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Join our Myanmar Group Tour to the Taunggyi fire balloon festival

Ready for this? Maybe you know the cool Thailand lantern festival? It’s been viral on socials for years. Gorgeous mass release of lanterns? Ok well imagine that, but with no health and safety, in a country that is currently one of the least visit on the planet. With giant fireworks exploding out of the lanterns. We’ve got you covered, that’s the taunggyi fire balloon festival in Myanmar, and Mudita Adventures is bringing you there in 2027! And this time, aside from the CHAOS at the festival, you can expect some pretty lovely accommodation along the way. Honestly. (am I getting old, with these fancy hotels these days?!).

Ok, back to the main event. One of the coolest festivals in all of Asia. GIANT paper balloons. Hundreds of fireworks strapped to them. Then someone lights the whole thing and sends it into the night sky while thousands of people cheer underneath. Welcome to the Taunggyi Fire Balloon Festival, folks. If you’ve been looking for a trip that needs a bit more explaining than “we went to the beach”, this should do it.

But we’re not going all the way to Myanmar just for a festival. We’re exploring the temples of Bagan, heading out on Inle Lake, climbing the 777 steps to Mount Popa’s monastery, and starting the whole thing in Yangon. Nine days, finishing with three days of fire balloons in Shan State. So if that sounds like your kind of holiday, read on.

Already sold? You can book your spot on our Myanmar trip here.

What is this Myanmar trip all about?!

We start in Yangon, with its old colonial buildings, street markets and Shwedagon Pagoda. Then we fly to Bagan, where thousands of temples are scattered across the plains, before heading overland into Shan State. We’ll spend a full day out on Inle Lake, visit a local community project, and then head up to Taunggyi for the main event.

And yes, there’s an optional sunrise hot-air balloon flight over Bagan too. A fairly peaceful way to see balloons at the beginning of the trip, before we get to the ones carrying fireworks at the end. Quite the change of pace.

BUT WHY MYANMAR?!

My trips have always been about getting people to places they might not otherwise venture to. Myanmar was off the schedule for years, it was FULL of tourists, right on the backpacker trail. Then the war happened.

And of course now, sometimes the paperwork puts people off, sometimes it’s the logistics, and sometimes they just don’t have anyone who wants to go with them. Get a group together, sort the practical stuff, and suddenly the trip you’ve been talking about for years is actually happening.

Myanmar gives us plenty to work with. Bagan alone would be enough to get me interested, but add Inle Lake, Yangon, Mount Popa and a festival involving enormous firework-laden balloons, and we’ve got a proper adventure. There’s history, food, countryside, boat trips and a fairly ridiculous finale.

That’s the idea with this one. See the places you’ve probably seen in photos, then finish somewhere you’ll struggle to explain to your mates when you get home. “So they attached the fireworks to the balloon, and then…” You get the picture.

What is the Taunggyi Fire Balloon Festival?

This is the reason we’ve timed the trip for November. The festival is part of the Tazaungdaing celebrations, and local teams build enormous paper hot-air balloons to launch from the festival grounds. We’re spending three days in Taunggyi so we can see both the daytime launches and the night competitions.

During the day, you’ll see balloons shaped like animals, including elephants, birds and horses. These things are huge, and watching the teams get them inflated and airborne is part of the experience. Then the sun goes down, and the fireworks come out.

The night balloons carry fireworks and candle displays, with teams competing over their creations. Add food stalls, music and crowds of people following every launch, and you can see why we’re giving this more than a quick evening visit. We’ll have time to get into the celebrations properly.

Do we visit Bagan and Inle Lake too?

Absolutely. We have two nights in Bagan, with time to explore temples including Ananda and Dhammayangyi, plus our trip out to Mount Popa. If you want to do the optional balloon flight, this is where you’ll do it, floating above the temples at sunrise before we get on with the rest of the day.

Then we head to Inle Lake for two nights. We’ll take a private boat through the stilt villages and floating gardens, see the local fishermen’s leg-rowing technique, and head to Indein to explore its hillside stupas. We’ll also swap to paddle canoes for some of the narrower village canals.

So while the festival is the big finish, there’s a full trip before we get there. You’re not flying to Myanmar, watching some balloons and heading straight home. We’re making the most of being there.

Can I come solo?

Yes! You don’t need to persuade a mate to book before you can come. If you’re travelling solo, you can share with another traveller of the same gender, and there’s no need to pay the single supplement.

If you want your own room, that’s available for an extra $750. Entirely up to you. Some people want a roommate for the trip, some people want to shut the door and have a bit of peace at the end of the day.

Myanmar Tour Dates and Price

November 6-14, 2027. We start and finish in Yangon, using Yangon International Airport, RGN.

The trip costs $3,299 per person sharing, with a $300 deposit to secure your spot. If you’re coming solo, we can pair you with a roommate of the same gender. If you want your own room, the single supplement is $750.

• The optional sunrise balloon flight over Bagan costs extra (TBC, but normally around $195).

