Vantage World Travel

Myanmar Colonial Trails - 10D/9N

Myanmar, the country formerly known as Burma, is one of the few truly original travel experiences remaining in this much-traveled world. Decades of social and economic isolation have preserved here many of the traditional features, physical and cultural, which have been lost in other Asian countries. Myanmar is a captivating travel destination - for its diversity of sightseeing, for the wealth of cultural and scenic attractions it can offer and, above all, for the warmth and friendliness of its charming people.

YANGON - Capital and main gateway to Myanmar. Perhaps the last remaining authentic example of an Asian tropical city still true to its former colonial origins. Most famous for the unique and glittering Shwedagon Pagoda, but a wealth of other sights await visitors, including diverse temples, markets, beautiful gardens and lakes as well as impressive colonial-era buildings.

BAGAN - One of the richest archaeological sites in Asia, a huge area containing literally thousands of pagodas, stupas and temples, all set in a vast dusty plain beside the Ayeyarwaddy River. Memorable for its tranquility, as well as for its majesty.

PYIN OO LWIN - A cool hill station, over 1,000 m above sea level, founded during colonial times and a worthwhile 64km side trip from Mandalay. Here visitors can enjoy beautiful scenery, a cool climate and nostalgic atmosphere of former days with its old buildings and botanical gardens.

MANDALAY - Second largest city and former Royal capital of Myanmar with many historical buildings and interesting sights, temples and pagodas . This is also a center for silk and cotton weaving, marble carving, bronze and silver crafts and kalaga tapestries. Excursions out of Mandalay include the monastery and pagoda covered hills of Sagaing, former ancient capitals of Amarapura and Ava, as well as the scenic trip upriver to Mingun, with its vast unfinished pagoda and world’s largest bronze bell.

Included: Accommodation in shared twin rooms or single rooms with daily breakfast. All meals as specified in the program on table d’hôte basis (breakfast only in Yangon, full board in up-country). All entrance fees. Transfers and tours with English speaking local guides (or as specified). Transportation by air-conditioned van/minibus/coach Mandalay-Pyin Oo Lwin. 1 Tour leader is free of charge as of a minimum of 15 full paying pax. Service charges, room tax and baggage handling.

Not Included: Domestic airfares Yangon-Bagan-Mandalay-Heho-Yangon (see above, quoted separately). Travel insurance. Lunch and dinner in Yangon. Visa fee for Myanmar. International Airfare. Expenditure of a personal nature, such as drinks, souvenirs, laundry etc. International airport tax in Yangon (US$10.- per person). Christmas and New Year’s dinner supplement (will be advised at time of booking). Services which are not mentioned above.

Accommodations
YANGON: SAVOY HOTLE OR SIMILAR.
BAGAN: THARABAR GATE HOTEL OR SIMILAR.
PYIN OO LWIN: KANDAWGYI LODGE OR SIMILAR.
MANDALAY: SEDONA HOTEL OR SIMILAR.
KALAW: AMARA RESORT OR SIMILAR.
INLE LAKE: INLE PRINCESS RESORT OR SIMILAR.

Departs: Daily through October 31.

Itinerary

• DAY 01 YANGON (No meals) - Upon arrival to YANGON airport, you will be welcomed by your Asian Trails guide and transferred to your hotel. Your Myanmar journey begins with an afternoon tour through Yangon’s colonial-style city center. Visit SULE PAGODA, built over 2,000 years ago; the magnificent reclining Buddha CHAUK HTAT GYI and after a photo stop at the KARAWEIK HALL, a ‘hamsa-bird-shaped’ floating barge on Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake; stroll through the BOGYOKE (SCOTTS) MARKET, of hundreds of food, clothes, handicrafts and gems stores. Complete your first day in Myanmar with a visit to one
  of the world’s most spectacular monuments, the SHWEDAGON PAGODA. Lunch and dinner to your own account. Overnight stay at Savoy Hotel (****, Deluxe room) or similar in Yangon.
• DAY 02 YANGON - BAGAN (B, L, D) - After early breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for a domestic flight to BAGAN. Upon arrival, start your day with visiting the most significant pagodas and temples of Bagan: including SHWEZIGON PAGODA, built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious shrine; KHAY MIN GA TEMPLE, noted for its panoramic view of the area’s numerous monuments and ANANDA TEMPLE, with four standing Buddha images. After lunch at local restaurant, you would learn of manufacturing Myanmar’s most treasured handicrafts and visit a lacquer ware craftsmen’s workshop in nearby MYINKABA village. Later continue to MANUHA TEMPLE, built in Mon style in 1059 and explore the NANBAYA TEMPLE, a unique sandstone monument which according to legends used to be palace site of the King Manuha. Visit ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM housing countless beautiful Buddha images of made of bronze, stone and lacquer. Complete the day by watching sunset over the majestic Ayeyarwaddy River from a temple top. Dinner at a riverside restaurant and overnight stay at Tharabar Gate Hotel (***, Deluxe room) or similar in Bagan.
• DAY 03 BAGAN (B, L, D) - After breakfast, visit the site of TAYOKEPYAY TEMPLE in Min Nan Thu Village; PHAYA THONE ZU and NANDAMANYA TEMPLES noted for exquisite murals of 13th century; KYAT KAN CAVE monastery, a famous meditation retreat in Bagan. Farming villages around Bagan will give you insight into the lives of the local people. After lunch at local restaurant in Bagan, a colorfully decorated ox-cart (if available) is waiting to show you more of Bagan’s ancient temples in the traditional way of transportation used by people in Myanmar’s countryside. Enjoy sunset over the plains and mountains of Bagan while cruising on the Ayeyarwaddy River. Dinner and overnight stay at Tharabar Gate Hotel (***, Deluxe room) or similar in Bagan.
• DAY 04 BAGAN – MANDALAY – PYIN OO LWIN (B, L, D) - After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for a domestic flight to MANDALAY. Upon arrival, a scenic drive (80km - 2 hour) will take you to the former British hill station of PYIN OO LWIN (Maymyo), a delightful small town of colonial-style buildings, markets, and a botanical garden. After lunch at local restaurant, venture out to visit the PEIK KHYIN MYAUNG CAVES. Proceed to PWE KYAUK FALLS, a favorite picnic spot for local people. Stop at the famous CANDACRAIG HOTEL, an old British mansion built in 1906, for sunset drinks, before
  retiring to your hotel. Dinner and overnight stay at Kandawgyi Lodge (**, ROH room) or similar in Pyin Oo Lwin.
• DAY 05 PYIN OO LWIN - MANDALAY (B, L, D) - After breakfast, visit the local market by a horse cart (if available) before returning to Mandalay. After lunch at a local restaurant, experience the sights and sounds of Mandalay including some of the most revered religious monuments in Myanmar, MAHAMUNI PAGODA; SHWE INBIN MONASTERY; GOLDEN PALACE MONASTERY, a superb example of a traditional wood work and KUTHODAW PAGODA the world’s largest book, made of marble. Mandalay is also a major arts and crafts center. A visit to Kalaga tapestry craftsmen’s shop before proceeding to MANDALAY HILL for sunset viewing. Dinner at hotel and overnight stay at Sedona Hotel (****, Superior room) or similar in Mandalay.



