Myanmar itinerary: The best of Myanmar in 2 weeks

Myanmar, just like its popular neighbour Thailand, experiences a rainy season that usually lasts from around May to October, with the rest of the year being dry. However, unlike Thailand, Myanmar’s northern reaches can get rather chilly over winter, making it best to visit during the early or late stages of the dry season. November and March are ideal times to visit, when you won’t have to deal with crowds of tourists celebrating Chinese New Year in February or Christmas.

The whole of Myanmar is accessible between October and May, including all its pristine beaches and shimmering temples. Between June and September, the beaches along Ngapali tend to close, and rains cover the plains between Bagan and Mandalay. The wet season does, however, provide opportunities that the dry season doesn’t. For example, river travel on the Chindwin peaks during the rainy season, giving visitors the chance to see some of the more remote areas of Myanmar, plus hill tribes and epic scenery that few tourists get to witness.

As the former capital, largest city and economic hub of Myanmar, Yangon deserves at least two or three days of your time, and it’s the easiest place to start your two-week trip thanks to being served by an international airport, located approximately an hour’s drive from the city centre. There’s always a line of taxis waiting at the airport, and pricing is based on distance and number of passengers. Be prepared to do a little bartering to get a fair price. You should expect to pay around 8,000 kyat, which is around 6 US dollars.

While staying in Yangon, you’ll explore immense pagodas, historic colonial buildings and cultural attractions that highlight the city’s Burmese, Chinese, British and Indian influences. The nation’s tallest Buddhist pagoda is the Shwedagon Pagoda, which reaches a height of 99 metres and is believed to date back anywhere between 1,000 and 2,600 years. Less tall but no less incredible is the Sule Pagoda. It boasts a more modest height of 44 metres, but it’s been at the epicentre of various rallies and protests against Myanmar’s military government. Showcasing the city’s diverse religious heritage are sites such as Saint Mary’s Cathedral and the Musmea Yeshua Synagogue. Another monument that exists due to international influences is the Taukkyan War Cemetery, where 6,300 Allied soldiers are buried and another 27,000 are commemorated on the Rangoon Memorial.

If you’re more interested in outdoor attractions than architectural and cultural landmarks, we recommend relaxing by Yangon’s two artificial lakes: Inya Lake in the city’s north, and Kandawgyi Lake by the Shwedagon Pagoda. For a spot of local shopping, browse the hundreds of market stalls selling goods, produce and handicrafts at the Bagyoke Market, which dates back to 1920. Tropical temperatures can be brutal in the afternoon, making it best to arrive early at this crowded marketplace. Items of jewellery – especially pieces of Jade – are widespread at Bagyoke Market, as are Burmese food stalls offering exotic fruits, fresh poultry, and local ready-to-eat treats. Just like at the airport, you can expect a fair bit of bartering at Yangon’s markets, which only adds to the authentic shopping experience.

Located in central Myanmar, Inle Lake is one of the nation’s most popular tourist attractions and one of the most significant ecosystems in Southeast Asia. Inle Lake is also home to thousands of different species of migratory birds as well as local tribes that live by the water, making it a fascinating place to visit for its culture, nature and beauty. You can reach Inle Lake on a budget from Mandalay by taking a night bus. The bus trip takes about seven hours. If you’re prepared to fork out a bit more cash, you can fly from Mandalay to Heho Aiport on the outskirts of Inle Lake. The lake is best explored by boat tours that cost around 15 to 12 US dollars for the day. While you’re here, you might want to soak up the scenery by hiking in the surrounding hills and mountains.

If you can afford to spend a couple of extra days around Inle Lake, we recommend joining a guided Inle Lake trek that usually last either two or four days. You’ll start in the quiet city of Kalaw and hike to Inle Lake, also known as Nyaung Shwe. Along the way, you’ll take refuge in local homestays where hole-in-the-floor toilets and cold-water bucket showers are the norm. You’ll need to adapt to the local way of life to embark on these non-exploitative tours, but in return, you’ll get an authentic taste of Myanmar and venture by cabbage farms, railroad tracks, rice fields, scenic vistas and much more. When you arrive at Lake Inle, make sure you have enough time to visit attractions that include silver-making factories, cigar factories and Thaung Thut, a lotus-making village.

If you’re travelling home from Yangon early on day 14, you might want to head back to Yangon from Inle Lake on day 13, which will give you the chance to see more of Myanmar’s most-populous city and former capital the night before catching your flight. Frequent flights that take just an hour travel from Heho Airport to Yangon, from which you can fly to just about any hub in Southeast Asia, whether it’s Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok or Singapore. It’s also possible to return to Yangon in the early morning of your 14th day if you’d prefer to spend an extra night at Inle Lake.

Follow our two-week Myanmar itinerary, and you’ll see a diverse array of the nation’s highlights. Still, in reality, two weeks is not enough to see all the country has to offer.

If you have a little more time in Myanmar, we recommend visiting the Mergui Archipelago, though you’ll need four or five days to make the most of your stay. This archipelago consists of a string of undeveloped, postcard-perfect islands located about 100 miles north of Thailand’s island of Phuket, which is too developed, flashy and tourist-centric for many people. If you can, travel to the Mergui Archipelago via a yacht tour from the city of Kawtheung, which is close to the Thailand border crossing. For more Myanmar destinations, we suggest the beach towns of Dawei and Thandwe, the limestone caves of Pindaya, and the picturesque Kachin State. You can also travel to Myanmar’s northern regions to embark on a Himalayan trekking tour.

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