Myanmar

Welcome to Myanmar

Capital of Myanmar: Naypyidaw
Population of Myanmar: 56.5 million - 12th in Asia
Size of Myanmar: 676,578 km2 - 10th in Asia
Languages in Myanmar: Burmese, around 100 tribal languages and dialects.

Closed to Western travelers for most of the 20th century, Myanmar draws an increasing number of visitors with its gilded pagodas and elaborately decorated temples. Visitors looking for sun and sand opt to vacation on Myanmar's many isolated beaches, ideal for escaping the modern world and kicking back with a drink and a book. In the cities, savvy shoppers easily find bargains on high-quality textiles, antiques, traditional tapestries, and precious stones. A well-rounded Myanmar itinerary also includes a few leisurely activities, like drinking tea at a cozy teahouse, enjoying a hearty meal at a family-run eatery, and pausing to contemplate at a centuries-old Buddhist shrine.

Highlights

Travel on a slow boat down the Irrawaddy River to spot Irrawaddy dolphins
Soak in the incredible views over the plains in Bagan, especially at sunrise and sunset
Try some fermented tea leaves and other local specialties
Climb up the hill to see the Shwedegon pagoda
Explore Mandalay and its many temples and palace complex in a tri-shaw
Sip a Myanmar Beer in Yangon and read George Orwell’s Burmese Days, to imagine what the British colonial period was like
Buy beautiful hand-made lacquer ware
Catch a glimpse of Nobel Peace Prize winner, Aung San Suu Kyi