Myanmar (Burma) celebrates many festivals each year. Since it is a Buddhist country, many traditional festivals are related to Buddhism. The Pagoda Festival is representative of such religious festivals. Most festivals take place on important dates in the Burmese lunar calendar.
Myanmar Festival Calendar 2017 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Month | Starting | Closing | Festival | Place |
date | date | |||
January | 28-Dec-16 | 12-Jan-17 | Ananda Temple | Bagan |
February | 1-Feb-17 | 11-Apr-17 | Shwesattaw Pagoda (Footprints of Buddha) | Minbu, Magwe Division |
10-Feb-17 | 11-Feb-17 | Mahamuni Pagoda | Mandalay | |
26-Feb-17 | 12-Mar-17 | Mawtinsun Pagoda | Cape Negaris, Pathein | |
March | 5-Mar-17 | 12-Mar-17 | Inndawgyi Pagoda | Myitkyina |
6-Mar-17 | 13-Mar-17 | Kakku Pagoda | Taungyi, Shan State | |
12-Mar-17 | 12-Mar-17 | Full Moon Day of Tabaung | Throughout Myanmar | |
12-Mar-17 | 12-Mar-17 | Shwedagon Pagoda | Yangon | |
April | 6-Apr-17 | 13-Apr-17 | Shwemawdaw Pagoda | Bago |
13-Apr-17 | 16-Apr-17 | Water Festival | Throughout Myanmar | |
17-Apr-17 | 17-Apr-17 | Myanmar New Year | Throughout Myanmar | |
May | 10-May-17 | 10-May-17 | Full Moon Day of Kasone | Throughout Myanmar |
16-May-17 | 9-Jun-17 | Wicker Ball Ceremony, Mahamuni Pagoda | Mandalay | |
June | 2-Jun-17 | 9-Jun-17 | Thi-Ho-Shin Pagoda | Pakokku |
August | 15-Aug-17 | 15-Aug-17 | Full Moon Day of Waso | Throughout Myanmar |
30-Aug-17 | 6-Sep-17 | Taung Byone (Spirit Festival) | Near Mandalay | |
September | 14-Sep-17 | 20-Sep-17 | Yadanagu (Spirit Festival) | Amarapura, near Mandalay |
October | 23-Oct-17 | 7-Nov-17 | Phaung Daw Oo | Inle Lake |
30-Oct-17 | 6-Nov-17 | Kyauk Taw Gyi Pagoda | Mandalay | |
November | 3-Nov-17 | 4-Nov-17 | Dummy Elephant | Kyaukse |
4-Nov-17 | 4-Nov-17 | Full Moon Day of Thadingyut (Light Festival) | Throughout Myanmar | |
26-Nov-17 | 3-Dec-17 | Shwezigon Pagoda | Bagan | |
27-Nov-17 | 4-Dec-17 | Hot Air Balloon | Taungyi, Shan State | |
December | 1-Dec-17 | 3-Dec-17 | Thandodday Pagoda | Monywa |
2-Dec-17 | 2-Dec-17 | Yellow Robe Weaving Contest | Throughout Myanmar | |
2-Dec-17 | 2-Dec-17 | 9000 candle light festival | Golden Rock | |
3-Dec-17 | 3-Dec-17 | Full Moon Day of Tasaungmon (Light Festival) | Throughout Myanmar | |
3-Dec-17 | 3-Dec-17 | Kaung Mu Daw Pagoda | Sagaing | |
25-Dec-17 | 1-Jan-18 | Spectacled Buddha Image | Shwe Taung, Near Pyay | |
25-Dec-17 | 25-Dec-17 | Christmas | Throughout Myanmar | |
26-Dec-17 | 2-Jan-18 | San Daw Shin Pagoda | Near Sittway |
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Excellent planned and executed Myanmar excursion
Asia Highlights and their local Myanmar partner "mAsia" did an excellent job in planning and execution of a one week trip to Myanmar.The various tour guides and drivers had good knowledge and good command over English. More
Gerd,
Jan 2018
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Planning our trip
We have spend that last eight months planning a trip to Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. Alisa Lia was creative & patient helping us customize our tour to include the sites and adventures we were excited to see. Hard waiting for the trip to start. More
Jamie Danner,
Oct 2023
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My experience in Thai
All of this was well organized by the local office. The holiday was wonderful. Our guide, Mr. Longdy( Siem Reap)were exceptional. He shared his extensive knowledge of the many wonderful places we visited, and were flexible to take us to additional places along the way based on discussions. Thank you so much .shared their extensive knowledge of the many wonderful places we visited, and were flexible to take us to additional places along the way based on discussions. More
kelli,
Jul 2023
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Seamless Planning
From the day I submitted an inquiry request, I instantly received a response from Monica asking my preferences for my trip. She has been attentive and responsive to our every needs and we very much appreciate it. Looking forward to our trip in November but many thanks to Monica for making this experience to seamless thus far. More
Sana Samhouri,
