Active vacation in Myanmar-Burma - things to do, entertainment and nightlife

Even though active recreation is not popular in Myanmar, tourists can still find activities to fit their taste. Ngapali is a fantastic destination for all tourists who want to stay close to the seaside. Located on the Bay of Bengal coast, this town is famous for its large beaches with white sand. It is an excellent destination for swimming and recreation. Besides swimming and sunbathing, visitors can also play beach volleyball. There are comfortable volleyball courses, so tourists only need to find other people who want to play. It is also possible to make an elephant ride along the coast. However, beach recreation is, first of all, about the sea and clean sand. Hotels in this area usually offer various exciting activities in order to make the stay of their guests even more enjoyable. Bayview Hotel - The Beach Resort offers equipment rental for different kinds of water sports, canoeing, motorboat rides, and cycling.

It is also possible to make a mesmerizing hot air balloon ride above historic landmarks. This is a true adventure that is arranged above the ancient capital, the city of Bagan (Pagan), which was the heart of the Pagan Kingdom. After the Mongol invasion, no one has lived in the ruined city for many centuries. However, there are still hundreds of places of worship - pagodas and stupas. Many of them are in quite a good condition and they rise proudly above the lush tropical vegetation. Vacationers have an opportunity to make one more tranquil and exotic journey – they can explore ancient Bagan in a two-wheeled horse-drawn carriage. The carriage can reach to the most secluded and untouched areas that are inaccessible to cars and buses. Moreover, it is hard to think of a more romantic vehicle type. Vacationers can rent a horse-drawn carriage right at their hotel. Only full-day rentals (from sunrise to sunset) are accepted. Tourists are brought back to the hotel for lunch – this is the hottest time of the day, so it is not comfortable to stay outside anyway. The temperature cools down within a couple of hours and the adventure continues.

There is one more way to explore the ancient capital – to rent a bicycle (at the hotel). The bicycle remains the most affordable vehicle type for tourists. However, it is better to plan cycling carefully. It is often very hot in the tropics during the daytime, and many roads are dusty and don’t have asphalt. In short, many areas of the country are not very suitable for European travelers. Taking into consideration a mandatory fee of US$10 upon arrival in the Bagan airport (this is the price to enter the archaeological landmark), many tourists may feel that they want more comfort than simply enjoying hot dust. If you still decide to try cycling in the region, stock up on water and protect the skin from UV rays. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Myanmar is a hot country, so it is always a good idea to wear clothing made of light fabric. Don’t forget to cover the head with a hat or scarf. The best shoes are the ones that you can take off quickly because everyone needs to bare their feet before entering temples. For women, it is desirable to cover their shoulders and feet. Mosquitos become active in the evening, so don’t forget to use a repellent. The mosquito problem is not so big in cities, but it is a true disaster in the countryside. Local hotels use repellents in guestrooms every evening and try to protect their guests as much as they can, so do not save of accommodation outside big cities. In tropics, not only quality furniture is important but also food, water, and protection against blood-sucking insects.

The most comfortable way to navigate in the city is to rent a car with a driver. This way tourists can head to the places they want to visit and do not need to try to adjust to the local driving style, think of parking, and waste their time searching for the right road. Moreover, local drivers are good guides, so they can tell interesting stories about local landmarks and life in Myanmar. Drivers do not ask any extra fee for this and will stick to the agreement – it is natural to be honest in the country. The price depends on the length of the route because fuel is the main expenditure. The driver’s waiting time does not affect the price.

It is better to rent a car for a whole day. The same rule applies to motorboat rentals. By the way, the latter is often the most comfortable way to move between the cities as local automobile roads have traffic jams. When calling a taxi, tourists need to remember that this is a solely “tourist transport” because local people almost never use taxi services. As a rule, people call a taxi from the hotel because it is problematic to catch one anywhere else. There are usually many taxi parking areas close to major hotels. It is virtually impossible to hitch a ride anywhere except Yangon, so don’t forget to order a roundtrip taxi ride.

Not many tourists know about Myanmar, but this doesn’t mean that there is no such entertainment that is available in virtually all big cities in many countries of the world – nightclubs. Local entertainment venues offer roughly the same: loud modern music, dim light, bar, and dancefloor. Local nightclubs attract young people, romantic couples, single men and women who offer their tenderness for a price. In Yangon, Pioneer and Diamond are among the most popular discos. The latter has a karaoke bar on the second floor. If you want to see all kinds of Yangon nightlife, Park Royal disco is the right place to visit. This venue attracts many different people.