Myanmar

19th February - 3rd March 2012

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Sunday 19th February

Assemble at Heathrow Aiprort for the flight to Yangon (via Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok or Singapore).

Overnight: YANGON (D)

Tuesday 21st February

After breakfast transfer to the Nanthida Jetty to board a ferry to cross the Yangon River to Dhala. The boat ride to Dhala takes 15 minutes and offers great views of the waterways as well as a fun chance to interact with the locals as they make their way across the river.

Visit the local fresh market on 18th street or 34th street - both markets are a great chance to see the array of goods grown in Myanmar.

Upon reaching Dhala, travel by local trishaw through the town. The scenic town is remarkably different from nearby Yangon, with many trees, local neighbourhoods and quiet side streets filling the area. While in Dhala you’ll visit the market and have plenty of opportunities to stop and interact with the friendly locals.

After visiting the village and market, proceed to the monastery to learn about monastic life in Myanmar. The monastery also serves as a community centre and is an important part of rural Burmese life.

Return by boat to Yangon, observing life along the river and reflecting back on your excursion to Dhala.

Take a break in the midday for lunch at Monsoon Restaurant and a rest at the hotel.

Around 16.00 depart for Shwedagon Pagoda, the most revered Buddhist temple in Myanmar. Although the origins of the pagoda are unclear, it is believed that the original structure was built in the 11th century then renovated several times until taking its current shape in the 15th century. The 8-sided central stupa is 90 meters tall and gilded with gold leaf and is surrounded by 64 smaller stupas and your guide will show you around the massive complex, explaining why this temple is so revered. Enjoy breathtaking views of the golden stupa and the city skyline from this vantage point. 

Dinner at Padonmar Restaurant

Overnight: YANGON (BLD)

Wednesday 22nd February

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Mandalay.  

Upon arrival, begin your tour in Amarapura, where you will attend a special ceremony.  Witness the alms collection at Mahagandayon monastery, when over one-thousand monks gather to collect their daily meal from the local Buddhists.  (**Depends on flight arrival time) After this beautiful spectacle, continue to U Bein Bridge for a walk along this 200 year-old teak bridge.  The bridge spans over 2 kilometers in length and offers fabulous views of the surrounding farms and streams.  

Around the bridge area are many farms growing peanuts and corn when the waters recede. Depending on the amount of rain received you may have the chance to venture down to these farms and talk to the farmers. 

Continue to Mandalay for lunch at A Little Bit of Mandalay Restaurant and to check in to your hotel. 

This afternoon we’ll head to the eastern part of the city on the way to Yankin Hill. Here there are many farms – sunflower, corn, etc- and we can meet with local farming families.

On the return to the city, head to the top of Mandalay Hill for fabulous views over the city and the Irrawaddy River. 

Dinner at Ko’s Kitchen Restaurant with Thai food 

Overnight: MANDALAY  (BLD)

This morning after breakfast, cross the river to Sagaing- the spiritual heart of Myanmar. Boarding time for the cruise is 10.30 but if you wish to explore Sagaing’s many temples we will arrive around 08.30 to allow ample time.

Enjoy a welcome cocktail in the Saloon after checking-in.

The boat will leave from Saigaing jetty at 11.00 hrs (RV Paukan 11.30 hrs) for the start of a full day cruising along the Irrawaddy River.

Lunch is served onboard at 13.00.

Late this afternoon stop at Yandabo, a village which specializes in traditional pot-making and is also the site where the peace treaty of the First Anglo-Burmese war was signed on Feb. 24, 1826.

Moor overnight near the village of Shwe Nann Tint.

Friday 24th February

Early this morning the boat will start traveling downriver as you continue the cruise to Bagan. After breakfast (if time permits) stop and visit another typical river village.

Enjoy the sunrise as you approach Bagan. Passengers disembark at Bagan Aye Yar jetty around 10:00 in the morning.

From the 11th to 13th centuries, when Bagan was the capital of Myanmar, the rulers constructed thousands of huge stupas and temples many of which are still standing today on the banks of the Irrawaddy River. 

On arrival, your sightseeing begins with a visit to the golden stupa of Shwezigon Pagoda for an introduction to Bagan’s rich history. Then, visit nearby Wetkyi-In Gubyaukgyi, a cave temple with exquisite jataka mural paintings and the elegant Htilominlo Temple noted for its fine plaster carvings and glazed sandstone decorations. Each of these sites reflects a different style and interesting history.

Head to your hotel for check in and to take a break for lunch (clients’ own account) and to escape the midday heat.

This afternoon begin with a visit to a traditional lacquer ware workshop where you can observe the production of one of Myanmar’s best-known handicrafts. Continue to Ananda Temple, an architectural masterpiece and one of Bagan’s most beautiful temples.  Built in the early Mon-style, Ananda contains two unique Buddha images whose expressions seem to change depending on the distance from which the statue is viewed.
 
Dinner at Queen House Restaurant with Cultural performance show

Overnight: BAGAN (BD)

Saturday 25th February

OPTION: Start your morning with a hot-air balloon flight over the plains of Bagan.  Enjoy the fabulous views as the sun rises over the stupas and Irrawaddy River.  This is truly an unforgettable and unique experience! (Note: available only from October to March)                  

After breakfast at the hotel, begin with a visit to visit the colorful Nyaung Oo Market where villagers gather every day to buy and sell their produce and other goods. Then watch the production of ponyeh paste, a local delicacy made from soya beans. Continue to Myinkaba village and take a short walking tour to explore the temples of Manuha and Nan Paya.  We will also visit a village specializing in the making of Bullock Carts, the wooden ox carts used by farmers in the area.

