THE GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY OF NEW SOUTH WALES INC PRESENTS A NEW STUDY TOUR TO AMAZING MYANMAR,

YUNNAN & TIBET FEATURING THE SPECTACULAR SIGHTS OF MYANMAR, THE HISTORIC BURMA ROAD TO , THE GRAND CANYONS & ANCIENT CITIES OF , HIGHLIGHTS OF TIBET, AND THE WORLD’S HIGHEST TRAIN JOURNEY

32 DAYS, 31 NIGHTS – TUESDAY 24 APRIL to FRIDAY 25 MAY, 2012 TWIN-SHARE COST: $8,345; SINGLE SUPPLEMENT : $1,145

THE GEOGRAPHICAL SOCIETY OF NEW SOUTH WALES INC “MYANMAR, YUNNAN, TIBET” STUDY TOUR, 2012 ITINERARY (Breakfasts included in Myanmar, and all meals in China)

1. Tue. 24 April. Sydney to Yangon, Myanmar. Depart Sydney on THAI flight TG 476 at 1100, travelling via Bangkok with change of plane there (1630 to 1750). Arrive in Yangon on TG 303 at 1845, and transfer to the city and hotel. Stay 2 nights: Chatrium Hotel, Yangon. 2. Wed. 25 April. In Myanmar’s impressive capital. Morning tour of Yangon including the historic centre with a walk along Pansodan Street with its large colonial buildings and sidewalk markets Visit Kandawgyi Lake and the Botataung . In the afternoon visit the colossal reclining Buddha Chaukhtatkyi and the awe-inspiring golden Shwedagon Pagoda towering over all of Yangon. B. 3. Thu 26 April. To amazing Bagan, the ancient capital. Early morning flight from Yangon to Bagan, the ancient capital, on the great Ayeyarwady River and one of the most impressive archaeological sites of Asia surrounded by distinctive and stupas built in Burma’s Golden Years (3000 monuments in 42 sq km). Visit some of the biggest and best temples and pagodas including the massive Dhammayangyi Pahto Temple, and then one of the best sites for seeing the sunset over the river. Stay 2 nights: Amazing Bagan Resort, Bagan. B. 4. Fri. 27April. Day Trip to Mount Popa. Morning drive to Mt Popa, famous as the abode of the Nats (Spirit Gods) and its wonderful views. It is a volcanic plug with a temple on top. On the return journey visit a palm sugar farmer to see how the juice is collected, and made into toddy and sugar blocks. After lunch, see more of Bagan’s impressive pagodas and temples including a cave shrine, and observe another sunset from one of the temples overlooking the river. B. 5. Sat. 28 April. To Heho and beautiful Inle Lake. Transfer to the airport for an early morning flight to Heho to drive to Inle Lake at 900 metres above sea level, and transfer to the lake hotel by long-tail boat. Then undertake a boat tour seeing floating gardens and fishermen rowing one-legged style standing up. Visit Ngaphae Kyaung “Jumping Cats” Monastery, Phaungday Pagoda, and silk weaving industries. Stay 1 night: Myanmar Treasure Resort. B. 6. Sun. 29 April. More of Inle Lake and then Mandalay. Visit the Morning Market, and continue Inle Lake sight-seeing including a boat ride up a small scenic creek to visit Indain with its 17th century pagodas. Then transfer to the airport for a flight to Mandalay in central Myanmar. And transfer to the hotel. Stay 3 nights: Mandalay Hill Resort. B. 7. Mon. 30 April. Mingun and Mandalay sightseeing. Take a pleasant boat ride up the Ayeyarwady River to Mingun, the site that would have been the world’s largest pagoda if King Bodawpaya had not died in 1819 when work was halted, and had not the 1838 earthquake damaged it further, but it is still a very impressive sight when approached from the river. Nearby, see the Mingun Bell, the largest hanging un-cracked bell in the world. In the afternoon visit the highly revered Mahamuni Pagoda, a gold workshop, the Shwenandaw Monastery with exquisite wood carving, and the Kuthodaw Pagoda with the world’s largest book – the entire Buddhist scriptures carved into 729 stone slabs. If time remains, take in the magnificent view over Mandalay and the Ayeyarwady River from Mandalay Hill. B. 8. Tue. 01 May. Touring Amarapura, Sagaing