This is the most underrated country in Southeast Asia

In a world of tourist traps and social media, finding an undiscovered destination can feel impossible. But have you ever heard of Myanmar? While nearby countries like Thailand or Vietnam draw crowds, Myanmar offers some of the most rewarding travel in Southeast Asia, without the lines or Instagram fatigue.

This is the most underrated country in Southeast Asia. Traveling here, especially outside big cities, is the opportunity to experience an authentic version of local life and have genuine interactions with curious locals who rarely see tourists. Between thousands of ancient temples and stunning natural beauty, you need to visit Myanmar before it gets too popular.

Here are 9 of the coolest things you can do in Myanmar:

1. Drift along the Irrawaddy on a river cruise

In our opinion, a river cruise is the best way to explore Myanmar in style. We’ve been on 2 separate river cruises on the luxury Irrawaddy Explorer and could not recommend it more. The cruises usually last about a week, starting and ending in one of the big cities like Mandalay or Yangon. During the day, you can explore villages, temples, and local markets. At night, you’ll return to the ship to sip cocktails in the lounge, enjoy 5-star meals in the dining room, or enjoy views from your balcony that few other travelers ever see.

2. Explore one of Bagan’s 3,000 temples

If Angkor Wat is on your bucket list, then you’ll love Bagan, an ancient city and UNESCO World Heritage Site near Mandalay. In its peak between the 9th and 13th centuries, Bagan was the capital of the Pagan Empire with 10,000 buildings. Today, it holds the ruins of nearly 3,000 temples and pagodas. Bagan has more temples than you could see in one trip, but our favorites are Dhamma Yan Gi and Ananda Pagoda.

You’ll need to dress modestly to enter Bagan. We recommend purchasing a longyi, a traditional skirt-like garment worn by both men and women.

3. Snack, bargain, and people watch at local markets

One of the best ways to immerse yourself in local culture is by visiting a market. These markets are chaotic and filled with lots of people, sounds, and smells, but they’re incredible. You can shop for handwoven textiles or baskets from talented artisans or fresh picked mangoes and pineapple. If you want to try some street food, we’d recommend getting mohinga, a breakfast noodle soup, or lahpet thoke, a crunchy salad made of fermented tea leaves.

4. Take a peaceful (or chaotic) bike ride through the countryside

When we’re not on the boat, we love exploring the Myanmar countryside on a bike or scooter. It allows you to explore even further off the beaten path and see all kinds of fascinating things. You’ll ride over bumpy dirt roads to spot temples, children at school, cows on the farm, and artisans weaving silk. The locals were so welcoming, always shouting “mingalaba” (hello) as we passed by! And maybe sometimes laughing at us as we tried to master the skill of driving a scooter.

5. Witness the morning monk or nun processions

Sagaing is Myanmar’s religious center, home to thousands of white, gold, and silver monasteries and pagodas. One of our favorite places we visited was the Thakya Dita Nunnery. Each morning at 11:00, the pink-robed nuns walk across the grounds chanting prayers in an unbelievably long procession. Buddhism is a misunderstood religion to many Westerners, but we found that our visit here, watching the devotion of the nuns, taught us so much.

6. Witness the making of monks in Myanmar

When biking through a random village in Myanmar, we stumbled across a Shinbyu Ceremony and fell in love. Shinbyu Ceremonies are held all over the country to mark the initiation of young boys into the Buddhist Order. Practically everyone in the village gathers for a day of parades and religious ceremonies where the boys shave their heads, receive their robes, and recite scripture. Half the time, we had no idea what was going on, but it was so cool to witness such an incredible cultural ritual. You can find these ceremonies all over Myanmar, but they’re probably easiest to find in cities like Mandalay or Bagan.

7. Watch sunset at the world’s longest teakwood bridge

After a lot of biking and walking between seemingly endless temples, it's nice to relax for a bit, and U Bein Bridge is the place to do it. At the end of a long day, the world’s longest teakwood bridge is a gorgeous place to watch the sunset. Picture yourself sitting in a rowboat, sipping glasses of champagne, watching the pastel orange sky reflect over the calm waters. What more could you want?

8. Stand inside the world’s 2nd largest bell

Between the world’s longest teakwood bridge and the 2nd largest bell, Myanmar is home to a lot of record holding attractions. Inside the Mingun Pagoda lies the 20-foot tall Mingun Bell. It’s so large that you can easily stand inside of it as it rings and feel the vibrations in your ear. The pagoda itself is unique, resembling a gigantic pile of bricks with a bright white doorway.

9. See the country’s most sacred (and golden) Buddha

Six inches; that’s how thick the layer of gold is covering the Mahamuni Buddha. Myanmar’s most sacred Buddha is almost blinding when you first see it, covered in more gold and jewels than you could even imagine. It is one of five existing statues that were created during Buddha’s lifetime, believed to be his exact likeness. Male devotees apply more gold to the statue frequently, giving it an interesting lumpy appearance.

So, have we convinced you to visit Myanmar yet? Check out the video below to see some more of our favorite stops in Southeast Asia’s most underrated country.