HIGHLIGHTS OF MYANMAR - PHOTOGRAPHIC TOUR

Myanmar, 11 Nights

Highlights:

• Visit the mystical former Royal city of Mrauk U
• Cruise the Ayeyarwady River
• Enjoy a Hot Air Balloon Ride over Bagan

With a way of life rapidly disappearing in the world today, Myanmar overflows with old-world charm. From its sublime landscapes, rich history and serene people it is certainly a magnificent destination for photographers. Join Jon Nicholson, award-winning photo-journalist on a journey through this remarkable country. Due to the nature of travel photography, whilst you will visit the main sights in each city, our daily timings will be flexible so that we can maximise the best light, capture day to day life and be spontaneous. Jon will seek out the best photo opportunities, provide technical tips and composition advice and critique your images after each day's exploration.

Thursday 1st March - London/Yangon
Depart from London Heathrow for your flight via Bangkok to Yangon

Friday 2nd March - Yangon
Upon arrival off your flight after clearing customs and immigration you will be met by your A&K representative and transferred to The Strand. Tonight you will enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel.

Saturday 3rd March - Yangon
In the morning start your sightseeing with a visit to Botataung Pagoda.  This 131 foot stupa is unusual in that it is hollow and visitors are able to walk around inside.  Then continue on to visit the Sule Pagoda. If the Shwedagon is the soul of Yangon, then the Sule Pagoda is its heart. You will also visit the National Museum, the showpiece of which is the Lion's Throne.  The throne made of wood is inlaid with gold and lacquer work.  It is a striking example of the Myanmar art of woodcarving.  In the afternoon you will visit the Reclining Buddha Pagoda, which is really not a pagoda, but a pavilion housing a 230-foot statue.  You will end the day with visit to the Shwedagon Pagoda.  This architectural masterpiece is a golden fantasy of gilded stupas, serene Buddhas and mythical beasts said to be 2500 years old.  

Sunday 4th March - Yangon/Mandalay - Ayeyarwady cruising
This morning you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Mandalay. On arrival you will be met by your A&K representative and taken to visit Amarapura to see the U Bein Bridge, a long and rickety teak bridge crossing Taungthaman Lake curved to withstand the wind and waves. You will also observe 1000 or so monks having their main meal for the day at Mahagandayon Monastery. You are then transferred to the RV. Paukan, where you can enjoy a welcome cocktail before your departure. Moor overnight at a sandbank mid-stream. After dinner enjoy a dance and drama performance by the Mandalay Arts School on the sundeck.

Monday 5th March - Ayeyarwady cruising
Enjoy the sunrise over Sagaing Hill as you journey downstream you can admire the natural beauty of the river and the life of its banks while relaxing on the sundeck or just sitting outside your own cabin. After breakfast you have time to go ashore to visit Sagaing. In the afternoon you stop en route to visit Yandabo, a typical river village specialising in Pot-Making, where the peace treaty of the First Anglo-Burmese war was signed on Feb. 24, 1826. This evening you moor overnight nearby a village of Shwe Nann Tint.

Tuesday 6th March - Bagan
This morning enjoy the sunrise near Bagan. After an early breakfast, you will disembark at Ayeyar Jetty at 09:30 a.m. Bagan is the 11th century capital of the country and one of Asia's most extraordinary travel experiences. It is a flat plain dotted with the remains of 2,000 pagodas, temples and stupas which once stood in splendour before the sword of Kublai Khan.  Upon arrival, you are met and transferred to The Aureum Palace Hotel for a 2 night stay. You set off today to visit the Nyaung Oo local market, the economic centre of Bagan. Continue on to the Shwezigon Pagoda.  In the afternoon, you will take a horse cart ride to the Ananda Temple.  Built in 1090 AD it is the best-preserved temple in Bagan.  A visit to a lacquerware workshop will be made so that you can view the process of this ancient craft in its spiritual home, Bagan. End your day at the cylindrical stupa of Shwesandaw Pagoda, looking out from the upper terrace to see the sun set over the plain, it offers some of the best views at sunset.

