The Oldie Road to Mandalay with Giles Fitzherbert (Burma)

An enigmatic land of golden pagodas and mist-shrouded jungle, Burma was once described by Rudyard Kipling as a place ‘quite unlike any...you know about’. Isolated for years by the outside world, it remains an enigma to many. But those that enter will discover a timeless land of colonial elegance and Buddhist tradition that has changed little over the intervening years. Across the plains of Bagan we can gaze across a seemingly endless sea of temples and pagodas, whilst amongst the bustling streets of Yangon and Mandalay the old world and the new clash in a vibrant explosion of colour and sound. We will walk in the footsteps of pilgrims and adventurers, as we travel from the city streets of old Yangon (Rangoon) to the stunning landscapes around Lake Inle, taking in hill stations and some of the most revered religious monuments in Southeast Asia along the way. Accompanied throughout by former diplomat Giles Fitzherbert, founder & director of the Irrawaddy Literary Festival and now regular visitor to the country, this unique trip designed exclusively for readers of The Oldie will be sure not to disappoint.

“Visiting Myanmar with Wild Frontiers gave us with an insight into the country, its people and their way of life that few other tour companies, if any, could provide in two weeks.” Ken Norman

Duration: 13 Days Average group size: 5 – 16

Start: Mon 29 Jan 18 Finish: Sat 10 Feb 18

Looking for alternative dates? Check the website or give us a call

WILD FRONTIERS Adventure Travel Ltd Tel: +44 (0) 20 7736 3968 Fax: +44 (0) 20 8741 3610 Email: [email protected] Website: www.wildfrontierstravel.com

TOUR DETAILS TOUR CODE: OBU/A

HIGHLIGHTS

 Explore the Buddhist and colonial heritage of Yangon and Mandalay  Scenic train ride from Kalaw  Travel by boat down the Irrawaddy River to Bagan  Gaze across the temples and pagodas that litter the famed Plains of Bagan  Enjoy the scenic splendour and ethnic diversity of beautiful Lake Inle  Being accompanied throughout by former diplomat Giles Fitzherbert, founder & director of the Irrawaddy Literary Festival and now regular visitor to the country

Accommodation: As an overall ethos, wherever possible we aim to use characterful accommodation that enhances the overall travel experience, not just offers a bed for the night. This can obviously vary dramatically from country to country and from trip to trip. On this particular trip we will be in comfortable hotels throughout. Please note that the accommodation mentioned in the itinerary is intended as a guide only and is always subject to availability.

Transport: On this tour we will use coaster buses, boat, motorised canoe, train and domestic flights.

Climate: The best season for visiting Myanmar is from November to March, when it rains least and isn't too hot. The southwest monsoon starts between mid-May and mid-June, and brings frequent rains until October. We expect temperatures of around 30 degrees during this tour, but it will be cooler in Kalaw.

Is this trip for me? It may sound obvious but Wild Frontiers tours are not always for everyone and it is important to us that the tour you choose is the most suitable. Please therefore take time to read the dossier carefully. All our tours are graded to give an overall picture of the trip but these are only guidelines and you should check the daily itinerary. Should you have any concerns about your ability to partake in any aspect of the tour then please contact the office.

Adventure Rating  Comfort Grade  Fitness Level  Cultural Interest   Additional Comments: Anyone in a reasonable state of health, with an open mind and a sense of adventure should be perfectly able to cope with this tour.

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before we then continue on to the nearby old hill station of Kalaw. Amara Mountain Resort or similar (B,L,D)

Giles Fitzherbert first visited Burma in 1982 having wangled a 2 week visa (the official limit then being 1 week). He was enchanted by a country which had turned its back on the world outside and more or less put an end to tourism. He retired from the Diplomatic Service in 1993 after being ambassador to Venezuela for 5 years and went back to live in his native Ireland. Since 2012 he has been a regular visitor to Burma as a founder & director of the Irrawaddy Literary Festival,

