Myanmar is a favourite for travellers on the Southeast Asia trail at the moment, and its popularity has been growing continually over the last few years, as it recently opened its doors so that tourists can get a glimpse of the history, culture, scenery, and incredible people in this country.
Travelling here can be challenging, especially compared to the well-worn travel route in places like Thailand and Vietnam. Infrastructure is springing into life, and tourists often find it challenging to get from one place to another. For all its difficulties, Myanmar is special, and the energy you expend trying to communicate and dealing with hours of long journeys is well worth it for a trip to this spectacular country.
For all its challenges, travellers who manage to see Myanmar are left with a feeling of accomplishment, and as long as you bring brand new bills, take a couple of backup ATM cards (ATMs are relatively new in Myanmar), and do your research before arriving, you’ll have plenty of interesting stories for friends and family when you return.
To make a positive difference, choose local guesthouses and restaurants, and avoid anything run by the state- pick a bus over the trains etc. This will ensure that your tourist dollars go straight into the hands of locals who can benefit from them, instead of the government.
There are still limitations as to where tourists can travel within Myanmar. The western Chin State, the northern mountainous part, and the southern Tenasserim region and Mon State are typically off-limits for most tourists, unless you can wrangle a government visa (you’ll need to apply in advance).
Here are the top places to visit in Myanmar:
Yangon
It’s likely you’ll fly into Yangon, and this city is big and not yet modernised, with parks, lakes, tree-lined avenues, Victorian buildings and a city centre full of colourful stalls and friendly local vendors. Be sure to visit the Shwedagon Pagoda, which is one of the most prominent landmarks int he country- developments began here more than 2000 years ago.
Bagan
You can easily take a bus from Yangon to Bagan. For those who can sleep on transport, a night bus will mean you can make the most of your time here, although it’s a very bumpy ride since the roads are rough. Bagan was first built in 1044, and there are more than 2000 stupas and temples here, spread over more than 42 kilometres. Hire an electric bike and find a local tour guide who will show you the best places for photos and teach you about the history of each temple.
For those who want an incredible memory to look back on, a hot air balloon ride over the temples at sunrise is sure to be one of your top travel experiences.
Mandalay
Mandalay is a place where you’ll find artisans selling incredible handmade work, and your best bet is to hire a bike and spend some time exploring. Check out Lonely Planet’s recommendations for excellent restaurants here.
Inlet Lake
There are numerous villages here, and they all float on stilts on this wide lake. Gardens are kept in lake beds with bamboo poles, and cauliflowers, chillies, tomatoes, and other vegetables are grown. Talk to the locals here to learn about them, and sail amongst the villages for amazing photo opportunities and to see a glimpse of how the locals live.
