Myanmar is a land of golden stupas, river valleys, and millennia-old kingdoms. From Yangon’s Shwedagon Pagoda—shimmering since the 6th century—to Bagan’s sea of temples, this 7-day itinerary blends history, culture, and gentle adventure. Expect sunrise balloons, tea-shop breakfasts, and glowing sunsets over the Irrawaddy.

Yangon charms with colonial-era boulevards, busy markets, and a deep tea culture. Bagan, once the heart of an 11th–13th century empire, offers more than 2,000 stupas and pagodas scattered across red-earth plains. E-bikes whisk you between murals, lacquerware workshops, and sleepy villages.

Practical notes: Check current travel advisories and local regulations, which can change. Bring some crisp USD and expect patchy ATMs and internet. Dress modestly for temples (shoulders/knees covered) and plan ballooning for the cool, dry season (roughly Oct–Mar). Book flights via Trip.com or Kiwi.com.

Yangon

Yangon (Rangoon) is Myanmar’s largest city and cultural gateway. Spend your time drifting between gilded pagodas, British-era architecture, and teashops where locals debate football and politics over sweet, milky laphet yay (tea).

Highlights include the radiant Shwedagon Pagoda, the photogenic colonial downtown grid, and the slow-looping Yangon Circular Train that reveals everyday life beyond the city center. Food is an adventure—Shan noodles, tea-leaf salad, and mohinga (fish broth noodles) are essential.

• Stay: Compare lodgings on Hotels.com (Yangon) and apartment stays on VRBO (Yangon).
• Getting there: Fly into Yangon International (RGN) via Trip.com or Kiwi.com. Typical regional flights: 1–3 hours from Bangkok, Singapore, or Kuala Lumpur.
• Arrival transfer: Pre-book a private car: Private Airport Transfer at Yangon Airport to Downtown.

Day 1 — Arrival in Yangon: Golden Hour at Shwedagon

Afternoon: Land in Yangon and settle into your hotel. Stretch your legs with a gentle walk around Kandawgyi Lake for skyline views, then ride to Shwedagon Pagoda for golden hour. Budget ~10,000 MMK for entry; go barefoot and dress modestly. Wander the terraces as the stupa turns from gold to ember at dusk.

Evening: Dinner at Rangoon Tea House for refined Burmese classics—laphet thoke (tea-leaf salad), coconut noodles, and prawn curries. For a classic tipple, the Strand Bar inside The Strand pours gin tonics with colonial-era ambiance. Prefer hearty, family-style fare? Try Feel Myanmar Food for a rice-and-curry spread with countless sides.

Day 2 — Downtown, Circular Train, Tea & Street Food (Guided)

Spend the day with a local guide to decode Yangon’s history, rail life, and flavors.

Private Yangon Tour: Circular Train, Walking & Local Food Tasting

Expect a ride on the Circular Train (schedules can change; your guide will confirm), a colonial-quarter stroll past City Hall and Pansodan Street, tea-shop culture, and a visit to Chaukhtatgyi’s Reclining Buddha. Typical duration: full day; includes snacks and local bites.

Dinner: Book a table at Shan Yoe Yar for specialties from Myanmar’s Shan State—try pork with pickled tea leaves and tofu fritters. Nightcap with skyline views at Yangon Yangon Rooftop Bar (Sakura Tower) or keep it mellow with dessert at The Strand Café.

Day 3 — Fly to Bagan; Pagodas at Sunset

Morning: Fly Yangon → Bagan (Nyaung U Airport). Flight time ~1 hr 20 min; fares typically $60–$120 one-way. Search and book via Trip.com or Kiwi.com. A taxi to Old Bagan/New Bagan/Nyaung-U costs roughly $5–$10.

Afternoon: Check in and rent an e-bike (~8,000–12,000 MMK/day). Glide to serene spots like Sulamani and Htilominlo to admire frescoes and brickwork. Purchase the Bagan Archaeological Zone pass (~25,000 MMK).

Evening: Catch sunset along the Irrawaddy embankment or from a legal viewpoint near Bulethi (climbing on temples is prohibited). Dine at The Moon (Be Kind to Animals) for vegetarian Burmese plates—the tamarind eggplant is a favorite—or at 7 Sisters for grilled fish and curries in a garden setting.

Bagan

Bagan is a dreamscape of 2,000+ temples peppered across the plains—best explored at dawn with mist rising from the acacia. Beyond the stupas, meet artisans making lacquerware, fishermen on the Irrawaddy, and farmers drying chilies in village courtyards.

Sunrise ballooning reveals the full sweep of the kingdom, and day tours by e-bike or private car let you dive into murals, cave temples, and atmospheric ruins.

