This complex and extraordinary land, where the landscape is scattered with gold-wrapped pagodas and the traditions of Asia still endure, is now entering a new era. Myanmar has the power to surprise and delight even the most jaded of travellers. Myanmar is a nation of multiple ethnic groups, so exploring the country can sometimes feel like you’ve stumbled into the living past. For all it’s recent changes Myanmar remains at heart a rural nation of traditional values. After the return of democracy in 2015, Myanmar has begun to modernise. However, the economic and social changes the country is undergoing are confined mainly to the big cities and towns, and thankfully, the pace of change is not overwhelming, leaving the simple traditional pleasures of Myanmar intact. You can still drift down the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River in an old steamboat or luxury cruiser. Enjoy blissful beaches like those on the Bay of Bengal or for the more adventurous hike through pine forests to minority villages scattered across the Shan Hills. Best of all are the people you will encounter are locals who are engaging, gentle, considerate, humorous, passionate and inquisitive. Now is the time to visit Myanmar.