Jul 2023
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Very professional agency for a memorable trip to Asia
A special thanks to Albee who worked with us and helped to tailor the itinerary to our taste, she was amazing and always available for whatever we needed. The trip would not have been the same without her and her team. Thank you! More
Daniela,
Jul 2023
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It was our first time in Cambodia and …
It was our first time in Cambodia and we had a wonderful time. The accommodations, food, and sites were really beautiful. We ended our trip with a relaxing massage. Sam was very accommodating to our needs and knowledgeable. Thank you for the laughter and for being so kind. More
Amy Oakes Moon,
Jun 2023
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Our guide Borin - never boring!
Our guide Borin, in Cambodia, was knowledgeable, understanding and thoughtful in every aspect of the plan he put together for our trip to Siem Reap and in its execution. He can read the room, and knew exactly how to pace the tour, when to pause, when to break, and how to prepare us for the maximum benefit. He is extremely kind and caring, and it showed at every turn. He also is a dab hand with the camera, and we have a lot of great pictures to show for it. Kudos to my Asia Highlights coordinator - Cathy Chen, for picking Borin. Borin works with a driver (007) who was also very kind and caring. Whenever we returned to the car, he would have cold towel rolls and chilled water to refresh us. So amazingly considerate. It was an unforgettable experience More
David Muliyil,
Jun 2023
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Great visit!
Our guide, Anna, was fantastic! She was highly informative and a delight to spend our days with. Would request her again if we were to return! More
Alejandra M Almonte,
Jun 2023
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We've had such a great experience…
We've had such a great experience planning our honeymoon with Alisa at Asia Highlights! We gave her our dream itinerary, thinking that it might be impossible to do all the things we wanted, but Alisa made our dreams a reality! She's gone so far above and beyond to answer ALL of our questions and make little adjustments that will make a huge impact on our experience. More
Lauren,
Jun 2023
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Alisa knows how to work fast and please a customer.
Alisa is very helpful and works very fast. I am a very difficult client because Inknow what I want in therm of hotels and comfort. She had a lot of patience with me, and moved a lot the plan of the trip, always following my requests. It was a pleasure organizing my trip with her. I recommend her a lot! Thanks Alisa. Malala from Argentina. More
maria laura artola,
Jun 2023
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Trip-of-a-lifetime
In addition, I want to specifically mention the guides provided in certain locations. Rum, in Siem Reap, made the most memorable experience possible. His positivity was contagious - even when it felt like 1000 degrees and we were tired. He brought it all to life, and created a couple days of Ankor Wat, etc. that we will never forget! He heard my daughter's request for specific Cambodian food, and changed our itinerary to go to a village and eat at a locally known shop. He brought the dessert she asked about to us in the car! Overall, he and his driver "Lucky" were a reason to go to Siem Reap. In addition, the other guides (minus one which was switched out immediately) were stupendous. Mon in Bangkok was friendly and provided a great day there; Eak in Chiang Mai gave us a world-class food-tour and day touring the city and its surrounding temples with lots of laughs; Tommy in Hanoi kept us from getting killed in the traffic and gave a stupendous food and architecture/history tour - so very friendly and funny; the fishing village tour in Hoi An, as well as the side-car tour in Saigon, were both unforgettable! Thank you Sharon, and Asia Highlights. Would definitely use again for future trips! More
Teri Simpson,
Apr 2023
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Cambodia and Vietnam adventure!
