Top 5 things to do in Bagan, Myanmar

1. Balloons Over Bagan

Taking a hot air balloon ride over the Pagodas in Bagan is one of the most iconic activities in the region. Your adventure will begin at 4.40am well before the sun has crested the horizon and you will be transported to the launch site by a vintage bus. Upon arrival you will be served tea and coffee, and have the chance to use the restroom for the last time. Once the crew has given you a full safety briefing the balloons will be inflated and ready to take flight.

ready to take flight with balloons over bagan

Hot air balloons are such a magical way to see the landscape, your pilot will point out key sights and give you a history lesson from the air.

Once you land the grown crew is there to welcome you with champagne and breakfast pastries and you will have the chance to by some local good from the towns people.

I rode with "Balloons Over Bagan" and the entire excursion is $450 USD, which includes transport to and from the site, tea, coffee and light refreshments, as well as a celebratory champagne at the end of your flight.

2. History and Sunset Tour

Bagan is an ancient city and a UNESCO World Heritage Site and stands out not only the number of religious edifices but also the sheer number of temples and pagodas in the region. To properly appreciate this region and its rich history I would highly recommend hiring a local guide, my guide was wonderful and a wealth of knowledge, if you would like his contact details please email me below and I would be happy to pass them along.

Watching the sunset over the Pagodas in Bagan is a magical sight and not to be missed. In recent years you were able to climb the Pagodas to watch the sun set, however that is banned due to damage caused by earthquakes and to prevent further damage by tourists. There are two options for sunset, you could get your guide to show you somewhere that is less crowded and nice for viewing, which is what we did, I can’t tell you exactly where we went because it was an adventure without Google Maps. Alternatively you could go to a manmade high point where lots of people go to watch the sunset there are three popular ones to choose from:

Sulamani
Komauk
Myaungletphet

3. Taste of Myanmar

No trip to Bagan would be complete without sampling some of the local delicacies of the region, I would highly recommend tasting the following dishes:

Tea Leaf Salad: This is my favorite dish I tasted while in Bagan, it has an eclectic mix of textures and flavors which includes pickled tea leaves, roasted peanuts, beans, toasted seeds, ginger, oil and a generous amount of fried garlic.
Wing Bean Salad: While the locals call this a salad it is actually a cooked dish featuring wing beans blanched and tossed in coconut milk, chili paste, tamarind, palm sugar and coated in roasted peanuts.
Peanuts: In the region you will find acres of peanut fields and if you take the sunrise hot air balloon ride you will watch the pilots try to avoid these fields for landing. Needless to say the roasted peanuts here are some of the tastiest I have ever tried, they are much smaller than their American cousins but pack a punch with flavor.
Wet-thar Chet: This is a delicious pork curry with a tomato base, it’s light and refreshing and has a wonderful flavor.
Shwe Kyi Mont: Looking for something a little sweeter to finish your meal, try this sweet jelly made from palm sugar and sticky rice.

From left to right, Tea Leaf Salad and Shwe Kyi Mont, Wet-thar Chet, Wing Bean Salad.

4. Rent a Scooter

If you are up for a little adventure I would highly recommend hiring a scooter for the day to explore the city on your own. If you have never driven a scooter before not to worry they are very easy, it was my first time, and after a quick lesson from the owner I was off and racing.

Scooters are a great way to visit the Pagodas and get some amazing photos, at every turn you will see something and want to stop for a photo. You can also head to the local market, check out all the local produce, and pick up unique souvenirs, including Bagan's famous lacquer wear.

5. Lawkananda Wildlife Sanctuary

For something a little different I would recommend visiting the Lawkananda Wildlife Sanctuary of Bagan, home to the endangered Star Tortoise. The purpose of this sanctuary is to bread Start Tortoises to increase population numbers in the region. When the sanctuary first began there were only 40 females and 42 males, now with a population of 5,806 the species is close to being taken off the endangered list. 1,500 have already been released into the wild in two local forests that are protected and the local government is working to ensure the population increases.

If you plan to visit and want to meet these cuties you will need to organize it in advance, through a guide is the easiest way. The care taker will take you into the enclosure and explain a lot of facts about the program, and the tortoises in general. I had a wonderful time visiting but Tortoises have a special place in my heart.