / agent help us in getting these?

Very well written. You have captured almost all the relevant information like visas, currencies and internal transport. Bagan and Yangon are extremely high on my list. I really hope that I get to go there soon and when I do, will be referring back to this.

Thank you Ami. Myanmar is a beautiful country.

Myanmar never crossed my thoughts in travel plans and you have just explained why! I have heard that its expensive to visit and appreciate the breakdown of costs you share. You put together such a detailed accounting of your travel , it must have taken a lot of time and effort. In the end this is such a helpful post.

Thanks Adele. Myanmar eluded us exactly for the same reason. But once we went there, we found, it is not at all costly.

This is a very helpful post even if you are not looking to go backpacking to Myanmar and thinking of a few days on this beautiful country. I have this on my to visit places and this post surely helps me plan better. I would love to visit starting with the more commercial Yangon and then onto Mandalay. The food scene is another reason why I want to visit this country. Thanks for sharing a very informative post.

Thank you Amar! I am glad that the post helped.

That Myanmar-Thailand railroad sounds ambitious, almost a bridge too far. On the subject of bridges, that private car ride to Mandalay sounds like an epic pain. Expensive and all night on bad roads. At least you persevered and had a great trip.

Yes, the private car was a bit pain. But compared to the flight costs from India and the rest of the tour, it was worth all the trouble. 🙂

I’ve only briefly read about the India-Myanmar-Thailand Trilateral Highway, and it’s definitely an ambitious project! I love road trips as well, so I’ve loved reading about your road trip on the Friendship Highway. Myanmar is a beautiful country and there are so many things that I would love to see. Bagan and Yangon look like the two places that I would enjoy most. Great beginner’s guide to Myanmar!

Thank you Martha. We too enjoyed our road trip to Myanmar.

Wow.. thanks for this article. I honestly never imagined that a 10-day trip would cost anything less than 500 dollars! I liked the detailed explanation on things such as visas, security and currency. This is very helpful information to tourists planning to visit Myanmar.

Thank you Lora. I hope that this would help all those who want to plan a trip to Myanmar

Such a well planned and well thought out itinerary for Myanmar. Thank you for showing the breakdown of your expenses, it helps us to plan. I really enjoyed your photos. Bagan looks magical, what a great way to see the temples via a hot air balloon ride. I would love to spend some time on Inle Lake as well.

Thank you Jane. BAgan is truly magical and so is Inle Lake.

This looks like a fantastic guide to Myanmar. I haven’t really considered visiting the country yet but its good to know that it is safe and tourist-friendly. Also, an overnight journey in the first class sounds like a great way to cover some distance in a cheap way and also enjoy the nuances of a rail journey. Thanks for the tip on getting the eVisa before entering the country. Looks like it’ll have to be at least for a week when I plan my trip!

Thank you, Medha. Yes, you need to have at least a week in Myanmar. The more the better.

Hi many thanks for this invaluable piece. I hope I won’t face much problem at Tamu border point. My entry and exit point will be Tamu.

Thank you Deepak. I am sure you will enjoy Myanmar.

Such detailed itinerary and beautiful pictures .My heart is saying “let’s go”.

Thank you so much. Myanmar is indeed a lovely place.

A very helpful blog entry with lots of useful information. This infographic is really great! I would like to see all those places someday. They are on my list of places to visit.

Thank you! Hope the information helps the travellers.

This is a detailed itinerary and it is surely very helpful for planning my trip to Myanmar. I have been there two years back but I am surely bookmarking for referencing to others.

Thanks Shreya. I am sure you had a great time there even 2 years back!

I am tempted to visit Myanmar. Good, useful information.

Thank you Kirti!

Form the captures, to the itinerary to the infographic, everything about this post is just awesome. Thanks for a detailed and comprehensive post that is super interesting and helpful. Bookmarking for future reference.

What a detailed and comprehensive itinerary and travel guide for Myanmar – you’ve included so much information that will be useful to anyone travelling there 🙂 I haven’t been there yet, but maybe one day soon! x

This is such a detailed guide on Myanmar. We have it on our list and I think it’s time I should be planning a trip there. Your itinerary looks really effective. I am bookmarking it for referencing 🙂 The pictures look really amazing too!

Thank you Anjali! Its good to know that you found the guide useful.

Myanmar is such a fun country to visit. I always laugh seeing the photos of the fisherman doing their tricks for tourists. It’s hilarious watching them paddle normally until they see a tourist and then OOPS trick time. Love how easy it is to get a simcard now. Kinda a life saver for tourists.

Yes, Myanmar is a lovely place to visit. And now they are trying to become more tourist-friendly as well.

Oooh yesss, reading and seeing this makes me want to go back to Myanmar. Despite the fact that some terrible things happen inside the country it’s a magical country to go to. Would love to go back and explore more.

I guess things happen in almost every country. But Myanmar is definitely one of the most beautiful places.

Myanmar has always been on my bucket list of places to visit. Love your in depth content – will definitely save it for when I visit.

Thank you Diana.

This is so detailed I love it! The photos are beautiful too! Thank you for also sharing traditions we should respect when visiting. I had heard about the touching of the heads but not about what hand to use when giving/receiving. Super interesting.

What beautiful pictures! I am glad yall were safe there and it looks like a scenic place to visit

This is one of the most in-depth coverings of Myanmar that I have ever read. Thank you so much for all the amazing content.

Such a comprehensive guide! I’m hoping to visit Myanmar next year, so this will definitely come in handy! Love your pictures btw!

Wow, what a detailed itinerary of Myanmar. I love skimming through the entire blog for now. Why i said skimmed because I have already bookmarked it for my Myanmar Road Trip adventure.

Great read and Fabolous Shots

Thank you Debjani. You must visit Myanmar, i am sure you will love it.

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Shwedagon: a pagoda like no other.

Not only is it one of the most important religious and sacred places in all of Myanmar but it is also quite a sight to behold, with the main pagoda standing at 110meters of gold! Shwedagonpagoda.com claim that “No visit to the Union of Myanmar is complete without a visit to the 2,500 years old Shwedagon Pagoda, which enshrines strands of Buddha’s hair and other holy relics” and I absolutely agree with them!

Shwedagon is literally translated to ‘Gold Yangon’ and is thought to be the oldest and one the the most holy shrines in the country. It is like a Buddhist Disneyland, a huge compound of hundreds of temples and Buddha’s from the past 2500years all with different meanings.

Many people have a misconception that it is just one big Temple, not realising in fact that it is a HUGE complex which just happens to contain an enormous golden Pagoda/Temple as it’s centre piece. So it’s not just the gigantic main Shwedagon Pagoda you’re going for but all the little temples and pagodas around it, and even a museum and gallery, and plenty of bells to chime if you’re into it. The massive size of the area definitely surprised me, it was a lot bigger than I expected.

It is all very very gold, even the coconuts! The main Pagoda was being refurbished at the time I visited so I only got to see a glimpse of the gold, but even that was impressive! So I can imagine how great it looks in the sparkling sun when it’s all uncovered.

A Golden Coconut

You should get a free map with your $8 entry ticket, go and find some shade to sit in, and study the map and have a read up about the place, it will make the whole experience more interesting when you know what you are looking at.

From the Yangon Backpackers Hostel (close to Sule Pagoda) I thought it was a walkable distance, and it kind of is, except it was the middle of the day, so really hot. I went in the first entrance I found, ended up being the ‘West Entrance’ which lucky me, had escalators. Escalators to enlightenment now, how 21st century!

NB: don’t go in the middle of the day like I did, it’s just too hot and I got very dehydrated.

The Shwedagon Pagoda complex is a mix of foreign tourists, locals who have come to take pictures, locals praying, offering flowers and meditating and monks hanging around. Nobody bothers you and you can hang around for as long or as little as you like.

