0900
hours Arrival at Yangon Airport. Transfer to
hotel. Leisure at hotel for the rest of the
day. Accommodation at the hotel, Yangon.
Day 02:
Twante - Rural Yangon
Breakfast.
A morning trip to rural Yangon. Located on
the other side of the Yangon River, Twante
village has very much retained its original
character. We will take to the jetty and
take a local ferry across the river. Once
across, a one-hour drive will take us to
Twante. The road is extremely bumpy and you
should be prepared for an uncomfortable yet
very interesting ride, which provides a
glimpse of life on and along the famous
Twante Canal. After a visit to Shwesandaw
Pagoda we can take a trishaw to the pottery
area where a large part of the population in
Twante is engaged in producing pottery.
Walking through the many workshops where
locals are busy molding pots, we will be
able to observe this very traditional craft.
Return to Yangon.
This afternoon, visit Yangon's unique Glass
Factory, which has changed very little over
the years. See skilled craftsmen
hand-blowing glass and creating original
glassware which is sold to hotels and
restaurants all over Myanmar. Also visit the
antique shop of Madame Thair and Augustine
(these are private collections and shops
might be closed). Other stops can be made at
the Green Elephant House, famous for
specially designed lacquer ware and rattan,
the Yangon Women Home, or J's Irrawaddy
Dream, famous for Myanmar textiles. Enjoy
the sunset at Shwedagon Pagoda, famous
worldwide - its golden stupa is the 'heart'
of Buddhism Myanmar. The Pagoda is believed
to be 2,500 years old and the central stupa
in surrounded by dozens of intricately
decorated buildings and statues. There are
always many Myanmar people praying and
making offerings at Shwedagon, and it's a
fascinating place to spend time watching the
world go by. Overnight at the hotel, Yangon.
Day 03:
Yangon - Mandalay
After
breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Yangon
Airport for departure from Yangon to
Mandalay . Arrive Mandalay and transfer to
hotel. Afternoon sightseeing includes a
visit to Zegyo market and some of Mandalay's
cottage industries, such as weaving and
tapestry making, Burmese candy making,
Bamboo fan making near Eindaw Yar pagoda.
Overnight at the hotel, Mandalay.
Day 04:
Mandalay - Maymyo
After
having breakfast at the hotel. Tour proceed
to the hills from Mandalay for a full day
visit of Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo), a former
British Hill Station. The road winds steeply
through flower, fruit and vegetable gardens.
Visit Pwe Kauk Waterfall and enjoy the
countryside. Drive through Maymyo on a horse
drawn "stage coach", giving you the chance
to admire the brick and timber houses,
complete with English style gables, turrets
and chimneys. Visit the tiny Forestry Museum
(if open).
In the afternoon, visit Peik Chin Myaung
Waterfall and Caves, filled with Buddha
images. The road from Maymyo is very bumpy.
This is a popular attraction for Myanmar
tourists. OR visit the National Kandawgyi
Gardens, which were laid out by Sir Harcourt
Butler, the former governor of Burma -
flowerbeds are similar to those you would
find in an English country garden! The
garden is recently renovated and the name
has changed to "Kandawgyi National Botanical
Garden". Overnight at the hotel, Pyin Oo
Lwin.
Day 05:
Maymyo - Hsipaw -
Lashio
Breakfast.
Early morning, transfer from your hotel to
Pyin Oo Lwin railway station, where you
board the train to Kyaukme for a journey of
approximately 4.5 hours. The train leaves at
0830 hours. The train stops at many local
stations and passes, very slowly, over the
Goikteik Viaduct, built in 1903 across a 300
metre deep gorge. Arrival in Kyaukme at 1315
Hours. On arrival in Kyaukme a car and
driver will be waiting for you. Drive to the
village of Pan Paung where milk-strips are
made according to a Shan recipe. Then
continue to Hsipaw and visit the old Shan
Prince House. Continue drive onward to
Lashio. Arrive in Lashio late evening.
Accommodation at Lashio Motel.
Day 06:
Lashio - Muse
After
breakfast at the hotel. Sightseeing starts.