and Inwa. Travel to the ancient royal capital of Amarapura and visit the Mahagandayon Monastery which is a school for young monks, and the nearby famous U Bein Bridge, more than two centuries old, and, at a length of 1.2 km, the longest teakwood bridge in the world. Then, continue on to Sagaing, a former capital of the Shan Kingdom in the 14th century, with many interesting stupas scattered over a hill downriver. B. B. 9. Wed. 02 May. Mandalay to the Hill Station of Maymyo. Enjoy a short scenic drive through rural landscapes to Pyin Oo Lwin (or Maymyo), a former British Hill Station. See its colonial buildings, clock tower gift from Queen Victoria, beautiful botanical gardens, waterfalls and panoramic viewpoint. Stay 1 night: Kandawgyi Hill Resort. B. 10. Thu. 03 May. To Lashio in the high country. Transfer to the local train station and travel on a scenic excursion over the famous Goitek Viaduct over a deep gorge, the 2nd highest steel bridge in its day. Disembark in Naung Pain village in Hill Tribe country of Shan State, to drive to Lashio. Stay 1 night: Lashio Motel, the best available. B. 11. Fri. 04 May. To the Chinese border at Muse. Depart from Lashio to travel another 5 hours to the Chinese border in Muse. After lunch, pass through the formalities on both sides, and meet the Chinese guide on the other side in the city of , population 200,000; clocks go forward 1.5 hours. Stay 1 night: Jingcheng Hotel, Ruili. B, D. B, D. 12, Sat. 05 May. Ruili to . Travel through the border mountains on a major trading route of ancient times and the route of the WWII Burma Road. Enjoy lunch in delightful old Heshun before exploring its sights. Transfer to the adjacent city of Tengchong, and see its waterfall park. Stay 2 nights: Guangfang Hotel. B, L, D. 13. Sun. 06 May. In Tengchong and district. Visit spectacular Yunfeng Mountain by cable car, beautiful Guoshang Tomb Garden (memorial to the district’s 9000 dead from WWII) and the Rehai Hot Springs Park (one of China’s 3 largest geothermal areas); then enjoy a spa experience as an optional extra at the end of the day. B, L, D. 14. Mon. 07 May. Tengchong to Dali. Travel over high mountains to the first of the 3 parallel great river canyons – the Salween, homeland of the Dai (or Thai), for lunch. Then join a new tunnelled motorway through mountains to the canyon of the mighty Mekong and over the Yunling Mountain Range to the Valley of Eternal Spring at Dali, on , biggest city of west Yunnan (population 600,000 - mainly Dai & Bai), at cross-roads of historic trade routes. Our hotel is inside the walled “old city” (2x2 km) – “a gem inside a treasure”. Stay 2 nights: Landscape Hotel, Dali. B, L, D. 15. Tue. 08 May. In historic Dali and district. See the traditional practice of cormorant fishing on Erhai Lake, tie-dye weaving and other crafts, and homes of former rich merchants. Take lunch in a Bai family home with the traditional “Three Courses of Tea Ceremony” before exploring the Three Pagodas complex set in a beautifully landscaped park. Then take the special opportunity to find your own dinner restaurant on tourist Eat Street in the Old City. B, L. 16. Wed. 09 May. To , another gem. Travel across rich farmlands and over the Yuan Mountains into wetlands in the next valley with Xinhua famous for silver crafts. After exploring this village, continue on for lunch in Lijiang famous not only for its "superlative natural scenery" at 2,400 metres a.s.l., but also for being "the best preserved ancient town in China", and home to the Naxi minority people. With its swift streams, small stone bridges, cobble-stone lanes, timber houses with window boxes and grey tiled roofs, this is one of the most picturesque small towns anywhere, and we tour it after lunch and stay in it. Stay 2 nights: Wangfu Hotel, in the Old City. B, L, D. 17. Thu. 10 May. Exploring Lijiang’s