Myanmar (Burma) is a country like no other. Often described by the original backpackers of the banana pancake trail as ‘what Thailand used to be like 20 years ago’, there’s no doubt you’re going to get a unique experience when you step into the land of pagodas.
From the largest city, Yangon to the hot air ballon flights above Bagan, to a day exploring the life that thrives on Inle Lake, and taking the boat from Bagan to Mandalay, you can spend your entire time in Southeast Asia immersed just in Myanmar and not run out of things to do.
If you’re looking for an authentic travel experience, where the food, culture and people are as untouched by the commerciality of tourism as you can hope for, add Myanmar to your travel list. I spent almost a month in the country. In this section, you’ll find my travel guides to the major sights and cities.
To get started, check out my guides to:
Only got time for one stop in Myanmar? I highly recommend exploring the many golden pagodas and sights of Bagan.
Whichever itinerary you chose, you’re sure to be enchanted by the sights and people of Myanmar.
In this article I’ll explain the best things to do in Myanmar. At the end, I include suggested itineraries for 7 days, 10 days, 2 weeks and 3 weeks in Myanmar. I’ve written more detailed guides to most of these locations and will include links below. Yangon Things to do in Yangon The above is just … Read more
I loved my 3 weeks exploring Myanmar but there is no denying that the country with it’s new tourist infrastructure can be exhausting at time. So, by the time I hit the end of my exploration of Myanmar I was beyond ready for some beach time. I spent four nights in Ngapali Beach and did … Read more
In this article you will find out the best things to do in Yangon, Myanmar, together with recommendations for where to eat and sleep. I’ve also created a map with Google maps showing all of the majors sights mentioned here. You’ll find that at the end. For many visitors, Yangon will be the first interaction they’ll have … Read more
There are thousands of pagodas in Bagan – I know, because I’m pretty sure I saw them all. Ok, maybe not but swinging by almost 20 of them made it feel like I’d seen every pagoda that exists in the city. While it may have been exhausting at the time, it gave me a good basis … Read more
Once upon a time, Bagan was under a siege of development. Between the 11th and 13th centuries over 10,000 temples, pagodas and monastaries were built in the city. Today, around 2,000 of them still exist; all crammed into a 13 by 8 kilometres area that has become the Bagan Archeological Zone. So, it’s safe to … Read more
There was no way I could go to Myanmar (formerly Burma) and not travel the road to Mandalay. Rudyard Kipling had all but demanded it in his iconic poem about the city. O the road to Mandalay,Where the flyin’-fishes play,An’ the dawn comes up like thunder outer China ‘crost the Bay Rudyard Kipling, Mandalay (1890) … Read more
Myanmar is unlike any other country in Southeast Asia. Having only opened up to tourism in recent years, infrastructure can be lacking and travel can be challenging but this won’t be the first guide to tell you that travelling through Myanmar is totally worth it. And now is the time to go. Spend anytime in Southeast Asia … Read more
As I watched the sun set over Inle Lake, I caught sight of a local fisherman who was expertly balanced at the back of his boat. In one graceful move, he raised a sinewy leg, wrapped it around an oar and, using his foot, propelled himself and his small wooden boat forward. Leg-oar. Leg-oar. Leg-oar until he … Read more