Backpacking Myanmar

Hello to all seasoned and aspiring backpackers!

Are you looking for a destination off the beaten tracks?

How about a country that allows you to get to know the unspoilt nature of Southeast Asia and its charm far away from tourist beach resorts and hotel complexes? Then let yourself be enchanted by the "Golden Land" Myanmar!

Located between the south-eastern foothills of the Himalayas and the coast of the Bay of Bengal, the country that once was called Burma has been appearing on many backpackers’ bucket lists for only a few years now. After the end of political isolation, the fascination of the unknown and mysterious is attracting more and more travellers to Myanmar. Nevertheless, the spiritual country has so far been spared from mass tourism.

With breath-taking landscapes, fascinating cultural aspects, centuries-old traditions, and hospitable inhabitants, it is considered to be one of the last hidden gems of Southeast Asia and is perfect for anyone who wants to avoid mainstream travel destinations.

See below for the perfect Myanmar itinerary for an unforgettable journey:

Important Basics

Official Language ( Burmese )
English Burmese
Hello Hallo
Goodbye so-ar-tot-mel
Thanks kyaayyjuutainpartaal
Yes ho-te
No ma-oh-tbu
Capital City

Naypyidaw

Form of Government

Republic with parliamentary executive power

Currency

Myanmar kyat

Phone Country Code

+95

Climate

Highest temperature by day: 30 to 37 degrees Celsius

Highest temperature at night: 10 to 20 degrees Celsius

Fun Fact

The Shwedagon Pogoda temple, complete with 4,500 diamonds and gold leaf embellishments, is said to hold eight strands of Gautama Buddha’s hair.

Cities

Bangkok

The cheapest way to travel to Myanmar is via Southeast Asia's travel hub.

Before you travel to Myanmar, you should not miss the opportunity to visit the numerous sights of the metropolis, for example the Grand Palace or the Floating Market.

You can stay at the Green House Hostel for €8 per night in a single room, not far from the legendary party mile Kao San Road and Soi Rambuttri, one of the city's street-food hotspots.

Yangon

After getting into the mood in Bangkok for your Southeast Asian adventure, you will fly to Yangon for about €60.

Unlike Thailand, you need a visa to enter Myanmar. This costs €42 and can be applied online before departure (e-Visa). Entry into Myanmar must be within 90 days after receiving the visa and allows a stay of 28 days.

Yangon is the former capital of Myanmar and especially famous for the legendary Shwedagon Pagoda. You can take a stroll through traditional shops and markets and taste delicious street food in the famous districts of 'Little India' and 'Chinatown'.

In the centrally located Little Yangon Hostel, you pay €13 for an overnight stay in an eight-bed dorm.

Nyaung Shwe

Next stop: Nyaung Shwe. The night bus costs €22, but you also save money as you don’t need to pay a room in a hostel.

The city is the gateway to Inle Lake, the second largest lake in Myanmar. It is famous for its floating villages, gardens, and local fishermen with their distinctive rowing style. With mountains in the background, it is the perfect backdrop for boat trips or bike tours.

In the middle of this fascinating landscape, you can stay at the Song of Travel Hostel for €13 (sixteen-bed dorm).

BAGAN

From Nyaung Shwe a night bus (€19) will take you to Bagan.

The temple city was one of the most important centres of Buddhist art and teachings many centuries ago, and is by far the most famous sight in Myanmar today.

Explore the ruins on a rented bicycle, take a hot-air balloon ride over the former royal city, and watch the golden light of the sun setting behind two thousand temples – an unforgettable, magical moment.

Only a few minutes’ walk away is the Ostello Bello Hostel, where you can stay in an eight-bed dorm for €21.

Mandalay

You can travel the distance from Bagan to Mandalay by boat on the Ayeyarwady River. Tickets for the ferry cost about €30 and can only be bought at the harbour there.

During the journey, you have the opportunity to admire Myanmar’s impressive landscape. Once you arrive in Mandalay, Mandalay Hill is worth a hike, where you have a spectacular view of Myanmar's second largest city, or visit the so-called U Bein Bridge, the longest teakwood bridge in the world.

An overnight stay in the centrally located Ostello Bello Mandalay in an eight-bed dorm costs €15.

Bangkok

Unfortunately, it is time to leave Myanmar. You'll be going back to Bangkok by plane for about €60.

