Top Things to Do in Myanmar
Formerly referred to as Burma, Myanmar is a country in Southeast Asia that is slowly obtaining appeal among travelers. Due to great ease of access from land borders, vacationers from Thailand and the rest of its neighboring nations in Southeast Asia frequently frequent these lands trying to find off-the-beaten-path adventures.
Although not huge, there are still heaps of areas to see in Myanmar Amazing historical sites, beautiful all-natural landscapes, and also a wide range of cultural sites, Myanmar is a country that I urge everybody to put on their bucket lists. Right here's a checklist of locations in Myanmar (Burma) that deserve visiting.
Places to Visit in Myanmar.
Yangon
The capital city of Myanmar, Yangon is growing to be a hectic urban city where old colonial structures meet ancient pagodas. There are sights like the Shwedagon Pagoda which is just one of one of the most essential historic sights in all of Myanmar. The round train is additionally an incredible experience where you can observe the local culture.
Sule Pagoda and Shwendagon Pagoda
Recognized for its mystical pagodas, no journey to Myanmar is complete without visiting Sule Pagoda and also Shwendagon Pagoda. These two pagodas are so stunning, especially throughout daybreak as well as sunset.
Sule is smack in the centerof Yangon. It is 48 meters high as well as was used by the British as the nucleus of their grid pattern plan for Burma in the 1880s. Sule, unlike various other pagodas, is a octagonal-shaped pagoda.
The 2,500 years old Shwedagon Pagoda enshrines strands of Buddha's hair and also other divine relics. It is a need to visit. Shwedagon Pagoda is covered with thousands of gold plates as well as its stupa is encrusted with 4531 diamonds.
Ride Yangon's Circular Railway
The Yangon Circular Train is something you absolutely have to experience. You will not just experience a day in the life of locals, yet also reach take outstanding photos of the outskirts of the city.
You'll see individuals moving up as well as down the train selling things, and likewise meet individuals of all kinds hopping on and off the trains. Business people, market wholesalers ... it is among those points that allows you to experience Myanmar of what it actually is.
Outside Yangon
Mt Kyaiktiyo Pagoda (Golden Rock)
Image Credits: World Atlas.
Mt Kyaiktiyo is a popular pilgrimage trip for devout Burmese Buddhists and is frequently full of devotees who travel from around the country to admire this religious site. From Yangon, this golden rock is accessible by bus or train.
The pagoda itself is comprised of a huge gold boulder which is balancing beside the high cliff. We advise checking out during sundown as the gold rock glows, even more, when the sky turns into different shades of orange and purple. Although it is a religious site, it has likewise come to be extremely commercialized yet however, a view to see.
Where to stay in Yangon
Budget: Little Yangon Hostel
Budget: Pickled Tea Hostel
Mid-Range: Jasmine Palace Hotel
Mid-Range: Hotel Grand United (21st Century Downtown)
Luxury: Sule Shangri-La
Luxury: The Savoy
Reaching Yangon.
By Air: Yangon has an international airport terminal and also offers the largest number of destinations both within and outside the nation.
By bus: Yangon is additionally effectively connected by both bus and train routes. It's from Yangon that you will certainly have the greatest choice of locations to travel to.
By train: Yangon is a major stop on the nation's train system. Do know that trains are not what you would certainly discover in developed countries. There are hard seats and no or insufficient air conditioning. Train travel is likewise a lot slower than bus. Nonetheless, if you desire a local experience, train is the method to go.
Bago
If you seek even more pagodas, an impressive reclining Buddha and also a wine monastery, you will intend to travel to Bago.
Bago is just a couple of hrs away from Yangon, making it a simple day trip.
According to tale, the Buddha who as soon as travelled in the location saw a number of Hintha birds flying across the waters searching for a resting area. The male bird came down on the only available area which was just large enough for one bird, whereupon the female perched on top of the male bird. Upon seeing this, the Buddha foretold that one day a city would certainly succeed at this area.
Shwemawdaw Pagoda.
Called the "Gold Temple" this stupa is the tallest in Burma.
