In a nutshell
Currently, travel to Myanmar is not recommended. Many governments have issued travel warnings, as the security situation in the country is still considered critical. It is currently unclear when the situation will improve.
Read all our articles about Myanmar
Who is Myanmar the perfect destination for?
Myanmar has an absolutely impressive culture and is often called the land of temples and pagodas — and for good reason. If you love visiting temples, whether ancient or newly built, there’s probably no better destination in the world.
Of course, the country has so much more to offer: stunning landscapes, for example. In Shan State and around Inle Lake, Myanmar shows its most beautiful natural side. If you love hiking, you won’t be disappointed here either.
After a full dose of culture, a few days of relaxation on the beach sounds pretty good too. Myanmar delivers that as well: in the west and south of the country there are long sandy beaches where you can wrap up your trip in style.
Myanmar is definitely not a destination for a beach vacation alone, though. There are certainly countries in the region better suited for that, such as Thailand.
Myanmar also isn’t for you if you can’t go without Western food and Western standards. You can get that in Myanmar too, of course — for a lot of money. Still, you should always be aware that tourism in the country is still in its early stages.
You can travel the country very comfortably, but there simply isn’t pizza and burgers around every corner. Public transportation can be uncomfortable, and distances between places can be very long.
When is the best time to visit Myanmar?
The peak travel season in Myanmar runs from November to February. During this time it’s pleasantly warm (77 to 86°F), not too hot, and the chance of rain is very low. We especially recommend a January vacation in Myanmar.
This period is definitely the most comfortable time to visit. At the same time, it’s naturally also when the most tourists arrive. That means it’s busier and hotel rooms will be more expensive in many places.
If you’re a backpacker watching your budget closely, it’s worth avoiding the peak season from November to February.
A great alternative is the shoulder season. From mid-September onward, the rain gradually decreases and temperatures are in a bearable range. We were in Myanmar in October and had only two real rainy days during that time. Often it didn’t rain at all, and when it did, it was only for an hour or two.
At this time Myanmar is beautifully green, since it’s been raining for several months. It’s also not as crowded yet, making for a really pleasant travel experience. We can highly recommend October as a travel window, even though there’s a chance the occasional day might be a wash.
From March onward it gets very, very hot in Myanmar. Temperatures above 104°F are not uncommon, and traveling outside of air-conditioned vehicles isn’t much fun.
That said, this time of year shouldn’t be written off entirely if you mainly want to explore the mountains in the east and north. During peak season, those areas can actually be noticeably cold.
From June to August is rainy season, and it can rain for days on end. On the upside, you won’t have to share Myanmar with as many other travelers.
For detailed info, read our article: Best Time to Visit Myanmar
Attractions in Myanmar
Myanmar has an incredible number of highlights to offer. Listing all of them would go beyond the scope of this article. Still, we’d like to give you a solid overview of the must-sees.
For more information and plenty of photos, we link to our detailed articles for each individual place. We also briefly note how much time you need at minimum and how much time we’d recommend. One day always means a full day, so two nights.
Almost all travelers visit Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan, and Inle Lake — but there’s plenty more to discover beyond those.
Yangon
The former capital of Myanmar is still the cultural and economic heart of the country. The Shwedagon Pagoda is one of the absolute highlights of any Myanmar trip.
Minimum stay: 1 day / 2 nights
Our recommendation: 2 to 3 days
Our hotel pick: Hotel G Yangon
Read our article about Yangon
Bagan
Bagan is absolutely a must on any Myanmar trip. The city of more than 3,000 temples and pagodas is unique in the world and seriously breathtaking.
Minimum stay: 2 days / 3 nights
Our recommendation: 3 to 5 days
Hotel pick: Bagan Cottage Boutique Hotel
More info:
Read our experience report about the hot air balloon ride over Bagan
Mandalay and Surroundings
Mandalay is the country’s second-largest city after Yangon and the cultural center of the north. The city itself doesn’t have all that many sights and is sometimes skipped by travelers.
That’s a mistake, though, because the area around Mandalay has a wealth of fantastic places to visit: Inwa, Amarapura, Sagaing, Monywa (still an under-the-radar pick, but absolutely fantastic), Pyin U Lwin, Mingun.
