Looking for 3 weeks Myanmar itinerary? I have put together everything you need to know before you go. How to get the visa for Myanmar? Where to stay, where to eat, the point of interest in Myanmar, and more tips. All based on true and recent experience.

Tourism is only just starting to blossom in this ancient country, so it is still a good time to go and experience everything Myanmar has to offer. I am glad to say Myanmar was my country no 38. During my solo travels, I like to add luxury, nature, adventure, and off the beaten track experience wherever I can. So, get ready for all of this on this 3 weeks Myanmar itinerary.

3 weeks Myanmar itinerary
3 weeks Myanmar itinerary

Do you know Myanmar used to be called Burma and Yangon was formerly known as Rangoon? From world-famous pagodas to a tiny unheard village, mountain hikes to a 5-star luxury, long neck tribe to city life, and more. It is exciting to explore this beautiful country as it hasn’t been long they have opened their door to foreigners.

With that in mind, let’s dive deeper.

The best 3 weeks Myanmar itinerary

Myanmar Currency = Kyat
Hello = Mingalabar
Bye = Tata
Thank you = Jujubae

How to get a visa for Myanmar?

You can apply for an e-visa online. Just follow these 8 steps below.

  1. Go to the Myanmar eVisa homepage to begin an application. This is the Myanmar eVisa (Official Government Website)
  2. Check if you have a valid passport not expiring for at least 6 months from the date of entry into Myanmar.
  3. You will need one color photograph (4.8cm x 3.8cm) taken within the past 3 months.
  4. Have a credit card handy to pay the US $50 application fee for the standard tourist visa, $70 for the business visa and tourist Express Visa $56
  5. Fill in the secure online eVisa form
  6. Confirm and pay
  7. Get an approval letter within 3 days
  8. Get visa stamped upon arrival

Remember you must travel to Myanmar within 90 days of receiving your e-Visa or start the application process again. After the date of entry, you are permitted to remain in Myanmar for 28 days. While on the tourist visa, working isn’t legal in Myanmar.

Note:

The visa application fee is nonrefundable, so make sure that your information is entered correctly the first time and that your photo meets the specifications!

Many nationalities can take advantage of the Myanmar eVisa system but check here to see if your country is eligible if you aren’t sure.

After processing, you will receive a visa approval letter that needs to be printed (black-and-white is fine). You’ll show the letter to an immigration officer upon arrival to receive a Myanmar visa sticker or stamp in your passport.

If for some reason, online e-visa didn’t work out for you or you require more than 28 days in Myanmar. The best option is to apply an old fashion way at your local Burmese Consulate or Embassy.

The application process could be affected by holidays in Myanmar which aren’t always fixed; sometimes they’re based on a lunar-solar calendar and may change from year to year. See this list of public holidays on the embassy website to know when they’ll be closed.

How to enter into Myanmar?

You can enter Myanmar via one of the three international airports (Yangon, Mandalay, or Nay Pyi Taw) or by one of the three Thailand-Myanmar land border crossings (Tachileik, Myawaddy, Kawthaung).

Note:

Be mindful that there are several “restricted zones” in the country that tourists aren’t allowed to enter. If you are planning a land border crossing, do some research to ensure that border checkpoints aren’t closed or restricted.

Is WIFI any good? What about the local sim?

Wifi in most of Myanmar is slow and patchy. Outside the big cities like Yangon, it’s rare that a connection will be available beyond your room and you’ll usually have to sit near/next to/on top of the router located at your hotel’s reception to get speeds fast enough for email and social media.

There are three sim care providers in Myanmar. MPT for near-nationwide coverage, Ooredoo for the fastest internet in the cities and Telenor for the cheapest sim card. I personally used MPT and Ooredoo which you can buy from any mom’s and pop’s store to a convenient store.

I suggest grabbing a local sim card when you land at an international airport. I also receive a free 5 GB with it! It will take 5 minutes to set up (the network staff will do this for you) and pay extra a few dollars for data access. I chose Ooredoo, which gave great coverage and speed. You can read more about your network choices here. 

Where to book cheap flights to Myanmar?

I swear by using these two websites Skyscanner and Momodo.

Skyscanner lets you search “everywhere” to see where it is cheaper to fly to and from! It also lets you search full month if you are flexible with dates. Momodo lets you filter by airline alliance, which is also helpful when trying to earn frequent flyer miles in a particular loyalty program. It also displays an overview of information about your route and the factors that affect the price.

