trek burma challenge, burma (myanmar)

Famed for its regal history, unique culture and water hyacinth and mud and anchored to the

magnificent temples, Burma (Myanmar) remains bottom with bamboo poles. one of the last unexplored countries in South East Asia. This challenge will take you to the International Flights beautiful Inle Lake through the Shan Hills where Flights are not included as part of the challenge you will trek for five days through mountainous costs. You will need to organise your own tribal villages staying in Buddhist monasteries international flights to arrive in Yangon on Day 1 on route. (see below). Please contact us at [email protected] BEFORE you commit Your challenge will end in the modern, bustling and pay for your flights. We can help you organize city of Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, your flights, and put you in touch with our partners where you will visit it’s most famous site, the at Flight Centre. golden Shwedagon Paya (pagoda and stupa). The streets of Yangon are filled with historical buildings many of which have a faded colonial Day 1: Arrive Yangon charm not seen elsewhere in Asia. You should arrange flights into Yangon to arrive no later than 1pm, as you will be taking a domestic flight in the early afternoon to Heho, which is in central Burma in the district of Taunggyi, where you will be based during your trek. If you cannot find flights to arrive in the morning, you may need to book another night in Yangon before the challenge begins. Please contact the Charity Challenge office and we will advise you.

On arrival at Heho, you will transfer to your evening’s accommodation, where you will have a real chance to rest and freshen up. Tonight you will have chance to enjoy your first evening meal in Burma, and a briefing about the trekking that awaits you. Absorb yourself in the life of the tribes people, who are still practising the same traditions as Day 2: Trek Heho – Myin Hmu Village (5-6hr their forefathers. Before flying back to Yangon, trek) you will spend a full day at Inle Lake, which is This morning, after a well-deserved sleep, you will one of Burma’s most beautiful sights. Here, you be transported to the start of your five day trekking will explore the lake on a private boat, and pass challenge. Throughout the course of these five villages built on stilts over the lake, inhabited days you will be trekking through six villages, by the local Intha people. Have fun observing visiting the Danu and Taung Yoo tribes. Each the leg-rowing fishermen and see their floating village offers insight into the daily life of these gardens built up from strips of mountain tribes, who are still practicing the same traditions as their forefathers. The trekking route will be dirt hiking trails taking you through lush Myin Ka, a small village resting high in the misty green forests. The forest quickly opens out into the mountains. You will be trekking on undulating vast tea plantations that support the local villages. terrain, where the villages will be located on the You will have lunch at Kayuk Kya village before the ascents. From Myin Ka you will continue for final 3 hour trek to Myin Hmu. Dinner and another hour before reaching Luot Pyin. Stop for a overnight in a monastery in Myin Hmu. (Distance bite to eat at Luot Pyin to refuel before continuing approx 17km) through the mountains. This afternoon you head towards Nan Ta La Te where you will stay for the night. Dinner and overnight in monastery. (Distance approx 18km)

Day 5: Trek Nan Ta La Te – Hti Taing (5-6hr trek) Awaken to the sights and sounds of Nan Ta La Te coming to life. Witness the locals gathering water, preparing fires for the day and heading to the fields for Baw Hnin Kgon village, a mere one hour away.

Day 3: Trek Myin Hmu – Nawa Taung (6-7hr trek) This Morning you will fuel up with a good breakfast before setting off on another amazing day of trekking. The route today takes you further around the Pindaya area and includes many stops at hill tribe villages. You traverse through pine forests and at some times many of the trails will be fairly boggy where they have been shaded by the tree line. Continue from Myin Hmu, first stop being After a visit to the village, you will continue for two Naung Ye village. From there you continue on a hours to Kgone Hla village where you stop for rockier surface to Oo min to visit the limestone lunch. Your trek this afternoon is considerably caves. Lunch today will be at Oo Min Monastery. flatter than previous days but make sure to keep This afternoon you will continue to trek through hydrated as the tree cover fades away and villages and open agricultural land, visiting Di gone exposure to the sun is heavier. Today’s path is well before arriving at Nawa Taung. Dinner will be travelled by local commuters walking from their served in the village and overnight in the villages to the markets and plantations. You will monastery. (Distance approx 21km) experience the serenity of small rice paddy fields where you will see farmers knee deep in water preparing the season’s harvest. As the openness of the plantation fields and rice paddies begin to cover by tree line, you will approach the evening’s stop, Hti Taing. Dinner and overnight in Hti Taing village. (Distance approx 17km)

Day 4: Trek Nawa Taung – Nan Ta La Te (6-7hr trek) You will rise early this morning to set off on your trek further into the Shan Hills on a two hour trek to

Day 6: Trek – Hti Taing - In Dein – Inle (3-4hr trek) Awaken to the cool weather before setting off for the final leg of the trek to In Dein. Trek a few hours to Hti Taing village before reaching In Dein. Explore the incredible crumpling ruins of In Dein before you stop for lunch. Lunch in In Dein at a local restaurant. Afterwards travel by boat to 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. Celebration dinner at hotel and overnight in Inle Lake. Day 8: Inle – Heho – Yangon – onward flight to (Distance approx 9km) Canada After breakfast, you will transfer to Heho for a flight to Yangon, where you will be met by a Charity Challenge sightseeing guide. Today you will spend your last moments in Burma visiting the Shwedagon Pagoda, the most revered Buddhist temple in Burma. Although the origins of the pagoda are unclear, local legend states that the original structure was built 2500 years ago then renovated several times until taking its current shape in the 15th century. The 8-sided central stupa is 99 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.

Day 7: Inle Lake You will enjoy a final lunch in Yangon city with the Today you will have a day to explore the beautiful group, and you should book your flights back to Inle lake. After breakfast, visit the lake’s morning leave around 4pm or later. If you cannot find return market. The market rotates its location around the flights to leave late afternoon or later, please let the lake’s villages in a 5 day rhythm and is visited by Charity Challenge office know and we can advise lake inhabitants and surrounding hill tribes who you before you purchase the flights. come to sell and trade their wares. Visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the lake’s main sanctuary, which N.B. The itinerary is there as a guide and may change due contains five sacred Buddha images covered in to unusual weather patterns, the strength of the group and gold leaf. Explore the local crafts of Inle Lake with so on. We will do our very best to keep to the set itinerary; a stop at the weaving village of Inpawkhone and a however we cannot be held responsible for any last minute cheroot factory, where the typical Burmese cigars changes that might occur. In all such circumstances, your challenge leader will have the final say. are made by hand. Have lunch with the Burmese cats at Hertiage House. After lunch 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. Transfer to hotel to spend the afternoon at leisure. Dinner at hotel and overnight in Inle.

Optional extension:

Bagan Temple Tour (Day 9 – Day 13)

Add on an opportunity to glimpse the temple-lined landscape of the ancient city of Bagan, and view breath taking sunsets at the site of Burma’s first kingdom, which dates back to the 11th century and remains a popular destination for pilgrims.

 Visit to Thagyar Pone Temple, a temple with spectacular views over the surrounding plains  Get to learn more about the local culture with a visit to two workshops producing Bagan’s most famous products: lacquer ware and wood crafts  Visit Shwezigon Pagoda - Bagan’s most famous site and continue on to Tu Yin Taung, a hilltop stupa in the eastern part of the main Archeological Park  Private boat across the river to Tant Kyi Taung  Experience the Local markets market where locals gather every day to buy and sell everything from fresh produce and meats to flowers and pottery

To find out more information, visit the Trek Burma challenge page on our website or click on “extensions” in your member’s area.