REVEAL MYANMAR – 14 days/13 nights

At a Glance

Feel & Touch Myanmar Tour Itinerary at a Glance

Designed for a small group tour of Myanmar/Burma visiting Yangon, Ancient Bagan & Nyaung U, and Lake Inle

Day 01 : Arrive Yangon
Day 02 : Yangon sightseeing
Day 03 : Morning flight to Heho/ transfer to Nyaung Shwe and sightseeing Inle Lake
Day 04 : Excursion to Inndein boat trip and sights
Day 05 : Flight to Mandalay/sightseeing Amarapura and Mandalay
Day 06 : Drive to Hsipaw
Day 07 : Exploring Hsipaw area
Day 08 : Train to Pyin U Lwin
Day 09 : Exploring Pyin U Lwin area and drive back to Mandalay
Day 10 : Morning flight to Bagan/sightseeing
Day 11 : Journey to Salay and Mt Popa
Day 12 : Free day in Bagan
Day 13 : Morning in Bagan/flight to Yangon
Day 14 : Farewell Burma/depart Yangon

Itinerary

YOUR ITEMIZED ITINERARY

Day 1 : ARRIVE YANGON (1 NIGHT)

G’ day and welcome to Myanmar! Today you will arrive in yangon, the commercial capital and the main gateway to Myanmar, meet Yangon guide and transfer to your hotel. It is time for a brief Introduction to holiday and just relax to adjust the time zone. Dinner and stay overnight in Yangon.

Hotel: Melia Hotel
Meals: None

Day 2 : TOURING YANGON – WHAT A CHARMING CITY!

This morning we’ll head off for a day of sightseeing in Yangon. Begin your day with walking around Colonial architecture lining Strand Road – A walk along the Strand or Pansodan Street is said like strolling down Pall Mall mixed with all the distressed grandeur of Havana! In fact Yangon has many large colonial buildings including high court, general post office, former secretariat building, St Paul boarding school, and the legendary Strand hotel, built in 1896, once described as the “leading hotel of the East”. The tour extended to Central Sule Pagoda, an octagonal golden stupa, dating back over 2,000 years; nearby city hall, a Baptist church and an Islam mosque. If time permits you will have the chance to do some shopping at 85-year old BOGYOKE (Scott) market which is one of the most popular tourist hangouts. It was named after Mr. Jarvin Scott, Yangon Municipal Commissioner during the British colonial government and crown off the day with visit the great Shwedagon Pagoda. Witness the golden dome, covered with 60 tons of pure gold, glistening as the sun sets. Stay overnight in Yangon.

Meals: Buffet Breakfast 

Day 3 : FLY TO HEHO – NYUANGSHWE – INLE SIGHTSEEING (2 NIGHTS)

This morning we depart for the airport and board your flight to Heho, gateway to explore southern Shan State including Lake ILE. On arrival, meet your Inle guide and drive to NYAUNGSHWE, the gateway village to Inle Lake. Make a photo stop at the ancient wooden Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery on the way. We’ll then transfer to jetty and board a private long boat to your hotel for check-in. Shortly afterwards, we’ll head out onto Inle Lake, the natural wonder of this magnificent vast waterway and one of Myanmar’s most spectacular sights. We pass villages built on stilts over the lake, inhabited by Intha people, the leg-rowing fishermen of the lake and see their floating gardens built up from strips of water hyacinth and mud and anchored to the bottom with bamboo poles. We’ll stops for visits at the ancient NGA PHE CHAUNG (formerly known as jumping cats) Monastery and its ancient Shan Buddhas and PHAUNG DAW OO PAGODA, the lake’s main sanctuary. Other visits include the weaving village of INPAWKHONE, A SILVERSMITTH WORK SHOP & SHOWROOM, a cheroot cottage where the typical Burmese cigars are made by hand. We’ll Return to the hotel and finish the visits of the lake for the day. The balance of the day can be spent at leisure. Stay overnight in Inle.