There is a little museum/gallery with old photos showing how the Schwedagon Pagoda complex looked many years ago and takes you on a photo journey from way back in the past to the present day.

Mounted binoculars are dotted around the complex which you can use free of charge to take a look at all the jewels on the top of the main Pagoda. So there is plenty to keep you occupied.

If you really want to get into the spirit of things, figure out which day you were born, head over to the relevant corner (planetary post) and wash the statue. Washing the Buddha at the corner of your birthday is considered lucky. I did it and the locals didn’t seem to mind me being there.

If you get bored, then you are boring. But you can try looking for the golden coconut.

TOP TIP: Take a bag for your shoes. Shoes, socks, flipflops etc are not allowed in the entire area and its a hassle to carry them around. A lovely smiley local woman offered me her plastic bag which was adorable and really useful.

Opening hours : 04:00 – 22:00 hrs every day. Entrance fee: $8 or 8000Kyat Access: There are 4 gates from which to access the complex, North, East, West and South. South and West gates have escalators. North has many steps and is full of stalls selling all sorts of things from incense sticks to souvenirs. Dress Code : Modest. Both males and females must have knees {read ankles, they are strict!} and elbows covered. If you arrive wrongly dressed you will need to pay extra for a Longyi to cover yourself up.

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How Safe is Myanmar? (Our take)

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Long an isolated, off-limits country, Myanmar (aka Burma ) is now open for business.

And that’s good news for you: the ancient temples of Bagan , crumbling colonial streets of Yangon, and the former royal capital of Mandalay are all available for you to visit.

And, despite a buffet of no-go areas present throughout the country, Myanmar IS safe. Myanmar may not appear safe at times, because of on-going ethnic “issues”, but, as a tourist, these hardly affect you.

Petty theft is almost non-existent. Hassle levels are low. Crimes against tourists are actually super rare. Often, the worse that you’ll have to deal with is the occasional overcharging, which is tourists should be used to by now.

People in Myanmar are very friendly and – in most places – refreshingly not jaded when it comes to tourists.

However, you do need to be responsible when you travel…

There is no such thing as a perfect safety guide, and this article is no different. The question of “Is Myanmar Safe?” will ALWAYS have a different answer depending on the parties involved. But this article is written for savvy travellers from the perspective of savvy travellers.

The information present in this safety guide was accurate at the time of writing, however, the world is a changeable place, now more than ever. Between the pandemic, ever-worsening cultural division, and a click-hungry media, it can be hard to maintain what is truth and what is sensationalism.

Here, you will find safety knowledge and advice for travelling Myanmar. It won’t be down to the wire cutting edge info on the most current events, but it is layered in the expertise of veteran travellers. If you use our guide, do your own research, and practise common sense, you will have a safe trip to Myanmar.

If you see any outdated information in this guide, we would really appreciate it if you could reach out in the comments below. We strive to provide the most relevant travel information on the web and always appreciate input from our readers (nicely, please!). Otherwise, thanks for your ear and stay safe!

It’s a wild world out there. But it’s pretty damn special too. 🙂

Many people arrive or visit Myanmar as a part of a tour, but independent travel is totally doable. Myanmar is definitely becoming a popular spot for backpackers.

Myanmar is not a model country though, let’s be honest. Poverty and corruption are rife, the military still practically rule the country, and armed inter-ethnic conflicts continue. Myanmar is also the world’s second-largest producer of opium after Afghanistan.

As of February 2021, the situation in Myanmar is a bit precarious. The Military Staged a coup and has imprisoned the lawfully elected government. It is not certain how the situation will play out, for at the time of writing there is rioting, civil unrest and martial law – not the best time to visit.

The grand majority of Myanmar is safe to visit right now, BUT certain parts of the country AREN’T. We’ve got a full section on that later.

Since independence from the UK in 1948, the internal conflicts in Myanmar have been ongoing as the world’s longest civil war.

Border areas are tricky. Whilst the Indian border seems to be ok, anywhere between Myanmar and China, Thailand or Laos can be volatile. For example, the Karin and Mon States – on the Thai border – should be approached with caution.

Given the volatile nature of these areas, wandering off on your own or trekking by yourself is inadvisable. Not only are there snakes to deal with, but unexploded ordnance, mines and travelling into differently controlled areas can REALLY get you into serious trouble.

With all these things in mind, we can confidently say that visiting Myanmar is safe, especially once the political situation has improved. As of February 2021, we’d recommend waiting just a little bit longer to book your trip.

When choosing where you’ll be staying in Myanmar, a bit of research and caution is essential. You don’t want to end up in a sketchy area and ruin your trip. To help you out, we’ve listed the safest areas to visit in Myanmar below.

Many travellers backpacking Myanmar will start their route in Yangon, arriving on a cheap flight from Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur. It’s an incredibly busy place and can definitely be a culture shock, but it’s totally worth the experience.

One thing we have to note though: watch your belongings! Yangon is known for pickpocketing and petty theft. As long as you keep your eyes open and your valuables close by, visiting the city is pretty safe. But as we mentioned – it’s busy!

Exploring the city is easy and it’s a fun place to walk around although you may want to catch a cab for longer distances – taxis don’t have a meter and you need to negotiate before getting in, it’s always possible to score a discount. From Yangon, you can head East to the famed Golden Rock at Kyaiktiyo, West towards Mrauk U, or you can head north to Bagan or Inle.

Mandalay is the second-largest city in Myanmar and an important economic and cultural hub. It’s often considered to be the center of Burmese culture, which is why it’s a popular destination for travelers who want to experience other cultures.

This is a city with a rich and intoxicating culture and history that can be incredibly rewarding for travelers. It’s also a famously busy city, so don’t let that dissuade you. Mandalay can seem intimidating at first, but once you arrive, you’ll find incredible religious and cultural sites, friendly people, and an interesting mix of foods.

Bagan is one of the most ancient and archaeologically exciting places in the whole world. As a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and the largest archaeological zone in the world, Bagan lies in the historic Mandalay Region of Myanmar. It goes without saying that this place is overflowing with history, so it’s the best place to visit if you want to dive into the past.

But if you also want to see the modern side of this incredible region, look no further. There are loads of modernised areas with bustling streets and eclectic markets. The region has lots of vast open spaces as well, with the glorious countryside surrounding it. It’s the best place to visit in Myanmar for your fill of culture as well as nature.

With its more laid-back vibe, it’s also one of the safest regions to visit in Myanmar. That being said, it’s still smart to keep your wits about you. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Places to avoid in Myanmar

As we mentioned before, there are plenty of no-go areas in Myanmar. And to make sure you’ll have a safe trip, we’ve listed the worst ones below. That being said, you should always keep your eyes open and stay aware of your surrounding no matter where you are.

The northern parts of Shan State, the state of Kachin above that, Southern Chin , and Rakhine State (home to Rohingya Muslims ) are hectic to visit and sometimes totally off-limits.

Certain towns within these areas, like Hsi Paw in Shan are ok to travel to but, overall, the areas around them are generally not safe. The UK government advises “all but essential travel.”

You can still attempt to visit these areas – just be sure to contact a local agency or expert and check what the situation is like first.

Border areas can be a bit tricky as well, especially when there’s increased military. However, there’s not much to see in that region anyway, so you definitely won’t be missing out.

It’s important to know that Myanmar isn’t the safest place, so a bit of caution and research before you start your travels will go a long way. If you want to increase your safety during your stay, read on for our insider travel tips. Stick to those and you won’t have a single issue in Myanmar.

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Myanmar is a land of wonders with a myriad of interesting sights. And just because there are zones which people say you should avoid, doesn’t mean you should write the entire country off. You can go to Myanmar and have a safe, fun, and definitely memorable trip.