Our guide in Cambodia, Meas Darapolaith (Pol), was absolutely amazing. He was knowledgeable, friendly and so helpful. His English was excellent and he shared important insights about history and the magnificent sites we visited. We highly recommend him! More
Jennifer Roth Krieger,
Apr 2023
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My daughter and I wanted to discover SE…
My daughter and I wanted to discover SE Asia. Being the first in that region, we wanted to use a tour service company. We ended up using Asia Highlights. From the beginning we were impressed with their services. We left home with of mind because all the pre-travel arrangements were taking care and communicate to us efficiently. All our questions were answered promptly. Once in the countries, we were welcome by our excellent tour guides. Everything was taking care for us. We did not have one issue. They selected the right tours guides for us, they were highly knowledgeable and so much attentive to our needs. We had Dhat in Vietnam and Borin in Siem Reap, Cambodia. I highly recommend Asia Highlights. I came back home so much rested, and with plenty of wonderful pictures and memories. I will definitely use Asia Highlights again for my next trip to Asia. More
Isabelle Dessaux,
Apr 2023
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Fabulous tour and guide in Cambodia
We have been touring Cambodia, guided by Borin ( and driver 007) for the last 2 days. What a fabulous experience! Borin has been a wonderful guide, the best so far in Southeast Asia, explaining the history and culture of Cambodia through his tours of the temples in and around Angkor, as well as the Landmine museum. He has answered all our questions, made sure we were comfortable, and that we have had great food. 007 made sure we always had enough water and cool towels for our face/neck.We highly recommend Borin as a tour guide for Cambodia!! More
Monica,
Mar 2023
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Best Travel Service for Asia Travel
Alisa Liu was in charge of making the arrangements and she helped us from the start to make all of the arrangements and also helped us when we had questions and requested some adjustments. Her service is of the highest professional level. We are 100% confident that our trip will be perfect. We’re also 100% confident that, if anything comes up during our trip, that Alisa will be there to guide us through and take care of us. We won’t even consider using another agency for travel around Asia and we would like to have Alisa work for us again. More
Leo Pospichal,
Mar 2023
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Tour of Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Thailand
The tour guides and drivers were another high point. All were very good, friendly, knowledgeable and spoke English well. There were two that I want to call out for their excellence. Chan Sovannarith in Siem Reap was our guide in Cambodia. He really made the experience special. His knowledge, willingness to answer all my questions, helpfulness and general attitude made him fun to be around. In order to praise the second exceptional guide I have to explain about an unfortunate occurrence that I had. I'm normally a very active senior, but after leaving Cambodia for Laos I was suddenly struck by the most intense back pain I've ever experienced, couldn't even roll over in bed (turned out to be sciatica). The guide, Mr. Sonophet, really went the extra mile. He went with my traveling companion and bought a back brace and medications for me. When that didn't help much he took me to a clinic where I was seen by a doctor, given a shot and pain meds. He hand-made a walking stick for me that I'm still using! He made it possible for me to somewhat participate in the activities, i.e. a bed on the boat down the river. When it was time to move on to Bangkok he got me a wheelchair at the airport. I can't thank him enough for these kindnesses! This problem lasted for the remainder of the trip, through Bangkok and Phuket and these guides were also very helpful getting wheelchairs, etc. It was a terrible disappointment to have this wonderful trip disrupted, but it would have been SO much worse without the great help that I received from the guides and my poor travel companion! More
Deb M,
Mar 2023
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In good hands with Sam
Sam Ol took very good care of us - lots of information, listened to and answered all our questions, was passionate about the places we visited and about his people and country. He was kind, had a great sense of humor, and made sure we felt safe and comfortable at all times. He helped us to fall in love with Cambodia in 3 short days. More
Carol Jones,
Feb 2023
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Best tour guide in Cambodia
