Myanmar is rich in diverse cultures, unique traditions, ancient pagodas, welcoming people and untouched landscapes. Unlike the rest of South East Asia, Myanmar is still relatively new to the world of tourism and that’s what we loved about it. Call it Southeast Asia’s little secret! We are so excited to share our ultimate Myanmar itinerary with you. We spent 12 days exploring this fascinating country and although we would have preferred to stay longer we were able to visit all the best places without feeling rushed.
Myanmar will have you questioning yourself why you never visited sooner. We had an unforgettable experience and we are here to help make sure you have a wonderful, stress free trip in Myanmar.
Here is our Ultimate 12 Myanmar Itinerary including where we stayed, best places to visit, best way to travel around, where to eat, lots of photographs to inspire you and much more!
Check out our Cinematic Myanmar video below.
Planning on traveling to Myanmar then you may want to read our “Must know travel tips for Myanmar” (COMING SOON)
How to get to Myanmar?
Myanmar is located in the western part of mainland Southeast Asia. It borders the west of Bangladesh and India, south of China and to the west of Laos and Thailand.
To fly into Myanmar there are 2 airports, Mandalay and Yangon. Flying into Yangon is the cheapest option and a great starting point for Myanmar. From Yangon there are several flights, buses and night buses that take you to almost any where in Myanmar.
Best way to travel around Myanmar?
Transportation in Myanmar is not as cheap or even as efficient as other southeast-Asian countries but there are a variety of ways to get around Myanmar.
By Bus: Bus transport would have to be the main way of transportation. Day and Night busses run regulary and depart from most cities. Overnight busses are very popular in Myanmar. The most reliable company to choose is JJ Express, which has great service and comfortable buses. Some bus trips can take up to 6 hours so be prepared and wear comfortable clothes.
By Train: Catching the train is a very scenic way to see Myanmar. But it can get bumpy and very uncomfortable, even if you do choose to book first class. However, it’s the cheapest option and an unforgettable experience. If you’re short for time then catching a train wouldn’t be your best option.
By Air: If you don’t want to take any overnight buses than another option is to fly. The main airports are in Yangon, Mandalay and near Inle Lake. We flew from Yangon to Bagan with Myanmar National Airlines for $157 AUD one way. To fly anywhere domestically in Myanmar will cost approximately $100 – $200 AUD.
By Car: Another way to get around is by paying for a driver, hiring a car or by taxi. If you are travelling around certain cities with a big group and feel comfortable driving you could hire a car and split the costs.
If travelling short distance around cities the best way would be by taxi. Download the free Grab App to book taxis or rickshaws. The app gives you an exact amount of what to pay the driver and when the driver arrives you just pay the amount in cash. Super easy and saves you having to bargain.
Hiring a Private Driver is a great option if you if you are wanting to do a full day tour or if you are short on time. Not only will the journey be shorter than a bus, you also have the freedom to stop at places on the way. We hired a private driver Jojo for the day in Mandalay, we had him from sunrise to sunset. The next day he also drove us from Mandalay to Inle Lake. We chose for him to take us because we would have lost a full day if we took the bus.
By Bike: Exploring a city on motorbike or electric bike would have to be the most convenient way of transport, if you feel confident and safe doing driving. In Bagan we hired at electric bike for the whole time so that we had the freedom to explore.
Our 12 day Myanmar itinerary starts now!! Enjoy
Day 1. Yangon- First stop on your Myanmar itinerary
The first destination on our Myanmar Itinerary was Yangon. Yangon is the former capital and is the largest city in Myanmar. It’s a great starting point for your Myanmar itinerary as flights to and from Yangon are often the cheapest in Myanmar.
We spent only the first night in Yangon because we were flying to Bagan early the following morning. We also finished our Myanmar itinerary in Yangon and have included best things to do in Yangon at the end of this blog.
For a budget friendly hotel close to the airport check out Roly Airport Hotel. Only a $3 AUD taxi ride from the airport, this hotel is perfect for travellers that are flying to Bagan early the next morning. A double room costs approximately $28 AUD for a night.
Click here to check out prices of Roly Airport Hotel Yangon.
Day 2. Fly to Bagan
From Yangon you can take a flight, overnight bus or train to Bagan. A flight from Yangon to Bagan is a short direct flight that takes only 1 hour and 20 minutes. Myanmar National Airlines are the main airline that fly direct to Bagan.
A flight from Yangon to Bagan with Myanmar National Airlines costs approximalty $157 AUD per person. Book your flights with Myanmar National Airlines here.
Where to stay in Bagan?