This afternoon, continue to the rural village of Minnanthu, one of Bagan’s least visited areas.  Here you will explore temples such as Payathonzu, Lemyentha and Nandamannya.

From here, travel by horse cart for a tour passing Thatbyinnyu, the highest temple in Bagan, massive Dhammayangyi Temple, noted for its remarkable brickwork, and Sulamani Temple.

Enjoy an unforgettable sunset over the plains from the upper terrace of one of the temples.

Overnight: BAGAN (BLD)

Sunday 26th February

This morning we’ll depart for Mt Popa, Myanmar’s most important nat shrine. Mt Popa, a one hour drive from Bagan, is a volcanic plug several thousand years old and houses several dozen small shrines dedicated to the 36 nats, guardian spirits. A walk up the stairs to the top of Mt Popa takes you past the shrines and local pilgrims to an upper platform with great views of the surrounding plains.

Return to Bagan, stopping along the way at a local village harvesting the juice of the palm fruit to make sugar and palm wine. You’ll have the chance to watch this fascinating procedure and taste the finished products.

Enjoy a lunch prepared by the villagers.

Return to Bagan for leisure at your hotel or more sightseeing

Overnight: BAGAN (BL)

Monday 27th February

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport for flight takes to Heho, in the heart of the Shan State. Then drive 3 hours to Pindaya. This area has some of the most fertile soil in all of Myanmar and

The final stretch of the drive, from Aungban to Pindaya, passes through rolling hills used as farms and depending on the time of year there may be a lot of activity planting or harvesting the crops (cauliflower, cabbage, etc) We’ll stop many times along the way to watch the activities of the farmers.

Lunch at Green Tea Restaurant or similar

This afternoon, visit the town’s famous caves. Overlooking the town, the multi-chambered caves are filled with hundreds of Buddha statues, both old and new. Also visit a small shop making famous Shan paper and umbrellas. Using the bark of the mulberry tree, the craftsmen create beautiful handmade paper that they then stretch over bamboo umbrella frames.

You can also visit a local village producing le phet, a fermented tea product popular with the Burmese people.

Dinner at your hotel

Overnight: PINDAYA (BLD)

Tuesday 28th February

This morning drive to Nyaung Shwe, the main entrance point for Inle Lake. The drive takes around 1.5-2 hours. Visit Red Mountain winery to see their wine production and methods of harvest. Wine tasting at Red Mountain.

Transfer by boat to your hotel on the lake this afternoon.

Dinner at your hotel

Overnight: INLE LAKE (BD)

Wednesday 29th February

After breakfast, board a private motorboat to visit Inle Lake. Pass villages built on stilts over the lake, inhabited by the local Intha people.  Observe the leg-rowing fishermen and see their floating gardens built up from strips of water hyacinth and mud and anchored to the bottom with bamboo poles. Visit the lake’s morning market. The market rotates its location around the lake’s villages in a 5 day cycle and is visited by lake inhabitants and surrounding hill tribes who come to sell and trade their wares. (Note: market is daily except on dark moon day and full moon day).

Visit Kaung Dhine village on the eastern shores of Inle Lake. The people living here are known for their delicious soy bean crackers, tofu and other treats. Walking around the village you can observe all steps of the process of creating these local items.

Then continue south on the lake to visit the many cottage industries on the water such as cheroot making, lotus weaving and blacksmiths.
Visit Nga Hpe Chaung Monastery, which houses dozens of Shan Buddha Images, but is more famous for its unique ‘jumping cats’ that jump through hoops in the air!  Continue to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the lake’s main sanctuary, which contains five sacred Buddha images covered in gold leaf. 

Explore the local crafts of Inle Lake with a stop at the weaving village of Inpawkhone and a cheroot factory, where the typical Burmese cigars are made by hand.

Lunch at Golden Kite Restaurant with Italian food

From the middle of the lake, continue down a small canal leading to the Pa-oh village of In Dein.  Explore the area on foot, strolling around the village, visiting a local school, and wander through the beautiful Alaung Sitthou area.  Alaung Sitthou is filled with picturesque ancient stupas and has magnificent views of the lake below.

On the return stop at Inthar Heritage House. This unique museum/café is aiming to preserve traditional culture of the lake. They have set up an organic garden on the premises and the staffs are keen to talk about the process of farming on the lake.

Dinner at your hotel.

Overnight: INLE LAKE  (BLD)

Thursday 1st March 

Enjoy a morning at leisure on the lake- relaxing on the balcony of your room and enjoying the views.

Around 10.30, transfer by boat to Nyaung Shwe where we can take a short trishaw ride around this charming town. Depending on the day we may visit the morning market which is full of fresh produce and other goods.

After lunch at View Point Restaurant or similar and continue to Heho for the flight to Yangon. On arrival, transfer to your hotel.

Dinner at LE PLANTEUR  RESTAURANT

Overnight: YANGON (BLD)

Friday 2nd March 
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

Saturday 3rd March

Arrive London Heathrow

Cost Includes:

• Return international flights
• All internal flights as indicated in itinerary
• 9 nights hotel accommodation (superior or deluxe standard)
• 1 night accommodation on RV Paukan 2007 vessel
• Meals as indicated in the programme (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=Dinner)
• All transfers and excursions with private air-conditioned vehicles and drivers
• All sightseeing and entrances as indicated on itinerary
• Private Boat for Inle Lake Excursion
• All farm visits as indicated on itinerary
• Local guides throughout (except on river cruise)
• Tips to local guides and drivers
• Services of a professional English speaking tour guide throughout
•  Porterage of 1 piece of luggage per person

Not included:

• Personal expenses
• Travel insurance
• Visa fees & airport taxes
  
  

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