As a country, Myanmar is on the verge of a boom. With the recent and following changes, Myanmar is set on a course of improvement, but what was already there was amazing in its own right. There are plenty of reasons to visit Myanmar, both personal and business-related, so for help with organizing your Myanmar visa click here. It is, after all, a beautiful country, and with its many beautiful sights, it’s a destination that’s wholly worth at least one visit.
1. Explore Bagan
Myanmar is a country with a long and detailed history, with ancient cities that still exist today. Bagan is one such location, as it’s a city originally founded in the 9th century and had continued to change, evolve, and thrive throughout the ages. One of the biggest draws of Bagan are the numerous old temples, which are a vast, awe inspiring complex, which can easily rival more popular places like Angkor Wat and Machu Picchu. It’s also a city made for sublime experiences, like riding electric bikes, which are used by everyone, especially tourists, to zip around the pagodas and the markets.
2. Hike at Inle Lake
Without a doubt, one of the best things about Myanmar is its stunning scenery. There are numerous locations that are absolutely picture-perfect, and one very notable spot is Inle Lake. It’s a popular hiking spot that’s easily reached on foot from the small town of Kalaw, and this hiking route offers the chance to see a side of Myanmar that plenty of tourists don’t get to see. From rolling hills to cabbage farms, Lake Inle is a fantastic destination to relax the soul.
3. See the Pagodas in Yangon
For those that enjoy history, as well as extraordinary architecture, there’s no other places like Yangon. While a modern city in its own right, and also quite large, it’s known for many things, like excellent street food, and unique nightlife. However, one thing that sets it apart from many other destinations are its pagodas. They’re absolutely beautiful sights, with many of them centuries old, and the most known ones, like Sule Pagoda and Shwedagon Pagoda are over 2000 years old. They’re among the holiest sites in all of Myanmar, and considered important cultural heritage, these pagodas excellent places to visit, not the least of them being like out of a postcard.
4. Very Affordable
The entire region of South East Asia is really big. It’s filled with plenty of countries, each one more unique than the last, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re readily affordable. On the other hand, Myanmar is quite the opposite. It’s one of the most affordable destinations in South East Asia, with plenty of services, souvenirs, and experiences feeling, quite frankly, like they are a steal. It might sound too good to be true, but it actually isn’t.
5. Experience the Unique Bazaars
Markets and bazaars tend to be very common, at least in eastern cultures, and while there are plenty of countries that have significantly larger, and more imposing, bazaars than Myanmar, they’re not very comparable in terms of uniqueness and items found for sale. For example, the Jade Market in Mandalay is one such destination, where you can find and buy jade which is not even meant to be sold strictly for tourists, but rather for anyone that passes through the market. The many food stalls and markets found across Myanmar are an excellent indication for this too, especially because Myanmar is known for its amazing food.
6. The Best Weather in the World
Countries in the tropical belt tend to have great weather, but they’re also threatened by dangerous weather like cyclones and hurricanes, and heavy rainfall is something that’s present at least for half the year. But even though Myanmar is found in this region, due to its perfect location, it has, arguably, the best weather in the region. It’s never too hot, and there aren’t nearly as many heavy rainfalls like in its neighboring countries, and the air at night tends to be refreshing, if not downright chilly. All of this completely adds to the already perfect charm of an otherwise excellent destination.
7. Luxury Transportation
Buses, especially the night ones, are among the most luxurious in the world, and definitely more so than the rest of South East Asia. Traveling at night is almost never enjoyable, at least for most people, but these buses in Myanmar make traveling at night feel like it’s worth it. The seats are made with comfort in mind, there’s a hostess of sorts that’s goes to travelers asking them if they need food, water, blankets, and the like, and there are even some buses that come equipped with TVs in the back of the headrests, with many western movies to choose from. Travelers regularly opt for night travel in Myanmar, especially since it’s a good way to cut down on accommodation costs.
A wholly unique country with some excellent sights, Myanmar is a destination worthy of at least one visit. With so many amazing things to do, it’d be a shame not to visit it when you have the chance.