Mandalay makes a great base for all of these. Monywa and Pyin U Lwin are a bit farther away, so you’ll need to decide whether you want to spend the night there or just do a day trip from Mandalay.
Minimum stay: 3 days / 4 nights (1 day Mandalay, 1 day Amarapura, Inwa and Sagaing, 1 day Monywa)
Our recommendation: 5 to 6 days
Hotel pick: Ostello Bello Mandalay
Read our article about Mandalay
Inle Lake
Inle Lake, alongside Bagan, is Myanmar’s other major tourist hotspot. There are endless hotels here and Western food in abundance. In our opinion, Inle Lake isn’t an absolute must-see, and we skipped it on our last trip.
That said, it would be a mistake to overlook it entirely — the lake and its surroundings have a lot of genuine charm.
Minimum stay: 1 day / 2 nights
Our recommendation: 2–3 days
Bago
Bago is just two hours from Yangon and is seriously underestimated as a destination. This small town has an incredibly dense concentration of impressive temples and pagodas.
Bago also works well as a stopover on the way from Yangon heading south or north.
Minimum stay: half a day / no overnight stay
Our recommendation: 1 day to see everything
Hotel pick: Unfortunately there are only two hotels in Bago, neither of which is well-rated. If we had to choose one, we’d go with Kma Shwe Pyi Bago Resort.
Golden Rock
The Golden Rock is one of the most important sacred sites in Myanmar and a fantastic photo subject. If you take the truck up, one night on-site is enough.
If you want to hike, plan for two nights.
Minimum stay: 1 day / 1 night
On foot: 1 day / 2 nights
Our hotel pick: The Eternity Resort
Read our article about the Golden Rock
Hpa-an
Hpa-an itself is just a small sleepy town without a whole lot to see. But the surrounding area is something else entirely. There are countless caves and stunning landscapes to discover here.
Minimum stay: 1 day / 2 nights
Our recommendation: 1–2 days
Our hotel: Galaxy Motel Hpa-an
Read our article about Hpa-an
Mawlamyaing
Mawlamyaing in the south of the country has a charm all its own. We really loved the city with its many old colonial buildings, and the surrounding area has a lot to offer as well.
Minimum stay: 1 day / 2 nights
Our recommendation: 2–3 days
Our hotel: Cinderella Hotel Mawlamyaing (Brilliant!)
Read our article about Mawlamyaing
Mrauk U
Mrauk U in northwestern Myanmar is still an off-the-beaten-path destination. Many travelers never make it out to this area, partly because getting there isn’t the easiest.
Nevertheless, the ancient royal city with its many temples and pagodas is absolutely one of the top highlights of any Myanmar trip.
Minimum stay: 2 days
Our recommendation: 2–3 days
Our hotel: Mrauk U Princess Resort
More info:
Read our article about Mrauk U
Read about our excursion to the tattooed women of the Chin
More Places to Visit in Myanmar
Of course, that’s far from everything. For a first trip to Myanmar, though, the places presented here are probably enough to fill your entire itinerary.
For hikers, Kalaw and Hsipaw are particularly interesting, as both offer multi-day trekking tours. The Irrawaddy Delta southwest of Yangon is also a fascinating destination that doesn’t yet see too many tourists.
And let’s not forget the beaches. Myanmar may not be a country you visit purely for a beach holiday. Still, there are some great stretches of sand for a few relaxing days at the end of your trip: Ngapali and Ngwe Saung Beach on the western coast, and the barely-discovered beaches and islands in the deep south around the towns of Dawei and Myeik.
Or maybe you’re into gemstones? Then Mogok, the ruby capital in the northwest of the country, might be just the thing for you.
Booking and Planning Your Myanmar Trip
Already decided on Myanmar? Great — you won’t regret it. In this section you’ll find everything you need to know about booking your trip.
Booking Flights to Myanmar
Myanmar has three international airports. Almost all travelers begin their vacation in Yangon, where the country’s largest airport is located.
We always search for flights on Skyscanner, as it gives a great overview of all connections and prices.
Search for flights to Yangon on Skyscanner
You can also combine your Myanmar trip with a stopover in Dubai — that’s exactly what we did, and it worked out beautifully.
Alternatively, you can combine your Myanmar trip with a stay in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur, or Singapore. All of these cities have regular, affordable connections to Myanmar.