Hotel: Amata Inle

Meals : Buffet Breakfast

Day 4 : INNDEIN EXCURSION

After breakfast, we head to the morning market on the lake. Rotating around villages on and near the lake in a 5 day rhythm, a colorful market visited by lake inhabitants and surrounding hill tribes is held daily (except on new and full moon days). From the middle of the lake, continue down a small canal leading to the Paoh village of Inndein. After a walk around the village, passing a local school, take the covered stairway to the beautiful Alaung Sitthou area where ancient stupas are partly covered by vegetation. From here there is a magnificent view over the lake. Return to the lake and finish the visits of the lake in the afternoon. Return to your hotel and the balance of the day is free. Stay overnight in Inle.

Meals: Buffet Breakfast

Day 5 : FLY TO MANDALAY – AMARAPURA – MANDALAY (1 NIGHT)

After breakfast, drive the Nyaung U airport for the flight to Mandalay. On arrival at Mandalay International Airport, meet your local Mandalay guide and drive to AMARAPURA. In Amarapura, visit one of the biggest monasteries named Maha Gandaryon with more than 1200 Buddhist monks where under the strict tight-scheduled rules, the monks study very hard the Buddhist Canons day and night in order to be able to carry on the Buddha’s teachings verbally like the Noble senior monks did after the Buddha’s demise in the 6th Century B.C. Then drive to U Bein Bridge, believed to be the longest wooden bridge in the world that spans Taung Thaman Lake. Take a walk on the bridge and enjoy a photo opt!
Then drive to Mandalay, upon arrival check-in at the hotel. In the afternoon, visit MAHA MUNI BUDDHA IMAGE which is the most revered and sacred site of Mandalay, some handicraft cottages such as stone carving, tapestry, and gold-paper making. Then tour onward to SHWE NANDAW MONASTERY where you can marvel the superb example of Myanmar traditional woodcarving, Kuthodaw Pagoda which houses all Buddha scriptures described on 729 marble slabs (known as the world biggest book). Finally, go up Mandalay Hill to enjoy the panoramic view of the city while sun going down. Stay overnight in Mandalay.

Hotel: Bagan King

Meals : Buffet Breakfast or Boxed Breakfast

Day 6 :DRIVE TO HSIPAW (2-NIGHT)

Today after breakfast we’ll drive to HSIPAW (approx. 5/6 hrs) twisting and turning drive through Shan mountains. If you like, we’ll visit ‘Peik Chin Myaung’ cave, a considerable large Buddhist shrine cave that was used to be a sacred site of Nepalese devotee of lord Shiva, which is 27km north out of Pyin Oo Lwin. Hsipaw was once the center of a small Shan state of its own with moderate climate, friendly people and relaxed atmosphere. We’ll pass Kyaukmè that is a small trading town but there was nothing to do at Kyaukme, and Hsipaw is the far better option with market, temples, river, and hills to trek, etc. Perhaps we make a stop for lunch at Kyaukmè. Before we get Hsipaw (about 8km away) we’ll visit the Shan-style ‘Bawgyo Paya’, probably the most revered Pagoda in northern Shan State. Upon reaching Hsipaw transfer to your resort that is locate on the bank of ‘Dokehtawaddy’ River. Late afternoon visit the ‘Sawbwa Haw’ (Shan Palace) at the northern end of the town. The last Sawbwa (Sao Kya Seng) disappeared during the military coup in 1962 and the palace is cared for by his nephew and his nephew’s wife since then. ‘Mr. Donald’ (Sao Oo Kya), the nephew, was in jail, apparently for saying bad things about the military, but was released several years ago during a general amnesty. Since then he has had to be very careful not to give the regime a chance to re-arrest him. For several years after his release he and his wife lived in Taunggyi, the major Shan administrative centre. However, recently his wife, Mrs Fern has returned to the palace in Hsipaw. She is determined to tell the story of the Shan State over the last 50 years, explaining specifically the history of the last Sawbwa and their family and welcomes visitors from overseas. Visiting hours are now 9-12pm and 3-6 pm. She makes for a great and very honest host. Also recommended is to look up the memoirs of the last Sabwa’s Austrian wife, Inge Sargent, called “Twilight over Burma: My Life as a Shan Princess.” It’s a moving personal account of her life in Burma up till her husband’s disappearance. Stay overnight at simple but charming lodge which overlooks the Dokehtawaddy River in Hsipaw.