Lashio is particularly beautiful from
November to February, the cool months when
the trees are in bloom. Early morning, visit
the colorful local market where you can
often see minority people selling their
produce. Continue to Quan Yin San Chinese
Temple, possibly the largest Chinese temple
in Myanmar and always busy with Lashio's
many Chinese residents. Visit Sasana 2500
Pagoda, which enjoys nice views over Lashio,
and then Mansu Pagoda, said to be over 250
years old. Continue to Thiri Mingala Man
Kyaung, a monastery, which people visit from
far and wide to see a monk who is believed
to be able to predict fortunes very
accurately. Afternoon, drive on to Muse - a
trip of about 6 hours. Overnight and
pleasure at the hotel, Muse.
Day 07:
Muse - Bhamo
Visit
the border city of Muse, a famous trading
point between China and Myanmar. Late
morning continue by car to Bhamo. Also here
the road is bumpy and the trip will take
about 5 to 6 hours. In the afternoon, visit
the small city of Bhamo. (You are not
allowed to cross the city borders). Also buy
some food and drinks for during the ferry
ride the coming 2 days. Overnight at the
hotel, Bhamo.
Day 08:
(Bhamo towards
Mandalay)
Breakfast on board. The boat will arrive in
Mandalay harbour. The exact arrival time
varies with the height of the river and it
might be late afternoon when you arrive.
Transfer from Mandalay Jetty to hotel. Hotel
accommodation at Mandalay.
Day 09:
Mandalay
Breakfast
on board. The boat will arrive in Mandalay
harbour. The exact arrival time varies with
the height of the river and it might be late
afternoon when you arrive. Transfer from
Mandalay Jetty to hotel. Hotel accommodation
at Mandalay.
Day 10:
Mandalay - Ava -
Sagaing - Mandalay
In the morning, after breakfast at the
hotel, take the local ferry to visit Innwa (Ava),
located on an island between the Ayeyarwady
and the Myitnge Rivers. You will visit Innwa
by horse cart and pass through the ancient
city walls to visit a brick and stucco
monastery called Maha Aungmye Bonzan (also
known as Ok Kyaung). Continue to Nanmyin
Watch Tower - the climb to the top offers
lovely views over the river. See also the
impressive wooden monastery of Bagaya Kyaung.
Visit to some village homes to see local
handicrafts, such as silk weaving, cane mats
and alms bowls, if we have sufficient time.
In the afternoon, visit picturesque Sagaing
Hill, which is perhaps the living centre of
Buddhist faith in Myanmar today. Hillsides
are dotted with numerous pagodas and
monasteries. Return to Amarapura via the Ava
Bridge, built by British engineers. Walk
over U-Bein Bridge, which is over a
kilometer long and made entirely of teak.
Return to Mandalay. Overnight at the hotel
in Mandalay.
Day 11:
Mandalay - Thazi -
Kalaw
0400
hours depart Mandalay for a drive to Thazi.
Breakfast at Teashop. Arrive at Thazi train
station where you will take the train to
Kalaw. (0900/1410 hours, non air-conditioned
and reclining seats only). The train is
quite slow and not very comfortable, but it
is the best way to experience the "real
Myanmar". The train will drive across the
Shan Plateau, through fields of mountain
rice with stops at small stations, where
sellers will come to the train and try to
sell their goods. In the afternoon, arrive
Kalaw and transfer to hotel.
Day 12:
Kalaw (Trekking)
Breakfast
at the hotel. Tour proceed as a trekking
around Kalaw. You can for example enjoy a
walk through the hills, 2 hours (short way)
or 4 hours, to a village of the Palaung
tribe. At first a steep track leads down
into a narrow valley where the Palaung
cultivate cheroot leaves, tea, damsons and
mangoes on the hillsides. The track crosses
the valley floor before climbing very
steeply again to the Palaung village of
Pinnabin, which sits on top of a hill. The
village has an interesting long house for
eight families. Formerly animists, the
Palaung people have mostly converted to
Buddhism. Observe tribal village life and
how the Palaung people dry cheroot in a
specially designed oven.
Day 13:
Heho - Kyaing Tong (Kentung)
After
breakfast at the hotel, visit to the local
market and perhaps walking up the hill to
see the old catholic church (if open). Then,
drive to Heho Airport. Yangon Airways flight
HK 727 from Heho to Kyaing Tong (1225/1425 -
via Mandalay, Tachileik). Arrival late
afternoon at Kyaing Tong Airport and
transfer to hotel. A short drive through
Kyaing Tong takes you to Lake Tong, the
center of the city. The terrace at the
boulevard around the lake is a good place to
soak up the atmosphere of Kyaing Tong.
