Being isolated from the world for decades, Myanmar (Burma) is still a new destination in Southeast Asia. Though this sleeping beauty just woke up, this country has become a must-go place when it comes to off-the-beaten-track travel. Visiting Myanmar, you can enjoy mesmerizing religious architecture, pristine jungles, spectacular waterfalls and vibrant ethnic villages. This idyllic country and its friendly people will help you relieve your stress and create unforgettable memories with your family and friends. Preparing for a new destination like this will cost a lot of time. Here are some tips for you to easily make a perfect trip to Myanmar.
It is required that your passport must be valid for 6 months from the date of entry to Myanmar and you must have at least one blank visa page.
Myanmar visa exemption:
Tourist visa to Myanmar has a length of stay of 28 days from the date of arrival to this country. Passport holders from 100 countries can apply for tourist e-visa.
Passengers with e-visa can only enter Myanmar from three main ports: Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw International Airport.
Kyat (pronounces ‘chat’) is the official currency of Myanmar, abbreviated as K. US Dollar is also accepted for larger transactions for hotels, luxury restaurants or flight tickets. If you bring more than US $10,000, you should declare the amounts to Myanmar’s arrival immigration.
Before the government reforms, some black markets in Myanmar such as the famous Bogyoke Aung San Market (Scott Market) offered the better exchange rate. But this is no longer the case, now you can exchange foreign currency at some national banks of major cities (Yangon, Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw, etc.) or at the airport. Remember that your US Dollar notes must be of the intact condition; any dirty note will not be accepted.
The exchange rate is fluctuating; so bring US Dollar along with the local currency to get the best value for your purchase.
There are plenty of ATMs around major tourist destinations in this country. Though there is no international bank in Myanmar, the local bank accepts international cards and the withdrawal fee is around K5000. If you intend to visit some rural places, bring some spare Kyat.
Several hotels and restaurants in Myanmar have wifi, but the internet speed is relatively slow. You can purchase a data package from Telenor and Ooredoo. Data packages are cheap in Myanmar (1.5GB for 7 days at K2,500). You can buy a SIM card at the airport or in some tourist destinations such as Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw.
When purchasing a SIM Card, you should provide photocopies of passport photo page and Myanmar visa page, and a passport photo as well.
In Myanmar, people use 230V, 50 Hz and 2 or 3-pin electricity sockets. You can bring your own adapter or your hotel will provide multi-socket power strips.
Located in the monsoon region of Asia, Myanmar is hot and humid throughout the year. There are two seasons in Myanmar: the dry season and the rainy season. The dry season runs from October to May when the rainy season lasts from June to early October.
There is a variation in weather during the dry season in Myanmar. The period between November and March, which follows the end of rainy seasons, is cool and dry. It is the best time to visit outdoor attractions in Myanmar. While from March to May, the weather is sultry and visitors should avoid walking at noon.
Visiting a Buddhist temple will be a part of your trip to Myanmar. These are some rules to keep in mind when you enter any religious site:
As Myanmar is just recently opened to the world outside, most people cannot speak English in this country. Prepare a translation app and learn some basic Burmese sentences to communicate with local people.
There are many religious holidays and festivals in Myanmar and most of them are determined based on Burmese lunar calendar. The Thingyan Water Festival, which is the most popular festival in this country, is held to celebrate Burmese New Year. Similar to Songkran Festival in Thailand, local people sprinkle water over each other in order to wash away bad luck and wish the others good luck next year. This festival usually lasts for four days.
Myanmar is charmingly sublime with many attractions. It depends on your plan: if you only have 3 or 4 days, you can discover one big city such as Yangon or Mandalay. However, if you want to discover four to five destinations in Myanmar, you will need at least a week. Here are four most famous destinations in this country, you can customize your trip to Myanmar and visit some other lesser-known places as well:
Read more: Top 7 Family Destinations in Myanmar
This post was last modified on June 22, 2023 8:00 am
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