Untouched Myanmar
A group familiarization trip by Trails of Indochina
Flight times and the daily order of sightseeing is subject to change Transfer times are approximate and are subject to local conditions at the time of travel
ITINERARY SUMMARY
Date Location Accommodation 01 May – 03 May 2015 Yangon Belmond Governor's Residence 03 May – 05 May 2015 Mandalay Mandalay Hill Resort 05 May – 08 May 2015 Bagan Aureum Palace Hotel 08 May – 10 May 2015 Inle Lake - Heho Inle Princess Resort 10 May 2015 Depart Yangon
ITINERARY DETAIL
Day 1 – Friday 01 May 2015: Yangon arrival (Own tickets, flight info to be advised)
Upon arrival, meet your guide and transfer to your hotel.
*The regular check-in time is at 02.00pm; early check-in is subject to availability and may incur an additional charge.
Meals: None Accommodation: Belmond Governor's Residence/ Deluxe Address: 35 Taw Win Road, Dagon Township Tel: (95-1) 229 860. Fax: (95-1) 228 260 www.belmond.com/governors-residence-yangon
Day 2 – Saturday 02 May 2015: Yangon Full Day Highlight Tour/ Oil Lamp Ceremony At Shwedagon Pagoda
Although the city of Yangon has grown to accommodate over seven million people, it has retained its former charm. Start the day with a visit to the Sule Pagoda. Originally an Indian structure, according to legend it is over 2,500 years old. Observe the locals going about their daily lives when we pass by Mahabandoola Park. Stroll through downtown Yangon with its faded colonial atmosphere and visit the beautiful post office before visiting the Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda, known for the reclining Buddha that measures 70 meters in length.
11.30AM: Hotel site inspection at The Strand Hotel
Lunch is served at Padonmar Restaurant
01.30PM: Hotel site inspection at Sule Shangri-La Hotel
Afterward, we will continue to the National Museum, which is home to priceless ancient artifacts. Visit the Bogyoke Market, then head to the Indian quarter for a different view of the city by car. Then visit to the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda, where many local and Buddhists come to worship.
When a Buddhist visits a pagoda, he has two purposes: to gain merit by doing good deeds and to ward off impending misfortune by performing certain mysterious rituals. People offer flowers, incense and count beads, meditate, feed birds, donate money and finally strike a bell to share the merit. The people in Myanmar gives far more to charity in proportion to their wealth than any other people. By doing some or all of these things, they gain confidence that they are sure to bring good luck to their lives. End the day at the most important sight and the landmark of Yangon, the awe-inspiring golden Shwedagon Pagoda, one of the most beautiful pagoda complexes in all of Asia. *A private function of 1500 oil-lamps offering on Shwedagon with a brief religious chant at Dusk.
Tonight, transfer to enjoy your welcome dinner at Le Planteur Restaurant - this award-winning restaurant serves excellent French food – the menu is regularly updated – with a beautiful setting to match in a colonial building with a lush garden.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Belmond Governor's Residence/ Deluxe
Day 3 - Sunday 03 May 2015: Yangon – Mandalay by air (Economy class, TOI Burma books, flight time to be advised)/ Mandalay City Highlights Tour
This morning, transfer to the airport for the flight to Mandalay. Upon arrival, meet and transfer to visit Mahamuni Temple – one of the most famous temples in Myanmar. Built in 1784 by King Bodawpaya, the temple also exhibits some influence from Hindu and Khmer (Cambodian) style. Then continue to Atumashi Monastery built in 1857 by King Mindon. Next, we’ll head to the Mya Nan San Kyaw Palace.
