The Best Private Luxury Tours of Myanmar

A ferry ride across the Irrawaddy River from Yangon to Dallah Village is all it takes to find a piece of Myanmar that's overlooked by most travelers. The bucolic pace of life, friendly open-air markets, and smiling villagers are unforgettable, and exploring this area in a trishaw is must-do.

This extinct volcano features prominently in Myanmar's animist-infused flavor of Buddhism as the home of a pantheon of nature spirits. Watching the sunset over Bagan from the Mount Popa Resort is one of the most breathtaking experiences Myanmar has to offer.
 

Min Kun is a tiny rural community across the Irrawaddy River from Mandalay. Home to pair of beautiful pagodas, and one of the largest bronze bells in the world, this idyllic area is easily overlooked. A quick ferry ride is all that's keeping you from exploring this often missed treasure.
 

Though Myanmar is modernizing at a brisk rate, many of its citizens still lead the simple lives of their ancestors. A slow cruise along the Irrawaddy offers a window into the simple lifestyles of the river's numerous fishermen and craftsmen. With some luck, you might even see the rare Irrawaddy River Dolphin.
 

More than 1,000 Buddhist monks in-training inhabit the Mahar Gandaryone Monastery in the city of Amarapura. Each day at 10 a.m. lunch is served during a carefully orchestrated and nearly silent procession that lasts several hours. This rare glimpse into the lives of young monks should not be missed.
 

The sprawling countryside around the ruins of Bagan has been largely untouched by modern development. The few roads that run through the area are virtually traffic free, and taking extra time to explore the seemingly endless temple ruins on bicycle or foot is something we recommend to all of our guests.

This beautifully placid body of water is one of Myanmar's best loved destinations. A long-tail boat cruise is the perfect way to explore the lake's beautiful scenery as the locals go about their daily duties.

Inle Lake's floating villages are home to a large number of traditional artists and craftspeople. Goods ranging from handwoven silk garments to hand-made paper umbrellas are sold in arts and crafts collectives in the townships that dot the lake, and these beautifully crafted items make wonderful keepsakes.

The majority of Inle Lake's inhabitants live in the floating villages that line the shore. Most of the fresh produce in these villages is farmed from floating gardens that are painstakingly created using sediment and weeds pulled from the bottom of the lake. The villages and their floating gardens make for excellent photo opportunities.

Buddhist monks and nuns are forbidden from working, and must subsist entirely off alms donated by the communities they preside over. Every morning in cities like Mandalay and Amarapura, the local monks and nuns rise before dawn to collect the simple portions of rice, fish, meat, and vegetables that will nourish them through the day.

The year-round warm weather in Myanmar makes it an inviting destination regardless of the season. The region's busiest travel season is between December and February during the driest months.

Temperate year-round, Lower Myanmar sees heavy traffic regardless of the seasons because of the diverse activities and excursions available. The area typically sees the most travelers between December and February.

One of the best preserved temples in Bagan, the cross-shaped Ananda Temple is one of the most revered Buddhist monuments in Myanmar.

Htilominlo Temple represents the height of temple building on the Bagan Plains. The three story structure offers excellent views of the plain.

The pyramid-like Sulamani Temple is one of the most architecturally unique structures on the Bagan Plains.

Mahar Gandaryone is one of Myanmar's largest monasteries, and arguably the city of Amarapura's most visited site. Each day local families prepare and serve lunch for the monks in an ancient merit-making ritual believed to bring good fortune.

Shwedagon is the most iconic monument in Yangon, and the ancient structure is thought to hold several strands of hair and bone relics left from the funeral pyre of Gautama Buddha.

U Bein Bridge spans Taungthaman Lake near the city of Amarapura. More than 150 years old, the bridge was built from teakwood reclaimed from a royal palace in the city of Inwa that was destroyed by an earthquake.

The last home of the kings of Burma was incinerated during the Battle of Mandalay in 1945. The structure that stands on the spot today is a faithful recreation of the original teakwood structure built in 1859.

This holy hillock is one of the most important pilgrimage points in Mandalay. The paths to summit are strewn with numerous Buddhist temples, shrines, and monuments.

The more than 700 stone tablets inscribed with Buddhist scriptures that dot this complex are often referred to as “The World's Largest Book.” Each scripture carving is encased in a small shrine capped with golden ornamentation.

Located in the eastern Shan State of Myanmar, Inle Lake is arguably the country's best known body of water. Numerous ethnic groups inhabit the lake area, many of which live in traditional stilt-houses along the lake's shores.

Shwenandaw Monastery was originally the king's apartments in Mandalay Palace. After the death of King Mindon Min, his successor became convinced the building was haunted, and had the entire structure dismantled, moved, and rebuilt as a monastery for Buddhist monks not far from palace.

The Mahamuni Pagoda enshrines a 13-foot-tall gold statue of the Buddha believed by some to be one of only a handful of statues created during the lifetime of Gautama Buddha. The temple is one of Mandalay's most sacred sites.

1. Head and Feet: The body is seen as a manifestation of the spirit in Myanmar. The head is the highest and most sacred point of the body, and the feet are the lowest. While traveling in Myanmar, it is best to refrain from touching anyone else's head, and your feet should never be used to point at or touch anything considered sacred or of value.

2. Voice and Veneer: As with most Buddhist cultures, Myanmar's people take care to remain “cool, calm, and collected” at all times, and travelers who do the same will find their vacation much more rewarding.

1. Buddha: Buddha images are highly revered in Myanmar. Travelers should refrain from climbing on statues, and should never sit in front of a Buddha figure unless you can curl your legs to avoid pointing your feet toward the sacred image.

2. Monks: Buddhist monks in Myanmar occupy a highly venerated position in society, and are given the utmost respect. Local customs forbid the monks from touching or accepting gifts directly from women. Monks are also forbidden from shaking hands with anyone. It is important to note these customs are observed both on and off temple grounds throughout the country.

1. Beachwear: Myanmar's culture is conservative, and even during the hottest weather men and women tend to wear pants and shirts with long sleeves. To avoid attracting unwanted attention, refrain from wearing beachwear when in public areas outside of swimming pools or beach destinations.

2. Temples: Though Buddhist temples in Myanmar do not enforce dress codes as strictly as temples in other Southeast Asian destinations, it's best to dress in modest clothing when visiting religious structures in Myanmar.

3. Shoes: Please remove your shoes before entering homes, offices, or temples in Myanmar.

1. The Kyat is Myanmar's official currency. Kyat banknotes are available in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, 500, 1000, 5,000, and 10,000. Coins are available in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 50, and 100.

2. U.S. Dollars maybe accepted at a number of establishments, but we always recommend using local currency for any transactions in Myanmar.

3. Credit cards are accepted in most high-end hotels and restaurants in larger cities like Yangon, but smaller establishments, businesses, and markets will likely be cash only.

Myanmar's affordable and reliable air companies allow us to quickly and effectively route our guests