CLIMATE AND WEATHER

Whilst it is fair to say they are not as distinct as climates experienced elsewhere in the world, Myanmar has three seasons.

During the cool(ish) season, Inle Lake looks particularly beautiful thanks to the lake’s frequently misty surface.

Cool(ish) Season
Mid-November through to mid-March with average temperatures ranging from 20-24°C. Please note that this is considered the most popular time to travel and as such, it is also one of the most crowded and expensive. Then again, it is the only time of year when the climate is relatively cool and the majority or sites and excursions, especially those more adventurous in nature, are accessible. Hot air ballooning companies only operate from November to March also, making these dates a must for anyone looking to carry out this popular activity.

Suitable clothing? That depends where you’re looking to travel. As a general rule, the further north you go, the colder it gets in the mornings and evenings. In Inle Lake for example, it’s common to see your breath most January and February mornings, but temperatures quickly warm as soon as the sun makes an appearance. To avoid getting caught out by a cold spell, we’d recommend packing a few pairs of trousers, long sleeved shirts, jumpers and a jacket.

When should I look to book? In order to avoid availability issues, we would recommend booking at least six to nine months in advance for this time of year.

Myanmar’s hot season – it gets sweaty but you’ll have most of the place to yourself.

Hot Season
Mid-March through to mid-June with average temperatures ranging from 30-35°C. Due to the extreme temperatures, most travellers are understandably put off travelling during this time of year, but that’s not to say it’s necessary to avoid. If anything, you will benefit from having the place to yourself, get access to cheaper hotel rates, better guide availability and best of all, the majority of the country is still accessible to tourists. Assuming you’re happy to put up with constant air conditioning and carry out touring at a slower pace, visiting during this time of year should present no problem at all.

Please note: Hotels typically won’t reduce their prices until the beginning of April. Furthermore, prices temporarily inflate (along with domestic tourist numbers) for the Thingyan water festival, which takes place for a few days around the middle of April.

Suitable clothing? Lightweight clothing, ideally made from cotton and linen. It will be necessary to avoid showing too much skin at temples; in order to get around this, we’d recommend purchasing a longyi (a sarong worn by both men and women) and taking it on / off as you enter / exit. Covering your shoulders will also be necessary, so ladies may find that a non see-through shawl will come in useful.

When should I look to book? In the case your travel dates coincide with Thingyan water festival, booking at least six months in advance comes highly recommended. Outside of these dates most last minute enquiries will be easy to arrange.

Myanmar’s Green Season, probably the most photogenic time of year to travel.

Green Season
Mid-June through to November with average temperatures ranging from 25-30°C. This is the period during which heavy, yet sporadic rainfall replenishes the country’s arid land and thirsty rivers. Very few tourists choose to visit during this time of year, but the benefits of visiting more than outweigh the negatives. To help explain why, we would recommend reading our Myanmar in Focus article titled, ‘15 reasons to visit Myanmar during the green season‘. Although some of the photos featured overlap with the month of May, it’s likely you will experience similar conditions throughout the entirety of this period. More remote regions are likely to be shut off due to flooding however, which is likely to be a massive inconvenience for anyone looking to get off the beaten track, or those looking to carry out slightly more adventurous excursions. Most hotels switch to high season rates from the beginning of October, so please bear this in mind if you’re looking to secure the best possible price.

Suitable clothing? It starts to get extremely humid around the time of year so the lighter and looser your clothing the better. Again, showing too much skin at pagodas and temples is frowned upon, so be sure to pack something that will keep those legs and shoulders covered. A waterproof packaway jacket will also come in handy for when there’s a shower (don’t worry, we’ll provide umbrellas).

When should I look to book? Tourist arrivals start to pick up a little bit from mid-October, and although it’s still nowhere near as busy as it gets during the period of mid-November to February, we’d still recommend getting in touch for these dates at least three to six months in advance. If you’re looking to travel in Green Season before October, most last minute enquiries will be easy to arrange.

Back to useful Myanmar travel information