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Highlights Include:
- • Participating in Cooking Classes in Yangon, Balan, and Inle
- • Meeting with incredible locals and learning about their way of life
- • Visiting an Elephant Conservation Project and helping mahouts bathe the elephants
- • Exploring Myanmar’s many temples and pagodas
- • Experiencing life on the beautiful Inle Lake
- • Admiring the spectacular landscapes and bustling markets
[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Itinerary” tab_id=”1449208778879-fcec8e78-e9ba”][vc_column_text]Day 1: Yangon Arrival
Upon arrival at Yangon International airport, meet with the guide at the airport for a private transfer to hotel.
Yangon after sunset including Shwedagon
At the end of the day many Yangonites leave their office and on the way back home they stop for some shopping, catch up with friends at a teashop, visit a pagoda or go to a beer station. This is exactly what you are going to do as well this evening. Highlight of the tour will be the evening visit to the illuminated Shwedagon pagoda – a magic and mystical moment at a time it’s not very busy on the main platform. After the pagoda visit there will be local snacks to be tasted as well as a local draft beer or a fresh lime juice. The tour includes drinks, a walk over the night market in downtown, tea and snacks as well as a tasty bowl of noodles shared with some locals.
Overnight: Sule Shangri-La Hotel, Superior
Meals: Light Dinner
Day 2: Yangon – Cooking Class
Breakfast at the hotel.
Cooking Class in Yangon
This morning we take you to a cooking class in Yangon (Monsoon or Grace Works – a local NGO). You will first visit a local market to pick the ingredients and then go to the kitchen to prepare a Burmese meal (and eat if of course). The chef will explain about cooking techniques.
Monsoon restaurant has been one of the most famous restaurants in Yangon for its excellent Burmese food and dedication for fresh ingredients and authentic taste of all dishes. Following a course here will turn your quickly into a Master Chef for Burmese cuisine!
In the evening free at leisure on your own.
Overnight: Sule Shangri-La Hotel, Superior
Day 3: Yangon to Bagan – Pagodas & Temples Galore
Breakfast at the hotel.
Your guide will meet you at the hotel and transfer to airport for your flight to Bagan.
This is Bagan – a full day orientation tour
A full day tour by car, with an experienced guide through Bagan will show you the best known temples of the area. We start the day climbing a pagoda to get a first impressive view over the whole area. From here the guide plans his way to some of the other amazing temples that have been here for hundreds of years. Places like the Ananda, Dhammayangyi, Sulamani, and Thatbyinnyu will certainly impress you. Lunch will be taken at a local restaurant and around 4pm we continue the tour by horse cart to Pyathagyi pagoda for sunset with some refreshing drinks served! Oh… we forgot to mention the best part of this tour; whenever you see a temple you like, just ask you guide to stop to have a look at it – simply pick your own favourite temple.
Overnight: Areindmar Hotel, Deluxe
Meals: B L
Day 4: Bagan Culinary Delights
Breakfast at the hotel.
Bagan Food!
It’s all about food this morning. The last king of Bagan was famous for his enormous appetite and he ordered that every meal should include 300 different dishes! Today you are going to discover what kind of food he must have eaten. We learn more about herbs and greens at the market in Myinkaba, visit home-based cottage industries where products like tamarind paste or candies are made and we visit Mingalazedi pagoda which was built by this last king. Try the different tastes from sweet till bitter of typical Burmese ingredients in a local monastery and end the excursion with a meal like the last king of Bagan would have savoured it; just a bit more moderate with “only” 30 different dishes to try.
This afternoon we further explore Bagan.
Overnight: Areindmar Hotel, Deluxe
Meals: B L
Day 5: Bagan Markets, Boats, Factories, and Monasteries
Breakfast at the hotel.
Markets and visiting 5 local snack factories and a boat ride back – full day
Around Bagan you will find various small home-made factories producing all kind of food from tamarind to coconut based candies. During this full day tour we will explore the country side and visit these small factories and see how the food is produced.
We will also visit one of the monasteries and the market in Pakkoku and return by boat to Bagan.
Overnight: Areindmar Hotel, Deluxe
Meals: B L
Day 6: Bagan to Heho Trekking & Elephants to Kalaw
Breakfast at the hotel. Transfer to airport for your flight to Heho.
Upon arrival to Heho we meet with the guide and transfer to Kalaw to visit Elephant conservation project.
Trekking and Visit Elephant Conservation Project
Your guide specialized in Elephant conservation will take you for a rewarding day in the forest surrounding Kalaw encountering elephants, their mahouts and people living in the surrounding.
Young tourism professionals originating from Kalaw decided to set-up a project in Kalaw that is focused on protecting the nature, elephants and traditions of local people living in an area close to Kalaw. In a big part of this private protected forest the nature can grow undisturbed creating a natural habitat for animals that could otherwise be easily hunted down and killed. The project includes creating a natural environment for some Myanmar elephants from this part of the world and helping the local population to grow out of the vicious circle of poverty through education and micro finance.
Depending on your arrival time and we go for a hike through the forest. You will find yourself in the natural, serene surroundings of Asian jungle.
A delicious lunch with local specialities (often from Nepalese origin) will be served in a traditional village, in the jungle or in the camp.
After lunch it is time to help the mahout washing and feeding the elephant. Walk back in the afternoon to the main road and continue by car back to Kalaw town.
Overnight: Kalaw Heritage Hotel, Mountain View Pine Room
Meals: B L
Day 7: Kalaw – Inle Lake & Locals
Breakfast at the hotel and then we travel to Inle Lake.
A Day on the Lake!
