Destination: Myanmar (Burma)

Q: What is Myanmar's time zone?

MMT, Myanmar&#8217;s time zone, is UTC + 6.3 hours. Myanmar has a single time zone, Central European Time. The nation does not observe Daylight Savings Time.

Q: Is tipping customary in Myanmar?

If you&#8217;re on an Odyssey tour, we take care of tipping. So when you&#8217;re with the group you don&#8217;t need to give it a second thought. However, in your free time, or if travelling independently, it&#8217;s essential that you make sure you tip an appropriate amount for services, as is the case throughout much of Asia. While tips are not usually expected in Myanmar, many of the locals are on very low wages, so your generosity can go a long way. It&#8217;s especially appreciated if you tip porters, drivers, and cleaning staff.

Q: Is it safe to travel to Myanmar?

Yes. However, heed the Australian government advice to “<a href="https://smartraveller.gov.au/Countries/asia/south-east/Pages/myanmar.aspx">exercise a high degree of caution”</a>. <a href="https://smartraveller.gov.au/resources/pages/travel-advice-explained.aspx#level4">Do not travel</a> to areas bordering with Bangladesh and other townships <a href="https://smartraveller.gov.au/Countries/asia/south-east/Pages/myanmar.aspx">listed</a> due to armed conflict, and reconsider your need to travel to some border areas <a href="https://smartraveller.gov.au/Countries/asia/south-east/Pages/myanmar.aspx">listed</a>. Odyssey Traveller follows government travel advice and our tours in Myanmar do not venture into these areas. Many of the most interesting and culturally rich areas of Myanmar have been marked as safe to travel to, including Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan, Nay Pyi Taw and Inle Lake.

Myanmar (Burma) tours for seniors.

Having ended over fifty years of military dictatorship, Myanmar has opened up to the outside world, revealing a nation defined by friendly locals, cultural diversity, and a landscape dotted by stunning Buddhist architecture. The Shwedagon Paya, in elegant colonial Yangon, is one of Buddhism’s most sacred sites, an immense golden stupa adorned with 27 metric tons of gold leaf. Another highlight is Yangon Mandalay, Myanmar’s last royal city. Travel by boat on the Ayeyarwady River (Irrawaddy River) to visit Mingun, the famous Shwenandaw Monastery, and the Mahamuni and Kuthodaw Pagodas.

Myanmar Tours

Tours for Mature Aged and Senior World Travellers.

15 days

Oct, Mar

Discovering Myanmar | Small Group Tour for Seniors

Visiting Myanmar (Burma)

Visitors to Myanmar will find a fascinating country full of old-world charm and rich culture. A beautiful scenic destination, we visit Yangon, Mandalay and Bagan on this small group tour for senior and mature travellers on a small group tour for couple and solo travellers.

From A$10,995 AUD

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Today, the Ayeyarwady River remains a key transport and communication highway for the people of Myanmar. Take a boat trip down from Mandalay to Bagan along the mighty river to Myanmar’s ancient capital, Bagan. The old capital is a forty-two-kilometre zone home to exquisite Buddhist temples and stupas. Spend some time to wander and explore the temples of Bagan, composed of some 3,500 ancient pagodas and Buddhist monuments that contribute to this UNESCO world heritage site. Regarded by many as one of Asia’s premier archaeological sites, a visit to Bagan will truly be a memorable experience.

Though parts of Myanmar remain closed to visitors due to ongoing conflict, the main sites are safe to visit – and responsible tourism is proving vital to getting this long-troubled nation back on its feet.

Articles about Myanmar (Burma)

Yangon, Myanmar

Yangon, Myanmar a city of history and curiosity for an escorted small group tour for mature and senior travellers to explore.Include Bagan and the Irrawaddy river in any educational based tour program for couples or solo travellers.

8 Jan 20 · 3 mins read

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Mandalay, Myanmar

Built in 1857 on the Irrawaddy River or Ayeyarwady River by King Mindon prior to complete British rule, the city of Mandalay still bear traces of royal grandeur in the palaces and monasteries built during his reign.

7 Jan 20 · 3 mins read

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Explore Bagan

Explore Bagan, a cultural and artistic wonderland, on a small group tour The opportunity to explore Bagan, a cultural and artistic wonderland, on a small group tour does exist. Odyssey Traveller has offered small group…

6 Jan 20 · 8 mins read

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Questions about Myanmar for Senior Travellers

Explore and learn about on a seniors small group tour of Myanmar and its pastoral, cultural and historic settlement. Visit World heritage sites such a Bagan or spend time on the Irrawaddy river to Mandalay.

19 Jul 19 · 2 mins read

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Touring Myanmar

The need to know

Getting around

Odyssey travels by coach and occasionally uses local transport, including trains and ferries. Specifics are always outlined in your tour itinerary. In Myanmar, public buses can usually be relied upon in large cities, but in the smaller villages, transport tends to be via motorbike taxis or tuk tuks (rickshaws). Trains, where available, are relatively frequent but they are old and the conditions can be poor. It is not always possible to plan transport in advance.

