Envisioning a world where people work together to ensure all communities are healthy and safe, and individuals are free to flourish. Trip Itinerary for the Donor Trip to Myanmar November 6 – 17, 2016
Sunday, November 6th: Arrive in Yangon Greeters will meet you at the Yangon airport and arrange your taxi to the hotel. We will split the group between Hotel Alamanda and Classique Inn. Both are boutique hotels full of charm, beautiful gardens, operated by friendly Myanmar families and located in a quiet and peaceful residential neighborhood. Group meets for a welcome dinner at the Classique Inn.
Monday, November 7th: Yangon After a morning tour of Shwedagon temple, we will return to the hotel for lunch. We’ll spend the afternoon together exploring Yangon.
Tuesday, November 8th: Yangon to Nyaung Shwe After breakfast we will fly to Heho airport and then travel by mini-bus to Nyaung Shwe where we will stay at the 81 Hotel. The location is an easy walk to the sites, shops, and markets of a bustling traditional Shan town. You can spend the afternoon relaxing and exploring Nyaung Shwe. Optional activities include visiting a local winery, exploring temples, walking through the market, taking a Shan cooking class, or a canoe trip to a nearby village.
Wednesday, November 9th: Nyaung Shwe
The morning can be a free morning, or we can arrange activities for you to participate in.
In the afternoon we will visit the Shanta Boarding School and meet the delightful students attending our school. After dinner together, the optional evening activity is to attend the Tazungdaing Festival of Lights in the town of Taunggyi. This festival is held for multiple days during the full moon in November, and the Pa-o people send handmade large hot air balloons lit by candles into the sky. It is an exciting experience!
Thursday, November 10th: Pone Tan Village
In the morning we will drive to the village of Pone Tan. While there we will enjoy tea in the homes of the villagers, explore the village, and tour Shanta projects. Projects we will see include pig farms, a new water system, and a new primary school. We will spend the night in the villager’s homes.
Friday, November 11th: Pone Tan and Pone Phrone Villages
After breakfast together, we will walk or drive to Pone Phrone village, just a short distance away. We will spend the day visiting with villagers and touring more partnership projects. We will return to Pone Tan to spend the night.
Saturday, November 12th: Travel to Inle Lake
After breakfast in Pone Tan we will drive to Inle Lake and stay for two nights on the lake at the Myanmar Treasure Hotel. The hotel offers beautiful teak over-the-water bungalows that offer privacy and gorgeous views of the lake and surrounding Shan Hills. It is a free afternoon to rest and enjoy the beautiful scenery of the lake
P.O. Box 1603 • Durango, CO 81302 • (970) 259-5120 www.ShantaFoundation.org
Envisioning a world where people work together to ensure all communities are healthy and safe, and individuals are free to flourish. and Shan Hills. We’ll gather together for dinner that evening. *If you are a village or special project sponsor we will take you to visit your village and projects after breakfast on our way to Inle Lake.
Sunday, November 13th: Inle Lake
After breakfast we’ll go on a tour of Inle Lake. During the tour we’ll see floating vegetable gardens, villages built entirely over water on stilts, and watch Intha fisherman with their unique style of using their leg to row.
Monday, November 14th: Travel to Khun Dong village
After breakfast we will drive to Khun Dong village arriving in time for lunch. We’ll visit the village’s monastery, their new primary and middle schools, and see their current water source. We will have dinner and spend the night in Khun Dong.
Tuesday, November 15th: Khun Dong & Khun Khae villages, fly to Bagan
After breakfast, those who want to can go on a short but steep hike to visit Khun Khae village, one of our poorest and most remote partner villages. We will then drive to Heho airport and fly to Bagan. Our accommodations are at the Bagan Thande Hotel located in Old Bagan along the Ayarwaddy River, just a short walk from the ancient temples. We’ll enjoy dinner together amid the beautiful ancient temples in Bagan.
Wednesday, November 16th: Bagan
The group will go on a morning tour of Bagan temples, returning to the hotel for lunch and to rest. We’ll go back to Bagan for a sunset tour, an unforgettable experience. We’ll have dinner together, our last for the trip, and celebrate!
Thursday, November 17th: Bagan & Travel to Yangon
Spend the morning relaxing along the Irrawaddy River, riding in a hot air balloon over Bagan (additional charge), or exploring more temples. We will book early afternoon flights to Yangon for those who wish to leave on the 17th. International flights leave throughout the evening from Yangon, so you can continue your journey home. For those who wish to stay longer, we will work with you to book your flight to Yangon on a date of your choice.
Questions? For more information: Email Amy Hartenstine at [email protected], or call 970-749-1198.
P.O. Box 1603 • Durango, CO 81302 • (970) 259-5120 www.ShantaFoundation.org