Lonely Planet Myanmar (Burma)
By Simon Richmond, David Eimer, Adam Karlin and
3.5/5
()
About this ebook
Lonely Planet Myanmar (Burma) is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Be dazzled by Buddhist architecture in Yangon, explore Bagan's amazing plain of ancient temples, or hike to the floating gardens and markets of Inle Lake -all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of Myanmar and begin your journey now!
Inside Lonely Planet Myanmar (Burma) Travel Guide:
- Colour maps and images throughout
- Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests
- Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots
- Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices
- Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sight-seeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss
- Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, religion, politics, cuisine, environment, wildlife, architecture, responsible travel, festivals, sport, traditional crafts, dance, theatre, music, literature, cinema
- Over 60 maps
- Covers Yangon, Southern Myanmar, Bagan, Central Myanmar, Yangon-Mandalay Highway, Temples of Bagan, Eastern Myanmar, Inle Lake, Mandalay, Northern Myanmar, Lashio, Myitkyina, Western Myanmar and more
The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet Myanmar (Burma) , our most comprehensive guide to Myanmar, is perfect for both exploring top sights and taking roads less travelled.
Looking for more extensive coverage? Check out Lonely Planet Southeast Asia on a Shoestring guide.
About Lonely Planet: Lonely Planet is a leading travel media company and the world's number one travel guidebook brand, providing both inspiring and trustworthy information for every kind of traveller since 1973. Over the past four decades, we've printed over 145 million guidebooks and phrasebooks for 120 languages, and grown a dedicated, passionate global community of travellers. You'll also find our content online, and in mobile apps, video, 14 languages, 12 international magazines, armchair and lifestyle books, ebooks, and more, enabling you to explore every day. Lonely Planet enables the curious to experience the world fully and to truly get to the heart of the places they find themselves, near or far from home.
TripAdvisor Travelers' Choice Awards 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 winner in Favorite Travel Guide category
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Simon Richmond
Este periodista y fotógrafo se especializó como escritor de viajes a principios de la década de 1990 y trabajó por primera vez para Lonely Planet en 1999 en la guía Central Asia. Simon Richmond ha dejado de contar el número de guías en las que ha colaborado, pero entre los países que ha cubierto figuran Australia, China, la India, Irán, Japón, Corea, Malasia, Mongolia, Myanmar (Birmania), Rusia, Singapur, Sudáfrica y Turquía. Para la página web de Lonely Planet ha escrito artículos sobre temas que van desde las mejores piscinas del mundo a los placeres del USK (boceto urbano). Se le puede seguir en Instagram, donde cuelga sus fotografías y dibujos.
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Lonely Planet Myanmar (Burma) - Simon Richmond
Myanmar
Contents
Plan Your Trip
Welcome to Myanmar
Myanmar's Top 10
Need to Know
What's New
If You Like
Month by Month
Itineraries
Before You Go
Regions at a Glance
On The Road
Yangon
Sights
Activities
Tours
Courses
Festivals & Events
Sleeping
Eating
Drinking & Nightlife
Entertainment
Shopping
Southwestern Myanmar
Thanlyin & Kyauktan
Bago
Pathein
Chaung Tha Beach
Ngwe Saung Beach
Southeastern Myanmar
Southeastern Myanmar Highlights
Mon State
Mt Kyaiktiyo (Golden Rock)
Mawlamyine
Around Mawlamyine
Ye
Kayin State
Hpa-an
Around Hpa-an
Myawaddy
Tanintharyi Region
Dawei
Myeik
Myeik (Mergui) Archipelago
Kawthoung
Bagan & Central Myanmar
Bagan & Central Myanmar Highlights
YangonMandalay Highway
Taungoo (Toungoo)
Nay Pyi Taw
Meiktila
YangonBagan Highway
Pyay
Thayekhittaya (Sri Ksetra)
Magwe
Bagan
Nyaung U
Old Bagan
Myinkaba
New Bagan (Bagan Myothit)
Around Bagan
Mt Popa
Salay
Pakokku
Monywa
Around Monywa
Temples of Bagan
Old Bagan
North Plain
Central Plain
Myinkaba Area
New Bagan Area
South Plain
Nyaung U Area
Eastern Myanmar
Eastern Myanmar Highlights
Inle Lake & Around
Nyaungshwe
Inle Lake
Taunggyi
Pindaya
Kalaw
Thazi
Kyaingtong & Border Areas
Kyaingtong (Kengtung)
Mong La
Tachileik
Kayah State
Loikaw
Mandalay & Around
Mandalay & Around Highlights
Mandalay
Around Mandalay
Amarapura
Inwa (Ava)
Sagaing
Mingun
Paleik
Northern Myanmar
Northern Myanmar Highlights
Mandalay to Lashio
Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo)
Pyin Oo Lwin to Kyaukme
Kyaukme
Hsipaw
Lashio
Mogok
Mandalay to Lashio
Myitkyina
Indawgyi Lake
Bhamo (Banmaw)
Shwegu
Katha
Kyaukmyaung
Shwebo
The Far North
Putao
Western Myanmar
Western Myanmar Highlights
Rakhine State
Ngapali Beach
Kan Thar Ya Beach
Sittwe (Aykab)
Mrauk U
Around Mrauk U
Chin State
Mt Victoria (Nat Ma Taung)
Mindat
Kalaymyo (Kalay)
Tiddim
Rihkhawdar
Falam
Hakha
Understand
Understand Myanmar
Myanmar Today
History
People & Religious Beliefs of Myanmar
Aung San Suu Kyi
Government, the Economy & Human Rights
Eating in Myanmar
Architecture & Arts
Environment & Wildlife
Survive
Responsible Travel
Package Tours
Goods & Services
Social Interactions
Charity & Donations
Volunteerism
Environmental Concerns
Directory AZ
Accommodation
Customs Regulations
Electricity
Embassies & Consulates
Etiquette
GLBTI Travellers
Insurance
Internet Access
Legal Matters
Maps
Meditation Courses
Money
Opening Hours
Photography
Post
Public Holidays
Safe Travel
Telephone
Time
Toilets
Tourist Information
Travel Agencies
Travel with Children
Travellers with Disabilities
Visas
Volunteering
Women Travellers
Work
Transport
Getting There & Away
Getting Around
Health
Before You Go
In Myanmar
Language
Behind the Scenes
Our Writers
Special Features
Temples of Myanmar
Welcome to Myanmar
It's the dawn of a more democratic era in this extraordinary land, where the landscape is scattered with gilded pagodas and the traditional ways of Asia endure.
Golden Wonders
‘This is Burma', wrote Rudyard Kipling. ‘It will be quite unlike any land you know about.’ Amazingly, over a century later, Myanmar retains the power to surprise and delight even the most jaded of travellers. Be dazzled by the 'winking wonder' of Shwedagon Paya. Contemplate the 4000 sacred stupas scattered across the plains of Bagan. Stare in disbelief at the Golden Rock at Mt Kyaiktiyo, teetering impossibly on the edge of a chasm. These are all important Buddhist sights in a country where pious monks are more revered than rock stars.
