How long to travel myanmar

Cheers and thanks again. No local was licensed to take us out on the boat. Normally to get to the islands you have to pre-apply to the government to get a permit not sure how much this has changed within the last year. Put tourists up in accommodations 2. Have the insurance to take you on big excursions such as this.

My most random adventures were from random chats and trying to see what was out there. Good luck! Thanks for this interesting and informative post All ages and all types of travellers — plenty of other people to share costs. You are going at a popular time of the year so have no doubt you will meet plenty of travel buddies! We are looking to go in September but only have about days.

Fly into Mandalay and out if Yangon. Bagan is a must. How would you recommend getting around? Would inle lake be doable as well? Budget will be a consideration and we are around the 50 yr of age! I can honestly say you will not be able to fit all of that into five days — not without skimming through towns and cities in a matter of hours, before jumping on a night bus to the next place and being constantly exhausted.

You could fly internally to Yangon after your time in Mandalay and Bagan, that will save you time. There are a few options — Air Mandalay, Yangon Airways etc. Your best bet is to speak to a local agent when you are there to work out the cheapest deal. Be warned, they are super expensive for what is essentially a short journey. Hi again. Main appeal are visiting out of the way places where I can see some crafts that are close to rivers.

Can you suggest some places? If you are looking for specific places with crafts you are best asking the locals. I went all the way south and people were not even insured to take us out on boats and some areas required us to get permits to travel to certain islands etc. Thanks so much for your informative post!

What do you think? For December, my advice will be to try and book most of it up in advance. And ring ahead when you are actually in the country to secure bookings and make them. Hi Becki, your advice and tips are really great and very much appreciated. We did Lao last year and Cambodia the August before and all are looking forward to Burma.

Can you recommend a guest house in Rangoon and how long would you suggest we stay in Rangoon before training it up to Mandalay? Hi Simon. I stayed in the Motherland Inn in Yangon. Hello Becki, Thank you for your post, it is very useful!

Do you know anything about the border limitations? It seems that the best way is going from Thailand by bus recently authorised by the Myanmar government. Do you have any information about this? Or where can I find more about this topic? How did you go there? By plane? Thank you very much! However, Thailand has been changing the rules recently at Mae Sai border, and even before the changes and the now military coup, you could only enter for up to 15 days — this specific area of Burma having different rules.

I flew into Yangon and out of Mandalay. Most people do this to ensure maximum time in the country, working from one end to the other. This is one of the very rare posts written by a tourist to Myanmar and I completely agree. No exaggeration, no insult, no lack of local knowledge.

Very well done. I had a chance to go last year but put it off for this year and was struggling to get the latest news on traveling there but here I am with all this useful information!

Thank you! I plan to buy a one-way ticket for arrival and a one-way for departure. I would suggest Yangon-Bagan-Mandalay for easier flight routes in and out. Get the buses or train up and stop somewhere on the way.

Otherwise you will be doing Yangon-Mandalay-Bagan-Mandalay. Have fun! Glad to stumbled upon your advise. Hi thanks everyone for the posts here my wife and I are about to book to travel to Myanmar 17Dec — 2 Jan only time we can. I am a little concerned as all my previous travel in Asia I have just got airfares and worked it out with the locals when I got there.

Is it possible?. I booked my first accommodation in advance and then booked each one as I went along. Each guesthouse was helpful in letting you call the next etc!

Hello; i was in Myanmar in July and we rented motorcycles in Mandalay and did a great country trip up to Hsipaw. Namsham and even got to Mogok. Is i possible to travel the Burma road from Lashio to Mu-see to Bhamo and than take the river to Katha and back to Mandalay.

WE are also looking into getting permission to go back to Mogok legally this time with a car and permission.

You will have to contact the tourism authorities and check where you may need a permit to enter. Great information.

I am planning a trip for May , the dream is to trek deeper into the mountainous regions but it sounds like that might be difficult. Did you run into any travelers who had similar plans when you were there? Hi Connor. I have no idea about the mountainous regions, sorry. Can I get any other information on what to prepare if i wanna go there?

My friends are in Yangon.. Is this place a good place and is it gonna be easy to go around Myanmar if i stay in Yangon? So glad I stumbled upon this post. I am planning to take my 14 year old son to Myanmar for 3 weeks in June. We traveled through Cambodia and Vietnam last year, and many people we encountered recommended Myanmar. We enjoyed doing family home stays in Vietnam, and I wondered if this is possible in Myanmar or if there are restrictions about staying with locals.

Hi Jennifer. I stayed with a family during one of my treks, so homestays certainly are possible. The best advice I can give is ask around — especially guesthouse owners who can recommend what they know in the area or in other areas on your itinerary.

