Are you looking for the best travel itinerary for Myanmar? After visiting this stunning country a couple of times, we have crafted a route for 2 and 3 weeks, aiming to see the most significant places without turning your journey into a marathon of roads and flights. This is our proposed itinerary for traveling to Myanmar, and we hope it helps you plan your adventure!
Myanmar is undoubtedly one of the most enchanting countries in Southeast Asia. It was the first country we visited on our 9-month journey through these distant lands, and we returned recently to find that, despite some changes, it remains one of our favorite destinations. Additionally, there is now the option to obtain an e-visa quickly to travel around the country for 28 days.
Are you considering a trip but unsure how to outline the perfect route? Don’t worry! Here, we outline an ideal itinerary for traveling in Myanmar for 2 and 3 weeks, highlighting the most essential sites!
Essential places to visit in Myanmar
Whether you have 3 weeks or just 10 to 12 days, there are some places you cannot afford to miss. Here are the four must-see destinations to include in your travel itinerary for Myanmar:
- Yangon: This unofficial capital of Myanmar may not be particularly charming, but it’s worth spending one or two nights here to see the breathtaking Shwedagon Paya and get a feel for the country.
- Inle Lake: A place where time seems to stand still, and you never want to leave. It’s undoubtedly our favorite spot in Myanmar. Travel guide to Inle Lake.
- Bagan: If there’s one thing Myanmar boasts, it’s spectacular sunrises and sunsets, and the best ones are experienced in Bagan, surrounded by thousands of ancient temples (or even soaring above them). Travel guide to Bagan.
- Mandalay: A perfect base to visit some of the ancient Burmese capitals. Travel guide to Mandalay.
Other optional visits
While ideally, you should dedicate at least 3 weeks to Myanmar, if that’s the case, consider visiting these additional locations:
- Kalaw and trekking to Inle Lake: A mountain village from where you can embark on one of the country’s most popular trails. Over 3 days, you’ll pass through beautiful landscapes, discover hidden villages, and spend a night with a local family and surrounded by monks in a Buddhist monastery. Kalaw to Inle Lake trekking diary.
- Hpa An: Caves, mountains, and pagodas. One of the most surprising corners of the country, where you can enjoy local life and perhaps end the day sore from climbing the karst mountains. Travel guide to Hpa An.
- Pyin Oo Lwin and Hsipaw: A retreat chosen by British colonists to escape the heat of the lowlands. From there, you can take the scenic train across the famous Goktik viaduct to Hsipaw, the heart of Shan State, with plenty of hiking options.
- Ngapali Beach: Known as Myanmar's best beach, it’s the most accessible (there are domestic flights connecting it with other tourist cities) and has a wide range of accommodation options.
- Mrauk U: Once one of the most powerful capitals in Burmese history, it now boasts some of the most spectacular ruins in the country.
→ Here we discuss our top 10 places to visit in Myanmar without fail
Don’t forget to get IATI travel insurance with a 5% discount here. Whatever your destination, avoid unpleasant surprises!
For this itinerary, we assume you’ll enter through Yangon International Airport and exit from Mandalay:
- Arrival in Yangon
- Yangon and take a daytime or overnight bus to Bagan (9 hours, $12-18)
- Bagan
- Bagan
- Daytime or overnight bus to Kalaw (7 hours, $15-17)
- Kalaw
- Trekking Kalaw to Inle Lake
- Trekking Kalaw to Inle Lake
- Inle Lake
- Inle Lake
- Inle Lake
- Daytime or overnight bus to Mandalay (8 hours, $12)
- Mandalay
- Mandalay
- Departure from Mandalay
When it comes to daytime and overnight buses, it’s always advisable to travel overnight for two reasons: you save a night of accommodation and don’t waste valuable vacation time moving from one place to another. If you travel on daytime buses, you’ll lose almost the entire day inside the bus.
Itinerary for 3 weeks in Myanmar
If you have more time, the options multiply! Here is an interesting itinerary, although we will suggest other alternatives later:
- Arrival in Yangon
- Yangon
- Daytime bus to Hpa An (8 hours, $6)
- Hpa An
- Hpa An and overnight bus to Kalaw (13 hours, $20)
- Kalaw
- Trekking Kalaw to Inle Lake
- Trekking Kalaw to Inle Lake
- Inle Lake
- Inle Lake
- Inle Lake
- Daytime or overnight bus to Bagan (7 hours, $15-17)
- Bagan
- Daytime bus to Mandalay (5 hours, $7-9)
- Mandalay
- Mandalay
- Taxi or bus to Pyin Oo Lwin (4 hours)
- Scenic train to Hsipaw
- Hsipaw
- Hsipaw
- Overnight bus to Mandalay and departure (7 hours, $7)
If you need to cut down on days, you’ll have to choose between Hpa An or Hsipaw, considering what each offers and your preferences. To add some beach time, try to fit a visit to Ngapali Beach arriving and departing by plane (the airport is Thandwe Airport).
Crossing from Thailand
If your plan is to cross from Thailand, the best place is from the city of Mae Sot (160 km from Sukhothai) to the Burmese town of Myawaddy, through the Myawaddy border. From there, it’s only 130 km to Hpa An, where your adventure in Myanmar begins.
Another entry point is through the crossing between Mae Sai (60 km from Chiang Rai) and Tachileik, via the Mae Sai border. The nearest big city is Kyaing Tong, but we’re not sure if a special permit is required to continue your journey in Myanmar.
A third option is from Phunamron (65 km from Kanchanaburi) via the Ban Phu Nam Ron Border Crossing. Be aware that in this case, the e-visa would not be valid, and you’d need a visa obtained from an embassy or consulate beforehand.
Finally, in the southernmost part of the country, you can access by boat from the port of Ranong (a departure point for reaching the islands of Ko Chang or Ko Phayam) to Kawthoung, in just 20 minutes.
Map of the itinerary through Myanmar
Here’s a map with the itinerary for 2 and 3 weeks in Myanmar:
Do you have a clearer idea now of the ideal route for a trip to Myanmar? We hope this itinerary for traveling in Myanmar for 2 and 3 weeks helps you plan your adventure!
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