S
Saddan Cave
This football-stadium-sized cave is simply breathtaking, its entrance dominated by dozens of buddha statues, a couple of pagodas and some newer clay wall…
©Ethan Daniels/Shutterstock
Southern Myanmar
Strangely neglected by many travelers, southern Myanmar offers some of the finest natural sights in the entire country.
In the space of a couple of days, you can descend into the Buddha-packed caves around Hpa-an and ascend the winding road to the sacred golden boulder perched on Mt Kyaiktiyo (Golden Rock). Then there's the little-known and even less visited Myeik Archipelago, perhaps Myanmar's most dramatic intersection of water, land and sky.
And if all that weren't enough, the historic city of Mawlamyine, once Myanmar's capital, has almost as fine a collection of colonial-era buildings as Yangon, while Dawei and Myeik, mixing traditional wooden architecture with brick mansions and buildings constructed during British rule, can boast of centuries of history as ports. Best of all, the lack of visitors means there's plenty of space to enjoy the region.
Explore Southern Myanmar
- SSaddan Cave
This football-stadium-sized cave is simply breathtaking, its entrance dominated by dozens of buddha statues, a couple of pagodas and some newer clay wall…
- PParadise Beach
Backed by thick jungle, this splendid white-sand beach curves around a natural bay that is fine for swimming. On weekdays, you are likely to have it to…
- MMahamuni (Bahaman) Paya
Directly north of Kyaikthanlan Paya and linked by a covered walkway, this is the largest temple complex in Mawlamyine and easily the most beautiful. It’s…
- Kyaikthanlan Paya
Rudyard Kipling’s visit to Myanmar spanned just three days, but it resulted in a poem, 'Mandalay', that turned Burma into an oriental fantasy. It began…
- TTheindawgyi Paya
Myeik's most venerated Buddhist temple, Theindawgyi Paya sits on a ridge overlooking the city and harbour. A beautiful, Mon-style ordination hall of wood,…
- Mt Kyaiktiyo
The excursion to this incredible balancing-golden-boulder stupa is a must-do, especially during the peak pilgrimage season (November to March) and when…
- TThree Islets
Home to three notable diving sites: Shark Cave, an underwater canyon with sharks and rich coral; In Through the Out Door, an underwater passage with…
- LLampi Kyun (Sullivan's Island)
Home to Lampi Island Marine National Park, the only marine park in Myanmar, and thought to be one of the least-disturbed island habitats in Southeast Asia…
- NNga Khin Nyo Gyee Kyun
There's a superb horseshoe-shaped bay at the south of this island, which is where you'll find the Boulder Bay Eco Resort, and a couple of fine beaches.
Top attractions
These are our favorite local haunts, touristy spots, and hidden gems throughout Southern Myanmar.
See
Saddan Cave
This football-stadium-sized cave is simply breathtaking, its entrance dominated by dozens of buddha statues, a couple of pagodas and some newer clay wall…
See
Paradise Beach
Backed by thick jungle, this splendid white-sand beach curves around a natural bay that is fine for swimming. On weekdays, you are likely to have it to…
See
Mahamuni (Bahaman) Paya
Directly north of Kyaikthanlan Paya and linked by a covered walkway, this is the largest temple complex in Mawlamyine and easily the most beautiful. It’s…
See
Kyaikthanlan Paya
Rudyard Kipling’s visit to Myanmar spanned just three days, but it resulted in a poem, 'Mandalay', that turned Burma into an oriental fantasy. It began…
See
Theindawgyi Paya
Myeik's most venerated Buddhist temple, Theindawgyi Paya sits on a ridge overlooking the city and harbour. A beautiful, Mon-style ordination hall of wood,…
See
Mt Kyaiktiyo
The excursion to this incredible balancing-golden-boulder stupa is a must-do, especially during the peak pilgrimage season (November to March) and when…
See
Three Islets
Home to three notable diving sites: Shark Cave, an underwater canyon with sharks and rich coral; In Through the Out Door, an underwater passage with…
See
Lampi Kyun (Sullivan's Island)
Home to Lampi Island Marine National Park, the only marine park in Myanmar, and thought to be one of the least-disturbed island habitats in Southeast Asia…
See
Nga Khin Nyo Gyee Kyun
There's a superb horseshoe-shaped bay at the south of this island, which is where you'll find the Boulder Bay Eco Resort, and a couple of fine beaches.
Featured videos
Discover Myanmar's Kyaiktiyo Pagoda
1:28
Guidebooks
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