When we first arrived at the airport in Siem Riep it was so nice to be greeted by Mr Sam Ol. We instantly fell at home when we saw his friendly smile. We were impressed by his great English and knowledge of the temples. On the tour to the temples Sam took care of us every step of the way. He took awesome pictures of us. It felt like we were on a tour given by our brother who is also a professional photographer. Also, we appreciate his humor as well as the fact he had an answer for every question we had. I give Sam 5 stars, best tour guide ever :) More
Len S,
Feb 2023
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Mr. Sam
Mr. Sam our guide in Cambodia, he and the driver out standing service they went above and beyond touring, my wife so amazed beautiful country, we're planning back here near the futures. Thank Mr. Sam,We'll feedback the whole trip next week when we be home in US More
Pho Lover,
Feb 2023
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Vietnam/Cambodia/Thailand
We are still in the middle of our trip, but we are just finishing up our time in Cambodia and our guide, Borin, has been AMAZING!!! He has truly made our time here unforgettable and I plan on referring all of my friends and family to come visit this beautiful country! Thank you, Borin, for everything you did to make our trip so fantastic! More
Danielle Blount,
Feb 2023
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The Most Important Festivals in Myanmar
Water Festival (Thingyan Festival)
The well-known Water Festival or Water Splashing Festival is the celebration of the New Year in Southeast Asian countries, such as Myanmar, Thailand and Laos. It is a Buddhist festival originating in India. The festival dates follow the lunar calendar, but it usually begins around mid-April of the western calendar.
In Burmese, "splashing water" implies "transition", and refers to the transition between one year and the next. So during the festival, no matter who you are or what you do, splashing water on each other means washing away the dirt, trouble and bad luck of the past year and praying for good luck and best wishes for the new year.
Before the festival in Yangon, Mandalay, Naypyidaw and other big cities, the government will set up a large water stage in the main streets, near a lake, and prepare for this big water carnival. During the festival, local art groups, dancers and singers are invited to liven things up.
Beware: Do not bring valuables, especially electronic products, with you during the festival, otherwise they will be soaked. If you want to record this exciting experience on camera, remember to save your camera or phone in a waterproof bag.
Myanmar New Year
Myanmar New Year falls on the day after the end of the Water Festival. So after the water carnival, you can enjoy a different perspective on Myanmar.
If you are still immersed in the exciting atmosphere of the Water Festival, you should calm down on the first day of the New Year, like the people of Myanmar themselves. Do some good deeds, and pray for the good luck for your relatives, friends and yourselves in the coming year.
On this day, locals visit their elders and pay obeisance with a traditional offering of shampoo, and water in a terracotta pot. They attend almsgiving and donate food at different places. They also release birds or fish into the river or lake along with their prayers. Besides these religious activities, during New Year you can also enjoy great performances and taste delicious food.
Beware: New Year's Day is in April, and this is the hottest time of year in Myanmar. So when you participate in these festivals, remember to take steps to protect your skin. April is also the peak season for tourism in Myanmar, domestic air tickets are often sold out, traffic is very busy, and hotel demand exceeds supply; so if you want to experience the atmosphere of these festivals, remember to plan your trip well in advance.
Major Pagoda Festivals
Ananda Temple Festival
This festival is one of the most famous pagoda festivals in Bagan. It takes place in the month of Pyahto (December or January) every year, and lasts for one week. During the festival, 1,000 monks perform continuous chanting of scriptures for 72 hours.
The villagers around Bagan come to the festival in bullock carts and pitch camp for the whole duration of the festival. During the festival, you can enjoy traditional dancing, singing, and stand-up comedy. All kinds of stalls will dazzle you.
On the morning of the Full Moon Day, the monks make their way between donors lined up on both sides, and pilgrims reverently place their donations in the monks’ hands.
Mahamuni Pagoda Festival
This begins on the full moon day of the month of Thabodwe (usually in February) and usually lasts for 2 days. During the festival, monks recite from the scriptures, thousands of people from all over the country make the pilgrimage to the Mahamuni Pagoda, and entertainment like dancing, singing and theatre can be enjoyed.
Shwezigon Pagoda Festival
This is held on the full moon day of Thadingyut (usually in November) and lasts for 15 days. During the festival, not only will alms be given to monks but there will also be celebrations with magic shows, puppet shows, theatrical shows, food stalls and shops selling local products.