But it’s important to travel smart . That means understanding the culture and social norms as much as the current situation.

Stay away from any kind of demonstration – It’s not advised for foreigners to be a part of a political rally as anything can happen at anytime
Be careful when discussing politics with a local – you might think that you know about the Rohingya situation, for example, but a local could see it a whole other way.
Watch out for snakes – not just when trekking; lesser visited temples in Bagan are nice homes for slithery, dangerous snakes, like cobras.
Traffic can be MORE than a bit crazy – especially in Yangon. Take care when crossing, or even just walking along the road.
Don’t take pictures of any government buildings – or police, or military personnel, for that matter.
When trekking, hike with a local guide – not just a Burmese person, but an actual local to the area. They’ll know where not to go and be clued up on the local situation, too.
If you have a tattoo with an image of Buddha… – cover it up. People are actually deported for not showing respect.
Don’t walk around flashing your wealth – crime stats are low, but it’s best to be careful.
Pack a money belt – just in case. (You may not have to wear it.)
Mosquitoes will pester you – so cover up and use repellent. They can carry the zika virus, dengue fever, and Japanese encephalitis…
Careful in monsoon season – this runs from May to October. Floods and landslides can be pretty bad in this period. The weather could possibly turn into a full-blown cyclone as well.
And earthquakes too – it’s not unheard of in Myanmar. Knowing what to do in the event of a bad one is a good idea.
Pollution can be a problem – especially around quarries, such as those outside Mandalay.
Avoid swimming and wading in freshwater rivers, lakes, ponds – the parasitic schistosomiasis , also known as snail fever, can be picked up in freshwater sources.
Learn some Burmese – also simply called ‘Myanmar.’ The language is not that hard either – it’s all about emphasis, no tonal stuff here.
If you do have to use dollars somewhere, they HAVE to be pristine – getting an Indian Visa in Yangon, for example, requires US dollars. Pristine. Crisp. No stains, no wrinkles, no rips.
Don’t feed the monkeys – they’re used to snacks and go mad for them. They can be pretty vicious too.
Dogs can also be scary – groups of them can be aggressive. Some of them may have rabies, so keep away.
Swim in safe areas on the coast – there can be strong tides, which are bad news even for a confident swimmer.
Book accommodation ahead of time – foreigners can only stay in certain places, making it a bit hard to come by in high season.
Be careful walking around after dark – streetlights aren’t ubiquitous and hazards can be numerous, especially in towns.
Don’t be alarmed at red stains on the floor… – you’ll see this everywhere. Thankfully, it ain’t blood – people chew betel here, which takes on reddish color when chewed. It’s basically a drug and when you’re done, you spit it out.

We’re all for solo travel because there’s a lot you can get out of it. It’s not just a challenge for yourself , which is when you grow the most as a person, but it’s an amazing way to meet new people and see the world.

No matter where you travel though – be it Myanmar or Malta – it’s always a good idea to be equipped with a few tips when it comes to travelling by yourself.

When you’re by yourself, things CAN get lonely. (It’s just bound to happen.) The best antidote to this is to socialize. Not only is it a good way to share travel tips, but you may also make a travel buddy or two.
The best place to meet people is a hostel of course. Find yourself one with good reviews.
That said, there aren’t loads of hostels (Though there are quite a few good Mandalay hostels ) . Staying in a family-run guesthouse can be an amazing experience though. Feeling at home is much better than a much more impersonal hotel experience. Trust us.
Try and blend in. You’ll notice that not many people wear trousers or shorts. Instead, they wear longyi, which is traditional Burmese attire. A wrap-around skirt sort of thing that both men and women wear. Feel free to wear it as well.
Getting yourself a local guide when you’re going off the beaten track is a great idea. This will help you understand more about the area you’re travelling through as well as Myanmar as a whole.
Picking up a sim card at the airport is a good idea. With this, you’ll be able to use the data for maps, phone your accommodation ahead of time, book restaurants, and all sorts of other stuff. Most importantly though, you’ll be able to keep in touch with your folks and friends back home .
Don’t get crazy drunk. Busy places like Yangon are already difficult to navigate and getting blind drunk isn’t going to help the situation much.
Don’t push yourself too hard. You don’t need to see every place and doing so is really going to wear you out. Give yourself days to chill.
Oh and Myanmar can get HOT. Look after yourself in the heat and drink plenty of water . If you’re by yourself, getting heat stroke is not fun at all.

Is Myanmar safe for solo female travelers?

We’d say that Myanmar is absolutely safe for solo female travellers. It’s going to be a trip to remember, that’s for sure.

And honestly? There’s not a lot of hassle or high levels of sexual harassment to watch out for in Myanmar. But because society is still developing, women are still faced with certain limitations. So it’s definitely smart to know how to travel Myanmar like a pro…

Dressing appropriately is definitely something you should do. Either going for a longyi and some sort of blouse, or baggy trousers and a top that covers your shoulders. Tight leggings will stick out. Look at what the other women are wearing and follow suit. Chances are you’ll get a lot more respect if you’re dressed more like a local.
Make a few travel buddies. Staying somewhere that has good reviews from other female travellers is a smart move. Making friends with another woman travelling through Myanmar will allow you some company and be useful for bouncing stories and tips off of.
We wouldn’t advise going out drinking alone. Not because it’s unsafe but because you probably will get attention. Places like 19th Street (Yangon), or beer stations around the country are quite male-dominated and you may feel uncomfortable alone.
If you’re travelling on a train, bus, or boat by yourself, we’d recommend sitting with other women. Women travelling alone can be seen as pretty odd by Burmese people – it’s just not done. So making friends with some local ladies, or just chatting to other female tourists, is a good way to make yourself more comfortable.
Find yourself a tour if you’re feeling a bit overwhelmed by it all. Even if it’s just a walking tour of a town or city. This is a great way to meet people. Plus you’ll also get to learn more about Myanmar. Win-win.
Don’t touch monks! Myanmar is a deeply Buddhist country and monks are off-limits to women. Even if you’re passing something to a monk, don’t do it directly – just place it within his reach. That’s just the way it is.
With this in mind, be aware that you can’t go to certain stupas or religious sites. Women, for whatever reason, just aren’t allowed in some holy places in Myanmar.
Stock up on sanitary products before you head out of Yangon or Mandalay . The likelihood is you aren’t going to be finding them anywhere that’s even remotely off the beaten track.

Of course, travelling alone may make you seem ‘odd’ by the local people. But you’re a foreigner – you’ll be odd anyway. And the easy antidote to that is to make some friends, take a tour, or simply to chatting to some local ladies. You’ll have an amazing time.

We’ve covered the main safety concerns already, but there are a few more things to know. Read on for more detailed information on how to have a safe trip to Myanmar.

Is Myanmar safe to travel for families?

Travelling with children in Myanmar is not exactly straightforward and probably not that easy.

The main concern? HYGIENE.

Sanitation levels aren’t always top-notch and definitely nowhere near Western standards. Because of this, we wouldn’t really recommend taking small children on a trip to Myanmar.

Cleanliness aside, here are some other things to consider when taking your family to Myanmar:

There are a growing number of family-friendly places to stay which boast amenities for children. But for the most part, accommodation here isn’t really about families.
Whilst there is a loads of temples to see, especially in Bagan , it might also be easy for your kids to get quite quickly templed out. This might even happen to you, but for children, lack of interactive museums or anything like that might be a little boring.
Poverty, especially related to children, can be upsetting to see. There are kids begging, ladies with babies begging, children working. Just a word of warning.
Animals, as we spoke about earlier, can be pretty dangerous – some can be REALLY dangerous. Make sure your children know the dangers and keep an eye out yourself.
Keeping your children out of the sun and making sure they’re hydrated is a must since Myanmar gets hot and the heat hits kids more acutely than it does adults.
When visiting Myanmar with children, we’d honestly recommend getting yourself on some sort of tour. At the very least, you should have some sort of transport organized for the entire trip. That way, there will be less to think about.

