Images of Burma

Day 1: UK/Yangon via Kuala Lumpur
Today you’ll depart on your flight via Kuala Lumpur to Yangon, Burma’s largest city..

Day 2: Yangon
Yangon, also known as Rangoon, has come a long way from its origins as a small fishing village. Today, after transferring to your hotel and enjoying our included lunch, you will begin to explore and absorb this city’s unique atmosphere. The glittering gold of the stunning Schwedagon Pagoda dominates the skyline, rising almost 98 metres (326ft) above the cityscape. The best time to view this breathtaking temple – which is encrusted with thousands of diamonds – is in the early evening, as the sun begins to set over the city. You will stay in Yangon for two nights.

Day 3: Yangon
After breakfast, join your Local Guide and Tour Manager for a full-day sightseeing tour of Yangon. Look out for the British colonial influences in the architecture of the fascinating downtown area, nestling alongside ancient temples such as the Sule Pagoda. You’ll also visit the Chauk Htat Gyi Reclining Buddha, a huge statue stretching over 68 metres – said to be one of the largest of its kind in the world. Then it’s onwards to experience everyday life in this bustling city, as you visit Scott Market and Yangon’s Chinatown area. Lunch is included in your tour.

Day 4: Bagan
Today you’ll take an early morning flight to Bagan, known as the ‘city of four thousand pagodas’, where you will stay for the next two nights. Enjoy breakfast before visiting the most culturally significant and best-preserved pagodas this beautiful town has to offer, as well as visiting the Ananda temple, with its striking gilded spires and gold leaf-adorned Buddha images. After an included lunch and as the afternoon draws to a close, make your way to the Tayoke Ryay temple to relax, watch the sun set and absorb the beauty of this ancient city. This evening, there’s the chance to enjoy an optional dinner and a puppet show if you wish.

Day 5: Bagan
After breakfast, take a visit to the lively Nyaung Oo market, with its vast variety of fresh produce. There’s also the chance to take a pony cart ride around this picturesque area if you wish. Lunch is included today, then you can further sample life in this fascinating country as you’re welcomed to Phwar Saw Village by the local people. Soak up the homely atmosphere, observe traditional cooking styles and experience the daily lives of the villagers, as well as visiting a lacquerware workshop to observe the making of traditional handicrafts.

Day 6: Mandalay
This morning, you’ll fly to Mandalay, which will be your base for two nights. With the remains of the old Royal City and many old monasteries, Mandalay is a showcase for art and 19th century architecture.

After lunch in Mandalay, there’s an afternoon visit to Mahamuni Pagoda, which houses the holy image Maha Muni, said to have been embraced by Buddha seven times, bringing it to life. You will also visit the Shwe Kyaung (Golden Palace Monastery), famous for its intricate woodcarvings. You’ll then drive to Amarapura, on the outskirts of Mandalay, to take a stroll along the U Bein Bridge. This beautiful, simple teak wood bridge crosses the Taungthamen Lake. As the sun begins to set, casting an orange glow on the water, take your seat at a refreshment bar or in a small boat and watch as local people and robed monks make their way across – a truly unforgettable image of daily life in Burma.

Day 7: Mandalay
After breakfast, this morning’s excursion will take you on the famous Ayeyarwddy River, Burma’s most important waterway. You’ll arrive at Mingun, home to the impressive Mingun Paya pagoda, which remains unfinished despite construction beginning back in 1790.

Explore the village of Mingun, with its famous bell claiming to be the largest, uncracked, working bell in the world, and enjoy a visit to the stunning white pagoda complex at Settawya.

After lunch, relax and explore at your own pace

Please note:
On 2014 departures you can join this afternoon’s optional excursion to Sagaing. Cross the bridge over the Irrawaddy River in to Sagaing. With 600 ivory colored pagodas and monasteries, Sagaing Hill is generally seen as the spiritual hub of Myanmar and claims residence to around 3,000 monks and nearly 100 meditation shrines. A private meeting with monks will be arranged to learn more about their daily life and Buddhist teachings.