The best areas close proximity to all the pagodas are Old Bagan, New Bagan and Nyuang U. Nyuang U area is a popular area to stay with its close proximity to where the balloons take off in the mornings for sunrise, shops and restaurants.
Hotel Zein is a great adorable hotel in Nyuang U. The rooms are spacious with wifi, complementary coffee, tea and laundry is also available on the same day. The staff are extremely friendly and can help with booking tours and bus tickets. A double room costs approximetly $47 AUD a night and includes breakfast. Click here to check out prices of Hotel Zein.
We hired an electrical scooter (E Bike) for 9,000 kyat ($9 AUD) for a full day. Hotel Zein provides the E bikes so you don’t have to worry about trying to find a hire shop on the street.
Day 3 – 5 Bagan
Over the next 3 days we enjoyed exploring the remaining 2000 ancient pagodas and temples in Bagan.
To read more about Bagan which includes the best temples and pagodas to see check out our blog here.
We suggest hiring a E Bike and waking up early to watch the hot air balloons at sunrise. Spend your day exploring Bagan and see how many of the ancient pagodas and temples you can find. Did you know that there is still 2000 remaining? Some of our favourites were So Lay Gone Group, Let Put Kan, Shwesandaw Pagoda, Dhamma Yan Gyi Temple and Lemyethna White Pagoda.
Driving down random sandy roads on your E bike is the best way to discover hidden gems and experience Bagan. You could spend a whole week in Bagan exploring all the ruins. Read all about them here!
Want to edit your photographs like us? Head to our Presets store for all our preset collections or click on the products below.
Where to eat in Bagan?
Bagan has a wide selection of cuisine restaurants and local shops, so finding good food is easy. Prices can range from 2,000 to 8,000 kyat per person ($2-$8 AUD). Here are our favourite places to eat.
The Moon, Be kind to animals: The best vegetarian restaurant in Bagan. All their dishes are tasty, guilt-free and great value for money. We ate there twice for dinner and both times we ordered the springs rolls and curry. You can’t eat a bad meal at this restaurant. We loved the outdoor dining and fairy lights. There are bean bags, small stools and then you have your typical table and chairs. A very nice atmosphere and we highly recommend going there for dinner. Vegan options available.
La Terrazza: When we felt like something a little different we were so happy to find an Italian restaurant in Bagan. The chef makes delicious pizzas and pastas, she also comes out and asks how your meal was. I had the vegan cashew Gnocchi and brushetta. There is also a great wine selection and vegan options available.
Moe Pyae San Vegetarian Restaurant: For cheap, local food this small locally run restaurant ticked all the boxes and it was only around the corner from our hotel in Nyaung U. Here was the first time we tried local Burmese food. I ordered a yummy tofu stir fry, coconut rice and the traditional salad. All up for 3 meals and 2 juices it came to 6,000 kyat ($6 AUD). Vegan options available.
Day 5. Bagan – Mandalay
Its your last morning in Bagan so don’t waste it. Wake up for sunrise and explore Bagan one last time before you make your way to the third destination on your ultimate Myanmar itinerary- MANDALAY!
Mandalay is the second-largest city in Myanmar and it’s easy to get there from Bagan via bus. You can book bus tickets online via Scale Tour. A bus ticket costs $16 USD per person and includes hotel pick up and drop off. The bus company is OK Express Bus and takes approximately 5- 6 hours to get to Mandalay city. The trip to mandalay is bumpy but the reclining chairs do help on the some what short bus trip. The bus departs Bagan at 1 pm and arrives to Mandalay 6:30 pm. To reserve your bus seats click here to Myanmar click here.
Where to stay in Mandalay?
Hotel Friendship is located in the city centre but doesn’t come with an expensive price tag. The staff are friendly, the prices are very affordable and the location is close to many restaurants, shops and cafes.
A superior double room costs approximately $29 AUD a night with breakfast included. Click here to check out prices of Hotel Friendship.
Where to eat in Mandalay?
Mandalay has many food options available in the city. Our top recommendations for vegetarian/vegan food are listed below.
Cafe Nova: A 2 story cafe inspired by Starbucks with open glass window and views of the street. Cafe Nova serves Burmese cuisine and also Western food. It also has a few vegan options like soy milk. The matcha green tea and Vietnamese rice paper rolls are a must try.
Aye Myit Tar Myanmar Restaurant: This restaurant was also recommended to us for the variety of vegetarian options. The restaurant serves a mixture of Burmese, Indian, curry dishes with rice, salads, soups, vegetables and meat. Its all you can eat and the staff come around and fill up your empty plates for you.