How to Book Your Spot on Our Myanmar Trip

You can book the Myanmar Fire Balloon Festival trip here. Choose the trip package, add the single supplement if you want your own room, and pay the deposit to secure your place. If you’re happy sharing, you don’t need the room add-on.

Then we can get on with the important stuff. Temples, boats, Shan food and watching people launch enormous paper balloons into the sky. A decent way to spend nine days.

What’s included in the trip

• All accommodation. Four-star hotels throughout the trip.
• Breakfasts. Get fed before we head out for the day.
• All trip transport. Domestic flights and private ground transport.
• A Western guide. Alongside our local team (either me or my buddy Josh).
• Local guides. People who know each destination and can explain what we’re actually looking at.
• All itinerary entry fees. Including our visits to Mount Popa and Taung Kalat Monastery.
• Festival access. For our time at the Taunggyi Fire Balloon Festival.
• The Inle Lake tour. Including our private boat.

What’s not included

• International flights. You need to get yourself to Yangon and home again.
• Lunches and dinners. Budget separately for meals beyond breakfast.
• Visa fees. If a visa is required for your nationality.
• Tips. Around $10 per day for the local team is suggested, but tipping isn’t compulsory.
• Travel insurance. Mandatory for everyone joining the trip.
• The optional Bagan balloon flight. An extra if you fancy it, about $200. It’s pretty spectacular.

Myanmar Tour ITINERARY

Day 1: Yangon, Shwedagon & Chinatown

November 6, 2027. Welcome to Yangon!

And so it begins. Arrive at Yangon International Airport, where our team will meet you and transfer you to the hotel. Get checked in, drop the bags, and take a breather. You’ve made it to Myanmar, folks.

Tonight, we’ll get everyone together for our welcome dinner at a local restaurant, included in the trip. Come solo, come with a mate, either way you’ll get to know the people you’re spending the next nine days with. Food, a drink, and a chat about what we’ve got coming up, then get some sleep. Tomorrow we’re flying to Heho for Inle Lake.

Overnight: Yangon.

Day 2: Fly to Heho & Head to Inle Lake

Breakfast, airport, and we’re off. We’re flying from Yangon to Heho, the airport serving Inle Lake, before continuing by road. We’ve got a few stops along the way, so the exploring starts before we reach the hotel.

We’ll visit a Pa-O village and Htat Eian Cave Temple, with its passages full of Buddhist sculptures and murals. Then it’s Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery, an old red teak building on stilts with distinctive oval windows. After that, we’ll head to our Inle hotel and settle in. Big day tomorrow, and probably a late night too.

Overnight: Inle Lake.

Day 3: THE TAUNGGYI FIRE BALLOON FESTIVAL!

This is it, folks. We’re heading up into the Shan Hills to Taunggyi for the Fire Balloon Festival, starting with the daytime launches. Local teams have built enormous paper balloons shaped like elephants, birds and dragons, and now they have to get the things airborne. Quite a bit more effort than blowing up a few balloons for someone’s birthday.

We’ll explore Myoma Market, try some local food, and watch the teams preparing their balloons for the evening. There’s also time for a Shan Hills viewpoint before we head back into the festival action. Watching people attach fireworks to giant paper balloons should give you some idea of what’s coming.

Then darkness falls, the balloons are lit, and off they go. Candle displays, fireworks, food stalls and crowds following every launch. This is why we’ve come, so we’ll stay into the night before driving back to our Inle hotel. Expect a late one.

Overnight: Inle Lake.

Day 4: Boats, Floating Gardens & Inle Lake

How’s everyone feeling after last night?! Today we’re getting out on Inle Lake in a private longtail boat, cruising past floating gardens and through villages built on stilts. We’ll see the Intha fishermen and their leg-rowing technique, which looks considerably easier when someone else is doing it.

We’ll visit Heya Ywama village, Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda and local craft workshops, with time to stop for lunch on the lake. Then we’ll head up the canal to Indein and explore the old stupas scattered across the hillside. A full day on the water before we’re back at the hotel for our final night at Inle.

Overnight: Nyaung Shwe / Inle Lake.

Day 5: Road Trip to Bagan via Kalaw

Road trip today, and a long one. We’re leaving Inle Lake and heading through the Shan Hills towards Bagan, stopping in Kalaw along the way. Get comfortable, charge your headphones, and accept that a chunk of today involves looking out of a window. We’ve got to get across the country somehow, folks.

In Kalaw, we’ll visit the local church, Hnee Paya and Myin Ma Hti Cave, then have a look around town, including the market, clock tower and old railway station. After that, we continue down towards the Bagan plains. We’ll check into the hotel when we arrive, get some dinner, and give everyone a break from sitting in the vehicle.

Overnight: Bagan.

Day 6: Bagan’s Temples & Sunset on the River

Today we’re out exploring Bagan. We’ll visit Shwezigon Pagoda, Ananda Temple, Dhammayangyi and Thatbyinnyu, along with Gubyaukgyi’s murals and the carvings at Htilominlo. Don’t worry, nobody’s testing you on the names afterwards. There’s a lot here, and our local guide will help make sense of it all.

