Top facts about Myanmar that Every Traveller Should know

Considering taking your summer holidays to Myanmar or joining a Burma group tours package? Well if you are you will be joining the thousands of savvy explorers who are travelling to beautiful Myanmar this year, to witness an unspoilt country that’s newly embracing tourism. A stunning country with a rich cultural heritage, varied landscapes and one of the friendliest welcomes on the planet.

Bordered to the north by China and to the South by Laos and Thailand, tourism has only really been possible in Burma in the last few years due to political tensions. But holidays to Burma are now firmly on the map and in 2012 over a million foreign visitors travelled to this once secretive country.

Here are a few incredible facts that travellers taking holidays to Myanmar can look forward to:

• Myanmar is the largest country in Southeast Asia, with a total area of 678,500 square kilometres. This makes it the 40th largest country in the world, so there is plenty of land to explore on your holidays to Burma.
• The city of Mandalay, right in the heart of the country, was the last royal capital of Burma and still considered the country’s cultural hub, so is a must see on your trip boasting attractions such as the Mahamuni Pagoda and Golden Palace Monastery.
• Myanmar has a rich ecological diversity as well as almost every type of habitat, from snow-capped mountains to tropical forests, so there really is something for everyone with holidays to Myanmar.
• Wine making is a popular and growing industry. Perhaps your Burma group tours could be organised around a trip to one of the country’s growing vineyards, such as in the Inle Lake area?
• No holidays to Myanmar would be complete without sampling the wonderful food that the country is famous for. Like in many other parts of Southeast Asia, food is a top priority for the Burmese people and the street food has to be tasted to be believed. Make sure you sample Mohinga for breakfast (rice noodles covered in deep fried fish fritters), Burmese flat bread and the many types of curry, perfect for sharing.
• Need to know the best time to join a Burma group tour? Well the country experiences three seasons, the hot season (March to May), rainy season (June to October) and the cold season (November to February). But with such a diverse landscape, there is much to be enjoyed no matter when you travel.
• Festivals are an important part of Burmese life. Some of the most popular to plan your holidays to Myanmar around are the Thingyan Water Festival in April (as long as you don’t mind getting wet), the Thadingyut Festival of Lights in October to celebrate Buddhist Lent and the Taunggyi Hot Air Balloon Festival at Inle Lake in November.

So seize this perfect time to visit one of the friendliest and most fascinating countries on earth, your holidays to Myanmar promise to leave a lasting impression.