Burma Family Tour

Arrive in Rangoon and check-in at the hotel. The rest of the day is free.

Overnight Standard Hotel

This morning we fly to the city of Mandalay, Burma’s last royal capital and, for many, the centre of its most historic and culturally rich region. On arrival we drive about 1.5hrs to the town of Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo), a former British colonial hill station that is set in the cool, lush hills to the east of Mandalay. This afternoon we visit a local waterfall, as well as the rich landscapes of the National Kandawgyi Gardens. First established in 1915, by a colonel in the British Army, these colourful gardens are home to an incredible diversity of plants, trees and wildlife.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast Swimming available

After breakfast we take a tour of the town, visiting the morning vegetable market, the Church of the Immaculate Conception and the Purcell Tower, which was a present to the town from Queen Victoria. There is also a chance to take an optional ride on one of Maymo’s distinctive and colourful horse drawn carts, before we drive back to Mandalay this afternoon. Later we head up to the summit of Mandalay Hill to watch the sunset over the city and the Ayayarwaddy River.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we take a cruise upriver to Mingun village and the ruins of the Mingun Pahtodawgyi which, had it been completed, would have been the world’s largest pagoda. Begun by King Bodawpaya in 1790, the pagoda is home to what is considered to be the largest uncracked bell on the planet. Returning to Mandalay we then have a free afternoon. There are options to visit the bustling Zaycho Market (the largest in the city), or to take a look around the traditional workshops, where you can watch skilled craftsmen working on wood carvings, ornate tapestry and gold leaf.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

A short distance to the south of Mandalay lies the former royal capital of Amarapura (1783-1863), perhaps best known for the giant 1.2 kilometres teak footbridge that spans Lake Taungthaman.

Time permitting there is the opportunity to take an optional boat ride on the lake. After lunch (not included) we take a short drive to Inwa (Ava) - royal capital between the 15th and 19th centuries. Here we take a horse cart ride around the old city (which can be a little bumpy), visiting the monasteries of Manu Ok Kaung and Bagaya Kyaung and the ‘Leaning Tower of Inwa’, before driving back to Mandalay.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

A free morning offers a chance to pay an optional visit to Sagaing, lying across the river just to the south of Mandalay. A former capital of the 14th century Shan Kingdom, the hillsides that lead up from the river are scattered with monasteries and pagodas, making this one of the most interesting and important religious sites in the country. This afternoon we then fly to Bagan, without a doubt one of the most impressive religious archaeological sites anywhere in Asia. On arrival the rest of the day is free.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast Swimming available

Once an imperial capital, Bagan rose to prominence during the 11th to 13th centuries. At its height it presented a sea of colour and spectacle, with over 13,000 temples and pagodas spread across its expansive plains. Today just over 2,000 remain and we visit some of the most important ones today. We also pay a visit to a local village, learn how to play some traditional games with the local children and take a horse drawn carriage ride through the ruins, before we watch the sunset from a panoramic viewpoint overlooking the temples.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast Swimming available

A second day in Bagan allows us to enjoy some optional activities around the site. You can hire bicycles and take a ride out through the ruins on your own, or take an optional trip out to Mount Popa, Burma’s sacred abode of the Nats (spirit gods). A volcanic plug that rises some 1,500 metres above the surrounding landscape, the summit provides some fine panoramic views of the surrounding hills and the small temple on the summit is home to troops of wild monkeys. Another option is to take a sunset cruise along the Ayayarwaddy River.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast Swimming available

A morning flight to Heho, followed by a 1 hour drive to Nyaung Shwe, brings us to the beautiful setting of Lake Inle, high up on the Shan Plateau at about 1000 metres above sea level. Lake Inle is one of the highest lakes in the country and this afternoon we take a trip out on the lake by boat. We also witness some local industries at work, such as silk and lotus weaving, before a demonstration of Lake Inle’s famous one-legged rowing techniques with some local children.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Our boat takes us to the western part of the lake this morning, to a local Indein village, where a hilltop complex of 1,000 stupas (places of worship) offers some great views across the lake and on to the valley beyond. We visit a local orphanage, where we can join in with English lessons for the children and learn a little of its history from the venerable Mr Thet Tun, its headmaster. Returning to our hotel, the rest of the afternoon is then free.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today we drive to the highland towns of Pindaya and Kalaw, set high on the western edge of the Shan Plateau. On our route we pass typical rural scenes with extensive rice and potato farming. We pass the PaO and Danu villages of Pwehla and Ji Chanzi before reaching Pindaya where we visit the Buddhist caves, extensive limestone caverns that are filled with about 8,000 Buddha images from times past and present. There is also a planned visit to a Shan umbrella making cottage industry to learn how locals make umbrellas from Mulberry bark. After lunch we continue onto Kalaw. Popular with the British during their time in Burma, Kalaw still retains something of its colonial charm and is an ideal base for hill-tribe treks.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today we take the opportunity to explore some of the region’s fine scenery and learn something about hilltribes in Burma. The Burmese, particularly in highland areas, are from different ethnic groups with their own traditions, history and language. We drive to the start point of our walk and then commence a 2 hour ascent (300m approx) to Painebin village. We’ll walk at an easy pace with stops to see tea and cheroot cultivation, orange groves and vegetable gardens. The village is situated at 1500metres above sea level, with a noticeably cooler climate, and locals often still wear traditional costume: red longi, colourful jacket and lacquered waistbands. The Palaung have their own distinct ethnic scripture, monastic regulation, traditional culture and local law. After visiting the village we take a simple picnic lunch (included) at a monastery and return the same way downhill by foot to our bus and then on to Kalaw. Total walking time is about 4 to 5 hours.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch

A short flight from Heho this morning sees us back in Rangoon, where we enjoy a little free time before late afternoon relaxed sightseeing. You may like to pay a visit to the bustling Bogyoke Market in search of some last minute souvenirs (closed on Mondays, full moons and public holidays). Our afternoon’s walk begins with a stroll along Pansodan Street, taking in the colonial era buildings and bustling street markets as we make our way to the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda, a fitting venue for a treasure hunt as the sun is setting.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Tour ends after breakfast.

Included meals: Breakfast