• Stay: Browse stays on Hotels.com (Bagan) and VRBO (Bagan).
• Getting around: E-bikes are the easiest way to cover distance; carry a scarf for dust and a headlamp for pre-dawn rides.

Day 4 — Bagan’s Classics by Private Guide (Full-Day Tour)

Let a local expert map the day so you see the essentials without backtracking.

Bagan Sightseeing Tour by Private Guide and Car

Typical route includes Ananda (glowing Buddha statues), Dhammayangyi (Bagan’s largest), Shwezigon, and village stops for lacquerware demos. Time it for a sunset viewpoint.

Food picks: Lunch at Weather Spoon’s Bagan (Burmese and Western comfort dishes). Dinner at Bagan Thande’s riverfront restaurant for a breezy Irrawaddy evening or choose Aroma 2 for Indian curries and fresh naan.

Day 5 — Sunrise Balloons, Frescoes, and River Time

Morning: Float over a thousand spires at dawn. Book Balloons Over Bagan (seasonal, usually Oct–Mar; weather dependent).

Post-flight, refuel at Black Bamboo (coffee, smoothies, house-baked cakes). Rest during the late-morning heat.

Afternoon: Explore lesser-visited temples like Pyathadar and Nagayon, then browse Myinkaba’s lacquerware workshops—learn how sap from the thitsee tree becomes glossy bowls and jewelry boxes over weeks of curing.

Evening: Board a short Irrawaddy sunset boat from Nyaung-U jetty (operators cluster by the river; negotiate a private skiff). Dinner at La Terrazza for handmade pasta if you’re craving a break from spice, or back to The Moon for tamarind-inflected Burmese plates.

Day 6 — Mount Popa Day Trip (Full-Day)

Trade the plains for an extinct volcano crowned with a monastery and guardian nat spirits.

Private Day Tour to Mt Popa

Climb 700+ steps (watch for cheeky monkeys), learn about Myanmar’s spirit worship, and gaze back toward Bagan’s plains. Back in town, feast on charcoal-grilled river fish and papaya salad at 7 Sisters or try Queen Restaurant for family-style curries.

Day 7 — Dawn Temples, Lacquer Keepsakes, and Flight Out

Morning: One more Bagan sunrise—cycle to a legal viewpoint near the fields and listen for monks’ chanting. Grab a light breakfast at Black Bamboo or a market stall at Nyaung-U Market (fried doughsticks and sweet tea).

Afternoon: Fly Bagan → Yangon (~1 hr 20 min) for your onward international departure. Search options on Trip.com or Kiwi.com. If you have a longer layover, consider a quick city lunch near the airport or pre-book a transfer back into town: Yangon Airport → City private transfer.

Evening: Depart Myanmar with a lacquerware bowl and a camera full of sunsets.

Where to Eat & Drink (Quick Picks)

• Yangon Coffee/Breakfast: The Strand Café (coffee, pastries), Lucky Seven Tea Shop (local breakfast: mohinga, paratha, sweet tea).
• Yangon Lunch: 999 Shan Noodle Shop (signature Shan noodles), Feel Myanmar Food (mix-and-match curries).
• Yangon Dinner: Rangoon Tea House (elegant Burmese), Shan Yoe Yar (regional Shan cuisine), Golden Duck (Cantonese, roast meats).
• Bagan Coffee/Light Bites: Black Bamboo (espresso, smoothies), cafés around Nyaung-U Market for snacks.
• Bagan Lunch/Dinner: The Moon (vegetarian Burmese), 7 Sisters (grills and curries), Aroma 2 (Indian), Bagan Thande riverside restaurant (sunset views).

Logistics & Tips

• Flights: Internal routes (Yangon–Bagan–Yangon) run ~1–1.5 hrs; book on Trip.com or Kiwi.com.
• Trains: Schedules are variable; if you’re curious about regional trains in Asia, browse Trip.com Trains, but in Myanmar flights save significant time.
• Money: Cash is king. Bring clean, crisp USD; expect limited ATMs. Many small vendors are cash-only.
• Temple etiquette: Shoulders/knees covered; shoes off at all pagoda platforms. Carry wet wipes for dusty feet.
• Seasonality: Ballooning operates mainly Oct–Mar; hot season (Mar–May) is very warm in Bagan; monsuns bring heavy rain (Jun–Sep).
• Safety & advisories: Check your government’s latest guidance and local curfews; confirm on-the-day logistics with guides and hotels.

In a week, you’ll trace Yangon’s tea-scented lanes and watch Bagan glow at dawn from a balloon basket. Between temple bells, lacquerware, and river sunsets, Myanmar’s quiet magic lingers long after you fly home.