From breathtaking Buddhist architecture to picturesque water communities, Myanmar gives visitors the opportunity to enjoy great beauty as well as rich history and culture. To help you plan your journey through this up-and-coming tourist destination, here are 9 must-see attractions in Myanmar.
Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon — Sacred Golden Shrine
One of the most sacred religious sites in Myanmar, the Shwedagon Pagoda is a breathtaking 2,500-year-old monument. Standing 325 feet tall, it is the defining feature of Yangon city's skyline. The pagoda itself is plated with 21,841 gold bars and encrusted with over 5,000 diamonds, making it glimmer in the sunlight.
The evening is possibly the best time to visit the pagoda in order to see it with the sunset in the background and to witness local people saying their sunset prayers.
Shwenandaw Monastery in Mandalay — Teak-Carved Marvel
Shwenandaw Monastery is made of traditional royal teak and was originally part of the royal palace before it was moved to Mandalay to become a monastery. Although it is no longer plated with gold, the monastery is still a repository of teak-carved masterpieces, which adorn the walls and ceiling.
There are carvings of many objects, including animals, mythical creatures, dancers and flowers. Each carving showcases incredible craftsmanship, with intricate detail and beauty. The monastery is a great example of traditional Burmese architecture and wood-carver's art.
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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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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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Excellent service and Wonderful Guides
All of our guides have been terrific. Mr. Sam in Siem Reip was especially wonderful. Both he and our driver were polite, safe knowledgable and informative. Sam made our trip memorable and enioyable. We will definitely recommend Sam and Asia Highlights to our friends. More
Kaaren,
Feb 2023
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Kuthodaw Pagoda and the World"s Largest Book in Mandalay — Marble Book of the Buddha's Teachings
Built in 1859, this gilded pagoda is surrounded by hundreds of shrines containing "the world's largest book". Taking 8 years to complete, the pagoda was built as a gift for future generations and contains the teachings of Buddha.
The "book" consists of 730 marble tablets placed in shrines surrounding the golden pagoda. Visually stunning and an important cultural heritage, the Kuthodaw Pagoda attracts tourists and scholars alike.
U-Bein Bridge in Amarapura — Bridge Over Sunset Waters
At 1.2 kilometers in length, U-Bein Bridge is the longest teak bridge in the world; and it is also the oldest. Built with teak salvaged from the ruins of the former palace, U-Bein Bridge has become increasingly admired for its picturesque beauty.
At sunset, you can observe the bridge and the local people using it silhouetted against the sky. It is a beautiful scene of everyday life that visitors will enjoy. A good way to take in the view is to rent a boat and relax while watching the sunset.
Inwa Ancient City in Mandalay Region — Ancient Imperial Capital
Inwa was the imperial capital for a total of 360 years. It's an ancient city with many stories to tell. A trip to Inwa means the opportunity to explore the ruins of an ancient city.
The best-known structures in the city include the 90-foot tall Nan Myint watchtower built in the 18th century, the Maha Aung Mye Bonzan monastery with its elaborate design, and the Bagaya Kyuang Monastery which sits on 267 large teak stilts.
Located on a man-made island between the Irrawaddy and Myitnge Rivers, the best way to reach Inwa is by a short ferry ride. Once you arrive, you can begin to tour on foot, by bicycle, or with a horse and carriage.
Sagaing in Mandalay Region — Pagoda-Speckled Hills
Sagaing is another ancient capital of Myanmar on the banks of the Irrawaddy River, particularly famous for its views. It has a hilly landscape covered with hundreds of white, silver, and golden pagodas that are still actively used by local people.
The most famous shrine on Sagaing Hill is the Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda, originally built in 1312, making it one of the oldest in the city. It is famous for its beauty and its statues of Buddha, and provides an excellent location for viewing the surrounding countryside.
Inle Lake in Shan State — Scenic Water Community
An iconic destination, Inle Lake is known for its serene beauty as well as its unique local culture. The local Intha people are largely self-sufficient farmers and artisans who live in communities based entirely on the water.
Making and selling handicrafts is very common and important for the local economy. Fishermen move about the lake using their unique rowing technique and casting their nets. If you like fresh fish, the catch of the day can be sampled at local restaurants.
Inle Lake has floating gardens, villages, and markets which can all be explored using the local mode of transportation: small traditional boats. Boats can easily be hired and provide a great way of relaxing on the lake and enjoying the surroundings.
Ananda Temple in Bagan — Temple of the Four Buddhas
A beautiful fusion of Mon and Indian themes, Ananda temple is an architectural wonder. It's sometimes called the "Westminster Abbey of Burma" because of its elegant and awe-inspiring design. Its shining golden spire can be seen from miles around and is lit up at night by spotlights, creating a beacon in the sky.
The temple houses 4 impressive gold leaf Buddha statues. Each stands about 30 feet tall and faces a different cardinal direction: north, east, south or west. These four Buddhas represent the attainment of nirvana.
Shwezigon Pagoda in Bagan — Resilient and Glimmering
Built in 1090, this pagoda is one of the oldest in Bagan. It is a survivor of earthquakes and natural disasters and has been renovated from time to time over the centuries. Previously it was gold-plated but during one of the renovations, it was re-plated with copper, giving it a stronger and equally beautiful finish.
Shwezigon pagoda is an important pilgrimage site for Buddhists. It is a good place to go and observe local culture and customs, as it remains a favorite center for prayer and reflection. Like the Shwedagon pagoda, it is best viewed at sunset, when the burnt colors of the sky create a beautiful backdrop for the glimmering golden monument.
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.
Why Travel with Asia Highlights (98.8% positive customer reviews among 10,000+)
- Unique experiences tailored to your interests: Enjoy a premium trip that goes beyond the typical tourist attractions.
- Hassle-free travel and peace of mind: Every aspect of your trip will be carefully planned and organized by your 1:1 travel consultant.
- Experienced and knowledgeable guides: Your guides will be local and love to work for travelers' smiles.
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