Note:

Remember to use an incognito window for searching or clear your browser’s cache after searching to avoid price increases! But if you are using Skyscanner mobile app there is no need for incognito mode.

Where to stay in Myanmar?

Personally I use and recommend trusted Agoda, and Booking.com to book hostels and hotels.

Click on the images below to read the travel guides

Yangon, Myanmar

For the first week of 3 weeks Myanmar itinerary, it is divided as 2 days in Yangon, 3 days in Bagan, 1 day to travel from Yangon to Bagan and 1 day for rest in Yangon as most likely you’ll fly with jet lag. Click on the image below to read the Yangon travel guide. It covers all the Yangon travel tips.

2 days in Yangon
Click on the image to read the Yangon travel guide What to do in Yangoon? It covers all the Yangon travel tips.

How to travel from Yangon to Bagan?

From Yangon, you can get to Bagan by train, private car or day/night bus. I opt for a night bus. There are 3 types of buses available.

  1. JJ (VIP)
  2. Famous, (which is a premium) and
  3. Economy

JJ seemed like the most trusted bus company with extendable seats, snacks, water, and a TV screen on each seat. Something worth mentioning is, in Myanmar, they say the economy is 2+2 and famous and JJ is 2+1. I was confused about what it meant and then I realized 2+2 meant 2 seats on both sides of the bus and 2+1 meant 2 seats on one side and 1 on another side of the bus. So, 3 seats in 1 row.

I booked the JJ bus with the VIP option but the sound on my TV screen didn’t work and constant stopping for food and toilet didn’t make me feel like a VIP. Annoyed is what I felt! In hindsight, perhaps famous the premium bus may have been a better option. It comes with a toilet on the bus and snack and water as JJ. A blanket is provided on all 3 types of buses. Ask the reception to book it for you or walk to the nearest bus station.

Note:

Have Myanmar Kyat handy because as you arrive in Bagan, you have to pay money to enter Bagan Archaeological Zone.

Bagan, Myanmar

Click on the image below to read the 3 days Bagan travel guide. It covers Day 1 and links to Day 2 and 3 Bagan travel tips.

3 weeks Myanmar itinerary

Which are the best temples and pagodas in Bagan?

Read the best temples and pagodas for sunsets post.

Week 2 of 3 weeks Myanmar itinerary

For the second week of 3 weeks Myanmar itinerary, it is divided as follows.
1 day to travel and rest from Bagan to Kalaw, then 6 days in Kalaw. This is my personal choice because I love exploring off the beaten path place but you can easily stay longer in Bagan exploring 2000+ temples and visit Kalaw later for a couple of days.

Click on the image below to read the Kalaw travel guide. It covers where to stay, eat, do and more about Kalaw.

Kalaw, Myanmar

3 weeks Myanmar itinerary

How to travel from Bagan to Kalaw?

You can get there as above via buses Or you can hire a private car with an English speaking tour guide. Ask for quotes from various tour operators in town and go with the one that matches your interest.

Week 3 of 3 weeks Myanmar itinerary

The final week in 3 weeks Myanmar itinerary is divided by 2 days to get to Inle Lake from Kalaw, then spending 2 days in Inle Lake and 3 days in Mandalay.

Click on the image below to read the Inle lake travel guide. It covers where to stay, eat, do and more about Inle Lake.

Inle Lake, Myanmar

3 weeks Myanmar itinerary

How to travel from Kalaw to Inle Lake

One option is to trek for 2-3 days. You can organize this while you are in Bagan, Kalaw or Yangon.

Alternatively, you can opt for a 2 hours minivan ride also. But please know the minivan DOES NOT drop you off at the Inle Lake. It stops at Nyaungshwe, which is the town 20mins far from Inle Lake.

Something worth mentioning is, most Inle Lake tours leave from Nyuangshwe and, after a day exploring the lake, return to Nyuangshwe. It might sound nice to some but there is nothing to see here except the bars, restaurants, and stray dogs.

If you have met and chatted with fellow travelers in the minivan then you might be sharing the cost of the taxi to Inle lake or if you are on your own, haggle a bit before agreeing on the final price. Taxi price varies between 20000-60000 Kyat depending on the location of your hotel in Inle Lake.

