When to go
The best time to visit Burma is winter, and in particular, from
mid-December to mid-February: the weather is dry and sunny, and the risk of cyclones should have ceased. It's hot in Yangon and along the southern coast, while it can get cool at night or even cold in inland areas.
By the second half of February, and even more in March and April, it's definitely hot, but along the coast, you can enjoy the breeze and you can still swim and sunbathe, since the weather stays good.
If you want to travel in summer, in the rainy season, for example in July and August, you will prefer the central plains (see Mandalay, Myngyan, Magway) because they are more sheltered from the monsoon. In contrast, in summer, the coasts are definitely inadvisable because they receive heavy rains.
What to pack
In
winter: in the north (see Myitkyina, Mandalay), and in cities located at middle or low-mountain altitudes (Taunggyi, Kengtung), bring spring/autumn clothes (light for the day), a jacket and a sweater for the evening, and a hat and a scarf for cooler evenings. Along the coast, bring light clothing, a light sweatshirt for the evening, and a scarf for the breeze; in the northern part of the coast, up to Yangon, you can add a light jacket or a sweater for cooler evenings. In the Himalayas, bring mountain clothing, and hiking boots.
In summer, bring lightweight clothing of natural fibers, a light raincoat or umbrella, and comfortable shoes. You can add a light sweater for the evening at low-mountain altitudes; in the Himalayas, bring warm clothes, a raincoat, and hiking boots.
Before entering pagodas, it is customary to take off shoes, dress neatly and cover a little.
It's better for women to avoid shorts and miniskirts.
Back to the climate of
Burma