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Myanmar Off the Beaten Track
Code: MOT02 - Duration: 10 DaysStart: Yangon | Finish: Yangon
As one of the most mysterious and undiscovered destinations in the world, Myanmar offers all the traditional delights of Asia. Myanmar Off the Beaten Track is designed to capture the real beauty of the less known Shan State. Start the trip by flying to Keng Tung, half way between Thailand and China to explore the beautiful landscape with diverse minority villages of Wa, Intha, Pa-o, Lahu, Akha and dozens of other minority people. Each village has their own culture and language. In this tour you will visit some different villages around Keng Tung to see different colorful tribes, trek among the vegetable farm and visit some historical monuments. We then take part in another trek to the world of Danu and Palaung people near Pindaya in the Shan mountains. To the summit of Mount Yasakyi (1900 m) cared for by porters and the monks of a Buddhist monastery where you are “bedded” on floor mats! Not very comfortable, but the stunning views of a gorgeous country are ample compensation. Here you have chance to meet the hospitable Danu and the equally hospitable Palaung peoples. Ending the trip with a visit to historical Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, the most revered Buddhist temple in Burma.
Highlights:
- An unique opportunity to know the hidden and self-contained tribes at the same time walking through the nature’s amazing home of Keng Tung
- An uphill trekking tour around Pindaya small town with a night stop at Yasakyi Village
- Reaching five to six hill tribes villages, one can observe real native ways of hill tribes' culture, religious type, green tea cultivation and plantations
- Discover the bustling former capital Yangon with its magnificent and holy pagodas, incredible giant Buddhas
- Explore the majestic Shwedagon Pagoda, towering over the city of Yangon
- Charming hotels in great locations
- Comfortable & spacious vehicle for transfers
Itinerary in brief:
Day 1: Yangon Arrival (-/-/-)
Day 2: Yangon - Flight to Keng Tung (B/-/-)
Day 3: Keng Tung - Loimwe Village Trekking (B/L/-)
Day 4: Keng Tung - Ho Kyin Village Trekking (B/L/-)
Day 5: Keng Tung - Flight to Heho - Pindaya (B/-/-)
Day 6: Pindaya - Yasakyi Village Trekking (B/L/D)
Day 7: Yasakyi - Kan Hla Gone Village (B/L/D)
Day 8: Kan Hla Gone Village - Pindaya (B/L/-)
Day 9: Pindaya - Flight to Yangon (B/-/-)
Day 10: Bagan Sightseeing (B/-/-)
Day 11: Yangon - Departure (B/-/-)- Ability to change the direction of the program
- Possibility of an extension in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia or Vietnam
Notes:
- We specialize in “tailor-made” tours for groups of two or more. We carefully inspect each step of your journey from the accommodation to the perfect guide to suit your needs
- The itinerary is open to modification to fit your personal travel needs
- Modifications to the itinerary may increase the price of the package
- For the price of this trip, just ask for a quote by clicking on "TOUR PRICE"
- If you are looking for a trip modified to your requirements, please send us your needs by filling out the form in “Customize your trip”
- We will contact and send you a quote, excluding holiday period, within 48 hours of receiving your request.-
Day 1: Yangon Arrival (-/-/-)
Yangon - Airport: 14km, ~15min drive
Upon arrival at Yangon airport, you will be met and transferred to hotel by our guide and driver. After making sure of your successful hotel check-in, they will be pleased to leave you free time for your own lunch and leisure to recover after the long flight. The rest of the day is at leisure for your personal discovery of this vibrant city.Meals Included: None
Accommodation: Hotel in YangonDay 2: Yangon - Flight to Keng Tung (B/-/-)
Yangon - Keng Tung: 612km, ~1h46min flight
After breakfast at hotel, your domestic flight will take you to Keng Tung. Kyaing Tong is in eastern Shan State and is the perfect base for tips to ethnic-minority villages. It is located on the edge of the famous Golden Triangle region, the town teems with genuine local atmosphere and is the ideal base of operations from which to explore rarely visited ethnic villages in the surrounding hills. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel.Afternoon discovery of Kyaing Tong starts with Maha Myat Muni Pagoda (Wat Pha Jao Lung), the most glorious temple of Kyaing Tong. Then, the Khun Shan monastery of Wat Zom Kham. Legend says that Wat Zom Kham dates back to a visit by Gautama Buddha the most impressive among all the Shan temples in the city with the interior wall filled up with gold leaves on lacquer Jakata. A visit to a lacquer ware workshop where the unique Shan lacquer wares are produced will be a great experience. One should not miss this!
Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Keng TungDay 3: Keng Tung - Loimwe Village Trekking (B/L/-)
Morning after breakfast, we stroll through the bustling local market to observe the colorful tribes who come to trade their wares. And then depart for the former Colonial hill station of Loimwe (arrpox.2 hours) - an old colonial town. Loimwe sits at an altitude of 1600 meters meaning the climate is cool and pleasant in the summer and chilly in winter. In December the town is particularly picturesque as its many cherry trees come into full bloom.On the way to Loimwe, you will have a chance to see the most beautiful scenery passing through the terraced rice field, forest and lake. And also stop to visit the Ho Lup Akha village inhabited by Akha minatory tribes in their colorful dresses and Pan Wai Lahu tribe village on the left and right side of the road. Spending time exploring the town before transfer back to Keng Tung for your overnight.
Meals Included: Breakfast, picnic Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Keng TungDay 4: Keng Tung - Ho Kyin Village Trekking (B/L/-)
Morning after breakfast, we drive out of Keng Tung to Tachilek (approx.1 hour) and head off road to the top of Ho Jing mountain. If the road condition is good enough we will drive up along the narrow and steep road. Or else we will walk up for 2 hours to the top.Upon arrival, we can see four different Akha villages. The Akha people are primarily farmers and typically live in stilted bamboo housing across Eastern Myanmar, Laos, Northern Thailand and as far east as China. Between each village is a valley and the path leads down approx.15 minutes and up again approx.30 minutes. The entrance of the first village where people are still animists is very interesting, decorated with the skin of a dog. Other houses have a stuffed wild cat hanging over the entrance. The Akha are very hospitable and enjoy welcoming you to their house for a chat around the stove. We make the tour from village to village and return back to the car. If you wish to do more hiking, we can also walk down the hill, which takes approx. 1 hour. The path leads through farms with beautiful views of the surrounding hills. Enjoy a picnic lunch on the way. Return to Keng Tung by car.
Meals Included: Breakfast, picnic Lunch
Accommodation: Hotel in Keng TungDay 5: Keng Tung - Flight to Heho - Pindaya (B/-/-)
Keng Tung - Heho: 483km, 39min flight; Heho – Pindaya: 44km, ~1h drive
After breakfast, you have free time for relaxing before catching a late morning transfer to Keng tung Airport for your flight to Heho. Upon arrival you will be met by your guide and transferred to Pindaya. Enjoy the scenic backdrop as you pass farmers bringing their crops to the roadside by ox-cart, for collection by wholesalers from as far afield as Yangon and China. You’ll immediately notice the refreshing difference in climate, with Heho sitting at an altitude of over 3000 feet. The remainder of your day is at own leisure. Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in PindayaDay 6: Pindaya - Yasakyi Village Trekking (B/L/D)
Today have early morning visit to the local market before depart from Pindaya for an hour walking through the hills to Htut Ni village- inhabited by the ethnic Danu tribes. You will have a chance to pass through the farming where Danu people cultivate their tea, damsons, cheroot and mangoes on the hillsides. Afterwards, we continue climb steeply to another Danu villages of See Kyan Inn Village for around 3 hours trekking. Have a picnic lunch here. After lunch proceed to Yasakyi village (approx. 2 hours). Have dinner and overnight at Yasakyi Monastery in this village.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Monastery in Yasakyi VillageDay 7: Yasakyi – Kan Hla Gone Village (B/L/D)
Heho - Mandalay: 228km, 40min flight
Enjoy a simple breakfast before start our 1:30 hours walking to Pin Sein Pin – a Danu village and then proceed to Taung Paw Gyi village where they produce Shan Tea in the traditional way. From the hills are great views on the surrounding Shan plateau. You also have a lunch here. After lunch continue our trekking route to Kan Hla Gone for around 2:30 hours walking.Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Guesthouse in Hla Gone VillageDay 8: Kan Hla Gone Village - Pindaya (B/L/-)
After a simple breakfast, we depart Kan Hla Gone for Shwe Pahto in approx. 1:30 hours. After that we transfer back to Pindaya by car. Upon arrival, we visit the caves of Pindaya and enjoy your leisure time discover this town.Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in PindayaDay 9: Pindaya - Heho - Flight to Yangon (B/-/-)
Heho - Yangon: 630km, 57min flight
After having breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Yangon. Afternoon sightseeing starts with Chaukhtatkyi Pagoda, a huge reclining Buddha, Karaweik Hall, a Royal floating barge on the Royal Lake for a photo stop and, visit the Shwedagon Pagoda described by Somerset Maugham: "The Shwedagon rose superb, 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." This massive bell-shaped stupa rises nearly 100 meters above its hill-top surroundings. Wander through this magnificent structure and its courtyards, stupas, bells, Temples, and Buddha images, and see religious and secular visitors from all parts of the globe. Shwedagon has become the symbol of Myanmar. Enjoy the sunset over the Pagoda.Meals Included: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in YangonDay 10: Yangon - Departure (B/-/-)
After breakfast at hotel, time is free until our driver meet and transfer you to airport for your flight to next destination. End of our services./.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Prices
This trip is private and therefore can be altered to suit your needs, date of commencement and budget requirements.
