Now that Myaymar has finally opened up to accepting foreign visitors after a decade and half of isolation, this is the perfect opportunity to visit this diverse, culturally rich country. Why consider Myanmar as your next destination? The people, the culture, the charming architecture, the local experience… and the list goes on.
Myanmar, formerly known as Burma, is the largest country in South East Asia and is bordered by China, Laos, Thailand, India, and Bangladesh. Myanmar is divided into seven states: Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Kayin, Mon, Rakhine, and Shan.
Like Philippines, Myanmar was taken over by countries like Great Britain & Japan but eventually achieved its independence. The new capital is Naypyidaw (or Nay Pyi Taw) while the largest city is Yangon. Planning on paying a visit to its new capital? Naypidaw is just a five hour drive from Yangon.
With a great diversity, Myanmar is composed of seven main ethnic groups–Burman, Karen, Shan, Han Chinese, Mon, Yangbe, and Kachin.
This post is about my one week itinerary in Myanmar, which enabled me to visit four big cities–Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, and Nyaung shwe where Inle Lake is located.
| Item Description |
PHP |
USD |
|
| Air Fare: Air Asia
– Roundtrip (Manila to Yangon) / person – With 20 kg check-in luggage (Manila to Yangon; Yangon to Manila) |
P16,048 | $321.90 | PHP to USD to KYAT
$ 1= 49.83 =1355 KS |
| Accommodation | |||
| YANGON:
Hotel Lavender (1 Room, 2 NIGHTS) |
P4,494.96 | $90.18 | |
| BAGAN:
Thazin Garden Hotel (1 Room, 2 Nights) |
P7,451.46 | $149.50 | |
| MANDALAY:
Ace Star Bnb Backpackers Hostel (2 Beds, All Female Dormitory; 2 Nights) |
P2,030 | $40.72 | |
| NYAUNG SHWE (INLE):
Aung Mingalar Hotel (1 Room, 2 Nights) |
P1,709 | $34.28 | |
|
TOTAL |
P31,733.42 | $636.58 |
|
DAY 1 |
|||
| ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION | INFORMATION | FEES |
TIME |
| HOTEL LAVENDER CHECK-IN
LATE BREAKFAST |
10am – 12:30 pm | ||
| Mahi Wizaya Pagoda | 0 Kyat | 1:00 – 2:00 pm | |
| Circular Train (Yangon Railway Central Station) | 3 hour journey ride around Yangon | 200 kyat (P7 / $0.14) | 2:30 – 5:30 pm |
| Shwedagon Pagoda | Longyi is available for rent at ticketing center
(Deposit Money: 3,000 Ks) |
10,000 kyat | 7:00 – 8:30 pm |
| Dinner: House of Memories |
MAHI WIZAYA PAGODA
CIRCULAR TRAIN
|
DAY 2 |
|||
| ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION | INFORMATION | FEES |
TIME |
| BREAKFAST AT HOTEL | |||
Yangon Day Tour:
|
Day tour arranged by Aung-Aung; car service is provided | $30 / person | 8:30 am – 6:00pm |
| HOTEL CHECKOUT | |||
Aung Mingalar Bus Station
|
Departure: 8:00 pm
Arrival : 5:30 am |
KARAWEIK PALACE
INDEPENDENCE PARK
| DAY 3 | |||
| ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION | INFORMATION | FEES | TIME |
| THAZIN GARDEN HOTEL CHECK-IN & HOTEL BREAKFAST | 8:00 am – 10:00am | ||
Bagan Half Day Tour:
|
Day tour arranged by Thazin Garden front office staff; car service is provided | 15,000 kyat ($11) / person
|
1:00 pm – 7:00 pm |
| Dinner: Be Kind to Animals |
| DAY 4 | |||
|
ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION |
INFORMATION |
FEES |
TIME |
| Bagan Sunrise and Hotair Balloon Sightseeing
|
Car service is arranged by Thazin Garden front office staff | 7,500 kyat ($5.53) / person | 5:30am- 7:30 am |
Bagan Full Day Tour:
|
