Burma
Description
Burma, or Myanmar as it is called officially, is a large and mostly tropical country in Southeast Asia. In the north Burma borders on China (Tibet) and India, and right on the spot where the three countries meet, in Kachin State, is Burma's highest peak: the snow-capped Hkakabo Razi (5881 m). It is one of the southernmost peaks of the Himalaya range. From the mountainous north three river systems (Ayeyarwady, Salween and Sittaung) emerge to help form a landscape of fertile plains between mountain ranges running in north-south direction across Burma, such as the Arakan (or Rakhine) range in the west, the relatively low Bago range in the center, and the Shan Plateau in the east. In the west and south, bordering on the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea, are endless coastal plains, vast river delta's and remote islands like the Mergui (Myeik) Archipelago.
Best place to set out on a truly adventurous and exploratory hike in the remote Myanmar Himalaya's is the town and valley of Putao in the extreme north of Burma, in Kachin State. Putao can be reached by air only. From Putao there is a wide choice of hiking trails, ranging from relatively easy 3- or 4-day valley hikes to full-scale expeditions to major peaks in the area, such as Hkakabo Razi, Phongun Razi, Phangran Razi and Nam Lant. This area being so isolated and little visited, it is essential to hire a local guide and porters. To give an example: to hike from Putao to Hkakabo Razi basecamp will take up to 4 weeks...needless to say this requires hiking experience and considerable stamina.
The Shan Plateau offers some more easily accessible multi-day hiking opportunities, walking from village to village among many different ethnic groups around Kalaw, Pindaya and Inle Lake. Or you can fly out to the most eastern town of Kengtung (Kyaing Tong) for day-hikes in the surrounding area. Finally you can do a 2-day hike from Mindat up Mount Victoria (3109 m) in the western Chin State, although nowadays there is a jeep track almost to the top.
Best time for hiking Myanmar is November till February, while the highest reaches of the Myanmar Himalaya's are only accessible in October. Lodging is mostly in local homes, and camping in the remoter areas.
Regions
Mountains
Links
Facts
Reports
Guides and maps
Lodging
Organisations
Tour operators
GPS
Other
Books
Netherlands
- Sheila's Guide to Fast & Easy Chiang Mai
- Have you ever visited Chiang Mai in the far north of Thailand? Located in The Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet? Chiang Mai is worlds apart from big sister, Bangkok. This area in the Himalayan foothills is known for its mountainous beauty, jungle trekking (try elephant riding), ruins, hill tribes, and Wats, (the Thai... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium
Belgium
- Sheila's Guide to Fast & Easy Chiang Mai
- Have you ever visited Chiang Mai in the far north of Thailand? Located in The Golden Triangle, where Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet? Chiang Mai is worlds apart from big sister, Bangkok. This area in the Himalayan foothills is known for its mountainous beauty, jungle trekking (try elephant riding), ruins, hill tribes, and Wats, (the Thai... Read more
Netherlands
2015
- Rough Guide - Myanmar (Burma)
- Features maps and coverage of all the best Burmese attractions. This book helps you discover Myanmar's highlights with photography and information on everything from exploring the iconic temples of Bagan, boating across beautiful Inle Lake or trekking through remote Shan highland villages. Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium
Belgium
2015
- Rough Guide - Myanmar (Burma)
- Features maps and coverage of all the best Burmese attractions. This book helps you discover Myanmar's highlights with photography and information on everything from exploring the iconic temples of Bagan, boating across beautiful Inle Lake or trekking through remote Shan highland villages. Read more
Netherlands
2016
- Reisgids Eyewitness Travel Myanmar (Burma) | Dorling Kindersley
- Engelstalige versie van de Capitool gids. The DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Myanmar (Burma) is your indispensable guide to this beautiful part of the world. The fully updated guide includes unique cutaways, floorplans and reconstructions of the must-see sites, plus street-by-street maps of all the fascinating cities and towns. The new-look guide... Read more
Netherlands
- Following The Sunrise - A Century Of Baptist Missions, 1813-1913
- FOLLOWING THE SUNRISE A Century of Baptist Missions, 1813-1913 By HELEN BARRETT MONTGOMERY Author of Christus Redemptor M and Western Women in Eastern Lands I am the Light oi the World. He that foiloweth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. 41 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light, Published in... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium
Belgium
- Following The Sunrise - A Century Of Baptist Missions, 1813-1913
- FOLLOWING THE SUNRISE A Century of Baptist Missions, 1813-1913 By HELEN BARRETT MONTGOMERY Author of Christus Redemptor M and Western Women in Eastern Lands I am the Light oi the World. He that foiloweth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. 41 The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light, Published in... Read more
Netherlands
2017
- Reisgids Te gast in Myanmar | Informatie Verre Reizen
- Samengesteld door en voor reizigers: verhalen van auteurs die er wonen, werken of gereisd hebben. Met veel insiders informatie over land en bevolking. In Myanmar tintelt en gist de tropische lucht van geloof in verandering. Sinds er hervormingen hebben plaatsgevonden en toeristen het land ontdekken, transformeert het land razendsnel.... Read more
Netherlands
- Burma Lost & Found
- In January 2011, just before political reforms in Myanmar ended a decades-old military regime, writer and travel expert Marek Lenarcik arrived in Yangon on a short-term work assignment. Little did he know then that a broken heart and dwindling savings would lead him to pursue a dream career working for one of the country s top tour companies.... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium
Belgium
- Burma Lost & Found
- In January 2011, just before political reforms in Myanmar ended a decades-old military regime, writer and travel expert Marek Lenarcik arrived in Yangon on a short-term work assignment. Little did he know then that a broken heart and dwindling savings would lead him to pursue a dream career working for one of the country s top tour companies.... Read more
Netherlands
2017
- Lonely Planet Myanmar (Burma)
- Lonely PlanetMyanmar (Burma) is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Be dazzled by Buddhist architecture in Yangon, explore Bagan's amazing plain of ancient temples, or hike to the floating gardens and markets of Inle Lake; all with your trusted travel companion.... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium
- De Zwerver, Netherlands
Belgium
2017
- Lonely Planet Myanmar (Burma)
- Lonely PlanetMyanmar (Burma) is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Be dazzled by Buddhist architecture in Yangon, explore Bagan's amazing plain of ancient temples, or hike to the floating gardens and markets of Inle Lake; all with your trusted travel companion.... Read more
Netherlands
2017
- Reisgids Myanmar - Burma | Lonely Planet
- De perfecte reisgids voor zowel de georganiseerde als de zelfstandige reiziger. Naast een algemene inleiding van het land / streek vol met praktische informatie over hoe je er het beste kunt reizen: slapen, eten, vervoer, excursies ... alles kun je er in vinden. Engelstalig. Lonely Planet. It’s the dawn of a more democratic era in this... Read more
Netherlands
- Fodor's Thailand
- Fodor s correspondents highlight the best of the region, including Thailand's beaches, Myanmar s sacred stupas, Cambodia s temples, and mountain treks in Laos. Our local experts vet every recommendation to ensure you make the most of your time, whether it s your first trip or your fifth. MUST-SEE ATTRACTIONS from Chiang Mai to Angkor Wat ... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium
Belgium
- Fodor's Thailand
- Fodor s correspondents highlight the best of the region, including Thailand's beaches, Myanmar s sacred stupas, Cambodia s temples, and mountain treks in Laos. Our local experts vet every recommendation to ensure you make the most of your time, whether it s your first trip or your fifth. MUST-SEE ATTRACTIONS from Chiang Mai to Angkor Wat ... Read more
Netherlands
2017
- Reisgids Myanmar (Burma) | Rough Guides
- Zeer goede reisgids voor zowel de georganiseerde maar vooral voor de zelfstandige reiziger. Boordevol informatie over reizen, slapen, eten, maar ook musea en cultuur. Uitputtende bron van informatie, veelal nog completer dan de Lonely Planet. Inleidende informatie over land en cultuur is zeer goed. For so long off the tourist map, Myanmar... Read more
Netherlands
2014
- Insight Guides
- Southeast Asia is a firm favorite on the long-haul travel trail, thanks to its unrivaled range of amazing experiences and unforgettable sights – from the northern hills of Thailand to the dragons of Komodo, frenetic Manila to laid-back Vientiane, the sands of Ko Samui to Balinese temples and the ruins of Angkor. And traveling around the region... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium
Belgium
2014
- Insight Guides