In general, whilst it’s not going to be the EASIEST place to travel with children, Myanmar is SAFE for children. What you’ll need are a relaxed mindset and some pretty chilled parenting. Travelling to Myanmar with your kids is going to be a real adventure, but we think you’re going to love it.

Is it safe to drive in Myanmar?

Driving in Myanmar is chaotic, not to mention difficult to organize, and we’d say that doing it on your own is dangerous and not worth the stress.

For one thing, you need to get permission from the government to hire a car. For another thing, we just wouldn’t say it was safe.

The roads are not in great condition and cities are often just jam packed with cars. Neither have a lot of rules in place.

Though scenic, the road from Pyin Oo Lwin to Mandalay is not something you’d want to drive. The road itself is precarious with huge dropoffs and cliffs that make you hold your breath.

Drivers recklessly overtake each other as well and blanket the entire route with dust, which doesn’t help the situation much. It’s a thrill, alright, and it’s just not something we’d EVER consider driving ourselves.

After night, we just wouldn’t recommend driving in Myanmar AT ALL. Not knowing the roads, armed bandits, animals in the road. Just not worth it.

If you feel like you need to travel quickly, just hire a driver. Splitting the price of a private car between you and a few other travellers makes it pretty cost-effective, too.

Is Uber safe in Myanmar?

No Uber here.

There is Grab, however. It’s reliable and cheap and a good way to get around Yangon.

Just make sure you don’t get charged twice. Drivers may demand cash even if you’ve paid credit on the app. A simple complaint to Grab should have your money swiftly winging itself back to you, though.

But generally, Grab is safe in Myanmar.

Are taxis safe in Myanmar?

The taxis are generally safe in Myanmar.

By that, we mean that sometimes the taxis can be a little old and sometimes the drivers can be speedy.

At Yangon International Airport you’ll be able to get a taxi easily. Hop over to the taxi desk, say where you’re going (give an address) and you’ll get a receipt.

There are plenty of taxis in large cities. Hail one and they’ll stop. They won’t necessarily always let you get in – taxi drivers might refuse if your destination is too far out of town.

In addition, get ready to negotiate. Taxis aren’t metered and drivers will set a price according to their whim. If it’s too high, go lower. If haggling doesn’t seem to be working, accept the price or move on.

You can also get taxis between major towns. This is basically a private car. The guys driving these taxis can range from perfectly fine to maniacs. Private taxis can be arranged through your accommodation. It’s not guaranteed that you’ll get an amazing driver.

You can also shop around. Nyaung Shwe, a popular spot on Inle Lake , has many taxi companies on its main street. It’s a great option if you’re travelling as a group since you don’t pay per person, you pay for the trip.

Is public transportation in Myanmar safe?

Yes, public transport in Myanmar is safe.

For train geeks and people who just like train journeys alike, the trains in Myanmar are awesome. They aren’t exactly top of the range but for the experience alone, these really are a great way to get around the country.

The famous loop train line that runs from central to northern Yangon and back again is actually a fun day out. Buy your ticket, sit back, and watch locals hop on and off.

You can also get buses around cities. Yangon has the best system and boasts a regular fleet plus the Yangon BRT (Bus Rapid Transit), which is a good way to get around. The buses are air-conditioned, which is a lifesaver when it’s boiling. Both of these are safe.

Long distance buses are another way of getting around the country and these range in quality. From luxury night coaches that serve free refreshments and have TVs in the headrests, to not so good buses that have one TV that plays the same Burmese music videos and soaps on loop (if you’re lucky). Riding a bus is always an experience, though.

The best thing to do? Research. Companies vary and asking your guesthouse which company they’re using will at least prepare you.

There are also boats that you can use. The famous Ayeyarwady River, amongst others, allows ample opportunity to get your skipper on. From standard government boats to ultra luxury colonial-feeling cruises, there are a number of ways to get around.

Look ’em up and see where you can go. Mandalay to Bagan (or the other way round) is a popular route, for example.

In conclusion, public transportation in Myanmar is safe. That’s that.

Is the food in Myanmar safe?

Burmese food has an unfairly bad reputation. In reality, there’s plenty on offer that’s going to have most foodies floored and we mean that in a good way. From the peanut zing and soft textures of shan noodles to the crunch and bite of lahpet thoke (tea leaf salad), all the way to BBQ’d meats – it’s all tasty!

You should get sucked into everything, including the street food – don’t be scared. A lot of places look ropey as hell, but, the thing is, everyone eats in them, from locals to other tourists. So sit down with your si beer (draught beer) and a bowl of peanuts and wait…

Food tends to sit around all day. The same stuff that gets cooked up for lunch is often what’s on the menu for dinner. Just for the sake of your stomach, we’d say steer clear of street food in the evenings.
With this in mind, food is often oily. But that’s a good thing: a nice layer of oil in dishes like curries usually keeps insects away.
Try and look for busy stalls to eat at, especially on notorious 19th Street in Yangon. The busier the place, the better and more likely cleaner it is. You may be tempted to sit somewhere that’s completely not busy, but that’s a) no fun b) could be an indicator that the food makes people ill.
Don’t get too freaked out by the grilled meat. It starts out raw and ends up VERY WELL cooked. This will kill most germs that will give you a dodgy tummy.
If you’re prone to a bad stomach or you’re just not used to Southeast Asian food (and the way it’s cooked), the best way to proceed would be to do some research. Go to places that are tried and tested or are talked about a lot.
As a general rule of thumb, we would say eat seafood by the sea, and regular food in the mountains. Seafood can give you the worst tummy trouble (food poisoning can be dangerous ) and the best way to combat this is to simply ensure it’s fresh.
If you’re scared of curries, head to Chinese restaurants. The food here is cooked hot and fast and will be fine for you to eat.
Make sure to WASH YOUR HANDS. Take hand sanitiser with you. These seem like no-brainers .
Don’t be worried about sitting down at streetside stalls. These are on many corners or on the street and seem to be permanent fixtures. You can literally watch your food being cooked just a few feet away.
Refresh yourself with cane sugar juice from the markets. It’s cane sugar, put through a steam-roller type device. They’re perfectly safe and a good energy boost.

Whilst it may not always LOOK safe, the food in Myanmar is safe to eat. You WILL be missing out if you don’t sit down at a beer station and try some of the food that’s on offer. Ease yourself in, don’t go too mad, and your stomach and tastebuds will thank you.

Can you drink the water in Myanmar?

No. Not really. Not at all, actually.

You CAN’T drink the water in Myanmar.

Stick to bottled water and make sure the seal hasn’t been broken. If you find a source of purified water, be sure to fill up your own water bottle to the brim – you never know when the next one will come.

Is Myanmar safe to live?

Myanmar is safe to live in and a lot of foreigners from all over the world do. On the whole, Myanmar is definitely an adventurous place to live.

You’ll often get the feeling you’ve stepped back in time. People are friendly, there are charming daily markets, and a load of nature to explore on your days off.

Yangon will probably be the best place to base yourself. That’s down to the other foreigners working and living here, the embassies, and the amount of things you can actually do in the city.

Let’s reiterate: it’s totaly safe to live in Myanmar on a day to day level. You can walk around the cities at night without fear.

What’s not so great is the government. You’ll have to be ok with living in a country run by a government accused of very recent atrocities and where a pretty brutal military often has the final say. You’ll also have to come to grips living in a country where civil war continues in many of its states.

