Visiting Myanmar? Don’t Miss These Photography Hot Spots
Photo by Sébastien Goldberg on Unsplash
While I’m not doing a lot of traveling right now, I’ve been dreaming about visiting Myanmar.
Myanmar is one of the most culturally diverse places on Earth. You can find over 130 different ethnic minorities there. The food is incredible, although it can be challenging for folks not used to it. But, most importantly, there are dozens of wonderful photography spots in Myanmar.
You can photograph natural beauty at Inle Lake, opt to take photos of architecture in Bagan, or participate in street photography.
If you’re planning on visiting Myanmar anytime soon, this Myanmar photo guide is for you.
Yangon
Photo by Isabel Retamales on Unsplash
Yangon is an often overlooked city in Myanmar, because many tourists only think of it as the way to get into and out of the country since it's the largest city in Myanmar.
But, Yangon features some of the best photography spots in the country. For starters, the Shwedagon Pagoda is located in Yangon. While very few western tourists have heard of this pagoda, it’s actually the largest of its kind in the world.
There are also plenty of monasteries located in Yangon. One of the most beautiful is known as Naga Hlaing Gu Monastery. Thousands upon thousands of Buddhist monks congregate at this monastery, reciting Buddhist scripture and living out their day to day lives.
Photo by Si Thu Aung on Unsplash
There are also a plethora of other places to photograph in Yangon when visiting Myanmar. There’s the Yangon Central Fish Market, although you’ll need to head out at 4am to get the best photos when the fish are coming in from the harbor. There’s also a large collection of colonial buildings from the British occupation.
Since Yangon is so large, it is definitely helpful to participate in a Myanmar photo trip, like this one happening in 2021 with Photo Tours & Expeditions.
Being guided through Yangon is much less stressful than planning the trip for yourself, since public transit can get hectic. Plus, it can be incredibly frustrating to miss a great photo opportunity because you were too busy with logistics!
Bagan
Photo by Si Thu Aung on Unsplash
When visiting Myanmar, you cannot miss Bagan. Bagan is quite possibly what you think of immediately when you think of Myanmar because Bagan houses gorgeous, towering Buddhist pagodas. There are actually over 2,000 of them across the area.
Bagan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Many of the temples were built between the 11th and 13th centuries, so it is also a popular spot for those interested in ancient history.
But, as anyone who has picked up a map of Bagan quickly realizes, there’s no possible way to visit everything you might want to in Bagan.
Of all of the Myanmar photo spots, this is the one I recommend everyone use a tour guide for. Joining a group like the Photo Tours & Expeditions Myanmar trip will ensure you use each of the golden hours for the day perfectly to catch sunrise and sunset photos of gleaming pagodas over an ancient landscape.
Photo by Jesse Schoff on Unsplash
As someone who wasted this opportunity when I was first visiting Myanmar as a rather broke 20-something, make sure you take a hot air balloon ride over Bagan.
It will probably be the most expensive thing you do on your whole trip, but you will never take a better aerial photograph in your life. Plus, you don’t want to end up like me and spend another few grand visiting Myanmar again because you felt like you missed out the first time.
Inle Lake
Photo by Mega Caesaria on Unsplash
Visiting Myanmar without stopping at Inle Lake should be a cardinal sin.
Inle Lake is one of the most pristine lakes in the world. It’s located high in the mountains of Myanmar, so it’s also one of the cooler regions in the country.
There are over 30 different tribes of people who live around Inle Lake and make their living from either tourism or fishing.
While Inle Lake is known for its natural beauty, it is also known for the unique fishing techniques of these tribes. The tribes steer their boats with just one leg and one oar. I’ve never seen anyone move faster on a boat.
Plus, many of the tribes live on man-made islands of vegetation on top of the lake and many floating markets are created on top of the water’s surface.
Photo by Edmundas Stundzius on Unsplash
If you’re seriously thinking about visiting Myanmar, the Photo Tours & Expeditions Myanmar trip is happening in November of 2021. Each Photo Tours & Expeditions trip is relatively small. This one will be kept between 4-12 participants, so you know you’re going to get specialized attention throughout.
This trip, in particular, will last two weeks and is all-inclusive. You’ll visit all three of the regions I already discussed to photograph the traditions of the people in Myanmar and to photograph the past traditions, archaeology and religions of the many people who have called it home over the centuries.
Myanmar is a warm country, but you’ll never be uncomfortable since you’ll be staying in gorgeous resorts and will have private transportation the whole trip.
This trip costs $5,900. Since it won’t happen until November 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic most likely won’t affect it. However, your money is 100% refundable in the case that the pandemic is not yet over at this time.