Welcome to Myanmar

Myanmar (formerly Burma) is one of the most fascinating and contradictory travel destinations in Asia. Isolated for decades by a military dictatorship, the country slowly opened to tourism from 2011 — revealing a world that seems from another time. Travelers to Myanmar experience a country moving between venerable tradition and a painful political present.

• Bagan — the city of 2,000 temples — A plain as far as the eye can see, dotted with millennia-old pagodas and temples. Experiencing the sunrise over Bagan, when the stupas emerge from the morning mist and the light turns the red brick buildings to gold, is one of the most unforgettable moments of an Asia trip. → Chap. Bagan
• Shwedagon Pagoda — The massive golden pagoda in Yangon, covered with real gold and topped with a diamond crown set with over 7,000 gemstones, is one of the most impressive religious structures in the world. → Chap. Yangon
• Inle Lake — Fishermen rowing with one leg, floating gardens, stilt villages, and weaving workshops on the water — Inle Lake is a unique ecosystem and cultural experience found nowhere else on earth. → Chap. Inle Lake
• Golden Rock (Kyaiktiyo) — A huge, gilded boulder balancing on a mountain edge, seemingly about to fall at any moment. One of the holiest sites in Buddhism and an image that burns into memory. → Chap. Yangon
• Authentic Asia — Myanmar is one of the last countries in Southeast Asia not yet overrun by mass tourism. The people are incredibly friendly, curious, and hospitable. Thanaka paste on cheeks, longyis as everyday clothing, and teahouses on every corner — here lives a culture that has preserved its identity despite all upheavals.
• Pure Buddhism — With over 500,000 monks and nuns, Myanmar is one of the most Buddhist countries in the world. Monks in saffron robes are as much a part of the street scene as tuk-tuks and teahouses. At five in the morning, they walk barefoot through the streets collecting alms — a ritual unchanged for centuries. → Chap. Culture
• Extremely affordable — Myanmar is one of the cheapest travel destinations in Asia. A daily budget of 25–40 euros is sufficient for comfortable travel with guesthouses, good food, and transport.
• Irrawaddy River Cruise — A boat trip on Myanmar's lifeline from Mandalay to Bagan is one of the most beautiful river journeys in Asia: golden pagodas on the shore, fishermen in dugouts, and a sunset that sets the sky ablaze. → Chap. Bagan

Myanmar is not an easy destination — the political situation since the military coup in 2021 requires special attention and careful preparation. But for travelers who are informed and respectful, the country offers experiences found nowhere else.

Myanmar is a vast country with an area almost twice the size of Germany. The tourist-developed regions are concentrated along the central corridor from Yangon in the south to Mandalay in the north:

Yangon & South

For whom: Cultural travelers, city explorers, temple lovers
The former capital and largest city of the country is the entry point for most travelers to Myanmar. The golden Shwedagon Pagoda, one of the most impressive religious structures in the world, colonial architecture in charming decay, vibrant markets, and the incomparable teahouse culture. In the south, the mystical Golden Rock (Kyaiktiyo) and the paradisiacal beach of Ngapali beckon.

Bagan & Central Myanmar

For whom: History enthusiasts, photographers, adventurers
The archaeological zone of Bagan with over 2,000 temples and pagodas on an area of 36 km² is Myanmar's absolute crown jewel and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2019. Additionally, Mount Popa — an extinct volcano with a picturesque summit monastery — and the unforgettable Irrawaddy river cruise from Mandalay to Bagan.

Inle Lake & Shan State

For whom: Nature lovers, cultural travelers, trekkers
Inle Lake with its world-famous one-legged fishermen and floating gardens, the trekking mecca Kalaw with its unforgettable village overnight stays, the mystical Pindaya Cave with 8,000 Buddha statues, and the surprisingly good Red Mountain Winery. Shan State is Myanmar's most ethnically diverse region.

Mandalay & North

For whom: Cultural travelers, monastery visitors, photography enthusiasts
Myanmar's cultural capital: the world's largest book in the Kuthodaw Pagoda, the iconic U-Bein Bridge made of teak, Mandalay Hill with its panoramic view, and four ancient royal cities that can be explored as day trips. In the north, the Gokteik Viaduct beckons — one of Asia's most spectacular train routes.

1. Sunrise over the temples of Bagan — When the over 2,000 pagodas emerge from the morning mist and the first light bathes the brick structures in gold and pink, while hot air balloons float over the plain in the distance. One of Asia's most magical moments. → Chap. Bagan
2. Experience the Shwedagon Pagoda at sunset — When the last rays of the sun make the 99-meter-high golden stupa glow and thousands of candles are lit while monks and pilgrims pray. → Chap. Yangon
3. Watch the one-legged fishermen on Inle Lake — Early in the morning, when the lake is still calm and mist drifts over the water, while the fishermen cast their nets with their unique technique. → Chap. Inle Lake
4. Float over Bagan in a hot air balloon — 45 minutes of silence over a temple landscape stretching to the horizon. 350–400 dollars, worth every cent. → Chap. Bagan
5. U-Bein Bridge at sunset — The longest teak bridge in the world silhouetted against the orange sky, with monks and farmers as shadowy figures. → Chap. Mandalay
6. Kalaw-Inle Trekking with village overnight stay — Two days through rice fields, tea plantations, and bamboo forests, with a night at a host family showing rural Myanmar in all its warmth. → Chap. Inle Lake
7. Slow Boat on the Irrawaddy — A whole day on Myanmar's lifeline from Mandalay to Bagan: golden pagodas on the riverbank, fishermen in dugouts, and an arrival at sunset when the first temples appear on the shore. → Chap. Bagan
8. Mohinga for breakfast in the teahouse — Eat Myanmar's national dish at a street stall or in a teahouse: fish soup with rice noodles, crispy fritters, sweet milk tea. For 50 cents, the best breakfast in the world. → Chap. Culture
9. Golden Rock at sunrise — The gilded boulder balancing on the mountain edge in the golden morning light, surrounded by praying pilgrims. Mystical and surreal at the same time. → Chap. Yangon
10. Cross the Gokteik Viaduct by train — Roll at walking pace over a 100-year-old railway bridge, 300 meters above a gorge, while the train creaks ominously. Pure thrill. → Chap. Mandalay