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Exploring Myanmar (Burma) Holidays

When to Visit Myanmar (Burma)

If you are wondering when to visit Myanmar (Burma) then this little weather summary may help you. Myanmar has 3 different seasons: winter (mid Oct–Feb), summer (March – May) and green season (June – mid Oct). Every season has its own advantages and disadvantages to travel: 

March – May (Summer)

The whole country can be hot (especially in the afternoon – around 35 degrees Celsius) so you’re advised to plan sightseeing more in the mornings and evenings. The landscapes are drier but the days are dry (expect some rainier days in late May). This is an excellent time to visit the beaches and to visit higher parts of Myanmar, which are cooler (including The Shan state). 

Mid-October – February (Winter)

This is the most popular season for tourists to travel because of the lower temperatures (evenings in the mountains can be cold –10 degrees Celsius) but the daytime temperature around most of the country is about 30 degrees. Traditionally November marks the beginning of the dry season (although November 2013 saw more rainy days then July or August of that year). Weather wise this is the perfect time to visit everywhere in the country (but bring warm clothes for Inle Lake and higher areas). The downfall is that it can be busy at the major tourist locations – it is much harder to find yourself ‘away from the crowds’ no matter how carefully we plan your itinerary.

June – mid-October (Green Season)

The temperatures drop as the rain arrives (although still about 25 – 30 degrees Celsius) and the scenery is wonderfully green. Sightseeing is not too hot and not too dusty. It is the perfect period to visit Bagan,

Mandalay and Shan states (Hsipaw, Kyaukme, Pyin Oo Lwin, Kalaw, Inle Lake), which sees much less rain than the rest of the country (mostly a short shower at the end of the day). We would encourage you to avoid the beaches in this period (it rains more at the coast and most hotels are closed in this period). Yangon can get quite some rain as well so it is better to spend just one or two nights here. Sightseeing is great as there aren’t many other tourists around yet – it’s Myanmar at its best! This is the period we generally advise our closest friends to come and visit.

Mandalay
With one of the most evocative names in the region, Mandalay is the second biggest city in Myanmar and the gateway to great trekking in Hsipaw in the north. It is home to the iconic U-Bein Bridge (one of the most photographed sites in the country) and close to the old royal capital of Amarapura.
Hsipaw
This is one of the best places to get off the beaten track and see rural Myanmar. Stay in a beautiful riverside lodge, take a trek through rice paddies and visit small Shan villagers where locals live just as they did 50 years ago. We also offer a fabulous boat ride upstream to a monastery which serves as a school for young novice monks.
Bagan
Bagan is the ancient settlement that has really put Myanmar (Burma) on the map. With more than 2,000 historic stupas, temples and pagodas spread over a vast area, you really have to see it to believe it. We will ensure you get to the best spots for sunset or sunrise to see this amazing sprawl of temples over the valley - or better yet ask us about a balloon ride!
Inle Lake
This impressive freshwater lake is more than 13 miles long and resembles a vast silver sheet, reflecting the sky like a mirror. It is home to hundreds of herons, wild ducks and other bird life - as well as local fishermen who use unique fishing techniques with baskets. We have a fabulous selection of over-the-water boutique hotels to choose from.
Ngapali Beach
This has quickly become one of our favourite beach destinations in south-east Asia. Lined with rugged palm trees, this big sweeping bay of pristine sand feels so untouched and undeveloped. However, lying in the shade of the pine trees are a number of beautiful and tastefully designed luxury hotels that blend into their surroundings - we can't think of a better excuse to stop for a few days!
The Golden Rock
An important pilgrimage site for Buddhists around Asia; a large and precariously positioned gold-covered rock sits on the top of a mountain - home to one of the most well-visited stupas in the country. Expect an atmosphere charged with magic and devotion as everyone makes their way to the Golden Rock.
Mrauk- U
This former Rakhine capital offers a dramatic group of temples and pagodas (newer than those of Bagan) which have a fortress feel to them as they are made of stone with long twisting corridors inside. But it's also the perfect gateway for seeing rural river life - you can enjoy a boat ride here to Chin villages where the older women have their faces tattooed from a no-longer abided tribal tradition.
Yangon
This charming city feels incredibly metropolitan compared to the rest of the country, but set against other Asian cities feels quite small. You can see the colonial architecture of a time gone by, sample some of the county's best street food and visit the remarkable Shwedagon Pagoda, which can be seen sparkling from almost anywhere in Yangon and is one of the most revered sites for Buddhism in the world, and said to enshrine eight hairs from Buddha.
Mawlamyine
A unique combination of landscape and beauty, Mawlamyine boasts a ridge of stupa capped hills to one side, the sea on the other and a town full of crumbling colonial architecture and mosques. From here you can explore remote ruins, sacred temples and un-touched beaches.
Hpa-An
Explore Buddhist caves, sacred mountains and wonderfully rural countryside from this sleepy Mon State town
Pyin Oo Lwin
You would be forgiven for thinking you'd stumbled across an old English town at this colonial hill station, which was a favourite for British generals who were looking to escape the heat of the city below. Be sure to take a turn in the beautifully manicured Botanical Gardens.
Myeik Archipelago
A cluster of about 800 pristine and picture perfect white sand islands off the main coast of Myanmar. Most are completely uninhabited - or home to a small village or two where the nomadic seafaring Moken people live. These are best explored on a 3 or 4 night cruise - and we have some beautiful luxurious boats on offer.

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