It is a very good idea to do your research on Burmese society and history before you go. Knowing more can’t be a bad thing.

Of course, get on Facebook groups, Google groups (like Yangon Expat Connections ), and make friends with expats and locals alike.

At the end of the day, Myanmar is a developing country. Being fine with everything that comes with that is key.

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Is it safe to rent an Airbnb in Myanmar?

Unfortunately, Airbnbs can only be found in the major cities in Myanmar. The government restricts the places where tourists can live a lot, so don’t expect too many options.

However, if you do score an Airbnb, you can expect super friendly hosts and great hospitality. Renting an Airbnb is perfectly safe, as long as you read the reviews. Staying at an Airbnb during your trip will also open up new possibilities and options to experience the country.

The local hosts are known to take great care of their guests and give the absolute best recommendations of what to do and what to see. Local knowledge always goes a long way, so be sure to reach out to your hosts if you’re unsure about how to fill up your Myanmar itinerary!

Is Myanmar LGBTQ+ friendly?

Myanmar is a bit of a tricky destination for LGBTQ+ travellers. While tourists are generally respected, gay locals are facing way more discrimination and oppression. If you’re staying in bigger cities like Yangon, you’ll find a couple of gay bars and a small gay community. In the more rural areas, this will be harder, if not impossible to find.

Keep in mind that Myanmar is a very conservative and religious country with around 89% of the population practising Buddhism. Public affection is a rare sight, no matter what kind of relationship you’re in. Unless you’re okay with keeping yourself and your partner on the low while travelling through the country, you might not have a super pleasant trip. However, as long as you respect the local culture, you won’t have to face any issues.

Here are some quick answers to common questions about safety in Myanmar.

Is Myanmar safe for female solo travellers?

While Myanmar is not necessarily safe in itself, female solo travellers are overall very safe in Myanmar. There is not much sexual harassment, and if you explore attractions with a local guide, you’ll hardly have anything to worry about. Dress appropriately if possible, so you don’t draw unwanted attention to yourself.

What should you avoid in Myanmar?

These are the things you should avoid in Myanmar: – Don’t participate in demonstrations – stay away! – Don’t share political opinions with a local – Don’t cross the street blindly – Avoid trekking or walking exploring without a guide

What are the most dangerous areas in Myanmar?

These areas are the most dangerous in Myanmar: – The northern parts of Shan State – The state of Kachin Southern Chin and Rakhine State – Any border regions (apart from Indian border)

Is Myanmar safe for inexperienced travellers?

We wouldn’t say that Myanmar is safe for first-time travellers. Mainly because you need to have at least some experience with different cultures, how to react and behave in certain situations and keep your head down if it’s needed. A curious tourist could easily get into real trouble in Myanmar.

Myanmar is a strange case. It can be safe if you come prepared and at the right time. Its military, the Tatmadaw, are fighting against and oppressing ethnic groups all over the country. There’s practically a genocide happening against the Rohingya people, which has been widely condemned across the globe.

Violent crime against tourists and even petty theft are virtually unheard of. You can walk around safely at pretty much any time of the day.

Myanmar is an awesome place to explore, and a lot of the time you will feel like you’re actually discovering Myanmar rather than being on a backpacking conveyor belt. There are tons of place that have yet to become overrun and Burmese people are super, super nice.

The biggest issue is coming to grips with the politics and current events of Myanmar. It may feel weird to be in a country where so much conflict is going on, but you can overcome this dilemma by giving back to local people. By staying in guesthouses, hiring guides, and working with communities, you can help out in a small way. And that makes it worth it.

Disclaimer: Safety conditions change all over the world on a daily basis. We do our best to advise but this info may already be out of date. Do your own research. Enjoy your travels!

And for transparency’s sake, please know that some of the links in our content are affiliate links . That means that if you book your accommodation, buy your gear, or sort your insurance through our link, we earn a small commission (at no extra cost to you). That said, we only link to the gear we trust and never recommend services we don’t believe are up to scratch. Again, thank you!

Monique MacPhail

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18 Comments

Hi Is there anyone in Myanmar travelling at the moment. I am planning an extensive Far East trip in Jan/Mar and have always wanted to go to Burma. I plan to fly in to Mandalay from Bangkok then fly to Yangon then fly out Any comments from anyone there at the moment ? Cheers Steve [email protected]

Hi, I’m planning to cross Myanmar as part of a trip from Thailand to India at the end of 2023. Do you think it’s doable? Thanks!

I actually did some serious research into this a few years, at the time it was possible, abet with a list of caveats. These included but were not limited too, obtaining the correct visa/permits, using government approved guides, using approved borders open to tourist, not all are. Things are always changing tho, so some current research into this will certainly be required particularly for the Myanmar side, due to the current situation there.

Hi, is it safe to travel to Yangon for business now? Thanks!

Things do seem calmer there at the moment, I would recommend posting on some Myanmar specific forums and looking up some local English language new sources to get a better picture of the current situation.

I am scheduled to travel to Myanmar in the middle of November this year; the “do not travel” notice from the state department scares me, but I understand that tourists, especially Caucasian, have little to fear. I plan to fly from Bangkok to Yangon in the early morning, then travel by car-with-driver to Bagan the next morning around 4 am, then fly from Bagan to Mandalay the following morning, then fly back to Bangkok the 4th day. Your thoughts… 1) safety in November 2022 , 2) WHERE can I find a car and driver for the trip to Bagan, and 3) should I change money to local currency, or just use US $ for everything ?

Hi Michael,

While tourists don’t generally encounter problems travelling in Myanmar, the travel you plan leaves almost no room for problems you might encounter, such as a cancelled flight, road closure or bad weather. If this is all the time you have, I would suggest you go for it, and be prepared with the mindset to basically throw money at any problems you may encounter along the way , to carry out your travel plan. I would suggest bringing enough pristine USD with you so you don’t have to waste time trying to get local currency if you have problems with ATM on the ground.

Can you do an update on this article regarding the current safety of the political situation in Myanmar for travel as of January 2022 once COVID restrictions are lifted?

In any hotel in Yangon, yes, have clean crisp notes but make sure the notes you receive in change are clean and crisp too. When hiring a car / driver make sure the vehicle you have negotiated over is the vehicle that comes and picks you up.

Hello I think you may want to update this article. It is NOT currently safe in Myanmar because of political uproar and this is not the time to be visiting

Yes we have been following the news and this article will be updated as soon as we are able. As I am sure you can appreciate, Safety situations do change quite a lot, quite fast and we can’t possibly keep up date to the minute!

Did you have problems with snakes?? Just curious I’d like to go but I am scared of them

Hi Eimeara, No problems with snakes that I encountered. But it’s one of those things. If you go wandering off piste into long grass and the like, who knows what you may find in there. Stay alert about where you are walking and you should be fine. It is an amazing country and I highly recommend you visit if you can.

Thank you for this excellent informative article. we travel to Myanmar in November and you have given me lots of information to work with

Its a fascinating place, have a great time!

Nice article though. However, the word genocide is quite unfairly exaggerated all around the world. Military operation against ethnic minorities could be, to some extent, true( although the federal military and the ethnic military are teaming up just to continue war for the funds). But the case for Rohingya is completely different. The Rakhine State is rich in culture and history mainly of Buddhism. You will find a lot of thousand years old Buddhist monuments and statues in the region where the conflict occurred. And yet, it’s been claimed the homeland for Rohingya people, who are Muslims.(I bare no ill will to Muslim people). A land with full of historical Buddhist monuments could be homeland for millions of Muslims ? Anyway, this article is an excellent one. Enjoyed that.

wow, wholly informative…except th one thing I needed to know, which pertains to th paperwork for getting INTO myanmar to visit. other than that, amazing article ! I’m psyched

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Members of the Karen National Liberation Army and the People’s Defence Force collect weapons after they captured an army outpost in the southern part of Myawaddy township in Myanmar on 11 March

Blow for Myanmar’s military as rebels say hundreds have surrendered at key border town

Thailand PM says army is weakening after junta requests permission to land evacuation flight from Myawaddy across the border

Myanmar’s embattled military is on the brink of losing control of one of the country’s major border crossings, in another humiliating defeat to the junta.

