Myanmar or Bhutan? Top Reasons You Should Visit Myanmar and Bhutan Together Overview

As the major Buddhist countries in South Asia, Bhutan and Myanmar are both ideal destinations for those who are interested in the mysterious Buddhism in Asia. Which one is better to travel is always a question for those who are planning their cultural exploration to South Asia.

In fact, Myanmar and Bhutan are very different, and there are many reasons why you should visit these two amazing destinations as part of one combined tour. It is the differences and similarities that make a combined tour of Bhutan and Burma one of the most fascinating new combination destinations in the world. Lying only a short distance apart, with only a few remote states of India in between them, there are no real reasons why one should not visit both together, and discover why they are the perfect match, despite their differences.

Are Myanmar and Bhutan the Same?

While they do have a few similarities, such as Buddhism (though even the sects of Buddhism are different), Bhutan and Myanmar are very different countries, with major differences in the cultures, traditions, beliefs, and the landscapes themselves. And when it comes to climate, there is nothing remotely similar in the weather in Bhutan and Myanmar.

The Difference in Best Time to Go

In Bhutan, the best time to travel is normally in the peak months, from March to May and September to November. These are the spring and autumn seasons in Bhutan when the skies are clear and the sunshine is bright and warm, but not too hot. The start and end of the dry seasons in Bhutan, spring and autumn see very little rain across the country, though it is normal to see one or two days when it can rain, even in the driest and coldest of months.

Spring is high season for Bhutan, but low season for Myanmar

In Myanmar, where there are only two seasons, the dry season is the best time to travel, which runs from October to February. This is the time when the weather is cooler in this sub-tropical country, and there is no rain at all, hence the dry season. All regions of the country are easily accessible, and the roads and waterways are busy, with locals and tourists alike traveling during the period when it is best to take a trip.

The Difference in Landscapes

Bhutan is a very mountainous landscape, sitting high in the Himalayas on the edge of the world’s highest plateau. With altitudes ranging from over 7,000 meters in the north to as low as a few hundred meters in the south, the varying landscape is unique only to the areas of the southern and western edges of the Himalayas. Bhutan also has a vast area of forests throughout the country, with more than 70% of the nations covered with trees and grasslands. Deep mountain valleys permeate the high ridges, filled with forests of rhododendrons, blue pines, and other alpine vegetation.

Myanmar does extend all the way north to the edges of the Tibetan plateau and the Himalayas, though it is only a small part of the northern tip of the country. Most of the nation is low-lying, reaching only up to around 3,000 meters at the higher points, with the average being between 900 meters and around 2,500 meters. Characterized by the central lowlands of the Sittaung and Chindwin Valleys, the landscape is less rugged than in Bhutan, with small ranges of mountains cutting across the center and west of the country, and along the border with Thailand.

The landscapes in Myanmar is less rugged than in Bhutan

The Difference in Buddhism

In Bhutan, the main religion is Tibetan Buddhism, a form of Mahayana Buddhism that has undergone many changes in the 1,300 years since it was first introduced into the region. Stemming from the original Indian Buddhism that included Tantric Buddhism, Tibetan Buddhism also includes the tantric precepts of Buddhism, with the main goal of Buddhist followers being that of Buddhahood, or the “rainbow body”. Tibetan Buddhism has four major schools, Nyingma, Kagyu, Sakya, and Gelug, which have fractured from the original teachings in the last 1,000 years.

Bhutan main religion is Tibetan Buddhism, and Myanmar main religion is Theravada Buddhism

In Myanmar, the main religion is Theravada Buddhism, though there is a very small percentage of the population that follows the original Mahayana Buddhism of India. Known as the “School of Elders”, Theravada Buddhism is the common name for the oldest extant school of Buddhism. In stark contrast to Mahayana and Tibetan Buddhism, Theravada Buddhism is much more conservative and restrained in terms of its doctrines and monastic discipline. Yet, while Theravada Buddhism is the dominant religion in Burma, it only replaced Mahayana Buddhism after being brought from Sri Lanka in the 2nd century BCE. Myanmar is also the most religious Buddhist country in the world, with the highest proportion of monks for the population and the highest amount of individual incomes spent on Buddhism.