11.30AM: Hotel site inspection at Sedona Hotel
Lunch is served at Unique Myanmar Restaurant
In the afternoon, make a visit to Shwenandaw Monastery, originally part of the royal palace complex of King Mindon and made entirely of teak wood. Later, stop at Kuthodaw Temple, right at the foot of Mandalay Hill. Kuthodaw is world renowned for having the world’s largest book – a collection of 729 stone slabs documenting the teaching of The Buddha. To end the tour, drive up Mandalay Hill to visit the serene standing Buddha at Shweyattaw Temple which is said to have pointed the way to the former capital. Enjoy the view from the top of the hill and return to town.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Mandalay Hill Resort/ Superior Address: 9 Kwin 416B, 10th st., At the foot of Mandalay Hill Tel: (95-2) 35 638. Fax: (95-2) 35 639 http://www.mandalayhillresorthotel.com
Day 4 – Monday 04 May 2015: Mandalay Full Day Ancient Capitals
Amarapura, Ava (Inwa) and Sagaing are all former capitals of the old kingdom of Myanmar. Start with a transfer to Amarapura, the 18th century capital where the country’s largest monastery is located: Maha Ghandayon. Continue to visit to another ancient capital, Ava, which was the capital of Myanmar before Amarapura. Board a horse carriage and ride to the wooden Bagaya Monastery and the remains of the Royal Palace.
Lunch is served at one of Small River Restaurant
Cross the Ayeyarwaddy River and head for the picturesque Sagaing Hill. The area houses an incredible amount of pagodas and monasteries, all painted white. It is regarded to as a religious center in Myanmar and is home to over 3,000 monks and 100 meditation centers. End the day with a visit to the magnificent teak bridge of U Bein to see the sunset, which is over 200 years old. It is the longest teak bridge in the world. Return to Mandalay in the late afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Mandalay Hill Resort/ Superior
Day 5 – Tuesday 05 May 2015: Mandalay – Bagan by air (Economy class, TOI Burma books, flight time to be advised)/ Bagany City Highlights Tour
This morning, transfer to the airport for the flight to Bagan. Upon arrival, meet and transfer downtown.
The ancient city of Bagan in central Myanmar is reminiscent of other great ancient cities such as Angkor in Cambodia. Bagan, formerly known as Pagan, was the capital of several ancient Burmese Kingdoms. Approximately 2,200 of the originally 4,400 temples remain standing in Bagan. Start visiting to Shwezigon Pagoda, one of the four most significant buildings in Bagan which served as the center of reflection and prayer. Then, continue to Ananda Temple with its four huge standing Buddha images and numerous seated figures arranged around the interior gallery. Make a short excursion at Anauk Pwa Saw Village to see the cotton weaving work as well as Minanthu Village which produces cooking oil from peanuts.
Lunch is served at Green Elephant (Nandawun) Restaurant
01.30PM: Hotel site inspection at The Hotel @ Tharabar Gate Hotel 02.30PM: Hotel site inspection at Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Hotel 03.30PM: Hotel site inspection at Bagan Lodge Myanmar
In the late afternoon, visit Dhammayangyi Pagoda, Bagan’s largest temple. The temple is a large square, single story, pyramidal temple with six monumental ascending exterior terraces. Afterwards, return to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Aureum Palace Hotel/ Deluxe Address: Near Bagan Viewing Tower, Min Nanthu Village, Nyaung Oo Tel: 95 61 60046. Fax: http://www.aureumpalacehotel.com/
Day 6 – Wednesday 06 May 2015: Inside Bagan’s Community Life/ Bagan Sunset Cocktail Cruise On Ayeyarwaddy (Irrawaddy)
After breakfast, depart for the Ngat Pyit Taung Monastery. The temple is home to some caves that are spiritually important to the local people. Observe the local traditions before visiting the monastic primary school. Most of the children studying here are from underprivileged areas and a donation in the form of school supplies is most welcome. Learn how the educational system works in Myanmar and continue to the town of Nyaung U.
Lunch is served at Amata Boutique House.
The surroundings of Nyaung U are great to soak up local rural life and to learn more about the daily activities of the Burmese people. Observe how local soy bean paste is made and packed and visit workshops of two products that the region is famous for: handmade lacquer and wooden handicrafts. Also, discover how the wooden carts are made that are still used by farmers throughout the country. Don’t be shy to try your hand at some of these activities, the craftsmen are happy help you learn some new skills.