Day 14:
Kyaing Tong &
surroundings
Breakfast.
A full day in the countryside. Start with a
visit to the Kat Tauk area and visit an Akha
village. The Akha originate from Yunnan in
southern China and live in south-east Shan
State, on the borderlands of China, Laos and
Thailand. Many Akha are found near Kyaing
Tong where they live in the high mountains,
cultivating maize, tobacco and sugar cane.
The Akha are famous for their women's
striking headdresses, which resemble heavy
silver helmets. They consist of rows of
heavy silver baubles, interspersed with
beads, which are sewn on a bamboo cap. Akha
embroidery is extremely intricate and
includes panels of diamond and geometric
shapes. The path leads through the village
and, although initially steep, changes into
a nice walk in the hills (total 1 hours
walk).
Pass through an Ann village The Ann people
live their life in relative isolation in
quite simple circumstances. Most wear their
traditional black costume and paint their
teeth black. Continue to another Akha
village, where every housewife still wears
traditional clothing. Visit one of the
typical Akha houses. From here, it is
possible to descend a steep path to Pin Tauk
Waterfall (approx. 10 minutes - also called
the "young men's route") or enjoy a
leisurely walk down the hill (approx. 30
minutes). Return down hill and drive to the
Pin Tauk Lahu village. The village is
picturesque but few people wear traditional
dress. Drive again in the direction of
Kyaing Tong and stop on the way to see the
traditional production of Shan Rice wine (if
in season). Continue to visit Wan Pauk
Palaung village that is traditional but very
poor. The Palaung originate from Mon-Khmer
stock. They mainly live in the mountains of
northern Shan State and are famous for
cultivating tea. Most Palaung are Buddhist.
The dress is one of the most colorful of all
the hill tribes. Ladies wear dark jackets
over dark red and black striped longyis,
with heavy silver torques and lacquered
waistbands. Also visit a Shan village. The
Shan are believed to originate from the Tai
peoples and have descended from Yunnan
(China) to the area now known as Shan State
(North East Myanmar, along the Thai border).
Other groups descended into the Menam Valley
and are now referred to as Thai or Siamese.
Even today, the Shan and Thai languages are
very similar. Return to Kyaing Tong.
Day 15:
Kyaing Tong &
surroundings
Breakfast.
An active day in the hills. The Akha are the
largest minority in the Kyaing Tong area and
surely the most colourful. Today's trip
starts with a drive outside of Kyaing Tong
in the direction of Tachilek (approx. 1
hour). Then drive high into the hills, to
the top of Hokyin Mountain. On this mountain
are 4 Akha villages, one Buddhist, one
Animist, one Catholic and one Christian.
Between every village is a valley and the
path leads down ( approx. 10 minutes) and
approx. 15 minutes up the hill. See the
animist shrine at the entry of the village.
Also see the production of Akha spirit made
from corn. The Akha are very hospitable and
enjoy welcoming you to their house for a
chat around the stove. After the 4th
village, you can return by car, or enjoy
another walk down the hill for approx. 1
hour. The path leads through farms with
beautiful views of the surrounding hills.
Return in the direction of Kyaing Tong and
visit a Wa village, where you can still see
handmade guns. Return to Kyaing Tong and
visit U Mulein Da's unique Shan lacquerware
shop. This lacquerware is distinctively
different from Bagan lacquerware; it is not
engraved, but the reliefs are glued on.
Drive to the top of Lone Tree Hill for views
over surrounding countryside and Kyaing
Tong. Return to hotel.
Day 16:
Kyaing Tong - Yangon
Breakfast.
A morning to enjoy Kyaing Tong Market - a
fascinating place to soak up some local
atmosphere. Many minority people come into
town to shop and most wear traditional
dress. Of specific interest are the silver
shops where a wide variety of silver coins
are sold, the "Akha" shops where the Akha
women buy the decoration for their
headdresses and the various shops with tea
and tobacco. Other stops can be made at Wat
In - a Khun-style temple and the more
"Myanmar" style Maha-Myat Muni temple. Also
visit a pottery village and the blacksmith
shop. Return at hotel and check out.
Transfer from hotel to airport. Yangon
Airways flight HK 728 from Kyaing Tong to
Yangon (1510/1825 via Heho, Mandalay).
Arrive at Yangon Airport and transfer to
hotel. Accommodation at Savoy Hotel, Yangon.