Credits: Wikipedia.
Kyaik Pun Paya
This is residence to the well-known 4 Seated Buddha shrine.
Credits: 123RF. com.
Shwethalyaung Buddha
Among the largest lying Buddha images in Myanmar.
Credits: Renown-travel.com.
Bagan
Popularized by the many sweeping pagodas as well as stupas, Bagan is a cultural joy and is considered a have to go to by everyone that comes to this nation. With over 2000 ancient ruins, you can spend a few days traveling around the location going from one archaeological site to the next. If you're seeking a magical experience, you can ride a hot air balloon over the temples during daybreak. The sunlight glimmering as it rises on top of these ancient ruins is a sight to see as well as is something that deserves doing during your time there.
Besides seeing the ancient ruins, you can also check out Mount Popa and the monk monasteries.
Mount Popa
Where to stay in Bagan
Budget: Ostello Bello, Bagan
Mid-Range: The Hotel at Tharabar Gate
Luxury: Bagan Lodge
Getting to Bagan
By Air: The nearest flight terminal is Nyaung U, which is simply a number of miles from old Bagan. It is a domestic terminal only.
By bus: Bagan is well linked by bus:
Inle Lake (10 hrs).
Yangon (9 hours).
Mandalay (7 hours).
By train: Bagan is on Myanmar's rail network and also you can connect with Yangon (16 hours) or Mandalay (8 hrs).
Inle Lake
Take a day trip on the lovely Inle Lake discovering the waterways with its stilt homes, markets, floating gardens, pagodas, local traders as well as dining establishments. This is a great place to see the sun set as well as the sun rise over the water. Seeing exactly how the citizens in Inle fish using conical sphere like nets as they guide their boat with one foot is additionally instead entertaining to enjoy.
Where to stay in Inle Lake
A lot of the lodging is located in nearby Nyuangshwe with a range of budget to deluxe alternatives. You can likewise think about at least one evening on the lake for the daybreak as well as sunset views.
Budget: Ostello Bello Hostel Nyangshwe
Budget: Song of Travel Hostel Nyangshwe
Mid-Range: Thanakha Inle Hotel Nyangshwe
Mid-Range: Aureum Palace Resort & Spa Inle Nyangshwe
High-end on the Lake: Golden Island Cottages on Inle Lake
High-end in Nyuangshwe: La Maison Birmane Boutique
Getting to Inle Lake
By Air: The closest flight terminal is Heho, which is about 45-60 mins' trip from Nyangshwe through winding mountain roadways. Expect to pay around $20 for your taxi (among the very best bargains you'll get in Myanmar for a taxi trip). Heho is a domestic terminal only. A stay on the lake is about another 20 mins away from Nyuangshwe by boat (or another 40 or so mins by road).
By bus: Inle Lake is well connected with buses travelling from:
Yangon (13 hrs)
Mandalay (10 hours)
Bagan (10 hrs)
By train: Inle Lake is not on Myanmar's rail network.
Hiking from Kalaw to Inle Lake
From being outside, enjoying the unbelievable landscape, to staying in a local family's home as well as tucking into some home-cooked food, there's a great deal to like concerning it. The most typical expeditions are either 2 or 4 days long.
Getting to Kalaw: Many people begin in Kalaw and also trip to Inle Lake as opposed to the other way around.
By air: If you're flying in to Heho, you're halfway there-- just take a taxi from the flight terminal. There is a train from the airport terminal (2 hours) however just once daily in the early morning so you 'd need to co-ordinate your trip time.
By bus: there are buses from Mandalay (8 hrs), Bagan (8 hrs) and also Yangon (12 hours).
When should you go? High season (which is both the most prominent but also the driest season) is November to February. Myanmar has a wet season unlike most of the rest of SouthEast Asia-- it pours, occasionally non-stop (contrasted to the daily heavy showers of most monsoons). This click here can make for some unpleasant trekking conditions.