Accommodation

In major cities, Odyssey stays in centrally located 3-4 star hotels, with easy access to public transport. In smaller towns or rural areas, we usually stay in family-run hotels or guesthouses. On our longstay tours, during which you spend the length of the tour in a single location, we use serviced apartments.

Tour Guides

Odyssey always engages local guides with regional knowledge to ensure an authentic experience during which you can learn as much as possible about the history and culture of places you visit.

Health & Safety

As of writing, smarttraveller.gov recommends a high degree of caution while travelling to Myanmar. It’s always best to check the latest details before setting out on a trip. Certain parts of Myanmar should be avoided for the time being, particularly near the border with Bangladesh. There are risks associated with specific areas, and it is important to take these into consideration when planning your trip. But countries like Myanmar rely heavily on tourism, and refusing travel can be detrimental to a struggling economy. Stay apprised of government recommendations for Myanmar in order to be best prepared for your trip.

Electrical Supply

Whenever you travel overseas, it’s always wise to take an appropriate travel adaptor. Myanmar uses plugs in types C, D, F and G, and electricity runs at 230V/50Hz.

Highlights

The best of Myanmar

Yangon

Join pilgrims at Yangon, home to the gold plated Shwedagon Paya, one of Buddhism’s most sacred sites.

Mandalay

Explore the city of Mandalay, the cultural and historic heart of the old monarchy.

Bagan

Bagan, the capital of ancient Pagan, retains much of its grandeur, with more than 3, 500 temples and Buddhist monuments.

Tour Reviews

The tour was fantastic and well organised and well managed. · I have travelled expensively but have not with a travel organisation that comes anywhere near Odyssey's attention to detail and the comfort of its travellers. · The tour was fantastic and well organised and well managed. The transport provided was always very good and where the seats were a little narrow, the bus was big enough for us to 'spread out' for more comfort. · Our accommodation was excellent as was our local guide.I would highly recommend a trip to this beautiful country with many treasures to explore and learn about. Discover Myanmar Nov ‘15

info@odysseytravel.com.au

Discovering Myanmar | Small Group Tour for Seniors

Your chat-operator was informative and helpful. We have covered quite a few countries and seasons to travel. Full marks for that!

Philip Lee

Discovering Myanmar | Small Group Tour for Seniors

FAQs

What is Myanmar's time zone?

MMT, Myanmar’s time zone, is UTC + 6.3 hours. Myanmar has a single time zone, Central European Time. The nation does not observe Daylight Savings Time.

Is tipping customary in Myanmar?

If you’re on an Odyssey tour, we take care of tipping. So when you’re with the group you don’t need to give it a second thought. However, in your free time, or if travelling independently, it’s essential that you make sure you tip an appropriate amount for services, as is the case throughout much of Asia. While tips are not usually expected in Myanmar, many of the locals are on very low wages, so your generosity can go a long way. It’s especially appreciated if you tip porters, drivers, and cleaning staff.

Should you say Myanmar or Burma?

It’s complicated. In 1989, the ruling military junta changed the name from Burma to Myanmar. The move was portrayed as anti-colonial, as the country had been commonly known as Burma during the period of British rule, and as anti-Burman ethnic supremacy (because of the obvious similarity between Burman and Burma). Following the change, what name you used took on a political weight – with opponents of the regime and sympathetic nations such as the US and UK continuing to use the term Burma.

Since the end of the regime, however, the term Myanmar has entered everyday use. After all, ‘Burma’ and ‘Myanmar’ shared a common root and meaning. Though they look very different in English, in Burmese they are pronounced almost the same way. Native speakers use both words: Myanmar is the formal, literary form, and Burma an everyday term.

If you visit Myanmar, don’t worry about it too much – whatever term you use, it isn’t going to offend anyone!

Is it safe to travel to Myanmar?

Yes. However, heed the Australian government advice to “exercise a high degree of caution”. Do not travel to areas bordering with Bangladesh and other townships listed due to armed conflict, and reconsider your need to travel to some border areas listed. Odyssey Traveller follows government travel advice and our tours in Myanmar do not venture into these areas.

Many of the most interesting and culturally rich areas of Myanmar have been marked as safe to travel to, including Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan, Nay Pyi Taw and Inle Lake.

Responsible travel tips for Myanmar

Learn at least the local greetings to break the ice. Although many locals speak English, the more you know of the native language, the greater your experience of the country will be.
Carry a business card in your wallet or purse from your local hotel, to assist you with the return journey if you do become lost.
Always ensure that you are covered by travel insurance. If you need advice on this feel free to contact Odyssey and we’ll be able to help.
When travelling independently, make sure you check the opening hours of shops and museums so that you don’t miss out! Museums and galleries are often closed on Mondays. Also be certain to check whether your trip coincides with any public holidays, so you can plan accordingly.
Consider contacting your bank to inform them that you may be making purchases overseas. Otherwise, they may flag any activity on your account as suspicious. Also, check which ATMs and banks are compatible with your cards, to ensure you can withdraw cash with minimal fees.
Before departing, make sure you have a number of Burmese kyat in a range of denominations. You don’t want to be carrying around enormous amounts of cash, but take enough to make it easy to pay in locations that might not accept credit card. It will also help you avoid card transaction fees, and it makes tipping a breeze.