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Before arriving in Burma I was advised by more than one person that Inle Lake was the place to be. A serene, beautiful lake surrounded by endless marshes, villages of stilted huts and markets. A slower, laid back culture with kind and generous locals, a welcoming community replete with Buddhist monks and monasteries and bargain massages. I learned that it was possible and quite inexpensive to hire a guide in Kalaw and trek to Inle. After a most unpleasant winding 8 hour bus ride, we arrived at last and promptly made arrangements for a three-day, 60 km trek with a Sikh gentleman named Mr. The next morning we set off around am after eating some delicious Shan noodles. I could go on and on about the magnificence of the Burmese countryside. The beauty of the rolling hills, hutted villages, and endless farmland dazzled me from start to finish. Plus, this was monsoon season so everything was brilliantly green. The contrast between the rich, red soil and the dark green crops and vegetation was constantly picture worthy, so much so that I have around pictures of landscape through which I am now obliged to sift. We stopped for lunch after about 4 hours of trekking in the small village of Pau Tin Gone 10 km south of Kali at the home of U Chai, a very elderly medicine man of the Pao ethnic group. He has studied the art of homeopathic and eastern medicines his whole life. It is apparently something of a lost art, for he is the only person for hundreds of miles in any direction trained in such mystical medical care. People travel from far and wide to learn and be healed by U Chai. In youth, he garnered fame for killing 3 Bengal tigers on 3 separate occasions with no gun, so the legend goes. That evening around we stopped in Ywar Pu for the night. In the middle of vast farmland, the view from our homestay was spectacular. We took bucket showers, cracked open a few Myanmar Lagers and sat down to a delicious dinner. Our chef traveled by motorbike to each place we stopped to cook for us. Robin warned us not to give the chef any alcohol if we wanted our breakfast in time the next morning. Throughout the night I was tormented by mosquitos, yet somehow no one else was bothered. My companions were much amused when I brought this to their attention at breakfast. Brian told us that Kings used to have their servants cover themselves with honey and sleep nearby so they would attract all the mosquitos. A lingering silence followed this anecdote. The second day we trekked 23 km. We knew we had major ground to cover so we were moving. She served us green tea and salted nuts as we watched her weave multicolored scarves. She was very kind and summoned her family for picture time. Throughout the day Mr. He possessed an astounding wealth of information. More astounding was his knowledge of local government dealings and world affairs. Though Burma has taken baby steps toward a civilian government, in reality it is still very much a militarized police state where the flow of information is fiercely filtered by the government. When I asked how he was privy to so much information he said that he owned a short-wave radio and listened to BBC in his home, but never dared to listen on the street or speak about it in public for fear of government spies. The opium trade is still a big business in Burma, and in several regions is facilitated both directly and indirectly by the military. This is in part why much of Burma is closed to visitors of any kind. I had just come from India and stopped in Amritsar to see the Golden Temple. This is holiest place on earth for Sikh people, their Mecca, and a place Mr. Robin has dreamed about since his youth. I told him about being there but felt quite sad afterwards. Locals leaving Burma, even briefly, incur an enormous tax to purchase a passport, something that Mr. Robin will never be able to afford. Very, very sad. We came upon a few kids gathered around a tall mango tree, and looked up to see a kid who had climbed to the very top and was shaking the branches. The less brave kids on the ground collected the mangos and brought them to us as we walked by. Robin seemed to be quite a popular man. Not only was he amicable with every passer by, but everyone seemed to know him and want to help him or us in some way, by offering us bananas, tea, handicrafts made by their families, etc. It was quite touching. At one point Mr. Robin found a bush with citrus peppercorns. They numb your mouth in a powerful yet incredibly pleasant way, so much so that your gums and tongue tingle and vibrate. We were sucking those things for the rest of the trek. That evening we stayed in a monastery in the middle of the jungle. We slept in a large room with mats laid side by side, and a table lay in the corner for our meals. Our chef prepared an unspeakable amount of food that left us all feeling about 4 months pregnant afterwards. We were up drinking for a while. There were a couple of other people, not in our group, who were sleeping in the same room. The next morning we met the only monk living fulltime in the monastery. He had just had a stroke and was bedridden. Still, he spoke with us for a time translated by Mr. Robin and blessed us before we set off on the final day of the trek. We began hiking through light rain which subsided after not very long. My legs were a bit sore, as were my shoulders and back from carrying a heavy bag, but the worst were my badly blistered feet. At last we spotted Inle Lake in the distance, the promised land. We stopped around 1pm for lunch, then said goodbye to Mr. Robin and our chef before hopping on a boat bound for Nyaungshwe where most of our belongings had been sent. What was left went to Mr. I felt very guilty, as did others in our group, for negotiating such a low price before the trek began. For a wizened, grizzled, veteran to receive such a low wage for such physically intensive work seemed to me wholly unfair. Needless to say he was tipped handsomely. We all took a picture together before saying goodbye. Robin, master chef, Brian. After bidding farewell, Mr. The six of us hopped on a boat for a 90 minute ride across Inle Lake to Nyaungshwe. August 1, May he be blessed and experience profound joy. Thank you for writing about this. I get a real sense of the place, culture, people, government rapists. August 6, Great post! Keep up the good work! Trekking to Inle Lake. Posted on July 29, 2. U Chai, the medicine man. Ma May and her family. Share this: Twitter Facebook. Like Loading Posted in: Uncategorized. Nancy Riemer August 1, Leave a comment Cancel reply. Search for:. Categories Uncategorized. Blog at WordPress. Comment Reblog Subscribe Subscribed. Sign me up. Already have a WordPress. Log in now. Loading Comments Email Required Name Required Website. Jason Marino on Hoi An is ridiculously qu….