Hotel : Riverside @ Hsipaw Resort
Meals : Buffet Breakfast 

Day 7 : RIVER TRIP – HSIPAW

We’ll get up early and walk through the candlelight market filled with people from local villages who gather to trade their wares. Because so few tourists visit Hsipaw, the merchandise is primarily for villagers who go there to shop. The market begins and ends early, starting at 3:30am and pretty much wrapping up by 6am. We will return to resort for breakfast and then take a boat upstream on the Dokehtawaddy River and see how fruits are planted and walk up the hill for about half an hour to visit a 150 year old Shan monastery. Continue your boat trip to a confluence where you may opt for swimming after which we head back to town or your resort for lunch. The afternoon is free at your leisure to explore on your own until we go for sunset watch probably by bicycle at Five Buddha Hill or Nine Buddha Hill. Both hills are about 2km out of town. Stay overnight in Hsipaw.

Meals: Breakfast

Day 8 : ADVENTUROUS TRAIN TO PYIN OO LWIN (1-NIGHT)

Today we’ll board around 9am for a remarkable train journeys (but locals nickname it buffalo train due to its’ slowness!) remaining in the world today via steep hills and a breathtaking gorge, to Pyin Oo Lwin (while your driver drives back alone and wait you at Pyin Oo Lwin station). We travel (approx. 8 hours) alongside local people through productive countryside stopping at small stations, as they embark and disembark with their goods. It is said one of the ‘must do’ railway journeys of the world, probably because it passes over the GOKHTEIK viaduct (a 2,260-foot long and 320-foot high bridge across a craggy gorge) which is said to be the world’s second largest steel bridge of more than a hundred years old. It is a masterpiece of British engineering, designed primarily to bring trade (and thus control) to the Northern Shan State, an importantly of the British after the conquest of Upper Burma. This was considered to be the greatest railway viaduct in the world at the time. The final leg of our journey takes us to the scenic hill resort of Pyin U Lwin (Maymyo), situated over 1000m (3600 ft) above sea level probably around 4pm where we meet our driver and transfer to your hotel. Stay overnight in Pyin Oo Lwin.

Hotel: Aureum Palace Pyin Oo Lwin
Meals: Breakfast

Day 9 : SEE PYIN OO LWIN AND DRIVE DOWN TO MANDALAY (1-NIGHT)

PYIN OO LWIN (formerly called Maymyo) is the one of the most famous hill station cities of Myanmar. Its fine, pleasant weather and fresh cool air makes it a popular summer resort. It was a British hill station where, during the hot season, the servants of the Raj went to escape the heat and dust of the plains, say, from Mandalay. It enjoys another name given affectionately by the local – “PAN MYO DAW”, literally meaning Royal Flower City due to its variety of colorful flowers growing in abundance all over the town. The morning will be spent walking through the famous Botanical Garden, and explore this charming town with colonial-era buildings along the main streets and circular road. Since the place is full of visitors all year round several of these cottages have now been converted into hotels. Later visit Pwe Kauk Waterfalls, called Hampshire Falls in British times. We’ll then return to Mandalay – the drive take about 1 ½and on arrival Mandalay, we’ll transfer to your hotel. The balance of the day is free at your leisure. Stay overnight in Mandalay.

