Our trip in Myanmar

Part 1- Yangon

There are quite a few sights worth visiting in the (unofficial) capital city Yangon, we must say, despite the fact that we had been told to skip it altogether: two days here is a long enough time to visit… This is the amount of time I’d recommend.

The garden city of Yangon maintains its charm with wide, tree-lined avenues, tranquil lakes and majestic colonial architecture.  

Very jet-lagged and with a feeling of dizziness due to the hot temperatures (expect highest of 38 degrees every day in April) we headed to the train station, to catch a very old, yet charming train the fee is something along the lines of 10 pence each (which, for a Londoner is a positive cultural shock indeed!) and travelled on the circle line. You can stop anywhere, or just stay on the train until it completes an entire loop (three hours altogether). 

We stopped at Insein to visit the pagoda there and the elephant park. Once we were back in Yangon city centre, we visited the Sule pagoda, and then headed to the highlight of this city: the jaw-dropping Shwedagon Pagoda, best seen at dusk, as you can watch the sunset over Yangon and enjoy the gentle sound of the pagoda bells chiming in the evening breeze. We ended our very productive with a tasty dinner at the Monsoon restaurant.

The Shwedagon Pagoda is a 98-metre-high stupa whose golden glow can be seen from throughout the city. The greenery of Yangon provides an enchanting backdrop to the beautiful shrine. 

Next day, we took a walking tour of the downtown area’s majestic colonial architecture (we recommend lunch at Rangoon restaurant), we did some shopping at the Bogyoke Aung San Market, which is packed with hundreds of vendors selling a large selection of Myanmar handicrafts. In the afternoon we  ferry ride to Dalah and tour there by motorbike, with a local guide (you’ll find plenty of those waiting for you by the river bank).

A good restaurant to try is House of Memories. Yangon is full of restaurants where you can sample traditional Myanmar food and delicacies influenced from other Asian countries including China, Thailand, India and Japan.

More about the Shwedagon Pagoda: according to legend, the pagoda was built 2500 years ago and was enshrined with hair relics of the Buddha. Over the centuries, kings and commoners alike sought merit by donating gold and jewels to the stupa and the umbrella at its apex, which is now decorated with more than 80,000 pieces of jewellery and topped with a diamond-studded orb. The platform at the base of the towering pagoda is packed with about 100 pavilions and shrines, where pilgrims from all over the country show their reverence for the Buddha. Here, visitors can see into the heart of Myanmar’s Buddhists as they pray and offer flowers, incense and candles.

Part 2- Bagan

We reached Bagan by bus, and we couldn't hide our disappointment when we found out that we could not see the famous hot air balloons on the valley (they literally stopped doing it one day before we arrived, due to the official end of the dry season). 

Everything else was just breath taking, including the hotel we stayed in: the Areindmar, which we strongly recommend! The temples area of Bagan contains over 2200 small and big temples (pagodas).

You can explore the African-looking area by bike or e-bike! Since July 2019, Bagan got its UNESCO World Heritage status which means that all temples are closed climbing up to the top to watch the sunrise. 

My personal tips? Chill, explore, get lost in the valley, take time to visit the temples (not just the big, well-known ones), and use a map to help you navigate the area. This place is one of the most spiritual places I have ever been to...

Part 3- Inle Lake

A visit to Inle Lake in Myanmar is going to take you back in time. Huge villages on the lake made of wood and/or bamboo. The locals live their daily lives by working in their floating gardens, fishing, creating handicraft and showing tourists how they live and what they do. 

The number one thing to do at Inle Lake is a boat tour. 

Get out in the early morning, it is the very best to experience the sunrise on the lake if you can. Your boat driver will know where to go but he will give you some options that you can visit, or not.

Visit the fishermen during sunrise or sunset. It is impressive to see how they easily balance on the tip of the boat trying to get fish into their netted cages.

The floating garden is one unique piece of work. The pieces of ground are being held together with bamboo, floating on the lake. The area is huge and produces many kinds of vegetables year-round.

The long-necked women are tribes that seem to fade out more and more over the next years, which makes it even more special to visit them. The ladies are working on their garment.

This is pure for tourism purposes to show-off their ‘giraffe necks’. Worth a visit!

There are many small workshops, factories, and shops on the lake, some more interesting than the other. You can visit shops like cigar or gold maker and factories where they create beautiful clothing.

Rent a bike and explore the area around Inle Lake and wander around in the town near Inle Lake called Nyaung-Shwe. I would say at least three full days by the lake are necessary to fully enjoy this special place.

Part 4- Mandalay

Mandalay, the economic and religious hub of Myanmar, is full of attractions to visit, the first of which is the Royal Palace. This is where you can learn a great deal about the architecture and etiquette of the last royals of Myanmar.

A hill covered in spires and pagodas at the northeast of Mandalay Palace, which offers 360-degree viewpoint of the town and beyond, is no other than the Mandalay Hill. You will get to watch the most epic sunset from the hill and the breathtaking view of Mandalay city.

Mandalay and surrounding towns are known for hundreds of pagodas and monasteries found in the area. Many famous Pagodas such as Mandalay Myat Muni Pagoda and Kuthodaw Pagoda, which is the site of the world’s largest book are located in Mandalay.

We rented a scooter and went to one of the three Royal Cities and the U-bein Bridge, a 1.2-kilometre bridge which was built around 1850 and is believed to be the oldest and longest teakwood bridge in the world. Only problem is that we struggled with the heat that day, due to the extremely high temperatures.