a memorable trip in myanmar essay

A Tourist Attraction In Myanmar Essay

This essay sample essay on A Tourist Attraction In Myanmar Essay offers an extensive list of facts and arguments related to it. The essay’s introduction, body paragraphs and the conclusion are provided below.

Shwedagon Pagoda Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, was the capital of Myanmar, is known for its colonial architecture, which although decaying, remains an almost unique example of a 19th-century British colonial capital. Friendly street vendors, traditionally dressed local people, attracting old Chevrolet buses and trishaws, all make a feel like a museum of Yangon downtown life.

Shwedagon, the heart of Yangon, is the most profoundly honoured pagoda in the country and interesting history behind.

According to the legend, the Shwedagon Pagoda was constructed during the time of the Buddha which is more than 2,500 years ago and where the holy hair relics of the Buddha were enshrined. Towering to a height of 326 feet (100 meters) above the city, Shwedagon Pagoda is the famous landmark noticeable from miles around. It is one of the wonders of the world and the most revered pagoda in Southeast Asia.

BAGAN Bagan, in the past which was known as Pagan, is the place where the heart of the country ancient architecture lies. It is located in the upper part of Myanmar and is the capital of Myanmar’s first dynasty.

Top Destinations In Myanmar

More than 2,000 temples and stupas are located in the area and can be found along the eastern bank of the Ayeyarwady river spreading in 42 square kilometers of a dessert like plain geographical location.

Proficient in: Culture

“ Amazing as always, gave her a week to finish a big assignment and came through way ahead of time. ”

Pagodas can be found mostly covered in reddish color and religious monuments which were built more than 1,500 years ago and it can be said that Bagan, is the most memorable place for visitors coming to Myanmar. There are different methods of transportations are available such as: by car, horse cart or by cycling for those who would like to do sightseeing around Bagan.

What is more, visitors can also enjoy an idyllic sunset boat trip along the Ayeyarwaddy river to enjoy the beautiful sunset while enjoying a cold drink. MANDALAY Mandalay is located between one of the most historical Ayeyarwaddy river and the Shan state. In other words, the location itself is the central of Myanmar geographically which leads the city to become the economic hub of Upper Burma and considered the center of Myanmar culture. The unique culture of Mandalay city is the transportation method of how people travel.

In other words, among the local people, Mandalay is known is the cycling city where majority of the Mandalay citizens prefer to travel on bikes rather than relying on other transports. As it can be said that, Mandalay is nearer to Bagan and also the central of the country itself, as a result, various traditions and cultures can be found in the city itself which is why, every visitors should always go to Mandalay when they are in Myanmar not just only for sightseeing purpose but visitors can also see and observe different cultures and traditions of Myanmar in one place. INLE LAKE

Inle, located in the Shan Hills in Myanmar is a freshwater lake with numerous villages against the foggy mountain ranges. The weather of Inle Lake differs from other places in the country as the air is a bit cooler and drier. The unique culture which visitors can find in Inle Lake is, fishermen have tendency to row boats using their legs and it is also a part of the Inle tradition itself. Other significant scenery that one can expect to see in the Inle Lake such as: floating tomatoes fields around the lake, gardens of flowers properly anchored to the lake bed with bamboo poles.

The friendliness of the local people and their unique daily life activities spice things up a little bit better for visitors that they can enjoy a pleasant trip alongside the lake yet enjoy the sincere of the local community. GOLDEN ROCK (Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda) Golden Rock, in Myanmar language known as KyiteHteeYoe Pagoda is one of the breath-taking and also a sacred place for Myanmar people. It is located in Mon State and perched on the highest mountain of Paunglaung mountain range.

To travel to KyiteHteeYoe pagoda, it will take a 4-hour drive from Yangon, where it will proceed in an open truck uphill to hermit hill. The rock and the pagoda are at the top of Mt. Kyaiktiyo. It is the third most important Buddhist pilgrimage site in Burma after the Shwedagon Pagoda and the Mahamuni Pagoda. A glimpse of the “gravity defying” Golden Rock is believed to be enough of an inspiration for any person to turn to Buddhism.

It is the best place for those who would like to have a legendary pilgrimage because the Golden Rock itself is placed on top of the mountain and visitors can choose whether to take a bus to go to the top of the mountain or trekking up to the mountain which will take around 5 hours while being able to enjoy various legendary milestones along the way making to the top of the mountain. MONYWA Monywa, is located in Sagaing Division, in Myanmar, and geographically 136km northwest of Mandalay along the eastern bank of River Chindwin. It will take 3 hours drive from Mandalay via Sagaing in order to get to Monywa.

There are many places to visit around in the area and one of many attractions is the Poewindaung mountain caves where visitors can observe the incredible stone curving and mural paintings all over the cave. Thanboday pagoda is also another major attraction of Monywa, according to the myth the solid section of the monument is engraved 7350 relics and other holy items. Boddhi-tataung (1000 Buddhas), a group of banyan trees with a Buddha image at each of the tree feet is another place where most visitors would obviously should not miss on their trip to Monywa.

Being able to enjoy a one-thousand banyan trees with Buddha images together in one place within one’s eyesight is a moment will never forget those who has been to Monywa. PUTAO Putao is located in Kachin State, Myanmar which is also the northernmost town of Kachin State. It was once the site of World War II British Fort Hertz. Transportation to get to Putao has a bit of constraint as getting to Putao by road is only available during summer, however; it is accessible year round by air if there are enough visitors/tourists group to justify a plane.

Putao is popular for having rare orchids which grow naturally in the area. Obviously, it is the place for those who love orchid to visit and a rare orchid specie name called “Black Orchid” grow in the mountains western and eastern of Putao. The weather in Putao can be said cooler than the rest of the entire Myanmar and iceberg and mountain covered in snow can be seen almost throughout the year in certain part of Putao. MRAUK U

Mrauk U, is an ancient city and situated in Rakhine State, Myanmar and it is also one of the most important site for archaeologists to observe different artifacts in the area. Mrauk U lies Eastern Kaladan River and is surrounded by hills in both northern and southern part. King Narameikhla (1404 – 1434 A. D) founded Maruk Oo and remained the same as the capital for the next 400 years. To reach to Mrauk Oo, visitors need to take boat about 5 hours from Sittwe following along the bend of the Kalatan river.

It can be said that Mrauk U is another ancient city with lots of pagodas spreading over the land just as it is in Bagan but with entirely different architecture which were built in different times back in ancient Myanmar history. NGWE SAUNG Beach Ngwe Saung beach is situated near Yangon city and it can be reached within a 5-hour drive from Yangon. The beach itself is approximately 9 miles long and one of the longest beach in South East Asia and newly opened beach in Ayeyarwaddy delta region interconnected with the Andaman Sea.

Moreover, Ngwe Saung is located a bit south of Ngapali which is also another popular beach resorts in Myanmar. Though, the beach itself was recently opened, due to the incredible quality of the beach, water and sand, it is getting more and more attention from tourists and becoming more popular. It is not just that the beach is good in quality but it also has incredible vistas and breathtaking view of the Bay of Bengal especially during the evening when the sun goes set. NGAPALI Beach

Ngapali is located in Rakhine State and stretches along the Bay of Bengal and it lies in Rakhine State of Myanmar. Ngapali is said to be one of the best beaches in Myanmar where most natural are untouched where visitors can enjoy the true nature of the beach itself. It is famous for its natural and unspotted beauty up to this day. The beach stretches about 3 km with soft white sand fringed by coconut palms. It is the best place for those leading a modern life in urban areas and looking for a place to enjoy the nature beauty of the beach itself.

The beach is unlike like other beaches around the world where it is very crowded along the beach and hawkers persuading visitors to buy their products. There are other organized recreational activities where visitors can participate such as: beach strolling, cycling and many more. It has also the perfect sunbathing ground. The sea cobalt blue, without any dangerous marine animals and clean as well. There are a few fishermen villages nearby and it can be arranged to visit to those villages on bicycle tour. Most local people believe that the best time to visit the beach is in during October and May of every year.

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The Best of Myanmar: The Full Itinerary

03/03/2020 by Kristin Addis 27 Comments

This post was originally written by Ryan Brun for BMTM in 2014. While much of what he wrote is still true and remains in this post, I visited again in 2020 and have updated the post as well as added in new resources and spots to see. Enjoy! -Kristin

Myanmar isn’t a Southeast Asian country that is often on travelers “must see” lists, or planned for their great backpacking adventure. Which is a shame, because Myanmar is one of the most culturally preserved and exciting destinations in Asia.

Why isn’t Myanmar on everyone’s “must do” lists?

It honestly wasn’t on my list until I was invited by a friend. Before traveling to Myanmar, I didn’t know anything about the country except about how it was closed off from the world up until about a couple decades ago.

After backpacking through a large portion of Myanmar during their annual Thingyan Festival, I can without a doubt declare Myanmar as my favorite country in Southeast Asia.

Myanmar is a captivating and exciting country for many reasons. From floating villages, to valleys of ancient temples that beat out Angkor Wat, to multi-day jungle treks into mountain tea picking villages.

Ready to go yet? Awesome. Here’s my itinerary on the best of Myanmar, from where to go to what to do from my own personal experiences, and a few key tips and tricks to know before you go:

Yangon ( former capital city of Rangoon ) is the highest populated city in Myanmar, and most likely where you will arrive. It’s the country’s bustling economic capital filled with colonial-era buildings mashed up against modern high-rises and Buddhist temples.

On arrival, Yangon can feel just as overwhelming as a city like Bangkok or Jakarta, but take a deep breath, settle into a hotel, and go for a wander. Here in Yangon you’ll get to experience the everyday lives of Burmese (people of Myanmar) who are usually too busy to try and surround you with goods to sell, but are happy to flash a smile. Explore the old and new of a fast growing city, and enjoy Yangon’s endless opportunity for street photographers.

Stay:  Hotel Shwe Yee is perfectly situated walking distance from Shwedagon Pagoda and has great breakfast!

Most of the accommodation will be centered around the market streets and Chinatown area, and this is a great place to eat for your first night as you take everything in. 19th and 20th Street are the hotspots, and though it can be crowded and a bit funky smelling, there are plenty of restaurants to have a big meal with ample people watching.

Shwedagon Pagoda (Golden Pagoda)

Shwedagon Pagoda  is the most sacred temple in all of Myanmar, and a popular pilgrimage for Buddhists. Legend has it that this golden pagoda and complex was built more than 2,500 years ago, which theoretically would make it the oldest Buddhist temple in the world.

Colonial Markets

I love walking through markets – you can get a real sense of life in a country there. Especially when nobody bothers you! These sprawling, ornate ironwork markets date back to British rule almost 100 years ago and will be a good escape from the heat as well as the best place to buy clothes, bags, and other trinkets if you need anything. Bonus, the vendors don’t chase you down like many other markets.

Quick Tips: Eat eat eat! Yangon will have the most diverse selection of food in Myanmar. Book accommodation ahead of arrival , hostels and hotels fill up fast, especially during holidays. Yangon will be the best place to get toiletries and supplies so stock up. Get a SIM card here if you want one (they are easy to find, and the airport has reasonable prices.)

Kyaiktiyo Pagoda and Golden Rock

East of Yangon is one of the top three most important Buddhist pilgrimage sites in Myanmar. Kyaiktiyo Pagoda  is a massive golden rock barely balancing on the edge of an 1,100 meter tall mountain with breathtaking panoramic views of the jungle valley ( and a heart-pounding ride to the top ). To get to the pagoda, you’ll need to head out early in the morning and take a bus to Kinpun village. From there you will be packed into the back of a truck with monks and Burmese locals.

If you feel up for the challenge, you can hike the entire way to the top from the village which will be a 5+ hour trek through jungle and mountainous terrain, but it’ll be the ultimate way to experience the pilgrimage. Once at the top, buy a golden leaf and stick it onto the boulder (only men are allowed to do that)…just don’t be the one who finally pushes it over the edge!

Note from Kristin: Women are not permitted to touch the rock but are permitted in the outer courtyard. I don’t even have to tell you how I feel about that!

Stay:  This hotel is 30 minutes away from the Kyaiktiyo Pagoda. There are also a few hotels located at the foot of the pagoda that are a lot more expensive.

Inle was one of the most beautiful towns I visited in Myanmar, which is hard to choose because many are. But, let’s just say, it was the most lush. About 9-10 hours north of Yangon by bus sits Inle Lake, a sprawling and beautiful natural contrast to Yangon tucked into a valley surrounded by green hills. It is a network of canals, irrigation waterways, farms, and a giant freshwater lake. It’s a perfect escape after experiencing the bustling city life of Yangon.

Boat Ride through the Floating Villages

Once in Inle Lake, the most known attraction is the floating villages. It is essentially a neighborhood on stilts, where locals live in huts built above a network of marsh and grass waterways. Take a boat and see what life is like living on the water and relying off of food farmed in the grassland or fished. The scenery itself is beautiful, and it’s relaxing sitting in the canoe cruising through the maze of houses watching children climb from one house to the next to wave you along.

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About an hour and 45 minutes from Inle, you’ll find the pagoda forest of Kakku. Though it’s a long drive, I found that it was totally worth it to get away from the tourist center of Inle and enjoy this gorgeous temple complex almost all to myself. More on how to get there and avoid the crowds here .

Trekking to Inle Lake

If you’re trekking and outdoor inclined like myself, hit Kalaw first and do the 3-day trek to Inle Lake that takes you through valleys and small villages where you’ll stay each night, experiencing rural Myanmar life. The cost is low, the views are spectacular, and the trek is life-changing. No hot showers, no electricity, no internet, just pure experiences with the nicest people on earth? Sign me up!

Quick Tips: Inle Lake is one of the more popular destinations so it’s good to book accommodation ahead. Just outside of the town limits, there is a vineyard and winery that’s worth a visit after a bicycle ride around the country roads.