Backpacking Myanmar Travel Guide (BUDGET TIPS • 2024)

Inle Lake buy marijuana

Myanmar is an incredible country to explore, but also one that is sadly fraught with controversy. Many of the people of Myanmar have taken to widespread civil disobedience, protest, and even armed insurrection to counter the latest military take over. While ethical questions around travelling to Myanmar were previously and continue to be valid i. The people of Myanmar are undoubtedly wonderful and will welcome you into their home with a smile. But inevitably, your tourist dollars will go towards funding the regime behind some of the most abhorrent atrocities currently occurring in Southeast Asia. This guide was originally written as Myanmar was opening up to backpackers and Western tourism at large. Hopefully, in the not too distant future, Myanmar will not be so ethically dicey or pose such a challenge to personal safety, and raw, offbeat travel will once again be possible. In this sense, the guide here remains as a testament to what was and promise of hope for what may one day be again: a free, welcoming, and wildly unique Myanmar. I first travelled to Myanmar in and instantly fell in love with this truly special country. In a month-long backpacking trip, I met under a dozen other travellers. Myanmar is hands down my favourite country in Southeast Asia and in January , I returned for a month-long backpacking trip. I was shocked to see how much the country has changed…. Backpacking Myanmar can still be low-key… Simply pull up a chair and watch life go by as you sip on tea and soak in the chilled vibes. The Broke Backpacker is supported by you. Myanmar is one of the most diverse countries in Southeast Asia, both culturally and geographically. Where else can you find pristine islands, soaring mountains, and teeming jungles all in one place? Fun fact: Myanmar actually hosts a little piece of the Himalayas — at almost 20, feet, the highest peak is Hkakabo Razi! Choosing where to visit in Myanmar can be a bit challenging though. Some places are off-limits to tourists while others just have too much to see and do in the course of a single trip. The few sections of the country that are very touristic Yangon, Bagan, and Inle Lake jump to mind , show it. Stay in Yangon for a few days of exploration before heading north to explore more of the country. Bagan is a gem; touristic, yes, but such unbridled joy to roam and bike around. From Bagan, travel to Mandalay. The train ride from Mandalay to Hsipaw is considered the most beautiful in all of Myanmar and, arguably, Southeast Asia. From Hsipaw, you can also plan out a few phenomenal treks in the region. Mandalay is also a good point of connection to Pindaya and Inle Lake. Though quite possibly the most touristy area in Myanmar as a whole, Inle Lake is still gorgeous with more great trekking in the region and well worth a visit. Here, try and find the Moken people : the Sea Gypsies. Want to save money on accommodation? Many travellers backpacking Myanmar will start their route in Yangon, arriving on a cheap flight from Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur. Just outside of the arrival gate, cross the street and walk to the left for about m. I have heard it is possible to hitch a ride from the airport too, but I had no luck attempting this myself. You can also buy a Telenor Sim Card from the airport so you can stay connected around the country — 2GB and some credit will set you back around 10, MMK. Although not the capital, Yangon is leading the way for cultural change in the country. Also, you have to check out the truly stunning Shwedagon Pagoda! It really is advisable to book your room in advance. There are very few cheap accommodation options in Myanmar at the moment, and the best hostels in Yangon fill up quick. Stay for three nights in the Little Hpa An Hostel or head out of the town and ask to crash in one of the monasteries nearby. There is a lot to do around Hpa-an and during my first trip, in , it was the highlight of my time travelling in Myanmar. I highly recommend visiting Mt Zwegabin and climbing to the top 4 hours round trip , keep an eye out for the colourful freshwater crabs! On top of the mountain is a monastery with amazing views, it is possible to stay here for free. Nearby is a local lake where you can swim before heading to the incredible Saddar Cave take a headtorch. Kawgun cave is also well worth a look. To get around you will either need to hire a motorbike for MKK or hire a tuk-tuk for the day for 20, MKK — you can arrange this through your guesthouse. You can catch a night bus from Hpa-an to Mandalay or head to Inle instead. From Hpa An, you can head further into Southern Myanmar. This part of Myanmar has only become accessible to backpackers very recently and offers some awesome adventure travel opportunities… Probably best taken on by motorbike! I have heard incredible things about Dawei and Maungmagan Beach which is supposed to be totally untouched. I first visited Mandalay in and thought it was a great place to spend ONE day. U Bein bridge should only be visited at sunrise, for sunset, you will have to share it with literally thousands of people…. From Mandalay, you can head up towards Hsipaw six hours by bus or travel to Bagan. If heading to Bagan, I recommend catching the scenic riverboat rather than travelling by bus. One of my favourite places to visit in Myanmar, Hsipaw is a great place to sort out some treks. A lot of backpackers stay in Red Dragon Hotel Hsipaw itself is a quiet town and a good place to chill for an afternoon before catching a pickup truck 6 hours, MKK up towards the remote village of Namhsan. Again, just stay here the one night. It is also possible to camp on the town outskirts. The next day begins a three day, two-night trek back to Hsipaw. You should take a guide to arrange accommodation in monasteries and home-stays as very few people in the hills speak English. Ask at the guesthouse in Namhsan for Momo, he speaks excellent English and charges 10, MMK per person per day for guiding and breakfast, dinner and accommodation. Sleeping is cold and uncomfortable so take a fleece. Once you get back in Hsipaw, keep yourself busy by checking out Valentines for ice cream, Mr Food for beer on tap and an unnamed pool hall almost directly opposite the bank across bridge which has a cinema in the back, here you can choose from their extensive pirated films collection and it costs just MMK to watch something. The next day, take the very scenic train to Pyin Oo Lin , spend one day here and check out the waterfalls. Really your main reason for visiting Pyin Oo Lin is to experience the train journey. Try to stay in the very popular Ostello Bello Nyaung Shwe where dorm beds are for ten dollars and include a fantastic breakfast. In the evening arrange a boat trip 16, MMK for 8 people for the next day. On your boat trip, you can hope to see the villages on stilts, aquaculture and traditional fishermen. On your second day in Inle hire a bicycle, MMK , and visit a