We’ll also visit Minnanthu village to see traditional cotton weaving and take a horse carriage ride through the temple plains. Then we’re heading onto the Ayeyarwaddy River for a sunset boat trip. After yesterday’s drive, spending the evening on the river sounds about right.

Overnight: Bagan.

Day 7: Optional Sunrise Balloon Flight & Mount Popa

Fancy seeing Bagan from above? There’s an optional sunrise hot-air balloon flight this morning, which means dragging yourself out of bed before dawn. Floating over the temples as the sun comes up should help with the early alarm. If you’d rather skip it, enjoy your sleep and we’ll see you at breakfast.

Once everyone’s back, we’ll explore Laymyathnar, Phayathonsu and Nandamannya before heading out to Mount Popa. Taung Kalat Monastery sits on top of a steep volcanic plug, with 777 steps between us and the top. You’ve had your boat trips and carriage ride, now the legs have to do some work.

We’ll learn about the Nat spirits associated with the site, take in the views and head back to Bagan. It’s our third and final night here, so get some food and enjoy the evening. Tomorrow we’re flying back to Yangon.

Overnight: Bagan.

Day 8: Fly to Yangon, Shwedagon & Chinatown

After breakfast, we’ll head to the airport for our flight back to Yangon. We kept the city sightseeing for the end of the trip, so we’ve still got plenty to see. First up is Bogyoke Market, with stalls selling fabrics, crafts, jewellery and all sorts of things you didn’t think you needed until someone started showing them to you.

Then we’re off to Shwedagon Pagoda for sunset. We’ll spend time exploring the terraces around the enormous golden stupa before heading into Little China and Little India. One final evening out in Yangon, some food with the group, and a chance to go through everyone’s festival videos. I suspect we’ll have a few.

Overnight: Yangon.

Day 9: Fly Back to Yangon & Home

Breakfast & Homeward Bound

And that’s us, folks. Breakfast at the hotel, then a private transfer to Yangon International Airport for your flight home or onwards. If your flight leaves later, there may be time to catch anything we missed in the city. We’ll work that around departure times.

Nine days, Inle Lake, the Taunggyi Fire Balloon Festival, Kalaw, Bagan, Mount Popa and Yangon. Quite a lot to fit into a week off work and a couple of weekends. Get home, catch up on sleep, and start working out where you’re coming with us next.

FAQs About the Myanmar Trip

Do I need to be particularly fit?

There’s no ultracycle hiding in this itinerary, don’t worry. There is walking, time exploring temples and festival grounds, and the 777-step climb at Taung Kalat. Be realistic about what you’re comfortable doing, especially with steps and long days out.

If there’s a particular activity you’re concerned about, ask before booking so the team can explain what’s involved. It’s much easier to sort out expectations beforehand. You don’t need to guess from a few photos.

Do I have to do the balloon flight over Bagan?

Nope. It’s an optional extra, so you can join the trip without doing it. If it’s something you’ve always wanted to try, ask for the current price and booking details.

The Taunggyi festival is different: we’re going to watch the launches there. Nobody is putting you in a basket underneath the fireworks. Just to clear that one up.

Are meals included?

Breakfasts are included, while lunches and dinners are generally paid separately. We’ll be eating along the route, including in Yangon’s Chinatown and at the festival food stalls. That gives us plenty of chances to try things as we go.

The first evening is described as a welcome dinner, but the listing doesn’t make clear whether that meal is hosted. Budget for it unless the team confirms otherwise. Better to have the meal budget clear before you arrive.

How about the Myanmar visa?

EASY! An evisa for most people. $50.

How do I get to Myanmar to join the trip?

Easiest is via Bangkok, but there are a lot of options.

You need to arrive at Yangon International Airport, airport code RGN. The trip also finishes back in Yangon, so that’s the airport to use when planning your international flights. Airport arrival transfers are included in the itinerary.

Confirm the correct arrival date with the team first, because the listing currently shows both November 5 and November 6. For the flight home, check the timing of our Heho-to-Yangon flight before booking a connection. A bit of coordination here saves a headache later.

FINAL THOUGHTS ON OUR MYANMAR TOUR

After a few quiet years thanks to the war. Myanmar is slowly opening back up. So, if you’ve been looking at Myanmar for years and never quite got around to going, this gives you a route, a group and a reason to put it in the calendar. We’ll see Bagan, get out on Inle Lake, explore Yangon and finish with three days at a festival that takes a bit of explaining. That’s a lot to come home with from nine days away.

You can come solo, share a room, and let the team handle the hotels, domestic flights and transport. Your job is to turn up ready for the trip. Have a look through the details, get in touch with any questions, and come join us in Myanmar.

SIGN UP FOR OUR MYANMAR TOUR HERE

The trip is $3,299 per person sharing, with a $300 deposit and an optional $750 single supplement. You can see availability and book your Myanmar trip here.