You can get a good price comparison on the travel portal 12Go.Asia, where we’ve booked our flights within Asia on several occasions:
Flight tickets from Kuala Lumpur
Accommodation and Hotels in Myanmar
More and more places to stay have been opening up in Myanmar in recent years. This is urgently needed, because especially during peak season, many hotels fill up fast. We strongly recommend booking your accommodation in advance.
There are now options in all price and comfort categories — from simple backpacker hostels for less than $20 per night to luxury hotels for $200 and more.
Simple mid-range hotels charge between $30 and $60 per night. For that you can expect a clean room with a reasonably comfortable bed, air conditioning, and a hot shower. Breakfast in Myanmar is almost always included, and it usually consists of toast, eggs, jam, and a few pieces of fruit.
On our one-month trip through Myanmar we tried out quite a few hotels, and in our articles for the most important places we share our accommodation recommendations.
Read our article: Where to Stay in Myanmar
What You Need to Think About Before Your Myanmar Trip
Got your trip booked? Wonderful! Before you head off, there are still a few things to take care of. Here’s what to keep in mind.
Entry Requirements and Visa
To enter Myanmar you need a visa, but it’s very straightforward to obtain. The visa allows you to stay in the country for 28 days. Your passport must also be valid for at least six months at the time of entry.
There are two different ways to apply for your Myanmar visa.
Myanmar eVisa
The most convenient option is to apply for an eVisa online. You can do this on the official website. You fill out the application online, upload a biometric passport photo, and receive your visa by email within three days at most. You print out the visa and present it at immigration.
The eVisa costs $50, which you pay by credit card when applying. The visa is then valid for 90 days, meaning you must enter the country within the next three months — so don’t apply too early.
Myanmar Tourist Visa
If you prefer not to apply online, you can also do it the traditional way by mail or in person. The visa then costs only €25.
You send your passport and application to your nearest Myanmar Embassy and receive everything back after about two weeks. You can find the application form and further information on the Myanmar Embassy website.
We’d recommend not cutting it too close here, since you never know exactly how long processing will actually take.
If you’re traveling around Southeast Asia for an extended period, you can of course also visit a Myanmar embassy in one of the neighboring countries.
Extending Your Myanmar Visa
Officially, it’s not possible to extend your Myanmar visa. If you want to stay in the country for longer than 28 days anyway, you can simply stay longer.
When you exit the country, you’ll find a separate counter at passport control for “Overstay.” There you pay a fee of $3 for each day you’ve overstayed your visa.
We did this ourselves and spent a total of 33 days in Myanmar. However, the officer at exit told us that overstaying with an eVisa isn’t actually allowed and that you need a regular tourist visa for that. In the end it wasn’t a problem and everything worked out fine.
If you already know for certain that you’ll want to overstay, we’d still recommend applying for a regular tourist visa rather than an eVisa. You never know whether every officer will be as relaxed about it.
Various sources describe an overstay of up to 90 days as completely unproblematic. Still, we recommend checking before your departure whether the rules may have changed. In Myanmar, things can change very quickly.
What to Pack for Your Myanmar Trip
For Myanmar, pack mostly light clothing. You should definitely also throw in a warm sweater for air-conditioned buses or cool nights.
Sleeveless shirts and very short shorts are very unusual in Myanmar and are prohibited in temples and pagodas. Shorts should reach below the knee and shoulders should always be covered. Keep this in mind when packing, and it’s best to leave the spaghetti straps, short shorts, and miniskirts at home.
Since you always have to remove your shoes in temples and pagodas, flip-flops or sandals that slip on easily are a great choice.
You don’t need a power adapter for Myanmar. Standard European plugs fit in every outlet.
One thing you should definitely bring is sunscreen. It’s very hard to find in Myanmar, and when you do, it’s very expensive.
A tip for women: tampons are also barely available in Myanmar. The only option is the City Mart locations in Yangon and Mandalay — and there you’ll only find mini tampons.
If you’d like more packing advice, check out our Southeast Asia packing list. We’ve listed our complete backpack contents there and share our best travel gear.
Before you pack your suitcase or backpack, though, read the section
Behavior in Myanmar at the end of this article and choose your clothing accordingly.
Health and Travel Medicine
Unfortunately, medical care in Myanmar is not yet particularly good. English-speaking doctors are very hard to find and clinic facilities are not well-equipped. For serious illnesses, traveling to Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur for treatment is still recommended.