market — the many markets in Inle constantly rotate but there will always be one somewhere. The tofu village and local vineyard are both worth visiting. The Smiling Moon Restaurant is a good place to arrange boat tours and bus tickets, the woman who runs the restaurant is very friendly and can arrange almost anything you may need. I recommend two full days in Inle; one for a boat trip and two for cycling and relaxing. It is well worth having a tent for Inle Lake. It can be a good place to party though…. Just a two-hour drive from Inle is the rarely visited town of Pindaya, a tranquil place that is often buried in mists. From Pindaya, you can arrange a two night, three-day trek back to Inle. The temple studded plains of Bagan is, hands down, the most incredible place in all of Southeast Asia. The biggest, most impressive, temples in Bagan are now usually heaving with tourists and, in my opinion, are best avoided. It costs MKK to enter the Bagan site but out of the four times I have visited, I have only had to pay this twice. The ticketing checkpoints are actually marked on Maps. Me just to make it even easier for you. The real Bagan can only be reached with a bit of off-roading… There are plenty of stunning isolated temples where you will be the only person exploring. At 4 am, a gong whispered across the wind and shortly after Buddhist chanting from one of the monasteries began. Be sure to try the strawberry juice! If you choose to camp out, I recommend scoping out your chosen temple during the day first. Take warm clothes, plenty of water, and a blanket — it gets damn cold at night. Chin State has been on the backpacker radar for about five years now thanks to the many trekking opportunities and the famous women with tattoos upon their faces. Until recently you needed permits but the whole area is now open and can be discovered on foot or, if you have wheels, by motorbike. The Chin people are friendly but reserved and you DO need a guide to help you sort out accommodation and food in the villages you pass through. I went on a challenging five-day trek from Mindat, where most backpackers arrive, along the valley towards Ma Hlaing. It was damn hot during the day and damn cold at night, the trails were accessible but steep in places and our guide taught us a lot about local living and some of the challenges the area is facing — namely poaching of tigers and leopards to sell to China for herbal remedies. In Mindat, there is an excellent locally run museum that is well worth checking out. Often described as the Naples of the East, Ngapali offers gorgeous beaches in a tranquil environment. Perhaps one of the last true adventure frontiers in all of Asia, The Mergui Archipelago remains almost entirely untouched. If you travel here you are unlikely to meet any other backpackers…. A few companies have started offering eight-day tours of the area but they are decidedly pricey. To get to this truly incredible part of the world you can travel from Yangon to Myeik and then onwards to Kawthaung or travel directly from Thailand this is actually easier via the Ranong border crossing. You could easily spend two months exploring Myanmar; there is a huge amount to do here. Realistically, the longest you can easily spend in the country is six weeks — the full month visa and the fourteen days overstay that are allowed. With six weeks, I would definitely aim to explore some of the beaches of Bengal as well as the south of the country; there are some true backpacking gems down there that have yet to be properly discovered. Remember though, unless you have a motorbike, getting around in some of the more remote areas can be a bitch and getting from A to B is not as easy as it looks on a map. I strongly recommend travelling at night, to save on accommodation and time, if you are travelling by bus. If you have good-quality backpacking tent , you will have significantly more options for getting off the beaten track. Restrictions on where you can stay in Myanmar as imposed by the government means you are much less limited if you are self-sufficient. Want more deetz on why these packs are so damn perfect? Then read our comprehensive review for the inside scoop! With so much unexplored territory and lost secrets, there are heaps of things to do in Myanmar. More than you can jam into the length of a visa anyway! Slow, cheap, methodical, ear-bleedingly loud: these are just some of the words used to describe the trains in Myanmar. In particular, the train ride from Mandalay to Hsipaw or vice-versa is glorious and an absolute must-do when visiting Myanmar. The night market in Mandalay is particularly ferocious. Go nuts! There are heaps of hiking opportunities in Myanmar, however, I recommend you definitely head trekking in Chin State. The landscape is phenomenal and the people still hold a lot of hidden mysticism in their ways. In typical Asia style, cigarettes are cheap and sold everywhere, even at many of the street food places. They sell these oversized cigarettes — more like a cigar — by the singles to puff on after your meal. Do they taste good? Well, I think they taste gross as did the four Sri Lankan chainsmokers I gave one to at a later date , but when in Myanmar… smoke a cheroot? Is there anything to do there? Na, not really. Climb the mountain 45 minutes to see the Golden Rock on the same day that you arrive. You can find accommodation in Kinpun town nearby. The next day, catch whatever transport you can arrange, probably by hitching on local pickup trucks, to Hpa-an 4 hours. If you end up having the morning free there are a couple of interesting short hikes around Kinpun. You can get around Bagan by walking or cycling but the best way to get around is by e-bike. These are electric scooters with a maximum speed of about 40km an hour. Remember to use your mirrors and go easy on the front brake. Bagan is a truly stunning place and for a really unique view, you can take to the skies in a hot air balloon. There are a few companies that offer hot air ballooning services although they tend to book out quickly. Bagan is a pretty good place to buy souvenirs and although you have to shop around there are some good paintings to be had. Bagan is fairly easy to reach from Mandalay, Inle, and Yangon. From Mandalay, you can catch the Government boat to Bagan. This takes about twelve hours but it is pretty relaxing and very scenic. I did not book in advance. Currently, the Government boat leaves on Wednesday and Sunday mornings but this is subject to change. From Bagan, you can connect to Chin State for some off the beaten track treks…. If you want to explore some stunning temples and have them all to yourself, Mrauk U is the place to go. Picture hundreds of abandoned temples almost all of them unlocked spread across a rolling landscape of lush green hills and small villages…. Currently, you have to first travel to Sittwe from Yangon. The best option is to catch a flight although it is possible to do it on a very long bus journey. Once you are in Sittwe, you need to catch a boat