CONTENTS: INTRODUCTION & MAP DAY BY DAY SUMMARY OF THE TRIP PRICE & INCLUSIONS TOUR INFORMATION ITINERARY IN DETAIL ACCOMMODATION INFORMATION CLASSIC BURMA GROUP TOUR 26 OCTOBER 2011 AN INTRODUCTION TO OUR CLASSIC BURMA TOUR With years of experience in operating tours to Burma, or Myanmar as it is now known, Audley has designed this very comprehensive tour. It includes the main points of interest such as Rangoon's shimmering Shwedagon Pagoda, the stilted villages of Inle Lake, wonderfully evocative Mandalay and the thirty square miles of temples and pagodas at Pagan. The tour also includes a day trip to the colonial hill station of Maymyo or Pwin Oo Lwin as it is now known and an overnight visit to the Golden Rock Pagoda, at Kyaiktiyo. The tour has been planned by Kate who is the Regional Manager for Burma and has travelled to the country many times with Audley Travel, visiting many of the more remote areas. For this trip we have included a two night cruise, which traverses the Irrawaddy River between Pagan and Mandalay. We are also offering an optional hot air balloon flight over Pagan at sunrise – worth every penny to get a different perspective on the temples of Pagan. The tour this year also includes a visit to the school that Audley has rebuilt following cyclone Nargis in May 2008 with the help of contributions from staff and clients. Near to departure we will be able to give you a list of useful items that you may wish to take with you to donate to the school. CLIMATE The best time to visit Burma is between November and March. The weather is likely to be generally dry and hot throughout the day with temperatures dropping slightly in the evenings. At Inle Lake it has been to known to be very cold first thing in the morning and in the evening. You may encounter some rain although showers are likely to be short lived. OUR BURMA SPECIALISTS We have a team of three Burma specialists which includes Matthew Callaway, Mark Robinson and Stewart Towell. They are all passionate about this part of the world and know it inside out having travelled extensively to all corners of the country. Throughout the year each of them returns at least once to keep up with all new developments. Please feel free to contact them on 01993 838105. Our team of Burma specialists: from left, Matthew, Mark and Stewart • Front cover photograph – Burmese ladies taking Buddhist offerings to the Shwedagon Pagoda. CLASSIC BURMA GROUP TOUR 26 OCTOBER 2011 DAY BY DAY SUMMARY DAY DATE ITINERARY IN BRIEF ACCOMMODATION ARRANGEMENTS 1 Wednesday 26 Fly from London to Bangkok with Thai Overnight on board the aircraft October 2011 Airways departing Heathrow at 1150. 2 Thursday 27 In Bangkok connect with your flight to The Governor's Residence, Rangoon October 2011 Rangoon arriving at 0845. Once through Garden View room immigration you will be met by your guide Breakfast and dinner are included and driver and transferred to your hotel in the leafy Embassy Quarter of the city. You will have time to relax and freshen up before an afternoon visit to the shimmering Shwedagon Pagoda, the impressive centrepiece of Rangoon. This evening a welcome dinner will be held at the Governor's Residence. 3 Friday 28 Travelling by road from Rangoon, the group The Governor's Residence, Rangoon October 2011 will visit the small pottery village of Twante Garden View room as well as the school that was rebuilt with Breakfast and lunch are included the help of Audley staff and client donations after the cyclone of May 2008. Return to Rangoon for a late lunch. 4 Saturday 29 You will be transferred to the airport for Inle Princess Resort, Inle Lake October 2011 your morning flight to Heho. From here it is Lake Front View Chalet around an hour's drive to the small village Breakfast and lunch are included of Nyaung Shwe where you will board a small boat for your journey to your charming lakeside hotel. 5 Sunday 30 You have a full day tour of the picturesque Inle Princess Resort, Inle Lake October 2011 Inle lake by boat. The tour will take in Lake Front View Chalet several interesting pagodas and Breakfast and lunch are included monasteries, as well as the fascinating temple complex at Indein. 