Essential Tips for Backpacking in Myanmar

Backpacking in Myanmar is not difficult or expensive if you know how. Mytour shares tips for this attractive Southeast Asian backpacking journey through 5 cities and towns. Full information on each route, step-by-step guide for a 10-day trip in Myanmar.

Explore more:

>> The most authentic facts about Myanmar

>> Guide to getting a visa for Myanmar

>> Top 10 famous tourist attractions in Myanmar

Preparing before landing at Yangon International Airport.

1. Currency Exchange Rate

1 USD = 820 ~ 940 Kyat (Myanmar currency). The exchange rate fluctuates rapidly, and Myanmar currency is very old, but they only accept new 100 USD bills.

Avoid exchanging money at the airport as the rates are unfavorable. You can exchange at guesthouses, hotels, or some money changers at Boyoke Aung San Market. Be extremely cautious when exchanging money with mobile money changers on the street, never hand over your money first, count the Kyat carefully, and only hand over your USD when it's confirmed.

Taxi from Yangon airport to the city costs 10 USD for 2-3 people per car and USD is accepted.

3. Prepare Cash, Small Bills

You can prepare some small bills of 10, 20 USD in case Kyat is not available. Since there aren't many ATMs in Myanmar, carrying cash is still the most common way for travelers.

B/ Organizing the itinerary to must-visit attractions

1. Yangon: 2-3 days

– Yangon boasts numerous temples, with Shwedagon Pagoda being the most prominent. Perched atop a small hill, the pagoda is adorned with gold on every stupa. Inside, there are hundreds of Buddha statues and prayer halls. An intriguing feature is the 'cooling fan for the Buddha,' where one can pull a string to make the fan above the Buddha's head sway, dispelling all worries and anger from the mind.

– The museum within the temple grounds showcases flags adorned with numerous diamonds, rubies, gold rings, demonstrating the devotion of Myanmar Buddhists.

– The best time to visit Shwedagon is in the evening, as the sunset fades and the pagoda remains unchanged in color, glowing with a radiant gold hue. On days when devotees offer oil lamps, you can join in lighting one of the thousands of lamps at night, sitting peacefully somewhere to forget all the fatigue of daily life and the hurried atmosphere outside.

– Occasionally, some Myanmar locals or monks may approach you for a chat, some of whom may be seeking tips for the information they share, so be discerning and don't let them demand incessantly.

– Street food in Yangon is irresistibly delicious, especially skewered meat and offal, reminiscent of Vietnamese hotpot. You can indulge in various options like meat, liver, quail eggs, intestines, pork stomach, beef, all priced at only 5-10 kyat each. You can always sit down for tea by the roadside; the milk tea is also delightful.

– For lunch or dinner in Yangon, you can visit any local eatery offering interesting dishes like stewed meat, fish, or shrimp, albeit with a hint of spices like cinnamon.

– The cheapest accommodation in Yangon ranges from 5-8 USD for dormitory-style shared rooms to 10-20 USD for double rooms. Some well-known and relatively reputable guesthouses include Golden Smile Inn, Okinawa Guest House, Tokyo Guest House, and YMCA Yangon.

– Getting around the city is quite interesting with various options like buses (ticket price 200 kyat) or trucks (ticket price 200 kyat), and you can go anywhere on the map. You can inquire thoroughly with the conductors and drivers before boarding, as they all have a decent command of English.

Yangon Hotels

2. Bagan – 3 days

– From Yangon, you can take a bus to Bagan (departing at 3 PM) – priced at 20 – 25 USD (Ye Ther Aung company).

– No need to spend a lot on hiring a tuk-tuk or horse carriage, you can rent a bike (1,500 – 2,000 kyat/day) to explore various sites from Old Bagan, New Bagan to Nyang U. Moreover, while cycling, you can visit any temple you like.

– The world of over 4,000 temples can easily overwhelm you. Notable temples include Shwezigon (TK 11) in Nyang U, Ananda (TK11) and Thatbyinnyu (TK 12), Shwegugyi (TK 11) and Shwesandaw (TK11 – a beautiful sunset viewing spot) in Old Baga.

– During noon, you can also rest or even nap inside the cool temple premises. The eateries around the temples are also inexpensive, ranging from 2-5 USD.

Exciting activities in Bagan:

– Visit lacquerware workshops along the road from Old Bagan to New Bargan.

– Explore the local market to observe the peaceful life of Bagan's people. You can purchase thanaka sticks – a herbal paste popularly used as a natural skincare cream by Myanmar women and men.

– Have dinner at Nanda restaurant (7-10 USD) to watch puppet shows depicting Myanmar's culture, including the emergence of Nats – deities in Myanmar's religious culture.

