When to go to Myanmar

January is a great time of year to visit Myanmar. You can expect dry weather and plenty of sunshine throughout the country.

In Yangon, the weather is warm/hot with average daytime temperatures of 32°C, in Mandalay it is slightly cooler with temperatures around 23°C, and in the ancient city of Bagan the monthly average temperature is 27°C.

In and around Inle Lake it is warm and comfortable during the day (average 26°C), however it does get chilly at night and we recommend that you pack warm clothes. If you’re travelling to higher altitudes in the Shan Hills the daytime temperatures will be cooler and the evening temperatures can drop significantly.

On the Bay of Bengal coast you can expect hot, sunny days with average temperatures of 30°C, and cool evenings.

You can expect pleasant weather throughout Myanmar during February. Temperatures are rising, but it is not too hot and humid which means that it is a great month for sightseeing in Yangon, discovering the temples of Bagan ortaking a boat ride on the serene Inle Lake.  

In Yangon and you can expect temperatures around 30°C, in Mandalay it is dry and bright with average temperatures of 28°C, and in Bagan you’ll enjoy temperatures around 32°C. If you plan to visit Inle Lake you can expect average daytime temperatures of 28°C making it a comfortable time to explore the floating villages, markets, temples and monasteries. Inle Lake is surrounded by the rolling hills of the Shan Plateau and February is an ideal month to trek in this area – temperatures are warm during the day, however it can feel quite chilly in the evenings and early mornings so we suggest that you pack a jumper or jacket.

February is another fantastic month to relax on the beaches of Ngapali on the Bay of Bengal coast and you can expect hot, sunny days with average temperatures of 30°C, and cool evenings.

Please be aware that February is the peak time to visit Myanmar so if you’re planning to travel during this month we encourage you to book well in advance to ensure availability at your preferred accommodation.

March sees the transition from the cool to the hot season. Temperatures and humidity levels increase steadily from the beginning of the month and sightseeing can become uncomfortable, especially in the central plains (Bagan).

If you’re planning to explore the temples of Bagan we recommend that you visit early in the morning and return to your hotel in the peak of the day, then you can return to the temples at sunset.

Yangon becomes very hot in March, with daytime temperatures around 40°C. In Mandalay the daytime temperatures are around 36°C. It tends to be cooler around Inle Lake in March, with average temperature of 24°C.

Ngapali Beach is a great option for March and you can expect hot and sunny weather with average temperatures of 28°C. Here you can relax in the shade and take a dip in the Indian Ocean or your hotel swimming pool to cool down.

April is the hottest month of the year in Myanmar. Yangon is extremely hot and you can expect temperatures to exceed40°C. Bagan is hot and dry, with temperatures reaching 40°C, whilst at Inle Lake it is slightly cooler with average temperatures of 30°C. Ngapali is a great option for April and you can expect sunny weather and clear blue skies.

Thingyan Water Festival is celebrated in April - marking the end of the dry season and the beginning of the rainy season. This is a really fun time to visit Myanmar with celebrations (friendly water fights) taking place across the country.

May is very hot throughout Myanmar. The start of the month tends to be relatively dry, however the rainy season usually starts in the middle of May.

Yangon, Mandalay and Bagan are extremely hot and humid in May, with daytime temperatures around 40°C, although the temperatures decline towards the middle/end of the month with the start of the rainy season. If you don’t mind the extreme heat, the first half of May can be a great time to visit Myanmar, and there’s the added bonus that the popular tourist sites, such as the Bagan temples, are much less crowded. When the rains start in Yangon, Mandalay and Bagan you’ll find that it tends to be short, heavy showers in the afternoon, however the downpours help to break up the humidity.

The weather at Inle Lake remains warm and sunny in May, with average temperatures of 27°C, although it can feel chilly at night. There is less rainfall here than in other parts of the country making May a good time to visit.

June is the start of the rainy season in Myanmar, however it is still a good month to visit certain parts of country and you can expect plenty of sunshine and blue skies in between the short heavy showers.

Yangon is cooler in June than previous months, with average daytime temperatures of 35°C. Mandalay and Bagan remain fairly hot and humid, whilst Inle Lake is slightly cooler. You should expect short, heavy downpours most afternoons – if you’re visiting Myanmar in June we recommend that you pack a raincoat and umbrella, plus you’ll still need a sunhat and sunscreen.

Please note that the beach resorts on the Bay of Bengal coast close in June due to the heavy rain and high winds and they remain closed until October.

The rainy season continues in July and you can expect downpours throughout the whole country. Temperatures remain high across the country – typically between 27-30°C.

The rain can be persistent, particularly on the Bay of Bengal coast and in Yangon and the Irrawaddy Delta. Ngapali Beach on the Bay of Bengal coast is now closed due to the heavy rain and high winds.

Mandalay, Bagan and Inle Lake tend to experience short, heavy downpours in the afternoons and early evenings and you can expect sunshine and blue skies in between the showers. If you’re visiting Myanmar in July we recommend that you pack a raincoat and umbrella, plus you’ll still need a sunhat and sunscreen.

August is not considered the best time to travel to Myanmar and if you do choose to visit during this month you should expect intense downpours almost every day. The areas around Mandalay, Bagan and Inle Lake experience the least rainfall, and when it does rain it tends to be short, heavy showers. Temperatures and humidity levels remain high making sightseeing uncomfortable.

The beach resorts are now closed and the heavy rain means that it is impossible to visit many rural areas at this time.

September is wet and warm although the rain will start to subside later in the month. Temperatures remain in the high 20’s and early 30’s.

If you’re visiting Myanmar at this time of year you’ll find that there are much fewer tourists at the main sites, but please bear in mind that road travel across much of the country is still difficult, in many cases impossible. The beaches resorts remain closed during September.

The weather is likely to be dry throughout the whole country, and temperatures are likely to remain in the high 20’s and early 30’s°C.

October is a good time to visit Myanmar as you’ll avoid the crowds, and the countryside is lush and green following months of rain.

Moderate temperatures (between 25-30°C) throughout most of the country, very little rainfall and plenty of sunshine make this a popular month to visit Myanmar. In the highlands and foothills of the east, the temperatures are at their lowest with average highs of 25°C and warm clothing is required, especially at night. November is a great month to visit Ngapali beach on the Bay of Bengal coast.

Shwezigon Pagoda Festival is usually held in October or November and it marks the end of the monsoon season on the Bagan plains. It’s an interesting time to be in Bagan, with celebrations lasting the week running up to the Full Moon Day of Tazaungmone - the 8^thmonth of the Burmese calendar.

You can expect excellent weather throughout Myanmar in December.

Rainfall is unlikely and despite it being one of the coolest months, particularly in the highlands and foothills, temperatures can still average highs of 31°C across much of the country.