The New Myanmar
In 2015, Myanmar voted in its first democratically elected government in more than half a century. Sanctions have been dropped and the world is rushing to do business here. Relaxing of censorship has led to an explosion of new media and an astonishing openness in public discussions of once-taboo topics. Swathes of the county, off-limits for years, can now be freely visited. Modern travel conveniences, such as mobile phone coverage and internet access, are now common, but largely confined to the big cities and towns, where the recent economic and social improvements are most obvious.
Traditional Life
In a nation with more than 100 ethnic groups, exploring Myanmar can often feel like you've stumbled into a living edition of the National Geographic, c 1910! For all the momentous recent changes, Myanmar remains at heart a rural nation of traditional values. Everywhere, you'll encounter men wearing skirt-like longyi, both genders smothered in thanakha (traditional make-up) and betel-chewing grannies with mouths full of blood-red juice. People still get around in trishaws and, in rural areas, horse and cart. Drinking tea – a British colonial affectation – is enthusiastically embraced in thousands of traditional teahouses.
Simple Pleasures
Thankfully, the pace of change is not overwhelming, leaving the simple pleasures of travel in Myanmar intact. Drift down the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River in an old river steamer or luxury cruiser. Stake out a slice of beach on the blissful Bay of Bengal. Trek through pine forests to minority villages scattered across the Shan Hills without jostling with scores of fellow travellers. Best of all, you'll encounter locals who are gentle, humorous, engaging, considerate, inquisitive and passionate – they want to play a part in the world, and to know what you make of their world. Now is the time to make that connection.
Mahamuni Paya, Mandalay | SUWATCHAI PLUEMRUETAI / SHUTTERSTOCK ©
Why I Love Myanmar
By Simon Richmond, Writer
It doesn't matter whether this is your first or 51st visit to Myanmar: you won't fail to notice the energy, hope and possibilities for the future that hang in the air. Exiles are returning, joining others in rising to the challenge of bringing their country into the 21st century at the same time as preserving the best of the past. Myanmar has many problems to fix but its people remain as stoic and charming as ever. Slow down, sit, listen and connect with them – it's the best way to appreciate what's truly golden about this land.
Myanmar's Top 10
Shwedagon Paya
Is there a more stunning monument to religion in Southeast Asia? We don’t think so. In fact, the sheer size and mystical aura of Yangon’s (Rangoon's) gilded masterpiece may even cause you to question your inner atheist. But it’s not all about quiet contemplation: Shwedagon Paya is equal parts religious pilgrimage and amusement park, and your visit may coincide with a noisy ordination ceremony or fortune-telling session. If you’re looking for a reason to linger in Yangon before heading elsewhere in the country, this is it.
PATRICK FOTO / SHUTTERSTOCK ©
Top Experiences
Inle Lake
Almost every visitor to Myanmar makes it to Inle Lake and for good reason: vast and serene, the lake is large enough for everyone to come away with their own, unique experience of life here. If you’re counting days, hit the hot spots: the temples, markets and floating gardens. With more time, you can explore the remote corners of the lake, visit the fishing villages around it, or hike in the nearby hills. Whatever you do, the memories of gliding across Inle’s placid waters will stay with you forever.
OCTOBERSONATA / SHUTTERSTOCK ©
Top Experiences
Bagan
Despite damage wrought by the 2016 earthquake, the 3000-plus temples scattered across the plains of Bagan remain an awesome sight. Most of the 11th- to 13th-century vintage temples have been renovated, as Bagan is an active religious site and place of pilgrimage. Yes, there are tour buses and crowds at the top sunset-viewing spots, but they can be avoided. Pedal off on a bike and have your own adventure amid the not-so-ruined temples, or float over the incredible scene in a hot-air balloon.
NICK FOX / SHUTTERSTOCK ©
Top Experiences
Sagaing
A place of pilgrimage for Myanmar Buddhists, Sagaing is an easy day trip from Mandalay. Its stint as a royal capital may have been brief (just four years) but it established itself and endures as an intellectual centre of gravity for Buddhist traditions. The town is dominated by low hills covered by numerous white and gold stupas – a spectacular sight in themselves. But also take time to visited the cave monastery Tilawkaguru, filled with some of the most impressive preserved cave paintings in the country.
CHINNAPHONG MUNGSIRI / GETTY IMAGES ©
Top Experiences
Mawlamyine
A virtual time capsule of the Raj, Mawlamyine has changed little since the colonial era. The former capital of British Burma, Mawlamyine’s mix of historic architecture, imposing churches, hill-top temples and a busy harbour remains so timeless that you can still see why writers George Orwell and Rudyard Kipling drew on the city for inspiration. Surrounding Mawlamyine are tropical islands and deep caves, as well as villages where the area’s unique Mon culture remains strong, yet visitor numbers remain mysteriously low, allowing all the more space for you.
Win Sein Taw Ya | R.M. NUNES / SHUTTERSTOCK ©
Top Experiences
Myeik Archipelago
About 800 barely populated islands with white-sand beaches sitting in a turquoise sea, some of the best diving in the region, roving sea gypsies and barely a hotel or tourist to be seen. It’s hard to believe that a place like the Myeik Archipelago still exists in Southeast Asia. Accessing these gorgeous islands takes time and is not cheap, but those who make the investment will get to live out every beach junkie’s fantasy in one of the last unknown areas of Asia.
ETHAN DANIELS / SHUTTERSTOCK ©
Top Experiences
Mrauk U
The temples, monasteries, ruined palace and crumbling city walls of the former Rakhine capital of Mrauk U stand as a permanent reminder of what a remarkable place it must have been at its zenith in the 16th century. Back then, wide-eyed Western visitors compared the city to London or Venice. But Mrauk U is no museum piece; its temples are surrounded by working villages and emerald-green rice fields. Best of all, Mrauk U sees no more than 5000 foreigners a year, so you’re likely to have this ruined splendour to yourself.
othaung Paya | RAFAL CICHAWA / SHUTTERSTOCK ©
Top Experiences
Hsipaw
Attractive, laid-back Hsipaw is ideally placed for quick, easy hikes into fascinating Shan and Palaung villages, as well as more strenuous ones to barely visited hamlets. The surrounding area feels far less discovered than the treks available around Kalaw, or much of Southeast Asia. Hsipaw itself is a historic town with a royal past – it has its very own Shan palace – and an area known as ‘Little Bagan’, full of ancient stupas. There's also a great morning market by the Dokhtawady River.
SCOTT BIALES / SHUTTERSTOCK ©
Top Experiences
Kalaw
With its cooler temperatures, higher elevations and many locals descended from Nepali Gurkha soldiers, Kalaw boasts an almost Himalayan atmosphere. Unsurprisingly, this is one of the best places in Myanmar for upcountry treks, with the authorities relaxed about foreign visitors getting off the beaten track. As you hike through the Danu, Pa-O and Taung Yo villages that dot the forests, fields, trails and roads that link Kalaw with Inle Lake, you’ll get a real insight into the lives of the hill peoples who populate the area.
