Discover the wonders of Burma (Myanmar) on a journey that seeks to enlighten travellers on the unique beauty, history and culture of this diverse country. This culturally rich and intensive itinerary includes visits to grand cities, serene monasteries and a wealth of glorious temples and glittering pagodas. Highlights include the striking Golden Rock (Kyaiktiyo) - one of the country's most famous sacred sites - as well as a two night cruise from Bagan to Mandalay, traversing winding waterways and observing local village life.


ITINERARY
DAY 1 - LONDON to RANGOON
Fly Thai Airways from Heathrow via Bangkok to Rangoon, arriving the following day for one night at the Chatrium Hotel in a Superior room. Take an afternoon tour through Rangoon’s colonial city centre and visit the Sule Pagoda, the reclining Buddha at the Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda, the Karaweik Hall, a floating barge on Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake and the Bogyoke Market (Scott). Complete your day with a visit to the Shwedagon Pagoda, the most popular pagoda in Yangon due to its size, hilltop location and incredible beauty. With 72 shrines at its base, 68 smaller pagodas, sphinxes, leogryphs and its glittering golden stupa it is a glorious sight to behold.

DAY 3 - RANGOON to BAGO
After breakfast drive to Bago (approx. 1½ hours) to visit the Themanay Buddhist Seminary before moving on to the Shwemawdaw Pagoda. Continue on to Kin Pun base camp with lunch at a local restaurant en route and then on to one of Burma’s famous landmarks, Kyaiktiyo the ‘Golden Rock’. Covered in gold leaf and perched on the edge of a cliff it is said to balance on a single strand of Buddha’s hair. The journey from the base camp to the pagoda is made in open-top trucks followed by a walk (approx. one hour) up a steep path to the sacred site. There is also an indulgent option of being carried by porters in a sedan chair. Overnight at the Mountain Top Hotel in a Deluxe room.

DAY 4 - BAGO to RANGOON
Return to Rangoon with lunch en route at a local restaurant in Bago and visit the 55-metre long reclining Shwe Tha Lyaung Buddha, the four giant Buddha images at Kyaik Pun Pagoda, the moving Allied War Graves cemetery near Htauk Kyan and a Nat tree shrine. Stay at the Chatrium Hotel for one night.

DAY 5 - RANGOON to BAGAN
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Bagan. Upon arrival, start the day with a visit to some of the most important temples and pagodas in the vicinity including the Shwezigon Pagoda built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century, Ku Byanuk Gyi, Khay Min Ga Temple and Ananda Temple. Enjoy lunch at a local riverside restaurant before travelling in the traditional way in a colourfully decorated ox cart around some of Bagan’s temples. Stay two nights at the The Hotel @ Tharabar Gate in a Deluxe room.

DAY 6 - BAGAN
Today visit Nyaung Oo Market, a cheroot factory where Myanmar cigars are produced, the Tayokepyay temple in Min Nan Thu village and a local school. Enjoy lunch at a nearby restaurant followed by a visit to a local traditional laquerware workshop and the Manuha and Nanbaya temples. Tonight, experience a magical candlelit dinner near an exclusively reserved pagoda.

DAY 7 - BAGAN to RV PAUKAN
After breakfast transfer to the jetty and board the RV Paukan for a cruise to Mandalay, the country’s second largest city and the cultural and religious centre for Buddhism in Burma. Mandalay Hill, which overlooks the city, is home to the world’s largest book, a ‘Buddhist Bible’ carved into 729 slabs of stone housed within a white stupa. In the evening stop at a local village to observe a traditional way of life on the river. Enjoy lunch and dinner on board during a two night stay in a main deck cabin.

DAY 8 - RV PAUKAN
Cruise all day with a stop en route at Yandabo, a traditional river village that specialises in pot making and where the peace treaty of the first Anglo-Burmese war was signed.

DAY 9 - RV PAUKAN to MANDALAY
Enjoy breakfast on board before disembarking at Sagaing and heading to Mandalay to visit the Shwe Inbin Monastery, the Golden Palace Monastery, the Kuthodaw Pagoda and the Mahamuni Pagoda. Mandalay is also a major arts and crafts centre where you can visit the Kalaga tapestry craftsmen’s shop. Later you will head to Mandalay Hill to witness a beautiful sunset before an overnight stay at the Mandalay Hill Resort in a Superior room.

DAY 10 - MANDALAY to INLE LAKE
Transfer to the airport for a flight to Heho before then proceeding off the beaten track through stunning scenery to Aye Thar Yar Vineyard where lunch will be served on a terrace overlooking the vines. After lunch, continue to Nyaung Shwe and board boats for an excursion onto the beautiful Inle Lake which is known for the local fishermen, nicknamed leg rowers for their distinctive style of rowing and its lush floating gardens. Enjoy winding through the lake's waterways which are surrounded by reeds and other floating plants. Move onto the Phaungdaw Oo Pagoda, one of the principle shrines of Burma and the Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery, famed for its jumping cats trained by the monks. Enjoy two nights at the Inle Resort in a Deluxe villa located on the shores of the lake.

DAY 11 - INLE LAKE
After breakfast embark upon a cruise to the southern part of Inle Lake where the ethnic populations of the Pa-O, Inthar, Shan and Paduang continue to live using traditional means, relatively untouched by modern civilisation. Visit a number of villages offering local arts and crafts before moving on to the 17th century pagodas of Sagar and Tha Kong.

DAY 12 - INLE LAKE to RANGOON
Today transfer by boat to the southern shore of Inle Lake and climb the stairs to the hidden Inn Thein pagoda complex. It consists of hundreds of stupas abandoned to the elements, overgrown with moss, crumbling around the edges and utterly charming. Enjoy a gentle stroll around this magical place before having lunch at a local restaurant. Later, transfer to the airport for your flight to Rangoon where you will spend a final night at the Chatrium Hotel.

DAY 13 - RANGOON to LONDON
Transfer to the airport for your return flight to Heathrow via Bangkok with Thai Airways.


ESCORTED TOUR
An English speaking guide will accompany you from Day 2 to Day 13. Extensions are not escorted but assistance is provided by our local representatives.

MEAL PLAN
Prices include breakfast on Days 3 to 12, lunch on Days 3 to 8 and 10 to 12 and dinner on Days 3, 5 to 8 and 10 to 11. Beach extensions include breakfast daily.

ACCOMMODATION
Three and four star accommodation is used throughout. Two star accommodation in Kyaiktiyo is very basic and is the best available to us in the area. On occasion it may be necessary to use alternative accommodation due to local availability, weather and road conditions.

GROUP SIZE / MINIMUM NUMBERS
Maximum 8 passengers. This tour is subject to a minimum number of passengers (please call for details).

GRATUITIES
Tips are often the main source of income for those working in the travel industry. Tipping for drivers, guides and porters is at your discretion.

NB
Please note that all passengers are required to pay US$10 departure tax in Rangoon.