Hundreds of soldiers have surrendered in the town of Myawaddy, near to the border with Thailand , according to opposition groups, while Myanmar junta authorities asked Thai officials for permission to land an evacuation flight across the border on Sunday. Thailand said it granted the request on humanitarian grounds, but clarified on Tuesday that it carried only cargo and no personnel, according to media reports.

Myawaddy, in Karen state, is one of the most important border crossings in Myanmar and crucial to the flow of goods between the country and Thailand. It has been controlled by the military for decades.

The likely loss of the township will be just the latest embarrassing blow for the military, which has also lost control of swathes of territory in the north of the country, along the border with China and India, as well as areas of western Rakhine state.

Thai prime minister, Srettha Thavisin, told Reuters the military junta was weakening.

“The current regime is starting to lose some strength … but even if they are losing, they have the power, they have the weapons,” Srettha said.

A commander of an anti-coup group, known as a People’s Defence Force, who spoke from a frontline neighbouring Karen state told the Guardian 617 soldiers and their relatives had surrendered, including 67 officers. Only between 40 and 60 military troops were yet to surrender, he estimated.

The commander, whose areas of operations cover Myawaddy, estimated at least 75% of the township was under resistance control. Among the large weapon hauls seized were four howitzer artillery guns, he said.

Earlier, the Karen National Union, an ethnic armed group that has long fought against the military for independence for ethnic Karen, and which is aligned with the wider pro-democracy resistance, reported that hundreds of military soldiers had surrendered on Friday from a battalion based in Thingan Nyi Naung, a village 12km from Myawaddy.

Myanmar’s military seized power in a coup in February 2021 , ousting the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, a move widely opposed by the public and which plunged the country into spiralling conflict. Many civilians took up arms and formed people’s defence forces to fight against the junta’s brutal rule, with some receiving support from older, more established ethnic armed organisations such as the KNU.

The military has struggled to control such opposition and suffered relentless losses since 27 October, when a powerful bloc of ethnic armed groups abandoned an informal ceasefire and launched a coordinated operation in northern Shan State. This placed the military, which was already stretched thin across multiple fronts, under far greater pressure and, as it began to lose ground, other groups elsewhere in the country stepped up their attacks.

The commander who spoke anonymously to the Guardian said some of the troops that surrendered over recent days had previously surrendered in northern Shan state in early January. They were granted safe passage and then relocated to Myawaddy, only to surrender a second time, he said.

The military is struggling with poor morale and a lack of manpower, and has introduced mandatory conscription to try to boost its troop numbers – a policy that has horrified young people and led many to flee military-controlled areas.

Soldiers who surrendered would go through a verification process, and those who wanted to return to military-controlled territory would mostly be allowed to go, the commander said.

The remaining soldiers in Myawaddy who were yet to surrender had previously agreed to do so but reversed their decision when reinforcements arrived in the area, he said.

“Despite the reinforcements, they’re unable to hold that position for long,” he said. “We can overrun them any time we want.”

But the commander added it was likely the military would target the area with aerial bombings. “It’s very difficult to predict their moves. [Junta chief] Min Aung Hlaing is considered a mad dog. There is nothing he dare not do.”

South and central Asia

Myanmar Rebels Take Key Trading Town, but Counteroffensive Looms

The fall of Myawaddy, on the Thai border, was one of the most significant gains by resistance forces since a 2021 military coup.

A woman with three children sits on a bench and holds up a yellow umbrella. A soldier stands near her.

By Richard C. Paddock

Resistance forces seeking to oust Myanmar’s military regime captured a key trade town on the Thai border this week, one of their most significant gains since the junta seized power in a coup more than three years ago. But thousands of residents were fleeing on Friday as the regime’s troops prepared to mount a counteroffensive.

The town, Myawaddy, which is now held by rebels belonging to the Karen ethnic group, is a hub for imports and exports, with $1 billion in trade last year. Its fall comes as resistance forces have seized dozens of towns and military outposts in recent months in border regions near China and Bangladesh. Rebel groups have also launched drones that hit the capital, Naypyidaw, and military bases when top junta generals were visiting.

“A major border trade hub that serves as Myanmar’s gateway to mainland Southeast Asia has fallen to the resistance,” said Anthony Davis, a Bangkok-based security analyst with the Jane’s group of military publications. “This is huge.”

The regime’s spokesman, Gen. Zaw Min Tun, declined to take repeated calls from The New York Times. But he acknowledged to the BBC Burmese service on Thursday night that junta troops had evacuated their main base in Myawaddy and that soldiers from two resistance groups, the Karen National Liberation Army and the Karen National Army, “are present” in the town.

Residents stood in lines for hours at the southeastern border with Thailand on Friday as they sought safety in the Thai town of Mae Sot before the junta launches its expected counteroffensive. Thai officials have said that they will take as many as 100,000 refugees.

“I don’t believe the Myanmar military will easily give up on control of Myawaddy,” said Ma Khin Lay Nge, 33, as she waited in line at the bridge over the Moei River, which links the two border towns. “Even if they do, I fear they will destroy it without regard for civilian lives, as they see the people as their enemies.”

She noted that the military had bombed towns in Shan State in November and December after resistance forces captured them. On Thursday, regime aircraft dropped bombs near the army base that resistance forces had captured on Myawaddy’s outskirts.

“I’m afraid of being caught in the crossfire or bombing, and I decided to flee to Mae Sot,” Ms. Ma Khin Lay Nge said. “Survival is our priority now.”

Since the 2021 coup, armed ethnic groups and pro-democracy rebels have formed a broad alliance to fight the junta, with growing success on the battlefield. In a sign that the junta’s forces were becoming depleted, the regime announced in February that it would begin enforcing a decades-old conscription law .

U Kyaw Zaw, a spokesman for the National Unity Government , a shadow civilian government formed after the 2021 coup, said the junta’s loss of Myawaddy was a significant financial setback and exposed the army’s growing vulnerabilities, dealing “a psychological blow.”

Mr. Davis, the security analyst, said that after the junta’s recent string of losses, it had little choice but to try to recapture Myawaddy and was preparing to mount what could be its largest counteroffensive since the coup.

“The credibility of the regime is now firmly on the line,” he said.

The Tatmadaw, as the Myanmar military is known, is equipped with armored vehicles, aircraft and multiple-launch rocket systems with a range of 25 miles, he said. But it has little experience with the kind of combined arms operation that other countries would use in mounting such an attack.

The Karen National Liberation Army, which has been fighting the Tatmadaw for decades, knows the terrain and can be expected to mine roads and stage ambushes to slow its advance.

“They are not a typical guerrilla force,” Mr. Davis said of the Karen National Liberation Army. “They are well-armed but, more importantly, highly experienced and well-organized.”

“Whether it is a battle on the road to Myawaddy or a battle for Myawaddy, this is going to be very bloody,” he added.

The Thai government has expressed concern that the conflict could disrupt trade with Myanmar and that violence could spill over the border. Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara, Thailand’s foreign minister, said on Friday that Thailand could act as a broker to mediate the conflict and that it had urged the junta not to attack Myawaddy.

“We have sent a message that we do not want to see violence there,” Mr. Parnpree told reporters in Mae Sot. “The Thai government is very clear. Any encroachment will be met with a response.”