• DAY 06 AMARAPURA – AVA - SAGAING (B, L, D) - After breakfast, excursion to AMARAPURA, 15 km from Mandalay to visit MAHAGANDAYON MONASTERY where more than a thousand monks live and study. Time permitting you will have the opportunity to observe the monks having their last meal of the day in total silence. Continue to 200-year-old U BEIN teak bridge, built in 1782 during the era when Amarapura was the Royal capital. Already from the early days the city was known for its silk- and cotton weaving. Visit a traditional hand-woven silk workshop before proceeding to BAGAYA MONASTERY, a compound with a superb collection of Buddha statues. After lunch at a local restaurant, embark for a short boat ride over a river and start exploring the former Royal Capital INWA (AVA) by horse cart. Visit NANMYINT WATCH TOWER, the remains of the ancient palace building, also know as “the leaning tower of Ava“; MAHA AUNGMYE BONZAN MONASTERY, built of brick and stucco; BARGAYAR MONASTERY, famous for its impressive ornate woodcarvings and teak posts then continue to SAGAING HILLS, a retreat for Buddhist devotees for sunset. Dinner and overnight stay at Sedona Hotel (****, Superior room) or similar in Mandalay.
• DAY 07 MANDALAY – HEHO - PINDAYA - KALAW (B, L, D) - After breakfast, transfer to Mandalay airport for a domestic flight to HEHO. Upon arrival, proceed by road to PINDAYA (59 km – 2 hour)and visit PINDAYA CAVES, a unique site housing thousands of Buddha images placed there by pilgrims and devotees over the centuries. After lunch at local restaurant, continue on a narrow, winding and bumpy road (50km – 1 ½ hour) through the Shan Hills to KALAW, a fresh and delightful hill station, on the rim of the Shan Plateau, which is a market center for ethnic minorities from surrounding regions. Dinner and overnight stay at Amara Resort (***, Deluxe room) or similar in Kalaw.
• DAY 08 KALAW - INLE LAKE (B, L, D) - After breakfast, drive (62 km, 1 ½ hours) to Nyaung Shwe for full day excursion by boat on the Inle Lake. See the famous Inntha leg rowers, floating gardens, local methods of fishing, village life and magnificent scenery. You will visit the PHAUNGDAW OO PAGODA, one of the most sacred shrines in Myanmar, dating back to the 18th century; the NGA PHE KYAUNG MONASTERY, famous for its jumping cats trained by monks; the weaving village of INPAWKHON and one of the local markets in the Inle Lake region (on market days only). Lunch in a local restaurant. Dinner at
  hotel and overnight stay at Inle Princess Resort (***, Mountain View Chalet on the shore of Inle Lake) or similar.
• DAY 09 INLE LAKE - HEHO – YANGON (B, L, -) - After breakfast depending on the water level, board a boat to the Western Shore of Inle Lake, where you will find the beginning of a stair path leading to the well hidden INN THEIN PAGODA complex. After lunch, you will be transferred to Heho Airport (32 km – 1 hour) for domestic flight to YANGON. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. Dinner to your own account and overnight stay at Savoy Hotel (****, Deluxe room) or similar in Yangon.
• DAY 10 YANGON (B, -, -) - After breakfast, complete your Yangon impressions with a visit to the fascinating YANGON GLASS FACTORY to watch the production of mouth-blown glass in the old-fashioned way. Proceed to admire the 8 meter high Golden Lion Throne as well as the Mandalay Royal Regalia at the NATIONAL MUSEUM. Last but not the least, proceed to the famous Strand Hotel. From here we will take you for a guided walk through Yangon’s old colonial city center (approx. 1 ½ hour), see the bustling life at the NANTHIDA JETTY and the former British authority buildings between Strand Road and Shwebontha Street (Magol Lan), before relaxing and enjoying the ‘Strand High Tea’. Transfer to airport for your departure flight.

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