myanmar
Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, is a country located in Southeast Asia. The country’s capital is Naypyidaw, and the largest city is Yangon. This country is bursting with impressive temples, beautiful scenery, and incredibly welcoming locals. It still feels untouched compared to some of the more popular Southeast Asian countries. There are some incredible things to see and do.
12 unique myanmar experiences
Off the beaten path
Myanmar is still a growing tourist destination and is more off the beaten path. The tourist infrastructure is not as build up as other Southeastern Asian countries. In some ways this is so rewarding as you are not being hassled to buy souvenirs and it feels so much more untouched. In some ways you must be more adaptable as not everyone speaks English nor do most signs, menus, maps come in English.
renting and riding e-bikes in bagan
Bagan is one of the most iconic places to visit in Myanmar. You can tour this incredible site many ways but one of the best ways is to rent the electronic bikes. Currently, tourists are only allowed to rent electronic and not gas operated motorbikes. You can rent for the day or for a few days. It is a great way to have your own freedom to bike between the ruins. It was a rewarding but somewhat terrifying experience. I definitely tipped over and crashed a few times. Good thing they don’t go too fast!
Hot air balloons Bagan
If you want to splurge you can go up in a hot air balloon at sunrise but equally amazing is to see the hot air balloons over Bagan at sunrise or best yet spend a few days and do both. The balloon season is from October through April. The classic ride is about $340 USD per person but if you want a longer journey you can go premium for about $450 USD per person. One of the best places to catch the sunrise on the ground is at the Shwegu Gyi Paya temple. It is a surreal experience.
Cold and wet overnight bus rides
I really have no idea why the temperature and humidity on all these buses was so unique, but it is. Be prepared to be freezing and somehow sweating at the same time. A lot of the bus rides provide blankets and pillows but if your bus doesn’t you may want to pack some layers. These buses were like their own microclimate- you might like it but I was not a fan.
Cuisine Exploration in Yangon
Yangon is the first stop, and you are going to be in for a cultural and cuisine experience. You can go to China town area for food, nice restaurants or partake in the market where you can buy a variety of meats on a stick. The street food is epic! We also had the experience of ordering this incredibly ethnic dish in a market. You can try Green Tea Salad, Mohinga and Burmese curry.
Train Rides
Train rides are quite the experience in Myanmar. Two of the most popular are the circular train in Yangon and the train Hsipaw to Mandalay. Circular train in Yangon circles just under 46 kilometers through the smaller areas of Yangon and the countryside. It is about a 3-hour journey. You can purchase tickets for around 500 Kyat at the Yangon Central Railway Station and jump on at platform 6 or 7. Your senses will be overwhelmed with vendors, countryside, animals, train stops and more. If you have more time in Myanmar, you may make the trip up to Hsipaw. From here you can take the Hsipaw to Mandalay train. This train is an all-day 15-hour experience that covers 280 kilometers. The train departs very early around 4-5 AM so we arrived but it took 1-2 hours for the train to even get to Hsipaw. The highlight of this journey is the Goitek Viaduct which is the highest railway bridge in Myanmar. It is 689 meters long and 102 meters deep. You will get the best view of the Viaduct on the left side of the train. Buy a first-class ticket as the seats are much more comfortable for the long journey. Don’t worry about the mice!
Kalaw trek
You will not regret doing this trek from Kalaw to Lake Inle. To get to Kalaw, we took an overnight bus from Yangon which was about 9 hours. It arrives very early in the morning and most hotels will not let you get into the room until noonish. So, if you want to sleep on arrival you may want to book the hotel for the night before or roam around like a zombie until check in. In Kalaw you can book your trek. From Kalaw, you can do a 2-day hike or 3-day hike with homestay +/- monastery visit between. It is a great way to see the countryside and the culture of Myanmar. The tour ends with a boat tour around Lake Inle and into the town.
Lake Inle Boat ride
Lake Inle is a freshwater lake in the Shan State. This area is so beautiful and unique. There are many stops that have artisan shops to catch on the local heritage and culture. It is a great place to shop for souvenirs. Also, this is where you get the iconic look into the fisherman.
Mountain winery near Lake Inle
The Red Mountain Estate Vineyards and Winery is just outside of town but has a beautiful landscape and view. This experience is more about the ambience and not the wine. It is a beautiful place to watch the sunset. Get there a little early to claim your spot. Renting a bicycle to get to this winery through the countryside was a great idea until we had to bike back in the pitch black. If you do this bike ride it would be ideal to bring your head lamp.
Shan Massage
Shan massage is like Thai massage in that it includes some stretching and being massaged on the floor. In contrast to the Thai massage, the Shan massage is vigorous rubbing. It is more superficial rubbing over and over. It isn’t the most ideal massage for someone with a lot of body hair. Men may feel like there is going to be a fire on their legs.
U Bein bridge
This is the world’s oldest and one of the longest teak bridges in the world. It is incredible to walk across it. It spans 1209 meters. The bridge spans over the Taungthamam Lake in Amarapura. It was built in 1850. You can also take a small boat beneath it. Great times to visit include sunrise and sunset.
all the gold
You will be dazzled by all the gold. The Shwedagon is the most sacred buddha temple in Myanmar. Another very unique golden pagoda is the Kyaik Htee Yoe Pagoda which is a giant golden rock located in Ka Dai Dutt. But there is gold in or on many other temples and sites.
