Exploring Myanmar : Nov 8th to 16th' 2019
“Min Gala Ba” is the standard greeting in Myanmar and you will hear it many times from the friendly and simple people of the country. Myanmar is a country with a deep and fascinating culture, of mythical landscapes, ancient treasures and some of the friendliest folk you’ll ever meet.
Beginning and ending in Yangon, discover the spiritual heavyweight of Shwedagon Pagoda and walk through bustling markets in Yangon, be mesmerized by the sight of a thousands of pagodas in the fields of Bagan, cross the longest teak bridge in the world near Mandalay and experience life on the shores of the Inle Lake, where floating markets, leg-rowing fishermen, and ethnic minorities make for a unique destination. Delicious food, breathtaking landscapes, welcoming people and you have a place that will keep you coming back for more. Full of rarely seen sights and stories just waiting to be told, come and experience the magic of Myanmar before tourism become commercial and the simple charm of the country and its people is lost.
Essential Info
Cost: Rs 49500/-
Country: Myanmar
Start: Yangon
End: Yangon
Start Date: 8th Nov’ 2019
End Date: 16th Nov’ 2019
Duration: 9 Days
Group Size : Min 5 / Max 10
Theme: Culture, Adventure, Experience
Highlights
– Discover the symbolic and iconic Shwedagon Pagoda, a magnificent glittering temple crowning Yangon
– Experience the incredible sight of Bagan’s sea of 4000 temples and monasteries
– Soak up the tranquillity of Inle Lake and sample the hospitality of the Shan people, one of many groups that contribute to the ethnic diversity of this colorful country
– Explore the bustling and energetic markets and bazaars of Yangon
– Walk on the 1.2 km long teak bridge in Mandalay
– Try mouth-watering Burmese and Shan cuisine
ITINERARY
Day 1: Nov 8th – Yangon
Arrive and transfer to the hotel and rest. Yangon is Myanmar’s largest city and home to a wealth of ancient relics, attracting an extraordinary mix of monks, pilgrims, worshippers, and tourists. The afternoon we explore the street markets around downtown Yangon, visit the riverside, explore Sule Pagoda in the heart of downtown Yangon or acquire some local handicrafts at the nearby Bogyoke Market, a major bazaar known for its colonial architecture and winding cobblestone alleys. Evening we explore one of the great sites of Myanmar – the legendary Shwedagon Pagoda. The legendary gold-gilded pagoda is studded with diamonds and gems and is said to contain eight hairs of the Buddha. It’s a particularly impressive sight at sunset when the lights come on and the stupa shines beautifully. Overnight at Yangon.
Day 2: Nov 9th – Yangon to Inle Lake – Nyaungshwe ( 630 kms / 10 hours )
Early morning we leave for Inle Lake. On we way pass through Bago, Naypyitaw ( the new capital ) and the hill town of Kalaw to reach Nyaungshwe, the main town on the banks of the Inle Lake. You’ll drive through picturesque countryside and rolling hills to our destination, Nyaungshwe, the main town around Inle Lake. Reach by evening and Overnight at Nyaungshwe.
Day 3: Nov 10th – Inle Lake Tour
in Inle early morning. The calm waters of Inle Lake located in the mountainous Shan state, are the life-blood for many ethnic minority communities. They live in stilt houses along with the lake’s shallow fringes and surrounding areas. You’ll drive through the picturesque countryside and rolling hills to our destination, Nyaungshwe, the main town around Inle Lake. Day to take a boat trip on the Inle Lake and encounter the various tribal people who converge at the marketplace. Glide across the water in a long tail boat and look out for the locals who maneuver their boats using one leg. Visit the floating markets, the weaving workshops where the locals make fabrics out of lotus fiber, silk, and cotton. Visit the floating gardens where the tastiest tomatoes are grown and Phuang Daw Oo Pagoda that is home to five Buddhas that are so covered with gold leaf to be unrecognizable. The evening we try a typical Shan dinner. Overnight at Inle.
Day 4: Nov 11th – Inle to Bagan ( 350 kms / 7 hours )
After breakfast, we visit the morning market at Mingala and later we drive to Bagan. Reach by evening and rest. Late evening explore Nyaung U’s lively markets. Overnight at Bagan.
Day 5: Nov 12th – Bagan Tour
After breakfast, we set out to explore Bagan. Explore the incredible sights of Bagan today. This archaeological site is where Theravada Buddhism was introduced to the Kingdom of Bagan and was once the site of 10,000 temples, pagodas and monasteries. Today, the ancient city still has over 4,000 brick and gilded ruins and is a remarkable sight. Nyaung U’s lively market contrasts with the eerie silence of the plains littered with temples, pagodas, stupas, and ruins, including Gawdawpalin, Thatbyinnyu, Ananda, and Shwezigon – all names of temples and pagodas that bear testament to a glorious past. The graceful aging of the temples, the stucco peeled off by the dusty winds, has revealed beautifully rusty red bricks that glow golden brown in the sun. Marvel at the spire-lined skyline, the lion-guarded doors, the wood carvings inside, and the foliage-covered ruins. After visiting a local lacquerware workshop to gain insight into a craft this place is famous for, catch an amazing sunset view from the top of Shwe San Taw Pagoda or Bu Pagoda. Overnight at Bagan.
