Myanmar | Burma Unveiled
The glories of this ancient land (now known as Myanmar) are once again revealed to travellers in this landmark journey. Travelling by road, by air and on water, we discover why the country is often dubbed the ‘Golden Land'. We start in Rangoon, a city crowned by the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda, then fly to Mandalay, before journeying on the Irrawaddy River down to the fabled 11th Century capital, Pagan. The Inle Lake region exudes tranquillity and enables us to sample the hospitality of the Shan people, one of many groups that contribute to the ethnic diversity of this colourful country.
| Duration: | 12 Days |
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| Tour Code: | ITW589 |
| Trip Style: | Moderate - 3 star |
| Departure Dates: | 04 Dec 2011, 11 Dec 2011, 01 Jan 2012, 29 Jan 2012, 26 Feb 2012, 25 Mar 2012, 22 Apr 2012, 20 May 2012, 17 Jun 2012, 15 Jul 2012, 12 Aug 2012, 09 Sep 2012, 04 Nov 2012, 02 Dec 2012, 06 Jan 2013, 27 Jan 2013, 24 Feb 2013, 24 Mar 2013, 21 Apr 2013, 19 May 2013 |
| Price: | $1,885 |
| Single Supplement: | $475 |
| Places you'll visit: |
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| Highlights: |
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Ideal for Solo Travellers
You will travel with a maximum of just 15 fellow travellers. This is small enough to avoid making a negative impact on the places you go and the people you meet, but large enough to have a good time with other travellers from around the globe.
If you are willing to share a room we will find a member of the same gender for you to share with. If we are unable to find someone, then you will get a single room without having to pay any supplement. And for those wanting their own room the single supplement won't break the bank.
Trip Details
GROUP SIZE: 15 max.
Day 1: Rangoon (Yangon)
Upon arrival in Rangoon (Yangon), you are met and transferred to our centrally located hotel. You meet your tour leader and the rest of the group. After a pre-trip briefing, we adjourn for a group dinner in the city (cost not included).
Day 2: Rangoon (Yangon) - Mandalay
A city tour will acquaint us with the major sights of the capital. Shwedagon Pagoda dominates the skyline and the ubiquitous Karaweik Hall sits on the Royal Lake. There is also time explore a fascinating city full of dilapidated colonial edifices. In the afternoon we are transferred to the airport for our flight to Mandalay. We use a private airline in Burma and not the government one. Generally the pilots are expats.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Day 3: Mandalay
Mandalay is situated near the banks of the Irrawaddy (Ayeyarwady) River. After checking into our hotel, we make our way down to the city's lively waterfront which, with its working water-buffaloes, offers an interesting backdrop as we take a boat trip up-river to Mingun - the site of the world's largest pagoda (albeit unfinished!) and the world's largest unbroken bell.
Mandalay was a former capital of Burma; however the surrounding countryside contains many towns that could lay claim to that same title at some stage or another in the past. We embark on a tour visiting the remnants of one of these once-great cities, Amarapura. Weather permitting, we may also view a spectacular sunset over the 200-year-old U Bein wooden bridge.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Day 4: Mandalay
Burma's most famous hill station, Maymyo (Pyin U Lwin), provides an escape from the heat of the plains. Established during the colonial era, it is today a crossroad for traders coming over from China and this is reflected in its colourful market. Time permitting, you may explore surroundings in a local horse-drawn carriage called a 'myin-lay'. English-style country mansions and Chinese temples dot the hillsides in a place rightly called the 'vegetable garden' of Burma.
We return to Mandalay where the rest of the day is spent visiting various temples, including Kuthodaw Pagoda that claims to house the world's largest 'book'. Time permitting, it is a challenging walk up Mandalay Hill (236 metres), but the views from the summit are breathtaking, and along the way there are many shrines of religious significance.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Day 5: Pagan (Bagan)
We spend an entire day on a boat as we cruise down the Irrawaddy River. Along the way, we witness the idyllic way of life that epitomises parts of rural Burma in the form of the small fishing villages that lie along the riverbanks. In the evening we arrive in Pagan (Bagan), one of the most impressive archaeological wonders of Asia.
