A Guide To Myanmar's Best Travel Destinations

Every country has pockets of wonder that make it unique. There are a variety of places to travel in Myanmar that will satiate all types of travel appetite. Here are 7 of the most interesting places to travel in Myanmar so read on to learn more.

Yangon

Yangon is the commercial capital of Myanmar. While Naypyitaw is the official capital, Yangon has the attractions and nightlife to keep you entertained. It is also the most progressive city in the country. While other cities are lagging behind in trendy pop-up shops, technology startups (the first virtual reality company just emerged recently) and co-working spaces, Yangon is the hip, relatively undiscovered southeast Asian city you’ve been looking for. Plus, it has Shwedagon Pagoda and amazing restaurants. What more could you ask for?

Bagan

Mandalay

Perhaps Mandalay could be considered the historical capital of Myanmar, because it has managed to preserve traditions such as food, puppet shows, and weaving without getting “watered down” as it has in Yangon. Though some tourists claim there isn’t much to see here, its monasteries, palaces and pagodas are rich with history. With the right tour guide, you’ll end up learning a great deal about how this country evolved.

Inle Lake

Come here for serene boat tours, leg-rowing fishermen, cooking classes, and a charming little winery. The culture here is based around the lake and entire villages are situated on stilt houses that rest on top of it. Instead of living around it on land, the people settled here and loved being a part of the lake community. There are many silversmiths, weaving centers, cheroot factories, and teak wood boat makers.

Hpa An (Kyaiktiyo)

Hpa An is an underrated town in Myanmar. It is close to Mawlawmyine and Kyaiktiyo (Golden Rock Pagoda), but within this town there is Saddan Cave, Mount Zwegabin, and many other outdoor adventure spots to be found. Although other cities boast lots of attractions, this chill spot is great for those who want a nature-filled weekend getaway from Yangon.

Mrauk U

Even more remote than Bagan, this former Arakan kingdom is also filled with pagodas. Mrauk U is located in Rakhine State on the west side of Myanmar. You’ll find villages with little foreigners, and a visit to the Chin villages nearby will afford you a glimpse of women whose faces are covered in tattoos.

Naypyitaw

This is where the government holds all of their meetings. While the city itself is not very exciting and actually eerily empty, the 20-lane highways with virtually no cars are worth seeing. The government decided to change the capital from Yangon to Naypyitaw because it was more centrally located, but in reality, a majority of business and investments are still being done in Yangon or Mandalay. In Naypyitaw, you will find a couple of museums, a zoo, and many fancy hotels with swimming pools (and very little guests).

Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.

Culture Trip launched in 2011 with a simple yet passionate mission: to inspire people to go beyond their boundaries and experience what makes a place, its people and its culture special and meaningful — and this is still in our DNA today. We are proud that, for more than a decade, millions like you have trusted our award-winning recommendations by people who deeply understand what makes certain places and communities so special.

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