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Home , Kuthodaw Pagoda, Kyauktawgyi Pagoda, Sule Pagoda

BURMA • Escorted Group Tour Visions of the Golden Land Secrets of Burma urma (), said Somerset Maugham, “is a beauty that batters you and Bstuns you and leaves you breathless.” This is undoubtedly the most opportune time to visit, a tantalising country slowly emerging from isolation, its people genuinely glad to welcome visitors to their homeland. Experience the daily life of rural folk, and learn about their spirituality that blends , worship and astrology. Explore Burma’s extraordinary array of ancient monuments that are virtually untouched, their golden roofs glittering up to the heavens. Contemplate the gently crumbling grandeur of the British Empire in Rangoon (), the evocative ruins of the once-fabled kingdom of the Lion Throne, and ponder the future for the Golden Land. Hotels selected are a combination of first-class traditional and colonial-style, modern Burmese, and simple characterful properties, many with a unique and charming setting.

Pagan

14 days Club in the heyday of the British Empire. Innpawkhone. Afternoon excursion to Indein Continue to whose hill is dotted with of Shwesandaw, then on to the 150ft high Day 13 Rangoon Transfer to the airport for Rangoon (2 nights) Afternoon visit to the , and watch village to explore the 16th century temples. temples and pagodas with white and gold with its elaborate plaster your flight to London, arriving the following the sunset from the dazzling Shwedagon Also see the five revered 12th century statues domes among century old tamerind trees. mouldings, the beautifully proportioned morning, Day 14. (B) Inle Lake (2 nights) Pagoda, encrusted with gold, topped by a of Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda. (BD) Drive on to picturesque , the ‘city , an early masterpiece, and (3 nights) Ngapali Beach extension 76 carat diamond, the spiritual symbol of the of immortals’ and again a former royal capital the enormous Thatbyinnyu, known as the Day 6 Mandalay Visit a five day market Stay 3 nights at the charming Sandoway Resort Pagan (3 nights) nation. This evening enjoy a welcome dinner at of Burma whose buildings were dismantled Omniscient. In the afternoon see artisans at before driving to Taunggyi and a pioneering after your tour. Price from £595 per person, Rangoon (1 night) the iconic Strand Hotel. (D) and taken to Mandalay – a thousand unwanted work producing traditional lacquerware, enjoy vineyard in the hills for a guided walk and wine including flights from Pagan. Further details on teak columns from the palace were reused in a horse-cart tour on the Pagoda Plain, and then Day 3 Twante Depart Rangoon driving tasting – they produce many classic western request. the construction of the famous U Bein bridge watch the sunset from the terrace of one of through rice fields, pausing at the Shwesandaw varieties – and lunch nearby. Fly to Mandalay, a Angkor Wat extension which you visit at sunset. (BL) Pagan’s splendid . (BL) Pagoda. Visit the port of Twante to observe the former capital and the country’s cultural centre, This 3-night extension offers a chance to lifestyle of the inhabitants of the Delta. Stroll renowned for its skilled artisans producing Day 9 Mount Popa, Pagan Enjoy an Day 11 Sale Depart by boat on the Irrawaddy explore the ruined temples of Angkor Wat, through the local market and continue to a tapestries, fine stone carvings and gold leaf. interesting journey by road to Pagan (around River to the village of Sale where more than one of the world’s greatest architectural and Mandalay small pottery village. After lunch visit Mingalar Visit a craft centre to witness the production 5 and a half hours), admiring the scenery forty monuments dating from the 13th century archaeological treasures. Prices from £725 per Pagan Lake before returning to Rangoon. (BL) of some of these items. Stay 3 nights at the en-route and pausing at local villages. Stop are scattered in the countryside. Visit person twin shared. Inle Lake elegant and comfortable Resort. for lunch at the Mount Popa Resort and Yokesoe Monastery. Return to Pagan by road. Day 4 Inle Lake Fly north to Heho and drive (BL) enjoy fantastic views of Mount Popa, an Afternoon at leisure. (BL) to Nyaung Shwe, the gateway to Inle Lake in extinct volcano 2,417ft high with a monastery, the Shan Hills, and the View Point Lodge for a Day 7 Mandalay Visit the deeply venerated Day 12 Rangoon This morning fly back to Taungkalet, perched at the top. Arrive Pagan two-night stay. The lake is fringed by villages