The Karen National Liberation Army, which is the military arm of the Karen National Union, and allied forces routed regime troops from the town and the surrounding area during four days of fighting, said Padoh Saw Taw Nee, a Karen National Union spokesman.

Nearly 500 regime soldiers and officers surrendered during fighting outside the town, and about 200 more were trapped in Myawaddy near the river across from Mae Sot. Mr. Saw Taw Nee said the soldiers, whose weapons had not been seized, were hoping to find refuge in Thailand but had not received permission to enter.

On Friday, residents said they could see the soldiers lounging near a second bridge that crosses the river.

One resident, Ma Ei Thu Zar, 32, said she had heard loud explosions and the sound of heavy weapons fire through the night on Wednesday as the battle raged. Since Myawaddy’s capture early Thursday, the town has been calm and the streets quiet.

Ko Myo Khaing, 34, a restaurant owner in Myawaddy, said government offices, banks and many shops were closed. The junta’s soldiers and police officers have disappeared from the streets, he said, and soldiers from the Karen National Liberation Army and its allies have taken their place.

“It looks like there is no junta administration here,” he said. “As an ordinary citizen, I can say that Myawaddy has been taken over by the Karen National Union and its allies.”

Richard C. Paddock has worked as a foreign correspondent in 50 countries on five continents with postings in Moscow, Jakarta, Singapore and Bangkok. He has spent nearly a dozen years reporting on Southeast Asia, which he has covered since 2016 as a contributor to The Times. More about Richard C. Paddock

Myanmar troops withdraw from border hub, ethnic rebels say

M yanmar junta troops have withdrawn from their positions in a major trade hub near the Thai border following days of clashes, an ethnic armed group said Thursday, in a further blow to the embattled military.

On the border near the bustling trading town of Myawaddy, AFP reporters in Thailand heard shelling early Thursday after witnessing hundreds of people queueing the night before to seek safety in the kingdom.

By Thursday afternoon, while the flow into Thailand's Mae Sot town had lessened, people like 26-year-old Sadi were anxiously waiting for relatives.

"I'm just about holding it together," he told AFP, checking his phone as he explained that his fiancee was still in Myanmar.

The country has been roiled with conflict since the army overthrew a democratically elected government in 2021, but the junta is facing its gravest threat yet after heavy losses in recent months.

Karen National Union (KNU) fighters and other anti-junta groups launched an assault on Myawaddy town this week.

Myawaddy is important to the cash-strapped junta, with more than $1.1 billion worth of trade passing through it in the 12 months to April, according to the junta's commerce ministry.

The remaining 200 or so junta troops in the town had withdrawn late Wednesday, Padoh Saw Taw Nee, a KNU spokesman, told AFP.

The troops were now sheltering on a bridge that connects Myawaddy to the Thai border town of Mae Sot, he said, claiming the KNU now controlled the whole town.

AFP could not independently verify the claims but a Thai border official said the town had "fallen" late Wednesday.

The KNU and allied anti-junta groups would "surely intercept and block" any attempt by the military to send troops to Myawaddy, Padoh Saw Taw Nee said.

Thai soldiers stood on alert alongside armoured cars at the border in heat of 37 degrees Celsius (99 degrees Fahrenheit) on Thursday.

AFP reporters there heard a plane flying in the direction of Myawaddy, followed by a thudding sound around 10:30 am local time (0330 GMT).

Myawaddy residents told AFP that the military was carrying out air strikes on the town but they had not seen KNU fighters in the streets.

The complete capture of the town would be a humiliating defeat for the junta, which has suffered a string of battlefield losses in recent months that have prompted rare criticism of its top brass by its supporters.

- 'Dust settles' -

Independent Myanmar analyst David Mathieson told AFP it was "still too early to assess who actually controls Myawaddy and actually what constitutes control, as opposed to presence".

At the "Friendship Bridge No.2" on the Thai side, the trucks that normally carry medicine, consumer goods and construction materials into Myanmar were standing idle, AFP reporters saw.

A Thai border official said checkpoints were open on both sides but that no goods traffic was moving.

From a hill overlooking Myawaddy on Thursday evening the town appeared calm, with residents riding motorcycles out into farmland and the sounds of a construction site mingling with bells at a Buddhist monastery.

The Thai government needs to prepare for a potential influx of people fleeing conflict in Myanmar, member of parliament Kannavee Suebsang told AFP during a visit to Mae Sot.

"We need to prepare. We need to plan. We cannot just ignore the situation inside Myanmar," he said.

- Reinforcements -

The Myanmar junta was sending reinforcements towards Myawaddy, military sources told AFP on Thursday, although it was unclear when or how they would arrive because some routes to the town are in the hands of its opponents.

Locals near the town of Kyonedoe along the main highway to Myawaddy told AFP they had seen dozens of trucks and tanks carrying equipment and hundreds of soldiers.

The junta has not commented on the recent action around Myawaddy.

The military is anxious to avoid losing another major town, analysts say, after the humiliating surrender of around 2,000 troops at the town of Laukkai on the northern border with China in January.

Analyst Mathieson said Myawaddy's economic importance could prevent a major escalation of fighting inside the town.

"All sides must be wondering, if Myawaddy is so important, is it a good idea to invite destruction of the town and its infrastructure?" he said.

- 'I feel more free' -

More than 2.5 million people have been displaced by the conflict sparked by the military's ouster of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021, according to the United Nations.

"Being in Myanmar is difficult now," said one young man just arrived in Mae Sot.

"I feelmore free after getting to this side."

Authorities in Thailand have said they are preparing to accept up to 100,000 people displaced by the clashes.

Thailand's foreign minister will travel to the border Friday, the ministry said, without providing specific details.

rma-tp-hla-rbu/dhw

Thai military personnel stands guard overlooking the Moei river on the Thai side, near the Tak border checkpoint with Myanmar

You Are At:

Myanmar: Ethnic rebels declare control over key border town as 200 military personnel flee

Since ousting the democratic government in a 2021 coup, Myanmar's military-led government has been battling insurgencies on several fronts by ethnic rebels and suffered several defeats. The loss of Myawaddy, the country's most active trading post with Thailand, is a major setback for the junta.

The retreat of junta troops in Myawaddy, adjacent to the Thai town of Mae Sot, signals the potential loss of another key border trading outpost with direct highway access to parts of central Myanmar. Saw Taw Nee, the spokesperson for the Karen National Union (KNU), an anti-junta group leading the assault, said about 200 fleeing Myanmar soldiers gathered at a border crossing into Thailand. Thai authorities were in touch with the soldiers to provide refuge.

"Today KNU-led joint resistance forces captured the remaining military base in Myawaddy," Kyaw Zaw, a spokesperson for Myanmar's National Unity Government, told Reuters. "This is a crucial victory for our revolution since Myawaddy is an important border town for the junta, one of the main (sources of) income from border trade".

Another thorn for the Myanmar junta

The assault on Myawaddy began last week after the KNU said it had attacked a junta camp near the town, forcing some 500 security personnel to surrender, along with their families. The military has already lost control of areas along Myanmar's borders with Bangladesh, China and India, while suffering a significant loss of manpower that has pushed it to introduce a draft for the first time.

Myawaddy is Myanmar's most active trading post with Thailand, and the fighting there has alarmed officials in Bangkok, who fear a large number of people fleeing across the border. Thai Foreign Minister Parnpree Bahiddha-Nukara said Tuesday that Thailand can accommodate about 100,000 people in safe areas on a temporary basis.

The army has been defeated by the rebels over the last few months in northern Shan state, where it surrendered control of several border crossings with China, and in Rakhine state in the west, and is facing active challenges elsewhere. The ethnic Karen have seized all army outposts and have vowed to chase all retreating soldiers.