End the day with a charming sunset cruise on the Ayeyarwaddy River, coming to life in beautiful warm evening hues at dusk. Observe the local life along the river in the evening. While sailing, enjoy a cocktail or cool drink and watch the scenic view of the sun setting over mountains on the far bank of the river. It is an awesome experience to listen to the natural sounds of the mighty Ayeyarwaddy when the captain switches off the engine for a while. After sunset, cruise back to land and return to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Aureum Palace Hotel/ Deluxe
Day 7 – Thursday 07 May 2015: Full Day Mount Popa And Salay
Rising 1,518 meters from the surrounding plains of Bagan, Mount Popa is considered the sacred home of the spirits and is about a 1.5 hour drive from Bagan. Visit a palm village along the way to gain an insight into how palm sugar (jaggery) is produced. Continue to Mount Popa and pass by Taung Kalat, the temple which sits atop a small mountain in front of Popa like a plug in the volcano and holds significance in Myanmar’s history and religion. The monastery is home to the 37 nats (spirits) of Myanmar, which are displayed at the base of the mountain. There is the option to climb 777 steps to the top of Taung Kalat for some exercise (no shoes)! Then continue most of the way up Mount Popa by vehicle. The views from atop are incredible and may reach as far as Bagan on a clear day.
Lunch is served at Popa Mountain Resort
Afterwards, continue to the colorful old religious center of Salay, home to a large number of monasteries and colonial buildings. Visit Yoke-Sone-Kyaung, which was built in 1882 and is nowadays a cultural heritage site. Situated on the eastern bank of the Ayeyarwaddy River, the monastery is famous for its spectacular wood carvings. Return to Bagan in the late afternoon.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Aureum Palace Hotel/ Deluxe
Day 8 – Friday 08 May 2015: Bagan – Heho by air (Economy class, TOI Burma books, flight time to be advised)/ Inle Lake Full Day Tour
In the morning, transfer to the airport for the flight to Bagan. Upon arrival, meet and transfer downtown.
The freshwater lake of Inle is Myanmar’s second largest and measures about 70km². Located at an altitude of 880 meters, the lake is also one of the highest in the country, with a cool climate and exceptional flora and fauna. Inle is famous for its unique leg-rowers. This unusual style of rowing requires remarkable balance and definitely takes some practice. Enjoy a boat trip on the lake and observe the beautiful surroundings en route to the floating gardens.
Lunch is served at Green Tea Restaurant.
01.00PM: Hotel site inspection at Aureum Inle Resort & Spa. 02.00PM: Hotel site inspection at Villa Inle Resort & Spa.
Depart for the southwest section of the lake where the Indein pagoda complex is situated. Take the small covered path from the Pa O tribal village to a monastery and the very impressive ruins of hundreds of ancient pagodas, some hidden under vegetation. The main stupa area on the top of the hill offers breathtaking views over the surroundings and into the valley with the lake in the distance. Afterwards, transfer to your hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Accommodation: Inle Princess Resort/ Mountain View Chalet Address: Magyizin Village, Inle Lake, Shan State Tel: (95-81) 29 364. Fax: (95-81) 29 363 www.inleprincessresort.com
Day 9 – Saturday 09 May 2015: Full Day Visit To Pindaya/ Red Mountain Vineyard In Nyaung Shwe
Pindaya a short 1.5-hour drive from Inle, is renowned for its limestone caves, called the Pindaya Caves. The caves are a Buddhist pilgrimage site and house thousands of Buddha images. There are three caves on the ridge, which runs north to south, but only the southern cave can be entered and explored. A well-worn path leads to the back of the cave, about 150m deep. There are about 8,000 Buddha statues on display in the cave, left by previous pilgrims. The earliest statues date back to the mid-18th century. Wander around the cave and allow some time to explore the town, which is beautifully situated by a small lake and surrounded by mountains. Visit a Shan umbrella and mulberry paper production home industry and return to Inle.
Lunch is served at Pinday Inle Inn Restaurant.