of which Aung San Suu Kyi is the patron. Day 1: Tour starts in Yangon: The tour will begin at lunchtime today at our hotel in the centre of Yangon. This afternoon we Day 3: Kalaw – Lake Inle: A short drive will will pay a visit to the Shwedagon Pagoda, bring us to the Green Hill Valley elephant whose famous golden stupa dominates the camp, the primary focus of which is to city’s skyline. The most sacred Buddhist provide care for elephants that are no pagoda in Myanmar, Shwedagon is longer fit to work. After a welcome believed to be over 2,500 years old and its briefing we'll take a short walk to see the central stupa is surrounded by a wealth of elephants and see the life of the mahouts intricately decorated buildings and with their families. Watching feeding and statues. Believed to hold the relics of past bathing time offers a great insight into Buddhas, the pagoda is a popular shrine for these intelligent and sensitive creatures local pilgrims, making it a fascinating spot and there should also be time to explore at which to enjoy the setting of the late some of the surrounding forest area with afternoon sun. This evening we’ll enjoy opportunities to see butterflies, birds and dinner with some spectacular views. orchids in the conservation area. After Chatrium Hotel or similar (L,D) lunch (subject to train schedules) we'll return to Kalaw to take a classic train ride Day 2: Yangon - Heho - Kalaw: A morning to Shwe Nyaung from where we'll transfer flight will take us to Heho from where to Nyaung Shwe, our gateway onto the we’ll will cross the Shan Plateau to tranquil waters of Lake Inle. Pindaya. Our journey takes us up into the Villa Inle Resort or similar (B,L,D) hills and past a network of paddy fields as we make our way into the heartland of the Day 4: Lake Inle: The second largest lake Taung Yoe people. Our destination is the in the country and one of its highest, Lake magnificent complex of limestone caves Inle covers some 116 square kilometres of that occupy the ridge overlooking Pindaya the picturesque Shan Hills. Home to a Lake. The Pindaya Caves are home to number of ethnic minorities, including thousands of Buddhist images, made from Intha, Shan, and Danu, the lake alabaster, teak, marble, lacquer and even provides us with a wonderfully scenic cement, which have been placed here over backdrop to all our activities. We will be the centuries to create a labyrinth through transported around for the next two days the hills. We will have a chance to explore in small traditional open narrow boats, something of this fascinating setting, even enjoying the calm waters and floating taking the time to visit some local houses gardens of the lake, formed from a to watch traditional Shan paper making, combination of silt and weed, which over time forms a thick layer of rich humus

WILD FRONTIERS Adventure Travel Ltd Tel: +44 (0) 20 7736 3968 Fax: +44 (0) 20 8741 3610 Email: [email protected] Website: www.wildfrontierstravel.com upon which gardens of fruit and vegetables Day 7: Mandalay: We will begin today with can be grown and tended. The Inthas tend a visit to the gilded majesty of the these gardens from long, banana-shaped Kuthodaw Pagoda at the foot of Mandalay boats, the same boats that they use to fish Hill. It is here that we will find the the waters of the lake for Inle carp. The ‘world’s largest book’, made up of a series locals have a somewhat distinctive way of of marble slabs, each inscribed on both rowing these sturdy craft, standing at the sides with pages of text from the Tipitaki; stern of the boat and wrapping a leg the standard collection of scriptures of the around the oar. It is a posture that affords Buddhist faith. What makes this them an unrestricted view across the book so unique is that each slab is housed floating reeds and leaves them two free in one of 729 stone stupas located in the hands with which to handle their nets. We grounds of the pagoda. From here we will also visit the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, move on to the intricate teak carvings of site of the holiest shrine in southern Shan. the Shwenandaw Monastery, the last We then proceed to In Paw Khone to major structure still remaining of the observe some unique lotus fibre weaving original wooden Royal Palace. Later this and visit a local silversmith. morning we’ll head out of Mandalay to Villa Inle Resort or similar (B,L,D) Ava, the country’s former capital, which for nearly 500 years lay at the heart of Day 5: Lake Inle: After breakfast we will Burmese power and culture. Ava was visit a local market offering another founded by King Thamdominbya in 1364 on aspect of the colour and spectacle of life an artificial island at the confluence of the on the lake. We will then continue up a Irrawaddy and Myitnge Rivers. We board a beautiful canal to the small village of local ferry to cross the river to Ava, where Indein, located on the lake’s western we will take a relaxing horse cart ride shore. Passing by the monastery of Phe around the sights of the old city. There Chaung, our boat turns into a narrow may also be the opportunity to walk among creek, taking us past a patchwork of rural the rice fields to visit the Buddhist Maha farmland and ancient ruined pagodas. Aungmyae Bonzan Monastery, built in 1818 After a chance to take a short walk around by the wife of King Bodawpaya. After the Pa-Oh village, we return to the main lunch we will re-join our bus and drive to tributary and the expansive waters of Lake another former royal capital, Amarapura Inle. After lunch we’ll take a gentle row where we visit the 140-year-old teak- through a stilted village to learn a little stilted U Bein Bridge, which spans Lake more about the Intha and their ways, and Thaungthaman. We’ll enjoy the sunset if time permits, take a short walk beside from small boats on the lake, before the lake before returning to our hotel for heading back to central Mandalay. the night. Mandalay Hill Resort Hotel or similar Villa Inle Resort or similar (B,L,D) (B,L,D)