You can end your journey here with some souvenir shopping, a Thai massage, or a wild party night before returning home after 16 exciting days in South-East Asia.

In conclusion: all that glitters is gold in Myanmar!


Bangkok

Bangkok

The cheapest way to travel to Myanmar is via Southeast Asia's travel hub.

Before you travel to Myanmar, you should not miss the opportunity to visit the numerous sights of the metropolis, for example the Grand Palace or the Floating Market.

You can stay at the Green House Hostel for €8 per night in a single room, not far from the legendary party mile Kao San Road and Soi Rambuttri, one of the city's street-food hotspots.

Yangon

Yangon

After getting into the mood in Bangkok for your Southeast Asian adventure, you will fly to Yangon for about €60.

Unlike Thailand, you need a visa to enter Myanmar. This costs €42 and can be applied online before departure (e-Visa). Entry into Myanmar must be within 90 days after receiving the visa and allows a stay of 28 days.

Yangon is the former capital of Myanmar and especially famous for the legendary Shwedagon Pagoda. You can take a stroll through traditional shops and markets and taste delicious street food in the famous districts of 'Little India' and 'Chinatown'.

In the centrally located Little Yangon Hostel, you pay €13 for an overnight stay in an eight-bed dorm.

Nyaung Shwe

Nyaung Shwe

Next stop: Nyaung Shwe. The night bus costs €22, but you also save money as you don’t need to pay a room in a hostel.

The city is the gateway to Inle Lake, the second largest lake in Myanmar. It is famous for its floating villages, gardens, and local fishermen with their distinctive rowing style. With mountains in the background, it is the perfect backdrop for boat trips or bike tours.

In the middle of this fascinating landscape, you can stay at the Song of Travel Hostel for €13 (sixteen-bed dorm).

BAGAN

BAGAN

From Nyaung Shwe a night bus (€19) will take you to Bagan.

The temple city was one of the most important centres of Buddhist art and teachings many centuries ago, and is by far the most famous sight in Myanmar today.

Explore the ruins on a rented bicycle, take a hot-air balloon ride over the former royal city, and watch the golden light of the sun setting behind two thousand temples – an unforgettable, magical moment.

Only a few minutes’ walk away is the Ostello Bello Hostel, where you can stay in an eight-bed dorm for €21.

Mandalay

Mandalay

You can travel the distance from Bagan to Mandalay by boat on the Ayeyarwady River. Tickets for the ferry cost about €30 and can only be bought at the harbour there.

During the journey, you have the opportunity to admire Myanmar’s impressive landscape. Once you arrive in Mandalay, Mandalay Hill is worth a hike, where you have a spectacular view of Myanmar's second largest city, or visit the so-called U Bein Bridge, the longest teakwood bridge in the world.

An overnight stay in the centrally located Ostello Bello Mandalay in an eight-bed dorm costs €15.

Bangkok

Bangkok

Unfortunately, it is time to leave Myanmar. You'll be going back to Bangkok by plane for about €60.

You can end your journey here with some souvenir shopping, a Thai massage, or a wild party night before returning home after 16 exciting days in South-East Asia.

In conclusion: all that glitters is gold in Myanmar!

Myanmar Route Map

Itinerary and Stops.

Tag
Route/Station
Transport
€
Unterkunft
€
1. Home - Bangkok
Home - Bangkok
Flight
250
Private room
7
2. Bangkok
Bangkok
-
Private room
7
3. Bangkok
Bangkok
-
Private room
7
4. Bangkok - Yangon
Bangkok - Yangon
Flight
60
eight-bed dorm
13
5. Yangon
Yangon
-
eight-bed dorm
13
6. Yangon - Nyaung Shwe
Yangon - Nyaung Shwe
Night bus
21
Night bus
7. Nyaung Shwe
Nyaung Shwe
-
12
sixteen-bed dorm
13
8. Nyaung Shwe - Bagan
Nyaung Shwe - Bagan
Night bus
19
Night bus
9. Bagan
Bagan
-
Eight-bed dorm
21
10. Bagan
Bagan
-
Eight-bed dorm
21
11. Bagan - Mandalay
Bagan - Mandalay
Ferry
30
Eight-bed dorm
15
12. Mandalay
Mandalay
-
Eight-bed dorm
15
13. Mandalay
Mandalay
-
Eight-bed dorm
15
14. Mandalay - Bangkok
Mandalay - Bangkok
Flight
60
private room
7
15. Bangkok
Bangkok
-
private room
7
16. Bangkok - Home
Bangkok - Home
Flight
250

Total price.