Vaccinations for Myanmar
For Myanmar, standard vaccinations are generally sufficient. Check whether you’re up to date on tetanus, diphtheria, and hepatitis A.
For travel to more remote areas or for high-risk groups, vaccinations against rabies, Japanese encephalitis, typhoid, cholera, and hepatitis B may be advisable.
It’s best to consult your doctor or a travel medicine clinic. Keep in mind that some vaccination courses take several weeks or even months to complete, so don’t start planning too late.
Malaria and Dengue Fever
Malaria is still a concern in Myanmar, especially during the rainy season. In tourist areas, the risk is manageable. We didn’t take malaria prophylaxis, and given the strong side effects, it’s definitely something worth thinking carefully about.
If you’re traveling during the rainy season or in very remote areas, look into it and consult your doctor.
Dengue fever is also present in Myanmar. Regular mosquito repellent and a mosquito net are the best protection against both dengue and malaria.
Mosquito spray or lotion is easy to find in more touristy areas and much cheaper than back home. Outside of tourist areas, it can be hard to find anything.
Travel Medicine Kit for Myanmar
Pharmacies are everywhere in Myanmar and most medications are readily available and very affordable. You can even get antibiotics without a prescription.
Still, we recommend bringing a basic supply of medications with you. Communication at the pharmacy isn’t always easy, and there’s no guarantee you’ll always get what you need.
Hygiene and Tap Water in Myanmar
Tap water in Myanmar is absolutely not drinkable without being boiled first. It’s often recommended to use bottled water even for brushing your teeth. We didn’t do that ourselves and brushed our teeth with tap water — and everything was fine.
Food poisoning and upset stomachs are the most common complaints among travelers in Myanmar.
You can never eliminate the risk entirely, but you can at least minimize it.
Definitely avoid buying pre-cut fruit (such as watermelon) and avoid raw ingredients (such as lettuce leaves) at simple restaurants and street stalls.
We ate a lot at simple restaurants and street stalls ourselves and had no problems. Often the culprits aren’t actually found there.
Many stomach issues actually arise from Western food, since locals aren’t as familiar with the ingredients and preparation methods, making it easier for things to go wrong.
Money and Travel Costs
The topic of money in Myanmar preoccupies many travelers. Since a lot has changed here in recent years, there’s unfortunately a lot of misinformation online. So let’s shed some light on the subject.
Read our article: Myanmar Money and Travel Costs
The Local Currency: Kyat
In Myanmar you pay with the local currency, the kyat. 1,000 kyat is roughly equivalent to about $0.55. Common denominations are 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, and 5,000 kyat notes. So get used to always carrying a larger bundle of cash.
There is now a wide network of ATMs where you can withdraw a maximum of 300,000 kyat per transaction.
Withdrawing Money in Myanmar
You can withdraw money with a Visa or Mastercard. The local ATM operators charge a fee of between 5,000 and 6,500 kyat per withdrawal. Your home bank or credit card provider may also charge a fee on top of that. Given the low withdrawal limit, this can add up quickly.
You can find more on this topic in our article about the best travel credit card.
Euros and US Dollars in Myanmar
For a long time, US dollars were the primary means of payment in Myanmar. That’s no longer the case, and you can really pay for everything in kyat. Hotel bills and flight tickets are still quoted in US dollars on the invoice, but you can pay for everything in kyat.
That said, it doesn’t hurt to bring a few dollars or euros in cash as an emergency reserve. You can exchange money at all banks and also at many hotels.
Dollar bills must be in absolutely pristine condition, otherwise they won’t be accepted. Even a small crease or minor signs of wear are enough to make the bills worthless. Euro notes are a bit less strict in this regard.
Travel Costs for Myanmar
Myanmar is often described as an expensive destination, which we can’t really confirm. In our article linked above, we’ve listed all our costs for Myanmar in detail.
Still, here’s a quick overview of common prices:
Simple backpacker-style hotel room: €15 to €25
Decent hotel room with air conditioning: €25 to €60
Bus ride on a comfortable coach: €5 to €15 (depending on distance)
Domestic flight: €80 to €120
Meal at a simple restaurant: €1.50 to €3
Western food: €4 to €9
Beer at a restaurant (0.65-liter bottle): €1.40 to €2.10
Bottle of water (1 liter): €0.15 to €0.35
Entrance fees for the main attractions: around €50 total
Everything You Need to Know During Your Trip in Myanmar
Once your Myanmar trip finally gets underway, here are a few more practical tips and pointers for on the ground.
