Is Myanmar good for a holiday with Kids?

Myanmar is a perfect choice for families with young children seeking a memorable vacation. This captivating country provides a wide range of engaging activities that families can enjoy together, including a dream balloon flight over the sacred land of Bagan and visits to the ancient capitals of Mandalay. Furthermore, the Burmese culture places a strong emphasis on family values, making traveling with kids an excellent opportunity to truly immerse oneself in the essence of the country.
Myanmar does not have amusement parks or modern facilities but if you like the old world with traditional value, this destination is the place to be.

Best time to go

Myanmar, being a tropical country, basks in year-round sunshine. The wet season typically occurs from April to late October, characterized by occasional rainfall.
For an optimal vacation in Myanmar, it is recommended to commence your journey between November and April. During this period, the weather remains pleasantly cool with minimal rainfall. Days are filled with abundant sunlight, while evenings offer a refreshing ambiance, perfect for dining or enjoying the swimming pool.
To ensure a smooth experience, it is advisable to pre-book essential services and Myanmar tour packages before your arrival, as this period coincides with the high tourism season.

Nevertheless, Myanmar's vast and diverse landscape allows you to discover picturesque hill stations like Pyin Oo Lwin, Kalaw, or the far north, where you can still find beautiful summers. If you plan to travel during the summer season, don't hesitate to contact our experts for valuable tips and tour promotions.

How Long should I spend on family travel to Myanmar? 

Myanmar is a big and diverse country. For a glimpse of the local culture and benefit from some kid-friendly activities, you should spend at least 8 days. This timeframe allows you to soak the most highlighted Myanmar travel destinations like Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, and Inle Lake. 
If you fancy a travel to Myanmar with kids that shows more than just the classic sights then do not hesitate to add 3 days extra to your Myanmar itinerary. 
An ideal holiday filled with interesting cultural exploration and beach relaxation, make sure you spend about 12 days in Myanmar. 
Here are some of our suggestions for how you can arrange your trip to Myanmar:
Myanmar 8-day itinerary
Myanmar 10-day itinerary 
Myanmar 12-day trip
 

Things to do in Myanmar with kids

When visiting Myanmar with children, there is an abundance of activities to enjoy. From discovering ancient capitals and captivating pagodas to having a great time on tropical beaches, the options are endless.

Take a rickshaw in Yangon & see Shwedagon Pagoda

Yangon City serves as a true gateway to exploring Myanmar and offers valuable insights into the daily lives and work of the local people in their homeland. When traveling to Yangon with children, you'll have the opportunity to witness authentic Burmese life in some remarkable streets. 
Among many ways to see the city, taking a rickshaw is a very appealing activity to any kid. It is recommended to capture the daily scene, capturing the real Yangon life. 

Additionally, a must-visit destination is the renowned Shwedagon Pagoda, which provides a valuable opportunity to introduce your kids to the Buddhist faith. The Shwedagon Pagoda's grandeur is awe-inspiring, with a perimeter of 1,420 feet and soaring to a height of 326 feet above the platform.
At the pinnacle of the stupa, where intricate details escape the human eye, it is adorned with an exquisite array of precious gems, including 5,448 diamonds, 2,317 rubies, sapphires, and various other gems, as well as 1,065 golden bells. At its very apex rests a single, dazzling 76-carat diamond.

Watch a Puppet show

Puppet is performed nationally wide in Myanmar. It is really unique and called a shadow puppet. Many luxurious hotels and restaurants provide puppet shows as a part of their entertainment but it is really better to watch a puppet show in a local theatre. 
Kids can also register for a course to observe how Burmese people make puppets and master the performing technique as well. 

Balloon flight in Bagan

As one of the most kid-friendly destinations in Myanmar, Bagan has so many things to lure your family to travel. Amongst all the experiences to soak up Bagan, capturing the sunrise and sunset over the majestic temples is just awe-inspiring. And, there is no better way to enjoy it than taking a hot air balloon.  There's truly no other vantage point that can rival the mesmerizing beauty that unfolds before you during this serene journey.
You may have to wake up early with your kids but the experience is totally worth it. 
For more travel inspiration, please check things to Do in Bagan. 