Stay:  Inle Cottage Boutique Hotel  is an amazing value for the money, and the staff is so nice!

Bagan was one of my favorite experiences during my time exploring the country. Whether you hit Bagan before or after Inle Lake, it is still a must see when visiting Myanmar. Considered the Angkor Wat of Myanmar ( but I think it’s better ), Bagan is a UNESCO World Heritage site and valley of more than 2,000+ ancient temples built between the 9th and 13th centuries, which included the golden era of Burma in the 11-12th century time period. During the summer months while I was there, the valley is arid and covered in rust-colored red sand, but in the monsoon season becomes a vibrant green jungle climate.

Temple Raiding

At times, we were surrounded by hundreds at the largest temples, and at other times, completely alone to crouch and crawl through narrow passages of empty temples. Rent a scooter or bicycle and cruise around to some of the 2000+ temples around Bagan – but there’s no way you’ll see them all! Get adventurous and go down some of the dirt roads to the smaller temples where you’ll find yourself alone to explore, living out your Indiana Jones or Lara Croft fantasies. Scooters can be rented for $5-$10 a day and will make it much easier than bicycles to explore.

Quick Tip: From late 2019 it’s no longer possible to climb any of the temples or pagodas for a sunrise or sunset overview. For the best places to catch sunrise and sunset these days, check out this post by Kristin.

Hot Air Balloons over Bagan

Now that the temples are closed, what’s the best way to get that awesome overview? Jump in the hot air balloons ! Just before sunrise you can take a ride up in a hot air balloon and see the entire valley change from purple to gold with ancient temples as far as the eye can see silhouetted against the horizon. The cheapest and best-reviewed ride we’ve found can be booked here .

Stay : You can get amazing balloon sunrise and sunset views at the  Aureum Palace Hotel , though it’s a pretty penny. To stay right in the heart of Old Bagan, I loved the  Hotel @ Tharabar Gate .

In central Myanmar, Mandalay is the second largest city in the country, and a good place to launch from for almost all activities and destinations. From Mandalay, you’ll be able to reach Inle Lake, Bagan, and Hsipaw in the far north. Since it’s another large metropolis, Mandalay will have plenty of delicious places to eat and a decent nightlife scene, with a couple swanky bars overlooking the river.

U Bein Bridge

I’m sure you’ve seen the photos of silhouetted monks walking across a long bridge with a fiery orange sunrise. That, my friends, is U Bein Bridge. By far one of the best sunrises I’ve ever experienced ( and I think it will be for you as well ), U Bein Bridge is the world’s oldest and longest teak wood bridge. I would have stayed there all day, but by 9am, it was swarmed with people, so make sure to arrive early! Just before sunrise, the monks follow the call to prayer and all walk across in their crimson robes to the temple across the river.

Mandalay Hill and Mandalay Fort

Get ready to break a sweat. I was panting by the time we reached the top, but it’s worth the long walk up to Mandalay Hill to the temple perched at the top for an incredible view at sunset ( and one helluva stair climb ).  In the city center and surrounded by a large moat, Mandalay Fort is worth checking out.

All the Temples!

Mandalay has an abundance of stunning temples, pagodas, and stupas to check out in and around the city. Check out the ancient capital, the amazing Hsinbyume Pagoda, and more. The best way to see it all is by car. You can find out more here .

Stay:  Hotel Yadanarbon was in a great location, has a rooftop pool, and an amazing breakfast!

Oh Hsipaw, how I miss those days. Mountains all around, trees that grow out of temples, lush farmland, waterfalls, and the best tea you’ll ever have — sound good? Hsipaw is the main township of the Shan State, and is located 200km northeast of Mandalay, perfect for anyone needing an escape into the outdoors. This will be the main destination for anyone wanting to do some serious multi-day trekking and to explore more untouched Myanmar in remote mountain villages.

We rented bicycles while in Hsipaw and explored for a couple of days. Though it can become quite hilly and rugged outside of town, every road you go down will have something fascinating to see. Don’t miss the ancient temple complex and check out the stupa that has a tree growing out of it. Watch young monks play games, wander the vibrant fruit and vegetable markets, and relax by the river.

Goteik Viaduct and Train to Hsipaw

For someone who is obsessed with train travel, I had to do what is said to be one of the greatest train journeys in the world. This, above most else, should be on your list of must-do’s in Myanmar. Along the 12 hour journey, you’ll also cross the Goteik Viaduct, considered a world masterpiece in engineering and at one time the world’s longest viaduct bridge at 2,260 ft long (and currently the highest in Myanmar at 335 feet!).

The old train to Hsipaw is a clunking and captivating journey that leaves Mandalay before dawn and takes you up mountains by zig-zagging its way forward and backwards, then down into lush valleys of rice and soy fields. Over 100 years old, it’s a technological marvel of its time period, and the coolest mode of transport to get to Hsipaw.

Quick Tips: Purchase tickets at the train station days before, and try to get first class seats for 2,000 kyat ($2.00). We could only get second class seats, and 12 hours on wooden benches is doable but brutal.

Hiking to Mountain Tea Villages

Hiking in the countryside was one of the best excursions we did in Myanmar. On the 2-3 day trek you’ll meet rural farmers, tea pickers, and even rebel soldiers who are happy that you are experiencing their small world and sharing their everyday life. Don’t worry, even the soldiers were the nicest people I’ve ever met. Plus, the tea leaves there are said to help with longevity in life, so drink away!

We stayed in a small traditional hut and ate home cooked meals with a local family, and I drank some rice wine with soldiers ( shhhh ). Our guide, Ax Sai, was extremely knowledgeable, spoke English very well, and even took us to some secret waterfalls after a scorching day of trekking.

Quick Tips: Wear a hat, sunscreen , and bring extra bottles of water and snacks. And proper shoes! Pack things like peanuts or apples that won’t go bad in the heat. Look for Ax Sai, he’s awesome.

Myanmar has a beautiful coastline with white sand beaches and beautiful sunsets. As an added bonus, there are no buckets, all-night parties, nor fire dancers, which kill the peaceful ocean vibe for me! Ngapali is one of the loveliest beaches, though there are many down south worth checking out. You can read more about Ngapali here .

BONUS: Thingyan Festival

Thingyan Festival, or the New Year celebration for Myanmar, will most likely be one of the craziest experiences of your life. Thingyan is Myanmar’s biggest holiday and a Buddhist celebration for the purpose of washing the previous year’s sins away and beginning the new year with a clean spirit. With millions of gallons of water.

From  my experience at Thingyan , it lasted the full week and there was no escaping the chaos. It’s fun, but it’s also exhausting, and after a few days you’ll probably lock yourself inside. Luckily I had goggles after taking on the Rickshaw Run in India to protect me from the blasts to my face.

Quick Tips: Book accommodation and transport WAY in advance – everything sells out. Get a waterproof bag for money and phones. Don’t carry your DSLR, it’ll get destroyed. Remember, it’s their holiday and there is no escaping it, so have fun and don’t get mad. Bring goggles, they are a life saver (especially from eye infections). And buy the biggest damn water blaster you can find!

Arrival & Getting Around

Before Myanmar relaxed its tourism policies, getting visas for the country, let alone most everything else, could be a huge hassle. SIM cards used to be thousands of dollars, banks were scarce, and much more of the country was closed off to travel. Luckily it’s become much easier now to travel to. I found it actually easier than a lot of other countries I’ve visited.

eVisa: For your Myanmar visa you’ll want to apply for the eVisa, which takes a couple of days to process, and after approval, you will receive a government issued letter to print and show on arrival. There are only a few countries that don’t need to do this, but if you’re from the USA, be sure to apply for one and double check that all of the information is correct. I found out the hard way that being even one day off on your passport expiry date can mean being denied boarding for your international flight.

Buses:  This was how Ryan mainly traveled through Myanmar. There are fancy VIP buses that are cheap and much comfier than much of Southeast Asia, with reclining seats, blankets, and snacks offered. Now that there is a main highway that runs from Yangon all the way to Mandalay, the road north isn’t too dicey.

Train:  I only got to ride the train in Myanmar once, but it was my favorite way to travel. Train travel is another good option and can be taken from Yangon all the way north to Hsipaw with transfers. My recommendation from experience is to book a 1st class ticket on the train which won’t be much more expensive, and it’ll save your back and bum from a lot of pain. I know from experience.

Private Taxi:  During our time in Myanmar, we mainly took buses when we could find them, but occasionally had to hire a private taxi to drive us to the next destination because nothing else was available. These drivers have nice cars with air-conditioning, but can be quite the speed demons even on roads with sheer cliffs dropping off the side. Our driver had to stop to hose off the breaks because they were smoking. A private taxi will run around $40-$65 for a full day drive to another city.

Flights: Much of Myanmar is accessible via air travel these days, particularly for Mandalay, Yangon, Bagan, Inle, and Ngapali. I flew  Air KBZ  and thought it was great.

Myanmar isn’t quite the wild east of Asia anymore because the country’s relaxed tourism policies are spurring growth, but it was one of the most authentic cultural experiences I’ve had. Getting around Myanmar is much easier than it was even 3 years ago, and if you prepare before arriving by having visas and accommodation sorted, you won’t run into many hiccups. With infrastructure improvements, WiFi and 3G/4G available almost everywhere, and banks in every town, there’s not much difficulty in getting around.

But I can’t forget the best part. The most memorable aspects of Myanmar are the people . Always smiling, displaying unending generosity, and not once did I feel I was trying to be scammed from every direction. This, combined with the culture and fascinating places to visit, made it my favorite destination in Southeast Asia. And it’s bound to become your favorite as well.

About the Author

Ryan Brown is a corporate escape artist with a severe disdain for the mundane, an adrenaline junky, and a hammock addict. On his adventure travel blog,  Lost Boy Memoirs , he shares his misadventures getting lost around the world through personal memoirs, photos, and videos. His mission is to experience cultures first-hand to break down barriers and to inspire YOU to escape your comfort zone. Not all who are lost need to be found.

*Some links in this post are affiliate links, which means that any booking you make through them supports us at no extra cost to you. We only recommend places we have stayed in and experiences that are priced right and well-loved.

About Kristin Addis

Kristin Addis is the founder and CEO of Be My Travel Muse, a resource for female travelers all around the world since 2012. She's traveled solo to over 65 countries and has brought over 150 women on her all-female adventure tours from Botswana to the Alaskan tundra.

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05/27/2017 at 12:57 am

How long did you stay!?! I like to take my time, so wondering if a month is enough or if I should plan for longer! 🙂

10/26/2017 at 8:36 am

I stayed for 10 days, much of it was soaked by Thingyan water festival. A month would allow you to immerse yourself in the culture, and pick a spot you’d love to spend most of your time in!

05/27/2017 at 6:24 am

Thanks for the post Ryan!! I’m currently travelling around SEA and I wasn’t sure about going to Myanmar but after speaking with others I have definitely been swayed into visiting. I love catching trains too so I’ll be sure to check the train to Hsipaw out. Thank you for all the info.

10/26/2017 at 8:37 am

Hello Steph! Glad I could sway you into traveling through Myanmar. Did you ever make it through the country? And did you take trains for most of it?

Ijana Loss says

05/28/2017 at 1:15 am

Great information! Myanmar hasn’t really been on my radar, I guess that cause exactly like it says in the article, it’s a bit more off the path than Thailand, Laos, etc. But typically those turn out to be the best places 🙂

10/26/2017 at 8:41 am

Happy to give you the information you need Ijana, hopefully you get out to Myanmar and tell us all about it! Definitely off the beaten path but that’s exactly what I love about it too!

Nitin Khanna says

05/29/2017 at 4:22 am

Love the information provided by you. As I didn’t know about Myanmar. But after your article I am going to add into my bucket list. Great Writing Skills.

Cheers! Thanks!

11/07/2017 at 7:00 am

Thank you Nitin for the compliment, and I hope you have added it to your bucket list for sure. Make sure to tell us when you go!

12/05/2020 at 5:10 pm

Jeric Danao says

06/02/2017 at 3:52 am

I’m a Filipino and have always admired south east asian countries, from their mountains to their highlands, from cities – urban and rural – to provinces, Myanmar is definitely a place to go to. I couldn’t describe it any better than you do. Really appreciate it. Thank you so much for sharing this! Makes me wanna go back to them good old days.

11/07/2017 at 7:01 am

I’ve heard there is PLENTY to see in the Philippines though, and I’m aching to go and trek the jungles. Happy you liked the article and shared your thoughts! Maybe you should revisit your travels there sometime?

06/12/2017 at 9:24 am

Hi, i would like to know how much did you spend approximately per day?

Thank you in advance,

Ikam Acosta says

06/15/2017 at 7:19 am

I have a few friends who have been to Myanmar and loved it. It’s definitely on my to do list. I love the pictures you took. Really captures its beauty

Ikam Acosta

11/07/2017 at 7:03 am

Where did your friends visit in Myanmar Ikam? You have to at some point, it’s already on my list to revisit! Thank you for the compliment about the photos I really appreciate that.

TwoTravelTheWorld says

06/15/2017 at 11:39 am

Myanmar is on our RTW trip in November and we can’t wait to discover its temples and landscapes. We don’t know yet if we are going to see it from north to south or the other way but thanks for all those advices. It will definitely help us crafting our road map. Take care. David & Kro.

11/07/2017 at 7:05 am

Hey David and Kro, looks like November is here! Have you planned out your trip to Myanmar yet? i personally loved the north but all of it was incredible. Excited to see where it takes you!

The Open Route says

09/07/2017 at 6:46 am

Bagan is amazing! I agree it’s best to explore the pagodas and temples on two wheels. It’s faster that way plus you can discover other temples that are at par with popular ones. We were there around May, and it was raining most of the time. We also missed the hot air balloons, but we’re lucky enough to catch the sunrise and sunset.

