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1. Bagan
Bagan is an ancient city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in the Mandalay Region of Myanmar. From the 9th to 13th centuries, the city was the capital of the Pagan Kingdom, the first kingdom that unified the regions that would later constitute modern Myanmar. During the kingdom's height between the 11th and 13th centuries, 4,446 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries were constructed in the Bagan plains alone, of which the remains of 2,217 temples and pagodas still survive to the present day.
UNESCO recognition or not, Bagan certainly belongs in any Myanmar itinerary worth mentioning, and indeed many travelers make sure to cover Bagan when exploring greater Southeast Asia.
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2. Shwedagon Pagoda
The Shwedagon Pagoda, officially named Shwedagon Zedi Daw and also known as the Great Dagon Pagoda and the Golden Pagoda, is a gilded stupa located in Yangon, Myanmar. The 326-foot-tall pagoda is situated on Singuttara Hill, to the west of Kandawgyi Lake, and dominates the Yangon skyline.
Shwedagon Pagoda is the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in Myanmar, as it is believed to contain relics of the four previous Buddhas of the present kalpa.
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3. Kalaw
High up in western Shan State, Kalaw is an old hill station with a laid back atmosphere, refreshing climate and scenic views. Many of Kalaw’s original colonial-era buildings remain, and it is also known as Myanmar’s trekking mecca.
Whether you are after a brief stroll to to soak up the atmosphere and take in some hill views and the colourful flower-lined streets, or a longer multi-day trek to Inle Lake to witness the lives of the local hill tribes, Kalaw offers a wide variety of options for exploration – and a freedom of unfettered movement that is not always possible in other remote parts of Myanmar.
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4. Inle lake
Inle Lake is in the Shan Hills of Myanmar. At its southwestern edge, Phaung Daw Oo Paya is a tiered pagoda with gilded Buddha statues. In the hills, near the market town of Indein, the stupas of Shwe Inn Dein Pagoda resemble a field of gold spires. The ruined stupas at nearby Nyaung Ohak have been reclaimed by forest. Maing Thauk village is split between land and water, with a wooden bridge connecting the two halves.
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5. Ngapali
Turquoise blue water, white soft sand, 7 km long beach of your dreams. Myanmar owns some incredible undiscovered beaches and Ngapali beach is one of them. Perfect palm trees all along the coastline and still very to tourism which gives you almost empty beaches. Discover one of the most beautiful beaches in Asia.
Ngapali is a quiet area with one long main road along the coastline. You can rent a bike and hop on the bike or make a boat tour in the early morning. Don't miss a chance to visit friendly locals, experience a memorable sunset and take a snap with the famous palm tree.
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6. Pindaya
Pindaya is famous for its limestone caves, its attractive lakeside setting, and the traditional Shan paper umbrellas that are manufactured here. Set deep in the hillsides, the caves (some of which serve as meditation chambers) contain some 6000 Buddhas of various sizes, which are made of white marble, bronze or plaster, and coated with gold leaf. At the entrance to the caves sits the 15 metre tall Shwe U Min Pagoda.
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7. Shwenandaw Monastery
Shwenandaw Monastery was once utilized for one part of the Royal Palace in Amarapura. The movement of the capital city to Mandalay makes the building dismantled. In 1987, the site was transported to Mandalay and reconstructed there as part of the new all teak Royal Palace in 1857. King Mindon used the building as his personal living quarters. After the death of the King, his son had the building relocated to its current place outside of the Palace grounds, where it was transformed to a monastery in 1880.
The large structure of Shwenandaw Pagoda built in typical Burmese architectural style features a four-tiered roof that consists of some parts, each section gets smaller from the top level to the bottom level. The roof lines are adorned with very detailed intricate wood carvings.
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8. Mawlamyine
Mawlamyine, formerly Moulmein, is the fourth largest city of Myanmar, 300 km south east of Yangon and 70 km south of Thaton, at the mouth of Thanlwin River. The city is the capital and largest city of Mon State and the main trading center and seaport in south eastern Myanmar.
Walking around can be an option in the centre, but Mawlamyine stretches over 5.5 km along the river. You should rent a scooter or motorbike and explore the surrounding area, especially south or take a boat up or down the river.
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9. Ngwe Saung
Ngwe Saung is an aggregation of resort and other hotels stretched along 9 km of beach with a small village at the northern stretch. In addition, the beach is spoiled a little by the local motorbike and sometimes quad-taxi drivers going along the beach and offering tours and transport to tourists. Nevertheless, the beach is nice, and in case you are the beach resort type or want to take a timeout from the busy rest of Myanmar, this would be the ideal and, compared to Ngapali, inexpensive place to do so.
A sleepy fishing village with hotels spread along its beautiful white sand shore, Ngwe Saung is a perfect place to relax after a few weeks travelling around Myanmar. One of the most laid-back places you will find in the country, the real joy here is to sit back, take in the sun’s rays and picturesque beach views, or try the catch of the day in a local restaurant.
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10. Mrauk U
Mrauk U is an archaeologically important town in northern Rakhine State, Myanmar. It is also the capital of Mrauk-U Township, a sub region of the Mrauk-U District. From 1430 until 1785, it was the capital of the Mrauk U Kingdom, the most important and powerful Rakhine kingdom.
Not so much advertisement is on display, unlike the rest of the country, which helps make Mrauk U a traditional Burmese town.
The best time to visit is from November to mid-March when it's cooler in the morning with attractive mists.
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