When is the best time to visit Myanmar?

Visiting Myanmar in February

The weather in Myanmar continues to improve, with hot and dry conditions continuing throughout. Temperatures rise but are not yet uncomfortable, making it an extremely popular time to travel as the plains, the beaches and the foothills can all be enjoyed. It is essential to book far in advance to avoid disappointment.

Events & Festivals

• Chin National Day (February 20): A day of celebrating the culture, traditions, history and language of the Chin people, finally permitted after years of repression. Festivities such as traditional dances involving bamboo poles can be observed.
• Full Moon Day of Tabodwe/Htamane Festival (January or February): In celebration of harvest time, people make 'htamane' — sticky rice with ginger, coconut, peanuts and sesame seeds, offering some to monks before sharing the rest with their neighbors.
• Lahu New Year — Kyaing Tong (February): The Lahu New Year is marked with traditional Lahu festivities.
• Mahamuni Pagoda Festival — Mandalay (February): This two-day festival falls on the full moon day of Thabodwe, with thousands making the pilgrimage to the pagoda. Incense sticks are burned for the Buddha image, and glutinous rice contests are held. Read more
• Union Day (February 12): A national holiday marking the anniversary of the Panglong Agreement, which was reached between the Burmese government and the Shan, Chin and Kachin peoples in 1947, unifying the country.

Visiting Myanmar in March

Temperatures in the country continue to rise and it is often best to keep mid-afternoon exploration to a minimum. Rainfall is still non-existent, and accommodation still fills up quickly, so again it is best to book far in advance.

Events & Festivals

• Bawgyo Pagoda Festival (full moon in March): During this week-long festival, four images of Buddha carved from wood are brought out from the pagoda, with thousands of pilgrims gathering to pay homage to these images and various stalls set up outside the temple.
• Indawgyi Festival — Hopin (March): An annual festival attracting over 100,000 people, featuring boat races, concerts and much merriment. Shwe Myitzu Pagoda — which is usually surrounded by water — is accessible on foot as water levels fall.
• Kakku Pagoda Festival (March): Taking place around the full moon day of Tabaung — the last month of the Myanmar lunar calendar, this festival attracts thousands from across the region, dressed in traditional costume. Here they socialize, trade and worship together.
• Pindaya Pagoda Festival (early March): For this week-long festival, thousands visit the Pindaya Caves to see the 8,000 Buddha images — most of which are gold — housed within the caves. Local products are sold at stalls outside of the caves throughout this Pindaya festival.
• Shwedagon Pagoda Festival (early March): Pilgrims pray, dance and present gifts to the monks and the pagoda itself to gain favor, while stalls sell food and souvenirs outside. Discover more about Yangon.

Visiting Myanmar in April

April brings with it some of the hottest temperatures of the year, reaching over 100°F in some regions, and crowds flock to the country as it celebrates its New Year in the middle of the month. Rainfall is still at a minimum and it is advisable to book far in advance.

Events & Festivals

• Myanmar New Year/Thingyan (April 17): The New Year is celebrated with a water festival, where water is splashed or poured over people as a cleansing ritual and a sign of goodwill. The New Year holiday lasts for several days and is a fun time to travel to the country.
• Shwemawdaw Pagoda Festival — Bago (April): This festival runs for ten days, attracting visitors from far and wide to join in with the festivities at the country's tallest pagoda.
• Thanaka Grinding Festival — Sittwe (April): On the eve of Thingyan, women grind the bark of Thanaka trees to make a fine cream normally used as make up. The cream is then used to wash Buddha images at nearby pagodas as a new year good deed.

Visiting Myanmar in May

The searing temperatures continue for much of May, but begin to return to normal toward the end of the month as breezes and rain showers set in. There are fewer crowds at this time, and although you may experience the odd shower, this can be an excellent time to visit Myanmar. You may also be able to take advantage of shoulder season hotel offers.

