You can get a minivan or taxi to the town of Pyin Oo Lwin first and then get on the train in the early morning, so you can catch the best part of the route. It can be an uncomfortable journey though. If you are prone to motion sickness, the extreme swaying from side to side could easily trigger it.
The train crosses a canyon via the Goteik viaduct which was built during British colonial times. While crossing this bridge was not quite as thrilling as the guidebooks made me believe, this journey is more about seeing the beautiful landscapes passing you by. It might also be just about the physical experience of being on a super old train. At certain points during my ride, the train basically turned into a giant hedge trimmer cutting through the jungle, spraying leaves and branches into the carriage through the open windows.
Hsipaw is a great base for hikes in the area east of Mandalay. Located just 50m km from Inle Lake, Kalaw is a lovely town and serves as an ideal base for the famous Kalaw-Inle Lake hike. Check out the local market where you can try the traditional shan noodles and purchase a bottle of local wine. There is also a nice spa and wellness center located just a short walk from the train station.
They offer everything from massages to foot scrubs and manicures at a fair price. Many backpackers spend only one night here before going on a three-day hike to Inle Lake. The trek has become popular over the last couple of years and allows you to admire the beauty of the surrounding mountains and see the small picturesque villages along the way.
If spending a couple of days on stunning beaches in a tranquil environment sounds like something you would enjoy, I recommend paying a visit to Ngapali Beach.
You can go on fishing trips from the beach or join one of the boat tours. A part of the Kyaikto Township in Thaton District, Kyaikto is an ideal base to see the Golden Rock which is one of the most famous landmarks in the country.
You can climb the mountain in about 45 minutes to see the Golden Rock Kyaiktiyo Pagoda , a well-known Buddhist pilgrimage built on the top of a granite boulder.
Rising about 1, meters above sea level, Mount Popa is a great place to visit while backpacking through Myanmar. Located in Mount Popa National Park, this place is actually an extinct volcano with a lovely monastery on the top. There are steps to climb to reach Mount Popa. Luckily, the stairway to the top is covered and along the way, you will come across many locals selling everything from flowers to wooden handicrafts.
The views from the top are breathtaking. If the weather is nice, you can see the Irrawaddy River from the top of the mountain. You will be happy to hear that backpacking Myanmar is not expensive at all. The accommodation is affordable, the food is cheap, and the transport is reasonably priced. Of course, the price depends on which part of the country you are visiting. In tourist destinations like Ngapali beach, accommodation is a bit on the expensive side. Accommodation tends to cost a bit more in Myanmar than other neighboring countries.
Myanmar had to play catch-up, so prices are a bit higher. The cost of traveling from town to town in Myanmar is relatively cheap. Many historical sites have charge admission in Myanmar. Street food in Myanmar is extremely cheap. I liked the fish soup with rice noodles that they call Mohinga. Burmese curry is also delicious and usually comes with chicken, beef, or pork.
Make sure to try the deep-fried stuffed tofu which is made in a special sauce and served with cabbage and chilies. Some links may be affiliate links, meaning I may earn commission from products or services I recommend. For more, see site policies. Do you wish you could travel more — but can never find the time or money? Or are you planning a trip but feeling overwhelmed by the whole process?
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Comments are manually moderated. Your website url. Thank you so much for this article. Just one question — how easy is to acess Laos from Myanmar by land? Will I have to go by Thailand? Coincidentally, I just came to Laos a few hours ago from Thailand at Huay Xai… they have a new bridge and immigration here which makes it all very easy.
Hi Mark, have you seen mom and a child 6 years old travleing there? Do you think is it safe? Thanks in advance. Have not specifically met a mother with child travelling in Myanmar but have in other nearby countries Malaysia etc. Yes I think Myanmar is safe speaking for all of the touristed areas. Great article, thanks for the tips! With the spectacular temples of Bagan, stunning Mandalay with lakes, pagodas, and palaces, lively markets and a delicious street food scene, Myanmar is a joy to visit.
However, with the rise of tourism, cases of tourist targeted scams have risen as well. Do be wary of the shoe guardians, friendship tour scam, restaurants without set prices, coin collectors, fake entrance tickets, pickpocketing, snatch thefts and many more! Hi Marek, Thanks for the very helpful and informative post for travelling to Myanmar.
I am now in Bangkok and planning to visit Myanmar for about days. Should I just change the amount that I think I will spend for the whole trip from baht to US dollar now? Or it is possible to change Baht to Kyat when I am there?
Thank you for your advice!! Hey Natsu. Can I ask advice? Hey Catherine. As far as race goes, as a white guy I might not be the best authority on this. I enjoyed reading through your write up, thanks! Every time I have found some new massage from your blog! I am a traveler and dreaming of visiting most historical places in the world.
Thanks, dear your great help and keep it up. Hi Marek! As what I have read before, they only accept pristine US dollars on money changer. Is it still applicable nowadays? More power! Hey Mark! I personally do this anyway when travelling anywhere in Southeast Asia. Thanks for this great blog. Hi there, we are planning our honeymoon in south east asia with Myanmar as our first country. We have booked our tickets to arrive in Yangon.