or another bus onwards to Mrauk U. There are a few cool hostels popping up in places like Bagan, Inle, and Mandalay but you only have to take one step off the beaten path and your options rapidly dwindle. Furthermore, foreigners can only stay at accommodation in Myanmar licenced to accept them. For this reason, and simply to allow you more freedom of movement, I recommend packing some camping equipment for backpacking around Myanmar. All of the half-decent, half-affordable, accommodation sells out weeks in advance and I strongly recommend that you book your rooms especially for Bagan and Inle before you travel. You can quickly blow your daily budget if you eat in tourist-trap restaurants of which there are MANY in Inle or if you insist on travelling in VIP coaches. I recommend bringing cash and changing it instead. If you are bringing in cash, you need perfect US dollars or Euros. Find out how much your money is worth today by using the up-to-date converter below. The exact rate you get depends on the size of the note you are changing dollar bills get the best rate and where you are changing it rates in rural parts of the country are not as good as the cities. Plus, in the rural areas an ATM machine becomes a mythical creature. But the real question is… is it better than Western Union? Yes, it most certainly is. Travelling with no money? Travelling with a paltry amount of money? To keep your spending to an absolute minimum whilst backpacking Myanmar I recommend sticking to these expert tips:. All of this just ends up in landfill or in the ocean. One way to get around this is by investing in a premium filtered travel bottle like the Grayl Georpress. The Grayl Geopress is the worlds leading filtered water bottle protecting you from all manner of waterborne nasties. Be a part of the solution and travel with a filter water bottle. Save money and the environment! The dry season in Myanmar runs from October to May. It starts to get real hot between March and June so the high season when accommodation often runs out is between November and February. If you want to try and catch Myanmar without the crowds; consider rocking up early on in March. Make sure you get your packing for Southeast Asia right! On every adventure, there are six things I never go travelling without:. My philosophy is that with an EPIC sleeping bag, you can sleep anywhere. A tent is a nice bonus, but a real sleek sleeping bag means you can roll out anywhere in a and stay warm in a pinch. And the Feathered Friends Swift bag is about as premium as it gets. Always travel with a water bottle! They save you money and reduce your plastic footprint on our planet. The Grayl Geopress acts as a purifier AND temperature regulator — so you can enjoy a cold red bull, or a hot coffee, no matter where you are. Every traveller should have a head torch! A decent head torch could save your life. Never go off the beaten track or even on it without your first aid kit! Cuts, bruises, scrapes, third-degree sunburn: a first aid kit will be able to handle most of these minor situations. There ARE still things to be aware of, however. Primarily, the political situation in Myanmar is volatile. While large parts of the country are safe to visit for tourists, there are areas of Myanmar — particularly close to the borders — where it could be dangerous for a tourist to go. Regardless, many of these regions have restrictions on foreign entry which you can be expected to be enforced. Regions of Myanmar where you can expect full to partial restrictions on tourist movement include:. The last thing to touch on is the above-mentioned Rohingya crisis. The Rohingya crisis, in a quick summary, is an ongoing genocide and diaspora of a Muslim ethnic minority group in Myanmar perpetrated by the Myanmar government. What the government is doing to the Rohingya people is a crime against humanity, to put it lightly. I did travel to the Kachin state to visit the Indawgyi Lake — both the largest lake in Myanmar and one of significant significance to Buddhists. Like with most of Myanmar, the locals including most security personnel were overwhelmingly friendly. Tourists are not totally unheard of around specific sites like Indawgyi Lake, but they are certainly a novelty. The restrictions around your movements look like registering your name with the guesthouse and carrying an extra photocopy of your passport to show security officials. For me, travelling to the Kachin state highlighted the decades-long persecution of the Christian minority and was honestly very overwhelming. There is more poverty, more violence, and more uneasiness in the air here. Trucks carrying large amounts of drugs usually methamphetamines was not an uncommon sight, either. While I travelled slowly, ate locally, and felt good that my money went directly to the local community, I still found it hard to reconcile that visiting this site could, in some way, be seen to support the regime in power. However, I will say that it was still gorgeous and that it felt like one of the rawest lessons of my travels. Now, while this crisis may not affect your safety as a traveller, it does raise moral implications and concerns for visiting Myanmar as a tourist. Directly or indirectly, your contribution to the tourism economy will be supporting this persecution. So, should you travel to Myanmar? Ultimately, no country is free from this moral quandary: we still travel to Israel, India, or even, say, Australia, despite past and ongoing actions of much the same calibre. Still, what is happening to the Rohingya people is not something to be overlooked or treated lightly. Educate yourself on the matter and have all the knowledge before going backpacking in Myanmar. For both the sake of the Rohingya people and your own — a mid-travel existential meltdown is never fun. Be very aware of protests. Be very aware of any tourist registrations you might be required to do. Myanmar is part of the infamous Golden Triangle and produces a huge amount of opium and methamphetamines but almost all of this is exported. Despite being part of the Golden Triangle I was never once offered drugs of any kind whilst travelling in Myanmar — which goes in stark contrast to backpacking in India. The growing ex-pat scene in Yangon are fond of crushing up Ritalin which can be purchased without a subscription in some parts of the country and snorting it — the effects are very similar to speed. It is possible, but extremely difficult, to find low-quality marijuana in Myanmar but without a reliable connection make friends with ex-pats your chances of scoring are practically zero. Rumour has it that one backpacker hid a small geocache amongst the temples of Bagan with a few tabs placed inside… Happy treasure hunting amigos! And sex? Well, we are all for it. We hope this continues to improve! SafetyWing is cheap, easy, and admin-free: just sign up lickety-split so you can get back to it! Backpacking Myanmar has exploded in popularity and with increased international flights and relaxed border crossings, it