MYANMAR TRAVEL GUIDE
Plan your trip to Myanmar
I was able to visit Myanmar alone for two weeks. If I had to describe the country in one word, I would describe it as a magical place. The moment you set foot in ancient Burma you will feel a special energy. That feeling will last for the remainder of your trip. You’ll be able to enjoy the sunrises in Bagan and the serenity of Inle Lake. Myanmar is full of treasures!
Myanmar is currently suffering social and political instability. The crisis generated by the 2021 coup, along with the global pandemic situation, makes it impossible to visit Myanmar today. I hope that the conflict ends and leads to peace and well-being for the Burmese people as soon as possible.
LANGUAGE
Burmese.
CURRENCY
Myanmar kyat.
1USD equals 1.772 MMK.
BEST TIME TO VISIT
From October to May.
TRAVEL TO MYANMAR
Basic tips
In this Myanmar travel guide you’ll find all my blog posts with information about the country. Thanks to the information and my experiences that’ll share with you, you’ll be able to plan your trip to Myanmar.
PLACES TO VISIT IN MYANMAR
Tips for every destination
Bagan is Myanmar’s main tourist attraction; however, Myanmar has many other interesting places to visit. Although, to be honest, once you visit Bagan, you’ll understand why this part of the country is the most popular. Those sunrises full of balloons over a horizon with hundreds of temples and pagodas are memorable.
As for cities, I recommend visiting Yangon and Mandalay. Yangon, also known as Rangoon, was the capital of Myanmar from 1948 to 2006. Today the capital is Naypyidaw. In Yangon you can find the Shwedagon Pagoda which is the most important in the country. Mandalay is also a very interesting city, it has many places to visit.
Inle Lake is one of the most charming and magical places in Myanmar. A boat ride on the lake will take you through beautiful natural landscapes and bring you closer to the interesting culture of the country. The main town in the area is Nyaungshwe.
Other places that you may not want to miss in Myanmar are Pyin Oo Lwin, Kalaw, Ngapali, Kyaiktiyo Pagoda, Hsipaw or Hpa-An.
Below you can find my published blog posts about the different areas of Myanmar.
BAGAN
Bagan looks like a place straight out of a dream. Its sunrises and sunsets will blow your mind. The hundreds of temples and pagodas stand out in this area of Myanmar. It is impossible to visit them all. However, some of the ones you must visit are: Ananda, Shwezigon, Dhammayangyi, Sulamani, Dhammayangyi, Dhammayazaka…
If you visit Bagan, you must fly over all these temples in a balloon ride at sunrise. It will be one of the most amazing moments of your life! Trust me! Since you will be in Bagan, you should also consider visiting Mount Popa.
INLE LAKE
Inle Lake was the last place I visited on my trip to Myanmar. I wasn’t expecting much from this part of the country, and yet I really enjoyed it. The most common activity is taking a boat ride on Inle Lake. During the tour, you are taken to different areas and markets on the lake, giving you an idea of what local life is like in the area. They also take you to Shwe Inn Dein Pagoda which is incredible.
I also rented a bike and explored Nyaungshwe, the main town, and the surroundings of the lake on my own. It was a wonderful experience.
MANDALAY
Visiting Mandalay is a must for anyone traveling to Myanmar. It is the second largest city in the country. Many tourists decide to skip it but Mandalay and its surroundings are incredible. What I enjoyed the most about trip to Mandalay was taking the boat to cross the Irrawaddy River and visit Mingun.
Other places to visit in Mandalay are the U Bein Bridge (I recommend going at sunset), Kuthodaw Pagoda, Sagaing Hill or the Royal Palace of Mandalay. Near the city, you can also visit Inwa and Sagaing.
YANGON
Yangon is usually the starting point for any trip through Myanmar, as it is where the main airpot is located. You must visit Shwedagon Pagoda, the most important pagoda in Myanmar. The main stupa is 100 meters high and is covered in gold. It is a place where you feel a very strong positive energy.
Other places to visit in Yangon are Chinatown, Sule Pagoda, Chaukhtatgyi Buddha Temple, Swe Taw Myat Pagoda and Botataung Pagoda. Do not forget to walk around the Kandawgyi Lake.