Myanmar formerly known as Burma is a county not many know much about. This wonderful winter sun holiday destination is your perfect escape route to a relaxing experience if you’re bored with tall buildings and big city lights.
Winter is coming!
Starting November the weather goes down to 21-24C all the way till February so it’s an open invitation to plan a trip throughout all this time. Yangon, the largest city of Myanmar, is where the trip begins.
Money Matters
The local currency is known as Kyat and can be exchanged using pristine and unfolded US Dollars, Euros and Singaporean Dollars only. The amount exceeding US $10000 must be declared at the airport.
A daily budget of $50 a day should cover:
- A three-course meal for 2 at a mid-range restaurant for $15
- Meal at a fast-food restaurant for $4.80
- Local transport (one-way ticket) for $0.15
- 2 movie tickets for $4.58
Lodgings*
For a family of 4, the best options are Novotel Yangon Max at USD $132 per night for a twin room or Rose Garden Hotel at USD $273 for a two-bedroom family suite. In Bagan, stay close to natural beauty at Bagan View Hotel for $130 per night for a twin room and Golden Myanmar Guest House for just $65 per night for a family room
* prices may vary depending at the time of booking as per seasonal demand and hotel charging policy
Local Transportation
There are many ways you can get around in Myanmar. But you?ll need to bargain at times as prices are often marked up for foreigners.
- Catch a local city bus for $1
- A horse carriage taxi for $7
- A taxi for $1.50 per kilometer
- An overnight sleeper bus for $15 (you also get a free water bottle and a stop for rest)
- Long-distance day bus costs $10 with a free water bottle and a break for lunch
Top things to do in Myanmar
- Not to miss in Yongan is the Shwedagon Pagoda, which houses a 325ft tall stupa covered with actual gold leaf and decorated with exquisite gemstones. This is one of the most sacred spiritual destinations for Buddhists.
- Shop your heart out at Junction Square at Yangon Town Centre, Tan Win Centre at Pyay road and Bagyok Aung San road. They have everything for contemporary shopping needs.
- Take the kids for a half-day trip to Hlawga Wildlife Park, which is home to more than 70 herbivorous species and over 90 breeds of birds. The park is spread on 1650 acres of land and has a lake and museum. Visits can also enjoy elephant rides, boating, and fishing. The ticket costs $1 per person.
- Bagan is home to several temples that were built centuries ago. You can reach there via an overnight bus. While it can take a few good days to explore the entire city I’d recommend the Shwesandaw Pagoda which gives a great view of the surrounding temples, the Thatbyinnyu Temple which is also one of the largest Buddhist monuments in Bagan.
More things to do in Myanmar!!!
- Catch a hot air balloon ride with family and fly over the city witnessing several monuments that peak through green plains. You will need to get up at sunrise as the balloons take off at that time. Prices start at USD $310 per ride.
- Want to take back home some authentic Burmese souvenirs? Head to Mani-Sithu market where you’ll find all things handcrafted at unbeatable prices. The market operates from 6 am to 5 pm, Monday to Saturday.
- From Bagan there’s an almost 8-hour ride to Inle Lake where you can reach by bus at a price of $8 to $11 or take a direct flight for $70+ and reach in 30 minutes. The lake is famous for its floating villages and gardens and the lifestyle of the Intha people as the community life is based on water throughout.
- For those who want to take a typical Burmese bite should try Mohinga (Burmese fish noodle soup), Ambrosia Briyani (quite much like the Asian version), rice and Burmese curry (veg).
Winter Sun Beach Vacation
Simplicity is the best way to describe Myanmar’s way of life. The Burmese people have preserved their culture and heritage for years and welcome you to experience it. It’s a chance not to miss.
Here are other winter sun holiday destinations Cuba, The Canary Islands, Egypt, Oman, The Maldives, Australia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Orlando, and Cancun.
P.S. As someone who spent close to 20 years working in insurance, I strongly recommend buying travel insurance if you are going on holiday. It costs a fraction of your holiday but covers the potential risk of the entire holiday. You can read my post on why you need travel insurance.
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Great post and good info.
I heard a lot of Myanmar, lately only because bad news, politic stuff and so, which is sad for it, since reading your info, it is a beautiful country, nice people and a great landscape.
Not to mention the building and temples you can visit, which is also nice.
There is a Belgian now there, since a few years, and he doesn’t want to come to Belgium anymore, that says enough I think.
Anyway, thanks for sharing it with us!
oh my god! The world is so big, there are many, MANY beautiful places in the world that most of the people do not have any idea… I was planning to travel to Hong Kong with my wife and children next year. You have changed my mind. I want to go to a Myanmar. It looks so exotic and marvelous! If have never been in a place like that before. I will talk to my family anout this, I am sure they would agree with me
Thanks for the article!
I was in Myamar in 2012 and had a great time, it was actually where I proposed to my wife!. It does fit the bill for good weather in the winter months, I was ther in february and I dont remember any rain and it was definitely hot!! If you are looking for some additional places to visit, I really enjoyed Kyaukme and Hpa-An. The people everywhere was amazingly lovely!
Thank you for sharing with us this great post .It is very important in life to go to different place to change the routine .
Anyone in this life needs to go out and relax but most of the time money becomes a big barrer to most of us.
Travelling to Myanmar seems to be very cheap and the area is magic so travelling there is beneficial.
