Myanmar Weather in October - Rainfall Decreases

Yangon – Hot and Becoming Drier

The weather is as hot as September, though rainfall continues to decrease. Weather is fairly pleasant for travel and October is a shoulder-season month for tourism, with less-crowded travel sites. You can plan more outdoor activities as the cool season approaches!

Pay a visit to Kandawyi Park, to observe the local lifestyle. Local people begin to visit the park more often, as the rain decreases. Apart from enjoying the beautiful scenery, you can see people practicing traditional ethnic dance and doing other exercises to keep fit.

We recommend you explore Shwedagon Pagoda after visiting the park, as the two are close together. As the most renowned religious site in Myanmar, Shwedagon Pagoda receives respect and support from thousands of people every day. Locals donate offerings and visitors observe Buddhist culture.

Clothing: vest, shorts, pants, long-sleeved shirt, raincoat, umbrella, non-slip shoes.

Mandalay – Humid and Sunny

Mandalay becomes busier, as October is a shoulder-season month. The weather conditions are better, with 19 sunny days. Its average temperature is 31°C (88°F) and there are about 11 sunshine hours per day. Total rainfall is 3.6 inches. More outdoor activities are advisable.

It's highly recommended for you to explore the waterfalls in October.

Mandalay in October

There may be too much rain for outdoor visits at the start of the month, but you can enjoy the vigorous waterfalls on a nice sunny day towards the end.

Plan your trip to Mandalay: we recommend Pwe Kauk Falls, formed by a series of small waterfalls from the hills. It's very popular and easy to get there by road.

Or you can explore Anisakan, secluded and quiet but hard to access. We recommend you spend a whole day there, swimming in the natural swimming pool and enjoying the tranquil nature.

Clothing: Vest and T-shirt is enough for the day. Bring an umbrella or raincoat in case it rains. You should add an extra thin coat for the chilly nights. Also bring a hat as shade from the sun.

Bagan – Hot and Humid

October weather in Bagan is still rainy, hot and humid, as in September. Average temperatures hover around 32°C (90°F). The highest day temperature is 39°C (102°F) and the lowest is 25°C (77°F). Showers usually hit in the afternoon and most days are sunny, great for travel.

Tourist sites will become more and more crowded from the beginning of October, especially the ancient pagodas.

We recommend you visit Dhammayangyi Temple, the largest temple on Bagan plain. From a distance, it looks like an Egyptian pyramid. The interior is huge and its corridors are long and tall.

After that, you can walk to Minnanthu village, about a kilometer away. There you can see villagers processing crops, feeding animals, making tobacco, and making handcrafts as souvenirs. They are friendly and straightforward. Some may even invite you for a drink in their homes!

Clothing: raincoat, umbrella, sunhat, pants, thin coat, vest, T-shirt.

Inle Lake – Cool and Cloudy

Rainfall continues to decrease as it's the end of the rainy season. Most days are cloudy, but you can also expect sunny days. Temperatures do not change a lot, compared with September. The average day and night temperatures are 29°C (85°F) and 18°C (64°F), respectively.

You can decide on outdoor activities according to the actual weather conditions.

Inle Lake in October

Inle Lake is special and attractive, with around 70,000 residents and a unique local culture. You can spend a day exploring around the lake. When you stand by the lake and look across the serene water, you will see stilt-house villages and Buddhist temples rising from the water.

In addition to the beautiful views, the lake's water-based culture is worth observing. When fishermen take boats onto the lake, you'll have the opportunity to see them balancing on one foot and maneuvering an oar to row with the other. This rowing style can only be seen at Inle Lake.

Clothing: Vest and shorts are enough for the day. Wear your thin coat and pants during the chilly evenings. Bring a raincoat or umbrella when you go out.

Ngapali – Cool and Sunny

The weather becomes cool and sunny after a long period of rain. October is the end of the rainy season, with decreasing rainfall and pleasant sunny days. There is still a small amount of rainfall in the mornings or at night, but this won't have a great effect on your plans for outdoor activities.

October is a shoulder-season month, with slowly reopening beach resorts and resumption of normal flight schedules.

Ngapali in October

We recommend you have fun at the nearby 9-hole golf course. You can learn to play golf and also enjoy the beautiful beach scenery from the course.

You can also explore marine life by diving deep into the sea. There is an abundance of colorful reef fish and hard coral awaiting your discovery. Afterwards, you can enjoy different sorts of seafood, including squid, lobster, king prawn, snapper, and barracuda; fresh and yummy.

Clothing: swimsuit, dress, shorts, vest, thin coat, sunscreen, slippers, hat, umbrella.

Festivals in October

Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival: This is celebrated at Inle Lake and lasts 18 days. There are five small golden Buddha images inside the pagoda, four of which are taken out and paraded in each village with a small ritual of dancing and singing.

Kyauk Taw Gyi Pagoda Festival: This is convened in Mandalay and lasts four days. It involves lots of activities and Buddhist religious ceremonies, as thousands of residents and pilgrims participate in the festival.

Why Visit Myanmar in October?

October is a shoulder-season month for tourism in Myanmar, with beach resorts slowly reopening and catering for tourists after the rainy-season break. Weather conditions are much more pleasant for travel. Hotels and flights are still quite cheap and easy to book.

Please Note

Take good care of your belongings while participating in festivals, as there are lots of people. Do not take photos of villagers without asking permission, or they will ask you for money.