Last Updated on May 27, 2021 by
Before coming to Myanmar, I had no clue what to expect – many friends have told us how amazing the country is, but only upon stepping foot on its holy soil, visiting its thousands of pagodas, navigating its chaotic streets, and talking to the Burmese, did I understand how captivating this country is. From the shimmering Shwedagon Paya in Yangon to the spectacular Bagan temples and the poetic water world of Inle Lake, Myanmar is a country so pristine, raw and untouched, it’s hard to believe that a country like that exists in today’s world.
The people too captured our hearts deeply: I lost count of the number of people who came up to us and said, “Thank you for coming to Myanmar. Welcome.” Whether it was the monk who chatted with me for hours on the train, or the taxi-driver who told us stories about Myanmar, they were the ones who made this place so special. Perhaps it’s because of years of isolation from the outside world (with the strict military regime and the ban of tourism), perhaps it’s the deep-rooted Burmese culture, Myanmar remains pure and untainted – for now.
Here are some of Alberto’s best shots from our backpacking trip in Myanmar, we hope the photos can bring you on the journey with us and hope they give you an idea of what we’re feeling.
Our Best Photos of Myanmar
The thousands of stupas that dot the landscapes of Bagan make this one of the best places to hot air balloon in the world.
The river banks of the Ayeryawaddy in Bagan
The stupa-studded hills of Sagainn, a quiet town near Mandalay where Burmese Buddhists come to meditate
Warm greetings from a boatful of monks in Inle Lake
A fisherman looks for the catch of the day in Inle Lake
A young boy gives me a nod of approval as I snap this shot from the train. He’s seen wearing chalk white Thanaka powder on his face, a commonly used beauty cream and sunscreen in Myanmar.
Double Buddha statues in the biggest stupa in Bagan
Playful children frolick in the waters of Inle Lake
A vermillion sunset against the mountains surrounding Inle Lake
Wonderful shots! Myanmar looks like an amazing destination and since I'll travel to Indonesia in late June I'd love to visit it but am still trying to figure out how bad the rainy season can be.
I you happen to have any tips or recommendations so that i can decide if it's worth visiting or if the rain is likely to be too strong to go around, it would be awesome :-)
hey Simon! Good to see you here. Rainy season is actually the best time to visit Myanmar, as what I’ve heard from many of the taxi-drivers we met along the way. It was extremely hot when we went – almost unbearable at times, especially in Bagan, so perhaps it’s good to visit during rainy season. By the way I got it wrong – peak period is in December, so July is still low season in Myanmar. Hope you get to visit soon – highly recommend it!
Unas fotos muy bonnitas, creo que ponen de manifiesto la gran riqueza turística de ese pais.
Simply amazing!!! I once crossed to Myanmar from Thailand and everything was so different. Would love to explore more of this country.
Thanks Ruth! We actually wanted to cross to Myanmar from Thailand, but a pity it\’s not allowed to explore beyond the border town, so we had to fly from Bangkok. Hope you had the chance to explore it next time – absolutely amazing country.
What fantastic photos!
Thank you Rahul! Myanmar is definitely a special place, I love writing about places that mean something to me. ;)
Amazing shots makes me wanna go right now!