11/07/2017 at 7:06 am

Ahh well if it was rainy season then you had the chance to see it in full bloom? I’ve been dreaming of visiting while the valley is lush and green!

10/26/2017 at 8:35 am

Hello Jade, apologies for the delayed reply! You absolutely must get over there now, my favorite Southeast Asia country. I’d say 7-10 days would be ideal to see most of these sights and destinations while being able to properly take it in.

Veronica says

10/30/2017 at 12:16 pm

Oh..I’m happy to see you wrote about Myanmar, which is my native land!!! There are many other amazing and interesting places to visit like Chin State hiking and Virgin Islands of Mergue!!! Please visit again to my native land for further visits. I’ll definitely take you there!! Warmly welcome from Myanmar Xoxo <3

11/07/2017 at 7:07 am

Hello Veronica, I may just have to take you up on that offer because I want to return to Myanmar next year. The Chin State hiking sounds wonderful, and I want to do much more hiking next year!

Byron Hartzler says

04/21/2018 at 6:30 am

Sometimes people view Myanmar as an off the beaten path country. Sure its emerging, but still in comparison to SE Asian neighbors, much of it is still to be explored, keeping off the beaten path because of decades of civil war. I live in a fringe area, trying to create opportunity further out, because even though Bagan & Inle are great, some of the most beautiful and untouched areas still are largely undiscovered. Like Lashio, the city beyond Hsipaw, which is great for trekking, but Lashio has some of, if not the best waterfall experiences in SE Asia, but nobody knows about it. Thanks for sharing your experience.

I have a social enterprise adventure guide company called Myanmar Adventure Outfitters, and with recent moronic moves by Myanmar’s government, many locals who are gaining new opportunities through tourism could see those opportunities fade, so please read Ryan’s article, keep coming, because the people you may want to hurt by boycotting this country are not the ones who will hurt, its the average locals.

Image Earth Travel says

11/11/2018 at 10:42 am

Spent a month in Myanmar back in 2014 and absolutely loved it – so much to see there… Sadly, areas near Hsipaw were closed due to Shan Rebels and government troops fierce fighting.

Ashlea says

04/30/2019 at 6:01 am

I’m glad this amazing country is getting the recognition it deserves! I spent nearly 1 month in Myanmar back in 2013 and have been itching to get back since.

Bagan is absolutely incredible and so much fun (Angkor Wat in Cambodia paled in comparison to Bagan for me). It was so much fun jumping on a electric bike every day and exploring. But my absolute favourite thing was that at the smaller temples you had to find the ‘key holder’ who would unlock the temple and maybe show you a secret staircase to climb to the top for amazing views. Indiana Jones eat your heart out!

Great list of the must-see highlights for your first trip to Myanmar.

Nway Kaz says

07/08/2019 at 11:12 pm

I loved Myanmar when the first time I came here. A nature place without many building or useless stuffs.

I’m planning to visit Myanmar again in 2020, can’t wait for it. If anyone want to join me, please let me know as well!

Harry Tumeric says

07/17/2019 at 9:12 am

Great that you put Bagan in your itinerary. Some important thing to note is “Temple climbing is now banned at Bagan”.

Tourrkub says

12/20/2019 at 3:31 am

Thanks for a great article.

Flying Dutchman Pat

"the world is my playground".

Photo Essay: Bagan, Myanmar

Bagan is the highlight of Myanmar and for many travelers the only reason to visit this fascinating country. With roughly 4400 temples Bagan earned the name of “Temple Capital of the World”. The temples date from around the same period as those of Angkor. Maybe Angkor’s individual temples may be more spectacular, but Bagan’s brilliance is in the amazing views of temple upon temple dotting the plain. Dusk and dawns are simply magnificent.

I spent 2 days, in late 2013, walking and cycling around the enormous site. Here’s my photo essay of that day.

Photo Essay

I got to Bagan at 4 in the morning with the overnight bus from the capital, Yangon . For accommodation you have 3 options: Old Bagan (big wallet), New Bagan (midrange wallet) or Nyaung U (small wallet). As a die-hard backpacker I chose to stay at the May Kha Lar Guest House in Nyaung U which is a short stroll from the bus station.

The majestic Thatbyinnyu Temple in Bagan.

Bagan is a fascinating place!

The best way to see the ancient site of Bagan is by bicycle. You can choose between an old fashioned bicycle or a super fancy pink electric bike. I thought I’m Dutch, I’m used to ride a bicycle, so I chose the old fashioned one. Well I wish I didn’t. The roads are bad, bumpy and some fully covered with sand which makes it really hard and exhausting to ride a bicycle. The second day I had put away my pride I chose the pink electric bike instead.

So many striking temples to choose from!

Above: The architecture of the Bagan temples is impressive – Below: Golden Buddhas can be found inside many temples

With 4400 temples waiting for me I was overwhelmed: where do I start? I did a bit of research beforehand and targeted a few big-name temples which formed the basis of my circuit. But the real fun in Bagan is in discovering temples as you cycle around.

Sometimes it feels like you have all the temples of Bagan for yourself.

Many temples can be climbed; look for a doorway, which most of times means that there’s a narrow stairway which leads to a viewing platform. The views from the top of these temples are just unbelievable. It gives you a great perspective of the size of this ancient site; hundreds of temples in every direction. I needed some time to take this all in; just Wow!

I can’t get enough of these fascinating temples.

All temples to be entered barefoot.

The temples have to be entered and climbed barefoot, so wear comfortable shoes as you have to take them off and put them back on quite some times during the day. And off course, needless to say, bring plenty of water.

Climb temples to get amazing views of Bagan’s mind blowing site.

One day is not enough for Bagan’s enormous archaeological site.

A few temples worth exploring are: Thatbyinnyu Pahto (Bagan’s highest temple), Ananda Pahto, Buledi (good for sunrise), Shwesandaw Paya, Dhammayangyi Phato, Sulamani Phato, Pyathada Paya (good for sunset) and Mingalazedi.

Temples can be seen in every direction!

Perfect place for a lunch stop!

The temples of Bagan are extremely peaceful and it will happen quite some times that you will have the temple and its amazing view all for yourself. You start to wonder how this place would have been back in its glory days over 800 years ago.

Above: Incredible view of Bagan, Myanmar – Below: Renting a horse cart is a great way to see the area

If you want to take it slow (and avoid the burning sun) you can also arrange a horse cart for the day. These horse carts are already waiting for you as soon as you get off the overnight bus from Yangon. You can jump right in the cart and head off to one of the temples for a sublime Bagan sunrise. I chose for a few more hours of sleep in my hotel 😉

The mist makes it a bit mythical and medieval.

Stunning architecture.

Another way to see the site in its full glory is by a hot air balloon. During sunrise you will see heaps of hot air balloons scattering around the sky. A bit too pricey for me with rates around $300. A bicycle is just fine for me 🙂

Bagan is pure magic.

I recommend 2 to 3 days for the archaeological site of Bagan.

I’m not a big morning person so I skipped the sunrises over Bagan, but instead in the late afternoon I chose one of my favorite temples and waited until the sunset kicked in. A surreal and breathtaking view! The mist helps to create a mythical and medieval atmosphere.

Every temple is unique in its own way.

Sunset is kicking in.

With no doubt: Ancient Bagan is one of the most spectacular sights in Southeast Asia. The views from any of the temples are just mind blowing. Bagan is not as busy as Angkor, but I’m not sure for how long this will last as the visa regulations for Myanmar are starting to loosen up which makes it a lot easier for travelers to enter this incredible country. Check it out before it becomes the second Angkor!

Wanna see more travel pics? Check out my Photo Gallery

You may also like:

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• The Many Faces of Myanmar →

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Plan a trip to Bagan - 2 to 3 days itineraries

Start planning, best known temples and pagodas list, tips for traveling in bagan.

Bagan, a historical ancient city of Myanmar(Burma), a Buddhist cultural relic, and a famous tourist resort, is located on the west bank of the Irrawaddy River in central Myanmar.

The ideal time-frame for a first trip to Bagan is 2–3 days, for seeing pagodas and the spectacular sunrise or sunset. Investigate the historic pagoda jungle by horse-driven cart, enjoying the sunset from the top of a pagoda. Do not miss the hot-air-balloon ride over the Bagan plains at sunrise – definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience!

For many foreigners, Bagan is the gateway for them to start learning about Myanmar, and some of them even learn more about Bagan than they do of the country as a whole.

As for the locals, Bagan is where their pride comes from, and they always say that Bagan is the landmark of their country.

Between the 11th and 13th centuries, about 10,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries were built in the Bagan plains. But at present, only 2,200 temples and pagodas still remain to tell you about its history.

No one can guarantee that the remaining temples or pagodas are free from any geologic hazard, so the city deserves a visit before they become history too.

Imagine ascending in a hot-air balloon over 2,000 pagodas and temples that are scattered across the 25-square-kilometer plains, just like gemstones dropped on a jade plate.That may be one of the most memorable moments in your life.

It was reported that the Myanmar government will submit its draft application to UNESCO's World Heritage Center in September 2017. If the application and the inspection go well, the Bagan Archaeological Zone may become the first World Heritage Site in Myanmar in 2019.

Don't miss the chance to get close to the next World Heritage Site.

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If you travel by regular means,such as private car or bike, you may soon get temple fatigue.

However, if you take other forms of transport, such as a hot-air balloon, horse-drawn cart, or cruise, when visiting them it will make your tour more interesting and allow you to enjoy the beauty of Bagan from different perspectives.

What can't be missed

Enjoy sunrises or sunsets on the pagodas

In September 2017, Myanmar will formally submit the application to the UNESCO's World Heritage Center and, in order to protect the temples and pagodas while the application goes through, the activity of climbing up the pagodas may be slowly banned.

In December 2016, Ms. Aung San Suu Kyialso appealed to the tourists to stop climbing on the pagodas.

That is to say, being able to climb up a temple or pagoda to watch the sunrise or sunset will also become part of Bagan's history.

Enjoy a sunrise from a hot-air balloon

A hot-air balloon ride is not a budget-friendly experience but most people consider it to be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.It is also the only way to experience the breathtaking scale of Bagan's historical district.

When the hot-air balloon gently takes off into the morning sky, everything is covered by the dark. But when the balloon unceasingly ascends and is flying, the sun's rays slowly break through the clouds, and the outlines of the temples and pagodas gradually appear. The sun rises slowly, and the view becomes wider and wider.

The mist embraces the temples and pagodas, just like a fairyland. The sunshine son the red-brick temples and pagodas, and they look as though they are twin kling with golden lights.

It's not only spectacular but also magical.When you are flying over the historical district, it's like you are engaging in dialogues with history.

The flight will definitely be safe and smooth with Western pilots and modern equipment.The pilots are all exceptionally qualified. They will also be considerate and rotate the balloon so that everybody can see the red-brick temples whilst the other balloons are dotted in the sky around you.

Travel by different means

If you are afraid of seeing too many temples and pagodas,which might give you aesthetic fatigue, traveling by different means,such as private car, cycling, hot-air balloon, horse-drawn cart, or even trekking, may pull you slightly out of this type of fatigue.

These are the different ways to show you the beauty of Bagan from different angles, and each of them has its own merits.

Day 1 pagodas and sunset

Bagan arrival

Proposal 1: Visit pagodas in the afternoon and before the sunset, by boarding a boat and cruising across the Irrawaddy River. The boatman will prepare some refreshments and the boat will reach the center of the river to stop before sunset.

You will be away from the noise and dust, quietly sitting in the boat, watching the glittering river, enjoying delicious snacks, listening to the wind blowing over the trees and the lake as well as the birdsong. When the sun slowly sinks, the clouds become colorful due to the reflection of the sunlight.

Proposal 2: Visit pagodas in the afternoon by horse-drawn cart. The surrounding pagodas are all more than 800 years old and there is no sign of modernization.

As the horse-drawn cart gallops through the forest of temples, the dust is blowing and the hooves are clattering.Imagine you have stepped into a time tunnel and are witnessing history.

One hour before the sunset, you can climb up a high pagoda,such as the Shwezigon Pagoda, and wait for one of the most breathtaking sunsets of your life.

Day 2 Sunrise and pagodas

There are two ways to enjoy the sunrise in Bagan: climb up a pagoda or fly in a hot-air balloon.

If you prefer to watch the sunrise on a pagoda, the best time to leave your hotel is at about 6 am. If you prefer to enjoy the sunrise from a different angle, then a hot-air balloon adventure is highly recommended.

You will be collected from your hotel at about 5:20 am and, at the launch site, there will be fruit and cakes as well as coffee. When the balloon ascends with the sun, the breathtaking site of stupa after stupa will appear through the delicate mist, which will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

After the balloon has landed, champagne and pastries will be served to celebrate the safe landing and a certificate will also be awarded to you to celebrate your courage. This will be one of the highlights of your trip to Bagan, as well as to Myanmar.

Explore similar itineraries: 9-Day Myanmar Highlights Tour 14-Day Myanmar and Thailand Essence Tour

The Asia Highlights team has handpicked some of the 2,200 pagodas, which are either the most famous of the temples or the most distinctive. In short, they are absolutely not to be missed for your Bagan trip.

1. Shwezigon Pagoda

This standswith Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon as one of the sacred pagodas in Myanmar. It's the most efficacious pagoda in Bagan, and the prayers are the most frequently answered. It is the oldest pagoda in Bagan and the best pagoda from which to enjoy the sunset.

2. Thatbyinnyu Phaya

This is the highest pagoda, standing at 67 meters. It used to be the best place to watch a sunrise and sunset; however, in order to protect the pagoda, the stairs to the top have been blocked.

3. Ananda Temple

This features a standing statue of Buddha with perfect proportions. However, since September 2016, a large-scale repair has ruined its natural beauty.

