Myanmar Overview

Travelling to Myanmar may give travellers (especially first timers) some challenges as this country has only recently opened its doors to foreign travelers and its tourism industry is very young. Nevertheless, you no need to worry about it with Incredible Asia Journeys’ Myanmar travel guide and Myanmar package tours. Use the below Myanmar travel guide to plan your trip to this tropical country before or after us arranging you the trip to better discover this attractive destination. Reading our Myanmar travel guide, including 6 clear parts of Myanmar Overview, Myanmar Weather and Climate, Myanmar Transportation, Myanmar Visa Guide, Myanmar Pre-Trip Preparation and Do & don't in Myanmar will not only give you the better understanding about this marvelous region but also inspire your upcoming trip with Incredible Asia Journeys

Myanmar Overview

Myanmar Overview

A Glance at MyanmarComing to Myanmar, which remains somewhat untouched and isolated in the eyes of the travelers, you can feel as if you are one of the first people to explore all that this beautiful and magical country has to offer. Having impressive scenery to exciting settlements, Myanmar is a magical country to visit!Myanmar has tropical monsoon climate with two distinct seasons – dry (from October through to May) and wet (from May/June through to early October).According to experienced travelers, the best time to travel to Myanmar is from November to February. At that time the weather is cooler so you can enjoy the tours in Myanmar for most of the destinations.4 Reasons Why You Should Visit Myanmar1. Myanmar has pagodas of all typesWhile Thailand is proud of Grand Palace, the Angkor Wat is the symbol of Cambodia, Myanmar is famous for a startling array of stupas, temples, and pagodas with the soaring, gleaming 2,500-year-old Shwedagon pagoda in Yangon being the outstanding one.  The glittering pagoda itself, which is also covered literally with hundreds of golden plates, making it a must-see site for avid photography connoisseurs, is the best reason to visit Myanmar. Other stunning religious sites to visit are: Maha Bodhi Ta Htaung, just outside Monywa, which is home to the second-largest reclining Buddha statue in the world as well as the second-largest standing Buddha statue; a temple atop the volcanic Mount Popa, which you can reach after climbing 777 steps and Kyaiktiyo - 2400 year-old miracle Golden Rock. Golden Rock2. Myanmar has exquisite cuisineUnique and special, Burmese cuisine, which is a fusion of flavors, ingredients, and dishes coming together to make this country one of the most coveted among foodies, is not widely found anywhere in the world, the USA, the Philippines, EU or even other Southeast Asian countries. From street food to fine restaurants, no matter where you go for meals in Myanmar, you will have a great dining experience. There are plenty of Myanmar’s culinary delights you should not miss. Those who crave something unique may opt for Burmese famous tea leaf salad called Laphet Thoke - an iconic salad of fermented tea leaves chock full of nuts and shrimp sauce, making for one of the world’s most interesting salads while those with a palate craving a unique main course may try Mohinga, a breakfast noodle dish with fish broth and crispy fried fritter things on top as well as Nangyi Thoke - a salad made with thick round rice noodles mixed with specifically prepared chicken curry.Myanmar Cuisine3. Hospitable BurmeseBurmese are considered as the friendliest and most welcoming people in the world. No matter where you find yourselves: in Yangon’s city center or in the jungle on the way to Inle Lake from Kalaw, you can easily find lovely Burmese, who are even willing to go out of their way, just to show you around their beautiful country.  No scams, no tricks: just warm-hearted people looking to chat not only to practice their English but also to offer a helping hand to tourists, who look just the slightest bit lost. Seeing locals approaching foreigners with a genuine smile, and a “hi”, “hello”, or “good day” is extremely refreshing on a continent where many travelers find themselves getting ripped off one way or another.Burmese in market4. Myanmar Is  CheapSoutheast Asia is home to amazing countries and cities, but it does not mean that all of you can afford to visit all of these. On the lookout for an affordable international destination, there is no better choice than Myanmar! It is said that Myanmar is one of the world’s cheapest places. Prices for a traditional meal in Burma are as cheap as 600 Kyat, transportation is affordable. However, doing the tours in Myanmar is still not cheap because the price for the accommodation, guide and other services are still high.Shwezigon Pagoda

