Beyond the Pagodas in Myanmar/Burma

[Simon Hopes]

In almost every nook and corner of Myanmar - not just in Yangon (Rangoon), Bagan, or Mandalay - at every turn you will encounter a Buddhist temple.  No wonder most visitors think of this country as the “Land of Temples”. But lovely as they are, when you find yourself are visiting temples again and again, it can get a little old. Fortunately, there are many other things to do here, as well, from beaches to local communities to thrilling adventure activities.

There are plenty of beaches, river trips, markets, islands and tasty cuisines that make Myanmar an ideal touring destination indeed. Reputed Burma travel and tours offer plenty of chances to the tourist to explore this beautiful country. Let us see some of the incredible things you can do in Burma except only seeing the temples and pagodas.

Pristine Beaches and Islands

The beaches of Myanmar are usually overlooked by the tourists, as there is a preconceived notion that "beaches in Asia" mean Thailand or Bali. But, the truth is that with coastline of about 2,000 kilometers, this country has some of lovely, mostly unspoiled beaches and islands that attract visitors from all over the world. Beautiful, romantic Ngapali Beach is the famous among all, reachable by air from Yangon. This beach is wonderful, surrounded by palm trees, white sand, numerous accommodations, and seafood restaurants. You can also try adventures like kayaking, golf, snorkeling and scuba diving, as well. Some of the other renowned beaches are Chuang Tha, Kanthaya, and Ngwe Saung, all of which will leave you mesmerized. Myeik Archipelago is the popular place for diving.

Discover Rich Burmese Culture and Ethnic Diversity

There are more than 135 ethnic groups scattered among the 14 states and regions in this country, each with its unique rituals, culture, cuisine and language. If you are not able to explore the whole country at once, I recommend you visit Inle Lake, where you can find more than 70,000 people belonging to various ethnic groups, including Taungthu, Bamar, Shan, Danu, and Kayah.

Taste the Local Cuisines

If you want to sample Burmese, Thai, Indian, and Chinese food in the same place, Myanmar is perfect, as Burmese cuisine blends the culinary traditions of all of them. The must-try foods are lahpet (trea leaf salad), Burmese curry, and nan gyi thohk (chicken curry over rice noodles). To best experience the local cuisines, visit cafes and restaurants in any of the big cities and towns - but Yangon is of course full of the most choices, as you'll discover on a Myanmar business tour. 

River Cruises

The Irrawaddy River plays an important role in the economy, history and culture of this country, like the Mekong River in Laos and Vietnam. The Irrawaddy flows between the top destinations of this country, and river cruises are quite popular as a comfortable a way to explore the country and its culture and traditions. Indeed, they can prove to be the experience of a lifetime.

So yes, by all means, see the temples and pagodas. But the true magic of travel unfolds as you expand your experiences in this ancient, fascinating, and welcoming country.