Getting Around
Distances in Myanmar can be very long and not always comfortable. Here’s the best way to get from A to B.
Taking the Bus in Myanmar
Buses are the most important form of transportation for getting between places in Myanmar. Numerous bus companies operate between the country’s major tourist destinations. Prices are low, ranging from a few euros for short distances to around €15 for long journeys on a night bus.
It’s best to buy tickets on the spot. Every hotel we stayed at offered bus tickets, and the prices are generally fair. For longer routes especially, make sure to book a comfortable bus.
The vehicles often referred to as “2+1” buses have only three seats per row, are super comfortable, offer plenty of legroom, and some even have built-in in-seat entertainment with various movies.
These buses are only slightly more expensive than regular buses, but infinitely more comfortable. Book them at least a few days in advance, though.
For longer routes, you can choose between day and night buses. Taking a night bus saves you the cost of a night’s accommodation. However, you often arrive at your destination very early — not uncommonly as early as 4:00 AM.
Travel times often depend on road conditions. You can buy bus tickets for the most popular routes online here:
Bus ticket Yangon – Mandalay: 8–9 hours
Bus ticket Yangon – Inle Lake: 8 hours
Bus ticket Yangon – Bagan: 9–10 hours
Bus ticket Yangon – Golden Rock: 4–5 hours
Bus ticket Yangon – Mawlamyaing: 6–7 hours
Bus ticket Mandalay – Inle Lake: 9–10 hours
Bus ticket Mandalay – Bagan: 5–6 hours
Bus ticket Inle Lake – Bagan: 9–10 hours
2+1 bus from Mawlamyaing to Yangon
Taking the Train in Myanmar
Taking the train in Myanmar is a real experience, but on long routes it’s only for true rail enthusiasts. The trains are slow, uncomfortable, and chronically delayed.
We recommend taking the train on at least one short route, just for the experience. The Yangon–Bago route is a good option, with the train taking about two hours.
On long routes, the train is admittedly a little cheaper than the bus, but often takes several hours longer — sometimes even twice as long.
Domestic Flights in Myanmar
The fastest way to get around Myanmar is by taking one of the many domestic flights available. From Yangon you can reach almost any destination in the country in about an hour. From other cities, there are often only a few connections to places other than Yangon.
Prices for domestic flights are consistently around €80 to €120 per route and don’t change much regardless of whether you book several weeks in advance or just one day before departure.
Online bookings are available through Air Mandalay. Otherwise, it’s common to book through travel agencies or your hotel on the ground. This always works quickly and without any hassle.
Private Drivers in Myanmar
It’s also possible to cover certain routes in Myanmar with a private driver. Depending on the distance and difficulty of the route, you’ll pay between $100 and $500 for this.
Private drivers are best arranged on the ground. As always, your hotel is a good point of contact.
Taxis, Tuk Tuks, Ox Carts, and More
For short distances, there are various modes of transportation. Pick-up trucks — in whose beds a surprisingly large number of passengers often squeeze together — are frequently used for short hops between two places. Riding in one is quite an experience.
In larger cities there are taxis. There are no meters — you agree on a fixed price before the ride. The same goes for tuk tuks and motorbike taxis, which are also available in many places.
Overall, prices are very fair and you won’t find huge tourist markups. Your best bet is to simply ask at your accommodation how much a planned taxi route should roughly cost.
In very remote areas, ox carts are still used for transportation. You won’t be much faster than walking. But hey — riding in an ox cart! Who can say they’ve done that?
Airport Transfer
Most travelers arrive at Yangon Airport. In the arrivals hall there is a taxi stand where you state your destination, receive the fare, and are assigned a driver.
A ride into the city center costs around 7,000 kyat and takes between 30 and 90 minutes depending on traffic.
If you arrive in Mandalay, you’ll also need a taxi. Here you’ll pay 12,000 kyat for a ride to the city center.
Food and Drink
The food in Myanmar is super diverse and delicious. The cuisine has influences from Thailand, India, and Sri Lanka, but still has a very distinctive style of its own.