Wednesday 7th March - Bagan
This morning you have the option (additional cost) to enjoy the sunrise over Bagan from aboard a hot air balloon.  Get a magnificent "bird's-eye" view of the thousand year-old pagodas, temples and the mighty Ayeyarwady River to fully appreciate the scale and historical importance of this magical place. After breakfast drive overland to Mount Popa.  In 442 BC a great earthquake roared through central Myanmar - and from out of the barren Myingyan plains rose Mount Popa.  This afternoon you return to Bagan to visit the Manuha Temple and the Nanpaya Temple. The masonry work is outstanding, as well as its interior design. It reflects the strong Brahman influence that affected the Teravadin Mon kings.

Thursday 8th March - Bagan/Inle Lake
This morning you will be met and transferred to the airport for the flight to Heho. Upon arrival at Heho, continue on to Nyaung Shwe Village where you take a twenty-minute boat ride to your accommodation, situated on Inle Lake and surrounded by the Shan Hills. Inle Lake on the Shan Plateau is an oasis where you will see the unique methods of farming and fishing which sustain the local residents.  Fishing is done by means of a conical trap containing a net that the fisherman thrusts to the bottom of the lake when he sees movement.  All this is done while the fisherman perches precariously on the boats stern with one foot and twists his other leg around a long oar that he uses to propel the boat. In the afternoon visit the Phaung-Daw-U Pagoda, which enshrines five golden Buddha images carried back to Myanmar from the Malay Peninsula by the 12th century King Alaungsithu. Continue to Ngapechaung Monastery (Jumping Cat Monastery), this fascinating wooden monastery, built on stilts over the lake got its name from the monks who used to train their cats to jump through small hoops.

Friday 9th March - Inle Lake
Begin your day with a visit to the five day market where along with your guide and your host family you will stock up with fresh fruits and vegetables before heading back to the family's house by private long tail boat for a cooking lesson in typical Shan style food. After cooking the food you can sit down with your family and enjoy the fruits of your labour. In the afternoon you will cruise through a densely forested river to visit Indein which is situated on the hill side in the south-western corner of Inle Lake. Spend time wandering through this typical lakeside village all the while observing the lives of the local people.

Saturday 10th March - Inle Lake/ Yangon / Mrauk U
After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for the flight to Yangon. Upon arrival in Yangon, you will connect for your flight to Sittwe. On arrival in Sittwe you will be transferred to Mrauk U by your own private boat. Lunch will be provided for you on the boat. Sit back in arm chairs, read your book and tuck into some delicious food as you cruise up this remote Burmese river observing the tranquil way of life, little changed over centuries.

Sunday 11th March - Mrauk U
After breakfast your morning sightseeing will  include a visit to the Htutkanthein, Andaw Tehin pagoda and the Shittaung Temple (the Temple of 80,000 images) built by King Min Ba Gree in 1533 AD. You will then have a brief visit to Thet village who are people of the Rohinga tribe (Ethnic Bangladeshi's). This afternoon you will visit the informative and well planned Mrauk U Museum. You will then climb the Haritaung Pagoda for a breathtaking view of the surrounds of Mrauk U at sunset. The rolling hills, medieval pagodas and simple village life offer the perfect panorama of rural Burmese life.

Monday 12th March - Mrauk U
After breakfast board your private boat for the trip to visit Chin Village. Just sit back and enjoy the lovely tranquil scenery as you potter a long the Lemro River. En route to the Chin Hills, pass by numerous villages that seemingly have not changed in centuries and witness traditional river life Burmese Style. Stop en route for a picnic lunch by the river. Arrive at the village and wander around to see the few remaining Chin Ladies with their tattooed face. This is a dying custom in the Chin State as the young girls opt to not tattoo on their face. Then proceed for a short walk through the jungle to the villages of Kyee Chaung and Kone Chaung for some tea. Later head back to the boat for your return journey, you will get good sunset photo opportunities as you pass the Laungret Taung Maw ridge (the capital of the Arakan state before Mrauk U).

Tuesday 13th March - Mrauk U/ Yangon/ London
After breakfast proceed to the Jetty and board your private boat for the journey to Sittwe. Sit back in comfortable deck chairs and once again take in life on the river as you cruise down the Kaladan River. You will then be transferred to the airport for your flight to Yangon to connect with your departure flight. Alternatively you may wish to spend longer in Myanmar at Ngapali Beach.