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Myanmar Visa Guide

Myanmar Visa Guide

Foreign visitors to Myanmar must obtain a visa for Myanmar unless they are in the list of the countries having the visa exemption. Before you join in a Myanmar Tours, please read the following guideline about the visa to Myanmar for an enjoyable trip.Myanmar visa exemptions:The citizens of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Philippines, Singapore and Vietnam have visa exemption for 14 days when they visit Myanmar.  How to get the visa to Myanmar?+ Traveller can apply for a visa to Myanmar from Embassies/ Consulates abroad before entering Myanmar. + From 2014, Myanmar government has made it easy to get a tourist visa with the E – Visa program. Visitors to Myanmar can obtain the visa online easily especially the visitors from the countries without the Myanmar Embassy or Consulate. Please visit the E- Visa website of the Immigration Ministry (https://evisa.moip.gov.mm/ ) for an E – Visa application. Note: - Your passport must be valid at least for 6 months from your Myanmar departure date.- One COLOR PHOTO (4.8 cm X 3.8 cm) taken during last 3 months need to be uploaded. The photo with white background, no glasses, no facial expression will be accepted.- The processing for applying the E visa is normally up to 3 working days.- The tourist visa to Myanmar is single entry only valid for 28 days and costs USD$50.00. So tourists will need a new visa if you reentry Myanmar.- Currently, visitors holding the E-Visa are permitted to enter Myanmar through 3 main International Airports; Yangon, Mandalay, and Nay Pyi Taw airport. Therefore, you are not able to use the E- Visa for the land border crossing or travel via a seaport. - The E Visa is applied for the tourists to Myanmar only and not for the purpose of business, meetings purpose).- Sometimes, it takes time for to process your visa application. So do not apply for a visa to Myanmar too late. -  The validity of visa is only 90 days from the issued date of the arrival date. So do not apply for a visa to Myanmar too early:- The E Visa service for tourist is not refundable.-You will be required to show your passport with a valid visa at all the airports, hotels, resorts and train stations. Normally, that will be clearly visible at the security checkpoint outside of these tourist areas.Myanmar Visa

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Myanmar Weather and Climate

Myanmar Weather and Climate

Like much of Southeast Asia, Myanmar’s climate is generally tropical monsoon with two distinct seasons – a rainy season from mid-May to October with average temperature between 25°C and 30°C, due to the southwest monsoon, a cool and dry season from November to mid-February with average monthly temperatures of between 20°C and 24°C (a hot pre-monsoon season from mid-February to early or mid-May with average monthly temperatures between 30°C and 35°C). Temperatures can vary significantly in such a large country like Burma, which has a diamond-like shape and extends 2,100 km from north to south and 925km from east to west.  Like any other country, the hill stations, lake and foothills areas in Myanmar are cooler than the southern lowland and coastal regions.At higher altitudes, a portion of the Himalayan range in the far north has a climate that is milder and cooler with low humidity. In the Himalayan far north, Chin State in the west and parts of Shan State in the east, temperatures can get close to freezing, and they may drop below zero. Precipitation-wise in the monsoon season, some valleys and inland plains are almost arid while these areas along the coast and in the mountain slopes usually receive abundant rains. With heavy rains in the central area, which is home to the capital city, it is a bit cool in the monsoon season. The area along the coast has a warm climate all year round (but lower temperatures in the winter months of December and January in the northern part facing the Bay of Bengal), with very heavy summer rains. Rainy season in MyanmarWhat is the best time to visit Myanmar?Climate-wise, the best time for a Myanmar Tour is during the cool season from December to mid-February, when the weather is dry and sunny, the air is the clearest, it is hot in the capital and along the central and southern coast, but cool at night or even cold in inland areas. However, budget-wise, it is not an ideal choice as you will have to pay more for the same services in the low tourist season. The worst time to visit Myanmar is the months from February to the beginning of the rainy season - July and August, when most destinations in the country (particularly north of Yangon) can be dusty and hazy, sometimes hindering long-distance views. If you still desire to see how beautiful Myanmar is in the rainy season, the central plains (Mandalay, Myngyan, Magway), which are more sheltered from the monsoon are highly recommended places to visit; while the coasts, which receive heavy rains, are definitely inadvisable. For those who can put up with the heat and/or rain and want to have their own space to discover these popular destinations as well as easily book accommodation at good rates, the cool season is not the only great time.Hot Air balloon in Myanmar

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Myanmar Pre-Trip Preparation