OSTILL / SHUTTERSTOCK ©
Top Experiences
Rih Lake
Stranded in splendid isolation on the Myanmar–India border, Rih Lake is small but perfectly formed: a heart-shaped, mystical body of water surrounded by lushly forested hills. As spectacular as the lake is, the rugged journey here through the little-seen mountains, valleys and villages of northern Chin State is also memorable. Only a handful of foreign travellers visit each year, so you are guaranteed attention from the friendly locals. Don’t expect much in the way of comfort, or tourist facilities. Instead, revel in being way off the beaten track.
PHOTO BY NGCHA (OWN WORK) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (HTTP://CREATIVECOMMONS.ORG/LICENSES/ BY-SA/3.0)], VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS ©
Need to Know
Currency
Burmese kyat (K)
Language
Burmese
Visas
Everyone requires a visa. Single-entry tourist visas last 28 days.
Money
Cash mainly. ATMs accepting international cards are available in major cities and tourist areas. Bring pristine US bills for exchange.
Mobile Phones
Mobile phone numbers begin with 09. Prepaid SIM cards are widely available and can be used in unlocked phones. If your handset is locked, it's possible to buy a smartphone in Myanmar for as little as US$80
Time
Myanmar Standard Time (GMT/UTC plus 6½ hours)
When to Go
High Season (Dec–Feb)
A Rains least (if at all, in some places) and is not so hot.
A Book accommodation and transport well ahead for this busy travel season.
Shoulder (Oct & Nov, Mar & Apr)
A March to May, Yangon often reaches 104ºF (40ºC). Areas around Bagan and Mandalay are hotter.
A Cooler in the hill towns of Shan State.
A All forms of transport booked solid during Thingyan in April.
Low Season (May–Sep)
A The southwest monsoon starts mid-May and peaks from July to September.
A The dry zone between Mandalay and Pyay gets the least rain. Rain can make roads impassable anywhere (especially in the delta region).
Useful Websites
Go-Myanmar.com (www.go-myanmar.com) Plenty of up-to-date travel-related information and advice.
Myanmar Tourism Federation (http://myanmar.travel) Inspirational pictures, good background information and travel tips.
Online Burma/Myanmar Library (www.burmalibrary.org) Database of books and past articles on Myanmar.
Ministry of Hotels & Tourism (www.myanmartourism.org) Government department with some useful information.
Myanmar Now (www.myanmar-now.org) News and features site.
Lonely Planet (www.lonelyplanet.com/myanmar) Destination information, hotel bookings, traveller forum and more.
Important Numbers
Exchange Rates
The US dollar is the only foreign currency that’s readily exchanged and/or accepted as payment for goods and services.
For current exchange rates, see www.xe.com.
Daily Costs
Budget: Less than US$50
A Hostel or guesthouse: US$10–30
A Local restaurant or street-stall meal: US$2–5
A Travel on buses: US$1–5
Midrange: US$50–150
A Double room in a midrange hotel: US$50–100
A Two-course meal in midrange restaurant: US$5–10
A Hiring a guide: US$10 per person per day
A Pathein parasol: US$1–20
Top end: More than US$150
A Double room in top-end hotel: US$150–500
A Two-course restaurant meal plus bottle of wine: US$40–70
A Driver and guide: US$100 per day
A Fine lacquerware bowl: US$200
Opening Hours
Government offices and post offices 9.30am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday
Shops 9am to 6pm
Restaurants 11am to 9pm
Cafes and teashops 6am to 6pm
Banks 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
Arriving in Myanmar
Yangon International Airport If you haven’t pre-arranged a transfer with your hotel or travel agent, a taxi from the airport to the city centre will be K8000 to K12,000; it takes 45 minutes to one hour.
Mandalay International Airport A whole/shared taxi into Mandalay costs K12,000/4000 (one hour).
Overland arrival Walk across borders with Thailand at Tachileik–Mae Sai, Myawaddy–Mae Sot, Kawthoung–Ranong and Htee Khee–Phu Nam Ron.
Getting Around
A few remote destinations are accessible only by flight or boat, but many others, including key tourist sites, can be reached by road or rail. Poor and overstretched infrastructure means patience and a tolerance for discomfort are part and parcel of your journey.
Flights Fast; reasonably reliable schedules, but there have been safety issues with some airlines.
Bus Frequent; reliable services, speed depends on state of road; overnight trips save on accommodation.
Car Total flexibility but can be expensive; some destinations require a government-approved guide and driver.
Boat Chance to interact with locals and pleasant sightseeing, but slow and only covers a few destinations.
Train Interaction with locals and countryside views. Can be uncomfortable, slow and suffer long delays.
What's New
E-Visas
E-visas can be used to enter Myanmar not only at international airports in Yangon (Rangoon), Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw, but also at three land border checkpoints, between Myanmar and Thailand: Tachileik, Myawaddy and Kawthaung.
Southern Myanmar Towns
Visit places that have only recently become accessible to overland travellers, such as the charming town of Ye, or Dawei, from where you can access the deserted beaches at Maungmagan.
National Museum
If you're passing through Myanmar's surreal capital Nay Pyi Taw, the enormous National Museum has some beautifully displayed works, particularly from the Bagan period.
Than Daung Gyi
Interact with Kayin locals, stay in a B&B and explore vestiges of old colonial days in the newly accessible hillside village of Than Daung Gyi.
U Thant House
The beautifully restored former home of U Thant in Yangon is a fitting memorial to the UN Secretary-General from 1961 to 1971.
Travel in Chin State
The need for permission to visit much of Chin State has been lifted, allowing access to remote locations, such as heart-shaped Rih Lake.
Death Railway Museum
WWII buffs will want to visit the Death Railway Museum located where the railway, immortalised in the film The Bridge on the River Kwai, ended in Thanbyuzayat.
Buses to Mrauk U
Bus services from Bagan and Mandalay save considerable time and money for travellers wanting to visit this archaeological treasure in Rakhine State.
Werawsana Jade Pagoda
Looking like a giant piece of Burmese kryptonite? The Werawsana Jade Pagoda in Amarapura is built entirely out of this semi-precious stone.
Sailing to Loikaw
Either taking the public ferry or chartering a private boat is a great way to connect Inle Lake and little-visited Loikaw in Kayah State.
Whitewater Rafting in Putao
As the snow-capped Himalayas are more plugged in to the rest of Myanmar with several daily flights to Putao, newcomer Icy Myanmar is offering exhilarating whitewater-rafting trips in the remote north.
If You Like…
Buddhas & Temples
Yangon’s Shwedagon Paya, Mandalay’s Mahamuni Paya and Bagan’s plain of temples shouldn’t be missed, but there are also many other lesser known Buddhist religious sites that will impress you with their beauty and spiritual power.
h6am-9pm) Ride the ferry across the Yangon River to visit Twante and this 2500-year-old pagoda.
Win Sein Taw Ya Gawp at the 560ft-long buddha reclining on the lush hillsides of Yadana Taung, accessible from Mawlamyine.
Mrauk U Fall under the spell of the old Rakhine capital, dotted with ruined and restored temples and monasteries.
Sagaing Leafy paths shade the routes to 500 hilltop and riverside stupas and a community of some 6000 monks and nuns.
Bodhi Tataung The glimmering 424ft standing Buddha here is the second tallest in the world, dominating the landscape for miles around.