Hotel: Bagan King
Meals: Buffer Baskfast

Day 10 : FLY TO BAGAN (3-NIGHTS)

Today we board our flight to BAGAN. Bagan was ancient capital of the first Myanmar Empire and it still preserves 2217 well-renovated Stupas (Buddhist religious monuments). Upon arrival at Nyaung U Airport meet your Bagan guide and we’ll move straight on to see some of the amazing sights – over 2,200 temples in a space the size of Manhattan, the biggest problem you face is deciding where to start.
First stop is the thriving Nyaung U market – soak it up in one of the small tea houses is also high on the agenda. Pagodas and Temples represent the diversity of ancient Myanmar architectural styles in the 11th to13th centuries. We’ll visit the golden stupa of Shwezigon Pagoda, which is Bagan’s most important reliquary shrine – look out for images of the 37 ‘nats’ housed in a small hall. Continue to Gubyaukgyi (Wetkyi In village), another ‘cave’ temple with fine frescoes of the ‘Jataka Tales’. Next stop is Htilominlo, the last Myanmar style temple built in Bagan, with old murals and friezes. We’ll then check into hotel. By late afternoon, we’ll visit continues to Ananda Temple, a whitewashed masterpiece of Mon architecture with four standing Buddhas, and the adjacent brick monastery from the early Bagan era with well-preserved murals. Make a photo stop at the tallest temple measuring 61 meters – Thatbyinnyu known as ‘temple of omniscience’ and we will then visit a local lacquerware workshop, where we can watch craftsmen skillfully making this most famous of Bagan’s renowned handicrafts. Continue to Dhammayangyi, a massive-looking temple dating from 1170 that is famous for its interlocking mortar less brickwork. We’ll crown off the day by enjoying the lovely sunset from a perfectly situated temple or pagoda. Stay overnight in Bagan.

Hotel: Amata Graden
Meals: Buffet Breakfast or Boxed Breakfast

Day 11 : EXCURSION TO SALAY AND MT POPA

Today we head off to SALAY. On the way, we’ll visit Chauk market. Salay is an old colonial town with ancient ruins from the late Bagan era. The major places of interest are MANN PAYA (also known as Nan Paya), perhaps the largest lacquer Buddha image in Myanmar dating back to the 13th century, and YOKE-SONE-KYAUNG, the oldest surviving wooden monastery bearing more than 120-year-old original sculptures of 19th century court life, Jatakas (stories from the Buddha’s life) and Ramayana tales (one of Asia’s best know legends), and the collections of antique religious objects from the area. We continue on to the Mt. Popa. It is the core of an extinct volcano and it rises abruptly from the surrounding hills. Mount Popa and its environs are the only lush green place amidst the desert area of Middle Myanmar. We’ll climb up the 730 meters high conic flattop (Named as Popa Taung Kalat) by 777 steep steps. It’s the sacred home of what is known as NATS – spirits. We’ll enjoy the panoramic view of the surrounding landscapes atop Popa Taung Kalat. Return to Bagan and on the way we’ll stop at the JAGGERY (palm sugar) making cottages and toddy-palm grooves to sample a piece of jaggery or a sip of palm sap or spirit. Stay overnight in Bagan.

Meals: Buffer Baskfast

Day 12 : YOURS FREE DAY IN BAGAN

Today is free day on your own. Perhaps you can take an early balloon ride and simply kill your time by simply relaxing by the pool at your hotel. Alternately, you can rent an e-bike to explore the lesser temples and stupas on your own. Stay overnight in Bagan.

Meals: Buffer Baskfast

Optional Balloon flight : This is an optional if you would like to get a unique opportunity to see the ancient city of Bagan from a different perspective. Balloon agent will pick you up at hotel between 05h30 and 06h00. The whole experience including light champagne breakfast, balloon flight, and rescue at the end upon landing will take about 2 ½ to 3 hrs and you’ll get back to hotel about 08h30.)

