Ultimate Guide to Plan a Bhutan Myanmar Tour

Taking a trip to Myanmar and Bhutan together is a journey of discovery, exploring two of the most unexplored countries in South Asia. Both countries were long cut off from the outside world, though for different reasons, and traveling to these amazing nations is a real one-of-a-kind experience. Hailed as the last true Himalayan Kingdom, Bhutan did not begin tourism until the late 70’s, and is one of the most exclusive destinations in the world. Myanmar has long been a place where few tourists visited but it is fast becoming one of the more popular destinations in Southeast Asia, not only for the friendly people and stunning temples, but also for its unique mouthwatering cuisine and amazingly low-cost prices.

Where is Myanmar and Bhutan?

Lying in the high Himalayas, Bhutan sits on the southern edge of the Tibetan plateau, with China’s Tibet Autonomous Region to the north, and the Indian states of Sikkim, West Bengal, Assam, and Arunachal Pradesh on its other borders. An isolated and landlocked nation, Bhutan has been isolated from the outside world for centuries, and since it opened its borders to tourists, has become an exclusive destination.

To the southwest of Bhutan, across four separate states in India, lies Myanmar, a country that has only recently seen its fledgling tourism industry become a valid industry in the country. A former British colony known as Burma, Myanmar is bordered to the west by the Andaman Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and Bangladesh, to the northwest by India, to the north and northeast by China, and to the east and southeast by Laos and Thailand.

How to Travel between Myanmar and Bhutan

By Connecting Flights via Bangkok

Flights to and from Bhutan are only available from nine airports in five countries, including India, Nepal, Singapore, Thailand, and Bangladesh. However, with few direct flights from the closest country, Bangladesh, the best option for traveling between Bhutan and Myanmar is to travel through Thailand. There is currently only one direct flight per day from Bhutan’s Paro International Airport to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi International Airport. Covering a distance of around 1,907 kilometers, this four-hour flight costs from around USD 530 per person for a one-way economy flight, and around USD 890 for the return flights.

Once in Thailand, there are regular flights daily to Yangon, Mandalay, and Naypyidaw. Flights to the Burmese capital of Naypyidaw run once a day, traveling directly to the Naypyidaw Airport in around 2 hours 25 minutes. The flights cost around 170 dollars per person. For Yangon, there are around eight daily direct flights from Bangkok, taking around 1 hour 15 minutes and costing from just 46 dollars. For Mandalay, there are only three daily flights, which cost around 59 dollars for the 1 hour 45 minutes flights.

Overland through Thailand-Myanmar-India Highway

Another way to travel to Bhutan from Myanmar is to use the new India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway. Running for more than 1,360 kilometers from Myawaddy-Mae Sot in northwest Thailand to Moreh-Tamu in the Manipur State of India, this is the fastest and easiest way to get from Myanmar to India, and on up to Bhutan.

In Myanmar, the road stretches from Bago in the south, through Naypyidaw and Mandalay, to the border town of Tamu, which lies opposite Moreh in India. Stretching for 1,007 kilometers across Myanmar, this part of the trip will normally take around 18 hours by car or bus.

Once across the border into India, you will travel across four states to get to Phuentsholing, the border town in Bhutan for overland crossings from India. However, unlike most of India, there are no railways in Manipur, so you will need to get the bus to Dimapur in Nagaland, over 200km away from the border crossing. From there you can get a train connection to Hasimara, close to the border with Bhutan, and get the taxi to Jaigaon and Phuentsholing to cross into the kingdom.

When is the best time to visit Myanmar and Bhutan?

If you want to visit Myanmar and Bhutan in the best time , then you really need to travel in the optimum seasons for tourism, which in Bhutan is from March to May and September to November, and in Myanmar from October to February. This is the time when both countries are driest, with clear skies, little to no rain, and great weather for traveling. To make the peak seasons coincide, you would be best traveling to both countries in October and November, though you can extend that on through December, January, and February, if you do not mind a little colder weather in Bhutan.

Visa and Permit for a Myanmar Bhutan Tour

Myanmar Visa

Getting a visa for Myanmar is not hard, and can be done at an embassy or online using their E-visa service. Only four countries are eligible for the Visa on Arrival service, so the other options, including online applications, are the better ones. To apply for the visa at an embassy or consulate requires a personal visit, and you will need to bring your original passport, a photocopy of your passport’s personal details page, and two passport-sized photos, as well as the visa fee of USD 50.

Applications for the e-visa can be made on the official website of Myanmar. The application process is simple and quick and the e-visa is normally issued after three days. However, the E-visa can only be used at the Yangon, Naypyidaw, and Mandalay airports and the Tachileik, Myawaddy, and Kawthaung land borders from Thailand. Citizens of around 73 countries can avail of the E-visa services, and the entire list can be found on the website of the Burmese Immigration Department.

Bhutan Visa

Getting a Bhutan visa is very different from anywhere else, and you cannot do it yourself. All tourists to Bhutan must be on pre-arranged tours with registered Bhutanese tour operators, who will arrange to visa application once the tour is booked and paid for. The visa will be applied for on your behalf using a scanned copy of your passport, and the invitation letter will be forwarded to the tour operator, yourself, and the airlines. You will need this to book your flights and board the planes, and the visa will be issued into your passport once you arrive in Bhutan.

Top Things to Do in a Myanmar Bhutan Tour

Visit the different Pagodas and Dzongs with different Sect of Buddhism

Both Bhutan and Myanmar are devoutly Buddhist countries, and the option to visit some of the holiest sites in both countries is one of the major attractions for tourists.

