Rondreis Myanmar | 14 dagen verwondering

Welcome to Myanmar! Let the journey begin!

Upon arrival at Yangon International Airport: welcome by our local tour guide and transfer to Park Royal Hotel.

On a walk through the city centre of Yangon and to the riverbank, you will see many notable sites from the colonial and religious past of this garden city. Old Rangoon was built based on designs by Dr William Montgomerie.

You’ll visit the Sule Pagoda, which dates back over 2000 years, pass by the town hall designed by U Tin in 1925, and then stroll through Maha Bandula Park, where you’ll see its independence monument before continuing onto the Supreme Court which was built in 1911 and is an extravagant redbrick architectural masterpiece designed by architect John Ransome.

Next up on the tour is the red‐brick Custom House which was built in 1902 for the Port Authority and is housed in a large building on the corner of Strand Road and Pansodan Street. You’ll then enjoy ‘high tea’ at the Strand Hotel which was built in 1896 and was formerly known as the ‘the finest hostelry East of Suez’. Afterwards, you’ll go to the Botataung Pagoda where a sacred hair relic of Buddha is kept.

After breakfast, you’ll travel through rural areas on the City Circular Train, with the opportunity to see cigarette sellers, betel nut traders, fortune tellers and much more at the various stops.

Back in the city, you’ll visit the National Museum with the Lion Throne, which belonged to the last king of Myanmar, and the royal regalia from the Burmese kingdom of the 19th century.

Lunch at a local restaurant (for your own expense). In the afternoon, you’ll visit the Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda which features a 70‐metre long reclining Buddha, the Kandawgyi Lake and its royal barge (with an opportunity to take pictures) and in the late afternoon, the world‐famous Shwedagon Pagoda which Somerset Maugham described as follows: ‘The Shwedagon rises majestically, glistening with its gold, like a sudden hope in the dark night of the soul of which the mystics write, glistening against the fog and smoke of the thriving city’.

You can enjoy the sunset over the pagoda.

Transfer to the airport for your morning flight to Loikaw, the capital of the state of Kayah.

Upon arrival, visit Thiri Mingalar Market, open every day from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., except for on full moons. The market has a wide variety of local food items, vegetables, fruits and spices with wonderful contrasting colours and fragrances.

Then drive to the village of Hta Nee La Leh and visit Kayhtoebo and the Hunting Shrine to learn about local beliefs and spiritual life.

In addition, enjoy an ox cart ride that travels past the Lotus Pond to the scenic 7 Lakes, where you will enjoy a delicious Kayah barbecue and engage in cultural exchange.

In the afternoon, drive to Daw Tamagyi, a typical Kayah village, where you still can see many old traditional houses and old women wearing traditional dress. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant and an overnight stay at Loikaw.

After breakfast, make the beautiful journey to Pha Yar Phyu by boat (approx. 1 hour), passing by the local farms on the banks of the Belu river. In the village, you can see the White Pagoda after which the village is named.

Then travel back to Loikaw to try some traditional Kayah sausage. You’ll visit the home of one of two Loikaw Kayah sausage producers who are willing to offer international and national visitors a safe and unique cooking experience in the state of Kayah. You will discover and experience the process of making original Kayah sausages and taste the subtle mix of spices!

In the afternoon, visit the Weaving and Vocational Training Center, where a master trainer will take you on a one‐hour tour of the weaving centre’s garden to discover and experience the process of natural dyeing.

In the late afternoon, visit Taung Kwe Pagoda (Broken Mountain), Loikaw’s most famous religious landmark. The pagoda, which is called ‘Phaw Pye’ in Kayah, measures 380 feet in height and was built on top of nine natural hillocks. You can enjoy great views of Loikaw’s marvellous landscape from up above.

After breakfast, drive to Pemsong village. On arrival, you will be welcomed into a local home where you will enjoy a hot drink and a simple, local snack. After this, you will head off on a short trek of 1.5 to 2 hours, led by a local community tour guide. Along the way, your local guides will stop and explain special cultural and natural sites which are important to the local people and their way of life. These include the village monument and pagoda. One highlight is a breathtaking 360‐degree view of the surrounding mountains.

Enjoy a pack lunch or special jungle picnic. Following the short trek, you can also visit the hamlet of Salong Kana, meet a local Kayan artisan and enjoy a hands‐on demonstration about how to make traditional Kayan bracelets. Guests can also have a go at making a bracelet themselves.

Finally, the trip ends in the hamlet of Rang Ku, where you can visit small crafts shops, run by well‐known Kayan people (popularly known as Long Neck Karen). Enjoy learning a few words in the Kayan language and interacting with these fun‐loving and artistic people. There are opportunities to buy local handicrafts.