Day 6: Lake Inle – Kakku - Heho - Day 8: Mandalay – Sagaing – Monywa: This Mandalay: A 2hr drive from takes morning we visit Sagaing, the last of us to Kakkku to visit some newly Mandalay’s ancient capitals and one of the discovered stupas. There are nearly 2500 most important religious and monastic Buddhist stupas here lying in parallel rows centres in the country. The hillsides that in an area of about one square kilometre lead up from the river are crowded with in deepest Pa-O territory. It is a truly numerous monasteries and pagodas and remarkable place in a great state of we will visit a few, taking in the U Min preservation that sees relatively few Thoneze Pagoda (Thirty Caves) and the visitors. Later we’ll drive to , the central pagoda of Soon U Pon Nya Shinwill. capital of , and on to Heho for a Leaving Mandalay behind we make a stop short flight to Mandalay. Set on the at the Kuang Madaw, the largest dome in eastern banks of the Irrawaddy River, the Myanmar, dating from the 17th Century and city is considered the cultural heart of the inspired by the Great Stupa in Sri Lanka, country and an important centre for before departing for the Chindwin Valley. Buddhist learning and Burmese culture. Travelling through an interesting rural Mandalay Hill Resort Hotel or similar area, en route we will visit the tallest (B,L,D) Buddha in the world, the longest reclining Buddha and the monastery with the most

WILD FRONTIERS Adventure Travel Ltd Tel: +44 (0) 20 7736 3968 Fax: +44 (0) 20 8741 3610 Email: [email protected] Website: www.wildfrontierstravel.com

Buddhas in the world – 582,363 to be writing some places were closed for exact! We will also stop to admire the renovation following on from the nearby Boditahtaung Pagoda, with its earthquake of August 2016. immense garden of over a thousand sitting Tharabar Gate Hotel or similar (B,L,D) Buddhas, before arriving in Monywa on the eastern bank of the Chindwin River. Day 11: Bagan – Kyun Thiri Island – Bagan: Win Unity Hotel or similar (B,L,D) For early risers there is the option of observing sunrise at Bagan from the Day 9: Monywa - Bagan: After breakfast terraces of the stunning Dhamayazika we will spend some time in Monywa’s temple. After breakfast we take a boat out bustling market, where Indian goods across the Irrawaddy to the island of Kyun transported down the Chindwin River are Thiri where we will enjoy a morning traded. Later we drive to Pakkoku, visiting the local monastery. Tradition stopping at various rural homes on the dictates that all Buddhist males must at way, from where we will take a private some time in their lives become monks – if boat to Bagan. The journey takes around only for a few days. During our visit we will three hours and we’re sure it will make make a donation to the monastery to assist another highlight of the trip as the some of the poor or orphaned boys in riverside temples hove into view as the sun undertaking their vows. We will then sets. Covering some 41 square kilometres, spend the rest of the morning with the the ruins at Bagan are one of Asia’s most people of the island, learning about their spectacular sacred sites, considered on a unique agricultural way of life. Later this par with the magnificent Angkor temples afternoon we will make our final return to of Cambodia. Once the capital of the First the temples Bagan, exploring the lovely Burmese Empire, Bagan’s golden period stucco-work of the Gubyaukgyi Temple in spanned the years between the 11th and Myinkaba village, before paying a visit to 13th centuries, when its vast plains lay the Mon-style Hindu temple of Nanpaya. scattered with over 13 thousand temples, Said to have been built by the captive Mon pagodas and religious structures. Time, king, Manuha, the temple contains some earthquakes, Mongol armies and the particularly fine carvings of Brahma. We inundation of the River Irrawaddy have will also take in the four Buddha images in ravaged much of the original city, but the Manuha Pagoda, before moving on to there are still over 2200 structures the Myazedi stupa, Myanmar’s very own remaining, presenting visitors with one of ‘Rosetta Stone’. A four-sided pillar, the the most unforgettable views anywhere in stupa’s inscription, written in four Southeast Asia. different languages (Pyu, Mon, Old Tharabar Gate Hotel or similar (B,L,D) Burmese and Pali), has allowed archaeologists to decipher the written Pyu Day 10: Bagan: This morning we begin our language. exploration of the magnificent temple Tharabar Gate Hotel or similar (B,L,D) complexes of Bagan at the famed golden stupa of Shwezigon Pagoda, arriving early Day 12: Bagan – Yangon: We plan to take to observe local villagers making their a mid-morning flight to Yangon, allowing daily offerings. We’ll admire the 12th plenty of time for personal exploration and century frescos that adorn the cave perhaps a chance to visit the famous Scott temple of King Kyansittha before visiting Market for some last minute souvenir the temples of Htilominio and Ananda, the shopping. This evening we will go out to latter of which is considered a enjoy our last night dinner. masterpiece of Mon design. Late afternoon Chatrium Hotel or similar (B,L,D) sees us enjoying a horse cart ride through the Tharaba Gateway through crop fields Day 13: Tour ends in Yangon: Our final and villages passing the 12th century morning allows us an opportunity to Thatbyinnyu Temple (at 61 metres, the discover Yangon’s high concentration of tallest in the city), before ending the day colonial architecture with a stroll around watching a golden sunset from the open the bustling streets of downtown, terraces of the Bagan temples. wandering down Pansodan Street, NB, please note that the exact sites admiring the shabby Victorian visited in Bagan may vary from those architecture of the former High Court and mentioned in this dossier as at the time of General Telegraph Office. We’ll head for

WILD FRONTIERS Adventure Travel Ltd Tel: +44 (0) 20 7736 3968 Fax: +44 (0) 20 8741 3610 Email: [email protected] Website: www.wildfrontierstravel.com

Nanthida Jetty, from where the ferries pay a single supplement we’ll pair you leave for the Delta region and the with someone else of the same sex for you upcountry towns that lie along the to share with throughout the trip. Irrawaddy (Ayeyarwady) River. Close by is the colonial elegance of the Strand Hotel, On this trip, if you do opt to pay for a one of the most famous hotels in Myanmar single supplement then please note that it during the days of British rule. (B) will cover you for all nights of the tour.

