Hidden Treasures of Burma


Burma is Southeast Asia's hidden gem, a destination bursting with magnificent monuments, glittering golden stupas and enigmatic ruins. So long closed to the world, Burma cannot help but invoke images of mysterious wander and raw adventure.

Places Visited

SA - Rangoon (3N) - Prome (1N) - Mandalay (3N) - Monywa (1N) - Bagan (3N) – Pindaya (1N) – Nyaung Shwe (2N) - Rangoon (1N) - SA

tour duration 18 Days from
tour price On Request
Moderate
Group Tour
Classic
Fully inclusive
Days 1-2 Fly to Rangoon (Yangon)
Fly overnight to Rangoon. The former capital of Burma (Myanmar). On arrival you will be met by your expert tour guide and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 3 Discover Rangoon
Head downtown to the Central Post Office from where we will begin our walking tour. Encompassing the colonial highlights and more traditional architecture, stroll Strand Road and Pansodan Street before admiring the Sule Pagoda and City Hall. Visit the National Museum and browse in the Bogyoke Market. Enjoy a photo stop at the Karaweik Hall and finally explore Shwedagon Pagoda. This is Burma's most sacred Buddhist site and is purported to have four relics of former Buddhas enshrined within.
Day 4 Explore Sri Ksetra
Drive to the lively port town of Prome and transfer to the ancient city of Sri Ksetra. Visit the local Museum to learn the historical background of Sri Ksetra. Later, travelling by ox cart explore the spectacular ruins of the Pyu Kingdom's former capital. Later visit Hmawzar village to get a glimpse of local life.
Day 5 Prome Market
Visit Prome's colourful central market where you'll be able to see members of several of Burma's ethnic minorities. Continue to the dazzling Shwe San Taw Pagoda and admire the wonderful views of the surrounding countryside. Drive back to Rangoon via Shwe Myat Mhan Pagoda, famous for its spectacle-wearing Buddha.
Day 6 U Bein Bridge & Temples
Fly to Mandalay and transfer to Amarapura where you'll visit Mahaghandayon Temple, home to several thousand young monks as well as a place of monastic study and strict religious discipline. Continue to U Bein Bridge, the worlds longest teak wood bridge, before taking a short boat ride to Ava where you will travel by horse and carriage to see the Nanmyint Watch Tower, the wooden Bagaya Monastery and if time permits the Sagaing Hill before returning to Mandalay.
Day 7 Explore Mandalay
Mandalay is considered the epicentre of Burma’s cultural and so there is much to explore. Visit the Mahamuni Pagoda, Shewe Inbin Monastery, the Golden Palace Monastery and Kuthodaw Pagoda, home to the world’s largest book; each page inscribed in marble. Visit a traditional handloom silk workshop before finishing the day on Mandalay Hill.
Day 8 Cruise to Mingun
Set sail up the Irrawaddy River to Mingun to visit one of the world’s largest bells, the Mingun Bell; Hsinbyume Paya; and the Mingun Pagoda – had it been completed it would have been Burma’s largest. Though incomplete, it is still a monumental structure – 50 metres tall, 72 metres wide and constructed entirely of brick. Return to Mandalay and spend the afternoon at leisure.
Day 9 Monywa & Bodhi Tataung
Head to the trading post of Monywa via Thanboddhay Pagoda, said to contain over half a million colourful images of Buddha followed by a visit to the Bodhi Tataung wherea thousand Buddha images rest at the feet of banyan trees. In the afternoon travel to Hpo Win Taung, a network of sandstone caves full of statues, carvings and murals of Buddha, afterwards heading to Shwe Ba Taung.
Day 10 Pakhangyi Kyaung
Drive to the port city of Pakokku with a stop at the wooden monastery of Pakhangyi Kyaung. Visit the lively local market by traditional trishaw (if available) and observe the production process of typical Myanmar cotton blankets. Continue by boat down the Irrawaddy to Bagan, arriving in time to catch the sunset.
Day 11 Explore Bagan
Visit Nyaung U Market and Shwezigon Pagoda, which is the most important Pagoda in Bagan. Also visit the Ananda Temple.Later, visit Htilominlo Pagoda, Thatbaintnyu Temple and take a short drive through the scenic countryside to Myinkaba village.
Day 12 Mt Popa & Bagan Temples
Travel to Mt Popa, an extinct volcano, and visit Taung Kalat, the breathtaking Buddhist Monastery perched on its summit. Continue to visit Manuha Temple, Nanbaya Temple. In the evening, travel to temples that are farther a field on board a colourful ox-cart – a local method of transport.
Day 13 Pindaya Caves
Fly to Heho and transfer to Pindaya to visit the Shwe U Min limestone caves. The caves are a famous Buddhist pilgrimage site.
Day 14 Inle Lake
Travel to Inle Lake for a boat trip past floating markets, gardens and stilt houses and to see the famous leg-rowing technique of the fishermen on Inle Lake. You will also visit the Phaungdaw Oo Pagoda and the Nga Phe Kyaung Monasterey. Also visit the weaving village of Inpawkhon.
Day 15 Indein Pagodas
Cruise on Inle Lake to the crumbling Indein Pagoda Complex. Built in the 17th Century, it is home to nearly one thousand stupas and pagodas. Walk through the fields of villages in Sae Ma where you will also have the opportunity to visit a school in the village.
Day 16 Rangoon
Fly to Rangoon and upon arrival visit Gaba Aye Pagoda and the artificial Mahapasana Cave. Later you ll visit Botataung Pagoda and Nanthida Jetty. In the evening, stroll around Chinatown and through the night markets.
Days 17-18 Fly Rangoon to SA
Fly overnight to SA, arriving home the following day.