Feature Things to Do in Bhutan

Unique Tshechus and Festivals

Bhutan has a wealth of festivals throughout the year, and there are none more important than the famous Tshechus. Held in every region and district annually, as well as in many other cities and towns, the Thimphu Tshechu is the most important religious and social event in the Bhutanese calendar. Held in commemoration of the birth of Padmasambhava, known in Bhutan as Guru Rinpoche, the festival is an amalgamation of religious ceremonies, local operas, and performances including singing and dancing, and the social interaction of the people, like a live version of Facebook. Other festivals are also common in Bhutan, including the famous Gangtey Festival and the annual Black-Necked Crane Festival, to name a few.

Visit a Bhutan Tshechu Festival

Himalaya Treks in Northwest Bhutan

If you are thinking of the best place for high-altitude trekking, then you can find no place better than Bhutan. While Tibet may have high altitude treks above 5,000m, and Nepal has the stunning Annapurna and Everest ranges to trek along, Bhutan has some of the most outstandingly beautiful countryside in the world, preserved and protected for future generations by the people themselves. There is nowhere else on the planet where you can trek in such remote isolation, yet still be only a short drive from a town or village, and feel as if you are the first person to ever hike along that stretch of mountain. From the famous Druk Path Trek and the awesome trek to Tiger’s Nest Monastery, to the stunning and gruesome 30-day Snowman trek, Bhutan trekking tours can satisfy kinds of trekkers and hikers, no matter what level you are at.

Himalaya treks in Bhutan

Gross National Happiness

When most countries decide how to develop their economy, they think in terms of Gross National Product. In Bhutan, they think instead in terms of Gross National Happiness. While this may be an indicator of progress in a sustainable economy and social development for the government, for the real people, it is now more of a way of life. The concept forms a balance between the desire for material and non-material values of the typical Buddhist philosophy. In turn, the people of Bhutan, able to have their traditional values and culture preserved for all time, while still using cars and cellphones, are a generally happy people, secure in their beliefs and understandings of life and how it can be simple, yet better.

Bhutanese is generally happy people

Ancient Dzongs and Temples

Bhutan has a huge number of ancient temples, monasteries, and fortresses across the country. Known locally as Dzongs (fortresses) and Lhakhangs (monasteries or temples), these ancient buildings were built between the 7th century and the 19th century, and many were constructed to repel invaders from Tibet. Some of the most famous and most stunning, include the Punakha Dzong, Paro Dzong, and Drukgyel Dzong, as well as the Chime Lhakhang, Kurjey Lhakhang, and the famous Gangtey Gompa.

Punakha Dzong Tour

Feature Things to Do in Myanmar

Balloons over Bagan

Few travel experiences can compare with the stunning feeling of standing in a hot-air balloon over the ancient 9th century temple site of Bagan. One of the iconic sights that has captured the imagination of travelers from all over the world, this amazing experience allows you to look down on more than 2,200 temples across the plains of Bagan, and not just the few that you can get around on foot. An awesome trip by balloon is expensive, but well worth it when you look down on the mists rising off the jungles below at dawn or dusk.

Trip by Balloon in Bagan

Featured Lake Life of Inle Lake

Inle Lake region is one of Myanmar’s most popular destinations and is visited by thousands of tourists throughout the year. While it may be one of the largest lakes in the region of Asia, it is also one of the most diverse locations in Myanmar for the ethnic peoples of the Intha, the Shan, the Pa-O, the Taung Yo, the Danu, the Kayah, the Damaw, and may others. These remote hill people descend on the lakeshore to sell locally made tribal handicrafts in the markets along the shores of Inle Lake, on their five-day cycle around the different towns along the lakeshores. Inle Lake is the best destination in Myanmar for learning a little more about the people of the country that have little, yet really need little to survive and be happy.