Other Interesting Festivals
Hot Air Balloon Festival
This festival is held every year in Taunggyi, Shan State. It is like a carnival, with daytime parades and evening ballooning and pyrotechnic displays, drawing locals from the surrounding area and a trickle of foreign travelers. If you want to experience a true Burma-style festival, you shouldn’t miss this
Full Moon Day of Thadingyut (Light Festival)
This is the second most-popular festival in Myanmar after the Thingyan Festival (New Year Water Festival). It is held to celebrate the Buddha’s descent back to the mortal world from heaven after he preached the Abidhama (the most difficult of Buddhist teachings) to his mother, reborn in heaven.
During the festival, people from all over the country light candles to welcome the Buddha back. The festival atmosphere in small towns is much more enjoyable than in the cities. Dancing groups, music troupes, stalls and spectators crowd the streets.
You’ll have an opportunity to taste traditional Burmese food. The decorations and entertainment are paid for by Buddhist donations. Such donations are also used for charity purposes.
Young people and children carry candles and gifts to do obeisance and pay respect to their elders. They pay homage to elders and ask for forgiveness if they have committed any wrongdoings. In return the elders give them love, forgiveness and some pocket money.
Visit Myanmar with Asia Highlights
We provide tailor-made tours to Myanmar. Tours typically start or end in Yangon or Mandalay and last approximately 9 days; visiting Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay and Inle Lake.
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China Highlights, Asia Highlights, and Global Highlights collaborate to provide families and couples with personalized and stress-free experiences in diverse destinations.
We had a great 4,5 days tour in Guilin with Vincent! Vincent has a lot of information about the history and culture of the area, he is always attentive to the details, proposes items originally not included in the tour but which might be of interest (like the show in Yangshuo, hiking routes, going to RUYI peak, tea party, etc.), considers individual diet requirements. In addition, Vincent's English is advanced and professional.
moreOur trip to Zhangjiajie was fantastic. We had Terry as our tour guide for a few days and we loved all the experiences. He is a very capable guide and knows a lot about history. We needed him to translate many things in the city and he was very patient with us. He speaks very good English and is punctual. He took many pictures to us
moreWe did a visit to Yangshuo with China Highlights. We really enjoy our visit, our guide, Gary Wei was so friendly and kind. Very good company on the River Li Cruise and on our visit to Guilin and Yangshuo. We did a very fun bike ride to the country side, visit the West Street and to the wonderful show. We really recommend all of this!
moreExcellent first trip to Lijiang. Our guide Alice was very kind and patient and also very accommodating with last minute changes and itinerary change given one of the places we were supposed to go to was shut for maintenance work. She explained everything to us and also answered our many many random questions!
moreWe reserved a 4-days trip with China Highlights for Guilin and Yangshuo. We normally travel only relying on our own, but this time we decided to apply to a local agency.
moreWe visited Longji rice terraces, Li River cruise, Yangshuo impressions show and Yangshuo county ebike tour, spending 2 nights in Guilin and one in Yangshuo. Our guide Tony did a great job for our Guilin and Yangshuo tour, we would recommend this company.
moreAs compared to another guide I had back in 2019 for Huangshan with another agency, Jack’s services were exemplary. He was patient and flexible to accommodate to our requests. Very knowledgeable, responsible and responsive. Throughout the trip he was always telling us the best angles and spots for nice pictures. Most importantly, he speaks English, hence we are able to communicate comfortably with a mix of Chinese and English.
moreWe reserved a 4-days trip with China Highlights for Guilin and Yangshuo. We normally travel only relying on our own, but this time we decided to apply to a local agency. It may sound pretty expensive, but we valued every moment.
moreWe had Kenny as our guide for Suzhou and she was amazing! We were all very impressed with her attentive service, professionalism and knowledge of the tourist spots and also China in general.She was definitely one of our highlights of our trip!
moreWe travelled to China in September/October to visit a relative who lives in Shanghai. He was too busy to show us the sights of China so we decided to use China Highlights. I am so pleased we did. Carol arranged a trip for us to X'ian and back to Shanghai. It wasn't cheap, but it was well worth it. We caught the bullet train to X'ian.
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