We also want to see Mandalay, Bagan and Lake Inle. We wanted to go to Laos after Myanmar but I am so confused with the travels. I am wondering about the visa on arrival situation. We can get an eVisa but do we need our departure tickets out of Myanmar in order to get a Visa? And for travelling to Laos from Myanmar; are there no flights direct there?
And is there really a way to get from Mandalay to Laos overland?? Travelers will typically stay 2 nights in Yangon, 3 nights in Bagan, 2 to 3 nights in Inle Lake and 2 night in Mandalay. Another typical itinerary design would cut off Mandalay and plan more time for Bagan, especially for photographers.
For travelers in general, we suggest planing 2 days in Yangon for the city life and the beautiful Shwedagon Pagoda. The pagoda is as much about people watching and culture as it is about seeing the Pagoda itself. With 2 to 3 days in Bagan, you get to cover most of the primary pagodas plus sunset viewing at one secret pagoda that only a few people know.
Mandalay is also an interesting place to check out, it's nice to spend a few days but if time is short one night could be enough. Inle is a particular favorite of our team. Exploring the stilted villages by private longboat is a relaxing and refreshing way to explore, especially after the dusty heat of Bagan. Mandalay: Burma's second city is far smaller than Yangon and lacks the stunning colonial-period buildings and, many feel, much of the charm of the latter.
A second day would allow a half-day trip to say Mingun or Sagain, and perhaps Mandalay Hill, plus some breathing space in-between. Bagan : The boat journey down the Irrawaddy between Mandalay and Bagan is certainly a pleasant way to travel but if time's not on your side then note it will take the best part of a day, as well as costing about the same as a flight. More than 2, ruined and restored pagodas and chedis are scattered across the dusty plain but taking in just the 10 or so most spectacular is going to have most people "templed out".
Indeed, a lot of the fun at Bagan can be discovering the small out-of-the-way ones or just wandering the lanes and traditional villages on foot or by bicycle. Some visitors dash around in a day but we'd say two days is minimal to appreciate this wonderful destination at a reasonably relaxed pace.
A two-day stay would allow you to take in the various sites on and around the lake itself, including In Dein , without rushing although a third day would allow some chilling out time in the fun little town of Nyaung Shwe itself and a chance to check out some of the destinations in and around town: the market, old wooden Shan pagoda, lively waterfront or even the nearby Red Mountain Winery.
This means you'll need the best part of two weeks just for the main sights if you stick to a pretty rigid schedule. We'd consider these minimal times and it wouldn't leave any time for side trips to so-called secondary destinations such as a day trip to Mount Popa from Bagan, a Nyaung Shwe day tour to Pindaya , Kalaw or local Shan Plateau markets, a day out from Mandalay to Pyin U Lwin or Bago, Pyay or Pathein from Yangon, and Don't be too ambitious so you don't have to rush it.
Burma offers a lot to see but you don't need to see it all in one go. It'll still be there next year! Reviewed by Mark Ord. Where to go, how long to stay there, where to go next, east or west, north or south? How long have you got? How long do you need? Itinerary planning can be almost as maddening as it is fun and here are some outlines to help you get started. Remember, don't over plan! Burma lends itself to a short fast trip with frequent flights thrown in or a longer, slower trip where you don't leave the ground.
There isn't much of a middle ground. Ground transport remains relatively slow, so be wary about trying to fit too much in. Roughly apple-shaped, you'd think Cambodia would be ideal for circular routes, but the road network isn't really laid out that way.
This means you'll most likely find yourself through some towns more than once, so work them into your plans. That's not long enough. You'd need a few lifetimes to do this sprawling archipelago justice.
Be wary of trying to cover too much ground - the going in Indonesia can be slow. North or south or both? Laos is relatively small and transport is getting better and better. Those visiting multiple countries can pass through here a few times making for some interesting trips. The peninsula is easy, with affordable buses, trains and planes and relatively short distances. Sabah and Sarawak are also relatively easy to get around.
The vast majority of visitors stick to the peninsula but Borneo is well worth the time and money to reach. So much to see, so much to do. Thailand boasts some of the better public transport in the region so getting around can be fast and affordable.
If time is limited, stick to one part of the country. Long and thin, Vietnam looks straightforward, but the going is slow and the distances getting from A to B can really bite into a tight trip plan. If you're not on an open-ended trip, plan carefully. This is where itinerary planning really becomes fun. Be sure to check up on our visa, border crossing and visa sections to make sure you're not trying to do the impossible.
Also, remember you're planning a holiday -- not a military expedition. How much time to allow for a visit to Burma? Home Suggested itineraries How much time to allow for a visit to Burma? One section of the nearly 2,kilometre of coastline at Ngwe Saung. Great for short trips, but the novelty can wear off fast. The old Secretariat Building with Rangoon River behind. Mandalay Hill with the Shan Plateau in the background.
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