CFT-Myanmar-0817.qxp_Layout 1 28/8/17 2:58 pm Page 1 Myanmar On the Road to Mandalay... 16 DAY HOLIDAY DEPARTS 7 NOVEMBER 2018
FULL ITINERARY INSIDE
Myanmar Culture Irrawaddy River cruise Shwedagon Pagoda Inle Lake
Travel the world with likeminded people.
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Bagan Pagodas
Visit this unique destination before it changes forever.
xperience the ancient splendor of Myanmar (Burma) with Christian Fellowship Tours. Be amazed at the E2000 sacred stupas scattered across the plains of Bagan, visit one of the oldest and most famous pagodas in the world and explore the enchanting city of Mandalay. Discover the charming colonial architecture of Yangon, drift down the Irrawaddy on a luxury cruise and delight in the warm hospitality of the Burmese people. This is a land of more than 130 ethnic groups and remains at its heart a rural nation of traditional values. Recently opened to tourism, the charm of the “the Golden Land” remains intact despite its rapid acceleration into the 21st century. An era of bygone Asia still endures in Myanmar so come with CFT and step back in time to discover a nation rich in history, culture and tradition. Visit this unique destination with likeminded people before it changes forever.
With Christian greetings, The Christian Fellowship Tours Team
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TOUR HIGHLIGHTS YOUR HOLIDAY INCLUDES
• 2 night luxury Irrawaddy River cruise RV Paukan • A Christian Tour Leader escort from Australia
• Bagan – One of the World’s greatest • Return economy airfares from Australia archaeological sites • Daily devotions and time for worship • Optional Sunrise Balloon Flight over Bagan plains covered with 2000 ancient stupas • Quality accommodation with private facilities
• Shwedagon Pagoda – Myanmar’s wondrous • 14 breakfasts ●B 11 lunches ●L 10 dinners ●D golden Stupa • Entries to attractions (see itinerary). All tipping • Cultural experiences – visit silk weaving, • Luggage assistance at hotels traditional lacquerware, pottery workshops
• Ancient cities and temples plus world’s longest teak bridge
• Pyin Oo Lwin – former British Hill Station with churches, botanic gardens and colonial architecture
• Local worship
• Inle Lake – famous floating villages and traditional fisher folk
• Ngapali Beach
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ITINERARY
Shwedagon Pagoda Mandalay Market
DAY 1 Little China before browsing Bogyoke Market (Scott’s Market) for a the Wednesday 7 November 2018 wide selection of Myanmar handicrafts and other goods.
Sydney – Yangon INFLIGHT MEAL ●D In the evening, we will visit the royal palace of Karaweik Hall, a huge golden barge floating on tranquil Kandawgyi Lake. Relax and take in the Our wonderful adventure begins when you meet with your CFT Tour splendor of “Garden City of the East.” Leader in Sydney before boarding an international flight to Yangon Overnight: Yangon (interstate passengers will fly into Sydney prior). Myanmar’s capital city is the country’s spiritual centre and whilst primarily DAY 3 Buddhist, it is a real melting pot of ethnicities and religions. On arrival in Friday 9 November 2018 “the Golden Land” we will be transferred to our hotel where we will enjoy B L D our first meal together. Yangon – Mandalay – ●●● Amarapura – Mandalay Overnight: Yangon This morning we fly north to Mandalay, Myanmar’s second largest city DAY 2 and its cultural capital. On arrival, we’ll drive a short distance to Thursday 8 November 2018 Amarapura, a former capital of Myanmar whose name means ‘City of B L D Immortality’. Here we will visit a silk weaving workshop to see how they Yangon Sightseeing ●●● craft their exquisite handmade products before travelling to the famed After breakfast, we'll tour Yangon’s charming city centre which is filled Mahagandayon Monastery. This monastery is the largest in the country, with many historic buildings. British colonialism left behind an housing over 1000 monks including many novices who follow strict architectural legacy of hundreds of late 19th century building and today religious observance during their education in the teachings of Buddha. Yangon has the highest number of such buildings in all South-East Asia. Back in Mandalay, Myanmar’s last royal capital, we will visit Mahamuni We visit one of the wonders of the world, the great golden Shwedagon Pogada, with one of the country’s most famous Buddhist statues, as well Pagoda, Myanmar’s most important spiritual site. According to legend, the as Kuthodaw Pagoda, whose 729 marble stone slabs of Buddhist Pagoda was constructed more than 2,600 years ago making it the oldest scriptures have earned it the title ‘World’s Biggest Book’. Mandalay was Buddhist stupa in the world. Enjoy breathtaking views of the gold- the country’s last royal capital and we will visit the only remaining building plated stupa with the 99-metre-high structure dominating the Yangon from the 19th century Royal Palace; Shwenandaw Monastery is a grand, skyline. We will also visit Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda, one of Myanmar’s more teak building known for its exquisite woodcarving. beautiful reclining buddhas which is topped by a crown encrusted with Our memorable day finishes with magnificent views of the city and diamonds and other precious stones. Irrawaddy River from the peak of Mandalay Hill. Along the way experience a bit of multicultural Yangon in Little India and Overnight: Mandalay
