Myanmar Holiday Discover
|
|
 |
Tour Code :
MTS-MHD-191
Tour Duration : 19 days / 18 nights
Route : Yangon-Twante-Mandalay - Maymyo - Hsipaw Lashio - Muse - Bhamo
Mandalay - Thazi- Kalaw Heho Inle Heho - Kyaingtong - Yangon
Vacation Type : Tour and Trekking |
This program is presented to you for your visit around
Myanmar for its main tourist destinations. Explore from Yangon the garden city
and the main gate way to Myanmar to Twente - the famous for its pottery cottages
and you can observe ways of local people life along the Yangon River and in
village which are beyond your imagination. And then to Mandalay the culture
canter and its environ, Amarapura city of Immortality, Sagaing the Place of
Meditation and, And Pyin Oo Lwin the city of flowers stands on a plateau, 1000
meters up in the Shan hill and Hsibaw on the road side of Mandalay Lashio and
on the way exciting passing the famous Gote Hteik viaduct over hundred years
ago, Lashio a small town of Shan and Chinese, Muse border of Myanmar and
China, Bhamo the place of Lisu, Kachin and Shan there is little to see in the
way of traditional costumes, Bagan the richest archeological sights in Asia,
Kalaw - the favorite of the old British hill stations, a picturesque small town
surrounded by pine forests, Inle the tranquil lake of the leg rowers and
Kyaing Tong the most scenic town in the Shan State where you can find several
Shan tribes.
Charter boat from Mandalay to Mingun and Bhamo Mandalay are
made of wood and traditionally built. It is pleasant, interesting trip with
plenty to see along the way fishing villages, bullock carts, corn fields,
market boats, and people doing their washing.
The majority of overland in Myanmar is bumpy and not so good.
However, our skillful drivers and experienced guides will take you along the way
safely and we may stop in several places for shooting the photos or knowing the
local people.
Transportation between each destination by domestic flight on
Air Mandalay or Yangon Airways or Air Bagan (F-100 or ATR-72/42) can be done
throughout the year.
  
Detailed Tour Program
Day 01:Yangon Arrival
0900 hours Arrival at Yangon Airport. Transfer to hotel.
Leisure at hotel for the rest of the day. Accommodation at the hotel, Yangon.
Day 02: Yangon
Twante (Rural Yangon) (B)
 Breakfast.
A morning trip to rural Yangon. Located on the other side of the Yangon River,
Twante village has very much retained its original character. We will take to
the jetty and take Mahaythi River Cruise. Once across, a drive will take us to
Twante. The road is extremely bumpy and you should be prepared for an
uncomfortable yet very interesting ride, which provides a glimpse of life on and
along the famous Twante Canal. After a visit to Shwesandaw Pagoda we can take a
trishaw to the pottery area where a large part of the population in Twante is
engaged in producing pottery. Walking through the many workshops where locals
are busy molding pots, we will be able to observe this very traditional craft.
Return to Yangon. Enjoy lunch on board.
This afternoon, visit Yangon's unique Glass Factory, which
has changed very little over the years. See skilled craftsmen hand-blowing glass
and creating original glassware which is sold to hotels and restaurants all over
Myanmar. Enjoy the sunset at Shwedagon Pagoda, famous worldwide - its golden
stupa is the 'heart' of Buddhism Myanmar. The Pagoda is believed to be 2,500
years old and the central stupa in surrounded by dozens of intricately decorated
buildings and statues. There are always many Myanmar people praying and making
offerings at Shwedagon, and it's a fascinating place to spend time watching the
world go by. Overnight at the hotel, Yangon.
Day 03: Yangon
Mandalay (B)
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Yangon Airport for
departure from Yangon to Mandalay . Arrive Mandalay and transfer to hotel.
Afternoon sightseeing includes a visit to Zegyo market and some of Mandalay's
cottage industries, such as weaving and tapestry making, Burmese candy making,
Bamboo fan making near Eindaw Yar pagoda. Overnight at the hotel, Mandalay.
Day 04: Mandalay
Pyin Oo Lwin (B)
After having breakfast at the hotel. Tour proceed to the
hills from Mandalay for a full day visit of Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo), a former
British Hill Station. The road winds steeply through flower, fruit and vegetable
gardens. Visit Pwe Kauk Waterfall and enjoy the countryside. Drive through
Maymyo on a horse drawn "stage coach", giving you the chance to admire the brick
and timber houses, complete with English style gables, turrets and chimneys.
Visit the tiny Forestry Museum (if open).
In the afternoon, visit Peik Chin Myaung Waterfall and Caves,
filled with Buddha images. The road from Maymyo is very bumpy. This is a popular
attraction for Myanmar tourists. OR visit the National Kandawgyi Gardens, which
were laid out by Sir Harcourt Butler, the former governor of Burma - flowerbeds
are similar to those you would find in an English country garden! The garden is
recently renovated and the name has changed to "Kandawgyi National Botanical
Garden". Overnight at the hotel, Pyin Oo Lwin.
Day 05: Pyin Oo Lwin - Hsipaw
Lashio (B)
 Breakfast.
