14 Nights in Myanmar (Burma)

Land & River Expedition · March 4, 2016

“Go before the place internationalizes and loses the look of old Asia that has been preserved by its harshly imposed self-isolation. Go before irreligiosity strips Myanmar of its mystical Buddhist purity. Go before the people in remote villages grow accustomed to tourists and lose their curiosity about you, before people switch to global ways of dressing and thinking. Go before they fix the English on the menus and signs. Go before the place gets wealthy and ugly, because if one can generalize from the little pockets of prosperity there, economic miracles are not going to make for an attractive sight. Go before everyone else goes.”

04 MARCH 2016 (FRIDAY)

YangonArrival in Yangon Transfer (1.5 Hours)

Overnight in Yangon

05 March 2016 (SATURDAY)

Yangon (breakfast, lunch, dinner) - Sightseeing (full day - 8 Hours).

We start the day at the Sule Pagoda, a gleaming octagonal pagoda that stands squarely at the center point of the city of Yangon. Afterwards, we pay a visit to the National Museum to gain an insight into Myanmar. See the eight meter tall Sihasana Lion Throne, used by the last Burmese King, and other fascinating artifacts from Burmese history and culture. Enjoy a break at Bogyoke (Scott) Market, a pleasant covered market containing crafts from all corners of Myanmar - gems, fabrics and more.

In the afternoon, visit some of the more well-known pagodas, including Botataung Pagoda, named after the 1000 military leaders who escorted relics of the Buddha from India over 2000 years ago. Visit Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda, a reclining Buddha that is almost as large as the enormous figure of Shwethalyaung Buddha in Bago. Finally, continue to the Shwedagon Pagoda the highlight of any visit to Yangon. Covered in gold leaf and graced with diamonds and gems, the Shwedagon Pagoda is the guardian temple of the city and the most sacred Buddhist temple of Myanmar.

06 March 2016 (SUNDAY)

YANGON - HEHO - INLE LAKE (BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER)

Transfer (1.5 hours) - Flight from Yangon to Heho - By vehicle from Heho to Inle Lake (1.5 hours)

Transfers by boat (1 hour) - Overnight in Inle Lake at the Pristine Lotus Spa Resort Inle.

07 March 2016 (MONDAY)

Inle lake (breakfast, lunch, dinner) - Excursion by boat on Inle Lake

Surrounded by mountains, villages and several monasteries, Inle Lake is the epitome of serene located in the heart of the Shan Plateau. The lake measures about 10 miles (16km) in length and about 4 miles (6.4km) across, and is inhabited by many different ethnic nationals. the Intha fishermen are famous for their distinctive leg rowing technique. An estimated 100,000 Intha (Angsa) people live on and around the lake. In their own language the word Intha means "Sons of the Lake", and their way of life is certainly well adapted to this environment.

Enjoy a boat ride on Inle Lake and discover its calm serenity - still waters and colorful brushstrokes of floating vegetation and slow moving fish canoes. Rolling high hills hug the lake on all sides, as the lake's shore and islands host 17 villages on stilts. Visit the enchanting floating gardens, a teeming market and an Intha village. The day also includes a visit to the Phaung Daw Ooo Pagoda, Inn Paw Khon Village (a lotus and silk weaving village) and the Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery. You will spend the night in Inle Lake.

08 march 2016 (TUESDAY)

Inle lake - heho - yangon (breakfast, lunch, dinner)

Transfers: By boat (1 hour) - By vehicle from Inle Lake to Heho (1.5 hours) - Flight from Heho to Yangon (1.5 hours), Overnight in Yangon.

09 march 2016 (WEDNESDAY)

To Botahtaung Jetty to board the Pandaw 2 deluxe river boat.

This is a one-of-a-kind river cruise. Sailing through the heart of 'Middle Myanmar' we pass through a varying landscape, from the lush teak plantations around Prome to the desert country south of Pagan. We visit a number of small villages and towns and see local agriculture and manufacturing first hand. These destinations are removed from the modern world and offer an experience of a timeless, lost Myanmar far from the usual tourist track. We also visit a number of old monasteries and temples of artistic and historical interest in this, the cultural heartland of old Myanmar. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included daily on board the Pandaw 2.

10 march 2016 (Thursday)

THAYETMYO

This pleasant colonial town once guarded the border between Royal Myanmar and British Myanmar following the 2nd Anglo Myanmar War of 1855. Many of the buildings, including the covered market, date from this period. Thayet also boasts the oldest golf course in Myanmar (1885). Here, we visit the market, observe the colonial houses and ride out by horse cart to the golf course, passing through the former British botanical garden.

11 March 2016 (friday)

magwe minhla

We visit the two Italian built forts constructed to keep the British at bay from Royal Myanmar. The fight for the Minhla fort was the only serious action in the war and the death of a young subaltern inspired Kipling to write a poem. We ride trishaws to reach the magnificent Magwe Myat-thalon Pagoda, built with solid gold bricks. Of interest are the many shrines and hermitages within the temple precincts.

12 March 2016 (saturday)

Sale

Here we visit the Yout-Saun-Kyaung Monastery with its spectacular wood carvings. We also an area of splendid colonial-style houses and continue sailing upstream.

13 march 2016 (sunday)

Tan-Chi-Taung

In the morning, we moor at the base of the Tan-Chi-Taung mountain and ascend by World War II style jeep. In the afternoon, we tour a selection of the 3,000 listed monuments at the World Heritage Site in Pagan.

14 March 2016 (monday)

pagan

Further exploration by coach of the monuments followed by a stop at a lacquerware workshop and a visit to the local markets. Sail in the afternoon upstream and take an evening walk at Oh Ne Kyaung village to experience the local life in this typical riverside community.

15 March 2016 (tuesday)

Yandabo

This small rural village specialized in pot making. We visit the Pandaw School, built with past donations from Pandaw passengers.

16 march 2016 (wednesday)

Amarapura

Passengers will take a tour of central Mandalay, visiting the Mahamuni Pagoda and Shwe Nan Daw Kyaung teak carved monastery. Next we explore the ancient capital of Amarapura by coach and sampan, crossing the U Bein Bridge to see paintings in a temple.

17 March 2016 (thursday)

Mingun

We visit Sagaing in the morning. The true delight of Saiging lies in its 1,000 hermitages and sanctuaries, rich in woodcarving and religious art. In the afternoon, we stop at Mingun to see the marvelous unfinished pagoda and the 90-ton Mingun Bell, considered to be the largest in the world. We also visit the Mingun Old Peoples Home originally established with the assistance of the Irrawaddy Flotilla Company in the 1930s.

18 March 2016 (friday)

Kyauk-Myoung

Witness the spectacular potteries near Kyauk-Myoung where the famous 50 gallon water pots are handmade. See all stages of the manufacturing process from the throwing of the pots to the firing in magnificent kilns. Afterwards, we cruise back downstream to Mandalay.

19 March 2016 (saturday)

Mandalay (Breakfast)

Disembark at Myin Mu Jetty mid-morning (Between 8:00am - 9:00 am). Transfer to Mandalay (2 hours) - Flight from Mandalay to Yangon - transfer (1.5 hours) - Overnight in Yangon at the Sule Shangri-La Hotel.

20 March 2016 (sunday)

Transfer from Myin Mu jetty (2.5 Hours)