Myanmar Pre-Trip Preparation

Traveling with Incredible Asia Journey means that your tickets and accommodation will be booked, your transportation and food as well will be prepared but not for all the places and not all the time. However, to make sure that your holiday will be a pleasant, safe, and enjoyable one, you have to prepare few things by yourselves.When you have good preparation for a trip to Myanmar you will enjoy more and avoid the unwanted problems. Read the Do and Don't to know what you should and what you should not do in this country. Learn more about the Myanmar weather and Myanmar transportation will help you a lot for spending a good time there. Below is some tips for Myanmar trip which may help you to prepare for your trip to Myanmar better.Preparation for Myanmar trip- Make sure that your Myanmar Visa is ready. Anyone wanting to get into this country must have a visa and passport with at least 6 months validity and visas must be arranged before going. A month of traveling is not possible for everyone.- Read Myanmar Travel Guide to have a general understanding about Myanmar.- Read your travel itinerary and ask your travel agent anything you don’t understand. Contact your local manager in country for any issue you may have while traveling-  Inform any health condition to travel agent (in case you get sick or tired) then they will reschedule your itinerary.-  Make sure your credit card will work in Myanmar or go to the bank to exchange your money into kyat (Myanmar Currency)- Ask your cell phone provider for an international data plan if you will need coverage whilst traveling.- Check the weather to bring along suitable clothes.- Check your departure flight and set alarm in case you forget.- Read up a bit about Myanmar before you leave and learn some of the most important words such as Hello: Ming-gu-la-bah and Thank you: Jay-zu-de-bar-dee.Myanmar Visa What to bring along for Myanmar trip?- Personal papers (passport, visas, travel insurance certificate, air tickets, tour voucher, etc). It is highly recommended to make a paper copy of your passport and driver's license, which are invaluable for replacing a lost passport.- Money (cash in US Dollar, cash in kyat, credit card, debit card, traveler’s cheques and money pouch)- Camera, batteries and extra memory cards- Cell phone, cell phone charger, and portable power bank- Medication (including a doctor’s letter if you are taking medicine under doctor’s prescription)- Laptop charger (if you are bringing your laptop)- First aid kit (bandage, aspirin, etc.)Kyat - Myanmar CurrencyWhat clothes/items to bring along for Myanmar trip?- Prescription glasses/contacts and if necessary, contact lens solution- Waterproof jacket / raincoat / umbrella- Insect repellent- Uncomplicated footwear- Comfortable clothing, either light or heavy options, depending on the season you are traveling. If you are visiting Inle or the Kalaw Highlands during the cooler months, thermals and a light fleece shell are must-pack items while sweater or light jacket are for Yangon.- Clothes suitable for visiting temples (long pants/skirts, long sleeved tops)What to prepare for Myanmar will depend on how long you spend for your trip, so please take your time for preparation for your trip with more information on the internet and ask our travel consultant for more information. Enjoy your trip with Incredible Asia Journeys!What to wear in Myanmar