(Deluxe room) Breakfast.
Day 17:
(Yangon departure)
After
breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Yangon
Airport for your departure flight.
0900
hours Arrival at Yangon Airport. Transfer to
hotel. Leisure at hotel for the rest of the
day. Accommodation at the hotel, Yangon.
Breakfast.
A morning trip to rural Yangon. Located on
the other side of the Yangon River, Twante
village has very much retained its original
character. We will take to the jetty and
take a local ferry across the river. Once
across, a one-hour drive will take us to
Twante. The road is extremely bumpy and you
should be prepared for an uncomfortable yet
very interesting ride, which provides a
glimpse of life on and along the famous
Twante Canal. After a visit to Shwesandaw
Pagoda we can take a trishaw to the pottery
area where a large part of the population in
Twante is engaged in producing pottery.
Walking through the many workshops where
locals are busy molding pots, we will be
able to observe this very traditional craft.
Return to Yangon.
After
breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Yangon
Airport for departure from Yangon to
Mandalay . Arrive Mandalay and transfer to
hotel. Afternoon sightseeing includes a
visit to Zegyo market and some of Mandalay's
cottage industries, such as weaving and
tapestry making, Burmese candy making,
Bamboo fan making near Eindaw Yar pagoda.
Overnight at the hotel, Mandalay.
After
having breakfast at the hotel. Tour proceed
to the hills from Mandalay for a full day
visit of Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo), a former
British Hill Station. The road winds steeply
through flower, fruit and vegetable gardens.
Visit Pwe Kauk Waterfall and enjoy the
countryside. Drive through Maymyo on a horse
drawn "stage coach", giving you the chance
to admire the brick and timber houses,
complete with English style gables, turrets
and chimneys. Visit the tiny Forestry Museum
(if open).
Breakfast.
Early morning, transfer from your hotel to
Pyin Oo Lwin railway station, where you
board the train to Kyaukme for a journey of
approximately 4.5 hours. The train leaves at
0830 hours. The train stops at many local
stations and passes, very slowly, over the
Goikteik Viaduct, built in 1903 across a 300
metre deep gorge. Arrival in Kyaukme at 1315
Hours. On arrival in Kyaukme a car and
driver will be waiting for you. Drive to the
village of Pan Paung where milk-strips are
made according to a Shan recipe. Then
continue to Hsipaw and visit the old Shan
Prince House. Continue drive onward to
Lashio. Arrive in Lashio late evening.
Accommodation at Lashio Motel.
After
breakfast at the hotel. Sightseeing starts.
Lashio is particularly beautiful from
November to February, the cool months when
the trees are in bloom. Early morning, visit
the colorful local market where you can
often see minority people selling their
produce. Continue to Quan Yin San Chinese
Temple, possibly the largest Chinese temple
in Myanmar and always busy with Lashio's
many Chinese residents. Visit Sasana 2500
Pagoda, which enjoys nice views over Lashio,
and then Mansu Pagoda, said to be over 250
years old. Continue to Thiri Mingala Man
Kyaung, a monastery, which people visit from
far and wide to see a monk who is believed
to be able to predict fortunes very
accurately. Afternoon, drive on to Muse - a
trip of about 6 hours. Overnight and
pleasure at the hotel, Muse.
Visit
the border city of Muse, a famous trading
point between China and Myanmar. Late
morning continue by car to Bhamo. Also here
the road is bumpy and the trip will take
about 5 to 6 hours. In the afternoon, visit
the small city of Bhamo. (You are not
allowed to cross the city borders). Also buy
some food and drinks for during the ferry
ride the coming 2 days. Overnight at the
hotel, Bhamo.
Breakfast
on board. The boat will arrive in Mandalay
harbour. The exact arrival time varies with
the height of the river and it might be late
afternoon when you arrive. Transfer from
Mandalay Jetty to hotel. Hotel accommodation
at Mandalay.
In the morning, after breakfast at the
hotel, take the local ferry to visit Innwa (Ava),
located on an island between the Ayeyarwady
and the Myitnge Rivers. You will visit Innwa
by horse cart and pass through the ancient
city walls to visit a brick and stucco
monastery called Maha Aungmye Bonzan (also
known as Ok Kyaung). Continue to Nanmyin
Watch Tower - the climb to the top offers
lovely views over the river. See also the
impressive wooden monastery of Bagaya Kyaung.
