Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, stole our hearts in the just over two weeks we were there… It’s a fascinating country with more than 100 different ethnic groups leading to an incredible cultural richness (and unfortunately also disputes or worse…). From the pagoda-scattered landscapes of Mandalay, to the jaw-dropping sunrises over the plains of Bagan, and the breathtaking indefiniteness of Inle lake – we loved it all. And as if it was not enough, Myanmar is home to some of the world’s most beautiful tropical beaches in Ngapali; we were sold!
Where we went
Suggested itinerary
The easiest way to travel through Myanmar is by plane of by bus. Buses are quite long and typically overnight, planes are super easy and direct though more expensive. You can book bus tickets in every hotel or hostel (no need to book in advance) and we found the FlyMya website particularly easy for booking flights (they have a direct contact number and were very helpful).
The most logical way to visit Myanmar is as a loop starting from Yangon. You can fly from Yangon to Mandalay, then fly from Mandalay to Nyaung U which is the airport right next to Bagan. Afterwards you can from there to Heho from where you can either go directly to Inle Lake or go to the colonial town of Kalaw where you can do a 2 or 3 day hike to reach Inle lake by foot. You can then finish off with Ngapali, either by taking a direct flight from Kalaw (there are not many – and not all the time so you have to check) or by flying back to Yangon from where you can catch one to Ngapali.