Hi Becki, can you point me to your other Myanmar posts? My daughter are I are going for 5 days in late February. We fly in and out of Yangon. Do you recommend we book our hotels ahead of time? Any must see area to explore? Five is super tight and my guess is that you will only have enough time to see two places, or three if you fly internally and whizz around. They are the hotspots. Everything else in between requires travel time. Great source of useful information, thanks Becki!

Oh wow — you lucky things! Looking forward to hearing about your journey there! I miss it so much. Did you have any problems communicating in Myanmar? Such as ordering food… are menus in both burmese and english? Also, did you use any travel apps that you found particularly helpful? A lot of locals speak English and just as you would in other countries where English can be limited, miming and sign language also help. However, I never felt too much of a barrier as I would in say, China.

A lot of menus are in English too. I just took everything as it comes and having a guide book everyone has the Lonely Planet there is a VERY useful addition. There is no point over planning or over analysing in Myanmar.

Best just to go with the flow. Only a week ago I came back from wondrous two weeks in Myanmar. I can only confrim all you wrote about the country. The peaople almost without exception friendly and helpfiul, unspoiled — as if they did not know the concept of atip, they always returned them.

Shame we had to do some dollar spendings, which probably went towards the bad guys, as we were buying time, but hopefully in most cases we managed to do right and support the locals, thou it is not exactly clear, when itthis is actually happening.

Take care, I love your writing….. Thank you so much Pedro. Hi Becky, great post — making the place quite approachable, thanks for putting this together! We are mostly interested in off the beaten path areas understand we need to consider local permits and wondering if you have any insight on the following 1.

What will the weather be like at that time especially far south, along the river to mid North Mandalay and east of there and the western beaches? I read conflicting info on the amount and locality of rain. We are thinking about renting a scooter or motorcycle for the period to get around — any thoughts on feasibility considering roads and weather in those regions? Many thanks, Kat. Another reader went in July and was stuck indoors because of heavy rain often. You might need to do some more digging, but it appears it may not be the most ideal time.

As for motorcycles, the roads outside of the main city streets are pretty terrible. I would reconsidering if you are thinking of taking long motorcycle trips to reach destinations — the buses are bumpy and jumpy enough! My best friend lives there and I cant wait to see him. I am glad I have someone waiting for me on the tail end of the journey.

Thank you for your very comprehensive write-up of my beautiful country. Myanmar is undoubtedly one of the most spiritual and unique tourist destinations in the world, and I wish all those visiting there, a very rich and rewarding experience.

Hi Becki, my partner and I are heading to Myanmar in a month. Distances of travel between each place are a main factor also — 10 days hopping quickly everywhere will knock you out. I set him a challenge of 14 days. Joslyn, I am curious to know whether you managed to convince your partner to stay for two weeks in Myanmar?

Thanks for all the great info! I will be traveling to Myanmar at the end of August I will only be visiting Yangon and Bagan, do you feel there is any real risk of Malaria in either of those locations? I am only going for a long weekend so I hate to have to take 30 days of anti-malaria pills if not necessary.

You are best checking malaria maps and following the relevant instructions on what pre-cautions to take. I always took anti-malaria medicine in Southeast Asia. Not worth the risk. Hi Becki, Great article and very informative! I cant wait to visit this country. Eight-nine days is a tight squeeze as travel times are long and tiring. But I am sure you can fit three places in in that time.

If you are not visiting Yangon and starting in Mandalay, then absolutely. Happy travels to the Golden Land! Becki: thanks for your reply! Cho: Actually my flight is landing in Mandalay. I do want to go to Yanggon but not enough time and the distance is much more longer. I am blocked at this stage because I cannot find any information regarding how to go from Bagan to Inle Lake by train. Seems like I need to go through Thazi, but I cant find information on how to go from Bagan to Thazi… Do you have any suggestion?

Is the journey landscape nice from Inle Lake to Mandalay if I take the train? Best way is by bus and get off at Nyaungshwe which is the nearest town to Inle Lake. Be sure to get the VIP bus. Landscape is not as stunning as Inle Lake but still exotic as you pass through the countryside of rural Myanmar. I am a native of Myanmar and have been to the Shwedagon pagoda countless number of times, but still mesmerized by its splendor every time I see it.

Do try to visit Yangon on your next trip to my homeland. Becki, thanks very much for your kind compliments. Helpful assistant? I just want visitors to Myanmar to have a positive impression of my beautiful country, and make their travels there as smooth as possible.

And, I am so glad you had a wonderful time when you went there, and hope that you can visit again soon. We have found quite a lot hidden gems, which are showing the daily life Overland travel needs no permits and it is getting easier to go to the Mergui Archipelago from Myeik Mergui without applying for a permit beforehand.

I actually travelled South through Myeik and some other places, and it was amazing to meet locals people who rarely, if ever, see tourists. They need it down there too! I also have so much more to see North. Myanmar is in my heart and I think of it often. Really enjoyed reading this. Very informative for people wanting to visit this beautiful country.. I am an English teacher and this is my second year living here.. One year in Naypyidaw strange and interesting project and now in Myeik.

