Lonely Planet Myanmar (Burma)

Lonely Planet - Travel Survival Kit

by Simon Richmond, David Eimer, Adam Karlin

#1 best-selling guide to Myanmar (Burma)*

Lonely Planet Myanmar (Burma) is your passport to the most relevant, up-to-date advice on what to see and skip, and what hidden discoveries await you. Be dazzled by Buddhist architecture in Yangon, explore Bagan's amazing plain of ancient temples, or hike to the floating gardens and markets of Inle Lake; all with your trusted travel companion. Get to the heart of Myanmar and begin your journey now!

Inside Lonely Planet Myanmar (Burma) Travel Guide:



Colour maps and images throughout

Highlights and itineraries help you tailor your trip to your personal needs and interests

Insider tips to save time and money and get around like a local, avoiding crowds and trouble spots

Essential info at your fingertips - hours of operation, phone numbers, websites, transit tips, prices

Honest reviews for all budgets - eating, sleeping, sight-seeing, going out, shopping, hidden gems that most guidebooks miss

Cultural insights give you a richer, more rewarding travel experience - history, religion, politics, cuisine, environment, wildlife, architecture, responsible travel, festivals, sport, traditional crafts, dance, theatre, music, literature, cinema

Over 60 maps

Covers Yangon, Southern Myanmar, Bagan, Central Myanmar, Yangon-Mandalay Highway, Temples of Bagan, Eastern Myanmar, Inle Lake, Mandalay, Northern Myanmar, Lashio, Myitkyina, Western Myanmar and more
The Perfect Choice: Lonely Planet Myanmar (Burma) , our most comprehensive guide to Myanmar, is perfect for both exploring top sights and taking roads less travelled.

Looking for more extensive coverage? Check out Lonely Planet Southeast Asia on a Shoestring guide.

About Lonely Planet: Since 1973, Lonely Planet has become the world's leading travel media company with guidebooks to every destination, an award-winning website, mobile and digital travel products, and a dedicated traveller community. Lonely Planet covers must-see spots but also enables curious travellers to get off beaten paths to understand more of the culture of the places in which they find themselves.

*Best-selling guide to Myanmar. Source: Nielsen BookScan. Australia, UK and USA

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Reference, Asia

448 pages, Paperback

First published December 1, 1979

Reviews

[Sandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm much more of a fan of the Rough Guide series, however Lonely Planet are the only ones that have written a book on Myanmar, and given that, I have found it to be very informative and actually the bible by which I have planned my itinerary(along with blogs and other internet material). There is however, quite a bit that is already out of date especially in accomodation, probably due to the fact that Myanmar is rapidly changing.
Overall, it is very comprehensive and a must read for its wealth of information.

[Sandy H · Rating 4 out of 5]

This travel book impressed me with it's knowledgeable and sensitive addressing of the current political situation in Myanmar/Burma, rather than simply being a touristy "here's the pretty places to visit" book.

[Ján Sokoly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Traveling around the country would be so much more difficult without this vast source of useful information. This is the top class of travel guide books.
But, as with any other travel guide book, this 2011 edition is already outdated, most noticeably in:
1. prices - as of 11/2013, accomodation prices are approx. 40% higher than those listed in the book
2. bus availability - dozens of new private bus companies offer many more bus links accross the country than those listed in the book. Don't rely on this information and ask at your hotel. Even the complicated routes such as Pyay - Thandwe now have a comfortable direct bus connection.

[kiana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used this book (among other resources) as a helpful guide for a work assignment.

A great guide for someone who hasn't been to Myanmar before. However, there aren't a lot of ideas for someone who wants a more "off the beaten path" experience, like myself. I found more helpful information on the Internet.

There isn't any information on what else there is to do in Bagan other than temples & pagodas, and there is a serious lack of information when it comes to internal visas for the country. I found out when researching online that there are some parts of Myanmar that are restricted to foreigners, which the Lonely Planet failed to mention anywhere in this book.

[Mona]

Great reference for trip planning. The latest edition published 2012. We know that guides are out-of-date by the time they are published and this edition is no different. However, that said, this is perhaps THE definitive comprehensive guide available at this time for Burma aka Myanmar. The political situation changes daily during this most-exciting time for the country. Prices may be higher and transportation improved since publication, but the sites don't change. This guide will be in my suitcase come January for my second trip to amazing Burma

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Useful and thought provoking. Some information slightly out of date already, but helpful reflection on the ethical aspects of travelling to Myanmar (some of which I will pass on to my travel agent!!) On return from Myanmar, I have reduced my rating by one star because I found some of the commentary frustrating.

[Friedrich · Rating 1 out of 5]

boycott this book - do not support tourism to a murderous, fascist dictatorship

[Friedrich · Rating 1 out of 5]

boycott this book - do not support tourism to a murderous, fascist dictatorship

[Friedrich · Rating 1 out of 5]

boycott this book - do not support tourism to a murderous, fascist dictatorship

[Kyaw Khant]

I like this Buddha place.

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always liked Lonely Planet's travel books. Unfortunately this one was a little too old and needs updating. I still found it useful.

[Heather R · Rating 4 out of 5]

As good as a year-out-of-date guidebook can be, in a quickly changing country. Most prices have gone up up up.

[Lubomir · Rating 2 out of 5]

One of the worse LP guides. Not well organized. Yangon maps almost useless for walking. Silly jokes.

[Theut · Rating 5 out of 5]

Utilissima guida per gli aspetti tecnici. Stavolta davvero ben fatta!

[Andrea Perez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read this book for the cultural overview and itinerary suggestions. Every other piece of information is outdated. Go to the LP forum or Trip Advisor for up to date info

[Thomas Ryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the 2010 edition and it's already behind as Burma is opening and changing so quickly! LP does have a newer version.

[Meta · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good. I got the 2011 copies. It's so interesting that many of the cultural observations were no longer valid cause the country is changing so much. I love Myanmar.

[Franco Prontera · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very good recap and detailed travel book!

[Mojca · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 ½ stars