Myanmar (formerly Burma) is one of the best kept secrets of Southeast Asia travel. This is a wild, beautiful country with very friendly people.
Even though it hasn't been spoiled by tourism yet, that may change before long because there are so many amazing things to see here. We felt like time travelers stepping into some of the old temples and ruins of Bagan.
Read through this complete Myanmar travel guide for more info on what to expect!
Burmese; 'Thank you' is 'chay-tzoo-beh'
Buddhism
Kyats & US Dollars
Naypyitaw
VOA or eVisa for 100+ nationalities
Tropical; hot & humid year round
As a tourist, your main airports in Myanmar will be Yangon (code: RGN) and Mandalay (code: MDL). These have lots of direct flights from other countries in Southeast Asia and beyond. There's a small airport in Bagan (NYU), but most people drive there from Mandalay. You can shop for flights to Myanmar on Skyscanner.
In general, Myanmar is a pretty safe travel destination, with a low violent crime rate from the UN of 2.3 per 100k inhabitants (66% lower than the global average). There are a few areas not advised for travel because of unrest, but these are well away from the popular tourist spots. Iβve traveled in many parts of the country and didn't witness any crime. Myanmar got 4.5 million tourist arrivals in 2019.
The climate of Myanmar is tropical, so the weather is hot and humid year round, although the months from November to February are a bit cooler. The rainy season runs from June to September/October. It's still possible to visit Myanmar during the rainy season, but you might want to give yourself some extra days as a buffer in case of bad weather.
Myanmar can be a very cheap place to travel, with hostels and private hotels available from $8 USD. Meals are also cheap, costing about $1 to $3 depending on location. Transportation in Myanmar is generally by motorbike or car, and these can be rented to self drive, but hiring a driver is cheap and often preferable. The Grab transportation app is great for getting around cities like Mandalay.
The best Myanmar tours & activities
My latest blog posts about Myanmar
The forgotten temple city of old Bagan Myanmar is like a bizarre fairytale, with a landscape of mysterious and exotic pagodas that goes beyond just culture shock. …
The awesome Mingun Pagoda (also known as the Pahtodawgyi ruins) is one of the most interesting things to see near Mandalay, Myanmar. This is a giant unfinished …
The Shwezigon Pagoda (also called Shwezigon Paya) is a fantastic gold covered Buddhist temple in Bagan, Myanmar (Burma). This pagoda was built in the 11th century, but …
Anisakan Falls (also known as the Dat Taw Gyaint Waterfall in Burmese) is a nice hike in the mountains of northern Myanmar. This trail is budget friendly, …
Feel free to contact me if you have travel questions, comments, or suggestions!
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