Treasures of Myanmar (trip)
Treasures of Myanmar
- Yangon Airport, Yangon, Yangon Region, Myanmar
- Culture & Nature
| from $3,700* per person | 13 Days | Year-round |
| Comfort accommodations | Exertion level: 3 | |
| Operator: Red Lantern Journeys | 12 people max | |
In this classic itinerary, you'll experience a culture in harmony with its religion, temples, history, and beautiful landscapes. Go back in time as locals painstakingly attach gold-leaf to Buddha statues and temples, as monks make their morning rounds for alms, and as fishermen toss their nets in the rivers and lakes. Your private local guides will involve you in the local Burmese culture, cuisine, and customs of this devoutly Buddhist country in an itinerary designed to have a balance between seeing the major sights and experiencing the local culture.
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Locations visited/nearby
Myanmar (Burma), Southeast Asia
0 testimonials about this trip.
3 testimonials about the provider, Red Lantern Journeys:
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Reviewer: Ki G.
located in
Seattle,
WA
USA
Dear Ambrose,
Marty and I wanted to thank you again for your super-meticulous planning of our trip! It really was incredible how everything, and I do mean every plan we made with you, came to pass on our madcap journey through India! You really heard our desires, and we experienced more richness than we had hoped for in the short time we had.
I had read every travel book, had dreamed about going for years, and was at a loss how to pull it all together. You eased the burden of choosing by arranging it all for us; having a guide in each stop to get us quickly in-depth added pleasure and knowledge to our experience. The guides themselves were charming and passionate, taking great pride in sharing their country with us. The time we spent on our own was perfectly balanced with these guided experiences. Really, Ambrose, I wouldn't think twice about signing on with you again for another Red Lantern Journey. It was a vivid dream come true for us!
Ki G. and Marty C.
Seattle, Washington
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Reviewer: Ivonne B.
located in
San Juan,
Puerto Rico
USA
Hi Ciara,
I just got home from New York and was welcomed by your beautiful flowers. Thanks for such a nice touch. It was a fitting ending to a wonderful trip.
The travel experience was excellent and exploring Indochine was simply unforgettable. While Cambodia and Laos were my two favorite destinations, and spending New Year�s Eve @ Halong Bay took my breath away, overall I was impressed with the people of the fascinating Southeast Asia region, all of whom were so kind and attentive.
I especially enjoyed having a private guide to take us by the hand in each city, giving us inside information of each location and allowing us to relax and forget about transportation logistics so we could truly enjoy every moment to its fullest. It really made all the difference in the world, specially being in that part of the world.
We had 6 different guides (3 males and 3 females).If I were to grade them, I would say that Mr. Hua (Hanoi/Halong) and Mr. Chang (Luang Prabang) were simply outstanding.They were not only very knowledgeable but also went out of their way to help us solve certain situations that arose and make us feel at home. The female guides were all very nice (JJ in Bangkok, Thuy in Saigon and Kim in Cambodia). The only one that was average was Tom (Hue/Hoi-Ann), mostly because his thick accent made it very difficult to understand him.
In terms of hotel choices, I was also very impressed, both because of their wonderful location and truly five-star services. The Shangri-La (Bangkok) and the Sofitel Metropole (Hanoi) were an attraction in itself. Also, the Maison (Laos), the Majestic (Saigon) and both Victoria properties (Hoi Ann & Seam Reap) were very cozy & charming. However, Hue�s Imperial Hotel, while it was rated as a 5-star, it was not up to par with the other hotels. It seems to cater to a more local clientele and both the food and facilities left much to be desired. I believe the classic La Residence or the modern Mercure would have been a better choice.
Overall, I can say I�ve been spoiled by Red Lantern�s way of travel and I would definitely recommend it to my friends or to serve as reference for your potential clients.
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Reviewer: Heidi K.
located in
Seattle,
WA
USA
Ambrose,
I haven't done this sooner because I am just now having time to sit down and process the China trip. I did want to make sure that I took the time to let you know what a fabulous trip it was. I'm sure being with a great group didn't hurt, but we all enjoyed ourselves immensely. Essentially there were not hitches to be found, even though we kept adding things willy nilly and didn't have the simplest itinerary. Michelle, our guide in Beijing, was superb. She was professional, yet friendly, knowledgeable, and very flexible in her heroic attempts to satisfy our every whim. We kept her busy keeping us busy from dawn 'til way past dusk - I do remember the look of relief on her face when we assured her that we didn't expect her to hike the section of the wall with us. I am sure that if we'd wanted her along she would have come.
