Myanmar
Government travel warnings are in place for Myanmar
The US, UK and Australian governments currently advise against travel to Myanmar or to large parts of it, because of armed conflict and civil unrest. Travel insurance may not cover you, and conditions can change quickly. We are not offering scheduled Myanmar journeys at present. If you still want to discuss a trip, our specialists will go through the latest official advice with you first.
US State Department advisoryUK Foreign Office adviceAustralian Smartraveller
Bagan's plain of more than 2,000 temples, the golden Shwedagon Pagoda, the teak U Bein Bridge and the leg-rowing fishermen of Inle Lake. Myanmar is currently subject to serious government travel warnings, so we only plan it on request.
- Best time to go
- November to February is the cool, dry season. March to May is very hot; June to October brings the monsoon. Check current safety advice before choosing any dates.
- Flying from India
- Usually via Bangkok or Singapore to Yangon, about 6 to 9 hours in total. Direct services from India have been limited and irregular.
- Visa for Indian passports
- Tourist e-visa through the official Myanmar portal. Availability and rules can change at short notice in the current situation.
- Currency
- Myanmar kyat (MMK). Cards are rarely accepted; bring clean US dollar notes and expect ATMs to be unreliable.
Myanmar at a glance
In calmer times, a classic Myanmar journey begins in Yangon at the Shwedagon Pagoda, whose gilded stupa glows at dusk, then flies to Bagan, where more than 2,000 temples and stupas rise from the plain beside the Irrawaddy river. From Mandalay, the last royal capital, you can see the Kuthodaw Pagoda's 729 marble tablets and walk the 1.2 km U Bein Bridge at sunset, before ending at Inle Lake among stilt villages, floating gardens and fishermen who row with one leg.
Today the situation is very different. Several governments advise against all travel to Myanmar or to most regions, and the picture changes quickly. We have kept this page so that you can see what the country offers, but we do not currently sell scheduled Myanmar journeys. If you would like to travel when advice improves, we can keep you informed.
Must-see
- Bagan's temple plain
- Shwedagon Pagoda
- Inle Lake
- U Bein Bridge
- Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay
Food to try
- Mohinga fish noodle soup
- Tea leaf salad (lahpet thoke)
- Shan noodles
- Ohn no khao swè coconut noodles
- Burmese curry spreads
Where to shop
- Bagan lacquerware workshops
- Bogyoke Aung San Market, Yangon
- Inle Lake silk and lotus weavers
- Mandalay gold-leaf workshops
- Jade market, Mandalay
Where to Stay
Areas and styles of stay we book most often. We shortlist specific hotels once we know your dates and budget.
Bagan
Lodges among the temples
Low-rise hotels in Old Bagan and on the riverbank, close to the temples for early starts and sunset viewpoints.
Inle Lake
Stilted lake resorts
Wooden villas built over the water or on the eastern shore, reached by long-tail boat, with views of the Shan hills.
The Irrawaddy
River cruises
Small river ships between Mandalay and Bagan, a slow and beautiful way to travel when river cruising is operating.
Signature Experiences
Moments we build Myanmar journeys around
Ananda Temple, Bagan
One of Bagan's best-preserved temples, with four standing Buddhas facing the cardinal directions and gilded spires visible across the plain.
Lacquerware workshops
Bagan's family workshops still make lacquerware by hand, layering bamboo and lacquer over months before engraving the designs.
Inle Lake by boat
A day on the lake's canals visiting floating gardens, silk and lotus-fibre weavers and the stilted monastery villages.
Kuthodaw Pagoda, Mandalay
Known as the world's largest book: 729 white stupas, each sheltering a marble tablet inscribed with Buddhist scripture.
Yangon's colonial downtown
A walk past the red-brick Secretariat, the High Court and the old bank buildings along Pansodan Street, among the largest collections of colonial-era architecture left in Asia.
Planning Your Journey
Timing, routing and what our specialists tell every Myanmar traveller
When to visit
November to February
Cool, dry and the traditional travel season, subject to the current safety situation.
March to October
Hot until May, then monsoon rains until October.
Getting there and around
Arrival
Yangon's international airport, usually via Bangkok or Singapore.
Getting around
Domestic flights between Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay and Heho for Inle Lake, where they are operating.
Insider notes
Check advice before anything else
Read the latest Indian, UK, US or Australian government advice before booking any Myanmar travel, and again before departure.
Insurance
Many policies exclude countries under a 'do not travel' warning. Confirm cover in writing.
Consider Bagan's alternatives
Angkor in Cambodia, Sri Lanka's Cultural Triangle and northern Thailand's temples are open and easy to visit now.
Cash and connectivity
Expect limited card acceptance and unreliable mobile internet if you travel.
Myanmar: Common Questions
Several governments currently advise against travel to Myanmar or to most of it. We are not selling scheduled journeys there, but we will talk you through the latest official advice if you ask.
Plan your Myanmar journey
Speak to a specialist.
Share a few details and one of our Myanmar specialists will get in touch, usually within a working day.
Ready to plan Myanmar?
Tell us your dates and who is travelling. We reply with a costed, day-by-day plan you can change as much as you like.