National park · Myanmar
Bagan Archaeological Zone
Buy the 25,000 kyat entry toll (check), rent a bike (≈1,000 kyat/day) and ride sunrise at Law Ka Ou Shaung, then sunset at Myauk Guni; visit Oct–Mar for cooler weather (check).
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
42 km² (16 sq mi)16 sq mi (42 km²)
approximate
Established
1999
Best months
Oct–Nov
UNESCO
World Heritage
Rules in force · 5Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore…Check your own government travel advice for Myanmar befor…
- Southeast Asia ↗Drug trafficking can carry the death penalty in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Laos, Thailand, Brunei and Myanmar; never carry a bag or parcel for anyone.
- Southeast Asia ↗Carry a passport valid for at least six months from entry with two blank pages; airlines refuse boarding on less.
- Myanmar ↗Check your own government travel advice for Myanmar before any booking; advice depends on your passport and changes without notice.
- Myanmar ↗The Myanmar e-visa site is the official application route, but approval does not remove the risks in your government's advice.
- Myanmar ↗Confirm that your travel insurance and medical evacuation cover apply to Myanmar before you rely on it.
At a glance
- Country
- Myanmar
- Area
- 42 km² (16 sq mi)16 sq mi (42 km²)
- Approximate area of the UNESCO zone is 42 km² (check).
- Established
- 1999
- Best months
- Oct–Nov
- Permits
- For some areas
Bagan Archaeological Zone, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2019, contains the world’s densest concentration of Buddhist temples on a flat plain; visitors can explore by bike, sunrise/sunset viewpoint hikes, or river cruise.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- UNESCO World Heritage · 2019Bagan Archaeological Zone listed in 2019.
Size and age
42 km² (16 sq mi)16 sq mi (42 km²) · national park since 1999
Approximate area of the UNESCO zone is 42 km² (check).
Why go
- Explore the world’s densest concentration of Buddhist temples on a flat plain.
- Sunrise and sunset viewpoints give dramatic silhouettes of pagodas.
- Cycling lets you cover many sites independently and at your own pace.
When to go
- JanGo
- FebGo
- MarGo
- AprCaution
- MayCaution
- JunCaution
- JulAvoid
- AugAvoid
- SepAvoid
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecGo
- Jancheck
- Febcheck
- Marcheck
- Aprcheck
- Maycheck
- Juncheck
- Julcheck
- Augcheck
- Sepcheck
- Octcheck
- Novcheck
- Deccheck
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Various bird species, including barn swallows and kingfishersOct–Mar | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
From Nyaung U Airport
Taxi or hotel shuttle (~15 min) to New Bagan; entry toll paid later at Old Bagan pier.
15–20 min
From Mandalay (boat)
Express ferry to Nyaung U jetty, then shared pickup to New Bagan.
9–12 h
Open the page →
From Yangon (train)
Overnight train to Bagan station, then taxi to New Bagan.
≈12 h
Open the page →
From Bagan bus terminal
Local minibuses or shared pickups to New Bagan (≈30 min).
0.5 h
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| New Bagan | Main accommodation hub, restaurants, bike rentals. | Open to visitors; entry ticket required. |
| Old Bagan | Historic temple core, toll station, entry point. | Open with entry ticket. |
| Nyaung U | Transport hub, market, small guesthouses. | Open; serves as base for day trips. |
Sketch map
- 1Law Ka Ou Shaung Temple · Viewpoint≈21.170, 94.860Sunrise viewpoint.Map ↗
- 2Myauk Guni Temple · Viewpoint≈21.180, 94.880Sunset viewpoint.Map ↗
- 3Ananda Temple · Viewpoint≈21.171, 94.868Major historic temple.Map ↗
- 4Nyaung U Jetty · Town≈21.208, 94.916Ferry and transport hub.Map ↗
- 5Old Bagan Pier · Town≈21.178, 94.860Entry toll station.Map ↗
Take the points offline
5 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates approximate for major sites; used for map orientation.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bagan entry toll (paid at Old Bagan pier after boat arrival) | MMK 25,000 | person | Fee applies to all visitors; exact payment point varies by arrival mode (check). |
| Bicycle rental | MMK 1,000 | day | Available in most guesthouses. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Bagan entry permit or guide
What would our group pay?
People
Nights or days
- MMK 25,000
- MMK 1,000
Tick the fees that apply to your trip to see a total.
A guide, not a quote: the ranges are estimates (checked 2026-09) and each fee may have rules on who pays it. Confirm on UNESCO – Bagan World Heritage before you go.
Park rules
- Climbing pagodas
- Prohibited except at designated viewing platforms.
- Litter
- Carry out all rubbish; no open fires.
- Respect religious sites
- Remove shoes and socks before entering temple interiors.
Where to stay
Near the park
New Bagan guesthouses
Simple rooms, often with bike rental.
Near the park
Nyaung U hotels
Mid‑range options with airport transfers.
Safety
Heat medium
Traffic on one‑lane roads low
Monsoon flash floods high
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Main gate and visitor centre are reachable by car with short walks.
- Viewpoints involve uneven steps; not wheelchair‑friendly.
Visiting lightly
- Use designated boat routes; do not litter in the river.
- Support local guesthouses and bike rentals rather than large resorts.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Bagan?
The entry toll is 25,000 kyat per person, paid at the Old Bagan pier after arriving by boat or other transport.
What are the best hikes in Bagan?
Sunrise at Law Ka Ou Shaung and sunset at Myauk Guni are short, easy hikes with great views; a full‑day bike tour links the main temple clusters.
When is the best time to visit Bagan?
October to March offers cooler, dry weather and fewer crowds; avoid the monsoon months July–September.
Can I climb any pagodas for views?
Climbing pagodas is prohibited except at a few official viewing platforms; use the designated viewpoints instead.
Is a guide required to explore Bagan?
No guide is required for self‑guided bike or walking tours, but a guide is recommended for remote temple clusters or if you want detailed history.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Sources
Ask about Bagan Archaeological Zone
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