Welcome to the land where men wearing skirt-like longyi, women smothered in thanakha (traditional make-up) and betel-chewing grannies with mouths full of blood-red juice! Known as “The Golden Land” because of her glittering pagodas, Myanmar is a country rich in cultural heritage and natural scenic landscapes. Just a few years ago, Myanmar holidays were little more than a pipe dream of many travelers. In 2010, the politics shifted, the truly magical beautiful Burma is stepping out of the past into a new era of hope and optimism.
From golden-gilded Buddhas in Yangon and the magical temples of Bagan to the modern metropolis of Mandalany and the tranquility of Inle Lake, Burma will excite, impress and intrigue you. To the north, the natural lovers can discover the Shan State’s green mountains whilst the adventure seekers can trek through pine forests to minority villages scattered across the Shan Hills. History enthusiasts can contemplate the ancient cities and archaeological museums. Far down south, beach lover can stake out a slice of beach on the blissful Bay of Bengal.
Food lovers can dig into the myriad dishes of the local cuisine, from a hearty bowl of mohinga noodles for breakfast to the fermented tea-leaf mixture that’s a popular finish to a Burmese meal. Swap cocktails and canapés for snacks and tea sweetened with condensed milk at teahouses where you can shoot the breeze with locals.
If you are a luxury traveller wanting to stay in and dine at the top end, government-owned hotels then you will not be travelling responsibly here. But if you’re seeking a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see a South East Asian jewel in the rough with generations of stories just waiting to be told, Myanmar, right now, is it.
All nationalities require visa to visit Myanmar. The standard tourist visa is a single entry visa that allows you to travel in Myanmar for 28 days from the date of your proposed entry. You must only obtain your visa once you are within 3 months of your return date from Myanmar as the visa expires 3 months after being stamped into your passport.
How to obtain a tourist visa?
E-visa
If you are arriving by air into Yangon we recommend the e-visa. It is a very easy to use system and your visa authorisation letter will be emailed to you approximately one week after application. You must travel with this letter as without it you will be unable to even board your flight into Myanmar.
Pre-arrange visa on arrival
Sen Travel Group can arrange for a visa to be delivered on arrival for clients of all nationalities travelling with us for the duration of their stay in Myanmar. We still recommend applying for a visa in your home country as approval is generally granted further in advance than with the Visa On Arrival process.
In case there is no Vietnamese Embassy or Consulate in your country. Sen Travel Group can assist by applying for the approval locally in Myanmar and sending you a copy of this Approval Letter. We do not require your passport or photos, requiring just a completed form which you can return to us by email. You will then be issued with a letter of authorization to obtain your visas stamp upon landing. You must print out and bring this Visa Approval Letter to the airline check-in counter. Without this letter the airline will refuse you boarding. On arrival in Myanmar, bring the copy of the authorization letter, 2 passport size pictures and the amount of 30 USD in cash for payment of the visa fee on arrival at airport.