Shwenadaw Monastery Rice field
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ITINERARY
All Saints’ Church, Pyin Oo Lwin U Bein Bridge
DAY 4 Saturday 10 November 2018 DAY 5 † Sunday 11 November 2018
Mandalay – Pyin Oo Lwin ●B ●L ●D Pyin Oo Lwin – Inwa – 2 NIGHTS ●B ●L ●D Today we leave Mandalay for a scenic two-hour drive to the former British Mandalay hill station of Pyin Oo Lwin (also known as Maymyo); located on a This morning we will attend a local church service at historical All Saints’ plateau 1,000m above sea level the British used this as their summer Church – built in 1912 this was the church of the colonial government as capital to escape the heat of Mandalay. Pyin Oo Lwin is a real cultural well as housing the main Christian Cemetery. melting pot as it home to many ethnic tribes as well as considerable numbers of Nepalese and Indians who helped build the railway during the After worship, we will return to Mandalay and Inwa (Ava). Inwa is an British occupation. ancient city that was the nation’s capital over several reigns from the 14th to the 19th centuries. Enjoy the sights of Bagaya Kyaung, a wonderful teak A tour of the town will highlight the numerous reminders of this era monastery, the large, brick-and-stucco Maha Aungmye Bonzan royal including Christian churches, colonial mansions and colourful wooden monastery and Nanmyin, a leaning watchtower. horse drawn carriages. This afternoon we will travel to the world’s longest teak bridge, the 200- Outside Pyin Oo Lwin we will visit the intriguing Pate Chin Myaung year-old U Bein Bridge. Soak up the sunset as you take a stroll along the Cave, an extensive Buddhist cave complex. In the cave, we will walk bridge and enjoy the fabulous views of the surrounding farms and streams. alongside an underground stream to view a series of colourful scenes from Buddhist scriptures interspersed with stupas and statues of Buddha. Overnight: Mandalay We will also make a brief stop at Maha Ant Htoo Kan Thar Pagoda, a very striking looking building, and the very beautiful and serene Chinese DAY 6 Monday 12 November 2018 Temple. We will visit the popular BE Waterfalls before we end our day in the Mandalay – Mingun (Irawaddy Cruise) ●B ●L ●D glorious Botanical Gardens, 432 acres of leafy gardens. Relax and enjoy We are in for a treat today when we begin our two day cruise down the the beauty of this peaceful spot, home to botanical species from around famous Irawaddy River. Relax and take in the sights from the deck of RV the world. Paukan, our boutique luxury craft. During our cruise, we will stop at the Overnight: Pyin Oo Lwin Mingun Pagoda Complex, a massive unfinished pagoda from the 18th century, before we moor for the night on the river. Overnight: RV Paukan Cruise
RV Paukan cruise Mingun Pagoda
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ITINERARY
Yandabo Shwezigon Pagoda
DAY 7 Myanmar; at its height over 10,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas and Tuesday 13 November 2018 monasteries were constructed in the Bagan plains. Today the remains of B L D over 2,200 temples and pagodas still survive and they are a truly Mingun – Sagaing – River Village ●●● wondrous sight to behold. by RV Paukan Cruise During the day we will visit numerous of these ancient temples, many We cast off early in the morning to enjoy the natural beauty of the river superbly preserved or restored by UNESCO: Shwezigon Pagoda, built in and the sight of the riverbank inhabitants waking to a new day. Relax on Myanmar style in 1087, Gubyaukgyi, a cave temple at Wetkyi-Inn Village the sundeck or sit outside your own cabin and delight in watching the sun which is well-known for its exquisite jataka mural paintings and the rise over the stunning beauty of Sagaing Hill. elegant Htilominlo Temple noted for its fine plaster carvings and glazed After breakfast, we will visit Sagaing, an ancient capital famous for its sandstone decorations. many hundreds of white, silver and gold pagodas and monasteries that dot We will take a break from temples when we visit a traditional its hilly landscape. lacquerware workshop where you can observe the production of one of In the late afternoon, we stop at Yandabo, a village specialising in the Myanmar’s best-known handicrafts. making