Myanmar Travel, Backpacking & Gap Year Guide
There has never been a better time to visit Myanmar (Burma), this country is becoming more and more popular with travellers and there are so many amazing destinations. Get information, advice and inspiration for the best things to do if you would like to travel, go backpacking or take a gap year in Myanmar.
Myanmar Travel Ideas, Backpacking Trips & Gap Year Programs
Travel to Myanmar
With One World 365 you can discover a beautiful country which is still not over populated with tourists.
Our Myanmar destination guide aims to give you all the information you need to have an amazing experience in this amazing country. Find affordable travel and backpacking ideas with advice for amazing things to do and how you can be more than just your average traveller. You can also get recommendations for places to stay and how visit Myanmar on a budget.
Find inspiration for the best things to do if you would like to book a holiday, travel or go backpacking in Myanmar.
- Capital: Naypyidaw
- Currency: Kyat (MMK)
- Size: 678,500km²
- Population: 61,121,000 (approx)
- Language: The official language or Myanmar is Burmese but some people also speak Shan dialects, Kayin, Mon, Chinese dialects (Hokkien, Cantonese), Hindi, Tamil. Not many people speak English so it is advised you learn some local phrases to help your during your stay
Top Reasons to Travel to Myanmar
- Authentic experience
- A lot less touristy than Thailand and other places in Asia
- Ancient temples
- Spectacular scenery
- Friendly locals
- Lots of things to see and do
- Great value for money
Best Places to Visit in Myanmar
Looking to go travelling or backpacking in Myanmar? These are some highlights of Burma you might want to see:
Bagan Temples
Bagan is one of the most iconic and stunning places in the whole of Asia, expect hundreds of Buddhist temples scattered across a vast space. The view, and pictures you will get will be incredible. We highly recommend either sunrise or sunset, you can also ride a hot-air balloon to get a better view from above.
Inle Lake
Inle Lake is undoubtably one of the highlights of Asia which is often described as Heaven on earth. There is the option to walk, cano or cycle your way around the lake where you can see floating farms and little villages surrounding the lake.
Yangon
Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, is a great city to explore. There are lots of culutral ights and also pretty colonial buildings due to being an ex British colony. Places you must visit include Singuttara Hill and Shwedagon Pagoda.
Other
- Mandalay including Golden Palace Monastery
- Kuyuk Taw Gyi Pagoda
- Kuthodaw Pagoda
- Mahamuni Temple
- Village of Mingun
- Spiritual centre of Burma at Sagaing
- Ancient city of Amarapura
- Pyin Oo Lwin
- Irrawaddy river boat
- Bagan archaeological zone
- Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery
- Nyaung Shwe
- Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda
- Nge Phe Chaung Monastery
- Shwedagon Pagoda
Travelling & Backpacking in Myanmar
Myanmar was in isolation for decades but now the country is welcoming a new era and we highly recommend arriving before the tourist crowds and gentrification happens. Myanmar offer so many experiences to travellers, you will get to see ancient temples, learn more about the local culture, mix with local people and also get off the beaten track to see rural areas of the country.
Expect a country of diverse landscapes, spectacular temples in places like Bagan and also a really relaxing way of life. We have a selection of activity and small group adventure holidays which are perfect if you would like an authentic experience, get to travel like a local, do more than just sightseeing and also have a lot of fun! Myanmar is welcoming a new age of democracy and there has never been a better time to visit.
Gap Year in Myanmar
A great adventure is awaiting in Myanmar, previously known as Burma, which is the perfect place to visit if you want to escape the crowds of tourists. Myanmar is now one of the most up and coming Asia gap year destinations in the world and now is the perfect time to explore the country.
Myanmar will give you an insight into how people travelled through Asia before the era of globalisation and mass tourism. Here you will find thousands of beautiful temples waiting to be discovered and an abundance of golden Buddhas. You will be able to relax on beautiful sandy beaches, trek through pine forests and visit rural villages and hitherto little-known ancient cultures.
We list programs for students, graduates, career breaks and people seeking a new challenging experience. If you would like to discover more of Myanmar than book an experience through our website where you can see the highlights, hidden gems and learn more about the culture of the country.
Some of the top attractions to visit in Myanmar include Shwedagon Pagoda, this is the most important Buddhist shrine and the pure gold structure stands at a massive 98m tall. To pack even more adventure, take the road to Mandalay to visit Myanmar’s former imperial capital. This exciting jungle road will take you to the centre of Burmese culture so you can discover a great deal more about the history of the country.