4. Dhammayangyi Temple

This is the biggest temple in Bagan. The temple was built by King Narathu to make up for his sins of killing his father, King Alaungsitha, but it was not finished until Narathu was assassinated.

5. Gubyaukgyi/Gubyauknge Temple

Famous for its exquisite murals,this temple has 547 well-preserved paintings depicting stories of Buddha's previous lives.

6. Sulamani Temple

This temple is one of the most frequently visited in Bagan. It is famous for its interior decoration.

7. Htilominlo Temple

This is the last Burma-style temple in Bagan.

It's usually very hot at noon in Bagan. It's a good choice to choose a restaurant to enjoy lunch or to go back to your hotel for a swim in the pool.

You need to stand barefoot or sit on the cold ground while waiting for the sunrise, so it's necessary to take warm clothing.

Do not hide your excitement from the camera when taking a trip in a hot-air balloon. If you ask politely, other passengers will take a photo of you, which will be a good memory for you.

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7 Favorite Must-Visit Places in Myanmar (With Photos & Maps)

Myanmar is full of amazing must-visit places! Are you planning a visit to this extraordinary country? You will not be disappointed! Through this article, you will be able to draw inspiration from our experience, in order to best maximize your own trip.

Myanmar was one of the countries that most appealed to us before we started our world tour. This country, which is more inclined towards tradition than modernity, has an incredible charm and has completely won us over! The pictures we had in our minds became reality and time stood still during the 12 days we spent there.

The must-visit places in Myanmar

The arrival in Yangon was quite agitated. The day before in Bangkok, Jessica had picked up a tummy ache from eating too much spice. We made a quick visit to the hospital with a diagnosis of gastritis and a “big” bill equivalent to 16 US dollars, including medication. While she was resting, I took the opportunity to tour the former Burmese capital (Naypyidaw having replaced Yangon in 2005) with the boys. We slowly began by meeting the impressive Buddha of Ngar Htat Gyi , from the top of its 13.9m in a sitting position.

Ngahtatgyi Buddha

Just across the street is Chauk Htat Kyi , a 66-metre long reclining Buddha! It was under renovation, but it was still impressive.

Chaukhtatgyi Buddha

On Lake Kandawgyi lies the imposing Karaweik , a concrete replica of a royal barge that houses a restaurant.

Karaweik Palace

The major attraction of Yangon is the Schwedagon Pagoda . This sacred Buddhist landmark houses a remarkable stupa that contains relics of 4 ancient Buddhas, including 8 hairs of the Gautama Buddha, the one who brought Buddhism into being. The stupa is covered with gold leaves, with weigh estimates ranging from 9 to 60 tons! However, since it was being renovated, it did not shine as brightly as it should have. What a pity!

Shwedagon Pagoda

At the beginning of our road-trip, we made a first stop in Bago , where we were able to admire some huge Buddhas. Burmese people definitely love to make things big!

Mya Tha Lyaung, Bago

If I tell you “giraffe woman”, does it sound familiar? The Kayans are an ethnic minority from the Shan and Kayah regions of eastern Myanmar . Among a handful of Kayans, women are recognizable by the rings they wear around their necks, giving them an elongated appearance. Although they can also be found in northwest Thailand and in various more touristic regions of Myanmar, they are mainly exhibited there as fairground animals to be admired and photographed. We did not feel comfortable in these conditions, so we decided to meet these people in their region of origin, that is, in a more respectful environment, where these women can to some extent have a certain sense of dignity. So, we took the winding and laborious roads of the remote regions of eastern Burma, all the way to Pan Pet , near Loikaw , in Kayah State, where we met them.

Pan Pet Kayan Community

Taung Kwe Pagoda, Loikaw

Dragon Fruit Plantation

Before we headed to Lake Inle, a stop in Kakku was a must! This enchanting site on the grounds of the Pa-O ethnic group is home to nearly 2500 pagodas, whose bells ring as the wind blows.

Inle Lake is one of the major attractions in Myanmar, but I couldn’t figure out why until I set foot there. It’ s simply because it’s one of the most picturesque places in the country! We took a full day boat ride on the lake. In addition to the acrobat fishermen who pose for the postcard photos of the area, we were able to walk around the villages and floating gardens located around the lake, and thus to witness the unusual lifestyle of these inhabitants who exclusively use their boats to get around and perform their daily activities. This day on the water allowed us to see the craftsmen of the lake at work, as well as to visit Indein and its hundreds of pagodas, a site that reminded us of Kakku. No surprise, because both sites were built by the same ethnic community, the Pa-O!

Inle Lake at Sunset

Inle Lake Fisherman

Inle Lake Floating Village

Inle Lake Canal

Shwe Yaunghwe Monastery

Mandalay is the former royal capital of Burma and the country’s second largest city. We were able to admire the famous U Bein bridge , which crosses a lake over 1200 meters, being the longest teak bridge in the world. We rented a boat to watch the sunset over the lake, which turned out to be a wonderful experience!

U Bein Bridge Mandalay

The Mahamuni Pagoda is a sacred Buddhist landmark for Burmese people. It contains a Buddha on which the pilgrims stick gold leaves, to such an extent that the lower part of its body is no longer distinguishable.

Mahamuni Pagoda

On the west bank of Mandalay lies Mingun . We were able to admire the Pahtodawgyi , a massive stupa that remained unfinished, but nevertheless impressive because it holds the record for the largest stack of bricks in the world! We also rang the world’s second largest bell, weighing 90 tons. This bell was cast to be hung on top of the unfinished stupa. In the vicinity is also the Mya Thein Tan pagoda, white and very photogenic!

Mya Thein Tan Pagoda

Pahtodawgyi Bell

Pahtodawgyi

From the 9th to the 13th century, Bagan was the capital of the kingdom of Pagan, the first Burmese empire. During its prime, the Bagan plain boasted more than 10,000 pagodas, but the erosion of the river that crosses it and the many earthquakes have washed away almost all of them. There are only 2200 left on the site today. Nevertheless, the site remains magical and regardless of the direction in which your eyes are turned, you are almost guaranteed to see a pagoda.

Every morning, about fifteen hot-air balloons usually take off to embellish Bagan’s horizon. Before leaving the site, we got up early to see them. We counted 24! It was not nearly as much as the 150 of Cappadocia , but it was still a magical moment for Mateo and Luka who were rejoicing at the look of it!

Dhamma Ya Zika Pagoda, Bagan

Sunset Over Bagan

Panoramic View over Bagan

A Buddha inside a temple

Shwezigon Pagoda

Yin Ma Nah Paya

Bagan Hot Air Balloons

Among the great oddities of this world, here is Naypyidaw , the new capital and ghost town of Myanmar, which was built from scratch about ten years ago by the Burmese army to install its government in it. It has a safari park, a zoo with an air-conditioned penguin habitat and 4 golf courses. The only thing this city lacks is a population! As we walked along its wide boulevards, bordered by luxurious hotels, shopping malls and villas, we felt more like we were in the suburbs of Los Angeles than in the very heart of Myanmar. The city’s main arteries are 4-lane avenues on each side. There is even one with 10 lanes per direction with a total of 20 lanes! And with a traffic flow of one car per minute at rush hour, traffic jams are not a common occurrence!

In 2005, the military junta moved the capital from Yangon to Naypyidaw, in the heart of the country, as a strategic location to protect itself from the population uprisings and potential invasions. The core area of the city, which includes the parliament, ministries and army headquarters, is a city within the city, surrounded by high fences with black iron bars. The 20-lane highway is the one that runs beside the Burmese Parliament. It was supposedly designed to allow emergency aircraft landing, in the event of an insurrection!

For a better preparation

As in many countries, the American currency is king in Myanmar . Although it is becoming easier to access cash through automated teller machines, we preferred to avoid unpleasant surprises by purchasing brand new US dollars in Thailand before travelling there. But be careful, you won’t be able to exchange your old green bills over there, unless they look brand-new! All notes will be checked and cross-checked, and a wrinkled, folded or worn note will not be accepted. Also have your passport handy when converting your currencies. Myanmar people don’t skimp on money!

Accommodation

During our 12 days in Myanmar, we slept in 7 different hotels, all with breakfast included, and all booked and paid in advance on Booking or Agoda .

Our Hotel in Bagan

Transportation

We traveled the country with the 2018 Suzuki Ciao from our driver.

Our Rental Car with Driver

In Myanmar, the dishes are generous, very cheap and of a very acceptable quality .

Myanmar Breakfast

Myanmar Food

At 750 USD for 8 days, the rental of a car with a chauffeur has significantly increased our expenses . As for the other things, we can say that we got what we paid for! The cost of our stay for our family of 4 is:

• 2872000 MMK (1915 USD);
• 239000 MMK (160 USD) per day;
• 60000 MMK (40 USD) per person and per day.

In a nutshell

We knew that Myanmar would seduce us, but to that extent, we would never have imagined it! We had been on a lot of road-trips, but I can say that few times have we experienced as much emotion as when travelling to the remote regions of this country.

See you soon for our next adventures in Cambodia !

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Backpacking People

Not just my story.

SUMMARY: What I Did in Myanmar

September 5, 2019 michaela comments 0 comment.

It has already been a year since I went to Myanmar (where did the time go?!) but I want to have the series of my travel diaries from Asia complete so here we are. 🙂 Myanmar surprisingly became one of my favourite countries in the world so I’m excited to finally share this part of my travel diary with you. If you are curious what I did in this truly unique Southeast Asian country, grab a cup of tea and let’s have a look at my Myanmar itinerary!

Myanmar was actually one of the last destinations on my 2018 trip . By the time I got to Myanmar, I had already explored Thailand , Vietnam , Japan , South Korea , China , Laos , Cambodia , Singapore , Malaysia and Thailand again (in this order).

It is also a country I was slightly hesitant about booking my flight tickets to and even found myself reading articles like “Is it ethical to visit Myanmar?” and “Is Myanmar safe?”. Now after I have travelled to Myanmar myself, I even wrote my own take on this topic to help other backpackers who might be contemplating a trip to Myanmar decide. You can read it here: Should you visit Myanmar?

Booking that flight ticket turned out to be one of the best decisions I made last year. My only regret was giving myself only three weeks to explore Myanmar (basic tourist visas are for one month). Three weeks were nowhere near enough – I kept hearing about more and more interesting places to visit but couldn’t possibly see them all in the time I set aside for Myanmar. Places I didn’t get a chance to see include Hpa An, Hsipaw, Gokteik Viaduct, Ngapali Beach, the Golden Rock or the world’s largest reclining Buddha statue Win Sein Taw Ya.

Despite (or maybe BECAUSE OF) not really planning my Myanmar itinerary in advance, I ended up having a really memorable trip and probably experienced more cool stuff here than in any other country.

For many people, Yangon seems to be the preferred city in Myanmar but I actually liked Mandalay better out of the two. It’s quieter and has more interesting places to visit in my opinion. It’s also very green – you’ll find a huge forested square right in the centre of the city (about 2 km x 2 km) with the Royal Palace in the middle.

I usually spend the first few days in any country just getting to know the local culture and taking in the atmosphere and I’m really glad I chose Mandalay over Yangon for this. Myanmar is different in so many ways and even after spending months in other Southeast Asian countries , I still felt overwhelmed the first couple of days – which, I imagine, would be intensified in the madness of Yangon.

As a foreigner in Mandalay, I constantly heard “taxi, taxi” from tireless drivers, usually offering rides to Mandalay Hill, which felt a bit annoying after a while. I actually found Mandalay quite walkable (maybe because I like to walk!) but if something’s too far for you, I recommend using Grab, the Asian version of Uber, which is very cheap here (you must have data on your phone but it’s a good idea to buy a local SIM card in Myanmar anyway).

So what did I see and do in Mandalay?

• Mandalay Royal Palace: My top tips for visiting the Mandalay Palace are have your passport with you, know which entrance you can use (there is only one entrance for foreigners) and don’t pay for a scooter to take you from the entrance to the palace itself – it’s an easy 15-min walk.
• Mandalay Hill: A great place to see the view of the city and watch the sunset. I also met some really nice local students who come to Mandalay Hill every evening to practise their English with foreigners.
• Shwenandaw Monastery: A very old wooden monastery with some amazing carvings.
• Kuthodaw Pagoda: One of the best pagodas in Mandalay. It is known for containing the world’s largest book, inscribed on large stones.
• U Bein Bridge: A long teak bridge in Amarapura which is recommended to visit during either a sunrise or a sunset. The sunset I saw here was magical (very lucky for rainy season).
• Mingun: Mingun isn’t exactly in Mandalay but actually 11 km away from the city. I highly recommend taking the boat to Mingun and exploring the Hsinbyume Pagoda (the most beautiful pagoda in Southeast Asia in my opinion!), the impressively big unfinished Mingun Pahtodawgyi or the Mingun Bell (the largest ringing bell in the world). The tourist boat from Mandalay leaves only once a day at 9am and comes back at 12.30pm – that gives you about two and a half hours to comfortably see all the Mingun sights.
• Mandalay Marionettes: Myanmar has a big tradition of puppet shows and I’m glad I got to see one.

After a few days in Mandalay I took a night bus to Kalaw which arrived at the destination at 4am – true Myanmar style. I should mention here that even though I was travelling Myanmar solo, I made some great friends along the way and didn’t actually travel alone for the majority of my time in Myanmar.

So my new friends and I were planning to stay in Kalaw for one day, find a trekking company and book a 3-day trek starting the following day. However, when we arrived in Kalaw it was pouring down heavily for most of the day. We decided it would be no fun walking through the mud and postponed our trek by one day.

Staying in Kalaw for one more day gave us some extra time to visit nearby Pindaya . The main attraction in this town are the Pindaya Caves with over 8,000 Buddhist statues of all sizes inside. We also had a nice walk around the local lake and visited a paper umbrella factory (handmade paper umbrellas are another Burmese speciality and it was really cool to see the intricate process of how they are made).

