Tours by Country: Myanmar (Burma)
* $6,975.00
* October 18 - November 3, 2012 (16 days/15 nights)
* Single Supplement $975.00
* This trip is ALL-INCLUSIVE: lodging, meals, gratuities, taxes & in-country transportation
* Tour Leader - Steve Murray
Services included:
* Accommodation based on sharing a double room.
* Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
* Entrance fees
* Domestic flights
* English Speaking guide
* All transfers, sightseeing and excursion by private air
-conditioned van with driver
* Private boats
* Tipping to porters, drivers, waiters and guides
* International Airport Departure Tax
Services excluded are:
* Flights to/from your home to Los Angeles, CA.
* Alcoholic Drinks & Personal expenses – massage
or spa services, laundry, phone calls & etc.
* Single room - The Single room upgrade is $950.00 additonal
* Any services not mentioned above
Step Back in Time -- Amazing Myanmar
OCT 18 & 19, 2012 TRAVEL DAYS
Depart from Los Angeles at 11:30pm on Thai Airways. Cross the international date line “losing” a day and arrive in Yangon at 8:45am on the 20th.
DAY 1 – ARRIVAL IN YANGON
Yangon is the main gateway and capital city of Myanmar. Although the population hovers around five million, the city gives a different impression from other large Asian capitals. It’s full of trees and shade, even old growth teak, taking on a more provincial feel rather than that of a large international city. This afternoon we go to the historic Shwedagon pagoda which towers 320 feet above the green cityscape of Yangon. One of the wonders of the religious world, the large Shwedagon Pagoda complex is believed to have been built more than 2500 years ago. Shwedagon is covered with hundreds of gold plates and the top of the Stupa is encrusted with 4531 diamonds; the largest of which is 76 carat. Tonight we will enjoy a grand welcome dinner at Le Planteur; the finest French Indochine restaurant in Myanmar.
DAY 2 – OCT 21, 2012 YANGON
Back to Shwedagon pagoda at dawn. Early morning it is quiet and the light is wonderful. As the sun comes up the temple comes alive. Then we will visit morning markets to experience first hand the market atmosphere in Yangon. Just before lunch at we will visit the Chauk Htat Gyi Reclining Buddha; a colossal -- 233 ft long -- reclining Buddha Statue which is one of the largest in Myanmar and is a must see. After lunch we will go to the Kalaywa Monastery, home for 1000 monks. All Myanmar males are expected to spend some of their life serving as a Monk to learn the ways of Buddhism. After exploring the monastery, we will return to Shwedagon pagoda and stay until dusk. Or -- You can spend the evening shooting the life around the water front of the Yangon River if you have seen enough of the Shwedagon pagoda.
DAY 3 – OCT 22, 2012 YANGON – MANDALAY
Fly to Mandalay, the largest city after Yangon. Mandalay is both a bustling commercial centre and a repository of ancient culture. With the remains of the old Royal City and many old monasteries, Mandalay is a showcase for Myanmar art and architecture of the 19th century. It is also noted for woodcarvings, silverware, tapestries, silk, and other traditional craft products. We visit the second most sacred image in Myanmar – the Mahamuni Pagoda. The Image is said to have been cast in the lifetime of the Buddha and that he embraced it 7 times thereby bringing it to life. Continue to visit the Kuthodaw Pagoda which is known as the world largest book due to the Buddhist scripture carved on 729 marble slabs. See the best view of Mandalay from the top of Mandalay hill as the sun slowly sets.
DAY 4 – OCT 23, 2012 MANDALAY
Early morning drive to Sagaing Hills, crossing one of the few bridges that span the mighty Ayeyarwady River. Sagaing is considered to be the living centre of the Buddhist faith in Myanmar and the hundreds of monasteries reverberate with the echoes of cymbals, gongs and pagoda bells. In the hills and in the valleys of the west bank of the Ayeyarwady River are some 600 monasteries, as well as numerous temples, stupas and caves dedicated to the memory of Buddha. We’ll visit Mahagandayon Monastery, home to over 1,000 Monks, to observe their traditional morning meal procession at 10:30 am. After lunch visit the Shwe Kyaung (Golden palace Monastery), a fragile reminder of the old Mandalay Palace as it was originally built inside Mandalay Palace but it was moved to this its current location in 1880. We will explore around town and the river until sunset.
DAY 5 – OCT 24, 2012 MANDALAY
The big temples and snow-white pagodas rise above the trees and glitter across the land. Visit the Padamyazedi, which dates from 1300 while the U min Thonze or thirty caves pagoda has many Buddha images in a crescent shaped colonnade. Mural paintings can be seen in the Tilawkaguru cave temple, which was built around 1672. Then visit Zayar Theingi Nunnery. Buddhist nuns are easily recognized by their pink robes and almost bald heads. The most impressive Soon Oo Pon Nya Shin Pagoda nearby was constructed in 1312. The view of Sagaing from Soon Oo Pon Nya Shin and its approach is marvelous.
DAY 6 -- OCT 25, 2012 MANDALAY – RV PAUKAN RIVER CRUISE TO BAGAN
Early morning you are free to wonder around the city until we leave for the dock at 9:30am. The RV Paukan is a lovely boutique hotel / river boat, beautifully furnished with a unique combination of modern and traditional motifs. As we sail down the Irrawaddy, there is plenty of activity on the river banks as locals go about their everyday lives. In the late afternoon we stop at Yandabo, a village which specializes in making clay pots.