Food & Drink
Street eats There are street vendors serving great, cheap snacks and meals everywhere in Myanmar, but the best selection is in Yangon.
Myanmar teahouse Having breakfast or an afternoon snack at a teahouse is a unique experience that provides more than a caffeinated kick.
Toddy Sample this alcoholic drink made from jaggery (palm sugar) on the way to or from Mt Popa.
Red Mountain Estate Pedal to this winery outside Nyaungshwe to sample wine produced from Shan Hills grapes.
Khaung Daing Enjoy dishes made with the village's famous tofu at restaurants here.
Markets & Shopping
Bogyoke Aung San Market Drop by this historic Yangon market for handicrafts from around the country.
Art Gallery of Bagan Watch artisans craft, paint and engrave lacquerware bowls, cups and other ornaments at workshops in Myinkaba and in nearby New Bagan.
Shwe Sar Umbrella Workshop Visit this business to buy the graceful, painted paper umbrellas that are a speciality of Pathein.
Puppets If you enjoyed the classic marionette shows in Mandalay, why not adopt a puppet character of your own?
Gems Markets Mogok's morning and afternoon gems markets make for fascinating people-watching and there's no pressure to buy.
Activities & Adventures
Kalaw Along with Pindaya and Hsipaw, Kalaw is one of the locations in Myanmar for short, easily arranged hill-tribe village treks.
Balloon rides Marvel at Bagan’s temples, bathed in the beautiful light of dawn, from the basket of a hot-air balloon.
Monywa Embarkation point for adventurous travellers seeking to boat-hop the Chindwin River to newly permit-free towns to the north.
Whitewater rafting Contact Icy Myanmar in Putao to arrange rafting trips down the far north's beautiful rivers with rapids mostly of Grades 3 or 4.
Indawgyi Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary There are thrilling bird- and wildlife-spotting opportunities at this northern Myanmar lake.
Mt Victoria Climb this 10,016ft peak in Chin State, Myanmar's second-tallest mountain.
Myeik Archipelago Spectacular diving awaits those adventurous enough to seek out these southern Myanmar islands.
Green Hill Valley Interact gently with retired elephants at this ethically run camp and reforestation project near Kalaw.
Beautiful Landscapes & Views
Inle Lake The hype is justified for this serene lake fringed by marshes, floating gardens, stilt-house villages and Buddhist temples.
Shwesandaw Paya A 10-storey tall, seated buddha watches over Pyay, its hilltop location providing sweeping views of the town.
Mt Zwegabin Get a bird's-eye view from the summit of the tallest of the limestone mountains that ring Hpa-an.
Than Daung Gyi Peaceful hillside village with sweeping views over the surrounding lush forests.
National Landmark Gardens Survey the spectacle of the surreal capital Nay Pyi Taw at these gardens showcasing Myanmar's grandest sites in miniature.
Gokteik Viaduct Peer down on a densely forested ravine as your train rattles over Myanmar's longest and highest railway bridge.
Train crossing the Gokteik Viaduct | SANTIAGO URQUIJO / GETTY IMAGES ©
Ethnic Diversity
Kyaingtong Mingle with Shan and tribal people from the surrounding hills at the central market and twice-weekly water-buffalo market.
Hsipaw Trek out of this low-key country town to encounter Shan and Palaung tribal villagers.
Mawlamyine Soak up the laid-back atmosphere of this tropical town that’s the heart of Mon culture.
Myitkyina Proud of its Kachin culture and host to two huge, colourful tribal festivals, including a new one that reunites Lisu villagers from both sides of the Myanmar–Chinese border.
Loikaw Arrange visits to Kayan villages from the capital of Kayah State, which has only recently opened to visitors.
Myeik In this southern Myanmar port, encounter descendants of Chinese and Indian traders as well as Bamar, Mon and Moken (sea gypsies) people.
Chin State Here the largely Christian Chin people spend Sundays in the region's many churches.
Traditional bracelets worn by Akha women, near Kyaingtong | ALANTOBEY / GETTY IMAGES ©
Month by Month
Top Events
Independence Day, 4 January
Ananda Pahto Festival, January
Water Festival (Thingyan), mid-April
Taungbyone Nat Pwe, August or early September
Tazaungdaing, October or November
January
Peak season and, if Chinese New Year falls within the month, even busier with local tourists and those from the region. Note New Year’s Day is not a public holiday in Myanmar.
z Independence Day
Celebrating the end of colonial rule in Burma, this major public holiday on 4 January is marked by nationwide fairs, including a week-long one at Kandawgyi Lake in Yangon.
z Manao Festival
Costumed dancing, copious drinking of rice beer and 29 cows or buffalo sacrificed to propitiate nat (traditional spirits) are part of this Kachin State Day event, held in Myitkyina on 10 January.
z Ananda Pahto Festival
Stretching over a couple of weeks in January (but sometimes in December, depending on the Myanmar lunar calendar), this is one of the biggest religious festivals in Bagan.
February
A busy travel season, with the weather beginning to get warmer. If Chinese New Year happens to fall in this month, watch out for a boost in travel activity.
z Shwedagon Festival
The lunar month of Tabaung (which can also fall in March) signals the start of the Shwedagon Festival, the largest paya pwe (pagoda festival) in Myanmar.
Paya Pwe
Nearly every active paya (Buddhist temple) or kyaung (Burmese Buddhist monastery) community hosts occasional celebrations of their own, often called paya pwe (pagoda festivals). Many occur on full-moon days and nights from January to March, following the main rice harvest, but the build-up can last for a while. All such festivals follow the 12-month lunar calendar and so their celebration can shift between two months from year to year.
To check dates of these and other festivals, go to the festival calendar of the Britain-Myanmar Society (www.shwepla.net/Calendar/ThinkCal.mv).
March
A great month for travelling around Myanmar, with generally fair weather in most locations and only a low chance of rain.
z Yangon Photo Festival
This celebration of photography (www.yangonphoto.com) is held at Yangon's Institut Française and other venues across the city, and includes exhibitions, a conference and workshops.
April
It’s steaming hot and with many locals off work and on the move during the New Year celebrations, securing transport, booking hotels and even finding a restaurant open for a meal can be tricky.
z Buddha’s Birthday
The full-moon day of Kason (falling in April or May) is celebrated as Buddha’s birthday, the day of his enlightenment and the day he entered nibbana (nirvana). Watering ceremonies are conducted at banyan trees within temple and monastery grounds.
z Water Festival (Thingyan)
Lasting from three days to a week, depending on whether the holiday falls over a weekend, this celebration welcomes in Myanmar’s New Year.
z Dawei Thingyan
The male residents of the tropical seaside town of Dawei (Tavoy) don huge, 13ft bamboo-frame effigies and dance down the streets to the beat of the kalakodaun, an Indian drum.
June
Pack your raincoat and a sturdy umbrella, as Myanmar starts to be doused by monsoon rains. Roads can be flooded and flights to coastal destinations are sharply reduced.
z Start of the Buddhist Rains Retreat
The full moon of Waso is the beginning of the three-month Buddhist Rains Retreat (aka Buddhist Lent), when young men enter monasteries and no marriages take place. Prior to the full-moon day, a robe-offering ceremony to monks is performed.
