Myanmar Weather Throughout the Year - Three Distinct Seasons

Myanmar has a tropical monsoon climate and overall the weather is hot, humid, and wet. However, there are variations in temperature and rainfall, depending on the location and season.

There are three distinct seasons: the dry season from November to February, the hot season from March to May, and the wet season from June to October.

Dry season: During the dry season, it's sunny, cool, and dry during the day while it becomes chilly then cold at night. Average temperatures hover around 30°C (86°F) both in the central region and coastal areas. It's much cooler around Inle Lake. The dry season is undoubtedly the best time to travel in Myanmar.

Clothing:Wearing a vest and shorts is adequate during the day. A thin coat and pants are needed for the chilly evenings. Use skincare products like sunscreen, mosquito repellent, and moisturizer to protect your skin. A swimsuit and broad-brimmed hat are needed when visiting Ngapali Beach.

Hot season: During the hot season, it's dry and hot throughout the country. Coastal areas like Ngapali Beach and Yangon aremore humid as the monsoon brings steamy heat. It's very dry and hot in central regions like Bagan and Mandalay as temperatures increase to 40°C (104°F). It's much cooler around Inle Lake.

Be careful to avoid the midday heat when visiting.

Clothing: Wearing a vest, shorts, and a long-sleeved shirt is adequate as it's very hot. Take an umbrella and sunhat to escape from the burning sun. Sunscreen, mosquito repellent, and moisturizer are also needed. A swimsuit and broad-brimmed hat are needed when visiting Ngapali Beach.

Wet season: During the wet season, the rains sometimes bring floods and overflowing rivers, making travel more difficult. Coastal areas receive over 197 inches of rain each year while the "dry zone" (Bagan, Inle, and Mandalay), protected by mountains, receives below 39.4 inches.

Rains tend to fall in the afternoon and evening, leaving mornings for sightseeing.

Clothing: Wearing a vest and shorts is adequate for during the daytime. A thin coat and pants are needed for the cold nights. Take an umbrella, raincoat, and non-slip shoes for rainy days.

Discover real reviews of Highlights Travel Family's best-rated service across trusted platforms.

Excellent planned and executed Myanmar excursion Asia Highlights and their local Myanmar partner "mAsia" did an excellent job in planning and execution of a one week trip to Myanmar.The various tour guides and drivers had good knowledge and good command over English. More Gerd, Jan 2018

Planning our trip We have spend that last eight months planning a trip to Vietnam, Cambodia and Thailand. Alisa Lia was creative & patient helping us customize our tour to include the sites and adventures we were excited to see. Hard waiting for the trip to start. More Jamie Danner, Oct 2023

My experience in Thai All of this was well organized by the local office. The holiday was wonderful. Our guide, Mr. Longdy（ Siem Reap）were exceptional. He shared his extensive knowledge of the many wonderful places we visited, and were flexible to take us to additional places along the way based on discussions. Thank you so much .shared their extensive knowledge of the many wonderful places we visited, and were flexible to take us to additional places along the way based on discussions. More kelli, Jul 2023

Yangon

We recommend you explore the Shwedagon Pagoda, also known as the Great Dagon Pagoda. It's regarded as the most sacred religious site, with a history of over 2,600 years. The Shwedagon Pagoda Festival is convened in March and there are lots of Buddhist activities and various street fairs during the festival.

Apart from Buddhist culture, the sunrise and sunset from the Shwedagon Pagoda are also very stunning.

You should take a close look at the colonial buildings, such as the City Hall, Secretariat or Ministers' Office, Strand Hotel, and High Court Building.Each one tells stories about Myanmar's history.

The City Hall witnessed various major political demonstrations. The Strand Hotel is one of Asia's most enduring and awe-inspiring colonial landmarks. The High Court Building served as the seat of the high court during British colonial rule.

Observing people at Bogyoke Market or on the circular train is also a great way to learn about the local culture and lifestyle. You can find various commodities in the market, from handicrafts and textiles to local dishes and vegetables.

