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www.travelweekly-asia.com 16 | ATF OFFICIAL SUPPORTING DAILIES destination ///Myanmar The laid-back atmosphere and the lack of modern development make Myanmar arguably the most authentic and unspoiled of the South-east Asia nations. Having recently opened up to tourism, the countryside and more remote regions remain relatively unexplored, particularly. However, the variety of offerings that give visitors the chance to traverse Myanmar's undiscovered countryside is on the rise. Closed off to visitors until 2013, tourists can now apply for special travel permits to discover one of the world's truly secluded hill tribe villages in the eastern part of Myanmar's Shan State. What's hot Yangon-based Khiri Travel arranges tours through the intriguing state which trace the routes taken by opium traders in the 1930s as they wound their way through the Golden Triangle before ending their journey where Thailand, Myanmar and Laos meet. Adventure junkies can get their thrills with a biking trip through the hills in Shan State and animal lovers can visit the elephant conservation centre in Kalaw. What to do An ancient city in central Myanmar, Bagan is home to thousands of towering pagodas and is one of the most popular destinations in the country with the number of foreigner visitors having doubled to 250,000 in 2015 since 2011. On top of exploring the various Buddhist monuments by way of the region's traditional 'taxis' (a horse-drawn buggy), those looking to splurge can ride a hot air balloon over Bagan that offers a bird's eye view of the stunning stupas. As a living breathing Buddhist site with more than 2,000 pagodas built on a seismic fault, Bagan has regularly been damaged, renovated and rebuilt. The latest earthquake in August 2016 damaged more than 400 of Bagan's buildings, including 185 pagodas. The majority of tourists to Myanmar enter the country via Yangon, Myanmar's former capital. Despite the heavy traffic, the city is certainly worth exploring for a day. The top attraction in the city is the Shwedagon Padoga. The giant gilded stupa in the centre of the city is one of the most sacred Buddhist pagodas in the country. At 110 metres high, the pagoda is said to have been built 2,500 years ago and enshrines strands of Buddha's hair. UNSPOILT AND AUTHENTIC Inle Lake is another hot tourist destination in the country. Quaint villas and hotels dot the lake's shore, while the Intha fisherman ply the waters of the lake using just one leg to row their boats. A popular activity is to discover Myanmar by riverboat. There are a range of cruises for all budgets, with popular offerings including Belmond Orcaella which offers seven to 12 night cruises up and down the Ayeyarwady and Chindwin Rivers, or The Strand Cruise, which operates three and four-night tours between Bagan and Mandalay. Where to stay With many hotels around the country reportedly hovering around a fairly low occupancy rate, there seems to be no lack of accommodation for tourists unless there is a festival taking place (the country does have a fair few). More remote areas in the country offer nothing that could be called luxury, many offering just the bare necessities. The country's more accessible destinations however, including the new purpose-built capital Nay Pyi Taw, offer a handful of high-end hotels. The city's leading historic hotel, The Strand, has just recently reopened after a renovation that saw its interior updated to a more contemporary style. Another historic gem in Yangon is the Belmond Governor's Residence. The lush surroundings are juxtaposed with the bustling streets of Yangon and as such offer a peaceful retreat. The 49 rooms and suites, two restaurants, lounge, and bar are all housed inside the former residence of a ruler of Myanmar's southern states. The property, which was built back in the 1920s, also has an outdoor swimming pool, a spa and a library. With more access to previously unvisited places, Myanmar is showing up more than just temples and pagodas. Bagan in the morming Elephant conservation Bagan market Mrauk U Buddha The long-neck women of the Kayan State in eastern Myanmar have long been using brass coils to make their necks longer. In reality, the weight of the coils push the collarbones down and suppress the rib cage, which makes the neck appear longer. It is possible to visit the Kayan people in Myanmar, and in fact these communities benefit from tourism, thanks to a programme put in place by Dutch organisation CBI. By Brittany Panter

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