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Myanmar Transportation

Myanmar Transportation

With plenty of opportunities to mix with the locals and take in the scenery, it is never less than fascinating to get around Myanmar, which is hot on the Southeast Asia travel trail right now. Please learn more about the Myanmar Transportation information for the better time when you take part in a Myanmar Tour.How to access Myanmar?If you find it too tiring and complicated to experience an amazing journey to enter Myanmar overland from Thailand, China, India and Bangladesh, flying should be a great alternative. Almost everyone arrives in Myanmar at either Yangon International Airport or Mandalay International Airport, which have adequate facilities to handle larger jets. Those traveling from China, Hong Kong, India, Singapore, and Thailand can fly directly into Mandalay International Airport while Nay Pyi Taw International Airport is the final destination for tourists departing from China and Thailand. Yangon International Airport is for most international flights.Flying to a regional hub such as Singapore or Bangkok is the best and cheapest way to get access to Myanmar from outside the country. Myanmar Airways International- the international flag carrier serves only cities within Asia. Current routes within Asia include limited connections between Dehong, Kunming and Bangkok and Mandalay and flights from Phnom Penh, Siem Reap Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and Bangkok to Yangon. How to get around in Myanmar?Slow, loud and dirty transportation makes getting around Myanmar a funny thing to experience. Transportation in Myanmar is not really good at the moment but that is normal in the developing country and that will make your trip unforgettable.By motorcycle taxiMotorcycle taxi is one of the good options for  Myanmar transportation when you visit Myanmar. That will give you a chance to depart and stop whenever you want, a motorcycle taxi is a relatively comfortable way to get from one destination to another.Advantage: That is easy to find this in most of the places so that will be good option for you.Disadvantage:Fairly inexpensive, particularly for a solo traveler (Rates start at 500 kyat)Motorcycle in MyanmarBy Pick-up TrucksConnecting short-distance destinations such as from Mandalay to Amarapura, between Myingyan and Meiktila, between Bagan and Mount Popa, and up to the Golden Rock at Kyaiktiyo, pick-ups are useful or necessary for  Myanmar Transportation.AdvantageA chance to mingle with localsDisadvantagePacked truckHigh faresPick-up truck in MyanmarBy Taxis or hire carsComing in a variety of different forms, taxis and hire cars (with driver) are clearly the most comfortable way to travel between certain destinations in Burma.AdvantagePlentiful in most towns and citiesDisadvantageExpensive pricesTaxi in MyanmarBy trains and boatsA leisurely, fascinating, and usually picturesque view of the country, a chance to mix with Burmese while traveling, traveling by train and boat in Myanmar will be an unforgettable memory.AdvantageA chance to experience the most romantic and scenic ways Disadvantage The vibrating hull and the loud engineBoat trip in MyanmarBy tri-shawTri-shaw is a means of transportation that introduces an absolutely different peaceful charm of Myanmar.AdvantageReally cheap price: only amount to a dollar or twoDisadvantageSlow and inefficientNot really popular (only available in smaller, relatively flat cities such as Pyay, Sittwe, and Shwebo)Tri-shaw in MyanmarBy horse cartA unique way to go in Myanmar? Look no further than a horse cart around the old temples of Bagan or Mrauk U.  AdvantageA little shade from the sunDisadvantage Higher rates than other means of transportation (~$15-$30) rangeHorse car in Myanmar

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Dos & don'ts in Myanmar

Dos & don'ts in Myanmar

Myanmar has only recently opened its doors to foreign travelers and Burmese are well known as friendly. The country is not completely opaque as far as customs and traditions go. As a result, to have a happy time for your trip to Myanmar, you should glance at dos and don’ts in Myanmar:Dos in Myanmar: - Travel with reputed travel agents (Tripadvisor is a good source). If you don’t check the reputation of travel agents you chose, you may get low-quality service. In the worse case, you will find yourself in bad condition: dirty hotel, uncomfortable car, bad food, etc.- Say “Mingalarbar” when meeting someone, use “U” in front of men names and “Daw” in front of women names;- Spread your wealth, use your money wisely.- Sit lower than a monk and old nuns and elders.- Let the oldest be served first- Go to decent recommended restaurants in Yangon, where they cook Myanmar food according to international standards to try good Myanmar food.- Offer articles with both hands and keep both feet on the ground;- Bend slightly in front of the elders;- Dress and act decently, speak slowly and clearly;- Ask permission before taking photographs, the Burmese can be very shy- Wear polite dress code (long and body covering clothes), cover your head, remove shoes and socks before entering religious sites to show your respect to the local religious customs- Help protect Myanmar wildlife by refusing purchase wildlife products.- Show respect to monks, novices, and nunsAvoid these don’ts below and you can make your way through Myanmar without offending the locals.Don’ts In Myanmar- Don't touch the robe of the monk, anyone’s head and women.- Don't disturb people praying or meditating.- Don't play loud music in these areas. Note that Buddhist monks are not allowed to listen to music.- Don’t handle Buddha images or sacred objects with disrespect or keep them in inappropriate places (on the floor for example)- Don't touch sacred objects with disrespect. Hold them in your right-hand or with both hands.- Don't offer your hand to shake hands with a monk.- Don’t show affection in public. Myanmar is still a conservative country and the locals may be offended by public displays of affection.- Don’t change your money at the black market. Authorized money changers are places to go.- Don’t wear shorts, tank top to the pagodas, temples or other religious places. You will be considered rude and sometimes you will not be allowed to be in.- Don’t sit down higher than a monk or than a statue of Buddha.- Don’t sit with back against a statue of Buddha.- Don’t put Buddha statues or images on the floor or somewhere inappropriate.- Don’t step over any part of a person, but if you must, always ask to be excused first.- Don’t turn the plant of the feet towards a monk or a statue of Buddha.- Don’t point a finger straight in the face.Wish you have a great journey in Myanmar!Do not point finger straight in the face

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