Myanmar Ecotourism Information

Myanmar is the second largest country in Southeast Asia. It is so far surprisingly the least known place across the world, boasting a long line of history, the ancient civilized heritages and the priceless natural resources. It has an area of 261, 228 square miles and 51 per cent of the country is covered with the forests. Geographically, it can be divided into the Western Mountains Region, the Central Valley Region and the Eastern Hills Region and the length of Myanmar coastal line is about 1,385 miles.

The country is made up of deep forests, long mountain ranges overwhelmed with the woods, high and steep mountains which are capped with ice and snow, clean and beautiful rivers, broad plains and idyllic coasts. There are 41 natural wildlife reserves which occupy over 3.5% of the whole area of the country. The famous places among them__ the heritages of ASEAN, are Khakaborazi National Park, Lampi Oceanographic National Park, which has the world-class scuba-diving and snorkeling sites, Hukaung Valley Tiger Reserve, which is the largest tiger reserve in the world, Natmataung , National Park, also known as Mt.Victoria, the habitat of the world endangered species of birds and the 2200- km- long-world-famous Ayeyarwady river ( Irrawaddy ).

Myanmar is a special rich reservoir of biodiversity in Asia. It is a home to about 11,000 species of plant life, over 840 orchid species, 1,014 butterfly species, 92 bat species, 1,035 bird species, over 360 insect species, 219 coral reef species, 8 fish species, tiger and over 200 other reptiles.

Myanmar is endowed with the optimum basic natural resources for such ecotourism industries as mountaineering, hiking, trekking, birding, scuba-diving, snorkeling, rafting, elephant riding and so forth. In addition, it is the best natural museum to observe and research for biologists, anatomists and oceanographers.

Myanmar ecotourism is like a virgin in the world. The following world-class trips can be arranged:¬__ Going on safari for tigers and bird-watching in Hukaung Valley to the north-west, bird-watching around Mt. Victoria to the west, scuba-diving and snorkeling in and around the Islands of Myeik Archipelago to the south, boat cruising in the Ayeyawady river and Ayeyawady Dolphins Excursion, the expeditions to Mt. Khakaborazi and Mt. Phonekhanrazi to the northernmost, rafting in the White water rivers to the north and elephant ridings in the Alaungdawkassapa National Park to the north west. 

Nowadays, more and more scholars and tourists are visiting Myanmar to observe such endangered species as tigers and red pandas, Apollo butterflies, the Bhutan glory tortoises, the almost extinct Trogopan birds, the freshwater Ayeyawady dolphins and Myanmar elephants. Myanmar Forestry Department designated 41 natural wildlife reserves and 15 of them have been opened for tourists. These natural resources are for the people across the world and those who love nature are warmly and cordially welcomed from the exotic land of beautiful Myanmar.

• Meinmahla Kyun Wildlife Sanetuary
• Indawgyi Lake Wildlife Sanctuary
• Inle Lake (Wetland Sanctuary)
• Nat Ma Taung National Park
• Moeyingyi Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary
• Hlawga Wildlife Park
• Myaing Hay Wun Elephant Camp
• Shwesettaw Wildlife Sanctuary
• Alaungdaw Kathapa National Park
• Popa Mountain Park
• Chattung Wildlife Sanctuary
• Phoekyar Elephant Camp
• Hkakaborazi National Park