Myanmar

The former capital of Myanmar, and its largest city, Yangon, is often the first point of entry for most international visitors. Best known for the spectacular Shwedagon Pagoda, which is a truly awesome sight, particularly as the sun sets on the golden domes with almost blinding effect.

The city is surprisingly green thanks to its stunning lakes, shady parks and verdant tropical trees. Institutions such as the National Museum and Bogyoke Museum displaying the country’s historical events are worth visiting but it’s best to discover Yangon by exploring the streets mixing with the local people.

Throughout the metropolis, numerous food stalls, historical sites, art galleries, souvenirs and markets are yours to explore. Many places still retain some of the charm of a bygone era and there are many ways to become acquainted with the city.

Bagan, in the Mandalay Region, is a key destination for visitors to Myanmar and boasts over 2,000 ancient pagodas and temples. You can visit Bagan all year round as there is no actual rainy season like in the lower parts of Myanmar. With more than 1,500 years of history, beautiful local art, such as lacquer ware, basket and cloth weaving, it is the most fascinating place for travellers.

Numerous traditions have been preserved in Bagan and its surrounding villages, including handicrafts such as beautiful lacquerware, basket weaving, sand art painting, woodcarving and bronze wares. If you cannot make it to a workshop to witness these items being made, be sure to browse some of the stalls around the pagodas for suitable souvenirs and keepsakes. There are also some truly delicious locally produced foodstuffs such as jaggery, toddy, tamarind flakes, plum jams and bean paste.

Enjoying the atmosphere of a pagoda festival in Bagan can be the best time to witness Buddhist rituals and experience the social gatherings of local people. The month long, sanctified festival for Ananda Temple usually falls in January, whereas the one for Manuha Pagoda is held in September or October. Another famous event in Bagan, Alo-Daw Pyae Pagoda Festival, occurs in December. In April the whole country enjoys the water festival, Thingyan, and in the dry zone Bagan is no exception.

Mandalay, built by King Mindon, still evokes images of a romantic, bygone era with its royal palace and impressive moat sitting at the foot of a high, pagoda-topped hill. It is also a busting, economic center for business. Located on the banks of the Ayerwaddy River, Mandalay lies within easy striking distance of former colonial hill stations, ancient cities and other cultural attractions.

One of the city’s notable attractions include Kuthodaw Pagoda, where Buddhist scriptures are carved on 729 marble tablets, billed as the “biggest book” in the world. One particularly beautiful legacy of King Mindon is the all-teak pavilion he lived in just before his death, The Golden Palace (Shwe Kyaung). The king’s reign is considered by many to be a golden age of Myanmar culture.

South of Mandalay is Amarapura, which was the royal capital in the 18th century. Today, it is home to the beautiful U Bein Bridge, a long picturesque construction that crosses the Taung Thaman Lake and for the site of Maha Gandayon Monastery, where 1000 monks learn scriptures. Amarapura is also famous for quality textiles.

To the West of Mandalay is Sagaing, an important location for Buddhist study. Many meditation retreats are available in this town.

To the East of Mandalay is Pyin Oo Lwin. It was originally a hill station for the British to escape the heat of lower Burma. The colonial influence is still visible today, in the buildings and wide avenues. The Botanical Gardens are the main attraction of this town.

The Inle Lake region is one of Myanmar‘s most anticipated destinations, and all the hype is justified. Picture a vast, serene lake – 13.5 miles long and 7 miles wide – fringed by marshes and floating gardens, where stilt-house villages and Buddhist temples rise above the water, and Intha fisher folk propel their boats along via their unique technique of leg-rowing. Surrounding the lake are hills that are home to myriad minorities: Shan, Pa-O, Taung Yo, Danu, Kayah and Danaw, who descend from their villages for markets that hopscotch around the towns of the region on a five-day cycle.

Nyaungshwe is the area’s accommodation and transport hub. It’s a scrappy place, but once you’ve experienced the watery world that sits right by it and explored the environs of Inle Lake, that won’t matter. Few people leave here disappointed with what they’ve seen and done.

With its pristine, palm-tree-fringed white sand, the clear waters of the Bay of Bengal, and a host of sophisticated accommodation, Ngapali – supposedly named years ago by a homesick Italian reminiscing about Napoli – has a justified reputation as Myanmar‘s premier beach getaway.

But for all the swish resorts, Ngapali maintains a laid-back fishing village vibe, as evidenced by the small boats that head out nightly to catch the bounty that is served up to visitors just hours later. The locals remain smiley, and despite the increasing number of hotels, the 15 miles of coast here means there’s still a lot of space on the beach.

Peak season is from November to March. Even then, Ngapali is an early-to-bed place rather than a rip-roaring beach-party destination. During the rainy season (May to October), things are almost comatose, with many hotels closing for renovations or just opening a few rooms.