Day tour arranged by Thazin Garden front office staff; car service is provided | 30,000 kyat ($22) / person | 10:30am-5:00 pm |
| Lunch: Treasure Café & Restaurant | |||
| HOTEL DROP OFF | |||
| DINNER & HOTEL CHECK OUT | |||
Bagan Bus Station
|
Departure: 8:30 pm
Arrival: 1:00am |
Bagan Sunrise and Hotair Balloon Sightseeing
Meet Ba Soe, a local painter we met at Dhammayazika Pagoda
| DAY 5 | |||
|
ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION |
INFORMATION |
FEES |
TIME |
| ACE STAR BNB BACKPACKERS CHECK IN | 1:30 am | ||
Mandalay Morning Tour:
|
Mandalay Day tour arranged by Lar Sett of Ace Star Bnb Backpackers Hostel; car service is provided | 8: 30am-12:30 pm | |
| Boat Ride to Iniwa Island | 5 minute boat ride | 1,400 kyat ($1.03) / person | 1:30 – 4:30 pm |
| Horse Ride around Iniwa Island | Horse cart ride is the best way to explore Iniwa island; tour is good for 3 + hours | 10,000- 15,000 kyat ($7.38 – 11.07) for the entire horse carriage rental | |
Iniwa Island Tour:
|
Entrance Fee to Maha: 10,000 kyat ($7.38) / pax |
||
Mandalay Afternoon Tour:
o U-Bein Bridge (aka Awa Sky Bridge o Sunset at U –Bein Bridge
|
5:00 – 6:30 pm | ||
| HOTEL DROP OFF & CHECKOUT | |||
Mandalay Bus Station
|
Departure: 8:30 pm
Arrival: 4:00 am |
Hsinbyume Pagoda
U-BEIN Bridge. Watch out!
| DAY 6 | |||
|
ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION |
INFORMATION |
FEES |
TIME |
| AUNG MINGALAR Hotel Check | 4:30am | ||
| Boat Ride to Inle Lake | Arranged by the hotel
Boat ride travel from Nyaung Shwe to Inle is 1 hour |
10,000 kyat / person | 9:00 am-10:00am |
Inle Lake Boat Tour
|
Tourists entering Nyaung Shwe via Bus must pay for “Inle Zone” entrance fee which I paid prior to entering Nyaung Shwe. Keep the ticket! | 13,500 kyat / person | |
| Boat ride back to NYAUNG SHWE | |||
| Hotel Check out | |||
Nyaung Shwe Bus Station
|
Departure: 6:45pm
Arrival: 7:30am(NEXT DAY) |
Local fisherman on Inle Lake
The Kayan Lahwi “long neck” women of Kayan Tayar
| DAY 7 | |||
|
ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION |
INFORMATION | FEES |
TIME |
| Agga BED & BREAKFAST CHECK-IN | |||
Yangon Half Day Tour :
|
National Museum:
– Take note December 30 & 31 are Gazetted holidays and the museum is usually close.
|
Museum:
|
|
| HOTEL CHECK OUT | |||
| YANGON AIRPORT |
BOGYOKE AUNG SAN MARKET
If you want to have a more relaxed experience in Myanmar, you can stretch out your visit to two weeks or longer. However, with one week it is possible to see most of Myanmar’s most sought tourist destinations and the major four cities–but with a really hectic schedule if you consider this itinerary.
I have a list of local buses I highly recommend. You might want to check this post – “Myanmar Bus: The chosen transportation.”
Questions? Concerns? Leave a comment below.
turistangdentista.com 
Thanks for the guide. Do you think it’s still wise to go with the current political climate?
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Hello Zac! Personal experience, foreigners like us didn’t have any problems or issues during our visit. There are no-go zones which indicates these areas are unsafe.
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Ok thanks for clarifying – did you see any signs of unrest?
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Nope. Oh, the NO-Go areas are pretty far from the major cities where tourists mostly visit.
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