Events & Festivals

• Full Moon Day of Kasone/Buddha Day (between mid-April and early May): Celebrates the birth and enlightenment of Buddha at the foot of a banyan tree. People pour water individually and collectively on this day in recognition of the banyan tree's preservation.
• Shit-Thaung Pagoda Festival (May): An eight-day festival held at the pagoda, featuring boat racing, traditional wrestling and water splashing in Mrauk U's canal on the full moon day.

Visiting Myanmar in June

Visitor numbers continue to reduce and temperatures hover around the 29°C mark; although it can still be hotter in the central plains to the south of Mandalay. Weather can be unpredictable at this time of year, but showers are usually short-lived and shouldn't impact on your overall experience. However, most beach resorts close by mid-June in preparation for the unfavorable weather expected in the coming months.

Events & Festivals

• Thiho Shin Pagoda Festival — Pakokku (June): A typical Upper Myanmar festival, with traditional plays and dancing entertaining locals and visitors alike. Local products such as tobacco and Thanaka logs are also sold at the event.

Visiting Myanmar in July

Rains begin to hit Myanmar's southern coast and the beaches at Ngapali are now closed up. Better weather can be found in the northeast of Myanmar, where low visitor numbers and stunning scenery can be massively rewarding. This is peak time for cruising along the Chindwin River, but road travel across much of the country becomes difficult.

Events & Festivals

• Chinlone (Cane Ball) Festival (June to July): Lasting for almost a month, this festival sees hundreds of chinlone teams compete in the traditional sport of Myanmar to live music in Mandalay.
• Full Moon Day of Waso — start of Buddhist Lent (July): During the month of Waso, Buddhist monks are forbidden from making a journey lasting more than one day, instead devoting more time to Buddha's teachings. Locals offer robes and alms to monks to gain favor.

Visiting Myanmar in August

You should be prepared for heavy rain throughout the country and road travel to rural locations continues to be slow. If you are lucky enough to find a window of good weather, trekking can be extremely rewarding and presents wonderful opportunities for photography, as it is at this time of year that Myanmar's landscape is at its most beautiful.

Events & Festivals

• Taungbyone Nat Festival — from Mandalay (August): A major gathering place for spiritual mediums, this festival attracts pilgrims and visitors in their thousands to make offerings and enjoy dances and other celebrations in honor of two famous Nats.
• Yadana Gu Nat Festival — Amarapura (August or September): An eight-day festival led by spirit mediums said to be possessed by Nats during the ceremony. Ritual dances and songs are performed and visitors make offerings of food, flowers and money to the Nats.

Visiting Myanmar in September

Rainfall will start to reduce, especially toward the end of the month, and temperatures drop to around 80°F. This can be a wonderful time to see Myanmar, with fewer visitors and lush green landscapes. However, beaches remain closed and some areas can be difficult to reach by road.

Events & Festivals

• Bo Bo Gyi Nat Festival — Amarapura (late September or early October): A ten-day festival attracting large numbers of pilgrims to the pagoda on the shores of Taungthaman Lake, next to U Bein Bridge.
• Manuha Pagoda Festival (late September or early October): Celebrated over three days, this festival features large, colorful papier mache figures that are marched through the streets as part of a parade in Bagan.
• Myo Daunt Zedi Pagoda Festival (September): A six-day festival where local produce such as tobacco, woven materials and earthen wares are traded in Monywa.
• Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival (September to October): Stopping at villages en route before arriving at the main town of Nyaung Shwe, this is an 18-day festival where four Buddha images are transported by an elaborately decorated boat around Inle Lake.
• Rice donating ceremony — Sagaing (mid-September): Monks and nuns inhabiting Sagaing Hill receive donations of rice sent from around the country.
• Yadana Gu Nat Festival — Amarapura (August or September): An eight-day festival led by spirit mediums said to be possessed by Nats during the ceremony. Ritual dances and songs are performed and visitors make offerings of food, flowers and money to the Nats.