Also Available

Private Departures for this tour

If the dates we have available for this tour don't suit your needs, or you are not sure travelling as part of a group is for you, maybe a Private Departure would be more ideal. Based on exactly the same itinerary as the group tour, our Private Departures give you the freedom to choose your own departure date and simply enjoy your holiday with your family, your partner, or your friends. On most Private Departures your tour will be led by an English speaking driver and you will be met by local guides at each site.

Tailor Your Tour

If you like most of the itinerary which we have suggested but you'd like to change the route and the accommodation, speak to our specialist Tailormade team, who can build your perfect itinerary based around where you would like to go, what you would like to see and how much you'd like to spend. Just call us on 0800 9884 888 and we'll help plan your dream holiday.

Wendy Wu Tours, inspect all of our hotels to ensure they meet the high levels of service which we require for our guests. If the hotels details below for your tour are not available, hotels of a similar standard will be used.

Summit Parkview Hotel - Yangon, Burma (4 Nights)



Mingalar Garden Resort - Prome, Burma (1 Nights)

The Mingalar Garden Resort offers enchanting bungalows which are built around a natural spring lake and are surrounded by tropical trees. All of the en-suite rooms are fully furnished with modern facilities including a mini-bar and satellite television, some offering lake views. Wifi is also available.



Yadanarpon Dynasty Hotel - Mandalay, Burma (3 Nights)



Win Unity Hotel - Monywa, Burma (1 Nights)

The Win Unity Hotel is surrounded by lush greenery and the serene Kan Thar Yar Lake. Decorated with Myanmar paintings and handmade lotus furniture, the hotel offers comfortable, en-suite rooms and bungalows with air conditioning, flat screen satellite tv, Wifi and a refrigerator. There is also a traditional Burmese onsite restaurant.



Shwe Yee Pwint Hotel - Bagan, Burma (3 Nights)

Situated at the edge of New Bagan, the Shwe Yee Pwin Hotel offers modern, spacious rooms with an en-suite, Wifi, complimentary toiletries and flat screen satellite television. The hotel also has a large fitness centre and an outdoor pool, and also offers bike hire to explore the historical, local area.



Conqueror Hotel - Pindaya, Burma (1 Nights)

Situated on the shores of Inle Lake, the traditional Hupin Khuang Daing Hotel provides authentic wooden bungalows set amongst palatial gardens. The bungalow terraces offer fantastic views of the lake, particularly at sunset. There is also an on-site restaurant.



