Myanmar Holidays
Myanmar Holidays
There have always been huge complexities involved in travelling to Myanmar, and we work hard to ensure that what we offer is appropriate and has the most positive impact possible. However, since 1st February 2021, when Myanmar’s democratically elected leaders were deposed by the country’s military in a violent coup d'état, we have been unable to travel there. Our hearts go out to the people of Myanmar, and we fully support them in their struggle against the military junta. We hold out hope that their situation will change for the better in the near future, and are committed to maintaining a momentum for travel to this beautiful and vibrant country.
Wherever we go, we focus on ensuring our travel supports local projects and people, and nowhere is this more pressing than in Myanmar. When undertaken in the right way, the benefits that travel can bring directly to local individuals are immense. It’s crucial that the economic boosts travel brings to a country firmly benefit local micro-economies, and we want to make sure this happens again in Myanmar as soon as possible. We work in a detailed way with our local partners, and are constantly in discussion with them to better understand how to shape a travel offering that supports local communities and individuals even more effectively.
Heritage highlights
Old Bagan is Myanmar’s answer to Angkor Wat or Machu Picchu, drawing people from across the world to admire its 3,800 ancient temples. Other famous sights include Yangon’s Shwedagon Pagoda, its gilded stupa topped with a massive diamond, and Golden Rock, a much-loved Buddhist shrine. Beyond these, Myanmar brims with impressive heritage, from the colonial-era buildings of Yangon to the regal palace of Mandalay.
High impact eco-projects
We’re talking about the real deal — a crop of legitimately sustainable lodges, resorts and initiatives which have sprung up across the country. They’re all unique, but have in common big hearts and a well-considered approach to tourism. Created with local communities on board, and designed to have a minimal impact on the country’s ecosystem, they’re an ideal way to support the people who live here.
Cultural contact
Burma’s diverse mix of people makes the country both fascinating and infamously conflicted. Your travels will include many opportunities to meet the locals. Sit down in a Yangon tea house or hike up to a mountain village, and you’ll glean a far broader sense of life in Myanmar than you can possibly get from the news.
Amazing trekking
Combine a strikingly beautiful natural landscape with ancient temples, active monasteries and remote communities, and you’ve got some really interesting trekking. Several great routes lead from and around Inle Lake, and we’re also big fans of trekking in Kayah State, where a community-inclusive guiding project helps to involve locals in your visit.
Take a boat upriver
Travelling along one of Myanmar’s rivers lets you witness daily life on the riverbanks whilst enjoying a change of pace from road travel. Routes range from the classic two-night hop between Mandalay and Bagan to more extensive voyages such as the one up the Chindwin River to Homalin, near the Indian border.
Coastal beauty
Whether you’re admiring it from your beachfront veranda or the basket of a hot air balloon, Myanmar’s shoreline is largely undeveloped and ruggedly handsome. You can find truly sustainable island resorts in the beautiful Mergui Archipelago, in Burma’s far south..