Inle Lake unique way of Fishing

Pagodas of All Types

Pagodas can be seen just about everywhere you go in Myanmar, and it is a common joke that Yangon has a pagoda in almost every street corner. The truth is not really much of a joke since it is almost true. Pagodas are typical Buddhist stupas built to hold relics, especially those associated with Buddha, and Myanmar has become known as the Land of Pagodas. The most famous, and largest, is the beautiful Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, officially named Shwedagon Zedi Daw and also known as the Great Dagon Pagoda and the Golden Pagoda. Covered in glittering gold, the pagoda can be seen from anywhere in the city, and shines brilliantly when the sun hits it at dawn and dusk.

The beautiful Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon

Ngapali Beach

Located just 7 kilometers from the town of Thandwe in Rakhine State, Ngapali Beach (pronounced napally) is the most famous beach in the country, and one of the most popular tourist destinations. Mostly catering to foreign tourists these days, the cost of staying at Ngapali has increased exponentially over the years, and there are almost no budget accommodations in the area. Consisting of such resorts as Bayview Ngapali, Amata Resort, Amazing Ngapali, and the government-owned Anawa, this high-end tourist beach is best visited at the southern end, where the range of accommodation and dining options is greater.

Ngapali Beach

To visit Bhutan and Myanmar together, you can enjoy:

A Great Spiritual Haven

Buddhism is all about spirituality, and there are no better spiritual havens than Bhutan and Myanmar. Countries where Buddhism is part of their everyday lives, you can find peace and tranquility, if you know where to look for it. And it is not hard to find. Just follow the sound of silence, there is plenty of it all over both Bhutan and Myanmar. And meeting and talking with the locals, you are bound to pick up on their innate spirituality and serenity and can find it in everything they do.

The Simple and Easy Local Lifestyle

While other major tourist destinations in Asia are filled with bustling cities, rushing people, masses of cars and traffic everywhere, and millions of tourists all running around like headless chickens, Bhutan and Myanmar show you how it should be done. Simplicity and an easy life are the mantras of the people of these two very different countries, where massive amounts of gadgets and property are not important, and where being able to live a peaceful and relaxing life is the most important thing in the world. Here, you will feel the same way, and will soon find yourself being as laid back and relaxed as the locals. Maybe you will not want to leave!

Bhutanese simple and easy Lifestyle

Colorful Ethnic Culture

When it comes to colorful cultures, Myanmar can win hands down in most countries across Asia. A people with a love of festivals and festivities, having fun and enjoying life, and colorful costumes, even the people of the different regions can be construed as colorful, in terms of their unique and unusual traditions and cultures.

In Bhutan, the unique culture, in which religion is playing a major part, is the colorful aspect of the people. Buddhism may be all about serenity and peaceful living, but here in this Himalayan Kingdom, it is also about having fun and enjoying life, living, and awesome colorful festivals. With costumes and masks that are more colorful than you would believe possible for devout Buddhists, these exotic events are one of the mainstays of Bhutanese civilization today.

Marvelous Handicrafts

When it comes to handicrafts, you will be amazed at what you can find in Bhutan and Myanmar. With more than 50 ethnic minorities, there is a wealth of traditional crafting across the country, and much of it ends up in the markets of Yangon, Mandalay, and Naypyidaw, sold as tourist souvenirs for the discerning traveler. You can find local handicrafts from the various Burmese ethnic people all across the country, especially around Inle Lake, where they sell their locally-made items daily.

In Bhutan, there are 13 traditional crafts or arts, and the most common of them all, and often the most popular with tourists, is the art of textiles and weaving. Bhutanese textiles have been famously popular for more than a thousand years, often being found in the royal courts of their close neighbors. Renowned for their intricate weaves and patterns, you can even have a local costume, known as a “Gho”, made for you from traditionally-woven fabrics.

Conclusion of Visit Myanmar or Bhutan

There are as many reasons to visit Myanmar and Bhutan together as there are grains of sand on the beach and drops of water in the oceans. But really, you only need one reason to want to visit these two ancient and traditional countries - because they are there!

Whether it is for the traditional cultures, the amazing landscapes, the beauty of their festivals, or the awesome beauty of the people themselves, there has never been a better time to visit Bhutan and Myanmar together, and there have never been two places so perfectly differently similar to visit together.