Myanmar


Yangon, Myanmar
The Great Capital of Burma (Delusions of the Military Junta aside)
In 2005, Myanmar's dictatorial government inaugurated a bizarre and nearly deserted new capital. Exotic, cosmopolitan life remains intact in Yangon, Burmese's largest and most fascinating city.
Inle Lake, Myanmar
A Pleasant Forced Stop
In the second of the holes that we have during a tour around Lake Inlé, we hope that they will bring us the bicycle with the patched tyre. At the roadside shop that welcomes and helps us, everyday life doesn't stop.
u-bein BridgeMyanmar
The Twilight of the Bridge of Life
At 1.2 km, the oldest and longest wooden bridge in the world allows the Burmese of Amarapura to experience Lake Taungthaman. But 160 years after its construction, U Bein is in its twilight.
Bagan, Myanmar
The Plain of Pagodas, Temples and other Heavenly Redemptions
Burmese religiosity has always been based on a commitment to redemption. In Bagan, wealthy and fearful believers continue to erect pagodas in hopes of winning the benevolence of the gods.
Mount Kyaiktiyo, Myanmar
The Golden and Balancing Rock of Buddha
We are discovering Rangoon when we find out about the Golden Rock phenomenon. Dazzled by its golden and sacred balance, we join the now centuries-old Burmese pilgrimage to Mount Kyaiktyo.
berry, Myanmar
A Journey to Bago. And to the Portuguese Kingdom of Pegu
Determined and opportunistic, two Portuguese adventurers became kings of Pegu's kingdom. His dynasty only lasted from 1600 to 1613. It has gone down in history.
Inle Lake, Myanmar
The Dazzling Lakustrine Burma
With an area of ​​116km2, Inle Lake is the second largest lake in Myanmar. It's much more than that. The ethnic diversity of its population, the profusion of Buddhist temples and the exoticism of local life make it an unmissable stronghold of Southeast Asia.
Buddhist Heart of Myanmar
Yangon, Myanmar

The Great Capital of Burma (Delusions of the Military Junta aside)

In 2005, Myanmar's dictatorial government inaugurated a bizarre and nearly deserted new capital. Exotic, cosmopolitan life remains intact in Yangon, Burmese's largest and most fascinating city.
Inle Lake, Myanmar

A Pleasant Forced Stop

In the second of the holes that we have during a tour around Lake Inlé, we hope that they will bring us the bicycle with the patched tyre. At the roadside shop that welcomes and helps us, everyday life doesn't stop.
U Bein Bridge, Amarapura, Myanmar
u-bein BridgeMyanmar

The Twilight of the Bridge of Life

At 1.2 km, the oldest and longest wooden bridge in the world allows the Burmese of Amarapura to experience Lake Taungthaman. But 160 years after its construction, U Bein is in its twilight.
holy plain, Bagan, Myanmar
Bagan, Myanmar

The Plain of Pagodas, Temples and other Heavenly Redemptions

Burmese religiosity has always been based on a commitment to redemption. In Bagan, wealthy and fearful believers continue to erect pagodas in hopes of winning the benevolence of the gods.
Golden Rock of Kyaikhtiyo, Buddhism, Myanmar, Burma
Mount Kyaiktiyo, Myanmar

The Golden and Balancing Rock of Buddha

We are discovering Rangoon when we find out about the Golden Rock phenomenon. Dazzled by its golden and sacred balance, we join the now centuries-old Burmese pilgrimage to Mount Kyaiktyo.
Bagu, Kingdom of Pegu, Syriao
berry, Myanmar

A Journey to Bago. And to the Portuguese Kingdom of Pegu

Determined and opportunistic, two Portuguese adventurers became kings of Pegu's kingdom. His dynasty only lasted from 1600 to 1613. It has gone down in history.
Intha rowers on a channel of Lake Inlé
Inle Lake, Myanmar

The Dazzling Lakustrine Burma

With an area of ​​116km2, Inle Lake is the second largest lake in Myanmar. It's much more than that. The ethnic diversity of its population, the profusion of Buddhist temples and the exoticism of local life make it an unmissable stronghold of Southeast Asia.

