Burma Express

 

Yangon	Traders Hotel	1 night
Bagan	Thiripyitsaya Resort	2 nights
Mandalay	Mandalay Hill Resort	1 night
Yangon	Traders Hotel	1 night

Click on the name of the hotel for details.

8 days from £1020

excluding international flights

BURMA TOURS FACTFILE

DAY 1 - Depart UK.

Recommended flight from London: Thai Airways International from London Heathrow via Bangkok to Yangon (see below). If you are travelling from a country other than the UK we would be happy to give you guidance on your flight options.

DAY 2 – Arrival in Yangon.  Shwe Dagon Pagoda.

On arrival in Yangon (formerly Rangoon) you will be met by a representative of World Discovery outside immigration and customs. You will then be taken by private car direct to your hotel.  Time to relax for a few hours before your late afternoon visit to the amazing Shwe Dagon Pagoda, whose gilded stupa has drawn the admiration of travellers for centuries.  You will also have some time to wander through the colourful market in China Town before returning to your hotel.

 

BOUTIQUE ACCOMMODATION IN YANGON

If you prefer to stay in a smaller hotel in Yangon with the atmosphere of colonial days we recommend the charming Savoy Hotel in the centre of the city close to the Shwe Dagon Pagoda.  We would be happy to quote the additional cost for staying here rather than at the Traders Hotel.

 

DAY 3 – Fly to Nyaung-U.  The Temples of Bagan.

DAY 4 - Bagan.

Further Bagan sightseeing this morning.  In the afternoon explore the village of Minn Nan Thu, the least visited temple area in Bagan. Observe the local farmers’ way of life together with a visit to some of the most interesting temples such as Payathonzu, with its unusual architecture and Tantric Buddhism influence.  You will also visit Myinkaba village to see lacquerware family workshops.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

 

OPTIONAL VISIT TO MOUNT POPA

If you feel you would like to vary the sightseeing, and reduce the number of temples you visit in Bagan, you could choose to take an optional half day excursion (for an additional cost) to the unusual 'nat' (ancestral spirit) shrine at Mount Popa, an hour's drive from Bagan.  Please ask for details.

 

 

DAY 5 - Mandalay.  Amarapura.

Fly to Mandalay in the morning. On arrival you will be taken to Amarapura, a former Royal capital located 7 miles south of Mandalay, to visit the important Mahaghandayon Monastery and other places of interest, as well as taking a stroll on the famous U Bein teak bridge across the Taungthaman Lake.  Check into your Mandalay hotel and in the afternoon enjoy the main sightseeing highlights of Mandalay, ending with a trip to the top of Mandalay Hill for a panoramic view of the city and the surrounding countryside.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

Pictured left: Fisherman below the U Bein teak bridge, Amarapura.

DAY 6 - Mingun, Sagaing.  Return to Yangon.

This morning enjoy a private boat trip of about an hour on the Irrawaddy to visit Mingun, famous for its bell, the largest uncracked bell in the world weighing more than 90 tons.  Return by boat to Mandalay and drive to the town of Sagaing, capital of an independent Shan state in the medieval times, where visits will include the Kaungmudaw pagoda.  You will be back in Mandalay in the mid afternoon.  Transfer to the airport for the flight back to Yangon.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 7 - Yangon.  Depart for home.

Yangon is probably best described by what it does not have – traffic jams, fast-food restaurants, freeways, smog, lots of tourists and flashy discos. More than other city in Asia, Yangon still reflects the “Romance of the East” as evoked by the writings of Conrad and Kipling.  Your guide will show you the main sights of Yangon today. In the evening transfer to the airport for your flight home.
Meals included: Full breakfast.

DAY 8 - Arrive UK.

Arrive London Heathrow in the morning.

International Flights.

There are no direct flights between London and Yangon. We recommend the services of Thai Airways International from London Heathrow to Bangkok with a good onward connection to Yangon. Flights are daily throughout the year.  Current timings (subject to possible change) are as follows:
Heathrow/Bangkok. Depart at 12.30; arrive Bangkok at 06.05 (next day)
Bangkok/Yangon. Depart at 07.55; arrive Yangon at 08.50
Yangon/Bangkok. Depart at 19.45; arrive Bangkok at 21.40
Bangkok/Heathrow. Depart at 01.10; arrive Heathrow at 07.15

Burma Tours: Burma Express (Tour Reference: WDBU001)
2012 Departures
Price per person based on a minimum of two persons travelling together:

Daily departures	Price
Oct, Nov, Dec*	£1020

* Supplements will be charged during the Christmas and New Year period. 

Single Room Supplements on request.

The price includes:

• Scheduled domestic flights from Yangon to Nyaung-U, from Nyanung-U to Mandalay, and from Mandalay to Yangon, including airport taxes.
• Hotel accommodation as listed above in twin-bedded or double rooms with private facilities.
• 5 full breakfasts as shown in the itinerary.
• Private transportation throughout.
• All sightseeing as shown, including entrance fees.
• The services of private drivers throughout.
• The services of a private English-speaking guide for the included sightseeing.
• Porterage at the airports.
  

Not included in the price:

• International flights (see our recommendation above). We are happy to discuss the flights with you and give you further guidance.
• Optional sightseeing.
• International airport taxes.
• Tipping. We will be pleased to give guidance in this often sensitive matter.
• Visa for Burma.  A special 'Package Tour' visa for individuals is required.  You can obtain this in advance through the Embassy of Myanmar or alternatively obtain your visa on arrival in Yangon. World Discovery will help organise your visa in either case (our Burmese agents have to provide letters of introduction) - Full details will be given when you make a booking.
  

A deposit of £250 per person is required at the time of booking. The balance of the price for your Burma tour must be paid at least 3 months before your departure date.