Inle Lake in southern Shan State is a vast natural lake surrounded by traditional Shan villages. On the lake itself the Intha people have been living for many centuries in village built entirely on stilts on the lake. Today we will take you by private motorboat around the lake to discover the natural beauty of the lake, visit the floating gardens, see some of the famous leg rowers and have some tea at a local family’s house. On and around the lake traditional markets are held in different villages according to a 5-day rotating schedule and today we will take you to visit a colourful market frequented by Shan and PaO people living nearby. We will certainly also visit a local house where cheroot are made (the Burmese cigars), floating tomato gardens, Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, an Intha house where a traditional Intha lunch is served and if wanted we visit a weaving factory.
Overnight: Sanctum Inle Resort, Cloister Deluxe
Meals: B L
Day 8: Inle Lake & Shan Cooking Class
Breakfast at the hotel.
Authentic Shan Cooking Class in a House on the Lake
Meet Tin Tin – an Intha native from the lake who will share her traditional Shan recipes with you today during a traditional Shan cooking class in a family house built on stilt on the lake. It’s not a Master Chef course from a Michelin restaurant owner but it’s simple, tasteful, home-cooked food from a local lady who has been cooking her whole life for her family and enjoys it! Together with an English speaking translator we visit the local market to find all ingredients, go by boat to the traditional house and help cleaning vegetables, chopping the ingredients, frying or boiling it, adding the right herbs and mixing the right ingredients.
Dished to be taught so you can prepare them at home as well are:
Shan Pumpkin soup
Fried rice cake
Shan noodles
Steamed Inle fish in banana leaves
Vegetable curry cooked Shan style
Tomato salad from the lake with pounded peanuts
Of course the class ends with a very tasteful lunch. A kitchen apron, some specific local kitchen tools and a list with all ingredients to try it at home. A fantastic day to learn a bit of delicious cooking but certainly also to get a taste of the real local life of an Intha on the lake so not only for master chefs.
This afternoon we further explore this incredible lake.
Overnight: Sanctum Inle Resort, Cloister Deluxe
Meals: B L
Day 9: Inle Lake – Cooking Class & Winery
Breakfast at the hotel.
Shan Cooking Class
The Shan cuisine is famous for its refined taste and the possibility to make amazing dishes with just a few local ingredients. At 08:30 the local chef of the Viewpoint restaurant will take you to the market for a discovery of local products which you will bring back to the kitchen of the restaurant. Learn the secret recipes of the Shan cuisine and cook your own lunch. An aperitif is offered in the kitchen. A great half day excursion that will teach you the basics of Shan cooking (to try it at home!)
In the afternoon visit and taste some of the excellent wines at the Red Mountain Winery in Nyaung Shwe.
Overnight: Sanctum Inle Resort, Cloister Deluxe
Meals: B L
Day 10: Inle Lake – Heho – Yangon Shopping – Departure
After breakfast at the hotel, we transfer to Heho airport for your flight back to Yangon.
Pampering and Shopping
An excellent half day tour at the end of your trip to Myanmar starting (or ending) with a lunch at Sharky’s restaurant – a local entrepreneur who is growing organic vegetables and producing locally made “French” cheese, ham and other delicious food. A 1 hour foot massage by blind or deaf people, trained by a local charity, is what you deserved after a long trip to Myanmar. Our specially selected shopping guide will bring you to whatever shop you like to find your final souvenirs to bring home, whether it is shopping for a longyi (local sarong), umbrella’s, old books, gold leaves or even a trishaw (bicycle taxi) or a contemporary painting – our specialist knows where to find it!
Car and guide will be available for additional visits until your departure flight to your destination. Thank you for travelling with us!
Meals: B L
[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Inclusion & Exclusion” tab_id=”1449208780765-5fd2d40a-5e8d”][vc_column_text]Tour Inclusions:
- • 9 nights accommodations based on double occupancy
• Meals as per itinerary
• Local transportation (private vehicles, domestic flights)
• Excursions and entrance fees (as per itinerary)
• Local guides (where applicable)
• Cooking classes as per itinerary
• Tips for local guides, drivers, at restaurants, etc
Tour Exclusions:
• International Flights (can be arranged through us nicola@finisterra.ca)
• Mandatory travel medical insurance and optional cancellation insurance (can be arranged through us
nicola@finisterra.ca)
• Meals and beverages not mentioned in itinerary
• Items of personal nature
• Services and entrances not mentioned above
• Passport and visa fees
• Entry Visa Fees, please visit https://evisa.moip.gov.mm/index.aspx for more details / submit your individual visa application.
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Date: Upon Request
from $3195* USD per person based on double/twin occupancy
from $775 USD Single Supplement (Limited Availability)
Please note that pricing will depend on number of participants and time of year.
*Price is subject to change without notice.
Final Payment
Full payment is due 60 prior to departure.
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Air Travel
Flights are not included in the tour price. Do not purchase any airline tickets until the trip is confirmed to take place. Pre and post tours can be arranged through available at an additional charge. Please contact Finisterra Travel for further details info@finisterra.ca
Passport Information
Entry Visa Fees, please visit https://evisa.moip.gov.mm/index.aspx for more details / submit your individual visa application.
Please note that most countries require passports to be valid for 6 months from the date of your return flight. We are not responsible if you are refused entry to a country because you lack the correct passport, visa or other travel documentation.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Hotels” tab_id=”1449208780765-5fd2d40a-5e9d”][vc_column_text]Sample Hotels*:
Bagan: Areindmar Hotel
Kalaw: Kalaw Heritage Hotel
Inle: Sanctum Inle Resort
*Please note that hotels are just samples and are subject to change and availability.
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