TREKKING FROM KALAW TO INLE LAKE

Possibly the best three days I had in Myanmar! Walking around the lush countryside and seeing untouched beauty all around was a really special experience. Miraculously there was not one drop of rain during the whole trek! Taking a stunning boat ride across Inle Lake was the cherry on top after three days of walking. 🙂

I have already written a whole article about this three-day trek to Inle Lake and you can read it here .

NYAUNGSHWE (INLE LAKE)

Inle Lake is rightfully one of the most popular destinations in Myanmar. The lake with its floating villages, floating gardens and fishermen is absolutely gorgeous and the recommended activity here is to take a boat tour around all the interesting places. I didn’t take such a tour but rather spent my three days in Nyaungshwe (the town by Inle Lake) hanging out with my trekking friends, walking and cycling by the lake, eating a lot of Burmese food and also learning how to cook it in a cooking class .

Top tip for Inle Lake: Eat at the Lin Htett restaurant owned by the loveliest family ever (they also organise the great Myo Myo cooking class we took) and the Indian restaurant called Innlay Hut whose owner is a crazy guy and “Eminem’s biggest fan”. 😀

Another night bus (and another 4am arrival) later and we found ourselves in Bagan. Bagan is a magical land with around 2,000 old temples and pagodas and definitely a must-see in Myanmar. We were lucky to have a kind local who decided to show us the best of Bagan – there are so many temples and it can be a little overwhelming trying to see everything. These are some of the main temples we visited:

Of course, there are temples everywhere you go in Bagan. Many of the smaller ones only have numbers instead of names.

Sunset and Sunrise Pagodas in Bagan

Bagan is a popular place for watching sunrises and sunsets from pagodas’ rooftops – or at least it used to be. The government didn’t like tourists climbing on top of the pagodas and decided to restrict access to almost all temples. We actually found a few that remain open (with the help of Maps.Me and a local tuk tuk driver) but I’m not even going to tell you where to find them. Most of them had no names anyway and for all I know, they might be closed by now, too. If you want to watch the sunrise or sunset in Bagan, your best bet is to talk to locals.

By the way, since we were visiting Myanmar in rainy season, we didn’t see the famous hot air balloons floating over Bagan. The hot air balloon season only lasts from October to April.

We also took a sunset boat ride on the Irrawaddy River and went to the local Nyaung U Market.

Lastly, we went on a little trip to the nearby Mount Popa. It has a lot of stairs you need to climb – and they are messy because of the huge amount of monkeys living there, but the views from the top are quite nice. Nothing too special, though (compared to other destinations in Myanmar).

Not many people visit the new capital city of Myanmar, Nay Pyi Taw – which is why we did! There isn’t really much to do so we only stayed for one day. I must say it’s honestly one of the most bizarre cities I’ve ever been to because it’s virtually empty. If you want to know all about this crazy experience and the National Landmark Garden with miniatures of all the famous sights in Myanmar, read my article here .

And finally, Yangon. Myanmar’s biggest city and former capital. While travelling all over Myanmar, we kept hearing “Yangon is… a big city” every time we asked someone what Yangon was like. And yes – it is a big city. It’s also very busy and crowded.

But! You can find the most famous landmark of Myanmar here: Shwedagon Pagoda . Funny story about how I didn’t actually get to go inside… I had the last two days in Myanmar and was slowly running out of cash. I didn’t want to withdraw more money just for the pagoda as ATM and bank fees were quite expensive, so I decided to skip Shwedagon this time. Guess what I’m adding to my Myanmar bucket list…

My best experience in Yangon was taking the circular train around the city. It takes three hours to circle the city and only costs 200 kyats (something like 10 cents). The life on the train is the most interesting part – there is so much going on! I have actually written an article about the Yangon circular train for Written From Travel; you can read it here .

And that’s it, now you know my Myanmar itinerary!

My journey continued from Myanmar to Bali, Indonesia . Bali was actually the last destination of my big 2018 backpacking trip . Stay tuned for my new adventures!

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The Ultimate Travel Guide to Bagan, Myanmar

One of the most fairytale-like places in the world is Bagan in Myanmar (Burma). If you like Angkor Wat in Cambodia or Cappadocia in Turkey, then you are definitely going to love Bagan. This area contains 2200+ small and big temples (pagodas) and looks just like an African country when you bike around. Bagan earned the UNESCO World Heritage status in July 2019, and it’s easy to see why. Use this complete travel guide to plan your trip to Bagan, Myanmar.

6 Things to do in Bagan, Myanmar

We highly recommend you book at least 3 nights in Bagan. Getting to Bagan can be done by bus, train, taxi, or airplane, but they all take energy and time. With 3 nights, you can experience at least 2 sunrises and sunsets. Bagan is the most popular stop on a  route through Myanmar . Discover all the best things to do in Bagan, Myanmar.

Entrance Bagan: Entrance fees for the Bagan area are 25000 Kyat (18.50 USD) per person. You buy one and can use this throughout your whole trip in Bagan.

1. Balloon Flight at Sunrise

What’s more magical than waking up, floating between the temples while you slowly feel the comfortable heat of the rising sun on your face? A balloon ride in the morning is something you don’t want to miss in Bagan, Myanmar.

A 40-60 minute flight costs around 340 USD, depending on the season. Don’t forget to take your sweater with you as mornings can be cold.

Book your balloon flight online

2. Visit the Temples in Bagan, Myanmar

Bagan has many beautiful temples, too many to see on just one trip. We’ve highlighted the best and most impressive temples in our Best Bagan Temples Guide. Explore the temple in an Africa-like landscape on your e-bike.

 Read all about: best temples in Bagan, Myanmar

3. Enjoy an Incredible Sunset or Sunrise on Top of a Temple

Bagan is famous for its stunning sunrises and sunsets. Although it’s not allowed anymore to climb most of the temples, getting up early for sunrise, being surrounded by nothing but temples and a sky full of hot air balloons, is an unforgettable experience.

Here are all your hotel options in Bagan.

4. Visit Minnanthu Village

A bit dislocated from the main villages like Old and New Bagan is the local village Minnanthu. Get a small tour around their village and see how they make their products, like cotton clothing, cigars, peanuts, etc. It’s a great place to stop on a little round trip on your e-bike.

5. Relax Till Sunset!

Afternoons in Bagan can get quite hot. Because of this, spend your time in the mornings exploring the temples until 1 AM and relax in the afternoon. Take a dip or nap at your pool or go chill at one of the restaurants nearby. After 4 PM you can go out and explore the area again.

These are our top 3 restaurants to chill and have a delicious meal in the afternoon:

• The Moon (nr 2)
• Sharky’s
• Khaing Shwe Wha

6. Rent an E-Bike in Bagan

The government introduced something very clever a few years ago: E-Bikes. Electric motorbikes that’ll get you around the area in a very relaxed and, most importantly, very silent way.

You can rent an e-bike almost everywhere in town. A good price for an e-bike in Bagan is somewhere between 5000 – 7000 Kyat (5 USD) per day. The price goes up a little when you share one bike with two people. Make sure you check everything, like tires, lights, mirrors, and battery, before renting it.

Where to stay in Bagan?

There are 3 main villages in Bagan: Nyaung-U, Old Bagan, and New Bagan. They all surround the temple area and make a great place to stay for a few nights.

Hotels in Bagan 😴

The best location to stay closest to most of the temples is Old Bagan, though it’s also the most expensive area to stay in. New Bagan and Nyaung-U are just a 30-minute drive with your e-bike and have more mid-range and cheap stay options.

Nyaung-U is the village where most of the backpackers stay, but New Bagan is a rising area with good-looking hostels.

How to Get to Bagan?

Bagan can be easily combined with your Myanmar route. You can reach Bagan via bus or taxi from Yangon (9h), Mandalay (4h) or Inle Lake (8h). There is also an airport with daily flights to Yangon.

The flights take about 1.2 hours from Yangon and cost anywhere between $70 – $150, depending on the season.

Best Time to Visit Bagan, Myanmar

The best time to visit Bagan is between November and February. Bagan is hot most of the year, but in these months, it is the most pleasant at 30 degrees. Try to avoid the summer, which runs from March to May.

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Things To Do at Inle Lake, Myanmar (3-day guide)

Discover 7 of the best bagan temples, myanmar itinerary: a travel guide from temples to beaches.

Looking for more travel information? Plan a chat with us for personalised travel advice or get an answer from the Salt in our Hair Travel Community on Facebook.

Hi, do you mind sharing whcuch tour you took to visit the Minnanthu Village? Thanks

We simply drove our electric scooter and walked around. There will be people guiding you around.

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The incredible ancient city of Myanmar

The ancient city of Bagan was once one of the greatest cities in Myanmar – and Southeast Asia. Today it is in ruins but still an incredible place to visit.

Written by Michael Turtle

Michael Turtle is the founder of Time Travel Turtle. A journalist for more than 20 years, he's been travelling the world since 2011.

Michael Turtle is the founder of Time Travel Turtle and has been travelling full time for a decade.

Updated: August 28, 2023

Bagan, Myanmar

It’s not clear exactly what happened to Bagan and how one of the greatest cities in Southeast Asia was left abandoned. Perhaps it was an invasion by the Mongols… perhaps it was the fear of an invasion by the Chinese.

Regardless, historians agree that sometime towards the end of the thirteenth century the population fled and left the enormous complex of incredible temples and palaces to the will of fate.

As it so happens, much of ancient Bagan has survived until today and it’s now one of the most important sites in Myanmar – if not the whole region.

The grand palaces, monasteries and official buildings would all have been made of wood and have been destroyed but the temples and pagodas were all made of stone and are still standing in surprisingly good condition.

From the top of the taller temples you can look out across the lands and see the religious structures for as far as they eye can stretch.

It’s said there are more than 4,000 temples over an area of more than 20 square kilometres… but when you’re talking about numbers that large, it’s hard to be exact.

All through the bushland of the region, the buildings poke out, different shapes and sizes, like grand old monoliths breaking out through the ground.

For about four centuries after the builders of the great city left, the area was left relatively untouched. It was considered to be haunted and the local people avoided it as much as possible.

It means that newer developments and communities didn’t overtake the land, so between each temple is just empty open space.

You could spend as long or as little time as you choose to explore the area.

In one day, you can get around on a bicycle and see a large number of temples. Or you could spend several days and really explore the variety on offer.

Inside many of them, small and large, are the faded remnants of murals on the walls and ceilings, or the religious relics the buildings were originally made to hold.

It truly must have been a grand city once. The main period of construction here was begun in the 11 th century by a king called Anawrahta who had been converted to Theravada Buddhism and wanted to prove his devotion to his newfound faith.

The building programme was continued by his successors during a period that would rival any great imperial expansion of the modern era.

The scale can seem daunting at first and it’s difficult to truly get a sense of how large the whole area really is. But slowly you begin to feel comfortable in the surrounds of the ruins.

They have a calming effect – especially the smaller ones where quite often you will be the only person there.

Walk inside and cool air will give you some respite from the beating sun outside. The noise of the world will disappear and the Buddha statues will almost speak to you with their ancient tongues.

The local Myanmar people were on to something when they felt that Bagan was haunted – but it’s not by evil spirits, as feared. It’s by the spirituality of a land where the total is more than the sum of its parts.

These days people still come and worship at the temples. It doesn’t matter they were built almost a thousand years ago – this is still a special and sacred place and to see it as a collection of ruins is to underestimate the connection between the earth and the divine.

37 thoughts on “The incredible ancient city of Myanmar”

More than 4,000 temples. Thats awesome. Really-really want to go there.

It’s a pretty breathtaking place. You should try to get there before it becomes even busier!

Enjoying your observations from Burma, Michael.

Thanks. It’s a fascinating country and one that many people haven’t had a chance to come to yet. I’ve got a bit more to share and hopefully it gives people a good sense of the place.

That’s absolutely incredible. I really wonder what happened to make the people abandon such a city.

Well, it has something to do with invasion… the historians just aren’t exactly sure whether he place was invaded or whether everyone fled before it came to actual conflict. It’s a bit sad that it was built up with such dedication and then they just had to leave it.

Lovely images. Have always been intrigued by ruins and ghost towns. Who knows what secrets such places hold. Bagan has to be my top reason to visit Myanmar. I could explore these temples for days together.

A lot of people do explore the temples of Bagan for days. Once you get away from the dozen really popular ones, there are hundreds you can go into and see without any other people there!

This is really wonderful, mesmerizing and so beautiful. What a beautiful landscape, a wide spread area dotted with tiny and big beautiful temples. I think Began should stand out as one of the top most world heritage sites. I am scratching my head, why I did not hear about it before.

Best part is that it has survived and exists completely untouched and in such a fine shape. Thanks Michael for this wonderful blog!

Hopefully Bagan will end up on UNESCO’s World Heritage List at some point. It was considered and rejected quite a few years ago because of the way it was being conserved… but there have been a lot of changes since then and another attempt would probably be successful this time, is the general feeling.

Beautiful! That’s one place that’s high on our SE Asia travel list.

Personally I think Angkor in Cambodia is more impressive – but there is something really exotic about this one. And it doesn’t have nearly as many tourists, which really adds to the experience!

How impressive is that! And quite enigmatic… Would love to spend a couple of days there, wandering around (and probably silently dying in the heat)!

You need to take lots of water. That’s my tip for you! You can buy drinks near the big temples but not always once you venture outside to explore the cool smaller ones. I repeat, take water. Urine is not tasty, I’ve been told, so don’t let it come to that!

Fantastic, it’s my dream to go to Myanmar, I hope I’ll make it this year.

