Premium Myanmar Tours for Photographers and Discriminating Travelers.
Myanmar remains a land of mystery and adventure, a “bucket list” destination – especially for photographers and experienced travelers. The world-class monuments, rich local culture, and incredibly friendly Burmese people make Myanmar one of the most enjoyable travel destinations in the world. Our private and small-group Myanmar tours are the highest-quality, most authentic tour experiences in Burma.
Burmese history, culture, and traditions are unique in Southeast Asia. More than the panoramic landscapes and majestic Buddhist temples, there is a special feeling we have in Myanmar that calls visitors back. The leisurely pace, traditional ways of life and friends we make along our journey are all part of the magic of Myanmar. Myanmar is also one of the safest countries in the world to travel.
Our sightseeing and photography tours in Myanmar are led by a team of professional Burmese and Western guides who pride themselves on professionalism and responsible tourism. Three Treasures is a locally-owned, western-managed social enterprise created to promote sustainable tourism and improve local livelihoods in Myanmar. This isn’t just empty talk or
Myanmar Tour Destinations
Customize your Myanmar day tour and enjoy the most spectacular temples and authentic tastes of Burma. Our sightseeing and photo tours in Bagan, Mandalay, and Yangon feature a mix of iconic temples and lesser-known sites for an unforgettable adventure.
Bagan Day Tours
Mandalay Day Tours
Yangon Day Tours
Unique Myanmar Sights
Bagan, Now a UNESCO World Heritage Site
From the 9th to 13th centuries, the city was the capital of the Pagan Kingdom, the first kingdom that unified the regions that would later constitute modern Myanmar. During the kingdom’s height between the 11th and 13th centuries, over 4,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas, and monasteries were constructed in the Bagan plains alone, of which the remains of over 2,200 temples and pagodas still survive today. Our Bagan temples tours and photography experiences uncover the hidden gems of this unique site of global importance.
Exploring Bagan’s Temple Panoramas Sunrise panorama in Bagan Bagan temple sunrise
Buddhist Monasteries, Monks & Nuns
Theravada Buddhism is practiced by a great majority of the Burmese population, where monasteries are respected education centers and monks are venerated in society. Myanmar daily life is characterized by personal merit-making rituals and community charity activities, or “donations” (dana), to accumulate good
Monk portraiture in Bagan A monk studying in Mandalay A local monk at his monastery
Burmese Tea Shops and Betelnut
Although Myanmar produces fine coffee, Myanmar tea and lively tea shop culture are preferred by most Burmese. The dark red tea, served in over 20 varieties and often
A bundle of betelnut leaves at a stall in Yangon Tea shop portrait in Mandalay Betelnut seller in Yangon
Traditional Burmese Village Life
Mobile phones and the Internet were introduced to the Myanmar people only in 2012. Change is slowly coming, but for the moment much of Burma remains like a time capsule from the bronze age where animals and manual labor, not machines, are the do most of the work. Here, our houses are grown from the earth and our roads and tools are made by hand. Step back in time on a visit to a remote Myanmar village rarely, if ever, seen by foreigners. Our Bagan Living Heritage Tour includes a rural village walk where you can meet and learn from traditional Burmese bush-knowledge.
Shepards herding cattle at sunset in Bagan Rice farmers in Myanmar Everyday life in Bagan’s villages
World-Class Photo Tours in Myanmar
Capture the most photogenic temples and colorful faces on our photography tours in Bagan, Mandalay, and Yangon. Enchanting temples, lively walking tours, and authentic interactions with locals make our tours an unforgettable experience in Myanmar.
Bagan Photography Tours
Mandalay Photo Tours
Yangon Photography Tours
Unique Myanmar Photo Opportunities
Unforgettable Ancient Temples & Remarkable Panoramic Landscapes
Myanmar’s deep Buddhist roots are exemplified in the country’s dense temple architecture dating back 2,500 years. From the majestic Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, covered in over fifty tons of gold and thousands of precious stones, to the 2,200+ temples of the Bagan plain, finding the right position and the best light is the biggest challenge for the travel photographer. Our tours directly support the care and maintenance of more than a half-dozen temples and monuments in Bagan.
Hsinbyume Pagoda in Mingun is a fascinating portrait destination. Bagan’s panoramic sunrise Bagan temple sunrise
Thanaka Face-Painting and Wearing the Longyi
Thanaka, used daily across Myanmar, is a cosmetic made from the bark of a native tree and is known to have sun-protecting and moisturizing properties. Normally worn by women and young people, it is not uncommon to see thanaka applied in lovely designs and patterns that appear bright yellow on the wearer’s face. A gift from India, thelongyiis a one-piece garment widely worn in Burma on the lower body. Traditional culture retained into the present day are part of what make Myanmar such a unique place to visit.
A child wearing thanaka Trying thanaka in Bagan Learning to wear the Myanmar longyi
Myanmar Street Photography
The juxtaposition of old ways and new trends is a fascinating sight on the streets of Yangon and Mandalay. Brightly-colored walls, decorative wood carvings, and golden features offer stunning backdrops to unpredictable street scenes. Red-robed monks, smiling children, and the energetic working life of a country emerging into a globalized world after decades of isolation await the keen street photographer in Myanmar.
A young nun in downtown Yangon near Bogyoke Market Colorful Yangon street stalls Travel photography workshops in Myanmar.
Yangon’s Colonial Buildings
Yangon boasts the largest number of colonial-era buildings in Southeast Asia and has a unique colonial-era urban core that is remarkably intact. The colonial-era commercial core is centered around the Sule Pagoda, which is said to be over 2,000 years old. The city is also home to the gilded Shwedagon Pagoda – Myanmar’s most sacred Buddhist pagoda.
Colonial buildings make fantastic photo backgrounds Your guide Thandar Oo poses inside the Secretariat, one of Yangon’s many remaining colonial buildings under restoration. Colorful street photography in colonial Yangon. The character and color of the building facades make for intriguing backgrounds.
Our Quality Guarantee
We host our own tours, using only our own guides and staff. You will never be passed on to freelancers or third-party operators.
Award-Winning Myanmar Tours!
We won a 2017 Tourism Innovation Award from UK AID/BIF for our community-based tourism activities in Bagan. Above all, we create rewarding exchanges between host communities and our guests that empower and inspire. Because of our close relationships with local communities through our development projects, you will see firsthand the projects and communities who benefit from your visit.
Ian and his team arranged an incredible two days for us, full of sunset dinners, e-bike adventures, sunrise sightseeing, Buddhist history and culture, private Pagodas, and wonderful conversations about life, love, and happiness. It was truly an experience we will never forget.
Alli, Chicago (via Tripadvisor)
Join us for the intimate, once-in-a-lifetime experience that you traveled so far to find. Forget the big bus tours – we invite you to join our family of village communities for an amazing holiday experience in Myanmar!