Mahamuni Buddha whose face is washed Rangoon. Drive to Danygone to explore a Tour code BURMA Rangoon and transfer to the Areind mar Hotel for 3 inhabited by the Intha people, mostly farmers every morning and body covered in fresh gold small local market selling fruit, spices and Departures 2016 Twin share Single supp nights. (BLD) and fishermen who have adapted their way leaf by worshippers. Admire the traditional local Burmese specialities. From there take a Feb 9, Mar 8 £3195 £955 of life perfectly to their unique environment. construction methods of Shwe In Bin Day 10 Pagan Optional morning hot air fascinating train ride on the circular train back Oct 11, Nov 8 3295 £995 Explore the area by boat, stopping to see how Monastery, then visit the balloon ride at sunrise (at additional cost). to the city passing through rice fields and Cheerots, Burmese cigars, are made, from the to admire its statue of Buddha carved from a Pagan lies on a vast, dusty plain and is one of residential areas to give a glimpse into the Business Class upgrade from £1325 one way, £1795 return. locally-grown codia leaf. Later admire the Nga single block of marble that took 12,000 men 13 the richest archaeological sites in Asia, along daily life of the locals. Explore this ramshakle, Phe Kyaung Monastery. (BD) days to move. Take a boat 7 miles upstream to with Angkor in Cambodia, and is a UNESCO chaotic and utterly captivating city, once the Private journey price from £3490 per person twin shared (minimum 2 passeners). where you can find the largest ringing World Heritage Site. In its golden age of the wealthiest in South East Asia with its valuable Day 5 Inle Lake Inle Lake is long, narrow Day 1 London (Tuesday) Fly from London bell in the world, 90 tonnes and cast in 1170. First Burmese Empire between the 11th and exports of teak, rubies and rice. Admire Price includes and shallow, covering around 45 square miles, Heathrow to Rangoon (Yangon), Burma’s Return to Mandalay visiting 13th centuries over 13,000 temples, pagodas Chaukhtatgyi Buddha, the longest reclining • Economy class flights its banks lined with floating gardens that • Twin-shared accommodation, transfers, largest city and former capital. and Mandalay Hill. (BL) and stupas were built, no two the same, but Buddha in the world and with beautifully produce a huge proportion of Burma’s fruit and transportation and sightseeing as listed Pagan was ravaged by Kublai Khan, looters, decorated feet. Visit at the (B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner) Day 2 Rangoon Arrival in Rangoon. Drive vegetables. Reeds from the lake are woven into Day 8 Ava, Amarapura, Mandalay Visit earthquakes, floods and time, now only 2,200 harbour, built to commemorate the thousand • Services of English-speaking local Tour through the once-splendid colonial centre for anchored floating mats, mud from the lake bed Shwenandaw Kiaung Monastery with its golden Guides out of 13,000 buildings remain, most are ruins. soldiers who escorted the Buddha’s relics from your first glimpse of this fascinating city. The and hyacinth weed is piled onto them, slowly teak sculptures. Drive to nearby Ava (), First visit the lively Nyaung U market and the India. Visit Bogyoke market where you can Not included architecture that remains is a curious, evocative creating fertile reclaimed land. Watch the another former capital on an island where you with its graceful bell- find excellent lacquer ware, wood carvings, • Travel insurance • Gratuities • Burma visa blend of faded Victorian grandeur, Art Deco fishermen and their ingenious way of rowing ride through the ruins on a horse-cart, passing Burma International departure tax shaped that became the prototype for silverware and tapestries. Enjoy a farewell • ritziness and exotic orientalism. Transfer to your their boats with one leg. Visit the boat-makers the precariously leaning 90ft-high watchtower • Any government taxes or compulsory all stupas in Burma, and which houses bones dinner at specially selected restaurant. Stay hotel for two nights, the lakeside Kandawgyi of Nanpun village, the traditional workshops which is all that remains of the palace. Visit charges introduced after brochure and hairs of Buddha. Continue to the temple overnight at the Kandawgyi Palace Hotel. (BD) publication Palace Hotel, originally the Rangoon Rowing of Ywama, the silk and lotus fabric weavers of Maha Aungmyay Bonzan Monastery of Bagaya.

48 Book direct, call 020 3750 1655, fax 020 7256 9776 or email [email protected] Book direct, call 020 3750 1655, fax 020 7256 9776 or email [email protected] 49