Let me know if you decide to go. I’ve got so many things to tell you (although I’ll probably end up writing them all on the blog eventually, I suppose…)

I know a lot of people who wouldn’t bat an eyelash on Myanmar because it’s ‘too quaint’. Perhaps, they couldn’t stand being away from the modern lifestyle. I was really too engrossed on their opinions that I start to believe. But thanks to your pictures, I thought that perhaps, Myanmar is a good place to visit. 🙂

It would be tricky to be away from the modern lifestyle if you’re not comfortable in uncomfortable situations. Doing Myanmar independently takes some effort – but doing it as a package tour doesn’t let you get to the heart of the culture. It’s a great place to visit if you want a unique experience, though.

Niceee! Looking forward to going there next month! 🙂

You’re going to love it! Hopefully I’ve been able to provide a little bit of inspiration for some things to do off the beaten track.

GOD !! Bagan !! Stunning, Mystic & Poisonous hahaha

Stunning and mystic, yes. Poisonous… well, maybe…

Wow, seems like you’ve had much more luck with the weather, the view of the temples etc. than Miss JustTravelous and me in November! I still feel a little ambiguus about Bagan and the whole of Myanmar. Your posts make me want to go back and give it a second try – it was a special, kind of magical place after all.

I definitely had luck with the weather. Not a drop of rain the entire four weeks and pretty much bright blue sunny skies every day. February is traditionally the best time of year to visit, though, so no surprises there. I remember reading some.. let’s call them ‘ambivalent’ thoughts from you guys when you were in Myanmar. But honestly, having been there for a month, I don’t understand them. I fell in love with the place and it’s been one of my favourite countries to visit for quite a while. Of course there were some negatives, but that goes with the territory. Maybe you’ll get back there under different circumstances sometime.

I’mvery interested to know about the history of this place… such vast land with so many pagodas… who wouldn’t be interested to know?

Going here next year and it will be a dream come true!!

You will love it there next year! There is so much to learn and see!

Are bikes available for renting to go around?? Will be in Myanmar on March2014.

Thanks a lot!

This is awesome i wish we could get a more detailed view into the everyday life of these places

It’s incredible to think about how it would once have been, isn’t it? I bet it was a pretty impressive place when it was full of people. And, yeah, everyday life would have been very interesting!

what deities apart from buddha were worshiped at this particular time in myanmar

Hi Tega. Buddhism was definitely by far the most important religion in Bagan – althought there were a few different strands that people followed. There were also some influences from Hindu religions and from indigenous pagan religions… although these were all fairly minor in comparison to Buddhism.

We never experienced that breathtaking panoramic view. This article gives you a sneak peek into the beauty of these places. If you have never been to this beautiful place and planning to have a tour to Burma, then you can find various attractions among which top three attractions are described below.

What’s up to every one, it’s really a pleasant for me to pay a visit this web page, it contains useful Information.

love your articles, heading there for 17days. thanks for sharing such a great experience you had have. Thanks Michael

Thanks Maro. I really appreciate the comment. 17 days is a great length to be there. I always advise people to go for more than just a few days. Hope you have a great trip!

Now Burma is nothing for u right? It being the poorest country now bc of military coup. I’m proud to be a Burmese but now I hate Myanmar military. Our education, our family, our money, our home, Myanmar are destroyed . Huh

Hello Michael,

A captivating article on the ancient temples of Bagan in Myanmar! Your descriptions truly pique interest in these remarkable ruins. The rich history and architectural grandeur of this place is simply astonishing. I especially liked how you captured the spiritual aura that still lingers around these centuries-old temples. Your piece is a great source of inspiration for those wanting to delve into the mysteries and beauty of Southeast Asian heritage.

Keep up the wonderful work!

Best regards.

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Home — Essay Samples — Geography & Travel — Developing Country — The Perfect Country: Myanmar

The Perfect Country: Myanmar

• Categories: Developing Country Transportation

About this sample

Words: 613 |

Published: Feb 12, 2019

Words: 613 | Page: 1 | 4 min read

Works Cited

• Aung-Thwin, M. A. (2017). The mists of Rāmañña: The legend that was lower Burma. University of Hawai'i Press.
• Bird, G., Soe, H. K., & Willcox, M. (2016). Checklist of the Birds of Myanmar. Lynx Edicions.
• Cho, W. K. T. (2017). Ethnicity, conflict and inequality in Myanmar. Routledge.
• D'Cunha, J. M., & Ong, D. K. (2019). Tourism in Southeast Asia: Challenges and new directions. Routledge.
• Hill, J. (2014). Through the Jade Gate to Rome: A Study of the Silk Routes during the Later Han Dynasty, 1st to 2nd Centuries CE. BookBaby.
• Kyaw, T. M., & Aung, T. T. (2021). Tourism development and sustainability in Myanmar. Routledge.
• Myanmar. (2022, March 11). In CIA World Factbook. Retrieved March 30, 2023, from https://www.cia.gov/the-world-factbook/countries/myanmar/
• Myanmar. (2022, March 11). In World Tourism Organization. Retrieved March 30, 2023, from https://www.unwto.org/myanmar
• Tin, H. H. (2021). Golden Myanmar. White Lotus Press.
• Win, N. N. (2017). Buddhism and Buddhist Art in Myanmar. Asia Society.

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Letters from Bagan, Myanmar

Hi guys from the faraway Bagan!

Bagan is one of Myanmar’s most famous tourist attractions and after visiting this ANCIENT CITY I can certainly understand why. We landed at Mandalay’s airport late at night after our flight was delayed and took a 3.5 hour drive through challenging roads (if you can call them roads at all) in the darkness, all the time too scared to even fall asleep. It wasn’t a pleasant ride but luckily we arrived to our hotel safely and even had a bite to eat since our agent made sure the hotel’s restaurant would stay open for us (at the extremely late hour of 10 pm). 

The next morning we met our guide. As always in the first half an hour we couldn’t understand at least 50% of what he was saying (for us the Myanmar accent was really hard to understand) but despite our worries he turned out to be a wonderful guide, and by the end of the day we managed to understand at least 70% of his stories, or grasp the essence of his stories about BUDDHISM and the BUDDHIST PHILOSOPHY.

B agan is an ancient city with OVER 2,000 BUDDHIST MONUMENTS . It is quite impressive walking or driving from one pagoda to another while imagining the history and stories behind these monuments, not to mention the time, effort and precision that it took to build this compound. The highlight of the visit for the majority of the visitors must be climbing on one of the ancient pagodas and watching the sun disappearing behind the horizon, coloring the scene in orange-reddish-pinkish light. After checking it off our list I can indeed say it was spectacular.

Nevertheless, we recommend WATCHING THE SUNRISE from one of the pagodas, even though it is less popular, we felt it was one of the most amazing experiences of our lives. We woke up at 4:15 and climbed rows of very high and steep steps with a flashlight. We were sure we would be the first ones but there were already some crazier-than-us tourists/photographers there. Imagine watching the sun rising over the ancient temples while listening to the birds which were starting to wake up, feeling the sun warming your face and welcoming you to the new day . And then when you think things can’t get any better, dozens of HOT-AIR BALLOONS can be seen from the distance, and all you have to do is hold your camera and click away to try and capture the breath-taking sight of the balloons among the temples….

Another highlight for us was eating LUNCH at a LOCAL FAMILY’s house. Before arriving to Myanmar we were warned not to eat food in the streets and to be careful when eating in local simple restaurants. Around lunch time our guide said it was time for lunch and soon after, to our surprise, we found ourselves far from town but in a local village with the most perfect view. The car stopped and I asked him if this was the restaurant; he must have seen the look of terror in my eyes and he smiled and said “relax and follow me”. 

As we were approaching a table with two benches weaved from bamboo, Sari and I were talking to each other, having a hard time deciding whether to hurt our hostess’ feelings by refusing to taste her home-cooked meal or to take a chance and perhaps spend the rest of our stay in the bathroom or worse. Our guide kept smiling and I could see the amusement in his eyes.

Me : You know, we don’t eat everything.

The Smiling guide : Yes I know. Don’t worry.

Me : You don’t understand. We don’t eat meat.

Giggling guide : Yes, I know. You are vegetarians.

Me : How did you know?

Laughing guide : All Westerns are vegetarians here!

Well we had the best vegetarian meal ever with the most gracious hostess while behind us the rest of the family was busy peeling and roasting peanuts. We had some sprout soup with a touch of sweetness. Then various sautéed vegetables (grown in the backyard) with ginger and lemongrass , eggplant and tomato stew, vermicelli noodles with veggies and the most delicious lettuce salad with crashed peanuts and peanut oil. For dessert – green tea and roasted peanuts. It was such a special experience and I was glad I could share it with my sister.

Unfortunately for our guide who has been trying to teach us some of the Buddhist ways throughout the day, for example: letting go of our desires or working on satisfying the mind rather than the body, he has just unknowingly destroyed all of our progress…

Just as I was thinking of selling my earthly possessions and go live in the nunnery we had visited in Yangon , I was reminded of how much of a foodie I really was (not to mention Sari) and as we were saying our goodbyes to our kind hostess, we were already planning our dinner (a great veggie restaurant with the most yummy Massaman  curry) and thinking about the breakfast we would have the next morning in our hotel which was the only one to serve a proper salad so far. Well I am sure it is no surprise to anyone who knows us, food is always on our minds!

Bon Appetit, Maya

I bet this last paragraph made your hungry, so check out this great vegetarian restaurant  where we ate that curry in Bagan and don’t forget to check out our perfect Bagan itinerary with all of our favorite things to do in Bagan!

If you want to read how our Myanmar adventures ends, make sure to read our post on Mandalay and find out why we were surprised and why we enjoyed Mandalay so much. And if I have sparked some wanderlust in your heart and you are already planning your trip to Myanmar, make sure to read our tips for your Myanmar trip.

In the mean time, spread the love and Pin it for later!

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2 thoughts on “Letters from Bagan, Myanmar”

I am just dying to go to Bagan and your blog post has just made that urge so much stronger! Such beautiful photos!!

Thank you Shannon, you should definitely visit Bagan one day. It is a truly unique place.

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21 Tips For Taking a Trip to Bagan

Updated on April 26th, 2024

Bagan is a must-see destination during a trip to Myanmar. We'll answer which temples can you still climb in Bagan, where to go for the best sunset and sunrise spots in Bagan (after the climbing ban) and the best ways for how to get around.

This article may contain affiliate links. We earn a small commissions when you purchase via those links — and it's free for you. It's only us (Becca & Dan) working on this website, so we value your support! Read our privacy policy and learn more about us .

Posted in Myanmar (Burma)

Table of contents

• Is Bagan worth visiting?
• Should I skip Bagan in my Myanmar itinerary?
• Is Bagan popular for tourists?
• Why should you go to Bagan?
• How do you get to Bagan from Yangon?
• Is there a right way to visit Bagan?
• What should I wear in Bagan?
• How do you get around Bagan?
• How many days do you need in Bagan?
• Is three days enough for visiting Bagan?
• What to do during the day in Bagan (because it’s so hot)
• Can you go out during the hottest hours in Bagan?
• Where to stay in Bagan
• What’s the difference between the Bagan towns?
• Best sunset and sunrise spots in Bagan (after climbing ban)
• Can you climb the temples and pagodas in Bagan?
• Which temples have a good view in Bagan?
• Best Instagrammable temples to visit in Bagan
• Which temples can you still climb in Bagan?
• Which pagodas can you climb in Bagan? (Climbing ban update)
• Can you travel solo in Bagan?

2024 update: Myanmar is still going through a period of civil unrest, according to the US State Dept. at travel.state.gov. Travelers are asked to “reconsider traveling to Myanmar (Burma) due to armed conflict and the risk of wrongful detention of foreigners. The Travel Advisory for Myanmar (Burma) was renewed on July 24, 2023, as “Level 4: Do Not Travel.” For more information on this topic as well as developments, please visit the US Dept. of State website .

Bagan lives up to its captivating expectation and that’s why it’s part of any Myanmar trip! We did our research beforehand, somewhat, but it couldn’t have even prepared us for the variety of temples and pagodas to see, views for sunset and sunrise and the adventure of getting around the Bagan area.

Things we’re glad we had with us during our Southeast Asia trip

• Get a Lonely Planet guide (on Amazon or Bookshop.org ), which for us is always an indispensable part of a trip.
• Make sure you have sandals like Birkstenstocks that slide on and off easily for visiting temples where shoes are not allowed.
• Do you have a travel camera that you trust?
• Use our checklist of travel camera accessories in case you want to be using a tripod, or get a new memory card.
• Bookmark our list for how to prepare for traveling abroad, whether it’s your first or 99th time!

Is Bagan worth visiting?

Bagan is worth visiting if you want to go to the #1 most popular attraction in Myanmar. Bagan is a collection of 2000 Buddhist pagodas, stupas and temples scattered across a flat area near the Irrawaddy River (alternatively spelled as the Ayeyarwady River).

Should I skip Bagan in my Myanmar itinerary?

Bagan is not worth visiting if you do not do well in the heat, if this type of attraction does not interest you or if you’d rather be engaging in adventure sports like hiking, or beaches. From what we saw, the Bagan region does not have much well-known outdoor activity aside from exploring the acres and acres of temples scattered on the plain.

If you choose to go, we do recommend that you visit Bagan first (after your city of entry) in a Myanmar itinerary. It’s smart to visit Bagan first and cool off afterward at Inle Lake, for example, as we mention in our Inle Lake travel guide .

Is Bagan popular for tourists?

No longer somewhere where you can actually avoid tourists , Bagan is indeed popular. For visitors to Bagan these days, the first thing you will probably note is that Bagan has experienced a very quick increase in popularity, and for that reason, there is a lot of less-than-charming development.

There’s an incredible amount of hotels to choose from, lots of restaurants to eat in, lots of tour options, lots of English and lots of visitors.

Why should you go to Bagan?