Visit to some village homes to see local
handicrafts, such as silk weaving, cane mats
and alms bowls, if we have sufficient time.
0400
hours depart Mandalay for a drive to Thazi.
Breakfast at Teashop. Arrive at Thazi train
station where you will take the train to
Kalaw. (0900/1410 hours, non air-conditioned
and reclining seats only). The train is
quite slow and not very comfortable, but it
is the best way to experience the "real
Myanmar". The train will drive across the
Shan Plateau, through fields of mountain
rice with stops at small stations, where
sellers will come to the train and try to
sell their goods. In the afternoon, arrive
Kalaw and transfer to hotel.
Breakfast
at the hotel. Tour proceed as a trekking
around Kalaw. You can for example enjoy a
walk through the hills, 2 hours (short way)
or 4 hours, to a village of the Palaung
tribe. At first a steep track leads down
into a narrow valley where the Palaung
cultivate cheroot leaves, tea, damsons and
mangoes on the hillsides. The track crosses
the valley floor before climbing very
steeply again to the Palaung village of
Pinnabin, which sits on top of a hill. The
village has an interesting long house for
eight families. Formerly animists, the
Palaung people have mostly converted to
Buddhism. Observe tribal village life and
how the Palaung people dry cheroot in a
specially designed oven.
After
breakfast at the hotel, visit to the local
market and perhaps walking up the hill to
see the old catholic church (if open). Then,
drive to Heho Airport. Yangon Airways flight
HK 727 from Heho to Kyaing Tong (1225/1425 -
via Mandalay, Tachileik). Arrival late
afternoon at Kyaing Tong Airport and
transfer to hotel. A short drive through
Kyaing Tong takes you to Lake Tong, the
center of the city. The terrace at the
boulevard around the lake is a good place to
soak up the atmosphere of Kyaing Tong.
Breakfast.
A full day in the countryside. Start with a
visit to the Kat Tauk area and visit an Akha
village. The Akha originate from Yunnan in
southern China and live in south-east Shan
State, on the borderlands of China, Laos and
Thailand. Many Akha are found near Kyaing
Tong where they live in the high mountains,
cultivating maize, tobacco and sugar cane.
The Akha are famous for their women's
striking headdresses, which resemble heavy
silver helmets. They consist of rows of
heavy silver baubles, interspersed with
beads, which are sewn on a bamboo cap. Akha
embroidery is extremely intricate and
includes panels of diamond and geometric
shapes. The path leads through the village
and, although initially steep, changes into
a nice walk in the hills (total 1 hours
walk).
Breakfast.
An active day in the hills. The Akha are the
largest minority in the Kyaing Tong area and
surely the most colourful. Today's trip
starts with a drive outside of Kyaing Tong
in the direction of Tachilek (approx. 1
hour). Then drive high into the hills, to
the top of Hokyin Mountain. On this mountain
are 4 Akha villages, one Buddhist, one
Animist, one Catholic and one Christian.
Between every village is a valley and the
path leads down ( approx. 10 minutes) and
approx. 15 minutes up the hill. See the
animist shrine at the entry of the village.
Also see the production of Akha spirit made
from corn. The Akha are very hospitable and
enjoy welcoming you to their house for a
chat around the stove. After the 4th
village, you can return by car, or enjoy
another walk down the hill for approx. 1
hour. The path leads through farms with
beautiful views of the surrounding hills.
Breakfast.
A morning to enjoy Kyaing Tong Market - a
fascinating place to soak up some local
atmosphere. Many minority people come into
town to shop and most wear traditional
dress. Of specific interest are the silver
shops where a wide variety of silver coins
are sold, the "Akha" shops where the Akha
women buy the decoration for their
headdresses and the various shops with tea
and tobacco. Other stops can be made at Wat
In - a Khun-style temple and the more
"Myanmar" style Maha-Myat Muni temple. Also
visit a pottery village and the blacksmith
shop. Return at hotel and check out.
Transfer from hotel to airport. Yangon
Airways flight HK 728 from Kyaing Tong to
Yangon (1510/1825 via Heho, Mandalay).
Arrive at Yangon Airport and transfer to
hotel. Accommodation at Savoy Hotel, Yangon.
(Deluxe room) Breakfast. 
After
breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Yangon
Airport for your departure flight.
Copyright © 2007-2008 Myanmar Delight
Travels & Tours Co., Ltd.(