Extensions: If you have more time Flights: If you would like us to send you a available, why not arrive early to adjust to quote for the suggested tour flight (see a new time zone or just to get a feel for GETTING THERE) or on any alternative the country before your tour starts? Or flight that may suit you better, please let alternatively you might choose to allow a us know although it should be noted that few extra days after the tour to relax or to in most cases we are only able to quote on undertake some further exploration. flights originating in the UK.

The choice is completely yours and we can Please remember that all Wild Frontiers usually arrange anything from simply tour prices mean NO hidden extras, NO additional accommodation and transfers local payments and NO compulsory single to full tailor-made itineraries. supplements.

Here is just a small sample of what you WHAT IS INCLUDED? could do:-  Full services of a Wild Frontiers Tour Mawlamyaing & Kyaikhtiyo (the Golden Leader with local guides and drivers Rock): Why not take a train ride to visit accompanied by Giles Fitzherbert* the place where the British first landed for  Meal plan as detailed in the itinerary a taste of Old Burma? You can also join the (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) pilgrims as they visit the gravity-defying with drinking water as required with Golden Rock (5 night package). the majority of meals being taken in local restaurants where viable Ngapali Beach: After your tour, why not  All transport as outlined in the relax on an idyllic white sand beach for a itinerary. few days in Ngapali? We have a variety of  All accommodation beachfront hotels available for you to  All entrance fees, as per itinerary choose from.  A carbon-offsetting contribution to Carbon Clear (if booking international Please contact the office for more flights through WF office) details and to discuss your individual requirements. *Please note that Giles Fitzherbert is committed to this trip but if Giles’s PRICING personal circumstances should change we reserve the right to find a suitable Tour price: All our tours are priced on a replacement for this tour. land-only basis, giving you maximum flexibility when deciding how to get to and WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED from your tour. For the latest prices, please refer to our website or contact the  Visas (if applicable) office.  Local airport taxes  Tips (always optional, but some Travelling Solo & Single Supplements: As guidance will be given in the pre- a company approximately 70% of our departure information pack you’ll clients are solo travellers, so it’s very receive after booking) unlikely you’ll be alone!  Beverages other than drinking water & any costs of a personal nature Our prices are typically based on twin-  International flights to/from the share accommodation but single start/finish of the trip supplements are not compulsory for any  Airport transfers (unless booking Wild Frontiers tour. If you prefer not to suggested flights through WF office)

WILD FRONTIERS Adventure Travel Ltd Tel: +44 (0) 20 7736 3968 Fax: +44 (0) 20 8741 3610 Email: [email protected] Website: www.wildfrontierstravel.com

FCO is advising against all or all but GETTING THERE essential travel except where it has been previously agreed. For this trip our suggested flights from the UK (subject to change) are: Elite policy: provides the same comprehensive level of cover as the 28JAN TG911 LHR-BKK 11:50/06:10+1 standard policy. In addition the Elite 29JAN TG303 BKK-RGN 08:00/08:45 policy also provides cover for travel to 10FEB TG306 RGN-BKK 19:50/21:45 areas where the FCO is advising against all 11FEB TG910 BKK-LHR 00:15/06:20 or all but essential travel. Except in the case of terrorism, the policy will not Key: provide cover for any claims arising from LHR – London Heathrow or relating to the reasons why the FCO is BKK – Bangkok advising against travel. RGN – Yangon TG – Thai Airways For this trip the minimum requirement would be the Standard policy. NB If you wish to arrange your own flights you are completely free to do so and in this These policies are only available to those case we can arrange any transfers or travelling on a Wild Frontiers holiday and supplementary accommodation that you can be purchased on a trip-specific basis may require. or annual cover. For more information please refer to the details on our website Please note that if you are planning on www.wildfrontierstravel.com/insurance making your own flight arrangements, we or by calling Travel & General direct on + recommend that you first check with us to 44 (0) 20 3794 2954. This insurance is see if the trip is guaranteed. We then available to EEA residents (i.e. EU suggest that you purchase flights that are countries as well as Iceland, Lichtenstein flexible and ideally refundable as due to and Norway) up to the age of 78. It covers the nature of adventure travel, itineraries horse riding, mountain walking, trekking, and destination accessibility can change at white-water rafting and all other activities any time. For more information, please we offer as part of our tours. refer to our booking conditions. If you are over 78 then you may still be Insurance: Insurance that provides cover able to get your insurance arranged by for emergency repatriation in case of a Travel & General Insurance Services medical emergency is compulsory for all Limited. Please contact us for assistance tours. You should be aware that due to with this. some of the geographical areas visited and some of the activities included on certain If you do decide to purchase alternative of our trips some standard insurance insurance, then you must ensure that it policies may not always provide adequate covers you for every aspect of this trip. cover. As such we strongly recommend that you purchase a policy that adequately Wild Frontiers Limited is an Introducer covers your trip. Appointed Representative of Travel & General Insurance Service Ltd, details of Travel & General offer a tailor-made which can be found at the website of the policy that provides cover for all Wild Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Frontiers trips. Under this policy there are www.fca.org.uk two different levels of cover available - Standard and Elite. Please note that no insurance policy will cover every eventuality and terms and Cover explained: conditions will apply in the event of any claim. Standard policy: a comprehensive travel insurance policy that provides cover for all Visas: Visas are necessary for many of the Wild Frontiers activities, including destinations we travel to and while we aim trekking up to 6,000m. This policy does not to provide you with the most up-to-date provide cover for travel to areas where the information, requirements frequently