Mandalay, Myanmar

If you are looking for things to do and see in Mandalay Myanmar, click on the image below to read the Mandalay travel guide. It covers where to stay, eat, do and more about Mandalay.

How to travel to Mandalay from Ine lake and Bagan?

There are 3 types of buses available which are Apex, Ok and JJ. Since Apex was fully booked for 8 am, I booked the Ok express for 8:30 am. The price included the door to door service (pick up at the hotel and drop off at the hotel)

I hope this 3 weeks Myanmar itinerary helped you.

Check out the “Myanmar” stories on Instagram for everything on video.

What equipments I used to take these photos:

Canon PowerShot G7 X Mark II Digital Camera

This has been my favourite Camera so far. I love how my pictures come out crisp and colourful. It also has a screen which is useful when vblogging. You can check out what I meant on my Instagram which is here.

Accessories For Canon GX7 Mark || Check it out here

GoPro HERO4 Silver

This is the good old Go pro that I take with me everywhere. I recommend it because it is small, lightweight and waterproof. I have had made many memories with this trusted item and looking forward to more.

Accessories For Go Pro Hero 4 Check it out here

SanDisk 64 GB Memory Cards

I have been using SanDisk since my first camera which was back in 2009. They build quality memory cards. I recommend getting at least two, just in case something happens to one of them.

All-in-One Memory Card Reader

Do you think it’s a hassle of plugging your camera into your computer? This memory card reader will fit cards of all sizes and make an easy transfer to your computer. The reader supports all popular SD memory card formats, including SD™/SDHC™/SDXC™ memory cards, UHS-I SDHC/SDXC memory cards, and microSDHC™/microSDXC™ memory cards. It is also compatible with the latest UDMA 7-enabled CompactFlash cards.

3 weeks Myanmar itinerary
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3 weeks Myanmar itinerary (updated)
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34 thoughts on “3 weeks Myanmar itinerary (updated)

  • August 28, 2018 at 10:05 pm
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    Ever since my sister showed me the pictures of Myanmar, I have been itching to go there. Your post is absolutely perfect for my planning. Will bookmark this!

    Reply
  • August 28, 2018 at 11:08 pm
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    Wow this is a really great guide! So much going on! I would absolutely love to get to go and visit myself and check out now – it seems like an incredible place to visit and explore.

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  • August 28, 2018 at 11:33 pm
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    I didn’t know you needed an extra visa to go here. I love sky scanner. Your pictures look amazing!

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  • August 28, 2018 at 11:39 pm
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    This is one of the best online travel guides I have seen. If I ever have the opportunity to travel to Myanmar, I will absolutely be sure to use your guide as a reference.

    Reply
  • August 29, 2018 at 1:06 am
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    This is a great guide for Myanmar, it must have taken you forever to create it! I have visited a few countries in SE Asia but Myanmar wasn’t one of them. The temples there look so beautiful!

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  • August 29, 2018 at 3:18 am
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    This is so full of great information on Myanmar! I have not been there, so this would be a helpful first place to look. Your pictures look wonderful, and your experience sounds like it was great!

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  • August 29, 2018 at 3:49 am
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    I’ve never been to Myanmar before. I need to go. It sounds like an incredible place to visit. One day, I hope!

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  • August 29, 2018 at 4:22 am
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    Wow this was an extensive travel guide to Myanmar. I have never heard of it but it looks like an interesting place to visit.

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  • August 29, 2018 at 5:56 am
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    I have a friend that recently went to Myanmar and she said she really enjoyed the food, the culture and the beauty of it all. Makes me considering planning a trip!

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  • August 29, 2018 at 8:05 am
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    This is a very thorough article. It’s great that there are instructions for obtaining a eVisa. I have never heard of Myanmar but the culture look rich and the history runs deep.

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  • August 29, 2018 at 10:48 am
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    Lately, I keep seeing all these beautiful pictures of Myanmar, I can’t wait to finally visit one day.

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  • August 29, 2018 at 3:38 pm
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    Sounds like a great experience. I enjoy learning how people in different places and cultures live.

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  • August 29, 2018 at 5:39 pm
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    Myanmar looks like a beautiful place to visit. The tips you shared are so helpful in looking to visit there. If I ever decide to travel to Myanmar, I will use this as a guide

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  • August 29, 2018 at 6:03 pm
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    I have never been in Myanmar but definitely a nice place to visit and to explore. I will add this place to my bucket list for my future trip.

