14 Days in Myanmar - 5 Unique Itinerary Ideas

Itinerary #1: Best of Myanmar - Mandalay to Yangon

On this grand tour of Myanmar, you'll visit the country's most popular cultural destinations—Mandalay, Inle Lake, Bagan, and Yangon—and relax on the white sandy beaches of Ngapali.

Get ready to experience the wonders of Myanmar! Start in Yangon, the country's onetime capital and currently its largest city. After settling in, you'll sightsee on the second and third days of the itinerary, touring Shwedagon Pagoda and sampling local cuisine. Fly to Bagan next, where you'll spend a full day discovering ancient temples and passing through small villages. The following day, take a cooking class in a local home before enjoying a free afternoon. Fly to Mandalay on day six and take a tour of some of the city's top cultural highlights, including the ruins of the massive Mingun Pagoda. 

The second week of the trip begins with a domestic flight to Heho and a drive to Pindaya to see the region's famous caves filled with Buddha statues. Continue onto Inle Lake, where you'll spend a full day on the water, cruising past floating gardens and stilted villages. Back-track to Heho and board another flight to Thandwe, then transfer to Ngapali Beach to wrap up the trip with a few days of sun, sand, and sea. Day-trip to islands, relax on the beach, and don't miss sunsets over the water. You'll head back to Yangon on day 13 and have one last night on the town before heading home. Learn more

Itinerary #2: Local Culture in Myanmar - People and Places

Shop for produce in a local market, learn about the Buddhist lifestyle, take a cooking class, walk through traditional villages: this colorful trip plan takes you up close and personal with Myanmar's people and places.

Begin the trip in Mandalay. After an evening of sightseeing and getting oriented in Myanmar, you'll get some rest before the next day's cycling excursion on the outskirts of town. Bike to a Buddhist nunnery, where you'll have lunch, and on day three, journey to U Bein Bridge—known as the world's longest teak bridge. The next day, continue onto Bagan to tour the region's famous temples, visit a colorful marketplace and take a cooking class in a local home, then go for a sunset cruise on the Irrawaddy River. Fly to Heho on day six, then drive to Pindaya, where the second part of your itinerary starts.

You'll trek around Pindaya on day seven, stopping to see the Buddha statues inside the region's famous caves, then drive to Kalaw. There, you'll spend a day with elephants in a "retirement home" for logging elephants that were once used to transport large amounts of wood. You'll have plenty of time to interact with the elephants before catching the train to the town closest to Inle Lake. You'll get out on the water on day ten, seeing floating gardens from a boat, before heading to Heho and catching a flight to Yangon on day 11. You'll explore Myanmar's largest city for the last few days of the trip, touring Shwedagon Pagoda, one of the country's most impressive Buddhist sites. Learn more

Itinerary #3: Myanmar by Boat, Train, Bike, & Hike

On this outdoorsy itinerary around Myanmar, you'll bike, trek, boat, and enjoy an unforgettable journey on one of the world's most exhilarating train lines.

Start in Yangon. You'll spend a few days sightseeing in Myanmar's largest city, including a visit to sacred Shwedagon Pagoda, before catching a flight to Mandalay. There, you'll take a river cruise to see Mingun Paya—a massive, brick structure steeped in history—and other historic highlights in the region. On day five, move onto the onetime British hill station of Pyin Oo Lwin and ride the famous train across towering Gokteik Viaduct to Mandalay. Finish the first week with a cycling journey across U Bein Bridge to Inwa, then drive to Bagan.

Bagan, famous for its temples and villages, is a delightful region to explore on a bicycle. After pedaling around the area for a day, you'll fly to Heho and transfer to Pindaya, where you'll get to see the thousands of Buddha statues inside Pindaya's caves. Day ten features a full-day trek through the Shan Hills to Kalaw; the following day takes you to the Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp, a retirement home for former logging elephants. You'll spend the day working with mahouts (elephant caretakers) and interacting with the elephants. Wrap up the trip with a visit to Inle Lake, where you'll cruise around floating gardens and stilted villages on a traditional boat. Fly back to Yangon to make your connection home. Learn more

Itinerary #4: Cycle Myanmar

Pedal across the country on this active adventure that takes you past Myanmar's lakes, temples, volcanoes, and villages.

Touch down in Mandalay, where your journey begins. You'll get fitted for your bike on the first day and have a chance to take a quick spin before the longer trip begins. Get to know Mandalay and the rural area around it on day two, visiting local markets and temples, then pedaling through rice paddies and agricultural areas on the outskirts of town. The next day's cycling itinerary takes you to Mingun, Sagaing, Amarapura, and Myingyan, with stops for cultural sightseeing along the way. Awe-inspiring Mount Popa awaits you the next day, along with a couple of steep but rewarding climbs. Descend to Bagan and treat yourself to a sunset cruise on the Irrawaddy River. 

Catch a flight to Heho and bike to Pindaya to see the region's famous caves to start the second week. From Pindaya, pedal through the farms and rice paddies of Kalaw, taking time to interact with locals along the way. You'll get off the bike and spend time trekking through the Shan Hills on day nine. Then you'll bike to Inle Lake and discover the area partly on bike and partly by boat. On day 12, fly to Yangon and enjoy a night out on the town. You'll take an insider's tour of Shwedagon Pagoda on the last full day of the trip before catching a flight out. Learn more

Itinerary #5: Myanmar & Thailand Adventure

Spend a week in Myanmar and a week in Thailand on this wide-ranging tour of both countries, featuring boat trips, temple visits, and opportunities to interact with locals.

Welcome to Myanmar. The former capital, Yangon,
 is your starting point: right off the bat, you'll visit Kyauktatgyi Pagoda, home to a large reclining Buddha 
statue. Catch a flight to Bagan the next day. You'll go to an elevated location amid the temple plains to observe the pagodas and temples from above, then tour Old Bagan and Ananda Temple, an architectural work of art and one of Bagan’s most recognizable temples. Move onto Mandalay to see the "World's Biggest Book" inside one of the city's famous pagodas, then travel to Inle Lake and visit the Pa-Oh village of Indein.

Back-track to Yangon and catch a flight to Bangkok to begin the second week of the trip. Welcome to Thailand! Visit the well-known Damnoen Saduak floating market and go for a ride on the "Death Railway," then check out the ruins of Ayutthaya and the luminous bronze Buddha at Wat Phra Mongkhon Bophit. Head back to Bangkok to catch your flight to Phuket, where you'll spend the last few days of the itinerary in an island paradise. Take a speedboat tour to Phi Phi Island, relax on Monkey Beach and snorkel in the afternoon at Bamboo Island or Khai Nai Island, depending on the tide. You'll have a full day to relax, rest, and sunbathe before the trip wraps up on day 14. Learn more

More Great 14-Day Myanmar Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your Myanmar trip? Check out these other 14-day Myanmar itineraries, ranging from active, to cultural, to luxury, or family-friendly trips.

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