 

 

Day 13 : FLY BACK TO YANGON (1 NIGHT)

Today we depart for the airport and our flight back to Yangon. Upon arrival in this former capital city, we transfer to our hotel. We may do some last minute shopping at 85-year-old BOGYOKE (Scott) market (close on every Monday and public holidays) which is one of the most popular tourist hangouts dominated by antique, Burmese handicraft and jewelery shops, art galleries, fabrics and clothing stores. It was named after Mr. Jarvin Scott, Yangon Municipal Commissioner during the British colonial government. The balance of the day is free on your own. Stay overnight in Yangon.

Hotel: Melia Hotel
Meals: Buffer Baskfast

Day 14 : DEPART YANGON/FAREWELL BURMA

Today is at leisure until at appropriate time, you’ll be transferred to Mandalay Airport for outward flight back home.

Meals: Buffer Baskfast

—END OF SERVICE—

IMPORTANT NOTE : Every effort will be made to ensure that the above stated itinerary is followed as closely as possible. However, given uncertain weather, flight time changes and other local conditions, all schedules and itinerary is subject to alterations and delays at short notice.

Prices

OUR PRICES IN USD PER PERSON FOR A PARTY OF

ALL RATES ARE NETT IN US$ PER PERSON (with Regional based English-speaking Guides)

FIRST CLASS (3/4* and up)

ROOM TYPE	Price Per Pax in US$ For the Party of	High-Season
Twin/double sharing	2 Pax	2,245
	3~4 Pax	2,020
	5~6 Pax	1,830
	7~8 Pax	1,755
	9~12 Pax	1,740
	13~15 Pax	1,670

Surcharge for Single Occupancy  : + $ 795
Validity : From now onward to March 31 2019 except 20th Dec 2018 to 10th Jan 2019

Please get in touch for off-season (from now onwards to Sept’ 30 2018) quotes and for larger groups

(Important Note: The prices stated above are based on a current hotels/flight and exchange rate of US$ (i.e. 1300kyat against 1 USD) and the fuel cost which is calculated on the current market average (i.e. USD2.6 per imperial gallon). In case of either unforeseen currency fluctuation or hotel/flight rates or fuel price rise by more than 10%, Myanmar Elite Tours will be entitled to impose a surcharge equivalent to the amount that exceeds the price allowed for in the above rates, provided that the notice of this rise is given to you within 30 days prior the commencing of traveling date).

Above mentioned pricing is based on the hotels mentioned hereunder, or similar hotels, depending on the availability on the dates required.

TOUR HOTELS SELECTED

FIRST CLASS (Generally 3/4* and up)

Where	Name	Room Type	Number of Nights
Yangon	Melia Hotel	Deluxe	3
Inle	Amata Inle Resort	Deluxe	2
Mandalay	Bagan King	Deluxe	2
Hsipaw	Riverside@Hsipaw Resort	Chalet	2
Pyin Oo Lwin	Aureum Pyin Oo Lwin	Deluxe	1
Bagan	Amata Garden Resort	Deluxe	2

 

What’s Included

WHAT’S INCLUDED IN OUR TOUR PRICE

1. Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted, including applicable hotel taxes with breakfast (Twin/double sharing basis)
2. All domestic flights as per mentioned itinerary including insurance surcharge and airport tax
3. Meals as indicated in itinerary
4. All Transfer & sightseeing with private tour grade A/C vehicles
5. Private boat fees for Inle lake, and Inndein Villages
6. All entrance fees and zone fees for the visits of tour sites as indicated in the itinerary
7. 3 different hand-picked stationed English-speaking guides in each place (they do not accompany guests on train/Ferry boat/flight, etc.)
8. Bottled drinking water, and refreshing tower while sightseeing
9. Porters fees at airports
10. Domestic Airport Departure Tax
11. All government taxes and service charges