WILD FRONTIERS Adventure Travel Ltd Tel: +44 (0) 20 7736 3968 Fax: +44 (0) 20 8741 3610 Email: [email protected] Website: www.wildfrontierstravel.com change and as such for the latest advice and from the outset we have contributed we advise that you check with the relevant to projects in many of the places we visit. embassies or contact our recommended However in 2009 we decided to take things visa agency for this trip, details of which a step further by setting up our own are below:- charitable foundation. Through the Wild Frontiers Foundation, we have not only Travcour developed our own community projects Tel: +44 (0) 20 8543 1846 but also - by working closely with certain www.travcour.com carefully selected charity partners - helped fund the invaluable work they do For this tour, UK passport holders throughout the developing world. With currently require a visa for Myanmar. our mandate firmly based on education and sustainability we established our first Non-UK passport holders or non-UK project in 2010 in the remote Northern residents should contact the relevant Pakistan village of Baleygon, where around embassies for individual requirements. 100 children are now being educated in a school built and maintained by the Further details will be sent out to you on Foundation. booking, however ensuring that correct and valid visas are obtained remains the sole responsibility of the client.

Responsible Travel: Responsible travel and sustainable tourism are fundamental ideas that Wild Frontiers has been committed to since our birth. It is our strong belief that these words should not be simply ‘tagged on’ to dossiers and websites but should be at the very core of each trip, and our adventures are therefore designed with the local people, Working with charity partners we have also culture and eco-system in mind. We established a number of e-learning centres believe that a successful trip not only in schools across Ethiopia, sponsored an delivers a unique and unsurpassable English class in rural Northern Laos and journey for our clients, but that it also funded hospitality traineeships for a benefits the peoples whose lands we are number of young people from the Kolkata privileged to visit. slums in India. Where practicable, Wild Frontiers clients will have the opportunity In 2012 we were delighted to be awarded to visit our projects whilst on tour. the Guardian Observer Best Ethical Travel Award. Visit www.wildfrontiersfoundation.org to see details of all our projects, along with ways you can get involved by taking on the challenge of a charity trek, attending our fundraising events or simply giving what you can. Other ongoing fundraising schemes include:-

Go Paperless: For UK-based clients who are happy for all their final travel documents to be sent by email rather than through the post, Wild Frontiers will donate £5 from each booking to the Foundation. For more information, please refer to www.wildfrontierstravel.com/rt Kit Out for Kids: Nomad Travel Stores generously donates 5% of purchases by The Wild Frontiers Foundation: Wild Frontiers’ clients to the Foundation. Supporting communities has always played Quote WF1000 either online or in store a huge part of the Wild Frontiers’ ethos

WILD FRONTIERS Adventure Travel Ltd Tel: +44 (0) 20 7736 3968 Fax: +44 (0) 20 8741 3610 Email: [email protected] Website: www.wildfrontierstravel.com when purchasing clothing and kit and of their “Know Before You Go” campaign Nomad will give you 20% off full priced we strongly suggest that you refer to it clothing and kit, plus the charitable before booking and contact us if you have donation. Visit www.nomadtravel.co.uk any queries or concerns. Details can be found on the website below.

The Environment: Trying to do our bit for the environment, in 2005 we were among the first UK-based travel companies to automatically offset every client’s Non-UK citizens should consult the travel international flight (if booked with us) advice of their respective governments. with a payment to Carbon Clear to help promote sustainable energy. To read more about the work of Carbon Clear, please Wild Frontiers Community follow this link:- www.carbon-clear.com If you’re still not sure if this trip is right or just want to see get some different perspectives, then why not have a look at the wide variety of resources we have on our website?

