Tour IV: The Gloden Land Mayanmar

Myanmar (formerly Burma) is well known for the best teak, best ruby and best jade in the world. The country is at the crossroad politically, economically and socially. Nonetheless, it is stable, peaceful and safe to travel. Myanmar has remained largely unspoiled by development which makes stepping into the country like taking a step back in time – back to how Asia must have been before the turn of the century. Myanmar’s unique cultural heritage, golden pagodas, colorful bazaars, religious festivals and classic handicrafts, all provide a lush background to any visitor’s experience of the country. Today, Myanmar is considered by many tourism experts as an upcoming new destination.

Date: 25 - 29 Feb 2012 (5 days/4 nights)

Price: 46,500 Thai Baht

Price Includes:

Airplane ticket, international and domestic flight in economy class.

Accommodation in twin sharing with Breakfast. Extra charge for single room approx. 8,000 Baht.

Accidental insurance (exceeding 100,000 Baht per person).

Insurance tax and fuel surcharge.

All meals as in the itinerary.

Travelling cost.

Tour guide and entrance fee.

Price excludes:

Myanmar entry visa (approx. 25 USD per person).

Personal expenses such as drink, laundry, etc.

Itinerary

Day 1: 25 Feb 2012 (Bangkok – Yangon)
(06.00) Check-in at the counter of Thai Airways, Gate 3 Row F
(07.55) Depart for Yangon by Bangkok Airways, flight number TG303
(09.00) Arrive at Yangon Airport. Pass through the immigration and customs control. Meet and greet by ENGLISH speaking guide.
Kyauk Htat Gyi, reclining Buddha, is topped by a crown encrusted in diamonds and other precious stones. Housed in a large metal-roofed shed, only a short distance northeast of the Shwedagon Paya, this huge figure is surprisingly little known and hardly publicized at all.

(13.00) Lunch at local restaurant.

(P.M.) Sule Paya,  located in the heart of downtown Yangon, occupying the centre of the city and an important space in contemporary Burmese politics, ideology and geography. According to legend, it was built before the Shwedagon pagoda during the time of the Buddha, making it more than 2,500 years old. Botataung Paya, "Stupa of the 1, 000 leaders", named after the1000 military leaders who were responsible for accompanying the Buddha relics from India to Burma. The Pagoda was destroyed following World War II but was restored recently back to its original style with a 131 feet high stupa.
(16.00) Shwedagon Paya officially titled Shwedagon Zedi Daw, also known as the Golden Pagoda, is a 98 metres (322 ft) gilded pagoda and stupa located in Yangon, Burma. The pagoda lies to the west of Kandawgyi Lake, on Singuttara Hill, thus dominating the skyline of the city. It is the most sacred Buddhist pagoda for the Burmese with relics of the past four Buddhas enshrined within, namely the staff of Kakusandha, the water filter of Konāgamana, a piece of the robe of Kassapa and eight hairs of Gautama, the historical Buddha.
(Night) Dinner at restaurant + show.
Accommodation: Hotel Parkroyal or Similar.

Day 2: 26 Feb 2012 (Yangon - Bagan)
Bagan, an ancient city in the Mandalay Division of Myanma, fills a 26-sq-mile plain of 4,000-plus pagodas that date back centuries. It’s one of Myanmar’s most wondrous sights. Its tallest and most majestic temples – made brick and topped with glided hti pinnacles – are awesome, mixing Hindu and Buddhist images with locally brewed nat (spirits) in nooks.

(A.M.) Breakfast at the hotel and fly to Bagan. Shwezigon Pagoda - the prototype for later Myanmar pagodas built by King Anawrahta, Ananda Temple - King Kyansittha's masterpiece and the crowing achievement of the early style temple of architecture. Gawdawpalin Pahto, the largest and most imposing Bagan temple, Thatbyinnyu Pahto, Named for ‘omniscience’ Bagan’s highest temple, Ananda Pahto, one of the finest, largest, best-preserved and most revered of all Bagan souvenir stands. Lunch at local restaurant.

(P.M.) Lacquer-ware making home cottage (the must typical handicraft of Bagan), Payathonzu Temple, Dhamanyangyi Temple, Nan Paya Temple, Shibinthalyaung, Htilominlo Pahto, fantastic sun-set view of Bagan from Buphaya or Shwesandaw Pagoda. Dinner at restaurant.
Accomodation:  Hotel Myanmar Treasure resort or similar.

Day 3: 27 Feb 2012 (Bagan – Mandalay)
Mandalay is the second-largest city and the last royal capital of Burma. The mention of ‘Mandalay’ conjures the most peaceful and serene settings imaginable: Asia at its most traditional, timeless and alluring. But those who go see what it really is a rather scruffy, booming city on a wide bend of the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) river, still an infant at 150 years old, with sizeable makeover as a ‘Chinese town’ with many uninspired modern building.

(A.M.) Breakfast at the hotel then transfer to the airport for Mandalay. Mahagandary Monastery for offering alm food to Thousand monks, Mandalay Palace, Shwenandaw Monastery - noted for its exquisite wood carvings, gold leaf beating workshop, Atumashi Monstery –famous Buddha image clothed in king’s silk clothing and with a huge diamond set on its forehead, but the image was stolen following the British takenover of the city in 1885, Kuthodaw Pagoda - known as the world biggest book and finish the tour by visiting Mandalay Hill to watch the panoramic view of the city. Lunch at restaurant.
 
(P.M.)  Mahamuni Image - a bronze Buddha image castled during the lifetime of Buddha himself, Tapestry works, Wood carving & bronze castling workshops, Marble carving workshop and silk weaving home cottage. U Bein Wooden Bridge, is remarkable 1,300yd-long teak footbridge leading across the shallow Taungthaman lake. Still strong after 200 years, the world’s longest teak span sees a lot of life: fisher casting a line into the water, locals walking their bicycles home to Taungthaman village across the lake, and monks in saffron robes carrying alms bowls between the monasteries on both sides.
Dinner at restaurant.
Accommodation: Hotel Sedona or similar.

Day 4: 28 Feb 2012 (Mandalay – Heho)
(A.M.) Breakfast at hotel then transfer to airport for Heho.Upon arrival, proceed to Nyaung Shwe near Inle Lake. Lunch at restaurant.

(P.M.) Take boats to get around the placid and see people using traditionall flat-bottomed skiffs propelled by a single wooden paddle where one leg is wrapped around the paddle to drive the blade through the water in a snake-like motion-is unique. Phaung Daw Oo Paya, the holiest religious site in southern Shan state, Enshrined within the huge tiered pagoda are four ancient Buddha images that have been transformed into amorphous blob by the sheer volume of gold leaf applied by devotees. Jumping Cats Monastery (famous for the monks who have trained cats to jump through hoops). Proceed to Nampan Village where locals make cigars and boats and then onto the silk weaving village of Paw khone to see the Burmese intricately design and manufacture their silk products. Floating garden, where farmers raise flowers, tomatoes, squash and other fruit and vegetables on long wooden trellises supported on floating mats of vegetation. In the morning and afternoon, farmers paddled up and down between the rows tending their crops. Dinner at restaurant.
Accommodation: Hotel Inle Paramount or similar.

Day 5: 29 Feb 2012 (Heho – Yangon - Bangkok)
Breakfast at hotel then transfer to the airport for Yangon. Lunch at restaurant.

(P.M.) Free time for shopping at Bogyoke Market, formerly Scott’s Market and sight seeing around Yangon.
(17.00) Transfer to Mingaladon airport.
(19.45) Depart for Bangkok by Thai Airways, flight number TG306
(21.40) Arrive at the Bangkok International Airport safe and sound.