Myanmar - weather & travel conditions in January

Weather

January is one of the best months to explore Myanmar. The weather is cool and pleasant with an average temperature of around 25 oC. The whole country is now in the dry season which is a great condition for travel.

In the south of Myanmar, Yangon and along the coast are full of sunshine, the temperature ranges about 30-31 oC. Relaxing in Ngapali beach may be a great choice for you.

In Mandalay, Bagan and the central plains, the average temperature is 26 oC. The high river level allows the boat to travel almost everywhere and the sky is almost always clear.

Meanwhile, daytime temperature in the Inle Lake area remains at 24-25 oC, making good conditions for boating and doing activities around the lake. At night and early in the morning, the weather can be colder, you should prepare a jacket when you wake up.

Myanmar average Temperature and Precipitation in January

Location	Avg. Temp in °C(°F)		Avg. Prp in mm(in)
	Min	Max
Bago	17(62)	32(89)	5(0.19)
Hsipaw	13(55)	28(82)	4(0.16)
Kengtung	9(48)	26(78)	16(0.63)
Kyaikto	17(62)	32(89)	5(0.19)
Mandalay	13(55)	28(82)	4(0.16)
Monywa	13(55)	28(82)	4(0.16)
Mrauk-Oo	14(57)	28(82)	11(0.43)
Pindaya	13(55)	28(82)	4(0.16)
Pyin Oo Lwin	13(55)	28(82)	4(0.16)
Sittwe	14(57)	28(82)	11(0.43)
Yangon	17(62)	32(89)	5(0.19)

Average temperature & precipitation in some Myanmar's various destinations in January

Events

Ananda Pagoda Festival

This festival takes place in Bagan lasting 1 week in January to commemorate major events in the history of Ananda Temple. Similar to an agricultural shows, the festival includes of a theatrical performance, local people from the villages will gather by their traditional bullock carts.

Naga New Year

Celebrated in the middle of January, Naga New Year is a unique event of the Naga people, a group of people living in northwestern Myanmar. This is not only a New Year celebration but also a ceremony after the end of the harvests, the beginning of new ones. During this festival, family members, relatives, friends reunite. They will gather to dance, sing and wear beautiful outfits that mark their traditions and culture.

Manaw Festival

This is a traditional dance festival which is held annually on 10th of January in the Kachin State. During the festival, the people of Kachin will gather together in Manaw field to eat, drink, and celebrate. The highlight of this festival is the pole Manaw dance in their traditional people's costumes.

Mahamuni Pagoda Festival

Held on the full moon day of Thabodwe (the full moon in late January or early February), the festival lasts 2 days to celebrate the history of Mahamuni Pagoda in Mandalay. There are some popular activities such as glutinous rice contests, the pilgrimage of local people or a variety of performances of traditional dances, music and plays in the evenings.

How to do and what to expect if travel to Myanmar in January

This is a great time to visit every parts of Myanmar. If you go to Inle Lake, you can enjoy the fresh air along with the wonderful scenery there, especially amazing sunrises with the dew and mist from the lake.

In Bagan and Mandalay, the temperature is slightly higher, but it will be favorable conditions to explore the ancient ruins or have an interesting experience with a hot air balloon at sunrise or sunset.

For those who love the sea and outdoor activities, this is an ideal time for you to come to some beaches like Ngapali and Ngwe Saung Myanmar. You will be greeted by the warm weather, the clear blue water, the sunny and windy coastline. However, January is the peak season, so the number of tourists coming to these places is very crowded. The hotel and resorts may run at full capacity, so you should plan and book in advance.