wonderful surroundings. Visit the city’s main park with its Black Dragon Pond fed by pure spring water – the source of the city’s water supply and its canals. Visit the Naxi Folk Museum and two villages of minority peoples, and explore the nearby Jade Dragon Snow Mountain National Park with 12 snowy peaks over 5000 m and the southernmost glacier in the Northern Hemisphere. Take a cable car trip to a fantastic viewpoint. With a variety of natural ecosystems, it has many rare and state-protected plants and animals. B, L, D. 18. Fri. 11 May. Lijiang to Shangri-La. Drive over another high mountain range into the third river canyon – the upper Yangtze on what was once known as the Tea Horse Trade Route, descending from 2900 m to 1800 m at Shigu on the “First Bend” of the Yangtze, and famous on Moa’s Red Army’s ‘Long March’ of 1934 and the nearby natural wonder, the Tiger Leaping Gorge, at lunch time. Then follow a tributary valley up to Shangri-La on the eastern edge of Tibet, with a noticeable change in the cultural landscape. Stay 2 nights: Shiner Hotel. B, L, D. 19. Sat. 12 May. Exploring the magnificent Shangri-La. Morning tour of wonderful Pudacuo National Park, one of China’s first – forests, grasslands, and two beautiful lakes at 3,500 metres, but still with yak herds grazing pastures in summer. After lunch, visit the amazing lake-side Songzanlin Buddhist Monastery established by the 5th Dalai Lama in 1679, with 920 monks today, meet a Tibetan family at home, and explore the Ancient Town. B, L, D. 20. Sun. 13 May. To Lhasa, the capital of Tibet. Transfer to Shangri-La Airport for a flight to Lhasa. Meet a new guide, and transfer to the hotel with the rest of the day at leisure. At an elevation of 3760 metres, this is one of the highest cities in the world; its name means "the land of the Gods", and it has an impressive cultural and spiritual heritage of more than 1000 years that is both mysterious and fascinating. Although 87 per cent of its population of 400,000 are Tibetans, it is rapidly becoming a typical modern Chinese city, but its ancient central part is being preserved mainly because of its tourist potential. Stay 3 nights: Tsedang Hotel, Lhasa. B, L, D. 21. Mon. 14 May. Exploring the sights of this unique city. The city tour will include (1) the very impressive 13-storey Potala Palace which was the chief residence of the Dalai Lama until 1959 when the 14th religious leader left the country and settled in Dharamsala, leaving behind this building that is one of the most recognisable landmarks of the world, the city's number one tourist attraction, and a UNESCO World Heritage site; (2) the Jokhang Temple, the most sacred religious building in the city, dating from 642; and (3) Parkor Street with its famous Bazaar. B, L,D. 22. Tue. 15 May. An all-day overland Tibetan journey. Travel 120 km west by coach to Gyantze via much magnificent landscape including spectacular waterfalls, glacial mountain passes, and beautiful turquoise Yamdroktso Lake, one of four holy lakes in Tibet and a habitat for many birds. Gyantze is a small town clustered around a citadel; it has a single main street and lively market, and its main attraction is the extraordinary Palkor Monastery built in 1429, with a 9-storey pagoda shaped like a mandala - a circle within a square, with the eyes of Buddha looking out on each side. Stay 1 night: Gyantse Hotel, Gyantze. B, L, D. 23. Wed. 16 May. To Tibet's second city - Xigatze (Shigatse). Travelling a further 2 hours west, through more beautiful scenery, visit another typical Tibetan town, with this one dominated by the high fortress of Tsong Shan which was destroyed in the Cultural Revolution and is now deserted. Built in 1447, the Tashilunpo Monastery is fascinating to explore - its clustered mass of buildings once housed 4000 monks, but although there are a lot