Only just emerging after decades of isolation, Myanmar is the most unspoiled destination in Southeast Asia. From the time-warped, colonial-era townscape of former capital Yangon to the deserted tropical beaches of the newly accessible far south, things are moving fast – visit now before it all changes. Use our map of Myanmar below to start planning your trip to this timeless and endlessly varied country.
Catch the sunset over the magnificent Buddhist temples of Bagan, a complex spanning sixty-seven square kilometres with more than two thousand structures. Trek through swathes of tea plantations, passing minority villages en route from Kalaw to shimmering Inle Lake in Shan State. Drift down the mighty Ayeyarwaddy River on a slow boat and get a taste of life in the provinces.
A beautiful and culturally rich country cursed for decades with a brutally oppressive regime, Myanmar (Burma) has in recent years been making headlines for its tentative steps towards democracy. Following the softening and then removal of a fifteen-year tourism boycott led by the National League for Democracy – Myanmar’s leading political opposition party – tourist numbers have swollen but the infrastructure has not yet grown to accommodate them all. Although this means that finding a cheap bed is harder than before, it does make this a fascinating time to discover Myanmar’s glittering golden stupas, bountiful rice fields, enigmatic ruined temples and picturesque mountain paths. Most memorable of all, though, are the encounters with people eager to introduce foreigners to their country and their culture. What remains to be seen is whether today’s modest political reforms translate into lasting change.
