For those travelers who like to get off the beaten path but without having to sacrifice comfort or luxury may be pleasantly surprised to hear that the lesser known country of Myanmar has not only began to open up more to travelers of all types, but it has a large amount of luxury traveling options spread throughout the country. With many visitors in the area sticking with old stand bys like Laos, Vietnam or Thailand in order to take advantage of the luxury travel scene in South East Asia, Myanmar offers some stunning, lesser visited attractions and some impressive luxury travel options.
About Myanmar and Luxury Tour Options
Myanmar is a country in South East Asia which until just recently remained somewhat more unvisited than its popular neighbors Thailand, Vietnam and Laos. This has meant that the country retains a wilder charm and persona, with many visitors, including luxury travelers, being able to find real ‘local’ experiences with the people of the country who remain welcoming and curious about visitors, resulting in being invited to people’s homes for tea and the like. You may be stopped on the street in Myanmar to be questioned about where you come from and how you like the country so far which just adds to the friendliness and charm of the entire region.
Luxury travel has begun to boom in the country with not just accommodation and transportation options being widely available but overall itineraries as well. Depending on your preference and time frame, you can either do your own legwork and organize your own itinerary with luxury transport and hotels or you can employ our services to help plan the ultimate in luxury Myanmar getaways. Add to this the fact that whether you’re after a private VIP transfer vans to get you from one city to the next, or you’re looking for the classiest way to get around town, your luxury hotel or our company can help you book the best option for you when it comes to transport.
Accommodation Options For Luxury Seekers
The Strand Hotel Yangon
Built in 1901 in the finest colonial architecture of the period, The Strand Hotel in Yangon features a pleasant mix of past and present, playing on its former colonial charms to bring the past to the forefront of your experience to perfectly blend it with today’s modern flairs. The Strand offers its luxury seeking visitors the ultimate treat when booking their Strand Suite – the use of 24 hour
personalized butler service along with champagne on arrival, complimentary mini bar, daily fruit platter, breakfast for two, coffee and tea on demand and served by your butler amongst other perks. This is the ultimate in luxury in Myanmar and for good reason. The Strand Hotel goes above and beyond to ensure every delicious moment is lined in luxury when you’re a guest at the hotel and beyond. So whether you’re looking to get just a slight taste of the luxury life or you’re planning for the real experience, the Strand Hotel Yangon is the ideal place to book.
Belmond Governor’s Residence, Yangon
This hotel goes above and beyond what you’d expect from a luxury hotel or resort. Providing a true refuge away from the hustle and bustle of the city with on-site private lotus garden and stunningly appointed rooms such as the junior suites which offer one and two bedroom options alongside living room spaces, the Belmond Governor’s Residence is the crowning jewel of luxury accommodation. Even if you don’t go with a suite, the standard and Governor’s rooms offer high-end luxury accommodation that will leave you blissfully relaxed after your stay here. With on-site dining and spa, there’s no reason to leave the grounds of this beautiful resort if you don’t want to, as everything you could possibly need is right here.
Inle Princess Resort
The Inle Princess Resort is one of the most classy and well-appointed hotel options in the relatively small tourist location of Inle Lake. The Lake itself is a stunning body of water surrounded by hills and is visited by tourists in droves every year. The local people mainly work either as farmers or in the tourism trade, so you will be able to get a closer look at local life here as well as kick back and be treated like royalty at resorts such as the Inle Princess. The lake itself is home to numerous wildlife that aren’t found anywhere else in the world, making Inle Lake an ideal stopping point for those who are looking for something truly unique and special. The Inle Princess Resort is considered to be a refuge in this secluded region of Myanmar and boasts ethically and sustainably
sourced houses built in the local traditional style that are lavishly decorated and welcoming. The resort works with the local community to help provide their guests with the option to partake in authentic experiences on the lake, navigating the floating markets or wandering the homes on stilts of the area before returning to Inle Princess for luxury and pampering. Join a yoga class, meditation hour or simply kick back and relax in the beautiful garden grounds that whisk you away to peaceful serenity.
