Travellers thinking of visiting Myanmar right now have a moral dilemma to consider. With the country rarely out of the headlines recently regarding the government’s brutal treatment of the Rohingya Muslims, is it a good time to visit? Will your tourist dollar go towards helping the military commit more human rights violations? Does your presence as a visitor condone the atrocities? We look at the case FOR and AGAINST boycotting travel to Myanmar.

With Mount Rinjani a two-hour drive to the east, Kuta (Lombok) an hour and a half south, and the Gili Islands a quick boat trip west, Senggigi is a hub for travellers who are on their way somewhere else. Venture slightly south of town to experience local life, where tiny wooden huts line the black volcanic beaches and fishermen catch their dinner right off the shore…

Xishuangbanna or ‘Banna’ as it is more commonly referred to, is not the easiest region to make sense of at first glance. Located in Southern Yunnan Province of China, on the borders of Laos and Myanmar, the region feels remarkably foreign to a seasoned backpacker of China and welcomingly familiar to the experienced traveller of Southeast Asia… Tongue-twisting name aside, this is a region well worth checking out!

Backpackers may not spend a lot, but almost every one of their dollars stays in the local economy. With package tourists, often hardly a penny is spent in local, host economies, rather large tourist corporations, big hotel chains and restaurants, shopping malls selling Western brands. It begs the question “Why does backpacking not feature in tourism developments?” Why do backpackers get a bad rap, out of proportion to the tiny fraction who misbehave?

In June and July of 2016 the Chinese government demolished 50% of Larung Gar, a thriving settlement of 40,000 peaceful Tibetan Buddhists. They say that it has become overcrowded and that its population must be reduced to only 5,000 people by October 2017. These photos, taken by photographer, Jesse Rockwell, are the last that will ever be taken before the city is destroyed forever…

50km from Inle Lake, Kalaw, in Shan State, was founded as a hill station by the British. At 1,320 metres, the climate offers a cool escape from the sweltering heat of the tropics. Many travellers spend just one night here before setting off on a 3-day trek to Inle Lake. Big mistake! Kalaw is one of the loveliest towns in Myanmar and there are plenty of reasons to hang around…

Backpackers are wonderful creatures, but there’s always one isn’t there… or two, or three, or a bus-load! If you recognise yourself or your pal in these characteristics – don’t worry! This article is intended to be a light-hearted look at all of us and is not meant to offend anyone. I personally have committed these backpacker crimes myself – including the first one….

Just a few hours from the border of Thailand, you’ll stumble across the scruffy little town of Hpa An, which is actually the capital of the Kayin Province of Myanmar. While the town itself is nothing to write home about, the surroundings are beautiful, with enormous caves, and the awesome monolith of Mount Zwegabin, rising up amidst forest and rice fields to meet the clouds… A must stop during your trip to Burma!