Clients’ Views: See what other travellers have said about our trips –

www.wildfrontierstravel.com/views AITO Membership: Wild Frontiers is a member of AITO, the Association of Blogs: See what our tour-leaders, staff and Independent Tour Operators. AITO’s clients have posted from the road - charter states that its exclusive members www.wildfrontierstravel.com/blog strive to create overseas holidays with high levels of professionalism and a shared Videos: They may not find their way on concern for quality and personal service. the list for Oscars nominations but we have The Association encourages the highest an extensive (and growing) collection of standards in all aspects of tour operating. short videos giving you an insight in many AITO sets criteria regarding ownership, of our destinations – finance and quality which must be www.wildfrontierstravel.com/video satisfied before new companies are admitted to membership. All members are Photos: Our popular “Photo of the month” required to adhere to a Code of Business competition has added to the vast gallery Practice which encourages high of photos we already have from around the operational standards and conduct. world. See them here - www.wildfrontierstravel.com/photos

Events: From time to time we hold informal presentations, photo exhibitions and dinner evenings mainly in the London area. To find out more see here – www.wildfrontierstravel.com/events

Wild Miles Club: Everyone that has booked

a trip directly with us will become an

automatic member of the Wild Miles Club British Foreign & Commonwealth Office: gaining instant access to a range of The travel advice of the British Foreign & exclusive discounts from a variety of travel Commonwealth Office (FCO) highlights partners from bookshops to outdoor potential hazards people might experience clothing shops. In addition, regular direct when travelling abroad and as an advocate

WILD FRONTIERS Adventure Travel Ltd Tel: +44 (0) 20 7736 3968 Fax: +44 (0) 20 8741 3610 Email: [email protected] Website: www.wildfrontierstravel.com bookers will earn “Wild Miles” which can and the city of Mandalay, were severely earn you up to 10% in discounts off of all damaged during the war. Independence tours. For more information visit this page from the Commonwealth under the name - www.wildfrontierstravel.com/wild-miles Union of Burma was attained in 1948. General Ne Win dominated the Facebook: Keep up to date with the latest government from 1962 to 1988, first as news and special offers by liking our military ruler, then as self-appointed Facebook page - president, and later as political kingpin. www.facebook.com/wildfrontiers Pro-democracy demonstrations in 1988 were violently crushed, with general Saw Maung taking over in a coup and installing MYANMAR (BURMA) – the State Law and Order Restoration THE FACTS Council (SLORC) to rule the country, now renamed Myanmar. Multi-party legislative

elections were held in 1990, with the main opposition party - the National League for Democracy (NLD) - winning a landslide victory (392 of 489 seats). But SLORC refused to hand over power, instead placing NLD leader and Nobel Peace Prize recipient Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest, where she has remained on and off until her release in November 2010.

Like most of Southeast Asia's countries, Myanmar's people and history is a glorious Yangon: Yangon, formerly Rangoon, was mishmash of settlers and invaders from all the capital of Myanmar until it was fronts. The Mon and the Pyu are thought superseded by Naypyidaw in November to have come from India, while the now 2005. The city is an amalgamation of dominant Bamar (Burmese) migrated British, Burmese, Chinese and Indian through Tibet and by 849 had founded a influences, and is known for its colonial powerful kingdom centred on Pagan. For architecture, which although decaying the next millennium, the Burmese empire remains an almost unique example of a grew through conquests of Thailand 19th century British colonial capital. New (Ayutthaya) and India (Manipur), and high-rise buildings were constructed from shrank under attacks from China and the 1990s as the government began to internal rebellions. Eventually, Britain allow private investment. However, conquered Burma, as it was then known, Yangon continues to be a city of the past, over a period of 62 years (1824-1886) and as seen by its lyongi-wearing pedestrians, incorporated it into its Indian Empire. its street vendors and its pungent smells. Burma was administered as a province of Yangon began as a small Mon village known India until 1937 when it became a as Dagon. It was captured by King separate, self-governing colony. During Alaungpaya and was renamed Yangon, the Second World War, Burma was a major "end of strife". The town remained battleground as the Allies fought the insignificant until it became the colonial Japanese for dominance over Asia. The capital of the British in the 1850s, after Burma Road was built to get supplies to the capture of Lower Burma. The British China. Large parts of Western Burma, knew it as "Rangoon", the Anglicised form particularly the hilly areas bordering India of Yangon. The city grew rapidly during