August
The monsoon is still in full swing so be prepared for damp days and transport hitches.
z Taungbyone Nat Pwe
Myanmar’s most famous animist celebration is held at Taungbyone, 13 miles north of Mandalay, and attracts thousands of revellers, many of them homosexual or transgender.
October
Rain is still a possibility but that means everything is very green – making this a great time to visit Bagan, for example.
z Thadingyut
Marking the end of Buddhist Lent, this festival of lights celebrates the descent of Buddha from heaven. People place candles in their windows and it’s a popular time for weddings and monk pilgrimages.
z Tazaungdaing
The full-moon night of Tazaungmon (which can also fall in November), known as Tazaungdaing, is a second ‘festival of lights’, particularly famous for the fire-balloon competitions in Taunggyi.
November
The start of the main tourist season sees cooler weather and still-lush landscapes.
z National Day
Held on the waning of Tazaungmon (usually in late November), this public holiday celebrates student protests back in 1920, seen as a crucial step on the road to independence.
z Irrawaddy Literary Festival
Launched in Yangon in 2013, since 2014 this festival (www.irrawaddylitfest.com) has been held in Mandalay. Local writers are joined by celebrated international literary and media figures, including the likes of Jung Chang, Fergal Keane and Tan Twan Eng.
December
Peak travel season with many visitors heading to the country over the Christmas–New Year break. Christmas itself is celebrated by many Christian Kayin, Kachin and Chin people.
z Kayin New Year
On the first waxing moon of Pyatho (which can also happen in January), the Kayin New Year is considered a national holiday, with Kayin communities (clustered in Insein near Yangon and Hpa-An) wearing traditional dress.
Itineraries
Myanmar's Highlights
2 Weeks
Myanmar's top locations form the bedrock of this travel plan that includes a train and boat ride as well as downtime beside lovely Inle Lake.
Fly into Yangon where you'll spend your first couple of days acclimatising. Take a walking tour around the historic downtown area, chill out beside Kandawgyi Lake and visit Shwedagon Paya at sunset. Nip across the Yangon River to Dalah, a slice of rural Myanmar.
Board the overnight sleeper train to Mandalay. In three or four days you can see the old capital's sights as well as make day trips to places such as Mingun, home to a giant earthquake-cracked stupa; U Bein's Bridge at Amarapura; and Monywa, where you can climb halfway up inside the world's tallest standing buddha.
Catch the fast boat from Mandalay to Bagan; set aside three days to explore the thousands of ancient temples scattered across the countryside. For amazing views, sign up for a hot-air balloon ride or climb sacred Mt Popa.
Fly to beautiful Inle Lake, where motor-powered dugout canoes take you to floating markets. Make a day trip to the Shwe Oo Min Cave near Pindaya to see 8000 buddha images or arrange some light trekking.
Itineraries
A Month in the Country
4 Weeks
This adventurous south to north itinerary includes activities and a range of transport, and will take to you to tourist hot spots such as Bagan, as well as off-the-beaten-track destinations like Mrauk U.
After a few days acclimatising in Yangon, take an overnight bus to Kayin State's capital, Hpa-an. Give yourself enough time here to climb nearby Mt Zwegabin, or go rock climbing.
Charter a boat for the lovely two-hour river trip to Mawlamyine, a beguiling, melancholic town trapped in a colonial time-warp. Make a few day trips, such as to the coconut-crazy island Bilu Kyun, the giant reclining buddha at Win Sein Taw Ya temple, or Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery, the last resting place of the prisoners who died building the infamous Burma–Siam Railway.
On your way north, pause at the fabulous, golden boulder stupa balanced atop Mt Kyaiktiyo and the old royal capital of Bago, stacked with impressive temples.
Follow the highway north to Myanmar's contemporary capital Nay Pyi Taw, a visit that plunges you into the deepest depths of the bizarre. Hop on the slow train from here to Kalaw, from where you can organise a two-night trek to magical Inle Lake.
Save some time by flying from Heho, Inle Lake's airport, to Mandalay. The former royal capital is a great base for visiting several ancient sites. If Mandalay's heat is getting you down, drive two hours and breathe fresh cool air in the colonial-era getaway of Pyin Oo Lwin.
Take a boat or bus ride west of Mandalay to the remarkable temple-strewn plains of Bagan. A new bus service makes it possible to go directly from here to Mrauk U. Once a powerful, cosmopolitan city, it's now one of Myanmar's most atmospheric backwaters, an idyllic location dotted with hundreds of ancient stupas and monasteries. Reserve a day for another river trip to visit nearby Chin villages.
Take a ferry from Mrauk U to Rakhine State's capital of Sittwe, from where you can fly south for some R&R on beautiful Ngapali Beach. Tan topped up, fly to Yangon where you can do some last-minute sightseeing and shopping, perhaps making a day trip to the Delta town of Twante, or learning how to cook Burmese food.
Plan Your Trip
Before You Go
Although travel here is a breeze compared to the past, Myanmar still isn't a spontaneous destination to visit. Careful pretrip planning, from getting your visa and travel money sorted, to weighing up transport options and arranging any necessary permits and guides, will make your visit here all the smoother.
Predeparture Checklist
Apply for a visa
Book hotels, flights and river cruises
Sort out any necessary permits for travel to restricted areas
Stock up on brand-new US dollar bills
Arrange any necessary vaccinations
Don't Forget
All-purpose electrical-plug adapter
Torch (flashlight) for power blackouts
Warm jacket for chilly overnight bus rides
Flip-flops or sandals
Bug spray
Prescription medicines
Getting Your Visa
Getting a visa is straightforward. The key things to know:
A Everyone requires a visa to visit Myanmar.
A Start the process no later than three weeks before your trip: a month before to be safe.
A If there is no Myanmar embassy or consulate near where you live, it may be possible to apply for a visa online (an e-visa) and pick up the stamp at the airport on arrival.
A Currently e-visas can also be used at three borders between Myanmar and Thailand: Tachileik, Myawaddy and Kawthaung.
Travel Restrictions & Arranging Permits
Much of Myanmar needs no prior permission to visit, but some areas are completely off limits and others require permits. When securing such permission consider the following:
A It takes time – plan on a minimum of at least two weeks. Permission may come more quickly but sometimes takes longer.
A Applications should be made via specialist travel agencies who will arrange the permit as part of a package tour, which will generally include accommodation, a licensed tourist guide, a car and driver (with their meal and accommodation covered, too).
A You will need to pay fees that are part of the tour package; these can cost anything from US$200 to US$1000 per day depending on what you plan to do.
Check with your country's government travel advice and also double-check with local travel agencies.
Restricted Areas
In January 2013, government bans on travel to restricted areas of Myanmar, including places in Chin, Kayah, Kayin, Shan and Kachin states, were partially lifted. For a map of where you can travel freely and where you need government permission, see www.tourismtransparency.org/no-go-zones-changes.
Confusion over the rules has led to some travellers being turned back from some areas, so make thorough inquiries before you set out and, if possible, travel in the company of a Burmese speaker.
