Absolute Asia/Destinations/Myanmar
The Essence of Myanmar
Myanmar, having remained inaccessible for an extended period, exudes an aura of enigma.
This country, with its welcoming people, rich history, extensive opportunities for walking and trekking, and captivating temples, presents a diverse tapestry of gratifying experiences.
Our Favorite Journeys
Myanmar, at Its Best Right Now
Myanmar: Beyond The Ordinary
15
Give Myanmar a few extra days and you can head off the trail to see some of the country’s lesser known delights. Myanmar: Beyond The Ordinary combines the secrets of the Golden Triangle, charming Kengtung and a trek into the hills surrounding Inle Lake with stars like Bagan and Yangon.
An Insider’s Myanmar
16 DAYS
Visit a less explored side of Myanmar, shying away from the more obvious highlights in favour of some of the less visited destinations. Escape the growing crowds and discover a side to the country that most visitors haven’t even heard about.
Sanctuary Ananda Cruise
4 Days
Sanctuary Ananda is a luxury river boat with 48 passengers, crafted by local artisans in 2014. It offers stylish journeys on Myanmar’s beautiful rivers. Cruise along the Irrawaddy River, visiting temples, palaces, and villages, or explore the Chindwin River’s serene spots like secluded jungles and ancient towns. Cabins: The boat features 21 cabins across three…
Hidden Treasures
14
We’re always on the look out for the hidden gems of a country, be it an unexplored region, an inspiring grass-roots project, a remote village where life continues as it has for generations. This 13-day itinerary explores some of the Selective Asia team’s favourite hidden treasures of Myanmar.
Putao
Getting to know Putao Putao, far to Burma’s north, is bordered by both China and India, and lies beneath Mount Hkakabo Razi, Burma’s highest peak. Although the mountain’s name means ‘snow-capped all year round’, the town itself is surrounded by a green, sub-tropically rural landscape. This spreads up towards the Himalayan foothills & starts to…
DiscoverHsipaw
Myanmar – Getting to know Hsipaw The more adventurous traveller will find it hard not to fall in love with this dusty Shan town; many are already head-over-heels before they roll into town thanks to the picturesque two and a half hour drive from Maymyo. The town itself is slowly becoming popular with the intrepid…
DiscoverHill Station Train
Hill Station Train Each day a train departs Mandalay and travels a mountainous route via Maymyo (Pyin Oo Lwin) and Hsipaw before arriving 12 long hours later in Lashio at the northern tip of the Shan State. Undoubtedly loved for its on-board cultural exchanges and the dense jungle panoramas, rather than its on-board comfort and…
DiscoverKengtung
Getting to know Kengtung A Shan trading town near the Chinese border in Burma’s far east, Kengtung town sits amongst a large rural population of traditional tribes, including the Akha, La Mone & Lahu, all of whom inhabit the surrounding Kengtung province. Some of the more remote tribespeople have never met a Westerner before, which…
DiscoverLoikaw
Myanmar – Getting to know Loikaw On a wide area of level ground in Kayah State, within the misty landscape of the Karen Hills, nestles Loikaw: the state capital, and a regional focal point. Only recently reopened to visitors, this seemingly quiet and undeveloped town has several higher-education institutions, a hospital, busy markets, and air…
DiscoverMawlamyine & Hpa An
Myanmar – Getting to know Mawlamyine & Hpa An Six or so hours’ drive south-east of Yangon, on the Andaman coast, sits Mawlamyine – formerly Moulmein – Myanmar’s third largest city, and the capital of the Mon State. Situated on the Salween river delta where it meets the Andaman sea, flanked by lush countryside and…
DiscoverKyaiktiyo
Kyaiktiyo: The Golden Rock A remarkable example of Buddhist devotion, the Golden Rock is quite literally a huge granite boulder, covered in gold leaf layers which have been continuously added to by pilgrims over the centuries. Balanced, rather nerve-shreddingly, on the jutting tip of a rocky outcrop, the Rock’s apparent anti-gravity is attributed, to a…
DiscoverAyeyarwady
Ayeyarwady: An Introduction Flowing south through Myanmar and into the Andaman Sea, the Ayeyarwady (also spelled ‘Irrawaddy’) is Myanmar’s biggest river, and a significant waterway. Crucial for transport and trade, it’s also home to diverse species, including the Irrawaddy Dolphin to which it gave its name, along with Saltwater Crocodile, and a number of sea…
DiscoverNgapali Beach
Myanmar – Getting to know Ngapali Beach Ngapali Beach (pronounced Na-pal-ly) is that tropical beach – the quiet one, that none of your friends have been to, that still has fishermen pottering about on it (along with – rather randomly – ox-drawn carts), and boasts vast stretches of pure, soft, white, virtually empty sand. It’s…
DiscoverSittwe
Sittwe: An Introduction On Myanmar’s north-western coast in the state of Rakhine, gazing out over the Bay of Bengal, Sittwe is a long-established harbour city that grew from a small fishing village into a crucial maritime stronghold during the 19th century. The reality of life in Sittwe today is very hard, and since the town’s…
DiscoverMrauk U
Mrauk U: An Introduction Nestled just below the border with Bangladesh on Burma’s far west coast in the state of Rakhine, the ancient capital of Mrauk U is another of Burma’s key cultural highlights. Located in a predominantly agricultural region, this unassuming town was once the Mrauk U Empire’s splendid capital, a thriving nexus of…
DiscoverMaymyo
Maymyo: An Introduction The former British Colonial hill station of Maymyo, also known as Pyin Oo Lwin, sits at an altitude of 3510 feet, offering a respite from the intense heat of the lowlands during summer months. The town became a permanent military post in 1896, and acted as the summer capital during British rule.…
DiscoverYour Route Through Myanmar
Myanmar, charted by hand
Read Before You Go
Guides & Stories from Myanmar
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Our travel guides share our specialists’ passion and knowledge for Myanmar. We travel here regularly to discover new experiences, explore untried areas and dig deeper into the better-known places and attractions. At the same time, we gather advice and up-to-date information on the best-quality guides, new hotels and restaurants, and the most memorable forms of transportation.
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