Day. 6 Mandalay
Mandalay is very picturesque and has some of the most iconic monuments and buildings in all of Myanmar. It’s famous for being the old royal capital of Myanmar and is considered the center of Burmese culture.
There is so much to see in Mandalay and if you don’t hire a scooter we would recommend to hire a driver for the day. We were recommend a driver named Jojo who lived in Mandalay by our friends. We hired him for the whole day starting at sunrise.
For sunrise head to Hsinbyume Pagoda. It is named after a princess who died in childbirth and was built in 1816. It was completed in 1819 and restored in 1874 after suffering earthquake damage. Conveniently located just up the road is Mingun Pahtodawgy. A huge incomplete monument stupa which are the remains of a massive construction project. The best side to take photo is the back of the building and when walking around you might be lucky to meet a few young monks.
Mandalay boast the nation’s highest density of monks so it’s the perfect city to visit a Monastery or Monk School. We visited the famous Aung Myae Oo Monastic Education Center. It’s a great insight to see what education at a Monastery is like, walk through the classrooms, chat to the young monks and learn the importance of Buddhism in the country. The school was founded in 2003 by the Buddhist monk Ven Vilasa and had 31 children attending. Today over 2600 children attend Aung Myae Oo. The best part is watching all the children playing on the play ground.
A must see is the beautiful U Min Thonze Pagoda (meaning ’30 Caves’) U Min Thonze is a temple complex famed for its crescent-shaped colonnade of 45 buddha images. The outside wall of the pagoda is decorated in beautiful pastel colours and the details have been coated in gold.
Be amazed by the “World’s Largest Book” Kathowdaw Pagoda. The golden temple is surrounded by hundreds of stone tablets that comprise the “world’s largest book.” Each ‘page’ is a marble slab about 150 x 100 cm, inscribed with instructions on how a Buddhist should lead a moral life.
For the best sunset views head up to Mandalay Hill for views over Mandalay City. On the way up to the view piont check out the small local shops selling local gifts, clothes and scarfs. It’s a great place to meet local monks who love chatting and practicing their English.
For more inspiration on “Best things to do in Mandalay” check out our free guide here.
Day 7. Mandalay – Inle Lake
If you haven’t seen a sunrise over U Bein Bridge while in Mandalay, do yourself a favour and go see one. U Bein Bridge is probably the most iconic sites in all of Mandalay and it stretches from Mandalay to Amarapura. The bridge is made of wood and is famous for being the longest teak bridge in the world. It has been reinforced in places so that it doesn’t collapse.
For 15,000 kyat ($15 AUD) you can hire a small boat and be rowed out into the water to watch the sunrise. Being on the calm lake is the best spot to watch the sunrise and appreciate all the beauty.
How to get to Inle Lake?
There are a number of ways to get to Inle Lake from Mandalay. Night and day buses run everyday. The only full-size buses run at night, which means you will be arriving into Inle Lake at 3:30 am-5:30 am. The day buses are small minivan shuttles with not much space. Both take about 6-8 hours.
There are Flights from Mandalay to Inle Lake. The nearest airport to Inle Lake is the Heho airport (HEH), which is 46 kilometers from Nyaung Shwe (the main town of Inle lake) Taxis from the airport to Inle Lake take 45 minutes and cost around 20,000 kyat depending on your negotiating skills.
Another option if you would prefer to leave at a different time is to hire a driver. You can hire a private driver to take you to/from Inle Lake and you’ll be on your own time schedule. Although this is the more expensive option you do have the freedom to stop along the way and take photos as you drive through the mountains.
Our private driver JoJo
We contacted our driver Jojo who we hired in Mandalay and asked if he would drive us to Inle Lake. For the full day and also the long drive to Inle Lake from Mandalay Jojo’s price was 130,000 kyat ($130AUD)
If you are wanting a reliable driver contact Jojo on his Whats app number +95 9 792 897853
On the way to Inle Lake we stopped at local waterfalls and the Blue Lake. We weren’t expecting it to be so blue, unfortunately you cant swim in the lake because its believed that a dragon lives in the lake. The drive through the mountains to Inle Lake was very scenic.
Where to stay in Inle lake?
When arriving at the town of Inle Lake– Nyuang-Shwe town there is a 15,000 kyat entry fee per person to the lake, charged by the government.
At Inle Lake there are 2 areas to stay Nyuang-Shwe town and Inle Lake. Nyuang-Shwe town is the main town and has lots of shops and restaurants, it is the best area to stay in our opinion. The town is only a short walk from the main jetty where boats depart for Inle lake tours. Inle lake is located 5 km from the main town of Nyuang-Shwe and accomodation on the Lake is more expensive.
