7 reasons you should drop everything and visit Myanmar right now

Beautiful culture abounds in Myanmar. | Photo by GettingStamped.com

The culture
The fact that Myanmar was relatively closed off to the rest of the world for the past few decades means that traditional cultural practices are still very much alive. As soon as you land in Yangon, you’ll know you’re in a very special place: Maroon-clad monks walk the streets and fill the city’s many temples, while women and children still wear traditional white Thanaka paste on their cheeks as they have since the 14th century. Myanmar is a bit of a cultural time capsule where the rich traditions are still kept well into the 21st century.

There’s nothing like a sunrise in Bagan Myanmar | Photo by GettingStamped.com

Sunrises & sunsets
During the main tourism months of winter, the warm humid air creates a haze in the sky that allows the colors at the beginning and end of the day to linger in pastel shades of pink and orange perfection. The soft light during these times seems to make everything in Myanmar glow. Although equally beautiful, there is a certain peacefulness to the sunrise. The distant chants of monks coming from the temples are one of the only sounds you’ll hear as the city begins to wake up. Witnessing the sun come up in a place like historic Bagan is something you need to experience for yourself.

The late afternoon sun over one of Bagan’s many temples | Photo by GettingStamped.com

Amazing temples and pagodas
The biggest draw for most visitors to Myanmar are the intricate temples in cities like Bagan. Constructed over one thousand years ago, these beautiful brick and stone temples are truly remarkable. What makes them even more intriguing is the sheer number of them. Pagodas and temples seem to be just about everywhere you look. In Bagan alone, there are over 2,200 separate sites. The temples are protected by UNESCO, but right now you can still visit and explore them all inside and out (this will likely change in the coming years). When planning your Myanmar itinerary, we suggest at least 3 nights in Bagan. 

Your friends will ask, “You went where?” | Photo by GettingStamped.com

“You went where?”
Most of your friends probably couldn’t find Myanmar on a map. If you tell them where you’ve been, they’ll look at you like you’re Christopher Columbus. Then you can show them pictures and blow them away even further. There’s just something great about this to those of us deeply infected with the travel bug.

Come explore the beautiful Inle Lake in central Myanmar | Photo by GettingStamped.com

Traditional life on Inle Lake
Another postcard-worthy scene in Myanmar is the traditional fishermen. They paddle their boats by foot with a wooden paddle tangled around their leg. Their peculiar propulsion methods have become the source of wonder for visitors. In addition to serving fishermen, the lake is as used as a giant hydroponic farm. An early morning trip will yield views of local farmers tending to their small plots of crops. The fishermen pictured above were fishing right by the Amata Garden Resort; we highly suggest staying at a hotel right on the lake.

A balloon ride over Bagan is a magical experience. | Photo by GettingStamped.com

Hot air balloons
Does it get any more epic that floating silently over ancient temples aboard a hot air balloon? We’re pretty sure it doesn’t, but to make this even more memorable, the flights take off at sunrise when the skies are soft pinks and oranges. The old city of Bagan is the most famous place to take a ride, although Inle Lake is an emerging destination to take a flight and it’s honestly even more magical than Bagan. If you’re on your honeymoon in Myanmar nothing is more romantic. Jump in a balloon with Oriental Ballooning and soar 10,000 feet above the lake, which is situated in a valley between two ranges of rugged mountains at sunrise. Yes, it’s just as epic as it sounds.

Come see Myanmar now, one of the world’s best-preserved destinations | Photo by GettingStamped.com

Limited time only
The reality is that Myanmar won’t be like this forever. In fact, it’s already changing. Those changes are signs of progress and are good for the Burmese people, but will inevitably alter the country and your travel experience. If you want to catch a glimpse into the past, book a ticket to Myanmar sooner than later.