Myanmar Holidays

A visit to the most isolated country in Southeast Asia feels like a journey back in time to a land of golden temples, pristine forests and tranquil beaches. Myanmar's treasures, such as the architectural wonder of Bagan and the colonial city of Mandalay, remain a mystery to most people in the west but this destination is one mystery well worth investigating by any holidaymaker in search of a beautiful and spiritual destination populated by warm, friendly people.

Known as Burma until 1989, Myanmar has a population of around 55 million and lies on the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea with an uninterrupted coastline almost 2000km long. The majority of the country's ethnically diverse population practises Theravada Buddhism and lives either side of the Ayeyarwady river, which flows through the middle of the country. Myanmar enjoys a tropical climate of warm winters and rainy summers and its extensive teak forests are home to a rich birdlife and rare animals such as the tiger , rhinoceros , elephant and red panda.

Like most countries in the region Myanmar's history is a rich tapestry of invasion, migration and colonisation. The now dominant Bamar people arrived from Tibet in the 9th century and founded a kingdom with Bagan as its capital, which thrived until the 19th century when Britain incorporated the country into its Indian Empire. Independence was achieved in 1948. The legacy of this culturally diverse history is visible in the country's architecture, arts and cuisine and makes it a holiday destination unlike any other in Southeast Asia.