Having seen photos of Bagan on Instagram and online for the past seven or eight years, I knew this is somewhere I wanted to go. Bagan is a very unique place you can visit in Myanmar, and because there’s no specific temple to visit or specific way to take your trip, this is a really flexible experience to have.

We did meet travelers who skipped Bagan, for the reason above; they wanted to focus more on hiking, beaches and cities. For this reason, it’s up to you.

How do you get to Bagan from Yangon?

In our experience, taking a night bus was ideal! We left Yangon at 8 pm and arrived at 5 am in Bagan. See more about night bus travel at our Myanmar travel guide .

Traveling to Yangon? Lean about the best travel tips in Yangon !

Is there a right way to visit Bagan?

Bagan can be slightly overwhelming due to the sheer number of pagodas, stupas and temples and that their locations are rarely walking distance from one another. From looking at a map, there’s no way to logically visit them all, and there’s even few ways to logically visit the ones you want without some pre-planning or going with a tour guide.

Remember: use minimalism techniques in your travel appetite and keep in mind you don’t have to see it all. I found that the best way to avoid being overwhelmed was to figure that there was no way I was going to be able to visit all the pagodas — I wasn’t even going to be able to see all the most famous ones.

If you consider Bagan an adventure with no ‘right way’ of seeing the places, then you’ll be fine and enjoy the experience of seeing this unique historical place.

What should I wear in Bagan?

What to wear in bagan.

Bagan is very hot, all year round. By ‘very hot,’ I mean temperatures of 92-96 degrees F during the day and a real feel of 106 F (this was what my Google Pixel told me). During the day, it’s not humid, so you feel kind of fried. At night, there’s a slight humidity that comes out, and that lasts until the end of sunrise.

Because Bagan is so hot, you’ll want to wear light, airy and breathable clothes. You’ll also want to keep in mind that entering the largest temples will require covering shoulders and usually covering legs (both men and women). The temples are places where Buddhist visitors will pray, and where locals go to pray as well. For this reason, it’s best to be prepared to respect the Buddhist custom of conservative dress.

What should women wear in Bagan?

So, what should you wear? Every day, I wore a maxi dress that was strapless or spaghetti-strap on top, and hit between my knees and ankles at the bottom. For visiting temples that had a dress code, I simply put on my sarong or shawl that I was carrying around for the day. This is perfectly acceptable.

What should men wear in Bagan?

Dan wore shorts and a T-shirt every day, and at temples, he would put on the longyi that we bought at a local shop in Yangon’s Chinatown . He kept this in his backpack for when it was required.

As soon as we left the temple grounds, we were able to wear whatever we wanted again, as we rode around the Bagan region either on E-bike, bicycle rentals or with a tuk-tuk driver.

How do you get around Bagan?

Bagan itself is a big region and making walking less of an option than the others we’ll list. Among the following options, we tried out three. We found various travelers mentioning the use of Maps.me, which you can learn about in our tools for travelers .

If you choose to go around on your own, note that having downloaded offline maps or a Google Fi plan will help with mobile data.

Rental bicycle

You can rent a bicycle from your accommodation or from a shop and bicycle around Bagan. We tried this, and saw lots of visitors doing it as well.

• Pros: it’s a great way to be sustainable and to exercise your legs! Also, bicycles are free to take out for a day at most hostels and guesthouses that own 5 to 10 of them.
• Cons: Once you’re off the main roads that connect the towns, the dirt roads are not so fun when you’re on a bicycle, and, if you experience a rental bike that is not maintained and needs a tune-up, it’ll make it even less fun. Another con is that you won’t be getting around so fast.

E-Bike, moto or scooter

Anywhere else, I’d refer to an E-bike as a scooter, but in Myanmar, they are called E-bikes. You will see signs for E-bike rentals, and this is the preferred word to use for the type of scooter that’s similar to a motorbike, but probably goes a little slower and is more usable for someone who’s less experienced in riding motorized bikes.

I pictured an E-bike to be an actual electronic bike, which I’ve seen in NYC, but no — it’s what you’d picture to be a scooter.

If you’ve never ridden a scooter or E-bike before, you’ll want to practice before you start driving among the locals on the main roads and dirt roads. For anyone who has done this before, it’s simple, but if it is your first time, definitely be cautious and be sensitive to your safety!

• Pros: You can go faster than a bicycle. Also, the fees are usually very affordable, like 3000 Kyat ($1.43 USD) for a few hours. Lastly, you’ll be able to explore freely and independently.
• Cons: You’ll need to trust yourself riding one, and, E-bikes don’t do so well going through sand or uneven dirt roads.

Planning to ride motos often around Myanmar? Consider getting travel insurance with World Nomads or SafetyWing to save you in case of an accident.

Tuk-Tuk Driver

The morning before we experimented with E-bike rentals, we ordered a tuk-tuk ride to a sunrise spot. The Baobabed Hostel desk staff helped us organize and had a driver in mind.

• Pros: We didn’t have to worry about navigating and finding our way in the dark, before sunrise, to any spot. Come to think of it, this was really convenient! Also, our driver waited for us while we hung out at the pagoda taking as many photos as we wanted to. Lastly, this was totally safe!
• Cons: The fee we had agreed upon was for ‘sunrise only, and in visiting a pagoda afterward, the driver charged us additional money. We were able to negotiate.

Guided Tour of Bagan or Tour Package

We did not take any guided tours, so we can’t speak to any recommendations or the quality of the tours in Bagan; we did, however, see lots of guides during our time there, and they were speaking German, Spanish, English and French! Wow!

• Pros: You will learn way more than you would on your own, and the guides will take you to the best spots, all without you having to do any work to find them or stress over where they are.
• Cons: If you’re into adventuring on your own, this is not the option for you.

Hot air balloon ride in Bagan

Before we left home, friends said, “OH! You’ll HAVE to do the hot air balloon over Bagan! It’s unforgettable!” We said sure, yes, sounds great, and then we learned about the price tag.

Completely unaligned with what other things cost in Myanmar (beers for $1, hostel privates for $30, meals for $2 and overnight buses for $22), hot air balloon rides over Bagan, which have a duration of 45-60 minutes, cost between $320 and $400. Yes, you read correctly - this is probably the most expensive thing you can do in the whole country!

Nevertheless, we saw lots of tourists dish out money for this unique experience. If you have it in your trip budget , then take a hot air balloon ride! Lucky for us, we were able to take a hot air balloon ride recently over Teotihuacan outside Mexico City, so we didn’t feel like we were missing too much.

• Pros: This is a beautiful, unique and exciting way to see the Bagan pagodas from above.
• Cons: It might cost you more money than you spend on everything else during your trip. We preferred saving money while traveling and supporting locals.

How many days do you need in Bagan?

We received various tips for how many days we ‘needed’ to spend in Bagan during our planning, before we left home. Friends who had done speed trips to Myanmar saw Bagan in one day. Some friends recommended two full days. Some recommended three or four.

The ‘tourist ticket’ that will be charged when you enter the Bagan region at a checkpoint upon arrival by your bus, shared taxi or flight is equivalent to approximately $15 and is good for five days, so we considered that the real limit.

Is three days enough for visiting Bagan?

We found that three days was the perfect amount of time in Bagan, giving us opportunities for three potential sunrises and three potential sunsets. During our time of travel, in October, the sun would set around 5:30 pm and would rise around 6 am.

Lucky for our planning and with our flexible three days, we actually were so tired from having arrived on night bus that we napped and slept through our first opportunity to see a Bagan sunset. Fortunately, we were able to see the sunset from the pagodas on both following days.

What to do during the day in Bagan (because it’s so hot)

We were perplexed about what to do during the day in Bagan because it was so hot. What was everyone doing?

Avoid bicycling during the hottest hours

Our first day, in a rookie move, we rented bicycles and figured we should take a ride to the nearby town of Nyaung-U, where I knew there were a bunch of hostels, guesthouses and restaurants. Our free bicycle rentals were not too great, with no gears, flat-ish tires and janky pedals, and biking in the heat was tiring and frustrating.

We were sweaty, riding through clouds of street dust and our sunscreen was dripping off our faces. We found out that this is what you should NOT be doing during the day in Bagan!

Take a nap or enjoy your hostel’s AC

The next two days we did one of two things from the hours of 9 am to 3 pm: napped, or hung out in our hostel lobby with WiFi, AC, coffee and the option to order some smoothies. For lunch on one of the days, we walked a short distance to a ‘fancy’ Thai restaurant, where we had lunch, despite not being so hungry.

It was something to do during these hours of extreme heat. On our last day, we played pool in the hostel lobby with two Burmese guys who were really nice and played a good game of pool as well.

Can you go out during the hottest hours in Bagan?

It seemed like other travelers were either braving the heat and seeing temples despite the high temperatures (maybe they were pressed for time?) or napping in their rooms. Engaging in any type of physical activity in what felt like a desert was too exhausting.

Where to stay in Bagan

Hotel or hostel? Choosing accommodation type is entirely up to you, but then, which town of Bagan do you choose?

Any website will tell you that Bagan has three main regions for accommodations: New Bagan, Old Bagan and Nyaung-U. Without having researched this at all, we went by hostel ratings and went with Baobabed Hostel Bagan .

Upon arriving, we found out that it was located along the side of the road that connects Nyaung-U with Old Bagan, and wasn’t really in either town. The hostel property was in a slight dead zone, town-wise, but faced an E-bike rental shop, was next to another hotel and had a restaurant-laundry service-souvenir shop to the other side.

If you got on a bicycle and rode even five minutes, you’d probably see a pagoda in a field, which was pretty cool. Where else in the world can you do that? For this reason, we didn’t mind not staying in the center of any of the three towns.

What’s the difference between the Bagan towns?

Which is the best Bagan town for travelers? As for the three towns, Old Bagan is the oldest (hence the name), New Bagan was built in order to support more tourism and is built in a grid pattern of small streets and Nyaung-U is a cluster of streets with guesthouses and some shops. All are dusty. All are hot. All have proximity to temples, so you can’t go wrong, no matter what you choose.

Best sunset and sunrise spots in Bagan (after climbing ban)

Once upon a time before 2019, you could climb all the pagodas, temples and stupas if you could figure out a way how to. During our visit, we found out that this was no longer the case, and most blogs we read for our research listed heaps of climbable temples and pagodas for wonderful views that were no longer options for us due to new (somewhat enforced) regulations.

We found sunrise and sunset spots by asking hostel staff, who were most aware of the current situation and climbing ban. They were able to recommend a few options, but for times when they ran out of ideas, we ventured off on our own and sometimes lucked out.

The first morning, we went to Sulamuni Manmade Sunset Hill , which was built as a man-made hill to be a tourist viewpoint once the climbing ban was in place. We didn’t think the view was so impressive, so we wouldn’t recommend it.

The second morning, we went to Mimalaung Kyaung Temple , which was recommended by the hostel staff at Baobabed . This pagoda indeed had a viewing deck, and it wasn’t overcrowded or anything. We were the first ones there, at 5:30 am, and got to see the starry sky. Use our guide for how to take photos at night .

By 6:00 am there were about 15-20 visitors, but not much more. All things considered, this wasn’t bad at all.

For sunset on day two, we were recommended to get in touch with the father of one of the girls in the hostel in her village, which we did! After giving us a village tour, he took us to a collection of renovated pagodas outside the village, and took us to one we could climb via an internal stone staircase. To our surprise, we were joined by three other travelers who found the same place.

For sunrise on day three, this is when we kinda-sorta got scammed, as we detailed more in our Myanmar travel guide . We had taken a rented E-bike down the dirt road near the hostel and were feeling a dab lost, until a man on a motorbike asked if we wanted a recommendation of a sunrise spot, and we naturally said yes.

He led the way to a cluster of secret pagodas and stupas we never otherwise would have found, and after the sun rose, he brought us into a pagoda and showed us paintings that he was selling, saying, of course, he really wanted us to buy one. We actually did buy one, because they were nice, and we negotiated a price. It’s currently hanging in our living room and reminds us of this day.

For sunset on day three, we chose to stay close to the hostel and aimed to find a spot within a 10-minute radius. We had seen a few clusters of pagodas, some more populated with tourists than others, and pulled into the driveway of a collection of pagodas and a larger temple (which turned out to be Khaymingha Pagoda).

Dan and I split up and went to find good photos, and I found a lone pagoda , with a location pin, facing a field with a view toward the West and some stupas that were outlined against the sky. It’s here that we saw a fiery sunset with another couple who was on the hunt for this type of view. In conclusion, sometimes you have to find your own views and luck out in your own way.

Can you climb the temples and pagodas in Bagan?

Since 2018, you can only climb a select few. Below, we’ll share the locations of the pagodas we were able to climb. We saved the locations of them

Which temples have a good view in Bagan?

While we didn’t get to climb so many pagodas because of the ban, we did find a small pagoda with no name that was a few feet on a tiny hill above a field, and it was here that we watched an epic sunset with three stupas outlined against the sky. The location in Google Maps is here.

Mimalaung Kyaung was a great place to see sunrise, and because there were only 20 other visitors there by the time the sun was up, it wasn’t overwhelming or crowded at all.

Best Instagrammable temples to visit in Bagan

In a combination of avoiding massive tourist groups and seeing a variety of Buddhist temple architecture, we visited three temples that were very much alive with worshipers, and made great photo locations. We’ll detail them here.

Ananda Temple

Well worth a visit because it’s been renovated in the past few decades and is made of white stone, this temple is pretty big, and built symmetrically, so we had some fun finding our way out. There were some tour groups here, but not so many, and there’s parking for your E-bike right outside the entrance. There are no epic views to be had because there’s nowhere to climb and no lookout points, but we liked walking around the exterior.

Bu Paya (Bupaya Pagoda)

Bu Paya has a big gold stupa and faces the river. You could alternatively go here for sunset. At the time when we went, it was busy with locals and other Buddhist visitors who were praying.