DAY 7 – OCT 26, 2012 BAGAN
Arrive at Bagan around 9am. Bagan is one of the richest archaeological sites in Asia with over 2,000 pagodas, temples and monasteries. Bagan is amazing, enchanting and one of the few places still largely unaffected by the 21st century. Over the next few days we will visit the beautiful Temples and Pagodas that are the most culturally significant and best preserved including the Shwezigon, Gubyaukgyi, Htilo Minlo, DhammayanGyi, Gawdawpalin, Thatbyinnyu, Tayok Pye, Dhammayazika, Sulamani, and the amazing Ananda temple. Visit temples and shoot until sunset.
DAY 8 – OCT 27, 2012 BAGAN
We leave early for a fantastic hot air balloon ride over the plain of Bagan as the sun rises! This afternoon we will see Bagan from a different perspective as we explore the temple area by Pony cart. The carts can go to areas that cars are unable to enter giving a totally different experience. Shoot until sunset.
DAY 9 – OCT 28, 2012 BAGAN
Climb to the top of a Pagoda for sunrise and then shoot several temples until about 930 hrs. Then see the real way of life for most Myanmar people by visiting Phwar Saw Village. This village is a perfect example of how locals live, but most importantly we will be able to see the intimacy of the villagers toward one another, and foreign guests. We will visit local homes and observe their daily cooking style. Dinner will be at local restaurant with a Traditional Puppet Show.
DAY 10 – OCT 29, 2012 BAGAN – MT POPA – BAGAN
This morning we will depart pre-dawn to again climb to the top of an ancient temple to shoot the sunrise. Then we drive to Mt Popa, an extinct volcano with spectacular views. On the way we will visit a Palm tree plantation to observe locals working with Palm trees. Mt. Popa is considered the abode of Myanmar's most powerful Nat (Spirits) with the remains of a petrified forest and a profusion of trees, flowering plants and herbs. At the foot of mountain, we will observe the Nat Shrine, a major pilgrimage destination, which contains a display of figures representing the 37 Nat. After exploring Mt. Popa, return back to Bagan.
DAY 11 – OCT 30, 2012 BAGAN
Climb to the top of Mingalarzedi Pagoda for sunrise. We will then visit the Nyaung Oo market to see the vast variety of fresh fruit and vegetables for sale and gain an insight into the bustling market atmosphere in Bagan. After lunch we will continue to visit temples and shoot until sunset.
DAY 12 – OCT 31, 2012 BAGAN – HEHO – INLE LAKE
Flight to Heho then to our hotel via boat. The prime attraction of the Shan state is Inle Lake, a 22 km long and 10km wide body of water. Inle is famous for its native lake-dwellers, the Inthas ,who have a unique way of rowing with their legs. First visit will be the five Buddha images of Phaung Daw U Pagoda. The images have been covered in so much gold they look like balls of solid gold. After lunch, visit Nampan village to see local cigar and canoe making then on to the silk weaving village, Inn Paw Khone to see the intricate the design and manufacture of silk products. Visit a floating farm and see how the farmers make their produce in the middle of the Lake.
DAY 13 – NOV 1, 2012 INLE LAKE
This morning visit Phaung Daw Oo 5 Day Market to observe colorful tribes buying and selling. At these markets we will see a variety of ethic minorities dressed in their traditional costumes. On the way back to the hotel we will have two fisherman dressed in classic Intha attire who will model for us as they row with their leg. Shoot until sunset.
DAY 14 – NOV 2, 2012 INLE LAKE – HEHO/YANGON
This morning, we will stop at a village on the way to the Heho airport for the return flight to Yangon arriving just before lunch. OK shoppers, if you haven’t already spent all your money or stuffed your suitcase with treasures… this is the place to stock up. The 70-year-old Scott Market (Bogyoke Aung San Market). You will find a huge variety of Burmese souvenirs, from lacquer ware to gems & jewelry to antiques. Make sure you bargain to fully experience the Burmese market atmosphere! The afternoon is at your leisure.
DAY 15 – NOV 3, 2012 YANGON – DEPARTURE FOR HOME
Transfer to Yangon airport at 7am for the flight home. You will gain back that day you “lost” on the way over arriving on the 3rd in LA at 9:35pm.
Single accommodations are available for a supplemental cost in most locations; please see the pre-departure trip information or call our office for details. You will be charged the single supplement fee if you desire single accommodations or if you wish to have a roommate, but one is not available. In some remote locations, clients with single rooms are infrequently compelled to share a room due to circumstances beyond our control. In such cases, appropriate per diem refunds will be made reflecting the direct cost of the single room at the facility where clients are required to share. There is no additional single supplement fee on ship-based cruises if you request a roommate and one is not available.
Price is based on 8 people joining this tour. If less than 8 then a small-group charge may apply. This will be determined 70 days in advance. Cost increases may also occur unexpectedly due to rising costs of airfares, ground transport, fuel surcharges, and currency fluctuations, among others. MagicLight, L.L.C. may have to amend prices, and we reserve the right to do so without prior notice. An increase in trip prices shall not be sufficient grounds for any refund of funds paid for the trip other than as determined by the terms of our cancellation policy.
Our workshop/tours are NON-smoking. We travel together in a van and when out in nature we like to enjoy the fresh air. All tours have tentative itineraries that we try to follow as weather and schedules allow. We plan to be out shooting as much as possible, early and late, and will have "plan B" scenarios if conditions alter our planned activity. Flexibility is often a necessity when dealing with the weather and travel.Tours are designed for physically able adults, capable of hiking/walking with their own photography equipment. Most of our trips are not overly strenuous, but may have difficult elements at any point depending on the location/terrain, elevation, weather and fitness level of the participant. If you have any concerns or questions about the physical demands of the trip, please contact us. Sherpa/assistants are available to help you carry & setup your gear at an additional fee -- email for more info.