Myanmar Starts Here
I first traveled to Myanmar in late 2010, a year or so before the country began enthusiastically rolling out its welcome mat to foreigners. Arriving in the city of Yangon to begin my Myanmar itinerary was, in no uncertain terms, like going back in time, alternating between the 1950s (when the British left and when much of the country’s infrastructure was last upgraded) and much, much longer than that—I’m talking millennia.
My return trip, in early 2016, was a much more typical Southeast Asia experience—on the mainland, anyway. Throngs of tourists flooded attractions like the temples of Bagan and the U-Bein Bridge outside of Mandalay; WiFi and ATMs were as ubiquitous as they are in Thailand or Vietnam; and I no longer had to exchange money in shady back alleys. The Mergui Archipelago, on the other hand, was totally wild. More on that in a minute!
No matter which vision of Myanmar attracts you most to this mysterious, misunderstood country, two weeks is the optimal amount of time to spend here. Apply online for your Myanmar eVisa, then follow this sample itinerary exactly for a pre-planned trip for two weeks in Myanmar, or simply use it as a guideline for your own custom trip.
Practical Matters
When to Visit Myanmar
Like its more popular neighbor Thailand, Myanmar experiences a rainy season from roughly May through October, and a dry season throughout rest of the year. Unlike most of Thailand, however, the northern reaches of Myanmar can actually get quite cold, so if you plan on visiting them, you might want to visit during the early and late parts of the dry season. In general, I would say November and March are the best time visit to Myanmar. Note that Myanmar can get crowded during Chinese New Year (early February) and during the Christmas holiday, when travelers from many Christian nations flock there.
Where to Stay in Myanmar
Accommodation is cheap in Myanmar, which means that you can stay in all but the nicest hotels without going broke. You’re unlikely to spend more than $50 per night for three-star, private lodging in Yangon, Mandalay or Bagan, with costs much lower in rural areas. Home stays are possible in some cities and towns and hostels, while available, are unnecessary unless you are on the most shoestring of budgets. Some of my favorite hotels in Myanmar include the majestic, colonial Strand Hotel in Yangon and Bagan’s Manisanda Hotel, a heritage property whose rooftop offers spectacular views of all the city’s temples.
How to Get Around Myanmar
Myanmar’s transportation infrastructure is primitive, but improving. If you have time, you can travel through most of the country using affordable land transport, including minibuses and taxis. Otherwise, a number of local airlines such as Air Bagan, Air KBZ and Myanma allow you to get most anywhere in the country within hours. Rustic transport options, such as the boat between Mandalay and Bagan, are more pleasurable than they are practical, and are only advisable if your Myanmar itinerary will last long enough to have some flexibility.
Money, Costs and Communication
As I’ve alluded to many times already, Myanmar is very cheap. It isn’t as cheap as it was when I first visited in 2010, but it also isn’t as difficult to travel there. Case in point: ATMs are now readily available in the country, allowing you to withdraw kyats instead of exchanging $100 bills for them on the black market, and credit cards are widely accepted. Wi-Fi exists, too, and you can purchase a Myanmar SIM card on arrival at both of the country’s major international airports.
Where to Go During Your Myanmar Itinerary
Yangon
I have often written that Yangon is the capital of Myanmar, which is not actually true—that honor goes to Naypyidaw, a city whose name I can’t pronounce. Yangon is nonetheless the largest city in Myanmar, as well as its main international gateway, so you’re going to have to spend some time here.
The central attraction of Yangon is Shwedagon Pagoda, a glittering golden playground whose construction dates back to the time of the Buddha—like, the original Buddha. Whether you go at day or night (I recommend both), it’s one of the most captivating places you’ll see in all of Myanmar.
Other popular Yangon religious attractions include Sule Pagoda (in the center of the city), Saint Mary’s Cathedral and Musmea Yeshua Synagogue. Whether you use your time here to get closer to God, or explore nature and history by visiting Aung San Suu Kyi’s House or Kandawgyi Lake, I recommend you spend between 1-2 days of your two weeks in Myanmar in Yangon.
Mandalay and Surroundings
From Yangon, take an overnight train, bus or plane northward to Mandalay, Burma’s second city. As is the case in Yangon, much of contemporary Mandalay’s downtown is run down, although the City Palace located on a massive lake in the very center of the city is pretty effing incredible.
Other awesome Mandalay attractions include Mahamuni Paya, home to one of the largest Buddhas I’ve ever seen in my life and Mandalay Hill, which is topped by a monastery and is one of the most gorgeous sunset vistas in Southeast Asia.
Mandalay is also orbited by a trio of extremely charming small towns: Sagaing, Amarapura and Inwa. While Sagaing is composed of about a dozen temples scattered on a hillside, Amarapura is famous for a rickety bridge of the same name, beneath which men fish with their whole bodies in the water. Inwa, on the other hand, is a bucolic river town that exemplifies how detached Myanmar is from the rest of the world.
Mandalay offers a bit more in the way of attractions than Yangon, so I recommend spending about 2-3 days in Mandalay—longer if you can!
Bagan
I should probably mention at this point in the itinerary that Mandalay was unfortunately as far as I got during my trip to Myanmar—on my first trip anyway. I came down with extremely severe food poisoning, you see, and had to fly back to Thailand.