Day 8: Inle Lake
Take an early-morning flight to Heho and transfer to your hotel by a locally made long tail tourist boat from the small town of Nyaung Shwe, at the gateway to Inle Lake. You will stay at Inle Lake for the next two nights.

Your first day here begins with a visit to the colourful five-day market, where you can buy traditional produce if you wish. Then this afternoon, there’s a memorable visit to the five gold-coloured Buddha images at Phaung Daw U Pagoda, before you get the chance to admire the intricate designs in production at the silk-weaving village of Inn Paw Khone. To round off the day, take to the water to visit a floating farm in the middle of the Inle Lake, to see how local farmers grow fruit and vegetables in this unusual way. Breakfast and lunch are both included today.

Day 9: Inle Lake
The village of Indain, with its idyllic 16th century pagodas, is a must-see, and there’s no more enjoyable way to get there than by boat – travelling up a small, scenic creek to reach the village.

After lunch which is included today you can return to your hotel, and spend the rest of the day relaxing or exploring at your own pace.

Day 10: Yangon
An early-morning flight will take you back to Yangon, where you will stay overnight. This afternoon you are free to explore this bustling city at your own pace.

In the evening, enjoy an included farewell dinner in the famous Le Planteur French restaurant.

Day 11: Yangon/UK
Today you will transfer to Yangon airport for your return flight to the UK via Kuala Lumpur or Doha.

Please note:
We want you to get the most from your holiday with us so please be advised that this tour is not suitable for anyone with limited mobility.

This holiday is a journey of discovery, visiting areas that are relatively new to tourism, but you will be rewarded with amazing sights and experiences. The trip will involve some early-morning flights.

Accommodation throughout is in hotels of a comfortable standard, typical of the hotels you will stay in are:

Chatrium hotel or similar in Yangon
Mandalay Hill Resort or similar in Mandalay
Bagan River View hotel or similar in Bagan
Inle Resort or similar in Inle Lake
Each of these hotels offer comfortable accommodation with a choice of dining, and leisure facilities. Bedrooms feature private facilities, TV, air-conditioning, tea and coffee-making facilities and/or a fully stocked mini-bar.

Hotels will be confirmed in your final documents.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION

Included excursions and visits

Schwedagon Pagoda visit
Yangon city sightseeing tour (full day)
Bagan sightseeing tour
Phwar Saw Village visit
Mandalay Hill, Amarapura, and sunset at U Bein Bridge
Ayeyarwaddy River cruise and Mingun sightseeing
Inle Lake sightseeing tour
Indain village tour

Optional excursions

Dinner and puppet show in Bagan
Bagan pony cart ride
Sagaing sightseeing tour

Your holiday includes

Scheduled flights and internal flights
Overseas transfers and other transportation
9 nights’ accommodation with 9 breakfasts, 8 lunches and 5 dinners included
The services of a Travelsphere Tour Manager and Local Guide
Hotel porterage (one bag per person)
All airport taxes and security charges
UK Airline Passenger Duty
All state and local taxes

With 50 years’ experience in arranging escorted tours to exciting destinations across the globe, Travelsphere have built an excellent reputation founded on quality and value.

By choosing a Travelsphere escorted holiday you can travel with confidence, knowing that every aspect of your holiday has been carefully planned and arranged from start to finish. Further to this they are ATOL bonded and members of ABTA.

Travelsphere’s thorough planning of travel arrangements, itineraries and accommodation combined with the unique insight of their knowledgeable Tour Managers and Local Guides will enable you to experience the culture, traditions and hidden away places less accessible to other travellers.

Our Opinion
“Travelsphere are one of the biggest names in the Escorted Tour market. Finely tuned over the last 50 years their tours have been tried, tested and refined by thousands of customers.”