The beautiful country that every tourist used to want to visit that's now too dangerous

Myanmar was once the backpackers’ destination of choice but the Southeast Asian country has since been wrecked by a brutal civil war. The UK Foreign Office currently advises against all travel to large swathes of Myanmar as conflict rages between the ruling military junta and various armed groups.

Also known as Burma, the country offers a treasure trove of ancient ruins and beautiful beaches. However, since the country’s military seized power it has seen widespread bloodshed.

The junta has imposed martial law in several townships since rebel forces began attacks on the military government following the 2021 coup.

The FCDO guidance states: “Myanmar has suffered from prolonged internal conflicts, involving several ethnic armed organisations in the country’s border areas.

“Violence is severe and the situation is unpredictable in most ethnic states and border areas.”

Myanmar has suffered from prolonged internal conflicts, involving a number of ethnic armed organisations in the country’s border areas. Violence is severe and the situation is unpredictable in most ethnic states and border areas.

The Myanmar authorities restrict travel to most border areas. There are active military operations involving the use of air strikes, artillery bombardments and ground troops.

Myanmar‘s military seizure of power in 2021 halted Burma’s fragile transition towards democracy since then the junta has been using a scorched-earth strategy to punish civilians in ethnic minority areas suspected of supporting the various armed rebel groups that have sprung up in defiance of the coup.

Human rights activists and ethnic minority groups have been documenting regime atrocities, with mounting evidence of widespread attacks on civilians

The military coup on February 1 2021 saw Myanmar’s elected leaders arrested, including the prominent pro-democracy activist Aung San Suu Kyi.

Army generals reacted with a harsh crackdown, including the use of force against protestors and the imposition of martial law in several areas of the country.