Prices vary due to a number of specifics:
- Seasonal: during high season (October-April), the prices of services are generally higher when compared to the low season (May-September).
- The number of participants: the more of you that travel together the less you will pay!
- The choice of hotels: Fairly obvious one here; a 5-star hotel can cost ten times as much as a 2 star hotel.
- The activities during the trip: Two trips on the same itinerary and of the same length can have two different prices depending on the number and nature of activities included.
- The booking date: In some cases, booking your trip late can drastically affect prices due to their low availability.
Inclusion:
- Accommodation as recommended or similar category according to availability.
- Transfers according to program by private air-conditioned vehicle with driver except free day
- English-speaking guide’s assistance at every stage
- Meals as indicated in program (B: Breakfast /L: Lunch / D: Dinner)
- Entrance fees for attractions included in the program
- Flights: Yangon – Keng Tung; Keng Tung – Heho; Pindaya - Yangon
- Water and cool tissues
- Government taxes & service charge
Exclusion:
- Other drinks and meals not clearly mentioned
- Early check-in, late check-out
- Personal expenditures such as camera fees, tips, laundry service, etc.
- Personal insurance (compulsory)
- Any service not clearly mentioned in the program
- International air fare to/from Yangon
- Visa and visa arrangement
- Departure tax of US$10/person
- Compulsory dinner for Christmas & New Year
Booking
Here are 2 steps to book your trip with Tonkin-Travel:
Step 1. Focus on your travel program:
You can choose this trip as is or customize it to your specific desires. Just click on the “Customize this trip” tab and fill in the form. One of our travel consultants will contact you within 48 hours to develop the travel program based on your specifications.
Step 2. Booking:
- Following the first step, tour program is selected and we access the rates.
- Upon confirmation of the trip, the registration must be accompanied by a deposit up to 25% of the total estimate.
- For programs with private junk (cruise) and/or 5 star hotels, the deposit is represented by 30% of the total estimate.
- Tonkin-Travel carries out the booking process upon receipt of the deposit. Confirmation of these reservations is sent to customer within 10 days via email
Nature of travel
This trip is private. That implies:
- You will be escorted by a private guide and driver. This approach guarantees a smooth trip with fewer organizational constraints.
- You will be the master of your trip. We guarantee flexibility in organizing visits at your request.
- Our services will be personalized according to your desires. Thus the proposals in this package are not fixed and you can bring suggest all the desired changes.
- You receive individualized care: ample food, organizing small events (anniversary, honeymoon, etc.), targeted information, followed necessary modifications, etc.
Accommodation
- Accommodation is an important expenditure of your trip. When you choose a luxury trip for example, the accommodation can represent three quarters of the price. Thus, your choice of hotels is closely related to your budget.
- Tonkin-Travel has negotiated rates with a wide range of hotels from 2 to 5 stars.
- In some places you will have the option to choose ‘home-stay’. Although this provides less comfort that a hotel it is a truly authentic experience and highly recommended for at least one night of your journey.
Transport
All transfers during your trip are covered by private vehicle with driver, unless otherwise indicated in our offer. We ensure that our vehicles are new and comfortable. Fuel, tolls, accommodation, compensation and the driver are included in our offer. Only gratuities are not included and are at your discretion.
The size of the selected vehicle is based on the number of tour participants according to the following quality standards:
No. of participants
2 pax
3 pax
From 4 to 7 pax
From 8 to 14 pax
From 15 to 20 pax
Vehicle size
Car 4-7 seats
Car 7 or minivan
16 seatsMinivan 16 seats
Bus 24 seats
Bus 35 or 45 seats
Domestic flights
If your trip includes domestic flights if any, they will be operated by Vietnam Airlines, the largest airline in Vietnam. The fleet consists mainly of Airbus and Boeing. On some short trips, the company operates 72 ATR and some Fokker.
Rail transport
Train travel can be offered (particularly between Hanoi-Lao Cai and Hanoi-Hue). Travelling at a speed of 60km/h on average it is not necessarily the fastest but an interesting experience nonetheless.
This form allows us to establish a tour proposal suitable for your needs. It is free and without obligation-
This form allows us to establish a tour proposal suitable for your needs. It is free and without obligation