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  • August 29, 2018 at 8:50 pm
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    This is indeed a very detailed post to Myanmar and the perfect one for planning a trip. We recently traveled to Myanmar and I think you have everything in there to get the trip sorted.

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  • August 30, 2018 at 7:14 am
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    So good to find a detailed guide like this. Even info about wifi! Thanks, Anna
    Myanmar is definitely a place I hope to visit one day. Looking at the pictures and hearing about it makes me want to go even more.

    Reply
  • August 30, 2018 at 7:21 am
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    Thanks, that looks like amost everything that I need to know if I plan a trip to Myanmar.
    Never thought that the G7 X would take such nice pictures. I am carrying my huge Canon 6D with lenses.

    Reply
  • August 30, 2018 at 8:58 am
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    I never thought of going to Myanmar, but it looks quite beautiful and there are so many interesting things to do. I’m fascinated by that photo of the women with rings around their necks. I think it’s because they believe long necks are beautiful.

    Reply
  • August 30, 2018 at 9:47 am
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    Wow you have a pretty extensive travel guides to Myanmar! You must really love the place I will check out some of the articles to see if I will visit one day!

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  • August 30, 2018 at 3:53 pm
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    Thanks for this comprehensive guide. We are going to start our SEA tour early next year, and Myanmar is on the list. We are going to use this article as a reference. 🙂

    Reply
  • August 30, 2018 at 8:42 pm
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    You have not missed anything about the country – I really liked this particular blog post. I was in Myanmar in Dec 2016 and had a great time. Kalaw to inle lake was great. As u menyionem even I chose Ooredoo netwoek. it worked mostly fine. Would love to check the internal links of this blog.

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  • August 31, 2018 at 2:21 am
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    Wow, what a comprehensive guide! I want to go to Myanmar next year for my birthday and you’ve helped me outline my trip! I can’t wait to go to Bagan! I can tell you really like this place!

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  • August 31, 2018 at 3:01 am
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    Your images are so pretty. Do you set up a tripod and timer, or does someone take the pictures with your camera. They are really crisp shots. This guide is very thorough, full of useful information.

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  • August 31, 2018 at 3:27 am
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    This is a great guide! Very thorough. I’ve saved it as a reference for when we make the trek there. Cheers!

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  • August 31, 2018 at 3:43 am
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    Really excited to go to Myanmar in a few weeks! I’ve seen and read so many amazing things about it

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  • August 31, 2018 at 5:07 pm
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    This is a perfect guide to plan a trip to Myanmar. The pictures are fascinating and makes me want to do a trip right away. Myanmar has been on our radar for some time.

    Reply
  • August 31, 2018 at 6:06 pm
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    I’m planning a trip there for next year so thank you so much for the super insightful tips + itinerary suggestions. Definitely checking out The Strand because it sounds like an absolute gem and you’re getting me excited to visit the pagodas too!

    Reply
  • August 31, 2018 at 6:40 pm
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    Some good instructions on the e-visa thing. Planning to visit Myanmar later this year as it fits into my budget as well. High informative post. Thanks a ton!

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  • August 31, 2018 at 9:09 pm
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    Am not sure if my Philippine passports also included to those who can have a free visa, but then it is lovely to visit Myanmar very soon! You convinced me so much 😀

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  • September 1, 2018 at 2:44 am
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    I don’t know much about Myanmar but this guide was extremely comprehensive! Thank you for sharing.. pinning for when I one day make it out that way 🙂

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  • September 2, 2018 at 8:39 pm
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    What a thorough, in-depth guide on all things Myanmar! Especially helpful for female solo travel bloggers like myself 🙂 thanks for taking the time to write all this! x

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  • September 8, 2018 at 2:31 pm
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    Wow thank you for such a comprehensive guide to Myanmar! I know where I’ll be looking for when I decide to go there :).

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  • September 9, 2018 at 5:07 am
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    Really good info and comments.Been on my list for a while, but have been conflicts do to the rohinga situation.

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  • October 21, 2018 at 9:49 am
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    I haven’t been to Myanmar yet. I hope to visit the eastern countries, incl Srilanka, Myanmar etc in the next couple of years.
    So thanks for this comprehensive guide.
    Good to know its easy to get via by e-visa.

    Reply

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