Discover Bagan 2026

Over 2,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries from the 11th to 13th centuries are spread across the vast plain on the banks of the Irrawaddy, forming one of the largest and most impressive archaeological sites in Southeast Asia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2019.

At dawn, dozens of hot air balloons launch over the temple plain, offering a bird's-eye view of thousands of pagoda spires rising through the morning mist, one of the most-photographed travel experiences in Southeast Asia.

One of the most beautiful and best-preserved temples in Bagan captivates with its gilded, bell-shaped spire and four monumental standing Buddha statues inside, said to show different facial expressions depending on the light.

The terraced pagoda is traditionally considered one of the best viewpoints for the sunset over the temple plain, though the climb is now restricted, so many visitors instead favor nearby viewing towers or balloon rides.

Nyaung-U Airport lies only about 6 kilometers from the temple plain and is served multiple times daily from Yangon and Mandalay. Alternatively, comfortable overnight buses run, as does a picturesque, if slower, ferry boat on the Irrawaddy from Mandalay.

Over 2,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas and monasteries from the 11th to 13th centuries are spread across the vast plain on the banks of the Irrawaddy, forming one of the largest and most impressive archaeological sites in Southeast Asia, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2019.

At dawn, dozens of hot air balloons launch over the temple plain, offering a bird's-eye view of thousands of pagoda spires rising through the morning mist, one of the most-photographed travel experiences in Southeast Asia.

One of the most beautiful and best-preserved temples in Bagan captivates with its gilded, bell-shaped spire and four monumental standing Buddha statues inside, said to show different facial expressions depending on the light.