WILD FRONTIERS Adventure Travel Ltd Tel: +44 (0) 20 7736 3968 Fax: +44 (0) 20 8741 3610 Email: [email protected] Website: www.wildfrontierstravel.com the colonial period, which left a legacy of Intha, Kayah, Pa-O, Shan, and Taung-yo solid 19th-century colonial architecture. peoples, among others. Myanmar attained independence in 1948, but it's true 'modern' period began with the 1962 military coup and the institution of an isolationist Socialist regime in 1964, resulting in the steady decay of the city and its infrastructure. In 1988 Rangoon was the site of peaceful pro-democracy protests in which thousands, including monks and students, were gunned down. In 1989 the city was renamed Yangon by the military junta. In 2005 the capital was moved to Naypyidaw, but Yangon continues to be an important commercial Mandalay: Formerly its capital, Mandalay and cultural centre. is Myanmar’s second largest city (after Yangon) and remains the economic and religious hub of upper Myanmar. The city is centred around the Royal Palace with wide lanes filled with bicycles and motorcycles. Mandalay is known for its millionaires, its monks (half of the country's monks reside in Mandalay and surrounding areas) and its cultural diversity. Founded in 1859, Mandalay was the last royal capital of the Burmese monarchy, before the British conquered Burma. King Mindon decided to build a capital centred on the Royal Palace in Inle Lake: Sitting at 875m and surrounded 1857 under a Buddhist prophecy. Several by high protective hills this beautiful lake, public works projects took place which is 22km long and 11km wide, afterwards, including the completion of contains a microcosm of aquatic life which many pagodas. The Royal Palace was supports the indigenous Intha people who heavily bombarded during World War II live in stilted villages around the lake. and was used to store artillery and They are said to have migrated from Dawei weapons by the British. in southern Myanmar in the late 1300s. Mandalay is ethnically diverse, with the Most are involved in fishing with cone Bamar (Burmese) forming a slight shaped nets for the local carp and other majority. In recent years there has been a freshwater fish that are abundant in the major influx of Chinese who, together with lake. The Inthas are renowned for rowing colonial-era immigrants, form 30 to 40% of their flat-bottomed boats from the stern the population. Their influence is seen in with one leg, so that they can watch for the Chinese-style glass buildings shoals of fish, and avoid the large clumps throughout the city. Other prevalent of water hyacinth and low-lying islands ethnic groups include the Shan, who are that are scattered about Inle. Inle Lake ethnically and linguistically related to the also supports a thriving farming Thais and Laotians, and the Karen (Kayin). community that produces a wide range of There is also a sizable ethnic Indian vegetables and flowers, and rice is population, including Nepalese and Sikhs. cultivated at the northern end of the lake on extremely fertile floating islands. The local men also produce silver and brassware, pottery and lacquerware, while the lake's womenfolk are highly skilled silk weavers. The area is the second largest producer of silk products in the country. The surrounding countryside is home to a harmonious blend of national races including Bamar, Danaw, Danu,

WILD FRONTIERS Adventure Travel Ltd Tel: +44 (0) 20 7736 3968 Fax: +44 (0) 20 8741 3610 Email: [email protected] Website: www.wildfrontierstravel.com

time more than 13,000 temples and stupas stood on this 42sq km plain in central Myanmar, and Marco Polo once described Bagan as a "gilded city alive with tinkling bells and the swishing sounds of monks' robes". Approximately 2,200 remain today, in various states of disrepair. Some are large and well maintained, such as the Ananda Pahto, others are small tumbledown relics in the middle of overgrown grass. All, however, are considered active sacred sites. Bagan's Bagan: Also spelled Pagan, Bagan lies on golden age ended in 1287 when the the banks of the Ayerwaddy River and is Kingdom and its capital city was invaded home to the largest area of Buddhist and sacked by the Mongols. Its population temples, pagodas, stupas and ruins in the was reduced to one village that remained world – many dating back to the 11th and amongst the ruin. In 1998 this village and 12th centuries. The shape and its inhabitants were forcibly relocated a construction of each building is highly few kilometres to the south of Bagan, significant in Buddhism with each forming “New Bagan”. Today the ancient component part taking on spiritual city is abandoned, with the exception of a meaning. King Anawratha unified Myanmar few hotels and religious centres. under Theravada Buddhism and Bagan became a central powerbase of the mid- 9th century. It is estimated that at one

WILD FRONTIERS Adventure Travel Ltd Tel: +44 (0) 20 7736 3968 Fax: +44 (0) 20 8741 3610 Email: [email protected] Website: www.wildfrontierstravel.com

How to book:

In order to confirm your booking we need to have a completed signed booking form for each client together with a £400 deposit per person*. You can either return your booking form to us by post or by booking online at www.wildfrontierstravel.com

You can contact the office by email to [email protected] or we are very happy to take your call on + 44 (0) 20 7736 3968.

*Please note that due to the nature of this trip, we will also need to request an additional interim deposit of £600 per person to be paid no less than 30 days after receiving confirmation from us that the trip is a guaranteed departure.

Protection for you money:

The Association of Bonded Travel Organisers Trust Limited (ABTOT) provides financial protection under the Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations 1992 for Wild Frontiers, and in the event of their insolvency, protection is provided for the following: 1. non-flight packages commencing in and returning to the UK; 2. non-flight packages commencing and returning to a country other than the UK; and 3. flight inclusive packages that commence outside of the UK, which are sold to customers outside of the UK. 1, 2 and 3 provides for a refund in the event you have not yet travelled. 1 and 3 provides for repatriation. Please note that bookings made outside the UK are only protected by ABTOT when purchased directly with Wild Frontiers.