is now quite easy to get into Myanmar. Yangon is served by numerous airlines and you can easily pick up cheap flights from other backpacking destinations in Southeast Asia. Pack that backpack and get ready for a trip of a life-travel. The border crossing between India and Myanmar has been open for about eighteen months at the time of writing and, finally, makes it possible to travel overland from Europe to Southeast Asia without having to go through China. Not many foreigners make it that far and you can expect to be crossing on foot with accompanying madness. It is not currently possible for backpackers to travel overland to Bangladesh and I doubt it will be for many years or Laos this will probably change soon from Myanmar. Onwards overland travel to China is only possible with relevant permits. Over one hundred nationalities can now apply for an e-visa online through the official Myanmar government visa portal. E-visas can only be used if arriving by air or crossing overland from Thailand. I have heard some mixed reports that it is possible to cross from India with an e-visa if you have some additional paperwork. Visas typically cost around fifty dollars and are valid for thirty days. They can be overstayed by 14 days at a charge of three dollars per day plus an additional admin fee. I secured my Myanmar visas from the Bangkok and Chiang Mai consulates and on both occasions, it took just a couple of days — be sure to take passport size photos with you! If you do need to acquire a visa, I suggest checking out iVisa for assistance. Trains and long-distance buses are plentiful with the buses normally working out faster than the trains. I took a few buses in Myanmar and always travelled at night to save having to pay for accommodation. Trains take it one step further. Especially the most basic unreserved class which is literally just a freight container — open doors and all — with some benches inside. Oh, and expect plenty of snack peddlers! In some parts of the country, you can travel by boat and this is a really unique way to get around — the slow boat between Mandalay and Bagan is well worth doing if you have the time. Motorcycling Myanmar is definitely the best way to get around and the recent relaxation of rules governing foreigners driving around has made things a lot easier. In my personal opinion, Myanmar is not the best choice in Southeast Asia for either working or volunteering. But first, here are the deetz. There are ex-pats that base themselves in Myanmar — primarily, Yangon — to work. While teaching English abroad is something some foreigners do opt to do in Myanmar, most foreign workers are there on some form of international business. Only after having completed three prior business visas will you be able to apply for a multiple-entry permit allowing a stay of up to six months and, potentially, longer stays in the future. This, combined with a supply crunch and subsequent price hike on accommodation and rentals for ex-pats, makes Myanmar a hard recommendation for working travellers. A new country, a new contract, a new piece of plastic — booooring. Instead, buy an eSIM! Read about how e-Sims work or click below to see one of the top eSIM providers on the market and ditch the plastic. Finally, like most places in Asia, volunteering in Myanmar is most definitely a thing! Plus, again, you have that strict one-month visa so having somewhere to go straight outta the airport terminal is just being efficient! As for who you should sign up with? So why not go have some once in a lifetime experience? Worldpackers: connecting travellers with meaningful travel experiences. Most Burmese people are very very nice and genuinely friendly. The majority of locals refer to the country as Myanmar and prefer this to Burma as the old name only referred to the dominant ethnic group. Not many people know this but the Burmese speak a total of different languages. Burmese is a Sino-Tibetan language and is one of the most widely spoken in the world. It was first spoken by the Bamar people and related ethnic groups. Today, Burmese is the primary language of instruction, and English is the second language taught in schools. Well, the great thing about having so many ethnic groups inside your country plus being bordered by a whole bunch more is that your food becomes pretty banging! Burmese cuisine is predominatly influenced by both the exisiting cultures in Myanmar as well as other nearby Asian regions — primarily, India, China, and Thailand. Salads, soups, noodles, and rice are the name of the game! Flavour-wise, things tend to be focused more on the savoury and salty aspects. The Japanese rushed across the country, quickly overwhelming poorly equipped British forces and threatening India with an invasion. Hoping that the Japanese may bring change, Burmese nationalistic groups came together under the leadership of General Aung San to fight against the British. He penned an agreement with the British for Burmese Independence within a year but in July he was assassinated along with several other prominent figures by political rivals. Burma went into mourning and a few months later, on 4 January , the country gained its independence. From here, things spiralled rapidly out of control. For ten years, the government struggled to contain ethnic uprisings by groups who wanted to stand apart from Burma. Communist and other insurgencies kept the army busy and many atrocities were committed as the country slid further into bankruptcy due to poor management and the ravages of WWII. Two years later he solidified his dictatorship with an army coup. The countries economy withered further and international visitors were limited to a handful of major cities that could only be visited with some serious paperwork. In , Ne Win announced he was retiring and hundreds of thousands took to the streets to demand fair elections. The army intervened and fired blindly into crowds of protestors, killing an estimated ten thousand civilians. Thousands of student and democracy groups fled to the border regions which were largely under Ethnic militia group control and began to plan. In an attempt to quell international condemnation for violence against civilians, the military announced it would hold multi-party elections. The new party swept across Burma gathering more and more support. In the final hour, when victory seemed imminent, Ne Win orchestrated another army coup from behind the scenes and the country was thrown back once more. Desperate to improve their image and generate foreign investment, the generals held the multi-party elections they had promised. Surprised and outraged, the army refused to acknowledge the election results and has retained its repressive grip on power ever since. In a bid to promote unity amongst the country, Burma was renamed to Myanmar in so that not only the Burmese people were reflected in the name of the country. In a further bid to protect their grip on power, the capital was moved from Yangon to Naypyidaw — a ghost-town in the middle of