– After enjoying the puppet show, head to Mount Popa – the birthplace of Nats protecting the people of Myanmar. It's an ancient volcano located 40km from central Bagan. At the mountaintop, there's a temple honoring the Nats, Buddha, with a beautiful view of the plains. Renting a mini pickup truck with a rear compartment costs around 35-40 USD, and it's advisable to gather 4-6 or more people to share the expenses.

3. Mandalay – 3 days

– To reach Mandalay from Bagan, an interesting option is to take a train along the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River, but you need to book in advance or contact your hostel or hotel in Bagan/Yangon for detailed information. You can arrange the itinerary in reverse by first traveling to Mandalay and then taking a train back to Bagan.

Mandalay, in contrast to Bagan, is busier and noisier, with a higher cost of living.

Interesting destinations in Mandalay:

– Shwenandaw Monastery with incredibly intricate carvings

– Kuthodaw Paya, the temple with the largest Buddhist scripture in the world, featuring 729 'stone tablets' carved from marble, which is extremely impressive.

– Mandalay Hill with a trek to the top to enjoy the sunset over the Ayeyarwady River

– Royal Palace

– Mahamuni Temple with a Buddha statue dressed in robes and an impressive hat adorned with a layer of gold leaves, 6 inches thick, applied by devotees over generations. The most special event is the 'face washing ceremony of the Buddha' held at 4 a.m., which you should definitely attend in a sacred atmosphere.

– U-bein Bridge and the Buddhist monastery in Amarapura. The lunchtime scene in the monastery is extremely impressive, with hundreds of monks lining up for their meal. You may encounter a monk studying and practicing here.

– Mingun Pagoda – just a half-hour boat ride from Mandalay upstream along the Ayeyarwady River takes you to a completely serene space. The pagoda, halfway constructed with visible fractures due to earthquakes, still looks impressive. It's a perfect time to relax and chat with the adorable Burmese children selling postcards.

– In the evening, you can participate in two activities: watching traditional dance performances at Mintha Theater or enjoying satirical comedy shows by the Moustache Brothers, performed by members of a performing family.

4. Inle Lake – 2 days

– From Yangon, Bagan, or Mandalay, you can all reach Inle Lake (Nyaungshwe).

• Yangon – Inle segment: approximately 15,000 kyats, 16-20 hours
• Bagan – Inle segment: approximately 11,000 kyats, 12 hours
• Mandalay – Inle segment: approximately 10,000 kyats, 10 hours

– Upon arrival in Nyangshwe, you can rent a popular long-tailed boat and take a tour around Inle Lake from morning till evening for 10,000 – 20,000 kyats. Usually, bargaining directly at the boat dock will be cheaper than in hotels or guesthouses.

– Inle is an ideal place to immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the 'lake sea' surrounded by verdant hills. Spend a day just boating on the lake, observing Myanmar men rowing with their feet, visiting Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, browsing souvenir shops, meeting long-necked women, buying a beautiful silk piece from a silk weaving village, navigating through floating tomato fields, and having lunch at a floating restaurant...

– If you choose to stay right on the lake, prices will be high, especially at resorts and floating hotels. Budget travelers often return to the town of Nyaungshwe near the lake, with room rates starting from 5-8 USD, such as Joy Hotel Guesthouse.

5. Bago – Kyaikhtiyo: 2 days

– Kyaikhtiyo or Golden Rock – the Golden Rock Pagoda is the most visited destination if you have less than 4 days in Myanmar, not only because of time constraints but also because of the uniqueness of the pagoda that attracts pilgrims and explorers alike.

– Allow at least 2 days to visit one of Myanmar's treasures, the Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda, perched precariously on a large boulder attached to the mountainside. The easiest way is to purchase a packaged tour to visit Bago and Kyaikhtiyo if time is limited, priced around 70-100 USD. If you prefer, from Yangon you can take a bus to Kim Pun (the nearest point to the Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda) for 7000 kyats. From Kim Pun, you'll need to take a crowded truck packed with tourists to get closer to the steep mountain peak for 1500 kyats.

– From the final stop of the truck, there's an additional 4km hike to reach the Golden Rock Pagoda, but it's a worthwhile journey to witness one of Myanmar Buddhism's masterpieces created by both humans and nature.

– It's not advisable to stay right at the foot of the mountain as prices are usually high. You can return to Kim Pun, stay in guesthouses priced at 5 – 8 USD, and catch an early bus back to Bago the next day.

– From Kyaikhtiyo, you can make a stopover in Bago, wandering through the ancient city's temples or local markets to buy souvenirs. Bago is an old capital with a very slow pace of life. Let everything sweep you away slowly in the final days in Myanmar.

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Source: Mytour Travel Guide – According to Baomoi/Ihay