Mapa


Money and costs


Myanmar's currency is the Kyat (MMK). That is worth substantially more on the black market than on the official exchange rate. There are hardly any ATMs in Myanmar and card payments are still exceptional. Take enough euros or dollars with you for the time you plan to spend in the country and exchange them for kyats, preferably at hotel receptions, for the value closest to the indicated exchange rate. Robberies and robberies are practically unknown in Myanmar, but always count the bills you received at the counter and in front of the person who gave them to you.

ACCOMMODATION

Rates can range from €5 at the humblest guest houses for backpackers to €100 or more at luxury chain hotels and resorts, also present in Myanmar. 

FOOD

Traditional meals in family restaurants range from €3 to €7 per person depending on the dishes and side dishes ordered. At the best resorts they can cost from €15 to €60.

INTERNET

Access can be considered expensive due to the speed and restrictions of access to various websites that Internet users are victims of. In February 2013, many hotels were able to guarantee free and unrestricted Wi-Fi. Most internet cafes are cheaper in Yangon (from €0,10 per hour) than in other areas further north (€0,50). They continue to struggle with blocking certain sites, which they sometimes manage to bypass using proxies.

How to go


VISA AND OTHER PROCEDURES

You must have a valid passport for at least another six months. The visa application must be made to the Myanmar embassy in London. At the time of this text, it was necessary to send, by post, the valid passport, 15 pounds in cash and an envelope already filled in which the passport already with the visa was returned.

Myanmar Embassy in London

Address:  19A, CHARLES St.   LONDON W1J 5DX, United kingdom   

Email: [email protected]

HEALTH CARE

Myanmar authorities require yellow fever vaccination certificate for all visitors over one year of age who come from a transmission risk destination in the country or who have transited for more than 12 hours at airports in those countries. 

There is a risk of contracting malaria throughout Myanmar except Mandalay and Yangon. 

For more information on traveling health, see the Health Portal of the Ministry of Health and Tropical and Traveler Medicine Clinic. Em FitForTravel find country-specific health and disease prevention advice (in English).

TRIP TO MYANMAR

A Star Alliance fly from Lisbon to Yangon with the TAP (tel.: 707 205 700) and the Thai Airways, via Madrid or Frankfurt and Bangkok, from €1.200. 

Must Do's


  • Yangon and Bago
  • golden rock
  • Bagan
  • Mount Popa
  • ​Inlé Lake
  • Ayeyarwaddy River Trip
  • Mandalay ...
  • Sagaing, Inwa, Amarapura and U Bein Bridge
  • Kalaw,
  • Hsipaw
  • Beach in Ngapali and Chaungtha
  • Myitkyina
  • Bhamo

 

Explore


INTERNAL FLIGHTS

Internal flights operated by companies Air Bagan, Air Mandalay, Myanmar Airways e Yangon Airways they are inexpensive and allow you to reach the most interesting places in the country with relative ease. Private taxis – especially if shared with other passengers – and buses are the most affordable alternatives to overcome the impossibility of renting a vehicle for self-driving. They are relatively cheap, in the order of €50 to €100 on the main air routes in the country. 

CAR RENTAL

It is not allowed to rent vehicles for own driving. A rental car with driver costs between €15 to €20 per day. You can easily get it from one of the agencies or even hotels in Yangon and Mandalay.

TRUCK

Buses travel almost all over the country, most of them only after gathering a certain number of passengers. They cost an average of €1,50 to €3 for every 3 hours of travel. Only a few companies guarantee more modern and air-conditioned buses for long journeys.

TRAIN

The train has prices in line with those of the buses that – in case you need to arrive faster – do not compensate for the excessive slowness of the trains. Anyway, it's worth traveling by train in Myanmar if only for the genuineness and eccentricity of the experience. State-owned Myanmar Railways has no website. Read more at Myanmar Railways

OTHER

Hiring a bicycle (with basket and lock) is very common in Bagan. It costs from €1 to €3. 

When to go


The best time to visit Myanmar is from November to February, during the dry season, when it hardly rains in the region and the sky is almost always clear. From mid-March onwards, the heat in Myanmar can be quite intense, with maximums exceeding 40°C. From June to mid-October is the monsoon season. A considerable part of the country is semi-flooded.