less today, it is still a functioning place of worship. Stay 1 night: Shenu Hotel, Xigatze (3*). B, L, D. 24. Thu. 17 May. Return to Lhasa. On this all-day journey, enjoy the magnificent scenery of the Tibet Plateau, its mountains and gorges. Stay 2 nights in Lhasa on this second visit: Tsedang Hotel (3*). B, L, D. 25. Fri. 18 May. In the Lhasa District. Enjoy an all-day tour of the Lhasa district including the Norbulinka or Jewel Park – the former Summer Palace of the Dalai Lamas, other temples and monasteries, and the scenic rural landscape of the Lhasa River valley (Kyi-chu). B, L, D. 26. Sat. 19 May. One of the world's greatest train journeys. Depart Lhasa on Train No.163/6 at 10.00 am on a long and fascinating journey to Xian on the new train line specially built to link Tibet with the rest of China across the "Roof of the World". With 960 km of track above 4000 metres, and its highest point at 5,072 m, this is the world's highest railway, and it is reasonably luxurious travel with berths for 1 night in "C" soft class 4-berth sleeping compartments, and meals at personal cost. Stops are made at scenic sites for tourists and photographers. B. 27. Sun. 20 May. On the train. A full day to relax on the train and enjoy the passing scenery. Meals can be bought in the dining car or from people passing through the train and coming to your compartment. 28. Mon. 21 May. Arrive in Beijing. Arrive in the city in the morning, and transfer to the hotel with the rest of the day at leisure. Stay 2 nights: Novotel Peace Hotel (4*) D. 29. Tue. 22 May. In Beijing. Full day tour in the city to be worked out by the group who may or may not have been here before, with a farewell Peking Duck dinner available in the evening. B, L, D. 30 Wed. 23 May. Beijing to Bangkok. Transfer to Beijing Airport for the Thai Airways flight TG 615 to Bangkok. Depart at 17.05 and arrive at 21.15, and transfer into the city to stay 1 night at the Narai Hotel, Bangkok 31. Thu. 24 May. Bangkok to Sydney. Enjoy a day of rest, shopping or more sight-seeing in Bangkok with late check- out from the hotel, and fly out at 19.15 on TG 475 over night, to arrive in Sydney at 07.20 on Day 32. Fri. 25 May. B.

STUDY TOUR ARRANGEMENTS: The Study Tour will be led by Colin Sale, Vice President of the Society. He has organised and conducted 50+ previous Study Tours and personally prepared and trialled this tour in the field during April 2011. Flights are with THAI International Airways and local domestic carriers within Myanmar and China. INCLUDED IN TOUR PRICE: Transport, tours and transfers as outlined in the itinerary in top-quality coaches and buses and train; bed and breakfast in Myanmar but full board in China; accommodation in good quality hotels (almost all 4*), rooms with private facilities and air conditioning or fan cooling; meals as stated in the itinerary; and tours with English-speaking guide. EXCLUDED IN TOUR PRICE: Passport and visa charges, all items of a personal nature, beverages, laundry, telephone charges, optional tours, departure taxes if/where applicable, travel insurance, excess baggage charges, and medical expenses.

Illustrations: Colin Sale. Cover photos: Shwedagon Pagoda, Yangon (M); Inle Lake leg-rower (M); City gate, Dali (Y); Roral Palace & moat, Mandalay (M); Bagan Pagoads (M); Black Dragon Pond, Lijiang (Y); Lhasa to Guantze highway (T); Potala Palace, Lhasa (T); Songzanlin Monastery, Shangri-La (Y); Turquoise Lake near Shigatse (T); Gyantze Monastery (T); Hot Springs, Tengchong (Y); Yanftze River gorge (Y); Hill tribe people, Inle Lake (M); Main Street, Shigatse (T); Yak-hide boat, Lhasa (T); Cormorant fishing, Dali (Y). Above: Top row: Tiger Gate, Mandalay Hill (M); Three Pagodas Park, Dali (Y); Lijiang street (Y). Left column: People of Myanmar. Right Col.: People of Yunnan. Bottom right: Woman of Lhasa, Tibet.