When taking the circular train, you have the opportunity to chat with locals and even be invited to their houses for some tea.

14-Day Myanmar Photography Tour Yangon - Golden Rock - Mandalay - Bagan - Inle Lake

Mandalay

You can gain an insight into the Buddhist culture and architecture from famous religious sites. Sandamuni Pagoda contains hundreds of whitewashed pagodas and each houses a stone tablet of Buddhist scripture. The Mahamuni Buddha image is deified in the Mahamuni Pagoda and it is seen as an expression of representing the Buddha's life.

Golden Palace Monastery (Shwenandaw Monastery), known for its teak carvings of Buddhist myths, is the single remaining major original structure of the original royal palace.

We also recommend you climb Mandalay Hill, known for its abundance of pagodas and monasteries. You can catch a wonderful view of the whole city, as well as the stunning sunset. Climbing barefoot is highly recommended as the surroundings are awesome!

You can also enjoy the breathtaking sunset over U Bein Bridge. Sitting on the boat and watching the sky turning from clear to red and dark is amazing. The tranquil and romantic atmosphere is perfect for couples.

A local boatman is highly recommended as he can tell you lots of historical legends about the Buddhist culture.

Bagan

Known as the "the land of a million pagodas", there are over 2,000 Buddhist pagodas in Bagan and they are important archaeological sites. You can explore the stunning architecture and gorgeous frescoes in the Ananda Temple, or climb to the top of the Shwesandaw Pagoda to watch the sunset.

A hot-air balloon trip is a must-do activityin Bagan. You can fly over Bagan and catch the view of the whole city. Observing over 2,000 pagodas from above is totally different from taking a close look at each pagoda on the ground.

The breathtaking sunrise is also an attraction. You have the opportunity to see the city waking up from the dark night and turning into a bright hub.

Taking a boat trip on the Irrawaddy River is an enjoyable activity. There, you can see the spectacular sunset when taking a sip of a local drink with friends. The peaceful and tranquil atmosphere can help you erase the fatigue of the journey.

28-Day Grand Indochina Tour Myanmar - Vietnam - Laos - Cambodia - Thailand

Inle Lake

To know more about the water-based culture, you should take a boat trip on the lake. There, you can see a special scene of fishermen balancing on one foot while rowing with the other. This rowing style can only be seen at Inle Lake.

Floating markets like Ywana and the 5-day mobile bazaar are very special and worth visiting. Looking across the lake, you can see the spectacular sunset and many pagodas above the water.

You can pay a visit to Indein Stupa Complex (the Garden of Stupas) and Kakku (rows of pagodas). These pagodas are carved and gilded with images of mythical animals or other Buddhist patterns, showing mysterious legends and history to visitors.

Red Mountain Estate Vineyards and Winery is famous for nine different sorts of wine, made from local grapes. You can visit the vineyard while taking a sip of local wine.

Ngapali

Ngapali Beach is undoubtedly a good option for a family vacation or honeymoon. There, you can enjoy a private beach as most of the resorts have their own beach. It's an enjoyable activity to sunbathe on the beach with the soft sea wind, crystal clear seawater, and silver sand.

Water sports, such as kayaking and snorkeling, are also very popular among tourists.

It's highly recommended to taste various types of seafood at Ngapali, such as squid, lobster, king prawns, snapper, and barracuda. It's delicious, cheap, and fresh. A sumptuous seafood dinner is the best reward for you after a tiring day of sightseeing.

Exploring fishing villages by bicycle is a good way to learn how fishermen capture seafood. You can also find a variety of souvenirs, such as silver jewelry, handbags, shawls, and organic soaps, in souvenir shops in the villages.

Explore similar itineraries:

9-Day Myanmar Highlights Tour

14-Day Myanmar and Thailand Essence Tour

Visit Myanmar with Asia Highlights

Asia Highlights provides customized tours throughout Myanmar tailor-made to fit your interests. Trips typically start or end in Yangon or Mandalay.

Get a head start on planning your dream vacation today.