Thankfully, when I returned in 2016, I was much more careful about what I ate and I made it down the Irawaddy River to Bagan, a town near which some 2,000 temples sit. I didn’t get much of a chance to bike through the temples, as I’d envisioned doing during my first trip, but I did manage to take a balloon flight over Bagan, which was incredible.
I recommend spending between 2-3 days of your two weeks in Myanmar in Bagan, including a day on an Irawaddy River boat getting there—to me this is almost as impressive as Bagan itself!
The Mergui Archipelago
At this point in a Myanmar itinerary, most travelers head into the far eastern part of the country to a place called Inle Lake. I can’t comment on the merits of this, since I missed out on Inle Lake during my first food-poisoned trip, and I skipped it during my second.
I mean, much love to the lake and its people, but I can’t really imagine it being more beautiful than Myanmar’s Mergui Archipelago, a totally undeveloped string of islands in the Andaman Sea about 100 miles north of Phuket. I mention Phuket because these islands truly seem like what Phuket must’ve been like 50 years ago, or even longer.
Although I believe it is technically possible to travel independently in Mergui, setting out from the city of Kawtheung near the Thai border, this part of the world is much better experienced onboard one of the yachts from Burma Boating—ask if the SY Raja Laut is available when you book!
I recommend spending 5-7 days of your 2 weeks in Myanmar in the Mergui Archipelago.
Other Myanmar Destinations
When it comes to a Myanmar itinerary, 2 weeks isn’t actually a very long time. On the other hand, it’s possible that you might have some extra time, in which case there are a few other destinations you can add. The most popular option would be to visit Inle Lake, a large and beautiful body of water that you should note has become significantly more polluted since the first time I traveled to Myanmar. Additionally, it’s become much easier to fall victims to scams there, so please take care.
Other places to see in Myanmar, 2 weeks or more into your trip, include Pindaya town in Shan State and the beach towns of Thandwe and Dawei. You might also take advantage of the fact that far northern Myanmar has some Himalayan trekking available, and visit picturesque Kachin State.
How Many Days Do I Need in Myanmar?
Regardless of where you plan to go during your Myanmar itinerary, how many days in Myanmar you spend is of the essence. While you’ll end up staying about two weeks if you end up following my advice to a t, it’s possible to spend less time travel in Myanmar—and very easy to stay longer. In fact, I imagine my own next trip to Myanmar will last at least a month, if only because of all the incredible things I’ve found to do there.
Let’s say, on the other hand, that you don’t have very long in Myanmar. It’s completely possible, in this case, to organize a 1 week Myanmar tour, with 2 days each in Yangon and Mandalay, plus 2-3 days in either Inle Lake, Bagan or the Mergui Archipelago, if the timing for tours works out just right. Otherwise, you can hit the beach in aforementioned Thandwe or Dawei.
Is Myanmar Worth Visiting in the Era of Rohingya Genocide?
Let’s step away, for a moment, from the concept of a Myanmar itinerary, 7 days or however long you have to spend. The Burmese government has been seriously implicated in the murder of thousands of Rohingya, ethnic Muslim people who have long lived in Myanmar territory near the border with Bangladesh. Worse, leader Aung San Suu Kyi (whom many people once regarded as a hero) has been complicit in these war crimes, which everyone on the planet except here have acknowledged are ethnic cleansing.
I’ll be honest: A big part of the reason I haven’t yet planned a follow up 2 weeks in Myanmar trip is due to this sensitive political issue (and the apolitical, deeply human aspects of it as well). Frankly, I can’t in good conscience recommend that anyone visit Myanmar as long as this situation is ongoing, though I hope that if you do decide to go anyway, you’ll be mindful of the struggle of the Rohingya as you travel, and give to organizations that are helping to rehabilitate these innocent victims.
Other FAQ About Planning a Myanmar Itinerary
What is the best month to visit Myanmar?
Myanmar is at its best during the dry months between November and March, although “shoulder” months like October and April are also great, if a bit wet from time to time. Note that in Northern Myanmar, these months can also be quite cold, especially in the morning. You might need to bring a jacket!
How much money do you need per day in Myanmar?
Most travelers can get by on 50 USD per person, per day in Myanmar, assuming 3-star accommodation, travel primarily by bus or train and a diet of primarily local food. Backpackers can comfortably survive on around 25 USD per person, per day, while a budget of over 100 USD per person, per day will allow a comparatively luxurious Myanmar experience.
Is Myanmar cheap to travel?
Myanmar is one of the cheapest countries in Southeast Asia, and maybe the world. Prices are similar to what you find in India or Vietnam, and are significantly cheaper than Thailand or Malaysia. With this being said, Myanmar has gotten more expensive the more popular the country has become.
The Bottom Line
Even if you don’t yet have a complete Myanmar itinerary on hand, your job has gotten a lot easier thanks to the work I’ve done breaking down the country. After arriving in Mandalay or Yangon, you’ll travel between the two via the Irawaddy River, optionally (hopefully?) stopping in temple-filled Bagan en route. You can further accent your 2 weeks in Myanmar (or longer) with stops in secondary and tertiary Myanmar destinations, from the idyllic Merugi Archipelago, to vast Inle Lake. Still feel stressed? Consider hiring me to plan your trip to Myanmar!