Ann Heritage Hotel - Nyauang Shwe, Burma (2 Nights)

Residing on the western shore of Inle Lake, this small residence has twenty modern, en-suite rooms with air conditioning and a private living room with international television channels. Some rooms at the front of the hotel offer panoramic views of the lake. The hotel also has a small swimming pool and a superb restaurant.



Koh Lanta Beach Stay - 4D/3N

duration 4 Days from price R460

A visa is required by all nationalities. A single entry visa should be arranged in advance of travel.
Unlike many other tour operators, we include your entry visas in the price of our tour. We handle the entire visa process – all you need to do is fill out the form and send your passport to us. We are always on hand to help you with any questions or queries you might have when completing the form. 

Phone Calls
International and domestic calls can be made from your hotel room. To call the UK the international access code is 00, followed by the country code 44, then the local area code (omitting the first 0), then the number. To call Wendy Wu Tours it is 00 44 207 403 7860. Emergency 24 hour telephone (out of office hours) is 00 44 7984 041 625.
 
Mobile Phones
Mobile phones are growing in popularity and you will find high quality coverage. There are active roaming agreements with all phone carriers; however SMS and call rates can be expensive. We recommend that you contact your mobile supplier if you intend to use international roaming during your holiday and ensure you investigate all associated costs before you leave the UK.
 
Internet & Email
Internet cafes can be found in all major cities and even in some small towns. This is often the easiest and cheapest way to stay in touch. Most hotels have a business centre with internet access, but at a slightly higher rate. Some hotels may have Wi-Fi which usually comes at an additional cost and may only be available in hotel lobbies. 

Tipping is an expected element in the tourism industry today and Burma is no exception. Many passengers are often uncertain of how much to tip so we have established a tipping system whereby every passenger gives a set amount to the National Escort who will distribute the amount appropriately. On multi-country tips, this amount will be paid in stages on arrival in each country. If there is no National Escort, you will need to give your money to your Local Guides and tipping amounts for each city will be shown in your final itinerary. The amount for the kitty is calculated for each tour depending on the length, group size, and services used during the trip.
 
We will indicate the tipping amounts in your final documents for guidance.

Shopping can be a fun and entertaining component to any travel adventure. In keeping with most people’s interests whilst on holiday, your tour will include a reasonable number of opportunities to shop for local goods and souvenirs.
 
We have included visits to establishments that not only provide an opportunity to purchase a locally produced, great-value souvenir; but you’ll witness first-hand how these local products are made, their history and how they support the local economy. We are aware that people like to take home souvenirs, so we endeavour to ensure the shops you visit have a reputation for quality, honesty, and authenticity – we do our best to ensure that you don’t get ripped off. 

The cost of all meals is included in your group tour cost. Breakfast is a combination of local and western food, usually served buffet style at the hotel you are staying in. Lunches and dinners consist of traditional cuisine and are served at reputable local restaurants. As is traditional in this region, lunch and dinner consists of small dishes of local cuisine which is then placed on the table for everyone to share so you can experience the variety of speciality dishes. The amount served is more than ample for the whole group. We aim to cater to the tastes of the majority of people and so the food is not too spicy or unusual in taste.
 
Drinks will be at each tour members’ own expense and paid for at the end of each meal. Beer is widely available and cheap. Western style wine is very expensive to import and is not widely available except at upmarket restaurants. Bottled drinking water, soft drinks, and fruit juices are also widely available – remember that you should only have ice or fruit juices from a trusted restaurant, where they will use boiled or bottled water.
Due to the French colonial influence in some Southeast Asian countries, black tea (commonly referred to as ‘lip-ton’ by the locals), coffee, and baguettes are available in most places. However, the local style is to have sweet condensed milk with their tea and coffee. Fresh dairy milk is not usually served but many restaurants will provide this if requested. ‘Cafe Sua-da’ (or iced coffee with milk) is a favourite choice amongst the locals.


Why Book This Tour?

This tour is ideal for those looking for a comprehensive tour of Burma’s main cities and scenic areas. This Burma tour is for those with a reasonable amount of time and wish to explore some more off the beaten track destinations in Burma. We have designed this tour to make the most of the time available to showcase the main highlights of the country, important religious sites and Burma's stunning natural scenery. This tour also includes a short cruise on the Irrawaddy River.

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