The Border Guard Force units in Kayin state are nominally affiliated with the military but announced last month they were cutting their ties and establishing themselves independently under the name of the Karen National Army. This army played a heavy role in the negotiations between the military and the resistance.

Who are the Karens?

The Karen are the third biggest ethnic group in Myanmar, making up about 7 per cent of its 58 million population. Like other minority groups living in border regions, the Karen have sought greater for greater autonomy from Myanmar's central government for decades, with the KNU and its armed wing, the Karen National Liberation Army.

Although the Karen are among the most experienced of the armed ethnic groups, they lack the heavy weapons some other rebel organizations have and also suffer from factionalism. The Karen make up a large part of the 87,000 refugees from Myanmar who live in nine long-term refugee camps in Thailand after fleeing previous rounds of fighting.

It is pertinent to mention that thousands of people from Myanmar sought refuge in several northeastern states, particularly in Mizoram, after escaping their country following a military coup in February 2021. This prompted India to fence the 1,643-kilometer-long India-Myanmar border in another step to boost the country's security and abolish the Free Movement Regime (FRM) between the two countries.

(with inputs from agencies)

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Costs of Traveling in Myanmar. Travel on a budget in Myanmar, from $130 − $210 USD weekly per person, mid-range $210 − $620 USD, and high-end from $610 − $940 USD. However, costs depend on factors like accommodation, transportation, and activities. We did not include flights.
19 Reasons Why You Must Visit Myanmar
It's a great destination for a traveler who likes to experience an untouched country. Myanmar is set to become a traveler's favorite destination, and here's why: 1. The Locals. The locals in Myanmar are genuinely happy to see a tourist. They really want you to have a great time in their country. Tourists are unique and cool, which is why ...
Myanmar Travel Blog And Travel Tips
Myanmar Travel Blog. Myanmar is a unique country located in Southeast Asia. In fact, Myanmar is one of the most popular destinations in Asia. It has something for everyone - backpackers, couples, solo travelers, luxury travelers, etc. Myanmar offers several experiences - from street food to trekking, from traditional ceremonies to outdoor ...
Myanmar Travel Guide
Cool and Dry Season (November to February): This is considered the best time to visit Myanmar. The weather is pleasantly cool and dry, making it ideal for sightseeing and outdoor activities. The temperatures are comfortable, especially in the central regions and northern areas like Mandalay and Bagan.
Two Weeks (14 days) in Myanmar: Guide for Backpacking Burma
About this blog: This is a sample two week long itinerary to explore Myanmar. This allows enough time to travel through all the Big 4 travel destinations of Myanmar: Yangon, the erstwhile Burmese capital known as Rangoon, Bagan, Mandalay and Inle lake.The suggested itinerary takes you from North to South in Myanmar, over 14 days and gives you an idea of the offbeat destinations and cultural ...
Myanmar Travel Blog
The 8 Most Unique Things To Do In Yangon, Myanmar. With over 5 million people, Yangon is Myanmar's largest city. It has the country's biggest…. 33 Shares. Myanmar Travel Blog - Discover here many tips on how to make the most of your trip to Myanmar. It includes the best places to visit, accommodation...
How to spend one incredible week backpacking around Myanmar
Please use this blog as inspiration for future travels, when Myanmar is once again being governed by a democratically elected government and reopened for travel. Camera: Images captured with an Olympus OM-D E-M1 in conjunction with M.Zuiko 7-14mm f/2.8, M.Zuiko 12-40mm f/2.8 and M.Zuiko 40-150mm f/2.8 lenses
6 Days in Myanmar: Useful Itineraries & Budget Tips
Food: Local street food and local restaurants are generally affordable in Myanmar. On average, you can expect to spend around $5 to $15 per meal, depending on the type of establishment and your choices. For a 6-day period, budgeting $10 to $20 per day for food should be reasonable, totaling $60 to $120.
Myanmar Travel Guide: 15 Things You Should Know
Above all, the first thing you should get is the Myanmar visa. To enter Myanmar after the outbreak of COVID-19 cases, visitors must be fully vaccinated and deliver a passport valid for 6 months to apply for a visa. An e-tourist visa costs $50. The maximum stay in Myanmar is less than 28 days from the time of entry.
Myanmar Travel Blogs
These are all of my Myanmar travel blogs at An Adventurous World. Myanmar is one of the lesser travelled countries in Southeast Asia, yet it has seen a huge boom in popularity in the last few years. I first went to Myanmar in 2007 before the crowds, and today it's almost unrecognizable. A few of our highlights from our most recent trip were ...
Myanmar Travel Blog
Myanmar travel blog In December 2018 / January 2019, we visited one of the countries that had always been very high on my list - Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. A large country which is home to over 135 ethnic groups, Myanmar is a great place to visit, although not for the faint-hearted.
Myanmar (Burma) Travel Blog
Myanmar (Burma) Travel Blog with current, honest advice, stories and information for your Myanmar adventure, inc. top highlights in Bagan, Kalaw, Inle Lake and Western Myanmar. Now Trending: 10 reasons to visit Myan...
Myanmar travel blog: get inspired with our insider local experience
Myanmar. Burma (Myanmar) is still very much a work in progress as far as tourism goes. Considerable swathes of the country remain off-limits to casual travellers for security reasons or simply very hard to access due to bad transport and road infrastructure. When it's "finished", it's going to be quite a destination—and there's already plenty ...
Myanmar Backpacking
Best Places to visit in Myanmar. 1. Mandalay - the last royal capital of Myanmar. Mandalay was the last royal capital of Myanmar. Myanmar's second biggest city has a charm of its own. Surrounded by hills and numerous pagodas, the city is all about the beautiful temples, lakes and old cities.
Shwedagon: a Pagoda like no other
Not only is it one of the most important religious and sacred places in all of Myanmar but it is also quite a sight to behold, with the main pagoda standing at 110meters of gold! Shwedagonpagoda.com claim that "No visit to the Union of Myanmar is complete without a visit to the 2,500 years old Shwedagon Pagoda, which enshrines strands of ...
How Safe is Myanmar to Visit? (2024 Guide)
And, despite a buffet of no-go areas present throughout the country, Myanmar IS safe. Myanmar may not appear safe at times, because of on-going ethnic "issues", but, as a tourist, these hardly affect you. Petty theft is almost non-existent. Hassle levels are low. Crimes against tourists are actually super rare.
Myanmar Travel Blog
Thiha Lu Lin is a Travel Blogger from Myanmar. I want to bring exciting places anywhere in the world closer to my followers.
Myanmar Travel Blog
> Blogs > Myanmar Travel Blog; Myanmar Travel Blog . Staying at Athaya Vineyard . November 09, 2018. Heading east from Inle Lake or Kalaw, as you ascend the sharply winding road to Taunggyi, you can't miss the sign for... more. Cycling from Gwa to Ngapali. October 19, 2018.
Blow for Myanmar's military as rebels say hundreds have surrendered at
Myanmar's military seized power in a coup in February 2021, ousting the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi, a move widely opposed by the public and which plunged the country ...
Myanmar Rebels Take Key Trading Town, but Counteroffensive Looms
April 12, 2024, 6:27 a.m. ET. Resistance forces seeking to oust Myanmar's military regime captured a key trade town on the Thai border this week, one of their most significant gains since the ...
Myanmar troops withdraw from border hub, ethnic rebels say
Myanmar junta troops have withdrawn from their positions in a major trade hub near the Thai border following days of clashes, an ethnic armed group said Thursday, in a further blow to the ...
Myanmar: Ethnic rebels declare control over key border town as 200
Naypyidaw: Myanmar's anti-junta resistance declared that it won control over the critical border town of Myawaddy, adding to the string of wins, in a days-long assault that forced about 200 ...