A mysterious, spiritual and magical country with a colonial past.
A country only recently open to tourists, but one deeply integrated into Britain's past, Myanmar is an intrepid travellers delight.
Sip cocktails overlooking the Yangon river in the Stand hotel, where British officers used to cheers with the likes of Rudyard Kipling and Orson Welles.
Visit the Shwedagon Pagoda, gracefully watching the city from its hilltop; it's the most sacred temple in Myanmar and people travel across the country to make merit at the golden stupa.
Head north to Mandalay, Inle Lake and the temple ruins of Bagan. Fly or take a train to Mandalay, and if you have the time, the traditional way to travel to Bagan is along the Ayarwaddy river by ship.
Float along the river and watch daily river life from a comfortable vantage point on deck. Witness the full expanse of Bagan from above with panoramic views from a hot air balloon, or explore a few of the thousand temples by horse and cart.
Explore the lesser known Karen state and visit the Golden Rock perched on the edge of a 1100 metre high cliff. If you are feeling lucky, your local guide will help you place some gold leaf onto the rock itself, and if the rock doesn’t fall, you are bound for good luck and health.
No trip to southeast Asia is complete without a trip to the beach, and Myanmar’s Ngapali beach offers a pristine, and often deserted, beach with azul water and colourful sunsets.