If you choose to book your international flights with us then you will also be ATOL protected as we hold an Air Travel Organiser’s Licence granted by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). Our ATOL number is 5975. In the unlikely event of our insolvency, the CAA will arrange to refund any monies to you that you have paid for an advance booking and ensure that you are not stranded abroad. For further information visit www.atol.org.uk

We recommend that you take out adequate travel insurance at the time of booking in the event that you are no longer able to travel as all deposits are non-refundable – full booking conditions can be found on the booking form and online at our website.

As I’m sure you can appreciate, Wild Frontiers trips can be quite complex affairs to arrange and certain elements (such as permits, visa authorisations, trains and flights) may need to be requested several months in advance. As such, wherever possible, we would encourage you to plan ahead and book early to avoid disappointment. Moreover, by booking early you are always guaranteed to get the best price with us as we will automatically offer you a retrospective discount if we happen to reduce the price of the tour later on. For further details, please refer to www.wildfrontierstravel.com/price-guarantee

Further information: When you make a confirmed booking with Wild Frontiers we will send you a pre-departure information pack giving you details on visas, health and vaccinations, packing lists, suggested reading on the region, photography and other useful tips to make your trip more enjoyable.

WILD FRONTIERS Adventure Travel Ltd Tel: +44 (0) 20 7736 3968 Fax: +44 (0) 20 8741 3610 Email: [email protected] Website: www.wildfrontierstravel.com

Why Wild Frontiers?

Wild Frontiers is proud to have been regularly voted one of the top ten tour operators by readers of Wanderlust Travel Magazine over the last ten years. A number of our innovative itineraries have been included in National Geographic Traveller Magazine’s “Trips of a Lifetime”, and our acclaimed Tour Leaders regularly feature in the Wanderlust World Guide Awards, with Mark Steadman winning gold in 2015. Responsible travel has always been incredibly important to us, so we were delighted to be awarded Best Ethical Tour Operator by The Guardian/Observer in 2012.

We are frequently asked what makes Wild Frontiers different from other tour operators. Below are a few of the factors that we believe set us apart from our competitors and form the reasons as to why our clients travel with us again and again…

Personal Service & Expertise: Our London office is manned by experienced expedition leaders and most trips we run stem from our first-hand knowledge - in short, we run the kind of holidays that as passionate travellers, we like to do ourselves. When you ring our office, you can be guaranteed to chat to someone who knows the region and the terrain and is able to offer sound and practical advice.

Authentic, Cutting-Edge Experiences: Our unique, original itineraries allow you to take journeys that venture beneath the surface of the region. We rarely run any group tour more than a couple of times a year and they are typically on routes we have discovered for ourselves, meaning we are able to give a truly authentic, off-the-beaten-track experience.

Be the First: Our style of travel is all about exploration, and nothing excites us more than opening up new routes to genuine travellers, even if that makes our job harder at times! We keep abreast of new destinations and are often the first to return to places that have vanished from the tourist map. We were the first back into Pakistan after 9/11, the first to return to Kashmir after a decade of tourist isolation, and amongst the first to run a commercial travel trip to Afghanistan for almost 30 years. Since then we have helped bring Colombia, Iran, Georgia and Bangladesh back into the tourist fold, specialising in ground-breaking reconnaissance trips and imaginative expeditions.

Small Group Size: On our escorted tours, we believe it is imperative to keep the group sizes small. Most trips are limited to an average maximum of 12 travellers, thus giving you more access to fragile cultures, better opportunities to interact with local people, and the knowledge you are making less of an impact while there. “Having been a bit apprehensive about joining a group as a single traveller, I found myself surrounded by interesting, friendly, helpful people who I hope to catch up with again on future trips.” Angela Chick, Kashmir Group Tour

Cost of Group Tours: We believe in an honest, upfront pricing structure so you know exactly what the tour will cost before you book. On our group tours we avoid local payments, ‘optional extras’ or forcing our clients to go through the annoying procedure of splitting every meal bill. Our tours are provided on a predominantly full board basis, with drinking water, government permits, entrance fees and transport all included.

Our clients: Your companions can make or break a trip, and it’s lucky therefore that our clients are often our greatest asset. Travelling to remote regions is not for everyone, and as such we tend to attract open- minded travellers looking for genuine experiences, and a desire to reach those hard to get to places.

Responsible Travel: Awarded 5 star status by AITO (Association of Independent Tour operators), responsible tourism (RT) has always been an integral part of our company ethos and our adventures are designed with the local people, culture and eco-system in mind. In 2012 we were awarded the Guardian Observer Best Ethical Travel Award. For further details please refer to the RT section of our website - www.wildfrontierstravel.com/rt

WILD FRONTIERS Adventure Travel Ltd Tel: +44 (0) 20 7736 3968 Fax: +44 (0) 20 8741 3610 Email: [email protected] Website: www.wildfrontierstravel.com