I like the place.
This looks like an incredible hidden secret. My wife and I are always looking for new places to put on our bucket list. I doubt we will get to all of them but we try and get to a rare place every couple years.
I am wondering though about the economy. Is it a fairly rich place. How do people earn a living there and is it safe?
This is a great article and I am looking forward to hearing what you have to say.
Hi Dale,
As any developing country, tourism is a big source of revenue for the govt. and the people. Every country is safe (well minus the ones where there are wars), but at the there are places you just don’t go. It’s always best to speak to a local or your hotel staff and get the lay of the land. Try and get info from from 3 different sources just to be on the safe side
Tarun you’ve provided some great tips for visiting Myanmar with a family, helping with everything from budgeting (always a difficult process for a place one has never visited before) to transportation to wonderful things to do and see. After reading your article, I’m ready to buy a ticket and visit this enchanting place. Thank you for all the practical, useful information! ~Cheri
PS Your profile description at the end of the article had me laughing. You have a great sense of humor!
Hi Cheri,
glad you like it, cos thats me in a nutshell! lol
I am so happy to have found your site. Yes, it is the season of the year, here in Canada, where Winter can be so unforgiving and, due to arthritis issues the cold doesn’t agree with me anymore. That’s why warm and sunny places are always at the top.
I also like to travel more, let’s say, unconventional. I like to meet locals and I like to discover the country and its culture beyond all the “touristy” stuff.
I thought of Myanmar a couple of times and so far what you have described in your article sounds exactly what I am looking for.
I also do appreciate all the details you are providing it sure helps a lot, especially when on a budget.
The video is awesome thanks for sharing.
Thanks Sylvia, glad you like the post.
If/when you do go there…let me know how was the experience
To be honest, I haven’t heard of a country named Myanmar (until now) I have however heard of Burma. Thanks for sharing the beauty of this country and the sceneries there are. I’d love to see the Shwedagon Pagoda, must be very attractive if the picture you’ve shared is anything to go by.
Surely, this destination in Asia is one I will definitely plan to visit.
Best regards
Hi Victor,
Burma changed its name to Myanmar in 1989, a year after thousands were killed in the suppression of a popular uprising. Rangoon also became Yangon.
Going to certain places in Myanmar is like traveling back in time, much like when you visit Cuba.
Hi! Myanmar is a great place to go this winter to escape this cold season we’re entering. Thank for orienting us about how much does logging, meals and attractions cost in Myanmar. But what I have appreciated the most is this list of 8 things to do in Myanmar! The hot air balloon ride sound so cool! Getting up at sunrise doesn’t seem much of a sacrifice to enjoy this experience! Thank you very much for this great post!
Wow! This looks very beautiful!
I’ve never been to Myanmar myself but I’m looking into taking a holiday in February for my birthday when prices on tickets are really low. I have always wanted to see parts of Asia. I have been considering Singapore, Tokyo, and Hong Kong but now I will have to add this one to the list (especially because it looks much cheaper than the others).
I really like the wildlife park idea you mention and that would be great for my kids too. The elephant ride sound incredible!
You mentioned that this window for travel there ends in February. Do you happen to know when in February? Also, what do you mean by open invitation to travel there?
Thanks so much for sharing this information! I will look into Myanmar more closely.
Hi Tina,
You can travel all year round however the best time is between Nov & Feb. Towards the end of Feb it starts getting hot so visitors tend to stop going unless they like the heat.
Open invitation was just a figure of speech referring to going anytime between the aforementioned months 🙂
I hear from family and friends (we live in europe) they often go to Thailand, India, China and Indonesia. Myanmar is not on their radar, but after reading your article, I’d definitely recommend it. Alot to explore! As for me and my girlfriend I would consider planning a holiday tot Myanmar. I’ll check your hotel recommendations first! And who knows we meet each other in Myanmar next summer!
Thank you Tarun. I am really pleased to have come across your site as I have family with Burmese ethnicity so Myanmar is definitely on the bucket list. That’s great to know that the temperature is as low as 21-24C at that time so that makes it more bearable. How hot does it get from November onwards (what are the high temperatures in Yangon for instance?), I presume you day until Feb is the winter season. What a great review and interesting list of things to do - who would have thought of hot air ballooning over the city. I’ll share this article as I have family travelling there soon. Thank you!
Hi John,
The temperature varies from 19-32 degrees Celsius between Nov & Dec. On average, the coolest month is January.
Hope this helps, have a good trip there
Right time I reached your blog Tarun! I was planning for a trip during the spring of 2019 and Boom! I landed on your article on Myanmar. It seems to be a very interesting place to visit at very economic rates. But let me know one thing. Is it Okay to visit Myanmar now? After all the political unrest happening there? Let me know your views.
Gee Ess
Hi Gee Ess,
Like any developing country there will be political issues and concerns, however it is still open for tourists. As long as you avoid being politically active you should be fine.
Thank you for sharing your vacation in Myanmar.
A daily budget of $50 for two is not bad :). The local transport fee is not expensive.
How many days do you think we should stay in Myanmar in order to visit most places?They are so many things to do in Myanmar.
Your recommendation for lodging is helpful when we visit Myanmar.
Hi Christine
U could spend weeks in Myanmar but I would say nothing less than 10 days if you want to get immersed in the culture and place.