Bagan is truly a beautiful and mystical place. One of my top favorite cities in recent years.
Since coming back, i have been getting request on my itinerary (particularly on Bagan), what we did there, how much did my trip cost etc. So yep, i decided to spent some time to document these down.
Travel Tips for Bagan, Myanmar
- Cash situation: bring NEW USD notes and change to Myanmar Kyat @ local money changers or banks in airport or city centers. We notice that money changers either gave a non favorable exchange rate or totally do not accept old USD notes for fear of counterfeit money. I have read other traveler reviews that USD is more commonly used in Myanmar but on the contrary we realized that hotels, restaurants, cafes, shops accepts Kyat and the exchange rate they apply for accepting USD notes are much worst than if you change it at money changers in the city center nearby.
- Wear Sandals: leave your pretty shoes at home! you need to take off your shoes (and socks) for all the temples you visit. the locals take this very seriously so please respect their tradition.
- Cover yourself up when you visit religious sites: If you are flying in to Yangon before heading to other cities, i would strongly recommend to get some Longyi (both for men and women) @ Bogyoke Aung San Market at the start of your trip. Longyi at other cities are much more expensive.
- Bagan Archaelogical Zone: When you enter in Bagan, there will be a station where they will get you to pay a tourist fee of USD10 (new notes only!) or 25,000kyat to enter into Bagan for 3days.
Getting into Bagan:
We took an 9hr overnight Bus Ride which departed from Aung Mingalar Highway Bus Station in Yangon. If you were to take this route, i would highly recommend to take only the VIP coach by JJ Express (Cost: USD20 per pax). Tickets can be bought directly from their website.
Another alternative would be taking a 1hr 20mins flight (Myanmar Airlines only) which will cost approx. SGD130per pax.
Accommodation:
While googling for accommodation, i was drawn to Sky View Hotel located in Nyaung-U as their rooftop terrace offers great view of sunrise in Bagan. Breakfast was decent and the room is clean, water pressure is good and bed is comfortable. Our overnight bus reached Bagan at about 4:30am and they gave us early check-in so that we can have a hot shower and rest. Staff were also nice and helpful during our entire 3D2N stay. I would highly recommend this place although it is further away from the city center where the restaurants are (New Bagan & Old Bagan)
(Cost: SGD30 per night)
Eating in Bagan:
Weather Spoon's Restaurant and Bar (Nyaung-U)
If there is one place that i must rave about it had to be this! Love their papaya salad (a little different from the thai version as i could taste ginger and fried shallots), dry shan noodles and fish curry so much that we went back twice.
Burmese Avocado Salad served with Papadum
Burmese Papaya Salad
Burmese Fish Curry
Shan Noodles
La Pizza 2 (New Bagan)
We went to the outlet at New Bagan as it was along the route for our Day 2 itinerary.
Ordered Margarita pizza - the crust was thin, pizza is delicious but i will not say its the best i ever had but still a great change in between having Asian / Burmese food on the trip.
Star Beam (Old Bagan)
We decided to try this place out as it was highly raved my reviewers on TripAdvisor and it was along our lunch break stop. The food clearly did not disappoint. Although service was slower (food are freshly cooked including the complementary homemade bread!) , but well.. there is no hurry since we are on a vacation right?
The ambiance is great, toilet is clean and the food is excellent!!!
We engaged a private driver from the hotel to bring us around the famous sites which cost us about 35,000kyat (for 2pax) from 9am - 6pm each day. Sunrise tour will cost us another 15,000kyat.
Brief Itinerary:
Day 1: Nyaung U Local Market | Archaeological Sites around Old Bagan [Ananda Temple - Thatbyinnyu Temple - Bupaya Pagoda - Shwegugyi Temple - Dhammayangyi Temple - Gadawtpalin Pagoda - Mahabodhi Temple - Shwesandaw Pagoda] | Lunch break @ Star Beam |Sunset Cruise on Irrawaddy River | Dinner @ Weather Spoon
Day 2: Sunrise Tour | More Archaeological Sites around New Bagan and Central Plain [Minnanthu Village Area - Mani Sithu Market at Nyaung U - Sulamani Temple - Dhamma Ya Zi Ka Pagoda] | Lunch Break @ La Pizza 2 | Chilling out at Nyaung-U (foot massage) | Dinner @ Weather Spoon again!
Till i document the rest of my Myanmar trip. ^^
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