Mrauk U
Best time to be there
Burma has three clear seasons: from March to May are the very hot summer months, the wet and humid monsoon runs from May to October and the cold dry winter lasts from November to February. The best time of year to visit is late November early December when the rains have gone, the landscape is lush and green and the skies are crystal clear. However any time from late November to March is a good time to travel.
Fly to
Yangon (Thai Airways via Bangkok)
flying time
12 hours 55 minutes via Bangkok
time difference
GMT +6 1/2 hours
Visas
Required for UK passport holders
Health Requirements
Yellow Fever certificate if arriving from an endemic area
Itineraries
Frontiers of Burma
Frontiers of Burma highlights * Observe rural life from the river * Trek by elephant * Historic pagodas and temples Read more ...
Photographic Burma
Visit one of our sponsored orphans in Yangon, take a hot air balloon flight over Bagan and experience a magnificent "birds'eye" view of the thousand year old pagodas. Read more ...
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Situated on a rocky plateau in the Rakhine state is the spectacular former Royal city of Mrauk U. The Rakhine state is itself on the Western most tip of the South East Asian landmass and borders the Chin state, Bangladesh and the Bay of Bengal. Mrauk U is fifty miles inland from the coast and lies on the banks of the Kaladan river.
Up until recently this area of Myanmar was off limits to tourists. As a result the infrastructure of the area is relatively simple and undeveloped. Hotels are not up to international standards, power is not regular, the roads are bumpy and the restaurants do not carry Michelin stars. But what all this does mean is that you will be one of few tourists to experience a truly stunning and mystical place stuck in a medieval time warp.
In our opinion few sites can compare to witnessing a sunset in Mrauk U. Unlike Bagan, there are numerous villages of small thatched houses all over the archeological site, lending it a lived in and timeless feel. Shepherds lead their flocks to water. Women toil in the paddy fields. Young girl's gossip and giggle at the well. Men water their vegetables and small children run around waving and shouting bye-bye. Pagodas and shrines sit atop and below perfectly rounded hillocks covered in vegetation. Smoke from cooking fires twists and rights in the gentle night breeze before dispersing into the evening sky enveloping the scene in a misty haze reminiscent of ancient times. You cannot but fail to adore this untouched jewel that is the quintessential rural Myanmar.
A truly wonderful day trip out of Mrauk U is a journey up the Lemuro river and into the Chin hills to visit three tribal villages where the ladies are decorated with tattooed faces. This is an unforgettable journey up into a part of Burma that has been closed to foreign visitors for a long time.
Suggested Mrauk U Accommodation
Mrauk Oo Princess Resort
Mrauk Oo Princess Resort is surrounded by magnificent views of the blue mountain ranges, the Mrauk Oo River and rice paddy fields. The architecture of Mrauk Oo Princess Resort was inspired by...
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Guest Testimonial
This is my first booking with A & K and the whole experiance was outstanding. I would say it was 110%.
- NC, Bath
World Travel Awards
World Travel Awards
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A&K Philanthropy
Madrasati ('My School')
Is an innovative grassroots project to rehabilitate schools and improve their learning environment; we have adopted Balquees School in Amman.
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