Totally agree with you about being templed out, I have used the same term too…. Hi Becki, Loved reading all the posts. Thank you for taking the time to inform a rookie. I will make guest reservation in Bogan and set others as I go. I think days in each city, fly to each city. Does that sound ok? Any other suggestions would be great. Thank you, Erik. You will need to check online or with your doctor regarding the latest malaria warnings in the areas you will be travelling in.

You will need to arrange a visa via your nearest Myanmar embassy. Thanks to you, I learn more and understand deeper about Myanmar before going there. Since my schedule is quite tight, I think I have to fly to each location. But still I wish to experience taking the night bus from Yangon to Mandalay, would this be ok in terms of time?

Is taking the night bus tiring? It is tiring as they are usual at ungodly hours — for example, in some destinations you may arrive at 3am! I will surely enjoy my journey in Myanmar!

Janice: I am glad to hear you are learning and understanding deeper about Myanmar. The country is unique in the sense that it has kept its culture and traditions intact, unlike neighboring countries where just about everything is geared for the tourist trade.

However, this is rapidly changing as Myanmar is becoming a hot spot on the international tourist map. Visitor arrivals have increased by leaps and bounds since the country opened up a few years ago.

I know you will enjoy your trip the the Golden Land. Where is the best place in Myanmar to go that is not filled with tourists but still a relatively safe place for tourists to travel to see an authentic Myanmar? What other interesting places should I know about to plan a trip there? Thanks in advance! Remember, by visiting you are a tourist too. Myanmar is an authentic slice of SE Asia, and no matter what city or town you get to, you can wander and explore further than the standard tourist highlights.

That stands for any part of the world. Hi Becki, I am from Malaysia and planning out my trip to Myanmar. Any route suggestion I should take and how many days you think I should spend on each place if let say I only have days there? Use Mandalay and Yangon as your start and end points, and with shorter time do not miss the key highlights — Mandalay, Inle Lake, Bagan and Yangon. Anything you can fit in between as day trips or short excursions is a bonus. I was wondering what places you highly recommend seeing in Yangon?

As a travel writer what unique places do you recommend visiting? I appreciate your feedback! The best thing I ever did in Yangon was walk, with no plan. I ended up at a pink church and was invited in for lemonade and a gossip with a nun. Besides the random, immerse yourself in the markets — the food and clothing ones — ride the circle line train post on here and do NOT miss the Shwedagon Pagoda. Kate: Myanmar is one of the safest countries in the world.

From Mandalay — Pyin-Oo-Lwin, two hours by car. The pagoda there is situated on a small island in the middle of the river.

Catherine — As Becki said the markets in Yangon are something else. Start with Bogyoke Scott market. Make two trips to the Shwedagon pagoda, one during the day and again at night. Your admission fee is good for 24 hours. Take a dinner cruise on the Yangon River. Visit Sule pagoda in the center of the city.

Have fun in my hometown of Yangon! I lived there for nearly half my life and although I live abroad now, Yangon and my Myanmar will always be in my heart. What other markets other than Bogyoke do you recommend? Can you describe what they are like? Thanks for your feedback!

Catherine: Besides Bogyoke, there are many other smaller neighborhood markets situated in and around Yangon. Most of them are right on the streets with temporary stalls and on trays laid out on mats.

One of them is just a few minutes walk from Bogyoke, I think on 28th Street. There are similar markets in the downtown district mainly located in narrow streets. In the mornings these local markets are bustling with shoppers and vendors, and you will come across a vast array of vegetables, fruits, fresh water fish, meat products and the like..

Relax a bit at your hotel before getting out and about. During you stay in Mandalay, you will again be seeing a lot of beautiful temples and shrines. Start off with Sandamuni Pagoda southwest of Mandalay Hill. And then head to Golden Palace or Schwenandaw Kyaung, where you will stand in awe of the Buddhist myths depicted in gorgeous teak carvings.

There are many great tours to see all of Mandalay has to offer. Book the best Mandalay tours here. How could a temple be a book? They say it takes a year to read everything even if you spend 8 hours each day to read the inscriptions. If you feel like it, book yourself this private evening tour. It starts at 3. Dinner will be barbecue-style with a cold beer of course. Cap off the night with a laugh as you witness the famous comedy show starring the Moustache Brothers. Another thing not to miss in Mandalay is the sunrise scene at the famous wooden U Bein Bridge.

This magnificent structure makes a beautiful silhouette as the sun rises it looks like a page out of a storybook. Alternatively, if you're not an early riser and don't want to make your way to the bridge by yourself, I recommend booking this sunset tour to U Bein Bridge. It's equally spectacular! Next up is another must-do, a visit to the lavish Mandalay Palace. Then, lunch at Min Thiha tea shop.

