Explore Burma (Myanmar)

11-Days/10 nights

Runs between 31-October-2008 and 31-March-09

Day 01

Arrive Yangon   (Based on morning arrival)

Arrival Yangon international airport and transfer to your hotel.  After check-in at the hotel, depart on a sightseeing trip, to include colourful downtown Yangon, Chaukhtatkyi pagoda, a colossal reclining Buddha; a scenic photo stop on beautiful Kandawgyi Lake and the Shwedagon Pagoda, one of the world’s most impressive golden stupas.

Overnight the Dusit Inya Lake Hotel in a superior room on a bed & breakfast basis.

    

Day 02,      :Yangon – Bagan (flight), Bagan Sightseeing

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Yangon airport to fly to Bagan.   On arrival at Bagan, check-in at your  hotel before going sightseeing.  Highlights of the visit will include many of Bagan’s distinctive pagodas. At sunset enjoy a marvellous panoramic view of the pagodas.

Overnight at Thiripyitsaya Sakura Hotel in a superior room (or The Hotel @ Tharabar Gate in a  deluxe room),on a bed & breakfast basis.

 

Day 03,      :Bagan, Salay & Mt. Popa excursion    

Breakfast at your hotel.  Morning drive to Salay, a small quiet town with interesting monasteries and pagodas.   Continue the drive to nearby Mt. Popa, an extinct volcano renowned as the home of the ‘nats’ (or spirits).  Return to Bagan in the afternoon stopping to see a local toddy palm farm on the way.

Overnight at your hotel on a bed & breakfast basis.

 

Day 04,      :Board the Riverboat IFC Pandaw

(Pandaw departure day: Tuesday & Saturday only)

Breakfast at the hotel.  Then board the Pandaw, which departs Bagan at 12.00 noon.

In the afternoon explore Thein Gone village, which is situated just 10 km south of Pakokku.  Thein Gone is a charming rural village with one hundred and twenty five households.

Lunch and dinner on board the Pandaw.  Overnight on the Pandaw in an upper-deck cabin.

Day 05,      :Continue Sailing to Mandalay

Breakfast on board.  In the morning visit potteries at Yandabo village, which is a rarely visited small village with no road access.  This village is famous for the production of terracotta pottery made from river mud. You will see the pottery making process at various stages. During the visit you are invited into people's homes,  and will visit the local monastery. 

        Yandabo is famous in Burmese history as the place where the Treaty of Yandabo was signed in 1885 between the Burmese King and the British.

Lunch and Dinner are included.  Overnight on the Pandaw.

 

Day 06,      :Disembark Pandaw.  Sigtseeing - Amarapura & Inwa

Breakfast on board the Pandaw.

        Arrive Mandalay in mid-morning and disembark from the Pandaw.  

Visit the former royal capital of Amrapura highlighted by U Bein’s Bridge, the world’s longest teakwood bridge.   Then visit Inwa, another former royal capital,  and travel by pony cart down tree-lined paths to see old palace walls, wooden monasteries and the ‘leaning tower of Ava’.

Overnight at the Sedona Hotel Mandalay or Mandalay Hill Resort in a superior room

on a bed & breakfast basis.

 

Day 07,      :Mandalay sightseeing

Breakfast at the hotel.  A day ightseeing in Mandalay which includes Mahamuni Pagoda, gold leaf hammering,  Shwe Inbin Monastery, and Shwenandaw Monastery, noted for its exquisite wood carvings.

Overnight at the Sedona Hotel Mandalay or Mandalay Hill Resort in a superior room

on a bed & breakfast basis.

Day 08,      :Mandalay to Heho

After breakfast at your hotel, transfer to Mandalay airport to fly to the Shan state. Upon arrival at Heho, drive to the fascinating Pindaya caves which contain more than 8,000 Buddha images.  Sightseeing at the caves and a visit to a local Shan style umbrella makers home.

Check in to your hotel.  Overnight at Inle Inn Pindaya in a superior room on a bed & breakfast basis.

 

Day 09,      :Pindaya to Inle Lake (by car)

Breakfast at your hotel.  In the morning drive to beautiful Inle Lake.  Highlights of the visit nclude the boatmen with their ‘one-legged’ rowing style, the floating gardens, the ‘jumping cats’ monastery, morning markets and more.

Overnight at Shwe Inn Tha or Golden Island Cottage in a standard room on a bed and breakfast basis.

 

Day 10,      :Inle Lake Sightseeing

Breakfast at the hotel.  A further day sightsingin at  Inle Lake, with a memorable visit to an Indian village with its idyllic 17th century pagodas.  You will also have the opportunity to visit a local silk weaving ‘factory’ which sits on stilts on the lake.

Overnight at Shwe Inn Tha or Golden Island Cottage in a standard room on a bed and breakfast basis.

Day 11,      :Inle-Heho to Yangon

Breakfast at your hotel , then transfer to the airport for your flight back to Yangon.

Arrive at Yangon and transfer to the International Terminal for your departing flight.

 

Guide price for the above, based on 2 people sharing twin or double accommodation  £988 per person. 

Price is affected by the rate of exchange and may be subject to change.

Price includes:

• Hotel with breakfast
• All transfer, including internal flights
• Sightseeing with entrance fees
• Services of an English speaking guide throughout the trip

Not included in price:

• International air fare
• Airport tax
• Visa fees
• Meals not detailed in the itinerary
• Personal expenses
• Insurance (essential)
• Any service not mentioned in the itinerary

 

Don’t forget that Myanmar (Burma) combines very well with Thailand for a two-country holiday.