Myanmar Travel Guide

Browse 95 travel reviews, 149 travel blogs and 6,426 travel photos from real travelers to Myanmar.

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Myanmar Overview

Kipling wrote “It is quite unlike any place you know about” when he spoke of Myanmar, otherwise known as Burma. And what he said more than a century ago still holds true today. Situated in the Bay of Bengal with borders along Bangladesh, India, China, Laos, and Thailand, Myanmar is the largest country in Southeast Asia, and also one of the most difficult to experience. An archaeological paradise with literally hundreds, if not thousands, of ancient Pyu ruins and lush, tropical destinations, Myanmar has become increasingly difficult in recent years for Westerners to access. While it's true read morethat getting into the country is relatively easy, visas must be obtained in advance, and due to the nature of the country large portions of Myanmar are off-limits to visitors, and require special visas in order to enter. And while technically those visas are obtainable by anyone, the time it takes generally means that you'll realistically never see those sections.

However, travelers should not be daunted by this. The central heartland of the country is generally open to travel, although the country is best restricted to adventuresome travelers who are familiar with a backpack, a pair of hiking boots, and questionable accommodations and transportation. A poor country in terms of economic stability, Myanmar is nevertheless a treasure trove of beauty well worth seeing if you don't mind dealing with a little bit of underdeveloped infrastructure. Also, there are very few ATMs in the country, so you will need to bring enough cash with you to last your entire journey.

One of the most amazing sights in Myanmar is Inle Lake, with its floating villages gardens. However, equally amazing is Mandalay, the former capital of Burma, with its famous bridge and amazing views, or Yangon, the current capital of the country, where the Shwedagon Paya dazzles viewers with its gold plating. Outside of the cities, sights such as the sacred rock of Kyaikitiyo or the village of Kalaw, headquarters for backpackers, offer a unique glimpse into a culture that has largely remained the same for the past few hundred years.

Yangon #1 most popular location
Despite being stripped of its capital city status in 2005, Yangon (Rangoon) is still the most populated city in Myanmar and draws considerable commerce. The city has a cosmoplitan feel to it,…
61travelers 37reviews 40blogs
Bagan #2 most popular location
Bagan was founded in the eleventh century by King Anawratha, who introduced Therevada Buddhism to the region and started off the enthusiasm for temple building. The landscape is dotted wit…
12travelers 11reviews 22blogs
Mandalay #3 most popular location
As the former capital of Myanmar in 1861, Mandalay was one of the last places which retained its king until the arrival of the British in 1885. Nowadays, Mandalay is well known for retaining …
19travelers 6reviews 15blogs
Inle Lake #4 most popular location
Inle Lake is situated in the Shan state of Myanmar, and is its main attraction. The vast body of water is surrounded by mountains and is home to numerous floating communities. Inle Lake is al…
2travelers 5reviews 4blogs
Kalaw #5 most popular location
2travelers 6reviews 12blogs
Nyaung Shwe #6 most popular location
6reviews 8blogs
Monywa #7 most popular location
1travelers 3reviews 5blogs
pyay #8 most popular location
Pyay is highly accessible from Yangon and Bagan, and contains some sights and views that easily rival any of these cities. For example, Pyay is home to the Shwesandaw Paya dating from circa 5…
1reviews 6blogs
Kyaiktiyo #9 most popular location
Mention the place Kyaiktiyo, and the chances are that many people will associate it with its most famous tourist attraction, the Golden Rock. The Golden Rock can be found on Mount Kaiktiyo, a…
1travelers 1reviews 3blogs
Nyaungshwe #10 most popular location
2reviews 1blogs
Bago #11 most popular location
Bago (or formerly Pegu) is a city and the capital of Bago Division in Myanmar. It is located about 80 kms northeast from Rangoon. Bago is accessible from Yangon, Mandalay, Pyay.
1reviews 3blogs
Pindaya #12 most popular location
5blogs
Chaungtha #13 most popular location
1reviews 5blogs
Kawthoung #14 most popular location
1travelers 1reviews 4blogs