Mothers Home Hotel is a beautiful hotel with an amazing roof top breakfast. Reading the reviews we understand why it has such a great rating. The staff are lovely, the breakfast is delicious and the staff can organise tours and buses from the hotel.
When we arrived at 6pm the staff booked us straight onto a full day tour on Inle lake for the next morning. The private boat tour all day cost only $35 USD.
Double rooms at Mother Home Hotel cost approximately $26 AUD per night with breakfast included. Click here to book your stay at Mothers Home hotel.
Day 8. Inle Lake boat tour is a must do on your Myanmar Itinerary!
The number one must do when visiting Inle Lake is a boat tour. It’s the best way to see the local culture, floating gardens, floating markets, visit local hand craft shops and get an understanding of life on the lake. Its a unique experience you must not miss, it was one of the best experiences of our whole trip.
Inle Lake is known for its unique fishing technique of the Intha fisherman. The 1 legged fisherman are what attracts people from all over the world and is the main reason why people visit Inle Lake. The leg-rowing is a traditional fishing technique of the Intha men and is believed to date back to the 12th century. The technique has been passed down from generation to generation and is still practiced on Inle Lake.
Inle Lake village life
Best things to do on Inle Lake include visiting the Tuang Toe markets, watch how the local women make clothing out of lotus, silk and cotton at Inn Paw Khone Silk and Lotus Weaving. Learn how cigars are hand rolled at Nang Pang cigar, watch how silver is hand made into jewellery from the family run Ywa Ma Silver Smith. See the famous buddha leaves at the Buddhist Phaung Daw Oo pagoda.
Be inspired by the women from the Padaung tribe – a subgroup from the larger Kayan tribe. Women of the tribe are well known for wearing brass rings around their necks to give them the illusion of being elongated. You will want to add this unique town to your Myanmar Itinerary.
Stop at a restaurant on the lake and enjoy lunch with a view, watch locals passing through and women selling items from their boats. After lunch drive to the Shwe Inn Thein pagoda, a group of Buddhist pagodas and stupas built in the 17th and 18th century. See how fruit and vegetables are grown on the lake at the floating gardens.
For more inspiration on Best things to do in Inle Lake, check out our full article to help you make the most out of your trip.
Day 9. Inle Lake – Hpa An
Time to say goodbye to Inle Lake and make your way to Hpa An. There is so much more to do in Inle Lake if you do decide to stay longer. You can explore the area by hiring a bicycle, book in for a massage, check out the local gym, see more pagodas or check out the winery. Read more about Inle Lake here.
There is only one bus that departs Inle Lake to Hpa An and it departs at 4:30pm and arrives the next morning about 7am in Hpa An. The staff at Mothers Home Hotel rang and booked us a ticket. A smaller truck came and picked us up before dropping us at the bus station. The bus is large with reclining chairs but doesn’t come with USD chargers.
The over night bus from Inle Lake to Hpa An costs 26,000 kyat pp ($26AUD) and includes pick up from the hotel in Inle Lake.
Where two stay in Hpa An?
If you want to stay central to the town, shops and bus stations we would recommend staying at Golden Palace Hotel. The hotel is only 300 meters from the bus station and is a popular one with other travellers. Golden Palace can organise scooters, tours and bus tickets. Once we checked in we organised a scooter for 8,000 kyat a day ( $8 AUD). The hotel also lets you check into your room as soon as you arrive from the night bus.
For one night a superior double room cost $29 AUD with breakfast included. Click here to book your stay at Golden Palace Hotel.
Day 10. Hpa An
There is much going on in the small magical town of Hpa An. Explore the town by foot, check out the small stalls and markets. Hire a scooter and ride around Thanlyin River and the surrounding lush countryside. This town is a must see on your Myanmar itinerary. There is a sudden change in scenery as soon as you arrive in Hpa An. Beautiful lush green rice fields and mountains make you feel like you have landed in a completely different country.
If you have travelled to Hpa An on the night bus from Inle Lake like we did you should arrive around 7 AM. Depending if the hotel is busy and your room is available, you may be able to check into your room straight away and have a nap.
For the best sunset hike that is easy check out Hpa-Pu Hill, which is only 20 minutes across the river on scooter. The hike takes approximately 15 minutes until you reach the first platform. The views of Hpa An town, farming fields and mountains are incredible. The rest of the hike to the Golden pagoda is not recommended as the bamboo ladder and walk way has eroded and is unsafe. We were the only ones up there and we had uninterupted views of the sunset.
