Best time to visit Myanmar
There are two things you want to avoid when on holiday in Burma – intense heat, and intense rain
The best time to visit Burma, therefore, is during the drier winter months of October to March. It's hot during the daytime, and lowland temperatures remain pleasant at night – although bring much warmer layers for the highlands and hill stations as they are chilly in the evenings. Bagan and Mandalay are the hottest, driest regions – temperatures can peak at over 40°C – but rainfall is still light here in the wetter season, and with more bearable temperatures this is the best time to visit Burma to avoid the winter crowds.
Our Myanmar (Burma) Holidays
Burma sailing holiday, the Mergui archipelago
Adventurous exploration of the Myeik Archipelago in Burma
From
£1685 to £1885
9 days
ex flights
Burma photography tour
Discover Burma with a professional travel photographer
From
£3650
14 days
inc UK flights
Burma cultural holiday
Discover a side of Burma hidden beyond the tourist trail
From
£1879 to £2075
15 days
ex flights
Family holiday in Burma
A fabulous family holiday including the best of Burma
From
£1500 to £2000
16 days
ex flights
Burma holidays, small group tour
The highlights of Burma visiting Rangoon, Bagan, Mandalay & Inle Lake
From
£2479 to £2599
16 days
inc UK flights
Myanmar 9 day highlights tour
Myanmar Classic Adventure in responsible ways
From
US $795 to US $1480
9 days
ex flights
Myanmar highlights group tour
Witness extraordinary scenic, religious and cultural variety
From
US $1352
10 days
ex flights
Burma holiday, rivers & railways
A privately guided tour of the highlights of Burma
From
£3615
14 days
inc UK flights
Burma tailor made holiday, highlights
Explore Myanmar in fantastic variety and depth!
From
£1995 to £3000
14 days
ex flights
Burma cultural tour, small group
Discover mythical landscapes & ancient treasures of Burma.
From
£1720 to £1905
12 days
ex flights
Cruising holiday in Burma, the Mergui Archipelago
A comprehensive tour of Burma including ocean sailing
From
£6130
17 days
inc UK flights
Myanmar 13 day itinerary
Best of Myanmar's cultural and luxury experiences
From
US $1025 to US $1970
13 days
ex flights
Burma cultural holiday
Explore the enigmatic and mysterious nation of Burma
From
£1317 to £1619
14 days
ex flights
Burma small group tour
Mythical landscapes & ancient treasures of Burma
From
£1538 to £1970
15 days
ex flights
Irrawaddy river cruise, Burma
Sail the mighty Ayarwaddy in a unique experience of Myanmar!
From
£2999 to £5999
11 days
ex flights
Myanmar tailor made tour, tea, temples & trails
Venture deeper and further into an undiscovered Myanmar.
From
£2185
16 days
ex flights
Burma 15 day tour
In-depth cultural tour of Burma's best locations and crafts.
From
£3295
15 days
ex flights
Mandalay to Bagan cruise in Burma
Explore Burma's history and culture on this Luxury Cruise
From
£1480.17 to £1644.5
8 days
ex flights
South East Asia tour, 38 days
An epic trip showcasing the best of South East Asia
From
£7510
6 weeks
ex flights
Burma holiday, off the beaten track
Explore the fascinating history and culture of Burma
From
£2460
12 days
ex flights
Burma cultural tour, Yangon and Mandalay
Discover the enigmatic land of Burma
From
£3245 to £3475
13 days
ex flights
Burma hot air balloon festival holiday
Tailormade Myanmar adventure combining trekking and culture
From
£2095
12 days
ex flights
Burma tour, encompassed
Burma tour: from the Shan Plateau to Mergui Archipelago
From
£4775
24 days
inc UK flights
Highlights of Burma holiday
Classic cultural holiday exploring Myanmar's highlights
From
£1648
12 days
ex flights
Southern Myanmar tour, 9 days
Travel south to golden-peeked mountains & colonial towns.
From
US $1535 to US $1995
9 days
ex flights
Myanmar whistle stop tour
A packed tour for travellers keen to dive deep into Myanmar.