the jungle…. In , Aung San Suu Kyi was released from house arrest and the political situation began to thaw as her party was given some minor powers. In , violence erupted again as the army turned on peaceful protests by thousands of monks across the country campaigning for improved human rights and a proper democracy. Many army units refused to use force against the monks. Sadly, this was not the case across the whole army and an unknown number of civilians and monks were killed in clashes with riot police and army units. Since , Myanmar has emerged blinking into the light and more and more backpackers have rocked up to explore this truly incredible country. I wanted to cover the history of Myanmar here because if you really want to understand Myanmar it helps if you understand some of the challenges that the nation, and its people, have had to face over the recent years. On February 1st , Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested alongside other high ranking members of her government. The military had once again orchestrated a coup — although many believe they had been entering increasing influence behind the scenes for many years. There has been mass resistance to the takeover — but as of yet, the military has not been overthrown. Now that the people of Myanmar have had a taste of democracy, they do not want to give up. I have hope for the future of Myanmar, but it remains to be seen whether the military will commit to protecting human rights instead of violating them. The UN has described Mynamar as being in a state of civil war due to the mass resistance to the regime by the people. All the power to them for standing up and fighting for a better world. From the nomadic tribes of the ocean to the secrets hiding in the jungles of Myanmar, there is so much in Myanmar to sink your teeth into! Be prepared for what life throws at you. Myanmar is a fantastic place to head out on a trek and the sky really is the limit. Provided you have the backpacking adventure gear for the job, you can head off on extremely ambitious two-week treks around Shan or Chin state and the Chinese Himalayas, which require special permits. These places are some of the last backpacker frontiers in Southeast Asia offering a whole bunch of unclimbed peaks…. Most people opt to do the very easy trek from Kalaw back to Inle Lake, although Pindaya to Inle is a better trek. Trekking in Myanmar is a fantastic experience and you can expect to crash out in local monasteries and homestays which will give you a great chance to interact with the very friendly local people. Shan state is also a popular place to go trekking and there are some great hikes to be had around Kachin state as well… There are definitely plenty of off the beaten track adventures in Myanmar which have never been written about, go and find them! It is well worth taking a cheap travel tent , especially if you are on a budget. Smile and smile a lot! Writing your name in black marker on temples, chugging beer while shirtless, swearing loudly, and visiting unethical animal attractions? You, Sir, are a twat. I know first hand just how hard it is to be the one person in a group to say no when somebody comes up with a stupid idea that, for some reason, everybody is down for. By no means am I telling you not to drink, smoke and party. Do it and love it. If you want to see elephants, then go and see them, but do your research first. Look up ethical animal sanctuaries and understand the prevalence of abuse in the elephant tourism industry. Wear a helmet when you hop on a motorbike in Asia. Humans are humans; treat people you meet along the way with the same respect you would show your friends and family back home. Regardless of your beliefs and thoughts on prostitution, remember this is another person with thoughts, feelings, and a life outside of the sex industry too. You are not superior to these people; you just happen to be from a more privileged background. One roll of the cosmic dice is all that ever separates you from anyone else. There are enough shitty tourists out there. Be someone that makes the world a better place simply by wandering it. It really is like stepping into a time machine: Myanmar offers travellers one of the last chances to see an unspoilt Southeast Asia. And in that sense…. Edited by Indigo Atkinson in January A couple of you lovely readers suggested we set up a tip jar for direct support as an alternative to booking through our links. So we created one! You can now buy The Broke Backpacker a coffee. Hi there, really great post about myanmar. I just arrived yesterday and wanted to add a piece of information: From Yangon airport there is a bus with AC to the city center for MMK. You need the exact change though. I first want to thank you for guiding my plans into Myanmar. Your dedication to travel and helping others with the traveling spirit keeps the journey alive, it truly does! I have only begun my planning and I would like to visit the Mergui Archipelago. However, visiting the Monken Sea Gypsy people will be a life time experience. Will I be able to meet them without the expensive 8 day cruise? Can I get connected to them at the fish port in Mergui where the day trips to the archipelago leaves from? Thank you! I will visit for maybe 3 weeks in total then moving on to Malaysia. Hey Cynthia and thanks so much for your kind words. I believe that if you do head down to the coast you will most likely be able to arrange a local fisherman to take you out to some of the sea gypsy settlements but the more remote ones are only really accessible via a multi-day boat trip. Good luck! Excellent blog post, and thank you for sharing some very helpful thoughts!!! Best of luck with your travels. Why Will! I just have one question, I was going to head to Thailand after Nepal, then go to Myanmar overland and the wanted to enter Thailand again and continue downwards to loas.. Do you know anything about that? Hey Will… Thanks for all the informations here. I think about to travel Myanmar next year for a couple weeks. What is your favourite place to relax a few days at the beach? Hi Will! Love your summary. Thoughts on being there at the end of rainy season? I thought it would be less crowded and since I have some time, I could account for a few rainy days. Such a helpful and relevant page! From Bangkok to Yangon to Bagan. Is it advisable to travel those dates? This post is the best! Thank you and happy travelling. Thanks, this is a really useful guide. Two of us flying to Yangon this Friday from the UK and I am really looking forward to travelling around the country! Is anybody else travelling at this time? Off-roading in Myanmar is the best! We were able to find small and less popular temples and we had fun finding secret passages to go on top of the temples. Your photos are very beautiful particularly your photo of hot air balloons flying over temples and pagodas. Unfortunately, we were not able to witness that because we visited Bagan during the rainy season. I guess we just found a