2 Weeks In Myanmar Itinerary - The Perfect Guide

Planning a 2 week Myanmar itinerary can be difficult. So here’s a route based on our tried and tested personal experience.

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2 Week Myanmar Itinerary

Mainland Myanmar is the typical tourist route people take when planning a 2 week Myanmar itinerary.

Beginning in Yangon and ending in Mandalay, or vice versa.

Before we get into our route, here are also a few popular spots that we didn’t make it to such worth noting if you have spare time.

Ngapali Beach: The main, if not the only, real beach destinations in Myanmar.

Kalaw: A hill town popular for those looking to trek to Inle Lake. A 3 day trip that takes you across some of the vast landscape of Myanmar on foot.

Hsipaw: Another town that attracts visitors usually for hardcore trekking.

Mawlamyine to Hpa An Boat — Lauren cruising down the Thanlyin river.

Yangon

Things to do:
Shwedagon Pagoda
Sule Pagoda
Chauk-htat-gyi Buddha Temple
Bogyoke Aung San Market
Eat Burmese Street Food

The first stop on most people’s 2 week Myanmar itinerary, is naturally to start in Yangon!

Although, one of the strangest things we found at when arriving in Myanmar, is that there is no public transport within walking distance of Yangon airport.

So you will NEED to book a transfer. The best option is to prebook your Yangon Airport: Private Transfer.

As for the city itself, it’s a great introduction to Burmese culture, and although the hustle and bustle is just as daunting as any other city in Asia, this one has the most friendly atmosphere of them all.

If you’re looking for a tour option check out the Yangon: Private Half-Day City Tour, they looked after us during our stay in Yangon, and got us off to a great start on our 2 week Myanmar itinerary.

Nobody stares or bothers you, and EVERYBODY will smile and welcome you into The Golden Land.

Shwedagon Pagoda Yangon Golden Temple — Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon – a must see on your 2 week Myanmar itinerary

Bagan

Things to do:
Hot Air Balloon Ride
Rent E-Bikes
Explore The Pagodas
Sunset River Cruise

Next up, we took the 5 hour bus journey North from Yangon, to find out exactly why Bagan is THE most popular destination in Myanmar.

With over 2,200 pagodas in the area, Bagan without a doubt has to be added to your 2 week Myanmar itinerary. Giving one of the most beautiful balloon infested sunrises in the world, if there’s one place you’ll get some epic photos – it’s here!

The most popular activity in the area, aside from visiting the pagodas, is to enjoy a hot air balloon ride.

The season for hot air balloons runs from around the beginning of October, until the beginning of April. However, you will NEED to book your hot air balloon ride in advance, as they do sell out, and the number of balloons permitted by the Ministry of Tourism is now limited to 26 per day.

With flight duration a minimum of 45 minutes to 1 hours, Golden Eagle Ballooning in Bagan is one of the highest rated companies in Bagan.

The other main tourist attraction in Bagan, is renting E-Bikes and exploring the Bagan Pagodas.

E-Bikes are basically electric mopeds, that max out at 40km/h, and will save your legs a lot of hard work.

They can be rented from most places around town for 8,000 Kyat (full day) or 4,000 Kyat (half day), or you can jump on a Full Day Guided E-Bike Tour and explore with a gang.

Either way, waking up for sunrise and exploring Bagan was one of our favourite things to do in Myanmar.

Buledi Pagoda Sunset Bagan Pagodas Bagan Temples — Watching the balloons rise with the sun at Bulethi Pagoda

Inle Lake

Things to do:
Inle Lake Tour

From Bagan, some people choose to bus to Kalaw and take part in the 3 day trek to Inle Lake. However we decided to hop past and catch a ride all the way through.

One thing to add, is that the main town and hub where tourists stay, is called Nyaung Shwe. From here you will need to book onto an Inle Lake tour.

Tours range from around 20,000 – 40,000 Kyat around town, depending on the level of tour you opt for.

Here are a few of the best options available to book in advance online:

Inle Lake: Full-Day Private Tour (£27 per person)

Inle Lake: Private 2-Hour Sunset Boat Ride (£12 per person)

All tours include a boat and driver for the day. Most include hotel pick up, water, government taxes, and donations for leaving slippers at temples.

As for Inle Lake itself, it’s an amazing day out, as well as a great cultural experience.

Witness first hand how the locals live and survive in floating villages. From the traditional dancing fishermen, to Burmese cigarette making, and the silk weaving centres.

It’s certainly an eye opening day into the lifestyle of the people that live around Inle, and a must visit on your 2 week Myanmar itinerary.

Mandalay

Things to do:
Mandalay Hill
Kuthodaw Pagoda
Mandalay Palace
U Bein Bridge
Dee Dote Waterfall

An easy end destination on your 2 week Myanmar itinerary.

Mandalay in the most Northern point on most tourists bucket list, and although it’s the second largest city in Myanmar with a population of over 1,200,000 people, we actually found it surprisingly relaxing.

With plenty of things to do, such as the Kuthodaw Pagoda (the largest book in the world), Mandalay Palace, and Mandalay Hill, the easiest way to combine them all is by booking a Mandalay Full-Day Private Tour.

Another of the most popular attraction in Myanmar is located in Madalay, the almighty U Bein Bridge!

The U Bein Bridge is the oldest and largest teak wood bridge in the world. Standing at 1.2-kilometre in length, the bridge was built around 1850 and attracts thousands of visitors every day.

One of the most popular ways to beat the crowds and see the bridge in all its beauty is via a boat ride. Which is included in the highly rated Ava & U Bein Bridge Sunset Bike Tour.

Whatever you choose to do in Mandalay, it’s a great city to end your Burmese experience in. So soak it all in and enjoy your final Burmese curries, it should finish your trip off to the Golden Land perfectly.