From
US $1355 to US $1755
12 days
ex flights
Burma, month by month
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Our top Myanmar (Burma) Holiday
Burma sailing holiday, the Mergui archipelago
Adventurous exploration of the Myeik Archipelago in Burma
From
£1685 to £1885
9 days
ex flights
Small group travel:
2019: 19 Nov, 26 Nov, 3 Dec, 10 Dec, 17 Dec, 24 Dec, 31 Dec
2020: 7 Jan, 14 Jan, 21 Jan, 28 Jan, 4 Feb, 11 Feb, 18 Feb, 25 Feb, 3 Mar, 10 Mar, 17 Mar, 24 Mar, 31 Mar, 7 Apr, 14 Apr
2019: 19 Nov, 26 Nov, 3 Dec, 10 Dec, 17 Dec, 24 Dec, 31 Dec
2020: 7 Jan, 14 Jan, 21 Jan, 28 Jan, 4 Feb, 11 Feb, 18 Feb, 25 Feb, 3 Mar, 10 Mar, 17 Mar, 24 Mar, 31 Mar, 7 Apr, 14 Apr
Travel Team
If you'd like to chat about Myanmar (Burma) or need help finding a holiday to suit you we're very happy to help.
RESPONSIBLE TRAVEL RECOMMENDS
Mark Huggins, from our supplier Undiscovered Destinations: "There's a perception that the best time to visit Burma is from November to March, but it's actually fine to visit many places in our summer months as well. There are certain places that will be very wet during the rainy season, and you can't get to the beach areas like Ngapali, but the areas around Mandalay, Bagan and Inle Lake don't see a lot of rain even in summer, and even when it does rain it tends to be short, sharp showers. It's not oppressive in terms of heat, whereas March and April are absolutely scorching.
Personally, I think November is beautiful. It’s just after the rainy season, the land is very lush and vibrant and temperatures are perfect.”
Our festive pick:
Hot air balloon festivals
Each November, hot air balloons crafted from handmade paper are released into the sky to mark the end of the rainy season and honour Buddhist and Hindu deities. There are competitions for the most elaborately decorated balloons and the best firework display. Taunggyi hosts the largest festival, but there are smaller versions across Shan State.
Each November, hot air balloons crafted from handmade paper are released into the sky to mark the end of the rainy season and honour Buddhist and Hindu deities. There are competitions for the most elaborately decorated balloons and the best firework display. Taunggyi hosts the largest festival, but there are smaller versions across Shan State.
Festivals & events
Once a year, in September or October, the famous “leg-rowers” paddle a gilded barge around the stilt-house villages for Lake Inle’s Boat Festival. The barge contains images of Buddha, and boat races by the leg-rowers also take place – it’s a wonderful introduction to local religion and tradition.
Pagoda festivals commemorate the founding and crowning of the pagoda, as well as other events in its history. Bigger pagoda festivals include Yangon’s Shwedagon in February/March, and the Golden Rock and Bagan’s Schwezigon, both in November.
The larger festivals attract pilgrims from across the country, and involve food stalls, Yoke thé marionette theatre, music and dance, and martial arts.
The larger festivals attract pilgrims from across the country, and involve food stalls, Yoke thé marionette theatre, music and dance, and martial arts.
Burma’s new year celebration, called Thingyan – “water festival” – occurs around mid-April. It coincides with the Buddhist new year, and the five day celebration involves what look like water fights – where the participants throw water over each other to wash away sins and cleanse themselves for the coming year.
More about Myanmar (Burma)
Myanmar (Burma) opened up to tourists again in 2011, and the appeal of seeing what lies beyond the borders of this once closed-off nation is still strong.
Our interactive map reveals our top Myanmar (Burma) highlights, plus suggested itineraries to make the most of each region.
The journey becomes the destination in Myanmar, as every step of the way is lined with ancient stupas and pagodas, traditional craft workshops, floating markets and even the "Road to Mandalay" itself.
Myanmar’s relative isolation has helped to preserve its long, rich culture and visitors today will be dazzled by its Buddhist temples, tempted by its crafts and charmed by its gentle, welcoming people, well known for their modesty and warmth.
Not visiting the temples of Bagan in Burma is akin to avoiding Angkor Wat in Cambodia.
Myanmar’s second largest lake is a little bit special and not just for the 70,000 Intha people living and working around its edges.
Myanmar is not well known as a small ship cruising destination – its temple-studded interior tends to steal the limelight – but in the far south of the country, the remote Mergui Archipelago is a remarkable, pristine group of islands which can only be explored by catamaran.
Travelling in Myanmar with kids needn't be daunting if you do your research, book with a holiday company focused on all things family.
If you're wondering about the best place to meet elephants, how to bring up Burmese politics, whether the country is going to change much or where to see the war murals of Genghis Khan, our partner holiday companies share their Myanmar travel advice.
It's important wherever you go, but responsible tourism in Myanmar is an especially hot topic as this country is just opening up to tourism and Western involvement after decades of dictatorship and isolation.
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Photo credits: [Page banner: Thomas Bors] [Sunrise in Bagan: Alexander Mueller]
[Sunset: Joe Le Merou]
[Balloons: Peter Halling Hilborg]
[Inle Lake - boat: Chan]
[Water festival : lawtonjm]
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