Bagan, MyanmarPhoto: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Find your Bliss in Myanmar
Myanmar, explained honestly: golden pagodas, temple plains and the people who welcome you
Myanmar holds some of the most moving sights in Asia: Shwedagon glowing over Yangon, thousands of temples across the plain of Bagan, the teak bridge at Amarapura and the leg rowing fishermen of Inle Lake. Since the 2021 military takeover the country has been in conflict, and many governments advise against travel. This guide explains plainly what that means, so you can decide with clear eyes and travel carefully if you go.
Your trip, step by step
- Before you decideGovernment travel advice, insurance and entry rules, answered honestly
- LandingYangon airport, cash, SIM cards and your first evening, explained
- Your days in MyanmarPagodas, temples, lakes and food, planned with care
- Home againDeparture tips so the last day is calm too
Where to go, eat and stay
- Honest about safetyWe put current government travel advice first and never pretend the risks away.
- Official sourcesEntry, health and safety facts point you to the official pages to confirm.
- No price surprisesWe explain cash, exchange rates, cards and tipping so costs never catch you off guard.
- Free to useEvery guide and the trip planner are free.
Our promise
Myanmar should feel understood before you go, not uncertain. We answer the hard questions about safety, insurance, money and moving around, so you can make a calm, informed choice and, if you travel, find your Bliss with care.
Going home to see family from Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, the United States or Australia? This guide was written with you in mind too.
How to use this guide
Four steps from first idea to a trip that feels considered.
- Read the travel adviceStart with your own government's advice for Myanmar and check your insurance will cover you.
- Choose your MyanmarYangon, Bagan, Mandalay, Inle Lake or the coast: start with the destinations that fit you.
- Pick your placesUse our places to visit list for pagodas, teahouses, markets and stays in each base.
- Plan your routeUse the free trip planner to link the main sights by air at a realistic pace.
Everything your Myanmar trip needs
Free tools and guides for every stage of the journey.
Destinations
Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan, Inle Lake and Ngwe Saung, each explained in depth.
Explore destinationsPlaces to visit
More than a hundred pagodas, teahouses, markets and stays, from classics to quiet corners.
See places to visitFlights and stays
Search flights into Yangon and Mandalay, and stays in each base.
Plan travelPlaces finder
Restaurants, sights and stays mapped around each base.
Find placesFree trip planner
Tell us your dates and interests and build a route that fits.
Plan your trip
The classic Myanmar trip
Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay and Inle Lake
The classic first trip is a loop by domestic flight: Yangon for Shwedagon and the teahouses, Bagan for the temple plain, Mandalay for the royal city and U Bein Bridge, and Inle Lake for stilt villages and floating gardens. Road links between them cross areas affected by conflict, so most careful travellers fly. Check current advice for each place before you book.
- Sunset at Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon
- Sunrise over the temples of Bagan
- U Bein Bridge and the monasteries of Mandalay
- A boat day on Inle Lake
Plan with care
Your route, without guesswork
Myanmar asks for more preparation than its neighbours: the right visa, clean foreign banknotes, insurance that actually covers you, and a plan that keeps you in areas your government does not advise against. Our free planner helps you shape it.
- Realistic flight connections between the main sights
- The right season for heat, rain and festivals
- Where to base yourself
Where to go in Myanmar
From the pagodas of Yangon and the royal city of Mandalay to the temple plain of Bagan, the stilt villages of Inle Lake and the beaches of the Bay of Bengal.
Yangon Region
Yangon
Shwedagon at sunset, colonial streets, teahouses and the slow Circular Railway.
Read the guidePhoto: Marcin Konsek, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Mandalay Region
Bagan
More than two thousand temples on a dry plain beside the Ayeyarwady River.
Read the guidePhoto: Vyacheslav Argenberg, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Mandalay Region
Mandalay
The last royal capital, with teak monasteries, Mandalay Hill and U Bein Bridge.
Read the guidePhoto: Jakub Hałun, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Shan State
Inle Lake
Leg rowing fishermen, stilt villages and floating gardens in the Shan hills.
Read the guidePhoto: Thomas Schoch, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
Ayeyarwady Region
Ngwe Saung
A long, quiet silver sand beach on the Bay of Bengal, within reach of Yangon.
Read the guidePhoto: Win win thant, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
A note from our founder
A note from our founder
My first time visiting Kenya, I was genuinely surprised with how fast it began feeling like home. The people are so friendly, the food is delicious and familiar, and the accommodations are modern and upscale.
During my travels throughout the continent, I commonly hear tourists share stories about being scammed or taken advantage of, which is both frustrating and disheartening.
Living in Kenya for the last 2 years, I have had the great fortune to meet a network of wonderful Kenyans who have continuously help guide my family's journey. Their shared knowledge has not only greatly enhanced our overall experience here, but it has also saved us tons of time, energy, and resources.
With BlissPoint Travel, my hope is to build a global community that is willing to share useful, uncommon knowledge so that we can all blissfully enjoy the wonders our world has to offer.
Questions we hear most
Is it safe to travel to Myanmar right now?
Myanmar has been in armed conflict since the 2021 coup, and many governments advise against all or all but essential travel to the whole country or large parts of it. Some visitors still go to Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay and Inle Lake, but conditions change fast. Read your own government's advice and decide carefully.
Will my travel insurance cover me?
Often not if your government advises against travel. Many policies are void in those areas. Check the wording with your insurer before you book, and look for a specialist policy if needed.
Do I need a visa for Myanmar?
Most visitors need a visa, and many nationalities can apply for an e-visa online. Rules depend on your passport and change, so check the official Myanmar e-visa site and your nearest Myanmar embassy before you travel.
Can I use cards and ATMs in Myanmar?
Cards are accepted only in some hotels and larger businesses, and ATMs are unreliable for foreign cards. Bring enough clean, new foreign banknotes for your trip and change them at banks or licensed counters.
What are the main places to visit?
Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay and Inle Lake are the classic four, with Ngwe Saung or Chaung Tha for a beach. Many other regions are currently affected by fighting.
When is the best time to go?
November to February is cool and dry and the most comfortable time. March to May is very hot, and the monsoon runs from about June to October.
Ready to plan Myanmar with care?
Use the free trip planner to shape your days, or send us a question through the contact page.