Mandalay
In contrast to the quiet and subdued roads of Bagan, Mandalay is a huge city teeming with life. Hectic streets filled with an array of tea shops, fantastic Pagodas, and also lots of visitor destinations make this one of the most preferred areas to check out in Myanmar. Out of all the attractions, climbing Mandalay Hill is most likely a big crowd favorite as it allows you to sweeping views of the city as well as the Irrawaddy River shining from afar.
The U-bein Bridge and Kuthodaw Pagoda is also a rather prominent tourist attraction as well as is an excellent location to observe the culture of the citizens.
Kuthodaw Pagoda
The Kuthodaw pagoda in Mandalay includes a gilded pagoda, numerous shrines housing inscribed marble slabs and several pavilions. The pagoda is also called "the world's largest book", named after the 729 marble pieces etched with Buddhist teachings.
Credits: luxurymyanmarrivercruises.com
U-Bein Bridge
U Bein Bridge is thought to be the longest and also oldest teak wood bridge worldwide as well as extends for 1.2 kilometers. The bridge itself plays a huge part in the day-to-day life of locals with hundreds going across by either foot or bike to get to or the local markets. Since ending up being a popular tourist attraction, several now make their source of income from the bridge by supplying boat rides, selling food and water or by displaying their impressive understanding of its history.
Credits: Rainforestcruises.com.
Reaching U-Bein Bridge: You can book a local driver to take you to the U-Bein bridge at sunset. Prices can be high given it's simply thirty minutes outside Mandalay. You can take a scenic tour and if you spend a little bit more, you can find a tour that will certainly give you a bigger tour of Mandalay including lunch.
Where to stay in Mandalay
Budget: Ostello Bello, Mandalay
Mid-Range: The Link 83 Mandalay Boutique Hotel
Luxury: Mercure Mandalay Hill Resort
Getting to Mandalay
By Air: Mandalay has an international airport terminal that is likewise well linked domestically. Nevertheless, be aware that the flight terminal is about 20 miles outside the city, which can be time consuming (over an hour) and pricey because of the {raffic. Internationally, you will certainly connect with even more locations by flying from Yangon.
By bus and train: Mandalay, like Yangon, connects with a lot of the tourist stops in Myanmar.
Hsipaw
Located by the Shan state, Hsipaw is a sleepy village that is pretty well known for its trekking. From Hsipaw, you can head to either Namhsan and also Kyaukme. Namhsan is referred to as the tea capital of Myanmar so expect to see lots of local| life. Although the {reks are not difficult, some parts are still restricted to tourists so it is ideally discovered with the support of a tour operator. Hsipaw is a trekking location that draws individuals in and also keeps them there possibly due to the fact that it's cooler and also the air cleaner than the majority of various other areas in Myanmar.
Credits: diytravelhq.com
Trekking in Hspiaw
Getting to Hspiaw: Also on the train line, it takes 13 hours from Mandalay or 7 hours from Pyin Oo Lwin. There are buses from Mandalay (7 hours), Pyin Oo Lwin (7 hrs), Inle Lake (12 hours) and also Yangon (15 hours).
Ngapali Beach
If you're looking to relax by a seaside destination, head to Ngapali Beach which is one of the most well-known beaches in Myanmar. Located on the Bay of Bengal coastline, this palm-fringed island has a few resorts set among fishing villages offering you a wonderful comparison of both. Remarkably, there is a large amount of tasks to do in this area with scuba diving, snorkeling, boat trips, and also kayaking. You can likewise simply relax on the beach and also eat seafood captured by the local fishermen, and take an excursion to Pearl Island.
Creidts: svietnamtravel.com
Do know that Ngapali virtually closes down during monsoon season (May to October).
Reaching Ngapali Beach
By Air: Flying to Ngapali beach will be your best option because all various other transportation modes are seriously limited. The local flight terminal is Thandwe as well as is just a couple of kilometres from the beach hotels. You can find flights from and also to Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, Heho (Inle Lake). Nonetheless, these paths thin in monsoon season with terminations on the day being common. Your most reputable path is in and out of Yangon.
By bus: The only bus route going to Ngapali comes from Yangon as well as takes about 11 hrs.