Budget Backpacking guide To Myanmar

Myanmar has recently become the most searched country on this website, so we thought a Goat guide was in order.  We hope this guide to Myanmar will help out all those people who plan on going to this fantastic country.

In this Goat Guide, you will learn everything you need to know about Myanmar. how much will it cost? how do I get a visa? Do I need American dollars? When ought to I go? practically any question you have will be answered in this quick and easy Goat Guide!

How much will Myanmar Cost?

Budget For Myanmar
$65/day for 2 people. ($32.50 Each!)

This amount includes transportation, delicious local food, entrance fees to temples and numerous major sites, drinking beer and staying in good budget backpackers accommodation. You’ll have to shell out a bit much more if you want to go to areas which require a permit.

Myanmar is still an outstanding value!

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Budget Accommodation: ($5-$15/night)

Rooms In Myanmar
The hotels and guesthouses in Myanmar are a good value. They typically include breakfast and cost about $18/night.

They practically always employ helpful and knowledgable staff that can assist you with trips, excursions and onward transport.

The budget category in Yangon leaves a bit to be desired, but if you stay in the small, untidy rooms at White house Hotel, you’ll be rewarded with an fantastic breakfast buffet that rivals that of a 5 star resort!

If you would rather book an house or stay with a host on Airbnb in Myanmar, why not get an Airbnb discount while you’re at it? Make sure you use our special $25 Airbnb discount coupon Code and save money!

Eating: ($2-$4/meal)

The restaurants in Myanmar serve up the common Asian fare, as well as some surprisingly delicious western dishes. We would certainly recommend the delicious fried Inle Lake fish, sweet and sour chicken and one of the numerous meat curries with rice.

The meals are always budget-friendly and if you come during avocado season, you’re likely to see fantastic guacamole on the menu. many dishes come in well under $5 so they still fit nicely in the backpacker’s budget.

Food In Myanmar

Temples & Ruins entrance Fees: (Average $5/person)

Most temples in Myanmar are well priced and can easily be paid for inside of a backpacker’s budget. The great Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon is only $5 and entrance to all of the amazing temples and ruins in Bagan will only set you back $10.

This will cover EVERY temple in Bagan but does not include the archeological museum. Kyaiktiyo Pagoda will cost you around $10 , making it one of the much more expensive sites in the country, but the journey to the lesser went to villages around the temple will make it well worth it.

Alcohol: ($1.50 Beer, $3 Cocktails)

Booze is cheap in Myanmar.  Local beer is budget-friendly at the backpacker bars, side of the road stalls and restaurants, only about $1.50/bottle.

The local brand, Myanmar Lager, is the country’s specialty and is actually quite delicious. Chinese culture prevails here, so you will see a lot of locals enjoying a cold one after a long day of work, although a hot tea is much more typically consumed.

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Highlights & Must-Do’s: 

Highlights & should Do’s
Myanmar is a place that feels unexplored in some places, and completely overrun by tourists in others. The goal is to find yourself somewhere new, somewhere away from the crowds and somewhere that feels authentic.

Luckily for you, it only takes one quick side-step off the main path to find yourself lost in this fantastic ancient culture. With the best temples and ruins west of Angkor Wat, you’ll have plenty to explore!

It really is the ideal destination for budget backpackers and temple tourists.

The Temples Of Bagan:

Between the 9th and 13th centuries, a capital to the kingdom erupted from the farmland and with it came the construction of over 10,000 temples.

That’s right, 10,000 of them, spread over 104 square kilometers. This is a history buff’s dream. Nowadays, there are only 2200 remaining and although some of the temples have been over-restored, numerous of these relics remain much like they have for the millenium.

The Temples Of Bagan
The northern village Of Hsipaw:

Hsipaw is a small village north of Mandalay, which is fast becoming a fixed position on the traveler radar. but worry not, if you take the time and put in a little effort, you can find some fantastic culture here.

Most people follow a trip guide out to the surrounding mountain towns and although this trip may be informative, it’s not fully authentic. To see the Shan culturefirst hand, skip the guides and head out to the villages around Hsipaw yourself.

The northern village Of Hsipaw
Inle Lake:

Inle Lake is possibly one of the most photogenic places on the planet. It’s simply stunning. From the fantastic techniques of the fisherman, to the mist that rises from the waking waters, Inle is a backpacker’s dream. rent a bike and ride as far as you can around its shores taking in the fantastic scenery on the way.

Then, when you become too tired to pedal and photograph, hire a boat to take you back to the main village, on the way you’ll see even much more fantastic scenery and some amazing village life.

The fishing Tactics of the Inthe People. Inle, Lake
Yangon:

We wouldn’t recommend staying here too long, but it is worth a couple of days exploration. The temple of Shwedagon, the huge Buddhas and the cool colonial architecture of the city center are enough to keep any visitor interested for 48 hours.

Old Colonial building In Yangon

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Off The Beaten path In Myanmar:

Off The Beaten Path
 

It’s essential while travelling around the world to find a place to yourself. A place where few other backpackers go and a place that you feel like you alone have discovered.

The guidebooks don’t always accurately portray hidden gems and in some cases they miss out on them completely.

Finding your way off the beaten path in Myanmar is easy and highly recommended!

Naloy Village:

Close to Hsipaw, this village has some of the most welcoming people you’ll ever see on your travels. numerous of them have never seen a foreign face and if your fortunately enough to stumble upon Hope’s school Of English, you may be able to volunteer to instruct the lovable kids for an afternoon.