If you wish to trek all the way to Inle, you have to allow for two additional days on your Myanmar travel itinerary. The typical trek is a 2 day 1 night and I recommend you book ahead so you don't arrive and have a wait around Kalaw. Check trekking availability for an all-inclusive 2-day tour here.

Kalaw is known for its trekking and outdoor activities and I only recommend coming here if you are an outdoor person. Otherwise, skip Kalaw and go straight to Inle Lake from Mandalay and spend some extra days there. Settle down at your hotel. Most people stay at Nyaung Shwe with is township closest to Inle Lake and the gateway to many tours and activities.

To start off the day, rent a bike in Nyaungshwe for about 1, Kyat and just explore the area. Another good place to head to is Red Mountain Winery where they offer a serene session of taste-testing Burmese wine. The area is also an awesome place to catch the ever awe-striking Myanmar sunset.

Who knew Myanmar produced wine? Go cowboy style for dinner and just have a roadside meal at one of the barbecue stalls situated nearby the night market.

Though Inle Lake attracts a growing percentage of the travellers in the country, it's still not too crowded and commercialised and taking the novelty of visiting a place for the first time. To avoid disappointment, book a private day tour to get off the beaten track by boat.

Hop on! Have your boat guide lead you to the middle of the lake where fishermen are practicing their trade. This place tends to be very colourful with hanging clothes by the windows, children swimming about, and the women on their laundry chores, and the like. If Nampan is for fishermen, Phaw Khone is for weavers.

The village specialises in weaving using silk, cotton, and lotus root. Water villages, of course, are devoid of soil and so, to grow crops, they have invented bamboo-supported floating gardens which are a meter deep.

You can even walk on them but it is like walking on jelly. Next up is a famous tourist destination and a unique one at that. This is the Nga Hpe Kyuang or better remembered as the Jumping Cat Monastery , which got its name from the cats living at the monastery who have been trained by the local monks to jump through little hoops.

The looming mountains beyond the fields of green make it a perfect background to your one day in Hpa-an. Visit the hustle and bustle of the morning market, the solemn grandeur of Shweyinhmyaw Pagoda , and walk around Kan Thar Yar Lake. I'd opt for the boat ride if you are an adventurer at heart like me. But the bus ride is definitely the more comfortable option. With no traffic, you can reach Ngwe Saung from Yangon in roughly 5 hours. Be sure to book your bus return trip ahead as you don't want to get stuck!

This charming place is made for rest and relaxation. Ngwe Saung Village hosts a number of seafood restaurants that you must try as well as a handful of other little cafes serving Burmese, Thai and other Asian cuisine.

Along the beach, you'll find a fire dance show at night. Ngwe Saung is a well-deserved break to enjoy swimming at the beach, working on your tan and even snorkelling. Note that the beaches on the western shores of Myanmar operate seasonally and some might shut down completely in the off-season.

What an action-filled 14 days in Myanmar. Hopefully, you love this Myanmar itinerary as much as I did travelling around the country. With its countless pagodas and temple, hot air balloon sunrises, interesting culture and religion, photogenic fishermen, and friendly faces, Myanmar is truly one for the books. Enjoy this Myanmar Itinerary in 2 Weeks! First rule in coming up with any Myanmar itinerary is: Do not overplan! Book Your Flight to Myanmar The easiest way to find cheap airfares to Myanmar are via a flight search engine.

Book Your Travel Insurance for Myanmar Choosing good comprehensive travel insurance is the most important thing to do when you plan your trip. A lot! Is Myanmar Expensive? Before we get planning, let's talk about travel expenses. After landing at Yangon, head to your hotel and leave your bags there. Day 2. Also search accommodation with Booking.

Need a hotel room in Yangon? Book now. There are 8 ways to get from Vietnam to Myanmar by plane, bus, train or car Select an option below to see step-by-step directions and to compare ticket prices and travel times in Rome2rio's travel planner. Quickest way to get there Cheapest option Distance between.

Explore all travel options Average flight journey times Time on flight:. Layover time:. Total time:. Flight route information Fastest flight journey time:. Flight distance:. Flights per week:. Cheapest price:. Carbon emissions:. First and last flights First flight departs at:. Last flight departs at:. Flights departing Saturday, November 13, Thai AirAsia.

Bangkok Airways. Bangkok Airways, Myanmar Airways International. Flights departing Sunday, November 14, AirAsia, Myanmar Airways International. Flights departing Monday, November 15, Flights departing Tuesday, November 16, Show more on maps. Can I travel internationally to Myanmar? Are there restrictions on leaving Vietnam? Can I travel domestically within Myanmar? What is the cheapest way to get from Vietnam to Myanmar?

What is the fastest way to get from Vietnam to Myanmar?