Early morning, transfer from your hotel to Pyin Oo Lwin railway station, where
you board the train to Kyaukme for a journey of approximately 4.5 hours. The
train leaves at 0830 hours. The train stops at many local stations and passes,
very slowly, over the Goikteik Viaduct, built in 1903 across a 300 metre deep
gorge. Arrival in Kyaukme at 1315 Hours. On arrival in Kyaukme a car and driver
will be waiting for you. Drive to the village of Pan Paung where milk-strips are
made according to a Shan recipe. Then continue to Hsipaw and visit the old Shan
Prince House. Continue drive onward to Lashio. Arrive in Lashio late evening.
Accommodation at Lashio Motel.
Day 06 : Lashio
Muse (B)
After breakfast at the hotel. Sightseeing starts. Lashio is
particularly beautiful from November to February, the cool months when the trees
are in bloom. Early morning, visit the colorful local market where you can often
see minority people selling their produce. Continue to Quan Yin San Chinese
Temple, possibly the largest Chinese temple in Myanmar and always busy with
Lashio's many Chinese residents. Visit Sasana 2500 Pagoda, which enjoys nice
views over Lashio, and then Mansu Pagoda, said to be over 250 years old.
Continue to Thiri Mingala Man Kyaung, a monastery, which people visit from far
and wide to see a monk who is believed to be able to predict fortunes very
accurately. Afternoon, drive on to Muse - a trip of about 6 hours. Overnight and
pleasure at the hotel, Muse.
Day 07: Muse
Bhamo (B)
Visit the border city of Muse, a famous trading point between
China and Myanmar. Late morning continue by car to Bhamo. Also here the road is
bumpy and the trip will take about 5 to 6 hours. In the afternoon, visit the
small city of Bhamo. (You are not allowed to cross the city borders). Also buy
some food and drinks for during the ferry ride the coming 2 days. Overnight at
the hotel, Bhamo.
Day 08: Bhamo
Mandalay (B)
Breakfast. Early morning, board to local ferry from Bhamo to
Mandalay. The ferry passes through 2 rapid streaming defiles. The scenery is
timeless and slowly you descend towards Mandalay. Overnight on board.
Day 09: Mandalay
(B)
Breakfast on board. The boat will arrive in Mandalay harbour.
The exact arrival time varies with the height of the river and it might be late
afternoon when you arrive. Transfer from Mandalay Jetty to hotel. Hotel
accommodation at, Mandalay.
Day 10: Mandalay
Ava
Sagaing
Mandalay
In the morning, after breakfast at the hotel, take the local
ferry to visit Innwa (Ava), located on an island between the Ayeyarwady and the
Myitnge Rivers. You will visit Innwa by horse cart and pass through the ancient
city walls to visit a brick and stucco monastery called Maha Aungmye Bonzan
(also known as Ok Kyaung). Continue to Nanmyin Watch Tower - the climb to the
top offers lovely views over the river. See also the impressive wooden monastery
of Bagaya Kyaung. Visit to some village homes to see local handicrafts, such as
silk weaving, cane mats and alms bowls, if we have sufficient time.
In the afternoon, visit picturesque Sagaing Hill, which is
perhaps the living centre of Buddhist faith in Myanmar today. Hillsides are
dotted with numerous pagodas and monasteries. Return to Amarapura via the Ava
Bridge, built by British engineers. Walk over U-Bein Bridge, which is over a
kilometre long and made entirely of teak. Return to Mandalay. Overnight at the
hotel in Mandalay.
Day 11: Mandalay
Kalaw
Breakfast at hotel. Drive to Kalaw (265 km, 8 hour driving).
Drive across the Shan Plateau, through fields of mountain rice with stops for
photo shot. Arrive Kalaw and transfer to hotel.
Day 12: Kalaw Trekking
 Breakfast
at the hotel. Tour proceed as a trekking around Kalaw. You can for example enjoy
a walk through the hills, 2 hours (short way) or 4 hours, to a village of the
Palaung tribe. At first a steep track leads down into a narrow valley where the
Palaung cultivate cheroot leaves, tea, damsons and mangoes on the hillsides. The
track crosses the valley floor before climbing very steeply again to the Palaung
village of Pinnabin, which sits on top of a hill. The village has an interesting
long house for eight families. Formerly animists, the Palaung people have mostly
converted to Buddhism. Observe tribal village life and how the Palaung people
dry cheroot in a specially designed oven.
Day 13: Kalaw
Inle
(B)
After breakfast at the hotel, sightseeing by foot around the
Botaloke Lake and local market. After lunch, visit Indein Village, located at
the western side of the lake. Passing Nyaung Ohak Monastery and follow a stair
path lined up with many hundreds o wooden columns, you finally will reach the
impressive Shwe Indein Pagoda Complex. From the hillside you have great view
over the lake area. On the way back to the boat, walk through a romantic bamboo
forest at the riverside, where you may observe local people having a bath.
Overnight in Inle lake region.
