How to travel Bagan, Myanmar?
Bagan is one of the most famous travel destinations. Mostly when you see a picture of Myanmar it is from Bagan. It has around 2.000 pagodas and temples to explore. This will be an unforgettable adventure of your lifetime.
How to get to Bagan?
How to get there:
In Myanmar you can take a bus which is fairly cheap and convenient. Check myanmarbusticket.com for connections and prices.
I made very good experiences traveling by bus as most of them have sleeping seats and entertainment systems on board.
Tip:
It can get a little chilly at the bus and at night in Bagan. Therefore take some warm clothing with you.
How to explore the temples and pagodas?
First you should get a free map of the temples. I marked the temples on google maps and navigated to the ones we wanted to see. You have several options to explore the region.
1. Hire a bicycle and ride to the temples
This is probably the cheapest way except for walking which is not an option. It is dusty and hot in Bagan and it will limit the temples you can visit.
2. Get a scooter (electro) and drive to the temples
Driving with a electric scooter is fun and you are totally flexible. You can get around all Bagan and visit temples all day. This was the option we chose.
3. Go on horse and cart
You can also hire a horse and cart and let you drive around. Check how good the drivers english is and agree on a price upfront. They know some good routes for visiting the temples and probably some hidden gems.
4. Taxi
Riding in a car is the most convenient way to get around. You can avoid the dust and heat with A/C in the car. Drivers speak normally fairly good english.
5. Hot Air Balloon
The most spectacular and exotic way will be to fly with a hot air balloon over Bagan. You should check prices and availability well in advance as this is very popular. Go-Myanmar can arrange a balloon tour.
Bagan has a lot of temples to explore. Here are my favorite ones!
Bulethi Temple
As we arrived early in the morning by bus in Bagan, we just checked in at our hotel, got some water and bikes to see the sunrise at the temples. Afterwards we went to bed. Check when the sun is about to rise and plan enough time to get to the temples and to climb them. From this one, you will see the hot air balloons start.
Sulamani Temple
From Bulethi Temple you can actually see the Sulamani Temple. So we went there to check it out. This is a bigger temple where you actually can go inside the temple. Definitely worth it!
Dhammayazaka(Dhammayazika) Pagoda
We went very early to see the sunrise again but this pagoda was closed in the morning. So we went on some smaller temples close to this one and got really lucky as the view was incredible. From the top of those temples we had a spectacular view on the pagoda and the hot air balloons.
Shwesandaw Pagoda
Climb this one to have an unforgettable view on the surroundings. We stopped here also for some drinks.
Shwezigon Pagoda
Definitely one of my favorite ones in terms of style.
Book your accommodation in Bagan to explore the city and the breathtaking pagodas and temples.
I can recommend the Aung Mingalar Hotel. The location was great to explore the religious sites as well as close to the city to go out for eating and drinking. The staff was very friendly and breakfast buffet was included. We could also rent bikes and scooters there.