of the big terracotta water pots that are sold all over Myanmar – We visit Ananda Temple, an architectural masterpiece and one of Bagan’s see each phase of the production from mixing clay, turned on the wheel most beautiful temples; built in the early Mon-style, Ananda contains two and fired. unique Buddha images whose expressions seem to change depending on Yandabo is also known as the site where the peace treaty of the First the distance from which the statue is viewed. Anglo-Burmese war was signed on February 24, 1826. We cruise further As we tour this extensive site, we pass Thatbyinnyu, the highest temple downstream before mooring near the village of Shwe Nann Tint. in Bagan, the massive Dhammayangyi Temple, noted for its remarkable Overnight: RV Paukan Cruise brickwork, and Sulamani Temple. Enjoy an unforgettable sunset over the plains from the upper terrace of one of the temples as a truly memorable day comes to a close. DAY 8 Wednesday 14 November 2018 Overnight: Bagan Bagan – Bagan Plains Temples ●B ●L We set sail early morning to proceed downstream to Bagan, one of the world’s greatest archeological sites to rival the better known Machu Picchu or Angkor Wat. The Bagan Kingdom (9th-13th century) was the first kingdom that unified the regions that would later constitute modern
Ananda Temple
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ITINERARY
Balloons over Bagan Padaung woman
DAY 9 When in Pindaya, be amazed by the famous Shwe Oo Min Natural Cave Thursday 15 November 2018 Pagoda, a massive limestone cavern filled with thousands of gilded B L Buddha statues. We will then head north to visit the impressive teak Bagan Sightseeing ●● monastery of Kan Tau with its large collection of antique Buddha images on ornate plinths. We visit a local workshop and see how they produce H OPTION: BALLOONS OVER BAGAN umbrellas and souvenirs made with recycled paper. Start your morning with an incredible hot-air balloon flight over On our drive to Nyaung Shwe we will stop at the ancient Shwe Yan Pyay Bagan’s temple-studded plains. This is a truly unforgettable and Monastery, an elegant wooden monastery with unusual oval-shaped unique experience. $490pp* windows. Once in town we will do a short walk around Nyaung Shwewe After breakfast, we will visit Nyaung Oo Market where we can mingle before we board a boat to transfer to our hotel on Inle Lake. with the local people as villagers gather to sell their fresh produce and Overnight: Inle Lake handicrafts. From the market we will continue to Myinkaba Village and take a short walking tour to explore the temples of Manuha and Nan Paya. We will return to our hotel to relax for a couple of hours – why not enjoy DAY 11 Saturday 17 November 2018 a swim in the hotel’s lovely swimming pool. Inle Lake Sightseeing – Indein ●B ●L ●D This afternoon we will journey to the rural village of Minnanthu, one of Bagan’s least visited areas. Here we will explore temples such as Inle Lake is one of Myanmar’s most anticipated destinations and the vast Payathonzu, Lemyentha and Nandamannya before boarding a local boat serene freshwater lake is well deserving of its fame. After breakfast, we will for a slow cruise down the Irrawaddy River. As you cruise the waters, visit the lakeside morning market which is visited by lake inhabitants observe the lifestyle of the fishermen and riverside villagers as well as and surrounding hill tribes who come to sell and trade their wares. enjoying the unique perspective of Bagan’s temples. Board a private motorboat to head out onto the lake, one of Myanmar’s Overnight: Bagan most spectacular sights. Pass the famous “floating” villages and gardens, observe the leg-rowing fishermen and the unique way of life of the local DAY 10 Intha people. see their floating gardens built up from strips of water. Friday 16 November 2018 Visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, famous for the 800 years old Five Buddha Bagan – Heho – Pindaya – Inle Lake ●B ●L ●D statues which are covered in gold leaf. See first-hand the local crafts of Inle Lake when we visit the weaving Today we fly east to Heho where we journey by bus 2.5 hours to Pindaya. village of Inpawkhone and stop at a cheroot factory, where the typical Along the way we will pass a patchwork of fields and hedges; expect to Burmese cigars are made by hand. see buffalo carts and toiling farmers dressed in their traditional black Danu tunics and checked Pa-O headscarves. From the middle of the lake, continue down a small canal leading to
Inle Lake Inpawkhone
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ITINERARY
Ngapali Beach Thandwe Market
