Best Time to Visit Bagan

Bagan is one of the most iconic places in Southeast Asia and the heart and soul of Myanmar. Recently, Myanmar has seen a huge surge in tourism as a result of its relaxed visa policies and proximity to Thailand. The days of being the sole tourist in Bagan are over, but if you travel during the right time, you can pretty much avoid the massive herds. Many debate when the best time to visit Bagan is, but there is only one time that offers great weather and almost no tourists.

So When is the Best Time to Visit Bagan?

If you do a quick Google search, most will tell you October to February or anytime except May to September, but I disagree. October-February is the height of the peak season and it’s simply too wet from May to August.

September (especially mid to end) however, is an excellent month as it is the tail end of monsoon season. The heavy rains typically affect the southern regions like Yangon, but in Bagan, it is practically dry and the weather is quite nice. You end up with 0 crowds and great weather. I stayed in Bagan for 3 days and saw less than 10 tourists the entire time. Moreover, hotels are often empty during this time, which means you’ll be able to check in early if you arrive by bus early in the morning.

Despite what websites tell you about the weather, September is the best time to visit Bagan if you’re looking to beat the crowds and see Bagan at its greenest. Once October hits, monsoon season is officially over and the crowds pour in. If you visit in September you can avoid all of this.

Best Day Trip in Bagan

For my first day in Bagan, I arranged a tour with Grasshopper Adventures. Bagan can definitely be seen without a tour, but seeing how I was spending 3 days in Bagan, I wanted a proper guide to show me the places off the beaten track for at least 1 day. I was the only person doing the tour that day, so it went at my speed, but unfortunately, it cost me a bit.

Our first stop was a small village where I got to grab a bite to eat before taking off.

Next, we visited a neat village where I got to see how locals make Thanaka (cosmetic face paste). They even gave me a sample to take home. Thanaka is very common among Burmese women; it’s difficult to go a day without finding a woman with it on.

Afterwards, we visited one temple where we could get a view of one of the most iconic temples in Bagan. With 0 tourists in sight, I had the entire rooftop to myself and the blessings of the weather gods. Bright skies, warm weather, and a cool breeze.

Being here and seeing these temples on a beautiful day was iconic for me. When I think of my all time favorite places, this immediately comes into mind. I wish I could’ve set up a tent at the top of temple to sleep for the night.

We rode through a small village and I had the opportunity to see more of everyday life in Bagan. Coming from Yangon the day before, Bagan was a huge change of pace. Life in Bagan is very chill and the locals seem a lot happier than those in the city.

The tour ended with a boat ride back to the other side of town. This is probably the biggest selling point of the tour as the ride offers an incredible seaside view that you can’t get without the tour.

The boat ride was the perfect way to end the day.

Bagan is certainly worth the hype and even better if you can manage to beat the crowds. Just make sure you visit mid to late September.