What could be more romantic than exploring a country that still feels largely untouched by tourism? No selfie sticks in the background of your beach photos or super-fast broadband bringing you back to Earth with a bump. If wedding day dramas are getting you down, fast-forward to the adventures of married life, starting with your honeymoon.
We’ve researched top 10 experiences for honeymooners in Burma (Myanmar) to give you more time to plan your wedding (or procrastinate…)
1. Float in a hot air balloon in Bagan
To soar over an endless sea of pagodas, patchwork plains or untouched rainforest, take to the skies in a hot air balloon. Spot monkeys in the jungle canopy of Ngapali, stilt villages at Inle Lake or countless stupas in the plains of Bagan.
Balloon Festival: The ballooning season runs from the beginning of October until the first week of April. If you’re visiting in mid-November, take a trip to the provincial town of Taunggyi. For two nights a year it hosts a Balloon Festival featuring a dazzling display of giant hot air balloons, fireworks and a sea of tealights.
2. Pick your favourite island at Myeik Archipelago
The pristine Myeik (Mergui) Archipelago is a little-known paradise of more than 800 islands extending to the south of Burma. Despite its closeness to the heavily developed Thai beaches of Phuket, this beautiful chain of islands in the Andaman Sea has remained unsullied by mass tourism.
3. Sup high tea at The Strand in Yangon
Time travel to the age of empire with high tea at the elegant and historic Strand Hotel. The Strand was opened in 1901 when Burma was still part of British India and it’s the sister property of the Raffles in Singapore and the Eastern & Oriental in Penang. Enjoy a British-style “high tea” with small sandwiches, pastries and other sweets, or the Myanmar equivalent with gourmet spring rolls, local-style cakes and traditional light bites.
4. Make friends with elephants in Kalaw
Visit Kalaw’s Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp to meet, feed, wash and interact with elephants in an animal-friendly sustainable environment. These elephants have been rescued from the logging industry and are now living out their senior years in the peaceful sanctuary of Green Hill Valley.
5. Go sailing on the Irrawaddy or Inle Lake (or both!)
Whether opting for a simple vessel or a floating five star resort on your honeymoon in Burma, sailing on the Irrawaddy (Ayeyarwady) offers a unique opportunity to see some of Burma’s (Myanmar) most celebrated destinations. If your sea legs aren’t too tired, swap the Irrawaddy for a longboat on Inle Lake. Weave through a network of canals to the stilt villages that sit in the shallow waters at the lake edge.
6. Take a cookery class in Shan State
Focusing on lots of fresh vegetables and herbs, Shan cooking differs from the oily curries found in other parts of Burma. Take a Shan cookery class in a small home-based restaurant in the lakeside town of Pindaya, or head to the heritage house on the banks of the Inle Lake.
7. Trek with the locals at Inle Lake
Of all the trekking experiences in the Inle and Pindaya region, the trek from Inle Lake to Hti Ne is undoubtedly one of the best. The scenery is as stunning as any other route, yet you probably won’t see a single tourist. Join Community Involved Tourism through bamboo forests and picturesque farming villages to learn about local industries, admire fabulous views and chat to the locals.
8. Walk through colonial history in Yangon
Stroll through downtown Yangon to explore fascinating architectural remnants of the British colonial era. Although now in various states of disrepair, the once grand edifices of the empire can still be explored.
9. Relax at Ngapali Beach
Ngapali is an unspoilt beach destinations in the region with a collection of lovely resorts, beach restaurants and fishing villages. Flights link Ngapali with many popular destinations in the country, making it an ideal spot for a few nights of relaxation at the end of a honeymoon in Burma (Myanmar). Try a spot of snorkelling or diving, or lie back and savour the glorious peace and beauty of the region.
10. Leave tourists behind at the Kakku stupas near Inle Lake
Not far from Inle Lake, amongst the rolling hills of Shan State, is the little-visited but impressive Kakku with a landscape of more than 5,200 individual stupas. This area was closed to visitors for many years, and even now only a few intrepid tourists make their way here.
If you feel suitably distracted from canapés, suit hire and overrated covers bands, perhaps a honeymoon in Burma (Myanmar) is for you. Give us a call on 0117 370 9759 or e-mail: [email protected] for our experts to help you start planning.