Day 6: Nov 13th – Bagan to Mandalay ( 180kms /4 hours )
Get up early if you are in the mood for catching the sunrise over the Bagan plains. Climb on one of the ruins for that perfect morning photo of the Bagan plains. Later after breakfast, we leave for Mandalay around 11 a.m. Reach Mandalay in the evening and rest. Overnight in Mandalay.
Day 7: Nov 14th – Mandalay
Mandalay is Myanmar’s ‘Jewel City’, and you’ll savor the sights, sounds, and flavors of this bustling metropolis on a city tour. Learn about the city’s gold-leaf pounding industry and visit Mahamuni Buddha, Shwenandaw Monastery, Kuthodaw Paya and the 1.2 km long U Bein Bridge, the world’s longest teak bridge. Head to Mandalay Hill in the evening and catch a spectacular sunset over the city. Tonight you might enjoy a walk to one of the markets, where a great time can be had enjoying the hustle and bustle or bargaining for local wares. Overnight at Mandalay.
Day 8: Nov 15th – Mandalay to Yangon ( 630ksm / 9 hours )
Early morning leave for Yangon. Pass through the Burmese countryside and reach Yangon by evening. Overnight in Yangon.
Day 9: Nov 16th – Yangon – Departure
After breakfast drop to the airport as per your flight schedule.
Trip Info
Yangon
Bagan
Inle Lake
Mandalay
INCLUSIONS
-2 Night stay in Yangon, 2 Nights stay in Mandalay, 2 Nights stay in Bagan, 2 Night stay in Inle
– Breakfast on all days
– Intercity transfers in private car / van
– Airport transfer’s and city sightseeing by private car / van
– Tour of Bagan, Mandalay, and Yangon
– Inle Lake boat tour
– Service charges
– Taxes
EXCLUSIONS
– India to Yangon and back ( we can advise you which flights to book )
– One month single entry Myanmar visa
– Any extra excursions and tours
– Lunch & Dinner
– Entry tickets and camera charges at sightseeing points ( wherever applicable )
– Other than mentioned in inclusions.
- Stay will be in Standard category hotels and Bed n Breakfast places with good reviews on double/twin sharing basis.
- Asian, Western and Myanmar food is available at all places. Some places also have few Indian restaurants
- Breakfast ( Included ) will be Burmese and western breakfast at most places
- Private car/van for Airport transfers
- Private car/van for Intercity transfers
- Private car/ van for Mandalay, Bagan and Yangon tours
- Myanmar visa can be made online. Check with us if you need more info on getting the visa done
- Rs 2500/- Discount ( For repeat travellers )
- Rs 2000/- Discount ( For 3 or more people booking together )
For this trip
This tour is for travellers who want to experience Myanmar and its culture. Myanmar has recently opened to tourism and it has many beautiful sights and experiences for the exploring traveler.
For all our trips
Our small group tours also allow enough time for yourself ( mostly in the evenings ) and the group leaders will assist you too if you need to do your own thing.
Stay and food is a big part of the travel and we make sure you are made comfortable and therefore we choose some of the best-reviewed places to stay and eat.
We try to incorporate more local experiences on our tours with the help of our experienced tour leader and local guides to make your experience even more memorable.
Our tours are not standard sightseeing package tours, it’s more experience-oriented so as to give a real travel value to the guests.
Who are we?
Exotic Expeditions is an experiential based travel company founded in 2010. We are based out of Bangalore and Mumbai and we create uniquely designed tours that have high travel value. We include activities, local interactions, and offbeat destinations so that the guests go back with experiences to remember for a long time.
What are all included in our tours?
A comprehensive list of inclusions and exclusions is mentioned on the respective trip page, but across all our trips, we have these in common: exclusive private transfers, breakfast on most days, good accommodation, unique experiences, expert guides and an experienced trip leader who’s there to assist you around the clock.
Are flights & visas included in your costs?
No.We don’t include flights and visa costs in our prices unless specified. We, however, will help you with booking flights and getting the visa done.
What is the typical group size?
We believe that a small group is can enjoy the journey better and have closer interactions with the group members, therefore, we restrict our group size to a maximum of 15. Group size typically between 5 and 15. Our travelers are friendly, open-minded, well traveled and we have a good gender mix on our tours.
Who can join this trip?
Anyone above 18 years of age can join our trips. Participants below the age of 18 must be accompanied by an elder.
Which cities do travelers come from?
Our travelers come from all over India. Bangalore, Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Chennai, Hyderabad and Calcutta are the cities where most of our travelers come from.
What are the payment options?
You can make payments through credit and debit cards, net-banking, cash or cheque. Installment options are also available.
Can solo travelers join one of the tours?
Yes. On most of our tours, we have a high turnout of solo travelers seeking a different travel experience. Many of them even end up becoming friends after the tour.
How safe is it to travel with you?
Your safety is our number one priority and we design our travel journeys keeping this in mind.
What do our guests say about our tours?
Please check out the reviews on our facebook page to know what our guests think about our tours.
- You can contact us at contact@exoticexpeditions.org / exoticexpeditions@gmail.com
- Call / whatsapp us at 9986450370
- Bookings can be done by online bank transfer / cash/ cheque or credit / debit card
- Installment options are also available