What’s NOT Included

WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED IN OUR TOUR PRICE

• Travel insurance
• International air-ticket to/from Yangon
• Visa fee and arrangements for Myanmar
• Early check-in/ Late check out (official check-in:2pm/check-out:12noon)
• Meals (Lunch/Dinner)
•  Optional Balloon flight
• Entry fees for the visits of
  • Yangon: National Museum + 5 USD, Gem Museum + 5 USD
  • Bagan: Archeological Museum + 5 USD, Viewing Tower+ 5 USD
• Drinks and personal expenses
• Excess Baggage / Camera or Video Camera Fees / Local or International Telephone calls
• International airport tax when departure at Yangon (USD 10 at present)
• Tips and gratitude to guides/drivers/hotel porters, etc.
• Any other items not mentioned above
• Bank Transfer Charge (OR) Western Union Service

Booking/Payment Conditions

DEPOSIT:

We kindly require the payment of 30% deposit to guarantee the reservation upon confirmation from Myanmar Elite tours.

FULL PAYMENT or FINAL BALANCE:

After receiving your deposit, we will send you a Final Invoice. Full Payment or Final Balance can be done by bank transfer not later than 30 days of the arrival date in Myanmar:

A CANCELLATION TERM:

The cancellation notice must be received in writing either by e-mail or fax. It will be effective on the date of receipt. Cancellation charges, per person, are based on the date of cancellation:

• Cancellation from forty-five (45) days to thirty-one (31) days prior to travel commencing date – fifty (50) % of the total tour cost.
• Cancellation from thirty (30) days to no show – (100) % of the total tour cost.
• Should reduction of confirmed reservations by more than 10% of total participants reserved be made less than thirty one (31) days prior to travel commencing date, Myanmar Elite Tours reserves the right to charge a late cancellation or no show fee equivalent to fifty (50) % of the total tour cost.
• Should reduction of confirmed reservations by more than 10% of total participants reserved be made less than thirty (30) days prior to travel commencing date, Myanmar Elite Tours reserves the right to charge a late cancellation or no show fee at one hundred (100) % of the total tour cost.

ADDITIONAL TERMS

GUESTS INFORMATION:

Final guests’ information with Complete Names, Passport Number, DOB, Arrival/Departure Flight details should be sent not later than 30 days prior traveling commencing date.

OUR GUIDES:

Please be advised that we offer two kinds of guided tours – with “escorted/throughout guide” or with “regional-based local guide”. The former one will greet and pick you up at Yangon airport on your arrival, accompany or escort you throughout the trip and put you on the international flight back home on your departure (from the very arrival to your departure!). But they normally don’t accompany you in beaches if you add beach holidays to your tour.

Escorted guides can be German, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Japanese, Thai and of course English-speaking ones. They are inevitably more expensive than regional based local guides as you’ll have to pay for their flight fares as well as accommodation even though the costs for them are considerably lower than a tourist.

Regional-based local guides, on the other hand, will wait for you at your respective destinations (i.e. Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay, Inle, etc.) guide you there and after that put you on a plane or other means of transport to your next destination. However they do not accompany guests on train/Ferry boat/flight, etc. They can be available only in English-speaking. And they do not normally accompany guests in beach.

Please NOTE that our prices stated above are calculated with “regional based local English- speaking guides (4 different guides in each place)

FOOD:

Generally, our tours include breakfast only as most of our clients seem to prefer to take the food supply into their own hands/arrangements. Our guides will help you to find suitable restaurants. However, if you want to include meals (full board or half board) into your program we can arrange that too.

LIABILITY:

“MYANMAR ELITE Travel & Tour acts purely as INTERMEDIARY between the concerned airlines, hotels, either any of the government or private transport providers (rails/car/boat rental firms) and other logistics, agents, or organizations providing the services. We will therefore NOT be held RESPONSIBLE for any loss, injury, damage, delay, omission, accidents which may be occurred during or outside the tour program. Additional expenses or inconveniences incurred due to delay, accidents, sickness, death, natural disaster, political

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–
Participation in our tour implies tour operators, agent, customers have read and well understood the above terms and conditions and agree to each of them”.

—————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————–