Late afternoon return to Loikaw, overnight stay at Loikaw Lodge in Loikaw.

After breakfast, drive to Phe Khone (approx. 1.5 hours), a small town on the southwestern shore of Inle Lake.

A three‐hour boat ride will take you to the area of Sangha and Hmawbi, where you will have the opportunity to experience the traditional culture and authentic lifestyle of the Pa’O and Intha people.

Upon arrival in Samkar, you’ll transfer to A Little Lodge in Samkar and check in. In the afternoon, you’ll have enough time to explore the old monasteries, wander among the village’s stone houses and mingle with the Pa’O residents.

Today you have enough time to explore the local village, trek to the hot springs and waterfalls, peek into dramatic caves or walk through the surrounding countryside where you can meet villagers from the different ethnic groups who live in the area. You can also try your hand at fishing from our own traditional canoes!

After breakfast, take a thrilling boat ride to the Tharkhaung Pagoda, which is on the western shore of Samkar Lake, the starting point for your 2‐day trekking trip to Kalaw.

The road and trail goes through beautiful scenery. On the way visit the villages of Palaung, Danu, Pao and Taung Yoe. Your local station tour guide will introduce you to the villagers and will show you the traditional ways of life. After two and a half hours mostly uphill you will arrive in Narmoon, a huge, fascinating Pa‐O village. There is a small pagoda from which you can enjoy the scenic view. Lunch will be served at a local house.

In the afternoon it takes another two and a half hours mostly uphill and through some remote forests to Hsaungkhar, a small Pa‐O village situated between the hills.

After breakfast in Hsaungkhar, continue your trekking trip to Kalaw. The first two hours is mostly uphill to Ngola, a nice village situated on the hillside. From here continue for another hour to Klarpu, a typical Pa‐O village. Vegetable farms, fruit trees, rice terraces, tea plantations and some forests can be seen on the way.

Lunch will be served at one of the local houses. After lunch the trail continues uphill and downhill, passing through beautiful scenery, for two and a half hours. Upon arrival in Naungtayah, a town deep in the Pa‐O territory.

Your soft adventure trek will end here, where the car will pick you up to go to Kalaw (approx. one and a half hour). Upon arrival in Kalaw, a former British colonial town, transfer to Dream Mountain Resort for check‐in and overnight stay.

Kalaw, another hill station as well as peaceful summer resort nestled in pine‐clad mountains, is 1,400 meters above sea‐level. It is located 70 km west of Taunggyi. Many of the Tudor‐style houses and English gardens of colonial days remain. After breakfast visit the market and downtown area. At 11:00 transfer to the train Station for your train journey to Thazi, by 142DN (Etd: 11:45 / Eta: 19:00).

The route from Kalaw to Thazi is one of the most scenic routes in Myanmar. The ride through the mountains is an experience you will not forget so quickly. Upon arrival in Thazi transfer to Wonderful Guesthouse for check‐in and overnight stay.

After an early breakfast, you’ll drive to Mount Popa (approx. four hour drive), a large extinct volcano. Rising out of the shimmering heat, the solitary volcanic crag of Mount Popa is home to Myanmar’s most powerful ‘nats’. Visit the Nat Museum with its life‐sized statues of the 37 Great Nats. Walk up the steps to the stupas and shrines that rest atop the hill, high above the museum and pass by the many pilgrims who come to the site.

Lunch at Popa Mountain Resort. In the afternoon continue to Bagan (approx. 1.5‐ hour drive). On the way, you’ll stop by some villages and watch sap be collected from the palm trees and then converted into palm sugar. Upon arrival in Bagan, transfer to Bagan Umbra Hotel for check‐in and overnight stay.

Today explore Bagan by bike ‐ a city whose foundations were laid in the 2nd century AD and which was the Burmese royal capital until the 14th century. Here you will find the greatest historical buildings and richest ruins in Southeast Asia, which many view as surpassing even the temples of Angkor in Cambodia in size and presence.

Free at leisure to explore Bagan on your own.

Late afternoon transfer to the airport for your flight to Yangon. Upon arrival, transfer to Park Royal Hotel for check‐in and overnight.

You will have the morning free.

Explore the Burmese metropolis on your own! If you’re feeling in the mood and want to experience the Burmese culture up close, then just leisurely stroll through the Bogyoke market (closed Mondays and public holidays) for some last‐minute shopping. There is a wide range of items for sale, including: wooden carvings, bronze statues, lacquer, mother‐of‐pearl cutlery, longyis and much more. Afternoon transfer to airport for your return flight.