In Bhutan, you can travel between Paro, Thimphu, and Punakha, visiting the fascinating Dzongs and Lhakhangs that have been standing for almost 1,000 years across the country. Bhutan is a country where the Buddhist religion is Tibetan Buddhism, brought into the kingdom across the Himalayas from the plateau land in the 8th century.

In Myanmar, Theravada Buddhism is the most popular sect in the country, with only a few following the teachings of Mahayana Buddhism. Followed in the region from the days of the Mon and Pyu states more than 2,200 years ago, this vast country is filled with ancient temples and pagodas that date back thousands of years. The most popular attractions are the temple complex at Bagan and the famous Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon.

Trekking through the Beautiful Mountain Forests and Valleys in Bhutan

Bhutan is renowned for its trekking trails, and rightly so. Few places in the world have the stunning mountain views, lush forest trails, and warmer deep valleys that can be found in Bhutan. Popular Bhutan trekking tours that offer you a great chance to explore the Himalayan Kingdom include the famous Druk Path Trek, treks through the stunning Phobjikha Valley, and the delights of the treks in Bumthang, the cultural heartland of Bhutan. No visit to this stunning land would be complete without taking on at least one of the treks, no matter how short.

Explore Myanmar's Water World - Inle Lake 

Inle Lake is one of Myanmar’s most visited destinations, measuring 13.5 miles long and 7 miles wide. Fringed with marshes and floating gardens, stilt-housed villages and Buddhist Temples, the local Intha fishermen propel their boats using their technique of leg-rowing, a method that is unique to these indigenous locals. Alongside the fishing, traditional handicrafts are a major part of the local economy here, and many tradesmen ply their wares on the lake, from silk weavers to silversmiths. And if you want to get out onto the lake itself, you can take a boat tour from Nyaungshwe, on the northern shore.

Attend Featured Local Cultural and Religious Festivals

Festivals are a huge part of Buddhist cultures, and both Bhutan and Myanmar have more festivals than you would ever have thought possible. In Bhutan, the most popular thing to do is to take a Bhutan festival tour to experience the Tshechus, held in commemoration of the birth of Gur Rinpoche, known elsewhere as Padmasambhava, who first brought Buddhism to Bhutan from Tibet. These religious and social events are a huge part of the life and culture of Bhutan and are where many people meet, often for the first time in months, with people coming in from miles around just to visit the festivals.

Among the many reasons to visit Myanmar are the amazing festivals, which happen throughout the year. Colorful and exotic, these local festivals are a major part of the traditional Burmese culture and are based on the Buddhist religion that has been dominant for over 2,200 years. Festivals in Myanmar are very similar to those held in Thailand, and are just as colorful, extravagant, and even wet, as their near neighbors.

Experience the Leisure Life Pace

Buddhism is a religion that teaches restraint, peace, harmony, and serenity, among other things, and this is evident in the way of life in both Bhutan and Myanmar. Life moves at a much slower pace there, with everything being done, but at a time when it is best to be done, and not always in a rush. Nobody hurries in Bhutan and Burma, and if you are looking for somewhere to relax and take it easy, then you can find no better destinations in Southeast Asia for relaxing.

Taste Local Cuisines

Bhutanese cuisine is unique and can take some getting used to. Filled with spicy chilies, which are present in every dish, this awesome cuisine is often considered too hot. Chilies are even used as the main ingredients of vegetables in some of the dishes, and the Bhutanese love their food spicy, training kids from an early age. However, they can dampen the spices down a little for tourists, and will gladly give you a sample of their best dishes, just not so spicy, which are well worth trying.

Burmese cuisine is mostly an amalgamation of the different cuisines from the various areas of the country, which all have their own ethnic minority cultures. Influenced heavily by neighboring countries, such as China, India, and Thailand, the main cuisine is split into either meat or seafood dishes and centers on a wide variety of salads, all served with rice. Rice noodles and glass noodles are also common in Burmese cuisine, and the dishes make good use of the strong-smelling fish sauce known as Ngapi. Strong herbs and spices are used, thanks to the Indian and Thai influences, and if you love the dishes of those two countries, then you will find that Burmese dishes are to die for.

How many days for a Bhutan Myanmar tour?

Since you will be traveling to two amazing countries that really both deserve your full attention, it is not a good idea to try and rush around both Bhutan and Myanmar. These awesome destinations have so much to offer, that any trip that covers both countries should include at least two weeks of travel, possibly more. The best Bhutan Myanmar tours are usually in the region of around 14-16 days long, though it is okay to stay longer if you wish.

Conclusion of Planning a Bhutan Myanmar Tour

Bhutan and Myanmar together make for one of the most unique tours in Southeast Asia. Traveling to two major Buddhist strongholds, where religion is an integral part of the peoples’ daily way of life, is one of the most awesome experiences in the world, and one that will leave you in awe of how simple, yet pleasant, their lives can be. And with the bonuses of the stunning landscapes, beautiful pagodas, Dzongs, and Lhakhangs, and the spectacular people themselves, where better to spend this next vacation than the Buddhist nations of Myanmar and Bhutan.

While planning your trip to Bhutan and Myanmar, you need to apply for the visas for both countries in advance and set aside at least two weeks for an essential trip to these charming countries.

If you have any questions or need help to arrange your lifetime trip to Bhutan and Myanmar, please feel free to level your comment below or just contact us online.