Travel differently, travel better
Subscribe and receive our travel inspirations and practical advice twice a month.
Wanting to share your trip with a group?
See our guaranteed departures
Subscribe and receive our travel inspirations and practical advice twice a month.
Wanting to share your trip with a group?
See our guaranteed departures
Unlike some other tourist destinations, when you visit Myanmar, you get a rare chance to immerse yourself in the country’s true authenticity, untainted by mass tourism. The opening of Myanmar’s borders to tourism, although almost nonexistent, is recent. Let yourself be enchanted by the snow-capped peaks of Hkakabo Razi, the highest mountain in Southeast Asia where you can get a chance to experience a taste of the Himalayas. Or choose to follow the road south, and find yourself sunbathing on an idyllic virgin beach or aboard a cruise through the Mergui archipelago for a total sense of escape from the world..
In a country where Buddhism is practised by 90% of the country’s popular, it is no wonder that more and more people visit Myanmar looking for a spiritual retreat. Vipassana meditation, in particular, is a popular practice, aimed at eliminating all sources of attachment and suffering. The heart of Burmese Buddhism, stemming from the Theravada tradition, beats in Mandalay, and at the Okpo Monastery in Mogok, it is even practised in English. If you decide to take a cruise in Myanmar, you can also take yoga classes. In many ways, yoga is about being one with nature. Facing the floating gardens of Inle Lake or in the pine forests of the Kalaw Mountains, you choose the backdrop that allows you to recharge your batteries.
Going on a trek when you visit Myanmar is your best opportunity to stay with the locals and experience a deeper cultural immersion. After a day crisscrossing the routes around the gently undulating Inle Lake or the high mountain slopes of Putao, your Burmese hosts welcome you with open arms and hearts, this is a real emotional journey! Hiking in Myanmar encourage discovery and exchange, something we fully support and promote as a local travel agency in Myanmar. It is surrounded by the warmth of a family, that you share meals, laughter and moments of daily life. Kalaw and Pindaya in the north of the country are some of our favourite places for trekking in Myanmar.
Take a Burmese cooking class to immerse yourself in the secrets of Bamar and Mon pans. In local restaurants, the traditional salad with lephet think fermented tea leaves is a delicious introduction to Burmese food and a great way to familiarize yourself with the local ingredients. Then dig into your bowl of oh-no khauk-swe, succulent noodles in a coconut milk broth. Finally for dessert, taste the sanwin makin, a semolina cake, as you sip a talapo. This alcoholic drink made from fermented palm is the favourite drink of the villagers in the centre of the country, an off-the-beaten-track region that we recommend exploring when you visit Myanmar. In addition to the different Burmese ethnic influences, you will find Indian, Chinese and Thai touches in the local gastronomy. Its unsuspected flavours make you want more!
When you visit Myanmar, the Burmese talent in jewellery design will be sure to amaze you. The ruby deposits which have made the country's reputation for centuries are mainly located in Maishu, Mogok, Nyamar, Pyinlon and Sakin. Rubies, as well as other precious stones such as jade and sapphire, are sold at more attractive prices than in Europe. You will also find them encrusted on the walls and roofs of temples, and gold is no exception. Both religious pilgrims and visitors apply gold leaf to the sparkling Buddha sculptures. Are you curious to meet the craftsmen making them? Your Myanmar Travel Expert will show you where to meet them.
Do you want to improve your talent as a photographer on picturesque stages? Myanmar is the place to go! On a photo trip to Myanmar, everything inspires you. Taking a portrait of the Burmese is more than photography, it is a social experience, and in these magical landscapes, your photos of the sunset and architectural splendours are breathtaking. Stroll through the Mogok valley with well-marked curves and then in Inle Lake, bursting with life. On the beaches of the deserted islands in Mergui, find your paradise and take postcard-worthy pictures.. To arrive at the right time of the day and capture the most beautiful light, consult your Myanmar Travel Expert. A passionate traveller like you, he/she will be more than happy to share some top tips!
Besides the Bamars who represent almost 70% of the population, the country is characterized by more than 130 ethnic groups. When you visit Myanmar, you will have the chance to see many people wearing traditional clothes that reflect their heritage. Bamboo belts, colorful gaung baung and longyi worn by both men and women catch your eye. These endearing people have so many surprises in store for you. On the crystal clear waters of Andaman Sea, sail with the Mokkens; while at Inle Lake, meet the “Sons of the Lake”, the Intha fishermen who balance on one leg. If you visit the Golden Triangle of Kengtung, you will have a chance to learn from the Palaung weavers whose precious know-how has crossed generations and centuries..
If the passion for shopping drives your travels, Myanmar is the destination for you. A melting pot of ancestral techniques, Burmese craftsmanship in all its variety and colours will surely put you in awe. At Inle Lake, garments with delicate hues are created from lotus silk. In Pindaya, flower petals, bamboo and mulberry bark make up the lovely Shan umbrellas. During your holiday in Myanmar, if you pass through Mandalay, the territory of the last Burmese kingdom, remember to complete your collection of traditional puppets!
When you visit Myanmar, don’t forget to spare a couple of days to relax on the coastal wonders of Ngapali. For those who need their own space, this paradise beach in Myanmar is the place to be! Each caress of the waves relaxes you a little more as you sink your feet into the soft white sand. After having fun in the crystal clear water, bask on the beach under the shade of a coconut tree with a fresh fruit juice. Located in the southwest of Myanmar, Ngapali beach is long, wide and uncrowded. From your hotel with direct access to the beach, you can lazily observe a few fishing boats from the Bay of Bengal. At night, you will see the horizon lit up by neon green lights used for octopus fishing.
A must-see on a trip to Myanmar, the temples of Bagan leave an impressive reminder of the power of the ancient kingdom of Pagan. Among the 10,000 monuments erected in its prosperous times, only 2,200 remain. Most have been restored while others, in ruins, have been overgrown with vegetation and exude an exquisite charm. Explore the gems of the Valley of the Temples one by one: Ayopyi-gu-hpaya, Htilominlo, Loka-hteik-pan, Pathohtamya, Gawdaw-palin, That-byin-nyu, Lokananda… You can even discover them from the air! On a hot air balloon in Bagan, fly over pagodas, stupas and striking landscapes. Magic follows you throughout your tailor-made trip to Myanmar.