- Southeast Asia is a firm favorite on the long-haul travel trail, thanks to its unrivaled range of amazing experiences and unforgettable sights – from the northern hills of Thailand to the dragons of Komodo, frenetic Manila to laid-back Vientiane, the sands of Ko Samui to Balinese temples and the ruins of Angkor. And traveling around the region... Read more
Netherlands
- Finding George Orwell in Burma
- A fascinating political travelogue that traces the life and work of George Orwell in Southeast AsiaOver the years the American writer Emma Larkin has spent traveling in Burma, also known as Myanmar, she's come to know all too well the many ways this brutal police state can be described as "Orwellian." The life of the mind exists in a state of... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium
Belgium
- Finding George Orwell in Burma
- A fascinating political travelogue that traces the life and work of George Orwell in Southeast AsiaOver the years the American writer Emma Larkin has spent traveling in Burma, also known as Myanmar, she's come to know all too well the many ways this brutal police state can be described as "Orwellian." The life of the mind exists in a state of... Read more
Netherlands
2019
- Reisgids Myanmar (Burma) | Insight Guides
- Een rijk geillustreerde reisgids met diepgaande teksten: één van de beste reisgidsen die er bestaan. Eerste deel bestaat uit een beschrijving van de unieke aspecten van de regio, daarna een deel echte reisgids en als afsluiting een deel met praktische informatie. De uitstekende informatie wordt vergezeld van prachtige foto's en heldere kaarten.... Read more
Netherlands
- Vacation Boy
- This collection of fun true stories takes the reader to 34 countries around the world, following the winding "career path" of the sometimes hapless, often joyful and always evolving Vacation Boy. The book is about taking life by the horns and riding that unpredictable bronco around the world, leaving no regrets on the table, even if the ride... Read more
- Also available from:
- Bol.com, Belgium
Belgium
- Vacation Boy
- This collection of fun true stories takes the reader to 34 countries around the world, following the winding "career path" of the sometimes hapless, often joyful and always evolving Vacation Boy. The book is about taking life by the horns and riding that unpredictable bronco around the world, leaving no regrets on the table, even if the ride... Read more
Maps
United Kingdom
- Inle Lake Odyssey Map
- Inle Lake in central Burma / Myanmar on a double-sided map from Odyssey Books presenting the lake area at 1:40,000 and a wider region around it at 1:150,000, with highlighting for sights and tourist accommodation, plus descriptions and photos.On one side Inle Lake and its immediate surroundings, including the town of Nyaung Shwe, is presented... Read more
United Kingdom
- Myanmar / Burma Periplus Travel Map
- Myanmar (Burma) on a double-sided map from Periplus, including a country map at 1:2,000,000, plus street plans of Yangon (Rangoon), Mandalay, the Bagan area, and Naypyidaw.On one side is a road map showing Burma at 1:2,000,000, with good coverage of the adjoining regions of the neighbouring countries; coverage of Thailand extends to Bangkok and... Read more
Netherlands
- Wegenkaart - landkaart Myanmar - Birma | Nelles Verlag
- Un guide qui convient bien à une première approche, ou pour compléter un voyage organisé. Il ne rentre pas dans le détail mais est pratique par son format et son poids. Read more
Netherlands
- Wegenkaart - landkaart Myanmar - Birma | Reise Know-How Verlag
- Reise Know-How Landkarte Myanmar 1 : 1.500.000 ab 9.95 EURO Reiß- u. wasserfest World Mapping Project Reise Know-How. 8. Auflage Read more
Netherlands
- Wegenkaart - landkaart Myanmar - Birma | Freytag & Berndt
- Myanmar (Burma) 1 : 1 000 000. Autokarte ab 10.9 EURO Nationalparks. Ortsregister. Touristische Informationen freytag & berndt Auto + Freizeitkarten. Neuauflage, Laufzeit bis 2019 Read more
United Kingdom
- Myanmar / Burma ITMB
- Indexed map of Burma at 1:1,350,000 from ITMB with large, clear street plans of central Yangon (Rangoon) and Mandalay, plus an enlargement of the Bagan area. The map is double-sided, dividing the county north-south with an overlap between the sides; each side is provided with a separate index of localities.Altitude colouring presents the... Read more
- Also available from:
- De Zwerver, Netherlands
Netherlands
- Wegenkaart - landkaart Myanmar - Birma | ITMB
- Indexed map of Burma at 1:1,350,000 from ITMB with large, clear street plans of central Yangon (Rangoon) and Mandalay, plus an enlargement of the Bagan area. The map is double-sided, dividing the county north-south with an overlap between the sides; each side is provided with a separate index of localities.Altitude colouring presents the... Read more