Myanmar

Myanmar, known for centuries as Burma, sits at the crossroads of Asia’s great civilisations.

The ancient capital, Yangon (Rangoon) is where you will see the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda, encrusted in jewels and adorned with gilded stupas. Travel north to Taunggyi, a former British colonial hill station Inle Lake, whose Intha people build extrodinarily floating homes and gardens. Mandalay is home to the bustling Zegyo Bazaar and to the Kyanktangyi Pagoda housing a vast Buddha figure carved out of a single piece of marble. No visit is complete until you have seen Bagan, where 2000 temples and pagodas make this one of the largest most important religious and archaeological sites in the world.

Because of its past insularity, times have changed little here. Today you will discover a country which carries on with daily life much as it has always done down the centuries.

Flights & Facts:

Fly to: Rangoon (Eva Air/Thai Airways daily via Bangkok) Flying time: 12 hours 55 minutes via Bangkok Time difference: GMT +6 1/2 hours. Visas: Required for UK passport holders. Health requirements: Yellow Fever certificate if arriving from an endemic area. Best time to travel: Feb-May, Oct-Nov.

Weather:

Myanmar has three seasons, summer, rainy and winter. The absolute best time to visit is the summer period of February to May when the sky is blue and clear.