6 Monday 31 The group has another day to explore Inle Inle Princess Resort, Inle Lake October 2011 Lake. Lake Front View Chalet Breakfast and lunch are included 7 Tuesday 01 Morning at leisure to relax at the hotel or Thande Bungalows, Pagan November 2011 explore the area on your own before you Deluxe Riverview Room depart for Heho airport for your flight to Breakfast and lunch are included Pagan. On arrival in Pagan you will be transferred to your riverside accommodation. CLASSIC BURMA GROUP TOUR 26 OCTOBER 2011 DAY DATE ITINERARY IN BRIEF ACCOMMODATION ARRANGEMENTS 8 Wednesday 02 Today you explore the spectacular temple Thande Bungalows, Pagan November 2011 landscape of pagan with your Deluxe Riverview Room knowledgeable guide. Breakfast and lunch are included 9 Thursday 03 Venturing into the hills above Pagan you will Thande Bungalows, Pagan November 2011 visit Mount Popa home of the revered Nat Deluxe Riverview Room shrines and volcanic outcrop. Breakfast and lunch are included 10 Friday 04 This morning you have the option of taking RV Paukan 2007, Pagan November 2011 a dawn balloon flight over the temples of Upper Deck Pagan. This is highly recommended as the All meals are included views from the balloon help give you a greater awareness of the sheer volumes of temples and abandoned stupas that dot the plains of Pagan. After breakfast you will depart for the jetty to board the Paukan for your two-night cruise upstream to Mandalay. 11 Saturday 05 Enjoy the scenery and service as you cruise RV Paukan 2007, Pagan November 2011 towards Mandalay. There will be stops along Upper Deck the way to explore places of interest. All meals are included 12 Sunday 06 Today the Paukan arrives in Mandalay. You Red Canal, Mandalay November 2011 will be met at the Gawein jetty and taken on Shan Suite a tour of the former capital of Sagaing Breakfast and lunch are included where you can visit the hill top pagodas, a nunnery and well-regarded silver-smith workshops. After lunch you will visit the former capital of Ava by horse cart before ending the day at U Bein's bridge for sunset. 13 Monday 07 This morning you will visit Amarapura's Red Canal, Mandalay November 2011 Mahaghandayon monastery to see the lunch Shan Suite offering to the monks. The rest of the day Breakfast and lunch are included will be spent exploring some of Mandalays's cottage industries as well as the famous Mahamuni Pagoda, Shwenandaw Monastery and the World's Largest Book - the Kuthodaw Pagoda. Visit Mandalay Hill at sunset for a view over the city. 14 Tuesday 08 Full day excursion to the nearby hill station Red Canal, Mandalay November 2011 of Maymyo. Shan Suite Breakfast and lunch are included CLASSIC BURMA GROUP TOUR 26 OCTOBER 2011 DAY DATE ITINERARY IN BRIEF ACCOMMODATION ARRANGEMENTS 15 Wednesday 09 Transfer to the airport in time for your Savoy Hotel November 2011 morning flight to Rangoon. On arrival you Deluxe Room will be transferred to your hotel. You then Breakfast and lunch are included have chance to visit some of Rangoon's main sites. 16 Thursday 10 This morning you leave for Rangoon for Mountain Top Inn, Kyaiktiyo November 2011 Kyaiktiyo and the Golden Rock. A site of Deluxe pilgrimage for many Burmese. All meals are included The Governor's Residence, Rangoon 17 Friday 11 Today the group returns to Rangoon. Garden View room November 2011 Enroute you will have chance to visit the Breakfast and dinner are included Htaukkyant WWII cemetery before arriving into the city. This afternoon you can choose to relax by the pool or revisit the city for a spot of last minute shopping or sightseeing. Farewell Dinner will be held at Le Planteur this evening. 18 Saturday 12 This morning transfer to the airport for your November 2011 flight to Bangkok. In Bangkok connect with your flight to London Heathrow. Arrive UK early evening. Please note that there are sometimes schedule changes imposed by the domestic airlines we use and the itinerary may have to be amended accordingly. CLASSIC BURMA GROUP TOUR 26 OCTOBER 2011 PRICES Classic Burma tour per person £3,895 Hot Air Balloon Flight over Pagan per person £210 Single supplement £1,150 Visa for Burma £55 Per person deposit required to confirm these arrangements £560 PUBLIC TRANSPORT IN BURMA HOW TO BOOK If you have any questions regarding the tour or would like to hold a no obligation option for a place on the tour, please feel free to contact our Burma specialists on 01993 838 105 who will be delighted to assist you. To confirm an option, please send us a completed booking form and the deposit specified above, plus any applicable visa and insurance premiums. This can be paid by cheque, bank transfer or credit / debit card. FULLY BONDED ARRANGEMENTS Audley Travel Group Ltd holds an ATOL licence number 4817. We are fully bonded with the Civil Aviation Authority so you can have complete confidence that your monies are protected when you book with us. INCLUDED IN THE PRICE • International long-haul flights as specified in the itinerary with UK airport taxes. • All short-haul flights as specified in the itinerary. • Full-time services of an experienced local guide.