Where to eat in Hpa An?
Wadee restaurant serves Burmese and Thai food with great vegan options. I ordered Pad Thai, Vietnamese rice paper rolls, orange juice and Max ordered watermelon juice, vegetable fried noodle and a small serving of fruit. Can you believe that all this was only for 10,000 kyat ($ 10 AUD)
Bamboo House serves great meals and has a really cool vibe because all the seating is outside. For 2 smoothies and 2 vegetable friend rice we paid only 12,000 kyat ($12 AUD)
Veranda Youth Community Cafe serves the BEST breakfast and also helps to contribute to the local youth community. We ordered avocado on toast, avocado salad, pancakes and 2 cappuccinos. There coffee is amazing and they have soy milk options. We loved the outdoor seating and garden. Our breakfast only came 10, 000 kyat ($10 AUD)
Day 11. Hpa An – Yangon
For our last morning we went to the best sunrise hike in Hpa An, Tuang Wine Pagoda. If you want incredible 360 landscape views of Hpa An and you are an adventure seeker than this is for you. We left our hotel just before 5 am in the morning and headed out on our scooter in the dark. The drive takes 25 minutes from the city center to the base of Taung Wine Mountain.
Hike up Tuang Wine Mountain
The hike up is reasonably steep with rock carved steps all the way until the start of the steel staircase up the top. For most of the hike there is a bamboo rail to help with the climb up and down. The hike up takes approximately 40- 60 minutes depending on your fitness. If you want to make it up for sunrise take a head torch with you and give yourself 1 hour to allow for rest and water breaks. Take lots of water with you and if you take a plastic bottle don’t leave it up there. The amount of plastic bottles up there was terrible. Standing on the steel stair case makes for an incredible shot with the mountains and sunrise in the back.
Bus from Hpa An to Yangon
Local busses depart from Hpa An to Yangon every two hours. You can buy bus tickets from small stands in town and from across the bus stop. The local bus to Yangon runs every 2 hours and costs only 5500 kyats ($5.50 AUD). The bus trip took approximately 6 -7 hours, stopping for lunch on the way.
Once you arrive at the main bus port in Yangon there are many taxis waiting to take you to your hotel. If your staying close to town its about a 20 minute drive. Always remember to use your GRAB app to book your transport or use it to help with negotiating the price.
Where to stay in Yangon?
Unfortunately we only had one night left on our Myanmar trip. We booked a night at the Hotel H Valley. The location is perfect if you want to stay close to Yangon famous Shwedagon Pagaoda.
A double room costs approximately $40 AUD with breakfast included. Click here to book your room at Hotel H Valley.
Day 12. Yangon, our last day on our Myanmar itinerary.
Yangon is a beautiful, impressive city and there are so many things to see and do. Explore its history, visit colonial buildings, museums, art galleries and local markets.
Don’t miss out on seeing a sunrise or sunset over Shwedagon Pagoda, also known as the Golden Pagoda. The gold pagoda is Yangon’s most famous landmark. The elegant 99 Meter tall gold plated stupa is topped with a diamond studded hti.
For our last morning in Yangon we woke up for sunrise and made our way to the beautiful Shwedagon Pagoda. Only a 20 minute walk from our hotel or a 3 minute taxi ride. We didn’t realize it was Sunday mass which is one of the busiest days of the week. Hundreds of locals, monks and visiters from all over come to visit, pray at Shwedagon Pagoda or just take in the atmosphere.
Entry into the Pagoda is 10,000 kyat ($10 AUD).
Home time, the end of your Myanmar Itinerary.
12 days definitely isn’t enough time to experience all of Myanmar but our Myanmar Itinerary is enough to get you started and cover the best places to see. Of course if you have more time you could spend longer in some of these destinations. You can add more places onto your Myanmar itinerary like Ngelapi Beach, Mount Popa, Pyin U Lwin, Ngwe Saung and Mount Kyaiktiyo.
Immersing ourselves it the Myanmar culture not only opened our eyes, it also broadened our minds towards their beliefs and traditions that have stood the test of time. Myanmar has been a country like no other and is so different from anywhere else in Asia. It could be because it has been able to maintain its unique charm and stay unaffected by tourists. We hope you have the chance to visit while it still remains like that.
Thank you for reading our Ultimate 12 day Myanmar itinerary. We hope you find this blog helpful and that it has inspired you to visit Myanmar.
Enjoyed this post? Why not pin it for later.
