When is the best time to visit Myanmar?
There are three seasons in Burma:
The monsoon season, the dry season and the hot season.
- Starts at the end of May/beginning of June, the monsoon season brings the hot, humid and rainy weather.
- During the dry season (starts in November), Burma has lower humidity, mild temperature and scant rainfall.
- The heat returns in February until May when the temperature can reach the highest of over 40 degree Celsius.
Rangoon usually has the heaviest rain. In the delta region, the heavy rains sometimes make the roads impassible and some areas would become inaccessible. For example, the Ngapali beach, a very famous destination in Burma is closed altogether around this time due to the heavy rainfall and strong winds that batter the coast.
The best time to visit Myanmar is after the monsoon and before the heat waves which is between November and February. Keep in mind that this is also the busiest tourist season; therefore, there might be difficulties for booking and planning your trips.
Before and after the November – February period of, you can choose the mountains or the beaches for milder weather and focus your main activities in the evenings when there is a tendency to be cooler.
Weather chart for your best trip to Myanmar
Weather in main cities of Myanmar to decide your best time to visit Myanmar:
Mandalay
Even in the cool season from May to January, Mandalay’s daytime temperatures remain high. From October to February average maximums vary from 28°C (82°F) to 32°C (90°F), but the nights cool down from December through February, when the temperatures drop to 14°C (57°F). From March to July the maximum temperatures hover around 35°C (95°F) reaching a steamy 38°C (100°F) in April. The rains start in May, ease off in July and then return from August through to October, however even the wettest months only average 9 days of rain.
Bagan
Touring the temples of Bagancan be hot work, so the best time to go is in the cooler months from May to January. From February to April high temperatures average 36°C (97°F) but often reach 40°C (104°F). During this season, the best time to go to the temples is in the morning and afternoon, spending the hottest time of the day by the pool or in a shaded garden with a cool drink. December to April sees virtually no rain, while the wet season from May to October sees brief afternoon showers but plenty of dry days.
Inle Lake
At a higher altitude, temperatures at Inle Lake are more moderateand, even in Myanmar (Burma)’s hot season from March to May, reach a maximum of just 30°C (86°F). Temperatures in winter, from December to February, are pleasant during the day with an average maximum of 25°C (77°F) but nights can be cold, dropping down to 4°C (39°F). The wet season runs from May to October but the area does not receive a high amount of rain and it rarely affects travel.
Yangoon
Myanmar (Burma)’s capital experiences very little rain from November to April, but during the wet season from May to October it gets much more rain than in the north. Most days will get some rain, though it is usually in the form of a heavy downpour in the afternoon which rarely affects travel. Temperatures are fairly stable year round with lows around 24°C (75°F) most of the year, dropping to 19°C (66°F) in January and February. The hottest months are March and April where average maximum temperatures peak at 36°C (97°F), varying from 29-33°C (84-91°F) the rest of the year. Yangon has higher humidity than Myanmar (Burma)’s north and this can make it uncomfortable on hotter days, with the best time for touring in the morning and late afternoon.