Visiting Myanmar in October

Weather is expected to be warm and dry throughout the whole country, while the beaches of Ngapali cater for visitors once again. This is a good time to visit as you avoid the crowds and can take in the wonderful green scenery after the wet season.

Events & Festivals

• 9,000 Lights Festival — Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda (October): On the full moon day of Thadingyut, locals gather at the pagoda and light 9,000 candles as an offering to Buddha. The festival is celebrated over three days at the end of Buddhist Lent.
• Bo Bo Gyi Nat Festival — Amarapura (late September or early October): A ten-day festival attracting large numbers of pilgrims to the pagoda on the shores of Taungthaman Lake, next to U Bein Bridge.
• Hsu Taung Pye Pagoda Festival — Monywa (October or November): Puppeteers perform to crowds that have gathered at the pagoda for this event. On the eve of the festival, sweets and snacks are given out by locals.
• Manuha Pagoda Festival (late September or early October): Celebrated over three days, this festival features large, colorful papier mache figures that are marched through the streets as part of a parade in Bagan.
• Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival (September to October): Stopping at villages en route before arriving at the main town of Nyaung Shwe, this is an 18-day festival where four Buddha images are transported by an elaborately decorated boat around Inle Lake.

Visiting Myanmar in November

Temperatures begin to rise and the country sees very little rainfall at this time of year; although in the highlands and foothills to the east, temperatures are at their lowest, with average highs of 25°C. While not as busy as January to March, this is the beginning of the high season and it is advisable to book far in advance.

Events & Festivals

• Full Moon Day of Tazaungmone/Tazaungdaing Festival (November): A national holiday, this festival marks the end of the rainy season and the Kathina season, when monks are given new robes, and features robe-weaving competitions, alms giving and releasing candlelit balloons.
• Hsu Taung Pye Pagoda Festival — Monywa (October or November): Puppeteers perform to crowds that have gathered at the pagoda for this event. On the eve of the festival, sweets and snacks are given out by locals.
• Matho Thingan (November): Known as the 'Yellow Robe Weaving Festival', competitions for robe weaving are held and yellow robes are presented to monks by locals, often in large ceremonies.
• Po Win Festival (late November or early December): A six-day festival held at the Po Win Taung Cave Pagoda, which houses thousands of Buddha images and paintings. Religious and cultural festivities can be observed and a variety of local products are sold in Monywa.
• Shwezigon Pagoda Festival: Thousands of pilgrims flock to the pagoda on the full moon day. Locals sell products such as glazed pots and handwoven fabrics to visitors, food and drink is enjoyed and dancing takes place, among other festivities in Bagan.
• Taunggyi Balloon Festival — from Nyaung Shwe or Inle Lake/Pyin Oo Lwin Balloon Festival (November): Colorful hot air balloons — often in the shape of animals — are released into the air over this two-day festival.

Visiting Myanmar in December

More great weather as it approaches Christmas season — visit before the Christmas period to avoid vacation surcharges. Despite December being one of the coolest months, particularly in the highlands and foothills, temperatures can still average highs of 31°C across much of the country.

Events & Festivals

• Akha New Year — Kyaing Tong (end of December): The Akha indigenous hill tribe celebrate their New Year with traditional dancing and festivities in the town of Kyaing Tong.
• Kayin New Year — Hpa-An (December): A national holiday, the Kayin New Year is celebrated in style with dancing and traditional kickboxing competitions. Young and old wear traditional costumes of woven tunics over red longyis to keep Kayin culture alive. Learn more about Kayin States capital, Hpa-An.
• Mount Popa Nat Ceremony (December): The Nats are celebrated at Mount Popa, an extinct volcano, on the full moon of Natdaw. Dancing, music and palm wine often feature heavily, attracting many people from near and far to Mount Popa.
• Po Win Festival (late November or early December): A six-day festival held at the Po Win Taung Cave Pagoda, which houses thousands of Buddha images and paintings. Religious and cultural festivities can be observed and a variety of local products are sold in Monywa.