reason to come back here. Thanks for sharing your beautiful photos and inspiring story. Hello Will, Thank for your great post! Do you know about bring an electric bicycle from Thailand to Myanmar, is it legal? Do you think it is safe for a solo women to backpack Myanmar? I am quite used to backpack alone, I did some countries in Africa and all of eastern and western Europe by myself but never been to Asia. We fly to Bangkok and will make the crossing by land. Do you have any experience with traveling there in the rain season? Also, is camping out an option or is it not worth bringing a tent during that time? I travelled there in June five years ago and holy shit… it was hot. I live in Germany, Dortmund and I love visiting the city and others around, each time I visit a new city I learn something new. Hi Will, how are your travels to PNG? The private minivans are crazy fucking crowded, and driven by maniacs. Wow what an amazing and complete guide.. I want to visit Myanmar someday soon so this is very helpful! This is a great article! Thank you for giving us such detailed guide. This will surely help tons of wanderers. Looking forward to more travel stories from you! Many thanks Will for your detailed and helpful post and itinerary! You are a fantastic source of information. I visited 7 places you mention here and stayed at your recommended accommodations in each town. Your guide was my constant companion and it worked wonderfully. Happy journeys to you! Thank you. Thanks so much for posting this detailed description of your travels, it is most helpful in navigating the fast-changing landscape here! All the travel guides seem out of date! My partner and I are planning to head to Pindaya tomorrow upon your advice, to trek from there to Inle instead of from Kalaw. How would you handle lodgings if you did such a thing? Thanks for the help, and looking forward to your next travels! Hey Will! This was an awesome article and super helpful! My boyfriend and I are looking at getting from Mandalay to Chiang by land … I am not finding any good information on this. Have you heard anything about this? Mandalay to Chiang Mai? I also have one backpacking trip in Myanmar and visit all places in the post. Hi Will, Your photos are very beautiful, it made me add Myanmar to my travel list! I found that your trip is very useful to me. May I know how you manage to book your hostel? Normally you walk in to ask the price or do some online booking? I do a bit of both depending on where Im headed and what I think availability will be like. Its always good to see a place before booking it, but if very short on time or accommodation is limited in a certain place, I try and get at least the first night online. Have a great trip! Just wanted to say thank you for you post, as it is helping me planning my trip next month to Myanmar. Full of useful details, thanks for sharing. Just found this after travelling Myanmar for a month. My favorite country so far. People have the most incredible smiles. I agree with your recommendations. Maruk U is a magical place,one of my favorites. Flying might be more comfortable. So glad you found this useful, Johanna! An epic bus trip but so worth it. Hey Will, We just finished a month in Myanmar. Much easier than going to the embassy. Most of the time prices worked out much cheaper in MKK. Go figure. We missed out on Mrauk Au as well. Just too difficult and expensive to get to. We plan on returning later this year. Im so looking forward to getting back to Myanmar on this trip. You are totally right — thanks for bringing this to my attention! Hey Will, thanks for your very much helpful guide to Burma! Would appreciate any tips from you! Hey Emelie! I trekked in hsipaw which was awesome, and I definitely recommend! You have a great and very informative guide. It gave me a lot useful tips for my next planning trip to Myanmar. I googled but have no info. Great post! Just stumbled upon your website when someone shared 10 reasons to go to Myanmar. LOVE this guide. I was in Asia last year, but at the last minute opted to go to Malaysia rather than Myanmar. I will almost certainly be back, probably next year! Hey Will, I wanted to tell you ot was very helpful all of this, also that it is very easy to come from thailand overland through mae sot, 9 hr bye bus from BKK. It is near Hpa An and extreamly cheap to get here. Important to know that traffic flows up every other day so if you come in the wrong day you will have to stay in myawaddy for the night. The traffic goes up in on the even days of February, March, May and July. On the odd days of April, June and August. It could change. They are making the road with two lanes but not done yet. Great blog. How did you make your way down to the peninsula and to the beaches? Thanks so much again! Hi Caroline! Great to hear from you! Myanmar is amazing, you will have such an awesome time! How long are you going to spend in Myanmar? Couple of questions: 1 how did you do with the language? Is it true that in Myanmar is forbidden for locals to host travellers? Hi Manuela! In Burma I found that although most local people did not speak English, everybody was very friendly and usually someone would understand a place name and help me get on the right bus. I found hitchhing very easy — local people pulled over and if they understood where you wanted to go would happily take you there. Hope that helps! Really helpful article, Im hoping to head to Myanmar later this year. Thanks in particular for the detailed explanation of how to find the embassy in BKK. Im really looking forward to Bagan! Your email address will not be published. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. Skip to content. A Disclaimer On Visiting Myanmar Myanmar is an incredible country to explore, but also one that is sadly fraught with controversy. Myanmar: The last remaining unspoiled sector of Southeast Asia. Table of Contents Show. Best Travel Itineraries for Backpacking Myanmar. My own itinerary through Myanmar. Show me the deals! Places to Visit in Myanmar. The grounds of the stunning Shwedagon Pagoda. The epic Saddar Caves. Find a Hostel in Hpa-An. The longest wooden bridge in the world. Stunning Shan State. Find Accomodation in Hsipaw. The famed leg-rowing fishermen of Inle. Find an Inle Lake Hostel. Endless plains and vistas of this. Chin State scenes. The beautiful and placid Ngapali Beach. Find Accomodation in Ngapali Beach. One of the many, many unexplored islands of the Mergui Archipelago. Find Accommodation in the Mergui Archipelago. Top Things to Do in Myanmar. The Goteik Viaduct en route to Hsipaw. Chin state adventures. The Golden Rock — Kyaikto. Ballooning above Bagan. Inside one of the temples of Mrauk U. Small Pack Problems? Wanna know how to pack like a pro? Well for a start you need the right gear…. Backpacker Accommodation in Myanmar. Slowly slowly the hostel scene in Myanmar is expanding. Book Your Myanmar Hostel Here. Location Accommodation Why Stay Here?! Yangon Little Yangon Hostel Awesome hostel, clean, cozy, a