Manuha Temple

Manuha Temple was recommended to us by locals, so you know it’s legit! It was really busy with Buddhist worshippers and seemed more authentic than the others, which were rebuilt and renovated to look beautiful for tourism (it seemed).

Shwesandaw Pagoda

Shwesandaw Pagoda was formerly one of the popular pagodas to climb, but alas, no more — all its stairways have been closed off and maybe it’s even lost its popularity for that reason. We went here after sunrise and liked being some of the only visitors. This made it a really serene visit. We also liked the pagodas that framed the dirt road, even more as a scene for taking photos.

Which temples can you still climb in Bagan?

If you are defining temples as the largest and most famous temples, we did not hear that any are still able to be climbed. We did not climb any. We climbed smaller, shorter pagodas (and got some solid views), which we’re mentioning below.

Which pagodas can you climb in Bagan? (Climbing ban update)

Since 2018 (so we heard while were in Bagan), many pagodas are now closed for climbing. We visited Shwesandaw Pagoda, listed as a pagoda to climb from reports before 2018, and it was gated off for climbing. We were the only foreign travelers there.

As mentioned, we did not find so many pagodas to climb because of the ban, but a local brought us to this pagoda that has an inside staircase and you can sit on the top platform (hope you’re not afraid of heights!). This pagoda is in a cluster of pagodas outside the village of Myin Ka Bar Village, Sein Gone Quarter, Bagan.

Can you travel solo in Bagan?

You can absolutely travel on your own in Bagan. It’s very safe and there is a lot of solo exploring that you’re able to do.

Are you leaving soon for a Myanmar trip? Make sure you check out our guide of the best things to know before you visit Myanmar .

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Short Essay: My Adventurous Trip

A couple of short essay examples on an adventurous trip.

Table of Contents

My Adventurous Trip Essay Example 1

Traveling is one of the most exciting experiences one can have in life. It allows us to explore new places, meet different people, and create unforgettable memories. My recent adventurous trip was one such experience that I will cherish for a lifetime. The trip involved hiking through a dense forest, crossing a river, and reaching the summit of a mountain, where I enjoyed a breathtaking view. Despite facing challenges such as unpredictable weather and rough terrain, the trip was a memorable and rewarding experience. In this essay, I will share my experience of this adventurous trip, highlighting the challenges, the exhilarating moments, and the memories that I will cherish forever.

Our trip started with hiking through a dense forest. The forest was full of tall trees, colorful flowers, and chirping birds. The trail was steep and rocky, and we had to be careful while walking. The forest was so dense that we could hardly see the sun, and the air was full of freshness. We had to take breaks in between to catch our breath and hydrate ourselves. As we walked, we could hear the sound of a river, and after a few hours of hiking, we finally reached the river. The river was wide and had a strong current, and we had to cross it to continue our journey. We had to be careful while crossing the river, and we held hands to maintain our balance. The water was cold, and we could feel the current pushing us, but we made it to the other side, feeling proud of ourselves.

The highlight of our trip was reaching the summit of the mountain. The climb was steep and exhausting, but the view from the top was worth every effort. From the top of the mountain, we could see the entire valley, and it was a sight to behold. The sky was clear, and the sun was shining brightly, making the view even more beautiful. We took pictures and sat there for a while, enjoying the serene beauty of nature. We could hear the sound of birds and feel the cool breeze on our faces. It was a moment of pure bliss, and we felt grateful for being able to witness such a beautiful view.

Despite facing challenges such as unpredictable weather and rough terrain, the trip was a memorable and rewarding experience. We had to face unexpected rain and strong winds, which made the climb more challenging. We slipped a few times, but we managed to keep going, motivated by the thought of reaching the summit. The journey was long and tiring, but the memories we created were worth it. We bonded with our fellow travelers, shared laughter, and created memories that we will cherish forever. The trip taught us to be resilient, to push ourselves beyond our limits, and to appreciate the beauty of nature.

In conclusion, my adventurous trip was an unforgettable experience that allowed me to explore the beauty of nature, push my limits, and create memories that I will cherish forever. Hiking through a dense forest, crossing a river, and reaching the summit of a mountain were challenging but rewarding experiences. Despite facing unpredictable weather and rough terrain, we persevered and created memories that will stay with us for a lifetime. The trip taught us the importance of resilience, perseverance, and appreciation for the beauty of nature. It was an experience that I will always treasure and would love to relive again.

My Adventurous Trip Essay Example 2

My adventurous trip was an experience of a lifetime. It was a chance for me to step out of my comfort zone and explore the great outdoors. The trip was filled with activities such as hiking, camping, and kayaking. The beautiful scenery and wildlife sightings made the trip memorable. Overcoming challenges such as inclement weather and physical exertion added to the sense of accomplishment and adventure. In this essay, I will share my experiences of this unforgettable trip.

Hiking was one of the most exciting activities of the trip. We started our hike early in the morning, and the trail was challenging, but the view was worth it. The trail led us through dense forests, and we saw wildflowers, butterflies, and birds along the way. We stopped for a break at a small waterfall, and the sound of the water was soothing. As we continued our hike, we came across a steep incline, which was physically demanding, but we pushed on. At the peak, we were rewarded with an incredible view of the valley below. The sense of accomplishment we felt after completing the hike was indescribable.

Camping was another activity that added to the adventure of the trip. We set up our tents near a lake, and the view was breathtaking. We spent the night sitting around a campfire, roasting marshmallows, and sharing stories. The night sky was clear, and we saw countless stars, which was a beautiful sight. The next morning, we woke up early to go kayaking on the lake. The water was calm, and we saw fish jumping out of the water. We even saw a family of ducks swimming nearby. Kayaking was a peaceful and relaxing experience.

The trip was not without its challenges, however. We faced inclement weather during our kayaking, and it was physically demanding. The waves were strong, and the water was choppy. We had to navigate our kayaks through the waves carefully. At times, it was nerve-wracking, but we were able to push through and complete the activity. Overcoming these challenges added to the sense of adventure and accomplishment.

In conclusion, my adventurous trip was an experience that I will cherish forever. The activities such as hiking, camping, and kayaking, the beautiful scenery and wildlife sightings, and the challenges we faced made the trip unforgettable. It was an opportunity for me to step out of my comfort zone, explore the great outdoors, and create memories with friends. I hope to have more opportunities like this in the future.

My Adventurous Trip Essay Example 3

Going on an adventurous trip is an experience that many people crave. It is an opportunity to explore new destinations, push oneself to the limit, and create unforgettable memories. I recently had the chance to embark on one such journey, and it was an experience that I will never forget. My adventurous trip involved hiking through a dense forest to reach a remote waterfall. Along the way, I encountered challenging terrain and had to navigate through rough terrain. Despite the difficulties, the stunning views and sense of accomplishment made the trip a truly unforgettable adventure. In this essay, I will describe my trip in detail, highlighting the challenges and the rewards that came with it.

The first part of my adventurous trip involved hiking through a dense forest to reach a remote waterfall. The trail was not well-marked, and the terrain was challenging, consisting of steep inclines, muddy patches, and slippery rocks. The dense foliage made it difficult to see the path ahead, and we had to rely on our instincts and map reading skills to find our way through. The forest was alive with the sounds of birds and small animals, and the air was fresh and invigorating. As we got closer to our destination, the sound of rushing water became louder, and we knew we were getting close. Finally, after several hours of hiking, we arrived at the waterfall, and the sight before us was breathtaking. The waterfall was a powerful force of nature, cascading down from a height of over 100 feet. The water was crystal clear, and the surrounding rocks were covered in moss and ferns. It was a sight that made all the hiking and exertion worth it.

The second part of my adventurous trip involved navigating through rough terrain. The terrain was rocky and uneven, and we had to be careful not to slip or fall. At some points, the trail was so steep that we had to use ropes to climb up or down. The weather was also unpredictable, and we had to be prepared for sudden rain or wind. Despite the challenges, the sense of adventure and excitement kept us going. We were a group of friends, and we encouraged and supported each other along the way. We shared food and water, helped each other over difficult patches, and cheered each other on when we reached a milestone. The journey was not just about reaching the destination; it was also about the bonds we formed and the memories we created.

The final part of my adventurous trip was the sense of accomplishment that came with it. After several hours of hiking, navigating challenging terrain, and enduring unpredictable weather, we finally reached our destination. The feeling of standing in front of the waterfall, surrounded by the beauty of nature, was indescribable. It was a sense of accomplishment that came from pushing ourselves beyond our limits, from facing our fears and overcoming them. We took pictures, laughed, and savored the moment. It was a feeling that stayed with us long after the trip was over. The adventurous trip was not just a physical journey; it was also a journey of the mind and the spirit.

In conclusion, my adventurous trip was an experience that I will never forget. It involved hiking through a dense forest to reach a remote waterfall, navigating through rough terrain, and the sense of accomplishment that came with it. The trip was challenging, but it was also rewarding. It reminded me of the beauty of nature, the importance of perseverance, and the power of friendship. It was an experience that taught me to appreciate the simple things in life and to embrace the adventure that comes with it.

About Mr. Greg

Mr. Greg is an English teacher from Edinburgh, Scotland, currently based in Hong Kong. He has over 5 years teaching experience and recently completed his PGCE at the University of Essex Online. In 2013, he graduated from Edinburgh Napier University with a BEng(Hons) in Computing, with a focus on social media.

Mr. Greg’s English Cloud was created in 2020 during the pandemic, aiming to provide students and parents with resources to help facilitate their learning at home.

Whatsapp: +85259609792

[email protected]

Essay on My Most Memorable Trip

Students are often asked to write an essay on My Most Memorable Trip in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on My Most Memorable Trip

Exciting departure.

My most memorable trip was to a wildlife sanctuary. The excitement started with the journey itself. We took a train, and the rhythmic chugging felt like music.

Wildlife Encounter

The sanctuary was a different world. The sight of animals in their natural habitat was breathtaking. I saw a deer grazing, a sight I’ll never forget.

Memorable Return

The return journey was equally thrilling. The sanctuary’s beauty stayed with me, making the trip unforgettable. This trip taught me to appreciate nature’s wonders.

250 Words Essay on My Most Memorable Trip

Introduction.

My most memorable trip was an enthralling journey to the heart of the Himalayas, Leh-Ladakh. This trip was not only about the breathtaking beauty of the mountains, but it was a journey that led to self-discovery and understanding the nuances of life.

The Journey

The journey began from Manali, a picturesque town nestled in the lap of the Himalayas. The road to Leh, known as the world’s second highest motorable road, was a mix of treacherous terrains, high altitude passes, and serene landscapes. The journey was challenging, but it was the challenge that made the journey more exciting.

The Destination

Upon reaching Leh, the stark beauty of the barren mountains, the azure blue sky, and the tranquility of the monasteries left me spellbound. The Pangong Lake, a shimmering blue expanse surrounded by snow-capped mountains, was a sight to behold. The simplicity and hospitality of the local Ladakhi people added a unique charm to the trip.

Life Lessons

This trip was not just about sightseeing; it was a journey of self-discovery. The challenges faced during the journey taught me resilience and the importance of stepping out of my comfort zone. The serenity of the place helped me introspect and understand the importance of inner peace in the chaos of life.

In conclusion, my trip to Leh-Ladakh was not just a journey to a destination, but a journey into myself. It was a trip that left an indelible imprint on my mind, making it the most memorable one.

500 Words Essay on My Most Memorable Trip

Traveling is a passion that allows us to explore new places, experience diverse cultures, and create unforgettable memories. One such journey that has left an indelible mark on my memory is my trip to the Grand Canyon.

The Grandeur of the Grand Canyon

My trip to the Grand Canyon was a mesmerizing experience that transcended the boundaries of ordinary travel. The Grand Canyon, located in Arizona, USA, is a natural wonder that is unparalleled in its grandeur and majesty. It is a geological marvel that has been carved by the Colorado River over millions of years. The sheer size of the canyon, with its depth reaching over a mile and its width extending up to 18 miles, is awe-inspiring.

Preparation and Anticipation

The anticipation before the trip was almost as exciting as the trip itself. The meticulous preparation, researching about the canyon’s geology, the flora and fauna, and the best viewpoints, added to the thrill. The packing was an exercise in prioritizing essentials, keeping in mind the harsh desert climate and the strenuous hikes.

The journey to the Grand Canyon was a feast for the senses. The drive through the arid landscapes of Arizona, with its vast expanses of desert, punctuated by cacti and occasional settlements, was a stark contrast to the urban landscapes I was accustomed to. The changing hues of the desert at sunset, from golden to deep red, was a sight to behold.

First Impressions

My first glimpse of the Grand Canyon was a moment that is etched in my memory. As I stood on the edge of the South Rim, I was struck by the sheer enormity of the canyon. The vast expanse of rugged terrain, with its layers of red and brown rock, stretched as far as the eye could see. The play of light and shadow on the canyon walls created a dynamic landscape that seemed to change with every passing minute.

The Hiking Experience

Hiking down the Bright Angel Trail was a highlight of the trip. The trail, which descends into the canyon, offered breathtaking views at every turn. The challenging hike was a test of endurance, but the sense of accomplishment upon reaching the Colorado River was worth every drop of sweat.

The trip to the Grand Canyon was more than just a travel experience. It was a journey that offered profound insights into the power and beauty of nature. It was a reminder of our insignificance in the face of such overwhelming natural grandeur. The memories of the trip continue to inspire me, serving as a reminder of the wonders that await us if we venture beyond our comfort zones.

In conclusion, the trip to the Grand Canyon was a memorable journey that left me with a deeper appreciation of nature’s beauty and the joy of exploration. It was a trip that I will always cherish, and it has inspired me to continue my quest for new experiences and adventures.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on A Memorable School Trip
• Essay on A Memorable Day in My Life
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Apart from these, you can look at all the essays by clicking here .

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