**GOAT NOTE: highly RECOMMENDED!**

The southern reaches Of Inle Lake:

Most visitors to Inle take a trip to the surrounding cigar factories and monasteries where cats literally jump through hoops for tourists. avoid these tours, they are crowded and far from authentic, despite what your guidebook may tell you.

Hire your own boatman (it’s easy to do) and have him take you as far south as you can go before you reach the “Permit Zone”. The villages here are as authentic as they come and you will be welcomed in like family!

The Back streets Of Mandalay:

If you have a day in Mandalay, or even just a few hours, we would highly recommend getting lost in the back streets of this former capital. You’ll find buzzing street markets, old temples and a whole prism of fantastic colors. Wandering the streets here is a great experience and not numerous people bother to do it!

The Back streets Of Mandalay 

What Is The budget accommodation like In Myanmar?

Budget Accommodation

The hotels and guesthouses in Myanmar are of a great value. Although the average room cost is a little bit higher than other countries in Southeast Asia, they likely include a delicious breakfast and they are typically a slightly higher standard than the cheap bungalows of neighbouring Thailand. You can pay a little bit much more and stay in some very cool colonial buildings.

 ***Goat Note: The White house in Yangon costs about $20/night and includes one of the most fantastic breakfast buffets you will ever see.***

Pros Of budget Backpacking In Myanmar:

Pros Of Backpacking Myanmar
Myanmar is a ideal place for budget backpackers and although hordes of package tourists are starting to descend on this beautiful ancient land, there are still numerous opportunities to get away from it all.

From soft sands to picture ideal pagodas, Myanmar has everything a backpacker could dream of.

If you’re the kind of person that loves getting off the beaten path, then Myanmar is best for you. You just need to have the adventurous spirit and the drive to get away from the ordinary!

Getting Off The Beaten Path:

Many people believe that the only way to get off the beaten path in Myanmar is to pay for expensive permits and get government permission. This is simply not the case. With just a little bit of exploration, you can find yourself in some fantastic places. getting off the beaten path in Myanmar is easy and highly recommended!

Authentic Culture:

Myanmar is one of the few places in the world where the way of life on the countryside remains the same, seemingly untouched by the development of the western world. It’s fantastic that a place can keep such rich and sacred culture when it neighbours one of the most went to countries in the world, Thailand. Myanmar is in a state of change however, and it will not remain like this forever!

The Burmese People:

The hospitable people of Myanmar are certainly a highlight of travelling here! (See below For More)

The Scenery:

Myanmar has some of the most beautiful scenery we’ve seen. While many of what catches a traveller’s eye is the people and the temples, geographical features like Inle Lake and the mountains around Hsipaw are great places to photograph and enjoy.

Scenery In Myanmar
Cons Of travel In Myanmar:

Cons Of Backpacking Myanmar

 

No matter how great a country is, there will always be a few cons to go along with the pros. Myanmar is so full of great culture, spectacular sites and lost villages that there are sure to be a few things to view out for. nowhere is ideal right?

There aren’t numerous cons to travelling here, but the few that stand apart are noted below.

Crowds:

Coming to Myanmar with the idea that you’re discovering a place few other people ever visit is probably going to set you up for a let down.

Because the traveler trail is limited by “permit zones” it’s not very big. You will see a ton of other tourists, especially in places like Bagan where 15 trip buses pull up to a temple at one time. just leave the touristy stuff for the tourists and go find somewhere for yourself. It’s easy… really.

The moral Debate:

This has long been a reason not to travel to Myanmar. spending money in a country run by an oppressive program is never good for the local people and it makes it hard to overturn corrupt governments if they’re raking in millions of dollars a year from tourism.

Just be smart and try to stay in privately owned guesthouses, avoid all-inclusive trips and take local transportation (buses rather than planes – higher taxes on a flight will go directly into the government’s pocket).

You can never completely keep your money out of the hands of their government, but you can do your part.

Transportation:

Unless you’re going to fly everywhere, there are some nasty bus rides you will have to endure while travelling in Myanmar.

The worst part of the transportation here is that the buses often pull into traveler destinations at about 2 or 3 in the morning, when no guesthouses are open and everyone on the bus is exhausted and grumpy. Not good.

The People:

The people you encounter while backpacking through a country can have a profound impact on the way you view a destination. Not only the local people, but the types of other travellers as well.

Types Of other Travellers:

Types Of Travellers
There is a good mix of travellers going to Myanmar. The odd gap year student makes their way over from neighbouring Thailand, but mostly you will encounter a much more mature and cultured crowd.

Around sites like Bagan, the average age goes up about 20 years, while in lesser went to areas you’ll probably encounter adventurous, like-minded souls in their 20’s or 30’s.

All of the tourists going to Myanmar have some adventure in them, making it a good place to mingle with other travellers.

The Locals:

The people Of Myanmar
The Burmese people are incredibly friendly, welcoming and hospitable. In numerous places they will simply be shocked to see a foreign face.

If they can speak English, they will probably have plenty of questions for you, numerous of which will relate to your home country and what you think of theirs.

If you are invited over for dinner or tea, bring a gift. If it’s a memento from your home country, it will certainly be cherished by your Burmese host.

Communication In Myanmar:

Talking
English is widely spoken in major city centers like Mandalay and Yangon, but outside of that