Travel advice for Myanmar (Burma)
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Myanmar (Burma)
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Myanmar has a tropical climate, with the southwest monsoon bringing rain from May to October. Roads can become impassable, particularly from July to September. The central plains, however, receive only a fraction of the rain seen on the coast and in the Ayeyarwady delta. From October onwards the rains subside; the best time to visit most of Myanmar is from November to February, when temperatures are relatively manageable. From March to May, the country becomes very hot, particularly the dry zone of the central plains where Bagan and Mandalay often see temperatures in excess of 40°C.
10 days / from2372 USD
Old World Myanmar
Myanmar offers visitors a tantalisingly exotic culture of gilded stupas, red-robed monks and elaborately carved teak palaces. Discover the country’s rich cultural heritage as you take in its spectacular charms.
view tour ⤍9 days / from2840 USD
Myanmar Family Adventure
An ideal short tour for families and first-time visitors to get a glimpse of what Myanmar is all about, discover the land of rice and rivers, breath-taking pagodas and stupas. Meet the locals in Mandalay, Yangon and Inle Lake and sleep on the Ayeyarwady for a real family adventure.
view tour ⤍4 days / from383 USD
Love Yangon
Explore the intriguing architecture, captivating art and delightful culinary scene of Yangon with a visit to Myanmar’s bustling former capital.
view tour ⤍10 days / from3427 USD
Myanmar Dreams
One of the least developed countries in Southeast Asia, Myanmar offers a magical visitor experience. From your base in some of the country's most deluxe resorts, get out and explore the untouched treasures that Myanmar has to offer.
view tour ⤍9 days / from1126 USD
Classical Myanmar
Experience the best of Myanmar with this trip of a lifetime. See historic Yangon, before moving on to the great plains of beautiful Bagan with its ancient Buddhist pagodas. Discover Mandalay’s hidden gems, see ancient capitals and boat around Inle Lake.
view tour ⤍12 days / from4044 USD
Famous Waterways of Myanmar: Inle Lake and the Irrawaddy River
Experience Myanmar as never before: cruise along the Irrawaddy River, take a boat trip around Inle Lake and Sagar, and fly over Bagan and its many temples in a hot-air balloon. This comprehensive trip also explores the cities of Yangon and Mandalay.
view tour ⤍10 days / from2071 USD
Myanmar In-Depth
Get to know this fascinating and exotic country in more depth with this unique trip, which has been specially created to give a more in-depth understanding of Myanmar and its culture, and includes visits to Yangon, Inle Lake, Mandalay, and Bagan.
view tour ⤍7 days / from1532 USD
Myanmar Honeymoon
Myanmar is the perfect destination for couples in search of a romantic getaway that marries luxury and indulgence with the sense of discovering a rich vein of cultural heritage. Visit the plains of Bagan with its many temple complexes, and luxuriate on the shores of Lake Inle, and much more.
view tour ⤍8 days / from1390 USD
The Flavours of Myanmar: A Culinary Journey
Discover the tastes and flavours of Myanmar with this unique, culinary-themed trip. Frequent the teahouses of Yangon, learn how to cook traditional Burmese dishes in Bagan, sample local specialties in Mandalay, and then continue to Inle Lake, home of the Intha people, before returning to Yangon.
view tour ⤍5 days / from842 USD
Majesty and Mystery in Myanmar
Less well-known than neighbouring Thailand, Myanmar is a country that still retains an air of exotic mystery. Discover it for yourself on this unique trip, which has been specially created to develop a greater understanding of this alluring country.
view tour ⤍6 days / from1155 USD
Mesmerising Myanmar
Myanmar is a mesmerising and exotic land, shrouded in mystery and cloaked in spirituality. The mere mention of its name conjures up images of golden Buddhist stupas piercing dense smokey fog. This unique trip takes in some of Myanmar's most impressive and mesmeric sites.
view tour ⤍13 days / from2049 USD
Myanmar’s Ancient Treasures
From the old-world charms of Yangon to the lush rice paddies of the Ayeyarwady Delta and the iconic sights that surround modern Mandalay, now is the time to visit the jungle clad hills and central river valleys of Myanmar.
view tour ⤍4 days / from890 USD
Mrauk U: Myanmar's Best-Kept Secret
Discover the ancient city of Mrauk U with this unique trip. Formerly a major trading port, Mrauk U was once the wealthiest city in Asia. Today, it remains Myanmar's best-kept secret: its well-preserved archeological remains are surrounded by atmospheric misty hills, just waiting to be discovered.
view tour ⤍10 days / from2508 USD
Off the Beaten Track in Southern Myanmar
This exciting, active trip is split into two parts: the first takes in the best that Southern Myanmar has to offer, including Yangon and Inle Lake; whilst the second ventures off the beaten track, exploring ancient pagodas, rivers, mountains and caves.
view tour ⤍11 days / from2946 USD
Myanmar Highlights
A visit to Myanmar is a magical experience. Explore Yangon, with its busy harbour bustling markets and glistening pagodas. Encounter meditating Buddhas and traditional villages, and be awestruck by mystical Mandalay’s hidden gems.
view tour ⤍Most festivals in Myanmar are based on the lunar calendar; check the official Ministry of Hotels & Tourism site for a more extensive list (w myanmartourism.org/festivals.htm).
Feb/March. The country’s biggest paya pwèh (temple festival) takes place at Shwedagon Paya in Yangon.
April 13–16. The water festival is the most popular in the calendar, marking New Year with a good soaking as temperatures soar. It also has a spiritual side, as it’s when the nat king visits the human world to record good and bad deeds. Hotels and transport are often booked solid.
Nov. Daytime parades at this three-day event in Taunggyi, east of Inle Lake, include impressive animal-shaped hot-air balloons. At night, balloons are released with huge gondolas full of fireworks strapped underneath them, sometimes with predictably explosive results.
Dec. Keep an eye open for the different ethnic groups’ new year celebrations around Dec and Jan. This one rotates between different Shan towns, and includes live bands, traditional dancing and – on Shan New Year’s Eve itself – fireworks and an inclusive party atmosphere.
Dec/Jan. The paya pwèh at Ananda Pahto is the biggest in Bagan, running for the fortnight leading up to the full moon of Pyatho. For the last three days, hundreds of monks chant scriptures day and night.
From travel safety to visa requirements, discover the best tips for traveling to Myanmar (Burma)
written by Andy Turner
updated 17.05.2021