Things To Do And See In Myanmar
It can be easy to get swept up in the cities of this interesting and unique country and with options such as Mandalay and Yangon, but there are some beautiful far-flung and secluded places throughout the country which offer stunning views and vistas as well as incredible things to see and do for luxury seekers. Here are a couple of suggestions on places to check out while you’re in the country, which can be arranged by your hotel or tour company to help you get there stress free and in style.
Bagan (Pagan)
Known by both names, this unique collection of ancient temples strewn throughout a vast area surrounded by mountains in the Mandalay region of Myanmar. An ancient kingdom, Bagan acted as the main unifying city that helped to create what would eventually become known as the country of Myanmar. Over 2000 temples and pagodas of the original kingdom still remain to this day, making this one of the most beautiful and unique locations to visit in the country, with options to explore the region by hot air balloon – perfect for not just a bird’s eye view of this vast and beautiful region, but also as the ultimate in luxurious was to truly take in this magnificent area. Explore the stupas and temples by foot for a real up close and personal experience, or you can hire local guides to help you understand the intricate and detailed past of the city.
Inle Lake
This beautiful lake located in the Shan Hills of Myanmar, south west of Mandalay, is home to a unique cultural group known as the Intha peoples, who have made the lake their home for generations. Working both with and on the lake, the Intha people have long regarded the lake as their primary source of food and commerce. Fish from the lake remains one of the staples of the diet in this region, often being mixed with potato and rice and then fried to make a delicious type of fish fritter. The lake is home to some unique ways to grow fruits and vegetables, with vegetable patches commonly found floating on the lake. Any trip to the region is sure to be rewarding with the immersion into local culture and the ability to go fishing on the lake yourself. With the Inle Princess resort here as well, you can experience real rural Myanmar without skimping on the luxury side of things.
Beaches
Yes! Beaches! There are a number of beaches along the southern coast of Myanmar. While still retaining the charm of a typical sleepy Southeast Asia seaside resort town of the yesteryears, Ngapali has quietly become Myanmar’s premier beach destination. Though the accommodations in Ngapali don’t necessarily make it on the “World’s Top Ten” list, there are several “high enough end” resorts that are more than adequate for the discerning traveler. Fine hotel choices at Ngapali Beach include the Amara Resort, Aureum Palace Resort and the recently opened Hilton Ngapali Resort, the first international chain property in Ngapali.
Given beaches in Myanmar are relatively unknown to the typical tourist (plus it’s not the easiest beach destination to get to), those who come are rewarded with stretches of beach all to themselves. The locals in the area are welcoming and friendly, much like the rest of the country, and often times you can find yourself chatting to locals at the bar or restaurant or being invited for drinks as well. Fishermen can be hired to take you out fishing, with you keeping your catch if you so choose for it to be barbecued on the beach or at your local guesthouse or hotel. In truth, visiting the often quiet beaches of this country can be a rewarding, amazing cultural experience.
So Why Visit Myanmar?
Myanmar is one of the last real frontiers in South East Asia, having just started opening up in the last few years more readily, offering its visitors a spectacular mix of ancient temples and beautiful natural scenery as well as adventurous activities if you so choose. The country is home to some beautiful displays of local culture, such as on the shores of the magical Inle Lake, and plays host to a number of impressive pagodas strewn across the country. In truth there has never been a better time to visit Myanmar than now, when it’s opened enough to allow free-flowing tourism but hasn’t become overrun with tacky tourist shops and tours, so book your next luxury trip to the mysterious, beautiful and welcoming country of Myanmar.
For ideas and inspiration, check out Explorient’s suite of bespoke Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar tours featuring the best of Indochina, or simply jump right into our 10 Day Luxurious Myanmar Trip that will elevate all the senses.
