Domestic
Yagon
Nestled on the edge of Southeast Asia, Myanmar is a beautiful, vast country full of rich tradition, delicious food and gorgeous natural sights. Visitors from all walks of life can find reasons to visit and fall in love with this wondrous ancient land.
Here is why you should book your flights and travel to magical Myanmar:
The awe-inspiring temples
We dare you not to feel overwhelmed with emotion as you take a night-time walk around the Shwedagon Pagoda in Myanmar’s capital Yangon or get goosebumps whilst watching the sunrise above the hundreds of temples in Bagan. There is a constant feeling of otherworldliness in Myanmar – the country is shimmering with a kind of magic that cannot be captured with a camera. Immerse yourself in it and get your spiritual senses tingling!
Embark on a sunrise balloon ride above the majestic pagodas of Bagan between mid-October through to mid-March when the winds are calmer. This experience might be more costly than others but definitely worth the splurge! You can go with either Oriental Ballooning or Balloons over Bagan.
The ‘undiscovered’ vibe
A tourist hub Myanmar is not. While the capital, Yangon, has its fair share of expats, Western brands and five-star hotels, you don’t have to venture far to feel as if you’ve departed the beaten path. In Yangon, you can hop aboard the circular railway for an authentic view of local life, and all across the country, even the most visited places have minimal crowds if you travel in low season. When it comes to lesser-known areas, such as the Mergui Archipelago or Putao in the Himalayan foothills, you’ll truly feel like an explorer no matter when you travel.
Delicious local cuisine
Like many of Myanmar’s delicious neighbors, the cuisine in this country is a fusion of flavors, ingredients, and dishes that have come together to make this country one of the most coveted among foodies. Those who crave a unique main course may opt for nangyi thoke, while those with a palate craving something different may instead try Myanmar’s famous tea leaf salad, that is chock full of nuts, tea leaves, and shrimp sauce, making for one of the world’s most interesting salads. Dishes can be as cheap as 1,000 kyat depending on where it is visitors dine.
The best-kept secret in Asia
Having only opened it’s borders to foreign travellers a few years ago, Myanmar is still fairly mysterious and it is unlikely that you will ever see hordes of tourists flocking to get the best shot in many of the most popular attractions. You better make a trip before your Instagram feed lives to regret it.
Very friendly locals
No locals are friendlier than those dwelling in Myanmar. Whether visitors find themselves in Yangon’s city center or in the jungle on the way to Inle Lake from Kalaw, not a single local is unwelcoming of foreign visitors making their way through the country. When visitors look just the slightest bit lost, locals are known to come running in hope of offering a helping hand. Many locals will often approach visitors just in hope of practising their English. No scams, no tricks: just friendly Myanmarese looking to chat.
If you are after an adventure in Southeast Asia a little different to most, Myanmar could be the idyll you are looking for. As unique as it is mysterious, it’s a hidden gem you would be crazy not to explore!