Play with Elephants in Kalaw

Nestled in the less-explored region of Kalaw, you'll find the enchanting Green Elephant Hill Valley Camp. This vast playground offers an incredible experience for children as they delight in spending time with elephants, engaging in activities like giving them baths and embarking on adventurous walks through tropical jungles.
For families seeking a day filled with excitement, the elephant camp provides a myriad of options for all age groups, ensuring that children of every age will be pleasantly surprised and thoroughly entertained.


Photo: Julien De Salabbery

Take a boat trip around Inle Lake

When it comes to the idea of where to bring your kids in Myanmar, Inle Lake is one of the musts. This picture-perfect lake is home to some of the most unique over-water communities in Asia where you`ll find floating gardens, rotating markets, unusual pagodas, and many styled festivals. Certainly, your kids will be amazed by all the landscapes that they will see from beautiful valleys to the old monastery, from exotic villages to interesting historical places.  To learn all these characters of Inle Lake, all you need is to take a boat trip! and yes, it is even better if you take a private Myanmar Tour with a professional tour guide. 


Photo: Ko Ko Win

Beach Hoping in Ngapali

After so much exploring, both the kids and the adults are ready to hit the beach for some pleasant relaxation. 
Ngapali, famed as the best beach in the country has a wide range of watersports and shore excursions to make your days occupied. As a world-class beach destination, Ngapali has some amazing resorts which offer ultimate family facilities like a cinema, playroom, and local theatre. 
See also: Travel to Ngapali Beach with kids

What is special about Myanmar as a family travel destination?

Journeying through Myanmar is like stepping into a bygone era, where the appreciation for the simple joys of life remains deeply cherished. In this unique country, toys may consist of bicycle tires instead of iPads, and children joyfully embrace the outdoors, roaming freely and playing together. People love kids in Myanmar, especially Westerners. They are likely to enjoy playing with kids and learning about their life.
The youthful population ensures that you'll encounter plenty of kids wherever you go, their curiosity is boundless, eager to forge new friendships and engage in games, even across language barriers. Many children learn English in schools, and although they may lack opportunities to practice, they are enthusiastic about trying and interacting with visitors.  

Is it easy to get around in Myanmar?

Myanmar's traffic network has been upgraded since its opening in 2010. There are buses, planes, ferries, taxis, and cruises to navigate from one travel site to another. The most common way to travel between famous places like Yangon, Mandalay, or Inle Lake is by taking a flight. There are many local airlines that operate daily domestic flights to book your tickets.
Inside the cities, you can now grab a taxi or book a transfer via different applications like Grab. 

Suggestion for a family travel itinerary in Myanmar

For the first-timer, this itinerary is just ideal to experience the contrast from south to north of Myanmar with an option of extending your stay up to 13 days.
Day 01: Arrive in Yangon. Visit the city.
Day 02: full-day Yangon city tour and street food. 
Day 03: Fly from Yangon to Bagan in the morning. Spend the day to see the highlights of Bagan.
Day 04: An active day on bike and horse-cart to capture the less-visited communities of Bagan.
Day 05: Bagan Balloon flight, taking a river cruise for sunset. 
Day 06: Bagan to Mandalay by air. Tour the most iconic attractions of Mandalay like the Royal Palace, Mandalay Hill, Kuthodaw Pagoda and ZayCho market.
Day 07: Adventure the outskirts of Mandalay, seeing the ancient capitals.
Day 08: Fly to Shan State. Heading to Inle Lake for a boat trip.
Day 09: Continue exploring the waterways and over-water villages of Inle.
Day 10: Fly back to Yangon for your departure.

Extension: 3 days in Ngapali beach with a direct flight from Shan State then head back to Yangon by a flight.