To help inspire or plan your trip to Burma, some of its major attractions for travellers are shown below, including some of the best natural, historical, cultural and adventure sites in the country. These include all of UNESCO World Heritage Sites for Burma which represent the best of the world's cultural and natural heritage.
Click on the icons below to focus on specific types of features (click again to return to all).

NaturalHistoryWildlifeTrekkingCitiesReligious MonumentBoat
Journey
Rail
Journey
DivingCulturalAdrenalineUNESCO WHS

Historical attractions in Burma

Pagan

Pagan was once the capital of a powerful Burmese dynasty from 849 to 1283 AD when it was invaded by the Mongol army of Kubla Khan. The city once contained over 40,000 pagodas and while many of the pointed-topped buildings still adorn Pagan's skyline, there are thousands more that are crumbling archaeological remains, ripe for exploration. Some highlights include Ananda Temple with its golden Buddha statues, Gubyaukgyi Temple which contains an ancient mural of the Buddhas life and Shwezigon Temple, said to house the collarbone and a tooth of the Buddha. Shopping at Nyaung-U market is also a must but don't forget to catch the sunset over Pagan's pagodas.

Mandalay

Mandalay is one of the most evocative names in travel, a city immortalised in poetry and song. It was the capital of Burma prior to British rule in the mid 19th century. There are several temples in the city worth visiting, including the ornately carved wooden Shwenandaw Kyaung, Mahamuni Paya, with the Rakhine Buddha image, and Kuthodaw Paya, said to house the world's largest book. Upriver from Mandalay lies the ancient city of Mingun, home to the world's largest unfinished pagoda, built in 1790 to house one of the Buddha's teeth, and the world's largest functioning bell. Three other ancient cities lie close to Mandalay - Amarapura, Sagaing and Ava. Amarapura's U Bein bridge on Lake Taungthaman is over a kilometre long and makes for beautiful viewing at dusk. Back in Mandalay, Sagaing Hill offers a spectacular view of Mandalay at sunset.