Some restrictions still apply, including to the following destinations, which are of interest to travellers and for which you will need a permit:
Chin State Paletwa and Matupi
Kachin State Bhamo
Mandalay Region Mogok
Shan State Taunggyi to Kyaingtong overland
Woman in a Chin village | TANAKORN PUSSAWONG / SHUTTERSTOCK ©
BURMA OR MYANMAR?
When in 1989 the military junta ditched Burma (along with all other colonial-era place names, such as Rangoon, Pagan, Bassein and Arakan) in favour of Myanmar, the reasoning was that this name was more inclusive of the nation's diverse ethnic population. That was a spurious argument since both Burma and Myanmar have the same etymological roots in the Burmese language: the former is the spoken name, the latter is how the name is written in Bamar.
During the years of military dictatorship, what to call the country was highly politicised, democracy supporters favouring Burma. However, today, that polarisation is fading into the past. Aung San Suu Kyi, addressing some of the nation's diplomats in her role as Foreign Minister in April 2016, said they could call the country either Burma or Myanmar. Although accustomed to calling it Burma herself, she vowed to sometimes use Myanmar – all in the spirit of diplomacy!
We use Myanmar as the default name for the country, with Burma used for periods before 1989 and when it's the name of an organisation, eg Burma Campaign UK. 'Burmese' is used for the Bamar people (not for all of the country's population, which we term 'the people of Myanmar'), the food and the language.
Choosing Accommodation
Bookings for most accommodation in Myanmar can be made directly online with the establishment or via local travel agents. Advance bookings are strongly advised for the busiest holiday season from December through to February.
Staying in a monastery is usually only possible at those that run meditation courses for foreign students.
Online accommodation rental operations, such as Airbnb, do have some listings for Myanmar, but note it's currently illegal to stay in a private home.
Family-Run Guesthouses
Often with just five or so rooms and a lounge, which are shared with three or four generations of a family, these budget-level guesthouses can be a highlight of your trip, offering connections with local life and inexpensive deals (under US$20 for a double). Most rooms come with a fan or some sort of air-conditioning unit, though electricity frequently cuts out after midnight. Some guesthouses are better than others, however, and like budget hotels, you'll find some with squashed mosquitoes left on the walls.
Budget Hotels
In many towns, your only options will be a couple of four-storey, modern hotels. In some hotels you will find dark cell-like rooms with a shared bathroom on the ground floor (usually for locals only), and two types of nicer rooms on upper floors. Some have lifts. Some keep their generators on 24 hours; others just for a few hours at night and in the morning. Most cost US$20 to US$50 for a double.
Have a look before taking the higher-priced 'deluxe' rooms; they often cost an extra US$10 for a refrigerator and writing desk that you may not use. Other deluxe rooms offer more space, nicer flooring and maybe satellite TV.
Midrange & Top-End
Upper-midrange and top-end hotels vary widely in terms of quality and value for money. There are few genuine boutique hotels, for example. When making your choice, ask about the hotel's commitment to local and sustainable issues, such as its employment practices and whether funds are provided for community projects and local charities.
Red Mountain Estate, Nyaungshwe | WOJTEK CHMIELEWSKI / SHUTTERSTOCK ©
Transport Options
For some destinations in Myanmar you'll have no option but to fly. For others, depending on the time you have available, there's the choice also of rail, road and – in a few cases – boat. Using a mix of transport types is a great way to get the most out of your time in Myanmar, with trains and government-run ferries being best for interaction with locals.
Bookings are fairly straightforward. All domestic airlines provide online booking and it's also possible to book online for bus and train tickets via travel agencies.
Government-run ferries are becoming less common as a way to get around, although there are some private boat services in certain locations. For anything approaching comfortable travel on Myanmar's rivers, the only option is a luxury cruise.
If time is limited but you want to cover plenty of ground, consider hiring a car and driver. Self-drive isn't really an option, although in a few locations, such as Mandalay, you can hire motorbikes.
Train travel is not a good option if you are on a tight schedule – they are notorious for long delays.
Boat
A cruise along Myanmar's major rivers is the stuff of many travellers' dreams, a chance to soak up Myanmar's largely unsullied landscape and lifestyle in all its lush glory. The main drawback of this mode of travel is speed – or lack thereof. Boat trips for many routes are loosely scheduled in terms of days, not hours. Make sure you bring plenty of diversions and/or a willingness to make conversation with fellow passengers.
The level of comfort on the boats depends on your budget. IWT ferries and private boats may be relatively inexpensive but you get what you pay for – they are very low on frills and highly uncomfortable for lengthy journeys. You certainly won't go hungry, though, as all long-distance ferries have an on-board cook and are visited at most stops by a variety of locals selling food and drink.
For comforts, such as a bed with a mattress and fully plumbed bathroom, your only option will be to join a cruise on a luxury boat. Rates will usually include all meals and excursions from the boat. The starting point for most trips is either Bagan or Mandalay, but occasionally itineraries originate in Yangon.
Sunset cruise on the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River in Bagan | JPRICHARD / SHUTTERSTOCK ©
Routes
There are 5000 miles of navigable river in Myanmar, with the most important river being the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy). Even in the dry season, boats can travel from the delta region (dodging exposed sandbars) all the way north to Bhamo, and in the wet they can reach Myitkyina.
The ability of you being able to make such a journey, though, is another matter, as foreigners are barred from certain routes – at the time of research, for example, it was not possible for foreign visitors to travel on any boats heading into or out of Myitkyina. This situation may change in the future.
The key riverboat routes that can be built into a travel itinerary include the following:
A Yangon–Mandalay Rarely offered route on luxury cruises.
A Mandalay–Bagan On the IWT ferry or private boats.
A Mandalay–Bhamo–Katha A few private fast-boat services, but mostly done on the IWT.
A Mawlamyine–Hpa-an By private boat.
A Sittwe–Mrauk U By private boats or IWT ferry.
A Khamti–Monywa Chindwin River route on IWT ferries and private boats. A few luxury boats also sail along the Chindwin.
One other key thing to keep in mind is the direction in which to travel. Journeys heading north (ie against the flow of the river) take days longer than those going south with the river – this is especially the case on the lumbering IWT ferries.
TRANSPORT COMPARISON TABLE
Organised Tours
There are hundreds of businesses across Myanmar calling themselves travel agencies, but only a handful can be considered full-service, experienced tour agencies, with a track record of arranging visits to all corners of the country.
Joining an organised tour is seldom necessary, nor ideally the best way to see Myanmar. If your travel plans are straightforward, it's very easy to make your own arrangements.
However, for certain parts of the country that require permits or for off-the-beaten track travel plans, specific interests and adventure activities, the services of a reputable agency come into their own.
See travel agencies and specific destinations for listings.
Arranging Private Guides
If you're used to having a car at the airport waiting for you, and guides showing you where to go, either contact a Myanmar-based travel agent before a trip, or give yourself a couple of days to do so once you arrive. Travel agencies and often hotels can help set up private guides and transport.
Ask to pay as you go to ensure that your money is spread out and to use different guides at each destination rather than one guide for the whole trip. Talk with more than one agent, telling them what you want, to gauge offers.