I was interested to see how being in China during the October national holidays would affect our trip and, I can say wholeheartedly, that it made it better. I consider myself a somewhat experienced traveler but I'd never been to China and expected it to be a lot more overwhelming than it was. Really, I think I could live there in a heartbeat. I loved the fact that we visited places like Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, and the Summer Palace with hoards of other people - and that most of them appeared to be Chinese, if not locals. There was this party feel in the air and plenty of subjects at which to point my camera. Guilin, the Li River, and Yangshou were more unique and beautiful than I imagined and I specially enjoyed the river cruise.
I won't say that, in some ways, I'm not glad to be home but you can be assured that I will recommend Red Lantern Journeys to my friends and family and will keep you on the short list for further trips. (Kevin mentioned that you are working on including Mongolia in your future offerings - I've always wanted to be able to resurrect my horsemanship skills and race my Mongolian war pony home to my yurt for supper). I'll also be sure to include a review and recommendation of RLJ on my blog once I get around the posting about the trip. (Yes, I'm slow I know - work just keeps getting the way).
Heidi K.
Seattle, Washington
Special information
- This is a custom departure, meaning this trip is offered on dates that you arrange privately with the provider. Additionally, you need to form your own private group for this trip. The itinerary and price here is just a sample. Contact the provider for detailed pricing, minimum group size, and scheduling information. For most providers, the larger the group you are traveling with, the lower the per-person cost will be.
Itinerary
Day 1: YangonUpon arrival at Yangon International Airport, you will be welcomed by our representative and transferred to your hotel for check in. Afternoon, experience the full history of the famous Shwedagon Pagoda, the daily lives of local people living in the immediate surroundings and a deeper insight to the local spiritual beliefs in Nats – the Myanmar spirits. The tour begins from the bottom of the hill, passing local workshops, markets and monasteries. Participate in popular local activities that include offerings to the pagoda, a visit to a traditional medicine shop, and a chat with a fortune teller. Overnight in Yangon.
Day 2: Yangon
Today, you will see the different faces of Yangon from famous landmarks to the hidden markets that have seen few westerners. Starting from a famous tea shop in the 1960s, you will visit the Sule Pagoda, colonial downtown, the harbour, the historic Strand Hotel, a colourful local market and the Kandawgyi Lake. Stop over at the reclining Buddha before taking the famous circular train which takes you right behind the Bogyoke Aung San market. Overnight in Yangon. (Breakfast, Lunch)
Day 3: Yangon to Mandalay
Transfer to the airport for your morning flight to Mandalay. On arrival, you will be welcomed by our representative then, depending on the time available, you'll visit various sights of Mandalay including the temple ruins of Paleik. The snake temple in Paleik is known for the three pythons sleeping at the Buddha statue, which is seldom visited by tourists. After, visit Amarapura, the 18th century capital of Myanmar. See the Mahagandayon monastery complex with thousands of monks and visit a small weaving factory. Walk over the famed U-Bein Bridge, a 158 year old teak wood bridge - the longest teak bridge in the world. Continue to Mahamuni pagoda, the most sacred temple in Upper Myanmar. Overnight in Mandalay. (Breakfast)
Day 4: Mandalay
Start the day at the top of Mandalay hill for a great view over the Mandalay fort. Continue to Atumashi and the Shwenandaw monasteries which are excellent examples of the architecture of this region. Visit the Kuthodaw Pagoda, often referred to as the “world’s biggest book.” Afternoon, you will take a boat excursion to Mingun village on the banks of the Ayarwaddy River. Visit the Mingun Pagoda with its big crack caused by an earthquake and the world’s largest ringing bronze bell. Return to Mandalay on the one-hour boat ride while wine and snacks are being served. After a brief rest at the hotel, go to a sunset viewpoint near the Ayeyarwaddy River for a cold Mandalay beer. Continue to the busy Yadanar night market to have some traditional snacks and a walk around before heading to the excellent Mandalay marionettes theatre for dinner and a show performed by a mix of traditional dancers, musician and puppeteers. Overnight in Mandalay. (Breakfast, Dinner)
Day 5: Mandalay to Bagan
Transfer to the airport for your morning flight to Bagan. On arrival, drive to Mt. Popa (4,981ft), stopover at a palm tree grove to watch local farmers extracting palm juice to make traditional candy and liquor products. Lunch at the Popa Mountain Resort, then visit the stunning Taung Ka Lat shrine and the Popa temple. Afternoon visit the century’s old village of Salay which houses several old teak monasteries as well as some charming colonial buildings from the British period. End the day with sundowners on the sand bank and spectacular sunset views over the river. Overnight in Bagan. (Breakfast, Lunch)
Day 6: Bagan
An optional hot-air balloon ride at dawn is available, but pre-booking is required (does not operate between April 1st and October 15th). Enjoy breathtaking views of the temple-studded landscape of Bagan, which was once the capital of several kingdoms in Central Myanmar. The dry, arid conditions have uniquely preserved more than 3000 stupas and temples built here between the 11th and 13th centuries.