Typical Dishes in Myanmar
A staple of local cuisine is curries — but don’t confuse them with the Thai variety. In simple restaurants, there are often numerous pots of various curries based on meat, fish, or vegetables. You pick one or several, and then receive a whole array of sides. Very tasty and very affordable!
Each region also has its own specialties. Shan noodles from the eponymous state are well-known and delicious, available in countless variations as a salad or soup.
The Kachin cuisine with its very distinct curries, and the northwestern cuisine of Rakhine State — where the cooking is significantly spicier — are also not to be overlooked.
Also very popular is mohinga, a fish soup with noodles that locals eat especially for breakfast.
Breakfast in Myanmar
In Myanmar, hotels almost always include breakfast. Except in luxury hotels, the selection is often very similar: toast, fried egg, jam, and fruit. If you’re lucky, there are also pancakes.
Alternatively, many hotels offer local dishes for breakfast. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but usually tastier than the standard spread.
Drinks in Myanmar
Water is available everywhere in 1-liter bottles for a small price. Coca-Cola has flooded the country with its soft drinks, which you can now buy everywhere.
The country’s best beer is Myanmar Beer, which is also available everywhere. In the area around Inle Lake, wine is even produced. We tried it and it wasn’t bad at all. The local whiskey is apparently worth trying too — at least that’s what other travelers told us very convincingly.
Coffee is now available in tourist areas as well. Quality varies enormously, though. In slightly more remote areas, you’ll often only find instant coffee, usually pre-mixed with 80% sugar, whitener, and just a tiny bit of actual coffee.
Tipping in Myanmar
Tipping is rather unusual in Myanmar. No tip is expected at simple restaurants or street stalls. If you leave something there, someone might even run after you to bring you your change. Tips are not expected in taxis either.
In many hotels, your suitcase or backpack will be carried to your room — and not just in expensive hotels. We never had the feeling that a tip was expected for this.
Most of the time, the porters disappeared so quickly that we didn’t even have a chance to give them anything. In very expensive hotels, though, that may be different.
Luggage porters at bus stations or ports, on the other hand, usually expect a small tip. Around 500 kyat is an appropriate amount.
In more upscale restaurants, tipping is appreciated. If your bill is brought to you in a folder, a tip is welcome. Then again, many upscale restaurants already include a service charge.
Guides appreciate a small tip or an invitation to eat. 3,000 to 5,000 kyat per day is appropriate.
Internet in Myanmar
Before our trip, we’d heard all kinds of horror stories about the internet in Myanmar. That made it all the more surprising how well it actually worked.
Wi-Fi is now available in almost all hotels. However, the connection is genuinely very poor and rarely usable. Sometimes it’s enough for simple things like checking emails or social media. Often it doesn’t work at all.
The magic word is: mobile internet. In recent years, Myanmar’s mobile network has been built out extensively, so today you can reliably surf the web almost anywhere.
We both bought local SIM cards. With them we could browse the internet on our smartphones and, via a hotspot, also on our laptops. The connection is more than sufficient for normal use. Even streaming videos often works very well. We even uploaded some of our Myanmar videos over this connection, and some of them are almost 1 GB in size.
Our tip: We carry a small portable Wi-Fi router. With it you often get better reception than when your SIM card is in your phone. This way you can use an additional SIM card exclusively for the router, for example.
The best provider for a data SIM is Ooredoo. There’s a sales counter right at Yangon Airport. If it’s too crowded there, you can also get SIM cards at many retail locations throughout the city.
Data package prices are very affordable, ranging from 1 GB for 3,000 kyat (€2.10) to 40 GB for 50,000 kyat (€35). Top-up cards are available at a huge number of shops. The red Ooredoo signs are simply everywhere.
Bringing a Drone to Myanmar
On our trip to Myanmar, we brought a small drone for the very first time. At the beginning, though, we weren’t sure whether flying it in the country was even permitted.
The fact is: there is currently no drone legislation in Myanmar, though it appears to be in the works. We flew the drone on several occasions and never had any problems. We also occasionally spotted other drone pilots in Myanmar.
A few years ago, flying drones was frowned upon by the authorities, and there are reports of some pilots having their drone confiscated. Apparently that’s no longer the case, but we obviously can’t guarantee anything.