great place to meet people and comes with free wifi! Kyaikto Kyaik Hto Hotel A prime place to crash in Kyaikhtiyo, make sure you book it in advance as it gets booked out real fast! Mandalay Ostello Bello Mandalay Currently one of the best backpacker friendly hostels in Mandalay, they have free breakfast and wifi! Bagan Ostello Bello Bagan Clearly, these guys are killing it in the backpacker market! So splurge a little and enjoy this chilled out resort. This is the cheapest we could find there! Again they offer free breakfast. Make sure to load up on that before you start your day! Myanmar Backpacking Costs. Exploring Bagan can be done for free-skies. Money, money, money! Sign Up For Wise Here! Camping out in Kachin state. Best Time to Travel to Myanmar. Never Leave Home Without It! Staying Safe in Myanmar. The state was filled with beautiful temples. A makeshift camp of the stateless Rohingya refugees. A cheeky smoke is not out of the question, though. How to Get Into Myanmar. This is the easiest way to get from Bangkok to Yangon and by far the most popular crossing due to its proximity to various places of interest in Myanmar. Ignore any advice that says this crossing is one-way only; this is not the case anymore since a new road was completed in Phunaron — Htee Kee central. Buses go from Kanchanaburi in Thailand to the small border town of Phunaron. Mae Sai — Tachileik north. This crossing is, broadly speaking, not usable for independent travellers intending to go into Myanmar overland without restriction. Ranong — Kawthaung south. This crossing lets you enter Myanmar from the far south. The roads here are reportedly rough, and in bad weather conditions, overland travel to Myeik may not always be possible. Border Crossing from India: The border crossing between India and Myanmar has been open for about eighteen months at the time of writing and, finally, makes it possible to travel overland from Europe to Southeast Asia without having to go through China. How to Get Around Myanmar. Let the snack-times commence! Exploring Myanmar by motorcycle. Working in Myanmar. Yangon offers a more modern pace of life for ex-pats. Grab an eSIM! Read Our Review! Myanmar Culture. As always, kids are your best teachers. Hello — kyaosopartaal How are you? Where Is The Toilet? No plastic bag — a bhaalsuu myaha m palauthcatait aate No straw please — kyaayyjuupyupyee koutroe a bhaalsuu myaha m No plastic cutlery please — a bhaalsuu myaha m palauthcatait meehpo hkyaungg sone kyaayyjuupyupyee Help! The curry is usually serviced with pork, fish, shrimp, beef or mutton. It includes rice, a salad, a small dish of fried vegetables, a small bowl of soup and a side of fresh crunchy vegetables and herbs- a pretty wholesome meal I would say! Local Tea Shop Snacks — Apart from serving tons of milk tea, local tea shops serve baked sweets as well as meaty steamed buns and dim sums. Enjoy a cheap snack with your tea, cause why not! Shan Style noodles — The dish is a combination of thin, flat rice noodles in a clear, peppery broth with marinated chicken or pork and pickled vegetables. Yummy, healthy and bloody cheap!! Backpacker gold…. Shan Rice — Also known as fish rice, this Shan dish is one of the most typical Myanmar food and you can find it in most local places. The Burmese usually pair it with leeks, garlic and pork rind. Deep-Fried stuff — The Burmese love frying up stuff!! You get fried samosas, spring rolls, fritters, sweets, bread, noodles topped with deep-fried crispy garnishes. Sinful but delicious!! Nan Gyi Thohk — Popular with tourists, this dish has rice noodles with chicken, thin slices of fish cake, bean sprouts and slices of hard-boiled egg. It is made from rice noodles in a tasty herbal broth. And of course, it has to have some crunchy stuff, in this case, it is banana pith that adds the crunch. Photo: Burma Hut. Some Unique Experiences in Myanmar. Buy on REI. Trekking in Myanmar be like…. Final Advice Before Visiting. It truly is a special country. See Our Editorial Process. Will Hatton Founder. Adventurer, entrepreneur and vagabond. Master of the handstand pushup. Conqueror of mountains, survivor of deserts, and crusader for cheap escapades. Will Hatton is the founder of The Broke Backpacker and has been writing for the site since January He has been on the road for more than a decade, travelling to far-flung lands on a shoestring budget. His mantra? Growth begins at the edge of your comfort zone. Share or save this post Pinterest. Stay connected everywhere. Enjoy internet connection on every adventure and forget about expensive roaming bills. Support The Broke Backpacker. Booking through our links helps me and my team produce FREE content for you :. Regards, Cynthia. Great info, Thank for sharing this. Great country and full rich traditions and culture. Pictures are amazing to watch. Hi Will, Do you think it is safe for a solo women to backpack Myanmar? Hi Will, we are going to Myanmar in July for a month. Thank you for your answers and your awesome detailed guide. Hi Will, Thanks so much for posting this detailed description of your travels, it is most helpful in navigating the fast-changing landscape here! Hi Will, I found that your trip is very useful to me. Regards, pei pei. Hey Pei Pei, I do a bit of both depending on where Im headed and what I think availability will be like. Hi Will, Just wanted to say thank you for you post, as it is helping me planning my trip next month to Myanmar. Hey Will, wonderful article! Hi Will, You have a great and very informative guide. Thanks, Khuyen. Thanks for such a great guide — much appreciated! No worries Beanie! Thanks for sharing, Burma is obviously opening up quickly indeed! Hi Will , Really helpful article, Im hoping to head to Myanmar later this year. Perhaps see you on the road some time. Leave a Reply Cancel reply Your email address will not be published. Little Yangon Hostel. Awesome hostel, clean, cozy, a great place to meet people and comes with free wifi! Kyaik Hto Hotel. A prime place to crash in Kyaikhtiyo, make sure you book it in advance as it gets booked out real fast! Little Hpa An Hostel. Centrally located, this is an excellent choice for broke backpackers who are looking for a cheap place to stay. Ostello Bello Mandalay. Currently one of the best backpacker friendly hostels in Mandalay, they have free breakfast and wifi! Red Dragon Hotel. Even though this is not a hostel, it is ridiculously cheap AND they offer free breakfast! Lake Inle. Ostello Bello Nyaung Shwe. The Ostello Bello chain just started a brand new funky hostel here and they have great deals on happy hours! Ostello Bello Bagan. Clearly, these guys are killing it in the backpacker market! Mrauk U. Mrauk U Palace Resort. It is a bit difficult to find backpacker style properties here. Ngapali Beach. Royal LinThar. Again there are no backpacker friendly options. Mergui or Myeik. White Pearl Guest house. This is currently the cheapest property around. Railroad Hotel.

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