Spend the day exploring Bagan and see the ancient temples that Bagan is renowned for. Visit Buledi Pagoda to get a first impressive view over the area, as well as other ancient temples like the Ananda, Dhammayangyi, Sulamani, and Thatbyinnyu. After lunch in a local restaurant, visit a small scale lacquer workshop and see how some of the world’s finest lacquerware is made. Early evening, take a horse cart ride to Pyathagyi Pagoda for sunset with some refreshing drinks served. Feel free to stop whenever you see a temple you like! Overnight in Bagan. (Breakfast, Lunch)
Day 7: Bagan to Heho to Inle
Transfer to the airport for your morning flight to Heho. On arrival, you will be welcomed by our representative and visit the ruins of Indein. Located at the south of the Inle Lake, these ruins are partly covered by vegetation and resemble a “pagoda forest”. You will enjoy fantastic view over the lake and visit a primary school in Sae Ma village. A home hosted lunch awaits you in a typical local house. After, visit a small Pa O village and continue by motorboat to the Phaung Daw Oo pagoda. Proceed by motorboat on the lake and check in at your hotel. Overnight in Inle Lake. (Breakfast, Lunch)
Day 8: Inle Lake
Inle Lake in southern Shan State is a vast natural lake surrounded by traditional Shan villages. On the lake, the Intha people have been living for many centuries in villages built entirely on stilts over the lake. Today you will travel by private motorboat around the lake to discover the natural beauty of the lake. Visit the floating gardens, hopefully see some of the famous leg rowers and have some tea at a local family’s house. On and around the lake, traditional markets are held in different villages according to a 5-day rotating schedule. You will visit a colourful market frequented by Shan and PaO people living nearby. Stop by a local cheroot factory (where the Burmese cigars are made), floating tomato gardens, Intha Heritage house where Burmese cats are bred and a weaving factory. Overnight in Inle Lake. (Breakfast, Lunch)
Day 9: Inle Lake to Heho to Ngapali Beach
Transfer to the airport for your short flight to Thandwe. Upon arrival, you'll be met and transferred to your hotel in Ngapali Beach. Overnight in Ngapali Beach. (Breakfast)
Day 10: Ngapali Beach
Your day is free to relax at the beach and soak up the beautiful scenery. Overnight in Ngapali Beach. (Breakfast)
Day 11: Ngapali Beach
This morning, you will travel about one hour by a fisherman’s boat to Maung Shwe Lay, a village located south of Ngapali. Walk around this traditional fishing village where you can see a local market, village school, a library and a brick factory. Return to the village by ox cart and enjoy amazing snorkelling at the bay right in front of the village. A seafood lunch awaits you in a local house on the beach. After, return to your hotel in Ngapali the rest of the day is free. Overnight in Ngapali. (Breakfast, lunch)
Day 12: Ngapali Beach to Yangon
Transfer to Thandwe airport for your flight to Yangon. Upon arrival be met and transferred to your hotel. Enjoy your last day in Myanmar at leisure. Overnight in Yangon. (Breakfast)
Day 13: Departure from Yangon
Transfer to the airport for your departure flight home. (Breakfast)
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