Day 14: Inle
(B)
In the early morning, breakfast at hotel and visit Phaungdaw
Oo Pagoda, the most famous pagoda of the Shan State. Ywa-Ma village, gold and
sliver smiths workshop. After lunch, visit Jumping Cat Monastery and floating
gardens, local methods of fishing, village life and the famous leg rowers. In
the evening, enjoy the sunset while visiting the Inle Lake by boat. Overnight at
hotel.
Day 15: Inle
Heho
Kyaing Tong
(Kentung)
After breakfast at the hotel, visit to the local market and
perhaps walking up the hill to see the old catholic church (if open). Then,
drive to Heho Airport. Yangon Airways flight HK 727 from Heho to Kyaing Tong
(1225/1425 - via Mandalay, Tachileik). Arrival late afternoon at Kyaing Tong
Airport and transfer to hotel. A short drive through Kyaing Tong takes you to
Lake Tong, the center of the city. The terrace at the boulevard around the lake
is a good place to soak up the atmosphere of Kyaing Tong.
Day 16: Kyaing Tong & surroundings
 Breakfast.
A full day in the countryside. Start with a visit to the Kat Tauk area and visit
an Akha village. The Akha originate from Yunnan in southern China and live in
south-east Shan State, on the borderlands of China, Laos and Thailand. Many Akha
are found near Kyaing Tong where they live in the high mountains, cultivating
maize, tobacco and sugar cane. The Akha are famous for their women's striking
headdresses, which resemble heavy silver helmets. They consist of rows of heavy
silver baubles, interspersed with beads, which are sewn on a bamboo cap. Akha
embroidery is extremely intricate and includes panels of diamond and geometric
shapes. The path leads through the village and, although initially steep,
changes into a nice walk in the hills (total 1 hours walk).
Pass through an Ann village The Ann people live their life in
relative isolation in quite simple circumstances. Most wear their traditional
black costume and paint their teeth black. Continue to another Akha village,
where every housewife still wears traditional clothing. Visit one of the typical
Akha houses. From here, it is possible to descend a steep path to Pin Tauk
Waterfall (approx. 10 minutes - also called the "young men's route") or enjoy a
leisurely walk down the hill (approx. 30 minutes). Return down hill and drive to
the Pin Tauk Lahu village. The village is picturesque but few people wear
traditional dress. Drive again in the direction of Kyaing Tong and stop on the
way to see the traditional production of Shan Rice wine (if in season). Continue
to visit Wan Pauk Palaung village that is traditional but very poor. The Palaung
originate from Mon-Khmer stock. They mainly live in the mountains of northern
Shan State and are famous for cultivating tea. Most Palaung are Buddhist. The
dress is one of the most colorful of all the hill tribes. Ladies wear dark
jackets over dark red and black striped longyis, with heavy silver torques and
lacquered waistbands. Also visit a Shan village. The Shan are believed to
originate from the Tai peoples and have descended from Yunnan (China) to the
area now known as Shan State (North East Myanmar, along the Thai border). Other
groups descended into the Menam Valley and are now referred to as Thai or
Siamese. Even today, the Shan and Thai languages are very similar. Return to
Kyaing Tong.
Day 17: Kyaing Tong & surroundings
Breakfast. An active day in the hills. The Akha are the
largest minority in the Kyaing Tong area and surely the most colourful. Today's
trip starts with a drive outside of Kyaing Tong in the direction of Tachilek
(approx. 1 hour). Then drive high into the hills, to the top of Hokyin Mountain.
On this mountain are 4 Akha villages, one Buddhist, one Animist, one Catholic
and one Christian. Between every village is a valley and the path leads down
(approx. 10 minutes) and approx. 15 minutes up the hill. See the animist shrine
at the entry of the village. Also see the production of Akha spirit made from
corn. The Akha are very hospitable and enjoy welcoming you to their house for a
chat around the stove. After the 4th village, you can return by car, or enjoy
another walk down the hill for approx. 1 hour. The path leads through farms with
beautiful views of the surrounding hills.
Return in the direction of Kyaing Tong and visit a Wa
village, where you can still see handmade guns. Return to Kyaing Tong and visit
U Mulein Da's unique Shan lacquerware shop. This lacquerware is distinctively
different from Bagan lacquerware; it is not engraved, but the reliefs are glued
on. Drive to the top of Lone Tree Hill for views over surrounding countryside
and Kyaing Tong. Return to hotel.
Day 18: Kyaing Tong
Yangon
 Breakfast.
A morning to enjoy Kyaing Tong Market - a fascinating place to soak up some
local atmosphere. Many minority people come into town to shop and most wear
traditional dress. Of specific interest are the silver shops where a wide
variety of silver coins are sold, the "Akha" shops where the Akha women buy the
decoration for their headdresses and the various shops with tea and tobacco.
Other stops can be made at Wat In - a Khun-style temple and the more "Myanmar"
style Maha-Myat Muni temple. Also visit a pottery village and the blacksmith
shop. Return at hotel and check out. Transfer from hotel to airport. Yangon
Airways flight HK 728 from Kyaing Tong to Yangon (1510/1825 via Heho, Mandalay).
Arrive at Yangon Airport and transfer to hotel. Accommodation at Hotel, Yangon.
Day 19: Yangon departure
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Yangon Airport for
your departure flight
 |