(Due to the unpredictable nature of ferry operations on the Irrawaddy River between April and October, it is possible that some services may be cancelled. Some of these cancellations may take place at the last minute and often without warning. If this is the case it may be necessary to fly between Mandalay and Pagan (Bagan). There will be no extra cost for this flight).
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Day 6: Pagan (Bagan)
The sights of Pagan are explored from dawn to dusk. Nyaung U's lively market contrasts with the eerie silence of the plains littered with over 4000 structures, including Gawdawpalin, Thatbyinnyu, Ananda and Shwezigon - all names of temples and pagodas that bear testament to a glorious past. The area is also famous for producing lacquerware that is available in the stalls amidst the ruins. There is also a chance to do some of our exploration by horse and cart. Weather permitting, we may enjoy a breathtaking sunset view from one of the ruins.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Day 7: Pagan (Bagan)
We drive for an hour before arriving at Mount Popa, an extinct volcano that is home to the local spirits or deities known as 'nats'. For the energetic, there is a chance to climb the 777 steps to the shrine at the top of the hill. Returning to Pagan, we visit a local village to observe the lifestyle of the people. This includes witnessing the blacksmith at work and weaving being done the traditional way. The afternoon is free to further explore this amazing area. You may hire a bicycle and enjoy your own exploration of the archaeological sites.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Day 8: Inle Lake
We board a plane and fly to Heho, which is situated in the Shan Plateau. From here, we drive through picturesque countryside and rolling hills to our final destination, Khaungdaing, situated on Inle Lake not far from the main township, Nyaungshwe. We enjoy two nights staying at a lovely lakeside resort. you will notice the weather is much cooler due to the high altitude.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Day 9: Inle Lake
A full day is spent on the lake exploring the floating gardens and catching a glimpse of the local Intha fishermen who are famous for their unique 'leg-rowing' technique. These people are different from the Shans and they originate from the south of the country. The lake is also home to a wide array of bird-life including egrets, cranes, ducks, storks and birds of prey.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Day 10: Trekking - Inle Lake
After breakfast at hotel, we again board our traditional long tail boat and depart for Indein, located 45 minutes to the south. Here we find a pagoda and ruins of stupas that were built in the 8th Century. There are also rows of stalls along the corridor up the hill to the pagoda. We then commence a 45-minute trek to Taung Mauk in the west, which is home to the Pa O tribe. From here we walk for two hours in a northerly direction towards Ngue village, which is home to Thaung Thu people.
This walk is through hill terrain - lots of ups and down! There is a chance to stop and buy some lunch (cost not included) and before continuing east (generally downhill) to the scenic village of Than Daung, home of Intha people. A further 30 minutes of walking gets us to a jetty, where our boat is waiting to take us back to Khaungdaing. On our final evening at our resort we enjoy a traditional Shan dinner and get to sample some of the local style culinary specialities.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner
Day 11: Rangoon (Yangon)
We transfer to Heho Airport for the flight back to Rangoon in the morning. The afternoon is free in Rangoon and you can visit Sule Pagoda, which marks the centre of town and the nearby Bogyoke (Scott) Market that sells a wide array of local goods and handicrafts (these are optional excursions and at your own expense). We spend a last evening together by going out for a meal and a wander around town.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Day 12: Rangoon
The tour ends after breakfast. A transfer to the airport is not included; however your tour leader will be on hand to advise you as to the options available.
Meals included: 1 breakfast
Inclusions
- 11 nights comfortable hotel accommodation
- 11 Breakfasts & 1 Dinner
- local flights
- Local tour leader
- local guides
- arrival transfer
- transport
- sightseeing and entrance fees
What's Not Included
- Departure taxes
- Tips
- Porter
Terms & Conditions
Click here for our Terms & Conditions
For more information, availability and pricing and options, please contact our expert travel specialists at Inspired Travel Worldwide on (02) 9449 8598 or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you.
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