Last Day in Myanmar: Goodbye to the Golden Land
We were leaving Myanmar after almost a month in one of Southeast Asia's last undiscovered gems. We loved what we saw and the experiences we had.
Myanmar Highlights We'll Never Forget
We'll remember for a long time:
- The hot air balloon ride over Bagan - floating above thousands of ancient temples at sunrise
- The stunning sunset by U Bein Bridge - the world's longest teak bridge at golden hour
- The smiles of villagers we crossed during our trek from Kalaw to Inle Lake
- The postcard-perfect landscape of Hpa-An - karst mountains, caves, and 400,000 bats
- The golden glow of Shwedagon Pagoda at sunset in Yangon
Why Myanmar Captured Our Hearts
Myanmar in 2017 felt like Southeast Asia decades ago - before mass tourism transformed the region. The country offered:
- Genuine warmth from locals unused to Western tourists
- Authentic experiences without tourist traps or aggressive touts (mostly!)
- Incredible value - budget travel at its finest
- Stunning landscapes from temples to mountains to caves
- Rich Buddhist culture visible everywhere
- Off-the-beaten-path adventure - we often had attractions to ourselves
Heading to Thailand
Tomorrow we fly to Bangkok, Thailand - transitioning from Myanmar's peaceful pace to Thailand's bustle and energy. While we're excited for Thai beaches, food, and islands, leaving Myanmar felt bittersweet.
Myanmar was special. We knew it was changing rapidly as tourism grew. We felt fortunate to experience it during this unique moment in its history - opened to the world but not yet overrun.
Thank you, Myanmar. You exceeded every expectation!
Have you visited Myanmar? What were your favorite experiences? How did it compare to Thailand or other Southeast Asian countries? Share your Myanmar memories below!
Myanmar Travel Reflections & Tips
- Trip length: Spent almost 1 month in Myanmar visiting Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, Inle Lake, Kalaw, and Hpa-An. 2-3 weeks minimum recommended to see highlights without rushing.
- Budget: Myanmar very affordable in 2017 ($25-40/day). Accommodation $10-20, food $5-10, transport cheap. Most expensive: Bagan hot air balloon ($320) - worth every cent!
- Favorite experiences: Hot air balloon over Bagan (best!), U Bein Bridge sunset, Kalaw-Inle Lake trek, Hpa-An caves and bats, Shwedagon Pagoda, friendly locals everywhere.
- Must-visit places: Bagan (temples), Inle Lake (floating gardens), Hpa-An (caves/karsts), Yangon (Shwedagon Pagoda), Mandalay (U Bein Bridge). Skip: Naypyidaw (boring capital).
- Best time: November-February (cool, dry). March-May very hot (40°C+). June-October rainy season (some roads impassable). We visited late November - perfect timing!
- Getting around: Domestic flights between major cities (cheap on Air KBZ). VIP buses comfortable for shorter routes. Avoid overnight buses if possible. Grab works in Yangon only.
- Local people: Incredibly friendly and welcoming! Less English than Thailand but very helpful. Burmese curious about foreigners, often wanting photos together!
- Tourism growth: Myanmar changing rapidly! More tourists every year. Infrastructure improving. Go sooner rather than later to experience authentic Myanmar before mass tourism arrives.
- What we'd do differently: Spend more time in Hpa-An (3 days minimum), skip Naypyidaw, add Ngapali Beach, visit Golden Rock. One month felt too short!
- Challenges: Limited ATMs (bring USD cash), internet slow/blocked websites, few credit cards accepted, infrastructure basic outside cities. Worth the hassle for authentic experience!
Note:
Myanmar was the highlight of our Southeast Asia journey. The combination of stunning landscapes, rich culture, warm people, and that magical feeling of discovering somewhere still relatively untouched by mass tourism made it unforgettable. If you're considering Myanmar - go! You won't regret it.