In front of the Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon there was actually a sign stating that drones are prohibited on the grounds. One could argue that implies they’re allowed elsewhere — but nothing is certain.
Heads up: A reader informed us that his drone was confiscated on a domestic flight and he only got it back at the end of his trip. So there do appear to be some rules in place after all.
As a general rule, we recommend not flying in places where there are many people, and of course not near military grounds or police stations — and definitely not near airports.
Safety in Myanmar
Myanmar is overall a very safe country. Crime against travelers is very low. Sure, there are bad apples here too. But it’s more likely that someone will run after you to return a lost wallet than that you’ll be robbed.
A certain amount of common sense should of course be applied here as well. With that, you’re set for a relaxed trip.
Even though things may appear very peaceful in the tourist regions, there are still many areas in Myanmar where fighting is taking place. These zones are off-limits for tourists, but it’s something to always keep in mind.
Shan State in the northeast and Rakhine State in the northwest of the country remain particularly volatile, with ongoing violent clashes.
Language and Communication on the Ground
In Myanmar you can get by reasonably well with English. That said, it doesn’t hurt to know a few words in the local language.
We’ll be honest — we never got beyond “hello” and “thank you.” But those two words go a surprisingly long way:
Hello – Mingalarbar
Thank you very much – Jay zu tin bar deh (pronounced: Jah-zu Tin-bar-deh)
Thank you – Jay zu bae (pronounced: Jah-zu-beh)
Etiquette in Myanmar
Myanmar is a very open and tolerant country toward its visitors. The locals are incredibly friendly and warm. Unfortunately, not all travelers are equally kind and respectful toward the people of Myanmar.
And yet it only takes a few simple rules of conduct to navigate the country well.
Clothing — In General and in Temples and Pagodas
In temples and pagodas, both men and women should always have their shoulders covered and wear pants that reach at least to the knees.
Unfortunately, not everyone follows this — yet it really isn’t that hard. If you don’t want to wear long clothing, you can simply bring a scarf and drape it around yourself in a temple.
But even outside of temples and pagodas, appropriate dress — especially for women — is important. For the vast majority of Burmese women, a skirt that ends above the knee is simply unthinkable.
Out of respect, dress appropriately in Myanmar in general. For women, this means no short shorts or skirts shorter than knee length, and no low-cut T-shirts or tops.
In the major tourist hubs like Bagan and Inle Lake, people are probably used to the sight of lightly dressed tourists by now. But especially in more remote areas like Mrauk U, adapting to local customs is a sign of genuine respect.
Jenny traveled throughout our entire Myanmar trip in long pants or a long dress.
In temples and pagodas, shoes and socks must always be removed. This is enforced strictly everywhere. Shoes are also removed in private homes, hotel rooms, and sometimes in shops as well.
Locals typically kneel in front of Buddha statues as a sign of respect. When taking photos, always position yourself behind the worshippers or to the side — or simply kneel down yourself.
Photography
In general, most locals are happy to be photographed. There are exceptions, though, and these should be respected. Before photographing people — for example, at a market — we always ask for permission.
A smile and a nod while gesturing toward the camera is usually enough. If someone doesn’t want to be photographed, we of course respect that. Unfortunately, very few tourists do the same. We sincerely ask you to handle it the same way.
Children
Never pat a child on the head in Myanmar. What is a completely normal gesture in many cultures is extremely disrespectful here. And one more important thing: don’t give children money and don’t buy anything from them either.
We know it’s hard to say no to adorable kids, but you’re not doing them any favors. Parents deliberately send their children out to sell things instead of to school, because they know full well that tourists can’t say no to children.
Respectful Behavior
Overall, the locals are very friendly and calm. That’s why raising your voice is also not appropriate. Loud arguments are considered extremely rude and will definitely only make any situation worse.
A smile goes a long way in Myanmar. Be kind to the locals and you’ll definitely get it back. Going through the world with a smile has never hurt anyone.
Want Even More Tips for Your Myanmar Trip?
Phew, that turned into quite a long post. We hope it helps you with planning, preparing for, and traveling through Myanmar.
We wish you a wonderful time in this incredible country and hope it enchants you just as much as it did us.
Do you have a question? Or maybe a tip that’s missing from this article? What experiences have you had in Myanmar? We’d love to hear from you in the comments.
