Long considered one of the last frontiers of travel, Myanmar (aka Burma) is poised for a large boost in tourism thanks in part to lifted U.S. restrictions.
Here, we take you through a photo tour of this up and coming travel spot:
Most visitors will agree, Bagan is the crown jewel of Myanmar travel. It’s a glimpse of the country’s “golden period” (roughly 1057-1287) when more than 10,000 temples, monasteries and pagodas crowded the landscape. More than 2,000 remain today and not even the erosion of time and weather subtract from their splendor.
Rent a bike and explore Bagan. There are numerous temples–and comparatively few tourists–so you can find yourself alone in any number of them. Beyond Bagan, bikes are a main form of transport for locals and visitors in Myanmar. Just be careful outside main villages–the roads aren’t always good.
In any country, a trip to the local market is a must. In Myanmar you can find everything from fish to spices to rat kebabs–seriously. (For a list of other “adventurous” foods, check out this post.)
Friendly faces are the most common sight all over Myanmar. Don’t be surprised by the Thanakha, a yellowish paste that’s found on the cheeks of the country’s children and women (sometimes men, too). It serves many purposes–protection from the sun, relief from fungus, a cure for acne and just good old tradition.
Another common sight? Golden pagodas. The most famous of them all is Yangon’s Shwedagon Pagoda, considered the oldest one in the world.
The food in Myanmar is a mix of flavor from all its neighbors: Thailand, Laos, China and Bangladesh. Noodles are popular, as is the fish soup Mohinga.
(Main image: Taryn Adler)