Depart in the late afternoon for Red Mountain Estate Vineyard. Located on the side of the famous Inle Lake, in the southern Shan State, the Red Mountain Estate produces some of the best wines of the country. Since the beginning, the wines are produced with locally grown grapes. All of the 400,000 vines have been imported from France and Spain, and the varieties were chosen after experiments. Upon arrival, take a short tour through the vineyard led by a Red Mountain representative. Later, enjoy a tasting of several types of wine with some snacks while you take in the beautiful view from the top of the hill. In is truly an east meets west experience. Then head back to the hotel.
Tonight, enjoy your farewell dinner at Inle Princess Resort - this ultra-lush and elegant restaurant is set in the grounds of the most exclusive hotel in the area. The setting, the presentation and the food (comes in set menus of western, Myanmar and local specialties) are all flawless.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Accommodation: Inle Princess Resort/ Mountain View Chalet
Day 10 - Sunday 10 May 2015: Inle – Yangon on air (Economy class, TOI Burma books, flight time to be advised)/ Yangon Departure (Own tickets, flight info to be advised)
This morning, meet your guide at the lobby and we will transfer to airport for the flight back to Yangon. Upon arrival, take a connecting flight onto home.
*The regular check-out time is at 12.00noon; late check-out is subject to availability and may incur an additional charge.
Meals: Breakfast End of services!
TOUR COST:
*The tour price is based on the above suggested hotel/room categories. Price is subject to change due to availability and increases in air airfares when space is confirmed.
Tour Price 10 persons on double/twin share Price per person US$ 1,500.00
TOUR INCLUSIONS: Inclusive of: Non-inclusive of: Overnight accommodation is inclusive of hotel tax, Airport Assistance Service hotel service charges and includes daily breakfast Separate luggage truck Private transfers (group arrives & departs Myanmar visa together) and transportation on tour Other meals where not mentioned in the program Sightseeing with one English speaking guide Drinks/water at included lunches and dinners throughout Myanmar Other flights & airport taxes Entrance fees and boat rides as dedicated Hotel early check in/ Late check out Meals & beverages as mentioned specifically in the Overweight luggage itinerary Personal expenses Airfares: RGN-MDL, MDL-PBE, BPE-HEH, Travel insurance HEH-RGN (Economy class with airport tax) Tips & gratuities Special visit & interaction arrangement Other services not listed in inclusive column Cold towels and water on sightseeing days Welcome pack
TERMS & CONDITIONS:
Full payment required upon confirmation of your participation. 100% cancellation penalty is applied if cancelled. Participating agents will need to actively participate in all listed activities and inspections. Single rooms are not available to ensure the maximum numbers are met to meet the needs of our hoteliers. Agents will be partnered with another of the same gender.
IMPORTANT NOTES:
VISAS Please make sure your passport is valid more than 6 months from the date of return in each country you are visiting. Also, be sure that there is sufficient space in your passport to allow for all immigration procedures. At least 2 blank pages are required due to the full page visas used in each country of Southeast Asia. Kindly note that visa service is not included in our proposal. Please contact me for any visa service or guidance. Please note the following general information (subject to change) concerning visas in our part of the world.
Myanmar: According to the official requirements from the Myanmar immigration authority, visitors to Myanmar who have a Myanmar embassy in their home country are required to obtain a tourist visa from that embassy. An E Visa is available now for Myanmar. Please check here for your own validity: http://evisa.moip.gov.mm/
TRIP INSURANCE & TRAVEL INSURANCE The tour price does not include personal insurance. Travelers are highly recommended to purchase Trip Insurance & Travel Insurance upon commitment of the booking in case of force majeure. Trip Insurance covers the cost of your trip should you be forced to cancel your trip before you start the trip. Travel Insurance covers such costs as emergency and medical evacuation, hospital fees, property loss, etc. which could possibly happen during the trip. If you would like Trails of Indochina to have a copy of your Trip Insurance & Travel Insurance information in case of emergency, please forward these details to your agent who will in turn forward to our office.
Contact our team at [email protected] to reserve your place.