Flights 570,00 €
Transportation 69,00 €
Tours 42,00 €
Accommodation 164,00 €
Total 845,00 €

Du möchtest 

deine eigene

Reise erstellen?

 Ja

Du möchtest deine

eigene Reise erstellen?

 Ja

Dos and Don’ts, Food & Drinks, Costs.

Breakfast

Eggs and omelette: a classic breakfast that cannot be missed. The locals usually make the omelettes with exotic fruits.

Soups

Mohinga: this soup is the national dish of Myanmar. A soup with fish and noodles made of vermicelli and eaten with chopsticks – of course. Ginger and lemongrass are also added.

Mohinga: the soup is the typical breakfast for the locals.

Main courses

Lahpet Thoke: this salad consists of tea leaves and is prepared with roasted peanuts. Cabbage and various vegetables are added, and meat or fish if you like.

Shan Noodles: sticky rice noodles usually served with tomatoes or meat. Shan noodles can often be ordered as a side dish to soups.

Tiger Prawns Curry: the prawns are fried and seasoned with ginger, garlic, and onions. A speciality in the coastal villages of Myanmar!

Curries: curries in Myanmar are mainly characterised by the turmeric spice, which gives them a very special flair. Peanut oil is also used to top it off.

Drinks & Snacks

Cuppa Tea: this tea is like a typical Chai tea and an absolute must drink for tea lovers!

Falooda: this is an ice cream (mostly vanilla) mixed with a sweet syrup, basil and milk.

Myanmar

The exchange rate for 1 000 Burmese Kyat is around 0.63 euros (as of February 2020). However, you usually pay in USD, thus the prices are stated in USD. You can see the prices for certain products as well as the cost of living below.

Cost of Living 

  • Monthly rent in an expensive area (2/4 room): $ 660 – $ 1 560 = 593 – 1400 euros
  • Utilities per month: $ 25.71 = 23.49 euros
  • Internet per month: $ 82.29 = 75.18 euros
  • 1 litre (1/4 gallon) of gasoline: $ 0.7 = 0.64 euros
  • Monthly ticket for public transport: $ 9.08 = 8.30 euros

Food

  • Lunch at a restaurant in the business district: $ 4.50 = 4.11 euros
  • Menu at a fast-food restaurant: $ 4 = 3.65 euros
  • Average dinner for two in a local restaurant: $ 5 = 4.56 euros
  • Cappuccino in a tourist area: $ 2.03 = 1.85 euros

Free time

  • 2 tickets for a movie: $ 6 = 5.50 euros
  • 0.5 litre of local beer in the supermarket: $ 1.12 = 1.03 euros
  • Marlboro Cigarettes (20 pack): $ 2.27 = 2.07 euros
  • 1 glass of beer at a local bar: $ 1.07 = 0.98 euros

Personal hygiene

  • Normal haircut for men in tourist area: $ 5 = 5.60 euros
  • Shampoo: $ 1.20 = 1.10 euros
  • Deodorant: $ 1.10 = 1 euros

Dos

Please be silent in the temples. This also applies to visitors, so only whisper if necessary and respect prayer times.

Taking time for history and culture – this is very important in Myanmar, and you should also consider doing this during your journey. This way you make sure that you experience the country properly.

Keep your hands off each other. Couples should preferably keep their distance.

Don'ts

Visiting areas that are remote is prohibited for backpackers. Safety there is not guaranteed, and you’ll expose yourself to unnecessary risks.

Don’t take pictures of monks. You may take as many pictures of the buildings and temples as you like, but you should not take any pictures of the people.

Money exchange on the black market – yes, there is such a thing in Myanmar, and it is quite well known. But you better stay away from it, money exchange at the ATM or at the counter is much safer and, above all, more reliable.

Visa, Visa, Passport & Vaccinations

Passport

Yes

Temporary passport

Yes

National ID

No

Temporary national ID

No

Child’s pass

Yes

Visa

Yes

Vaccine

Robert-Koch-Instituts

Additional Remarks.

At the time of entry, travel documents must be valid for at least six months beyond the intended date of departure. Please also inform yourself about the current entry regulations regarding the corona virus. You can find up-to-date information on this at the Foreign Office.

The team at Backpacker Trail wishes you lots of fun and an unforgettable trip!

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