Burma Explorer - Myanmar

Burma emanates the exotic glamour of a relatively undiscovered destination. Enchanting, unique and dripping with cultural riches, exploring this magical country and discovering a heritage so far removed from our own can only be immensely rewarding.

Places Visited

SA (1N) - Yangon/Rangoon (2N) - Bagan (2N) - Mandalay (2N) - Kalaw (1N) - Nyauang Shwe (2N) - Yangon/Rangoon (1N) - SA (1N)

tour duration 12 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).
Day 3 Discover Rangoon
Sightseeing today incudes a city tour of Rangoon, starting with a visit to Sule Pagoda followed by a walk through the downtown area. Observe the locals going about their daily activities at Mahabandoola Park before visiting the National Museum, home to priceless ancient artefacts. After lunch, visit the Bogyoke Market and stroll through the Indian Quarter. Relax at Kandawgyi Lake and enjoy the sunset at the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda, which is said to hold strands of Buddha’s hair.
Day 4 Fly to Bagan
Fly to Bagan. Upon arrival, visit Nyaung U Market and Shwezigon Pagoda, where a replica of Buddha’s tooth is enshrined. Later visit Htilominlo Pagoda, Thatbyinyu Temple and take a short drive through the scenic countryside to Minnanthu village.
Day 5 Mt Popa & Bagan Temples
Travel to Mt Popa, stopping enroute at a local village to learn how palm sugar is produced. At Mt Popa visit Taung Kalat, the spectacular Buddhist Monastery located at the top of the mountain. Return to Bagan and visit the temples of Manuha, Nanpaya and Gubyaukgyi, before witnessing the sun set from the top of Shwe San Daw Temple.
Day 6 Amarapura & Mandalay
Fly to Mandalay and transfer to Amarapura to visit Mahagandayon 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 world’s longest teak wood bridge before driving to Ava. On arrival, travel by horse-drawn carriage to the teak wood Bagaya Monastery and the remains of the Royal Palace. Pay a visit to Sagaing Hill before returning to Mandalay.
Day 7 Mingun & Ava
Take a boat to Mingun to visit Mantara Gyi Pagoda, an imposing stupa situated on the banks of the Irrawaddy. Return to Mandalay and visit Mhamuni Pagoda, Golden Palace Monastery and Kuthodaw Pagoda, home to the world’s largest book; each page inscribed in marble. Finish the day by watching the sun set from Mandalay Hill.
Day 8 Journey to Inle Lake
Fly to Heho and visit Pindaya Cave and Pindaya Lake. The caves are a Buddhist pilgrimage site and house thousands of Buddha images. Visit a local home to see Shan umbrella and mulberry paper being produced. After lunch continue to Nyaung Shwe near Inle Lake where the rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 9 Cruise on Inle Lake
Cruise on peaceful Inle Lake to the incredible floating markets and gardens. Later, visit the crumbling Indein Pagodas.
Day 10 Explore Kalaw
Visit the famous Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, home to four Buddha images encrusted with gold leaf. Continue to the former British hill station of Kalaw to see Pinmagon Monastery and its 500 year old bamboo strip Buddha. Later, visit King Church and the surrounding colonial town. Wander through the local hill tribe market before returning to Nyaung Shwe.
Day 11 Fly to 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. That evening, stroll around Chinatown and through the night markets.
Days 12-13 Fly Rangoon (Yangon) to SA
Fly overnight to South Africa, 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 (3 Nights)



Razagyo Hotel - Bagan, Burma (2 Nights)

Situated in the centre of Bagan and only 1.2miles from the Ayeyarwady River riverfront, the Raza Gyo Hotel guarantees guests a pleasant stay in its en-suite, air conditioned rooms equipped with Wifi and flat screen satellite television. There is an outdoor swimming pool and a restaurant serving traditional Burmese and Chinese cuisine.



Yadanarpon Dynasty Hotel - Mandalay, Burma (2 Nights)

Yadanarpon Dynasty Resort, located close to the Mandalay Royal Palace, offers rooms and villas decorated with traditional Myanmar architecture of bronze and gold teak. All rooms offer air conditioning, flat screen satellite television and en-suites with complimentary bathrobes. There is an onsite restaurant serving traditional Burmese, Chinese, European and Thai cuisines.



Pine Hill - Kalaw, Burma (1 Nights)

Situated near the centre of Kalaw, Pine Hill Resort is surrounded by pine trees, an orchid garden and picturesque mountains. All rooms have modern facilities including en-suite bathrooms, a mini-bar, satellite television and Wifi. The reception area is known for being one of the oldest British Colonial houses in the country. There is also a swimming pool and spa in the resort.



Hupin Khaung Daing Hotel - Nyauang Shwe, Burma (2 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.



Bangkok Extension - 4D/3N

duration 4 Days from price R150

Kuala Lumpur Extension - 4D/3N

duration 4 Days from price R220

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. 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.

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