Myanmar Journey of Discovery Escorted Tour
16 Days
2 departures max 16 people
28 March / 26 September 2010
Myanmar or Burma has been under a veil of Mystique and Misconceptions for many years.
A destination locked in a time warp. Indeed it is like stepping back in time, with a myriad of natural and man made attractions coupled with the warmth of the people, with each turn the fabled verses of Kipling come to life.
Burma / Myanmar's history provides an aura of that is mystical and intriguing, from its roots of an independent kingdom & unique rich culture through the colonial time and to the present day have provided an destination that is awe inspiring.
It is a must do, be charmed, you won't be disappointed on this
Journey of Discovery
Yangon ~ Inle Lake ~ Kalaw ~ Pindaya ~ Mandalay ~ Mt.Popa ~ Bagan ~ Ngapali Beach ~ Yangon
Day 01
Depart your port on flight to Bangkok.
Meet on Arrival and transferred to the Cape House Apartments centrally located down town. Your Tour Leader will greet you there and you will meet with the rest of the group
Accommodation: Cape House (1 bedroom apartment)
http://www.capehouse.com/
Day 02 Yangon arrival and sightseeing (-/L/-) Welcome upon arrival at the airport by our guide and transfer to the hotel. Begin sightseeing of colorful downtown Yangon, including Chaukhtatkyi, a colossal reclining Buddha;a scenic photo stop on beautiful Kandawgyi lake and the Shwedagon Pagoda, one of the world's most impressive golden stupas.
Meals included: Lunch at local restaurant and afternoon high tea at the Strand Hotel
Accommodation: Traders Hotel (deluxe room)
www.shangri-la.com
Day 03 Yangon/Heho by flight and Inle Lake (B/L/D)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport to fly to Heho by am flight (0630/9020). Arrive at Heho airport and drive to unique and magical Inle Lake (about 1 ˝ hour drive), located about 900 meters above sea level and 22 km long by 11 km wide. Arrive Nyaung Shwe jetty and start our sightseeing by long tailed boat. Highlight includes fisherman rowing in the one-legged style that is characteristic of Inle Lake boatmen, and gardens of grass and earth floating on the surface of this shallow lake, floating strips of ‘land’ for growing vegetables. Another attraction besides the enjoyment of the scenery is a visit to the ‘jumping cats’ monastery, Phaungdaw U Pagoda and silk weaving.
Meals included: Lunch at local restaurant and dinner at the hotel.
Accommodation: Myanmar Treasure Resort Inle (deluxe room)
www.myanmartreasureresorts.com
Day 04 Inle Lake (Indain) – Kalaw (B/L/D)
Morning visit to the 5 days market (if today is coincidence with Inle market day) and continue our Inle Lake sightseeing with a visit to Indain and its enchanting 17th century pagodas. To reach Indain and the nearby village we will take a boat ride up a small scenic creek that runs into Inle lake.
Afternoon drive to Kalaw which is situated 70 km west of Taunggyi; the capital of Shan state and about 50 km from Pindaya caves. Kalaw sits high on the western edge of the Shan Plateau and was a popular hill station in the British times.
Meals included: Lunch at local restaurant and dinner at the hotel.
Accommodation: Hill Top Villa (superior room)
www.hilltopvillahotel.com
Day 05 Kalaw – Pindaya – Mandalay (B/L/D)
Moring drive to Pindaya which is noted for its extensive limestone caves filled with Buddha images. Driving there we will be passing through the PaO and Danu villages of Pwehla and Ji Chanzi and endless fields of dry cultivated mountain rice and potato. Inside the Pindaya Caves are nearly 8,000 Buddha images that have been placed there over the centuries as a form of merit making. Made of various materials and of different sizes, the statues are situated in every nook and cranny throughout the many cave chambers.
Afternoon transfer to the airport to fly to Mandalay (1625/1655).
Meals included: Lunch at local restaurant and dinner at the hotel.
Accommodation: Mandalay Hill Resort (superior room)
www.mandalayhillresorthotel.com
Day 06 Mingun and Mandalay (B/L/-)
Today we will go to Mandalay jetty where we take a short and pleasant ride upriver to Mingun, the site of what would have been the world's largest pagoda had not King Bodawpaya died in 1819 thus halting all further work. Later an earthquake in 1838 split the monument and reduced it to partial rubble. Nonetheless, the mammoth base of the unfinished pagoda is still a very impressive sight as we approach from the river. Nearby we can also visit the Mingun Bell, moved from the zedi after the earthquake and now hung in a new shrine building. It is said to be the largest hanging un-cracked bell in the world. Return to Mandalay.
Afternoon sightseeing tour of Mandalay includes the highly revered Mahamuni Pagoda; a gold leaf hammering craftshop, Shwenandaw Monastery, noted for its exquisite wood carvings; Kuthodaw Pagoda, renowned as the World's largest book for its 729 stone slabs containing the entire Buddhist scriptures, and if time permits Mandalay Hill for a view over the city and Ayeyarwaddy River.
Meals included: Lunch at local restaurant
Accommodation: Mandalay Hill Resort (superior room)
Day 07 Mandalay -Amarapura - Inwa (B/L/D)
Morning travel to the ancient royal capital of Amarapura. Here we will visit Mahagandayon monastery, which is a school for young monks, and the nearby U Bein bridge. It is more than two centuries old and at 1.2 km is the longest teakwood span in the world.
