Luxury Tours in Myanmar

It’s nearly impossible to picture Bagan without hot air balloons beautifully clouding the historic horizon. Bagan’s balloons have become an iconic symbol of the region, and have carried many travelers on soaring adventures of a lifetime. Here’s how to experience an unforgettable birds-eye view of Bagan, Myanmar.

Ballooning season in Bagan runs from the beginning of October to the middle of April. Sunrise is when most rides are offered, as the cooler morning temperatures allow balloons to float closer to the ancient stupas for a more detailed glimpse. Daybreak also tends to bring with it more dramatic layers of haze, dreamily blanketing the landscape for a perfect photo opportunity.

Balloon Ride also available in Inle Lake, Ngapali, and Mandalay

There are many amazing spots to admire the sunset in Myanmar, especially at the two places below.

U Bein Bridge is a crossing that spans the Taungthaman Lake near Amarapura in Myanmar. The 1.2-kilometre bridge was built around 1850 and is believed to be the oldest and longest teakwood bridge in the world. It is considered as a symbol of Myanmar and one of the points to enjoy the most beautiful sunset all over the world. In the afternoon, the bridge is covered by a brilliant yellow of the sunset going through the wooden poles. Tourists can rent wooden boats to get closer to the bridge and watch the sunset on the lake.

Moreover, for Bagan, one of the most popular destinations in Myanmar, you will be thrilled with joy when sitting on the highest flight of steps of a temple and seeing the first light of rising dawn. Bagan in the dawn is like a fairyland with hundreds of mysterious and ancient shrines.

The U Bein Bridge, just south of Mandalay, spans the Taungthaman Lake for a whopping 1.2km. Built around 1850, it is believed to be the longest teak bridge in the world. 

U Bein Bridge is probably the most iconic site in all of Myanmar and it stretches from Mandalay to Amarapura.

The bridge is made of wood and is famous for being the longest teak bridge in the world and is reinforced in places so that it doesn’t collapse.

Even with this in mind, it is still rather rickety and a trip across is not for the faint of heart.

If you don’t fancy walking across, then you can also rent a fishing boat here and drive underneath the bridge to see it from a completely different angle.

As you cross the rickety wooden panels, you can spot the bobbing heads of local fisherman in between the paddle boats below, filled with tourists. Get here for sunset – the views and colours cast across the lake are spellbinding. Just be sure to arrive early, it's popular with locals and visitors alike.

A cheroot factory located on Inle Lake in the Shan Hills where this traditional Burmese-style cigar is manufactured. Cheap to produce, cheroots are found all over Myanmar and were even popular with the British during the days of the British Empire

Women and teenage girls sat cross-legged on the floor of a rickety building, hand-rolling cigars and cheroots.

While anti-smoking campaigns are growing in much of Southeast Asia, local cigars (sometimes, huge ones) remain popular in Burma, particularly among older people in rural areas

Southeast Asia is a very popular area in the scuba diving world, but when it comes to Myanmar it’s easy to say that the country has been rather discreet in the diving industry. Indeed, the country’s waters have only been accessible and dived for a few decades. In fact,  the country that was once known as Burma has only started being on the international tourism map from 1997.

Therefore, Myanmar has plenty of scuba diving sites to discover and is definitely of the most untouched diving destinations in the world. If you have heard of diving in Myanmar, you’ve probably heard of the Mergui Archipelago and the Burma Banks. Undeniably, these are the most famous dive sites of Myanmar, but the country has much more to offer. This page proposes a detailed overview of diving in Myanmar so you can discover all the water fun behind this beautiful and culturally rich country.

Diving the Mergui Archipelago guarantees a colorful and vibrant experience. Indeed, most of this island chain has yet to be discovered, which means you will find both a variety and a certain density of marine life in the area. The limestone and granite rocks islands flow down the west coast of the Malay peninsula and offer a rugged underwater landscape.

Snorkeling in Myanmar is still a relatively new phenomenon with the country only becoming a holiday destination in recent years. This is great news for anyone who wants to go snorkeling in Myanmar, as the low volume of traffic means the reefs are still in pristine condition with plenty of life even in shallow waters. The islets in areas such as Mergui Archipelago, where some of the best reefs can be found are simply beautiful. Sweeping white sand beaches lined with tropical rainforest are the perfect setting for anyone who comes to Myanmar snorkeling.

Some of the best snorkel sites in Myanmar are located in the south archipelago of Mergui and the nearby Burma Banks. These islands were opened to tourists in the 1990's after the civil war was over. The archipelago is still very remote and off the beaten track, the perfect place if you don't want to share the water with too many other snorkelers. If you are lucky you might even, see some of the local Moken people at some snorkel spots. These fascinating people live most of the year on the sea, earning themselves the nickname of 'sea gypsies'.

Myanmar is yet to become as popular a beach destination as Bali in Southeast Asia, and it owes this stardom to its stunning beaches! There are some unbelievably beautiful Myanmar beaches, many of which stay hidden even today. These beaches in Myanmar are known for their gorgeous pearl sands, crystal clear waters, and budget accommodation options. Strolling around these golden beaches, listening to the soothing sounds of waves is what makes the experience special. If you want a rejuvenating experience then these beaches will definitely come to your refuge. And they will take you away from all the hustle and bustle of the city life. Here are our top picks of famous beaches in Myanmar that surely deserves to be visited at least once.Some famous destination: Ngapali; Mergui Archipelago; Ngwe Saung; Chaung Tha Beach; Kanthaya Beach

Located just across from the Thai border, the Mergui Archipelago only opened up to foreigners as recently as the late 1990s. With only a few of the 800 islands home to a sparse population, The Moken, and a scarce amount of visitors to the entire region each month, the Mergui Archipelago remains one of the planet’s most unspoilt destinations.

Think white beaches lined with palm trees and dense jungle. Think swimming in azure water amongst colorful reef fish, spotting coral, and collecting seashells. Now picture eagles circling above, gibbons and monitor lizards eyeing you from the thickets, while a sundowner is being mixed for you on board the yacht. 

Best of all: you have this entire experience to yourself. You can sail for days on end and not see a soul except the odd fisherman in a dugout canoe.

Irrawaddy River, the longest river in Myanmar, winds its way as a silk ribbon stretching along the north-south direction of this country. Scenery on two river banks and fishermen’s lives still retain the great beauty and go deep into the human heart. If you have an opportunity to experience the Myanmar Tour, you definitely should spend a day sailing the boat on Irrawaddy River.

As you cruise the river, golden temple spires, tiny villages, emerald rice paddies, bustling markets all come into view. The real life of Burmese people is unfolded just before your eyes. A typical Irrawaddy River runs between Bagan and Mandalay with accommodation overnight on the boat and sightseeing in Bagan and Mandalay. So it’s not only a chance to catch a glimpse into real life along the river but also a nice way to get around the two places. There are also many chances to take a short ferry ride across Irrawaddy River and discover life along it.