A compilation of photos of the ancient Bagan Temples and Pagodas in Myanmar (Burma). Including tips on how to make the most of your visit to Bagan.
There are so many useful guides on the internet for finding the best Bagan Temples and Pagodas. However, I found that the best experience was to just grab a scooter and explore on your own. With over 4000 pagodas to discover, why not go off-the-map in this instance and embrace your inner Indiana Jones.
Rather than writing a complete guide to Bagan’s Temples and Pagodas in the Archaelogical Zone, I’ll give you some quick tips on how to make the most of the experience. The rest is up to you!
Oh, and of course you’ll find some photos and videos of these ancient wonders to inspire your trip!
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Book Cheap Flights
Still in the planning stage of your trip? Currently, the best and easiest way to find cheap flights is to use an airfare search engine like Momondo and Skyscanner. Between the two, you’ll be guaranteed to always find the cheapest flight, anywhere in the world.
TIP: If you’re flexible on dates, search for “Whole Month” to see a calendar result with the cheapest days to fly.
Book Your Accommodation
Whether you’re looking for hostels, hotels, guest houses, or resorts between Booking.com and Agoda, you’ll always get the best deals.
TIP: To find the best hostels, I usually compare reviews on Hostelworld, then check other booking sites to further compare prices and deals.
Book Tours and Transport
You already know that I prefer independent travel. In saying that, sometimes the best and cheapest way to get things done is to just book a tour or package. For Myanmar, I always use Klook and Viator.
By far, the cheapest way to get from place to place in Myanmar is to take long-distance buses. Bookaway is hands-down, the best resource for finding and booking buses and other land/sea transport options in Myanmar.
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If you’re reading this blog then you’re more likely to be seeking adventures over poolside sips. My two favorite options for adventure travel are SafetyWing and World Nomads. Click here to read the comparison between the two.
Getting to Bagan
The best way to get to Bagan and pretty much anywhere else in Myanmar is to take long-distance overnight buses. There are well-connected bus routes between Bagan and other tourist hubs including Yangon, Mandalay, and Inle Lake.
Since bus providers and timetables change constantly, it’s best just to use BookAway in Myanmar for your long-distance travel needs.
I’ve written a separate article on how to get around in Myanmar which focuses on Inle Lake, but you’ll get useful tips for Bagan there too. Check it out here.
Bagan Pagodas and Temples – Video
Here’s a quick 50-second video of some of the highlights of Bagan’s Archaeological Zone.
Where to See Pagodas in Bagan
The Bagan Archaeological Zone is a huge area centered around Old Bagan, just a couple of kilometers from New Bagan. This area covers a 13 x 8 flat plane where you will find over 4000 Bagan temples and pagodas and up to 10 000 religious monuments (when including monasteries and statues).
You can hire an electric scooter from almost anywhere in New Bagan and explore the archaelogical zone at will.
Bagan Archaeological Zone Fee: 25 000 Kyat
This fee is payable upon arrival in Bagan at the ticket station just outside New Bagan. Make sure to keep your ticket on you while exploring as guards sometimes ask to see your ticket.
Bagan Electric scooter price: 6000 Kyat per day ($4USD)
You’ll find rental places all over New Bagan and Nyaung U. I stayed at Lux Pillow, and these guys organized a bike for me for a good price without even trying to haggle. I’d highly recommend staying here if you’re a backpacker or budget traveler in Myanmar.
Sunrise on a Rooftop Pagoda
By far, the best way to experience Bagan’s temples and pagodas is to find a spot to watch the sunrise over the ancient planes.
Unfortunately, due to restrictions, many pagodas are locked off and climbing them for sunrise is no longer possible.
With that said, it is still possible to find a few select spots. Since these are changing all the time, I’d suggest downloading the Maps.me app and finding up-to-date pins and comments for where to find the best sunrise spots in Bagan.
Going to Mandalay? Don’t miss: Dee Doke Waterfall and Dat Taw Gyaint Waterfall
Tips for Visiting Bagan
- Hot Air Balloons only operate in the cool season between October and February.
- If you’re in Bagan in the hot season, plan to explore in the early morning and late afternoon, temperatures get as high as 50 degrees Celsius at midday
- Rent an electric scooter to explore or hire a guide (below)
- Respect archaeological restrictions
- Explore freely – there are some must-sees, but the best Bagan temples and pagodas I saw were on spontaneous outings
Worthwhile Tours in Bagan
Since I visited Bagan in the hot season, I chose to just rent an ebike and explore all of Bagan’s temples and pagodas by myself.
However, if you’re visiting in the tourism season, then taking a hot air balloon ride would be incredible! Also, there are some very well reviewed local guides. Below is a list of a few high-value tours and activities in Bagan:
Half-day Bagan tour for under $12 – Good for finding some great pagodas and temples
Full-day cultural tour with guide – Local guide who shows you the very best of Bagan and explains everything you need to know about the ancient Buddhist sites
Best-reviewed Bagan balloon experience – Good value and excellent reviews for a full Bagan hot air balloon experience – one for the bucket list!
Find and compare more tours using Klook and Viator.
Photos of Bagan Temples and Pagodas
Here’s a photo set of some of my favorite snaps from Bagan, Myanmar.
Where to Stay in Bagan
Where I stayed: Lux Pillow
Budget hostel with really clean rooms + AC. Free breakfast, free washing, and good vibes. You can also rent an eBike or electric scooter from these guys
Mid range: Bagan Hotel River View
A pool, breakfast and one of the best river views in Bagan. There’s a reason why this hotel is rated one of the best in Bagan.
Luxury in Old Bagan: The Hotel @ Tharabar Gate
Located in Old Bagan, this luxury hotel is ranked the best luxury hotel in Bagan. Complete with an outdoor spa and wellness center to recoup after a long day of exploring Bagan temples and pagodas.
More Myanmar Travel Guides
I hope that you enjoyed this quick photo-blog of Bagan’s temples and pagodas. For my Myanmar travel guides and articles, take a pick from the list below.
MY CAMERA AND PHOTOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT
For a list of all my camera, hiking, and backpacking gear and where to find them at the best prices, visit my shop.
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