Continue our visit to another former royal capital, Inwa which was founded in 1364 and which lasted nearly 400 years as a royal capital. Highlights include the ' leaning tower of Ava', Maha Aungmye Bonzan, a brick-and-stucco monastery, and the elegant teakwood monastery Bagaya Kyaung. Return to Mandalay.
Meals included: Lunch and dinner at local restaurant
Accommodation: Mandalay Hill Resort (superior room)
Day 08 Fly to Bagan and Drive to Mt.Popa (B/L/D)
Fly Bagan by am flight. Upon arrival drive to Mt. Popa, which supposedly rose from the ground in a massive earthquake in 442 BC. Mt. Popa is famous as the abode of the Nats (Spirit Gods) and for its panoramic view of the local tropical region.
Afternoon at leisure.
Meals included: Lunch and dinner at Popa Mountain Resort
Accommodation: Popa Mountain Resort (deluxe taungalat view room)
Day 09 Mt.Popa-Bagan (B/L/D)
Visit the volcanic plug and the Nats Temple before returning to Bagan. On the way, visit a local toddy palm farmer and see how toddy palm juice and sugar are produced.
Afternoon sightseeing in Bagan highlight includes Sulamani Temple built in by King Narapatisithu, Dhammayangyi Temple, a massive later period temple with the finest brickwork in Bagan and Thatbyinnyu Temple which towering above the other monuments of Bagan. As the sun goes down we will be at one of the ideal viewing sites selected by our tour guide for a panoramic sunset view over the temples.
Meals included: Lunch and dinner at local restaurant
Accommodation: Myanmar Treasure Resort Bagan (superior room)
www.myanmartreasureresorts.com
Day 10 Bagan (B/L/D)
Morning visit to busy Nyaung Oo Market and Bagan’s distinctive pagodas such as Shwezigon, a prototype of later Myanmar stupas; Wetkyi-in- Gubyaukgyi, a 13th century ‘cave temple with interesting fine frescoes; Ananda Pagoda, one of the finest, largest and best persevered in Old Bagan; and next to it we visit Ananda Ok Kyaung, one of the few surviving brick monastery buildings from the Early Bagan period and Htilominlo Temple which is known to be the last Myanmar Style temple built in Bagan.
Afternoon return to the hotel for a rest before our afternoon visit to a lacquer ware factory. . Late afternoon a horse down carriage ride to one of the sunset temples to enjoy viewing sunset.
Meals included: Lunch and dinner at local restaurant
Accommodation: Myanmar Treasure Resort Bagan (superior room)
Day 11 Bagan- Ngapali Beach (B/-/-)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport to fly to Thandwe (0805/1000). Arrive Thandwe airport and transfer to the beach hotel by hotel shuttle bus.
Overnight at Ngapali Beach.
Meals: Free
Accommodation: Amata Resort (deluxe room)
www.amataresortnspa.com
www.amataresort.com
Day 12-13 Ngapali Beach (B/-/-)
Free time at leisure at the beach.
Meals: Free
Accommodation: Amata Resort (deluxe room)
Day 14 Ngapali Beach – Yangon (B/L/D)
Fly back to Yangon by am flight (1015/1105). On arrival go to the famous Scott Market (closed on Monday and public holidays), a sprawling complex built in 1926 and noted for its variety of handicrafts and other items which provides an excellent opportunity for a shopping spree.
After lunch time break, visit Gem museum and factory.
Meals included: Lunch at local restaurant and fare well dinner at the hotel.
Accommodation: Traders Hotel (deluxe room)
Day 15 Yangon - Bangkok (B/-/-)
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Bangkok.On arrival transferred to Cape House Apartments downtown . Perhaps go shopping or relax and enjoy the extensive facilities at the Hotel
Accommodation: Cape House (1 bedroom apartment)
Day 16 Yangon - Bangkok (B/-/-) At leisure until transfer to airport for flight home or onward journey
Cost: $ 5197AUD per person twin share
Single Supplement: $951 AUD
New Zealand
Land Only
$4434 NZD per person twin share
NB: International Airfare not included
Single Supplement: $1235 NZD
Inclusions:
· Twin Share accommodation as specified accommodation with daily breakfast
· Sightseeing including entrance fees and zone fees as specified
· Meals as per program
· All transfers, sightseeing and excursion by private air-con vehicle with drivers,
· Private at Inle Lake, Mingun trip, and
· An English speaking guide throughout the trip except at Ngapalai
. Australian Tour Leadrer Bangkok to Bangkok
. Domestic Flight Tickets (Yangon/Heho/Mandalay/Bagan/Thandwe/Yangon)
· International air tickets ex Perth / Melbourne / Sydney / Brisbane
Services Excluded
· International airport departure tax Myanmar (currently at US$ 10 per person),
· Meals not mentioned above
· Drinks
· Visa & Visa fees
· Travel insurance
· Any services not mentioned above
. all items of personal nature like drinks, laundry,
. tips,
Contact :
Lic No; 2TA5776 ABN: 15 117 503 223
Phone: Sydney 02 9016 3938 / Melbourne 03 9017 6444 / Adelaide 08 8463 1991
Perth 08 6467 7676 / Brisbane 07 3333 1517
Fax Australia wide: 02 4363 19689
Email: sales@a1classicholidays.com
Web: www.a1classicholidays.com
Address:11 Awinya Close
Empire Bay, NSW. 2257. AUSTRALIA
New Zealand Enquires:
Tel: +64 9 428-1035
Fax: +64 9 428-1035
Email: info@classicasia.co.nz
Address: PO Box 631, Whangaparaoa,
Auckland, New Zealand