Indein populated by the ethnic Padaung (“long neck women”). DAY 14 In Indein we will walk along a covered alley, lined on both sides with a Tuesday 20 November 2018 thousand pagodas, before climbing a covered staircase to discover the B D magnificent pagoda complex. Ngapali – Thandwe – Yangon ●● Be rewarded for your effort with a the vista of ancient stupas backdropped This morning enjoy time at leisure before we transfer to Thandwe and fly by a panoramic view of the lake. back to Yangon. Overnight: Inle Lake Today is a free day in Yangon but our guide and transport is at our disposal for any additional sightseeing or shopping that you may wish to DAY 12 † do. Sunday 18 November 2018 Overnight: Yangon Inle Lake – Heho – Thandwe – Ngapali Beach ●B DAY 15 Today we will travel to glorious Ngapali Beach, travelling via Heho and a Wednesday 21 November 2018 flight to Thandwe. Ngapali Beach is a picture perfect 3 km stretch of white B sand lined with coconut palms with warm, clear waters perfect for Yangon Departure ● INFLIGHT MEALS snorkeling. This afternoon we will join together in worship, giving thanks Our last day but a morning full of sightseeing as we visit Kaba Aye for this beautiful part of the world. Pagoda (World Peace Pagoda) and Mahapasana Guha, the “Great Overnight: Ngapali Cave”. We also visit the Bogyoke Aung San Museum – Aung San (father of the current leader Ang San Suu Kyi) is considered to be the founder of DAY 13 modern Myanmar. Monday 19 November 2018 It will then be time to be transferred to the airport for our flight back to Ngapali Beach ●B ●L Australia, via Bangkok. After breakfast, we take a short drive to Thandwe to visit Thandwe Market DAY 16 before travelling onto the fishing village of Thann Ba Yar. Meet local Thursday 22 November 2018 fisherman and enjoy a relaxing boat ride with lunch onboard; make the most of this glorious location and swim, snorkel or kayak along the Arrive Australia beautiful Maung Shwe Lay beach. Return to our hotel for an afternoon at We arrive back in Australia after a wonderfully memorable holiday – a leisure in this tropical paradise. holiday full of spectacular sights, incredible history and new friendships Overnight: Ngapali made with likeminded people.
Kandawgyi Lake
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TOUR MAP
FARES TOUR CODE: MYA18110CFT
FROM SYDNEY FROM BRISBANE*
DEPARTS: Sydney International Airport DEPARTS: Brisbane Domestic Airport on Wednesday 7 November 2018 on Tuesday 6 November 2018 RETURNS: Sydney International Airport RETURNS: Brisbane Domestic Airport on Thursday 22 November 2018 on Thursday 22 November 2018 Twin Share $6,900 | Single $7,760 Twin Share $7,200 | Single $8,060
FROM MELBOURNE* FROM YANGOON (NO FLIGHTS) DEPARTS: Melbourne Domestic Airport DEPARTS: Yangoon Hotel on on Tuesday 6 November 2018 Wednesday 7 November 2018 RETURNS: Melbourne Domestic Airport RETURNS: Yangoon Hotel on on Thursday 22 November 2018 Wednesday 21 November 2018 Twin Share $7,200 | Single $8,060 Twin Share $5,700 | Single $6,560
“I thoroughly enjoyed the trip and thought it was worth every cent.” CFT-Myanmar-0817.qxp_Layout 1 28/8/17 2:58 pm Page 10
Inle Lake
FAQ
HOW DO I BOOK FOR THIS HOLIDAY? DO YOU REQUIRE A VISA? How do I book for this Holiday? – Simply complete a CFT booking form Yes, you will require to arrange a visa for this holiday. This can be done (available online or by calling our office) and sending this to our office at online and we will provide details closer to the tour. 91 Barton Street (PO Box 1133) Katoomba NSW 2780 along with your deposit. DO I NEED TO TAKE OUT TRAVEL INSURANCE? TRAVEL INSURANCE IS NOT INCLUDED, BUT HIGHLY RECOMMENDED. WHAT DEPOSIT IS REQUIRED? Please remember that travel insurance covers you for cancellation or We require a 10% deposit upon booking to be sent to our office with the amendment cost. Travel insurance is not included in your tour fare and is booking form. offered subject to conditions set out by the insurance company. If you require insurance, please mark this on your booking form. An insurance WHEN DOES THE FINAL BALANCE PDS and application will be forwarded and all conditions covering the NEED TO BE PAID? policy are listed in the PDS booklet. Insurance cover offered is with Cover.More. Christian Fellowship Tours offers this as an additional service The balance of payment for the holiday is due on Saturday 2 June 2018. to you and acts as an agent only. (This Insurance is not compulsory, please advise when booking if insurance is not required). DOES THE PRICE INCLUDE AIRFARES? The price includes return economy airfares with Thai Airways. WHAT IS THE AGE OF PEOPLE ON CFT HOLIDAYS? Upgrades to Premium Economy and Business class available on request. CFT is open to all ages, our only stipulation is that you must be capable of self care throughout the tour.
Travel the world with likeminded people.
www.christianfellowshiptours.com Email [email protected] Postal PO Box 1133 Katoomba NSW 2780 13OO 635 358 or (02) 4780 0750 Office 91 Barton Street Katoomba Follow us on Facebook
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