Some agents are keen to ensure you have adequate travel insurance covering medical emergencies for your trip. Their concerns are well founded, as quality medical care in Myanmar isn't readily available. An insurance policy that covers medi-vac is wise.
Activities
If you're planning a trekking or diving trip to Myanmar, it's best to check well in advance with operators about your preferred dates and how this fits into local weather patterns and the possibility of joining an organised tour or not. For example, diving is restricted to the dry season, ie between November and April.
Likewise, most river cruises are not scheduled during the wet season from April to the end of September, and you won't be able to go hot-air ballooning during this season either.
Reclining Buddha near Kyaikthanlan Paya | JEAN-PHILIPPE TOURNUT / GETTY IMAGES ©
Money Tips
In the vast majority of cases you'll be paying for everything in cash – typically Myanmar's local currency, kyat, but sometimes US dollars. If you're dealing with a travel agent, you can usually pay in advance for some of your expenses (hotels, transport), on top of which a processing fee of around 5% may be charged.
Although banks and moneychangers have been instructed by the government to accept all dollars whatever their age and condition, you'll run into far fewer problems if you bring brand-new greenbacks for exchange to kyat: this means bills from 2006 or later that are in mint condition, ie no folds, stamps, stains, writing or tears. Keep them in a flat wallet as you travel.
ATMs accepting international cards are common in cities and major towns (but not elsewhere). A few places such as hotels, tourist restaurants and shops also take credit cards. But with dodgy power supplies and telecommunications, such electronic means of payment cannot be guaranteed – so come prepared with plenty of cash.
What to Wear
Unless you are planning a luxury cruise along one of the country's rivers, it's unlikely you'll need anything formal or fancy to wear. The key things to remember are that you will be taking your shoes on and off quite a lot to visit temples, enter homes etc, so flip-flops or sandals are recommended. Also, both men and women should respectfully keep their legs and upper bodies fully clothed when visiting religious buildings – a longyi (sarong) or shawl can work for a quick cover-up in such cases.
If you're visiting any of Myanmar's higher-altitude areas, bring warm clothes to counter cooler temperatures and chilly nights.
TRAVEL LITERATURE
The Trouser People (Andrew Marshall; 2012) The new edition includes Marshall's eyewitness account of the 2007 Saffron Revolution.
Golden Earth (Norman Lewis; 1952) What's amazing about Lewis' vivid account of travelling in the turbulent Burma of 1951 is how little some things have changed.
Finding George Orwell in Burma (Emma Larkin; 2004) Perceptive account contrasting Orwell's time in Burma as a colonial policeman with Larkin's own travels in the modern era.
Regions at a Glance
Yangon
Paya Pilgrimages
Yangon's unmissable Shwedagon Paya, Bago's plethora of temples, the water-bound Yele Paya at Kyauktan and Pathein's Shwemokhtaw Paya make the entire region perfect for those with a passion for paya.
Arts, Crafts & Markets
Yangon offers a growing range of shops stocked with quality handicrafts, quirky cultural items and genuine antiques. In particular, look out for interesting and affordable contemporary art and crafts from socially responsible businesses. The city's open-air fresh-produce markets are also vibrant and great for browsing and photo ops.
Diverse Cuisines
Offering the country's best selection of Burmese and international food, Yangon's dynamic restaurant scene covers an ever-expanding range of cuisines – everything from Indian nibbles to Shan noodles to Mexican and Japanese. The more adventurous will want to sample the city's multiple street-food offerings.
Regions at a Glance
Southwestern Myanmar
Temples Galore
Bago (Pegu) alone could probably win the temple stakes for just about any city in Myanmar, but the water-bound Yele Paya at Kyauktan and the Shwemokhtaw Paya in Pathein make the entire region an area worth investigating for temple freaks.
Easy Access Beaches
Chaung Tha Beach and Ngwe Saung Beach probably won’t fit everybody’s notion of a picture-postcard desert beach, but they’re clean, sunny and the easiest beaches to reach in Myanmar.
Myanmar Handicrafts
View Myanmar's famed silk and cotton parasols being created at workshops in Pathein. Twante's Oh-Bo Pottery Sheds turn out clay containers of varying shapes and sizes.
Regions at a Glance
Southeastern Myanmar
Myeik Archipelago
Southern Myanmar's Myeik Archipelago covers more than 800 largely uninhabited islands, making it the country's, if not mainland Southeast Asia's, ultimate beach destination.
Mt Kyaiktiyo (Golden Rock)
There are enough temples in and around Mawlamyine alone to keep you busy for a lifetime, but the indisputable highlight of the region is Mt Kyaiktiyo (Golden Rock) – a must-do religious pilgrimage for everyone in Myanmar.
Mon People
You will probably never have heard of the Mon people before, so let one of the excellent Mawlamyine-based guides introduce you to the culture via the area's tidy sugar-palm-lined towns, seaside temples and island-bound villages.
Regions at a Glance
Bagan & Central Myanmar
Paya Beyond Bagan
You’ll find thousands of temples in Bagan, but also worth seeking out are the Nat shrine at Mt Popa and the pilgrimage temples of Shwesandaw Paya in Taungoo, Shwesandaw Paya in Pyay and Shwemyetman Paya in Shwedaung.
Lacquerware & Blankets
Bagan is also famous for its exquisitely decorated lacquerware; watch artisans create it in workshops in Myinkaba and New Bagan. Across the Ayeyarwady River, Pakokku is famous for its patterned blankets.
Panoramic Views
Get an eyeful of the countryside from atop the temple at Mt Popa's summit or from one of the hot-air balloons flying over Bagan at dawn.
Regions at a Glance
Eastern Myanmar
Boat Rides & Hiking
Tramping between tea plantations in Pindaya; buzzing around in a boat on Inle Lake; scaling mountains outside Kalaw; visiting a Loi longhouse outside Kyaingtong...just a few of the outdoor pursuits possible in eastern Myanmar.
Shan & Pa-O People
The country’s far east boasts exceptional cultural diversity – even by Myanmar standards. Learn about Pa-O culture around Inle Lake, or about Shan culture and language and their similarities with those of neighbouring Thailand in Kyaingtong.
Authentic Shan Food
From shàn k’auq·s’wèh, Shan-style noodle soup, to ngà t’ămìn jin, a turmeric-tinged rice dish, a stay in eastern Myanmar is your chance to try authentic Shan food at the source.
Regions at a Glance
Mandalay & Around
Ancient Stupas & Temples
Arguably more interesting than Mandalay's fine monastic buildings are the older stupas and temples on the sites of several older former capitals, including what would have been the world’s biggest stupa (Mingun) had it been finished.
Performing Arts
Myanmar’s cultural capital offers intimate traditional dance performances, marionette shows and the famed Moustache Brothers’ vaudevillian rants.
Upper Burmese Cuisine
Mandalay is a great destination for cheap Upper Burmese cuisine, which fans say is heartier than Yangon food. A high population of expat Chinese has blessed the city with a slew of excellent Chinese eateries.
Regions at a Glance
Northern Myanmar
Himalayan Hiking
Hike to unspoilt hill-tribe villages that are easily accessible on short hikes from Hsipaw and Kyaukme. Given permits and a bigger budget, intrepid travellers can trek deep into Myanmar’s Himalayan foothills from Putao.
Meet Myanmar's Minority People
Immerse yourself in the region's fascinating cultural mix, including Chinese-influenced Lashio, Shan and Palaung villages around Hsipaw, and the Kachin capital Myitkyina, home to two of Myanmar’s biggest and most colourful ‘minority’ festivals.
River Trips
You'll hardly see another foreigner on the no-frills public boats chugging down the Ayeyarwady River. Or for more of a rush, consider a whitewater-rafting trip on the dramatic Malikha River near Putao.
Regions at a Glance
Western Myanmar
Ancient Palaces & Teak Monasteries
Temples and a ruined palace are scattered across the lush hillsides of the old Rakhine capital of Mrauk U. Sittwe’s giant Lokananda Paya and the teak buildings of the Shwezedi Kyaung monastic complex are also worth searching out.
Ngapali Beach
Idyllic stretches of palm-fringed sand hardly come more perfectly formed than those of Ngapali Beach.
Mountain Hikes
Brave the rough roads of Chin State as they wind up to 8000ft or more and hike to the summits of Mt Victoria and Mt Kennedy, passing through Chin villages where the way of life has barely changed in centuries.
Yangon
Sights
Activities
Tours
Courses
Festivals & Events
Sleeping
Eating
Drinking & Nightlife
Entertainment
Shopping
Yangon
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Why Go?
With former political exiles, big-time investors and free-wheeling adventurers all jostling for a place at the city's table, Yangon is currently the most exciting place to be in Myanmar. Once known as Rangoon, the country's largest metropolis is also its commercial and intellectual hub. And it's reaping the benefits of Myanmar's recent political and economic liberalisation. Decaying buildings and monuments are being spruced up. There's a rash of new restaurants, bars and shops. And there are building sites – and traffic jams – everywhere.
What really matters here, though, is what has always mattered, starting with the awe-inspiring Buddhist monument Shwedagon Paya, a golden pinnacle around which everything else revolves. Equally attractive is downtown Yangon, its pavements teeming with food and book vendors; colourful open-air markets; neighbouring temples, mosques and churches (living proof of the city's cosmopolitanism); and some of Southeast Asia's most impressive colonial architecture.
When to Go
Oct–Feb Daytime heat is tolerable and evenings are often cool.
Mar–May Hottest time of year. April's Water Festival (Thingyan) can cause disruption to travel arrangements.
Jun–Sep Wet season, but showers are often short and shouldn’t inconvenience your visit; hotels are cheaper.
Best Places to Eat
A Rangoon Tea House
A Pansuriya
A Feel Myanmar Food
A Green Gallery
A Rau Ram
A Le Planteur
Best Places to Sleep
A Loft Hotel
A Alamanda Inn
A Belmond Governor’s Residence
A Yama Dormitory
A Pickled Tea Hostel
A Sule Shangri-la
Yangon Highlights
1 Shwedagon Paya Offering a slack-jawed prayer of wonder at the pyramid of gold that is the Burma of old.
2 Htwe Oo Myanmar Traditional Puppet Theatre Being charmed by a puppet performance.
3 National Museum Witnessing the treasures of Myanmar’s past at the National Museum, which is in the process of being upgraded.
4 Dalah Riding the ferry across the Yangon River to the rural neighbourhood of Dalah, best explored on a bicycle or photography tour.
5 Kandawgyi Lake Taking an early-morning or evening stroll on the boardwalk around the lake.
6 Chaukhtatgyi Paya Admiring the giant reclining Buddha.
7 Hla Day Shopping for souvenirs at social-enterprise shops.
8 Markets Getting off the beaten track at Yangon's sensory-stimulating fish, coconut and banana markets.
Yangon
History
In 1755 King Alaungpaya conquered central Myanmar and built a new city at Dagon, a village that had existed for centuries around the Shwedagon Paya. He renamed the place Yangon, meaning ‘end of strife’, and, a year later, following the destruction of Thanlyin (Syriam) across the river, built it up into an important seaport.
In 1841 the city was virtually destroyed by fire; the rebuilt town again suffered extensive damage during the Second Anglo-Burmese War in 1852. The British, the new masters, renamed the city Rangoon (a corruption of Yangon) and mapped out a grand building plan for what would become the capital of their imperial colony.
By the 1920s Rangoon was thriving as a port and key stopover point for steamships in the region; notable international visitors included Rudyard Kipling, W Somerset Maugham, Aldous Huxley and HG Wells. In 1937 Amelia Earhart dropped in during the second of her attempts to fly around the world.
The city was also the spawning ground for Burmese independence. When that independence came in 1948, Rangoon continued as the nation's capital. However, its fortunes took a turn for the worse when military rule was imposed in 1962. The Burmese road to socialism as promulgated by General Ne Win and his cohorts drove Rangoon, like the rest of the country, to the brink of ruin.
In 1989 the junta decreed the city would once again be known as Yangon. Six years later the military announced that the newly constructed city of Nay Pyi Taw in central Myanmar was to be the nation’s capital. Yangon again suffered as government ministries departed from the downtown area, leaving behind empty and uncared for state-owned buildings.
In late 2007 Yangon was the centre of huge nationwide fuel protests, which were led by Buddhist monks. The protests quickly escalated into antigovernment demonstrations, which resulted in the deaths of many protestors and worldwide condemnation.
In May 2008 the worst natural disaster in Myanmar’s recent history, Cyclone Nargis, hit the south of the country. Yangon was declared a disaster area by the government. However, when reconstruction work began, it was found that most of the city had escaped major structural damage. By mid-June 2008, electricity and telecommunications were back to normal, and shops and restaurants had reopened with brand-new, corrugated-tin roofs.
Since the 2010 elections, Yangon's fortunes have skyrocketed along with its land prices, as both local and foreign investors scramble to grab a foothold here. A game-changer will be the Yangon–Dalah bridge connecting the city's downtown to rural areas across the Yangon River: ground was broken on this in 2016 with the aim of completing the crossing by 2020.
In the meantime, decades of economic stagnation and under-investment are only too apparent in the city's slums and creaking, frequently overwhelmed infrastructure – something you'll quickly realise as you crawl into town in a taxi from the airport.
1 Sights
Yangon is divided into 33 townships and addresses are usually suffixed with these (eg 3 Win Gabar Lane, Bahan).
Back in the mists of time, Yangon was a village centred on Shwedagon Paya, but the British shifted its centre south towards Yangon River. This is Downtown Yangon. Shwedagon and nearby Kandawgyi Lake are covered mainly by Dagon and Bahan townships; in the latter is the area referred to as Golden Valley, a choice address for the city's moneyed elite.
Further north are more leafy areas surrounding Inya Lake and stretching up to Yangon International Airport. The city's townships also spill south across the Yangon River to Dalah.
Downtown East
1 Top Sights
1 Botataung Paya E6
1 Sights
2 491-501 Merchant St B5
3 Armenian Apostolic Church of St John the Baptist B5
4 Ayeyarwady Bank A4
5 City Hall A4
6 Customs House A6
7 High Court A5
8 Immanuel Baptist Church A5
9 Independence Monument A5
10 Inland