Myanmar (Burma) Women-only Culture and Pagoda Tour – October 2012

Myanmar (Burma) Women-only Culture and Temple Tour

Number of days: 12

Itinerary dates: October 29 – November 9, 2012

Tour leader: Beth Whitman

* Only a few spots left, register now to grab one of the last spots.

WanderTours Giving Program – A portion of your tour cost will be donated to the Sagaing Nunnery to purchase lunch for the hundreds of nuns in residence. The group will then have the honor to serve lunch to the nuns.

Highlights:

* Sightseeing at the markets and pagodas of Yangon
* A tour of the ancient monuments of Bagan
* Visits to handicraft workshops and monasteries in Mandalay
* Time spent at peaceful Inle Lake with visits to traditional tribal villages
* Sample traditional Myanmar cuisine
* 4-star hotels

View Myanmar (Burma) Photo Gallery

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Itinerary
Day 1
October 29, 2012 – Yangon (Meals: L, D)
Upon arrival at Yangon International Airport, you’ll be met by a driver and guide and transferred to your hotel. After checking in and having lunch with the group, you’ll spend the late afternoon visiting the fantastic Shwedagon Pagoda. Here, you’ll have time for a relaxing walk around this great stupa and its compound to admire its breathtaking beauty and to observe the daily religious activities of the Buddhists who come here to worship. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Yangon.

HIGHLIGHT! Shwedagon Pagoda and its large complex is considered to be one of the holiest places in the region by Buddhists and is a landmark of the country. Pilgrims come from as far away as Sri Lanka.

Day 2
October 30, 2012 – Yangon – Bagan (Meals: B, L, D)
After breakfast, the group will head off to the airport for the flight to Bagan. Upon arrival, you will start your day of sightseeing by visiting the colorful morning vegetable market in Nyaung Oo, followed by visits to a number of pagodas and temples. Depending on time, this may include Shwezegone Pagoda, Htilominlo Temple and Anandar Temple (with its painting museum at Anandar Oke Kyaung).

After lunch, the group will proceed to a lacquerware factory to see the amazing and labor-intensive process of creating lacquer products. In the afternoon, you’ll visit Manuha Buddha Image, Nan Phayar and Gupyutgyi Temple. Prior to dinner, you’ll have a chance to enjoy the sunset and the unforgettable vista of Bagan from atop a temple. The group will have dinner and enjoy a marionette show at a local restaurant. Overnight in Bagan.

Day 3
October 31, 2012 – Bagan (Meals: B, L, D)
Following breakfast, the group will start another day of sightseeing with visits to a number of beautiful pagodas and temples that are famous for their interior paintings and writings.

Along the way, the group will stop to visit an old, well-established village to see how the local people continue their traditional lifestyle. You’ll have lunch at a riverside restaurant before continuing with sightseeing at more of the great pagodas of Bagan. The day will end with happy hour and sunset viewing from a local restaurant. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Bagan.

HIGHLIGHT! No photo or description can adequately portray Bagan with its thousands of pagodas that jut up from the landscape. Views are breathtaking whether from the air, from a hot air balloon or during sunset.

Day 4
November 1, 2012 – Bagan – Mandalay (by boat) (Meals: B, L, D)
The group will leave early in the morning to enjoy a scenic boat ride on the mighty Ayeyarwaddy River. This full day on the river will give you a chance to see the how the locals live on and near the water. Breakfast and lunch will be served on the boat.

If time permits, the group may stop at a local village for sightseeing. In the late afternoon, you’ll arrive in Mandalay and have some leisure time before enjoying an outdoor dinner with a live cultural show.

HIGHLIGHT! Rich in natural beauty and resources, the Ayeyarwaddy is the most scenic and useful river in Myanmar. During this leisurely boat ride, you’ll be able to not only enjoy its serenity but gain an understanding of its importance to the country.

Day 5
November 2, 2012 – Mandalay (Meals: B, L, D)
After breakfast, the group will begin a day of sightseeing in Mandalay. You’ll visit Mahamuni Buddha Image and its compound (often crowded with local pilgrims) and then proceed to the Mahagandaryone Monastery just before lunch is served to the monks. Afterward, you’ll take a trip to Amarapura for a walk on U Pein Bridge. This 200 year-old bridge is the world’s longest teak bridge (don’t worry, it’s safe!).

After lunch, you’ll visit a number of factories and shops to see the local crafters and artisans. This will include silk weaving, stone carving, handicraft-workshops, tribal souvenir shops and a gold leaf factory (extremely important to Myanmar residents).

For dinner, the group will take part in a Myanmar curry cooking class and have the chance to sample a wide range of traditional recipes. Overnight in Mandalay.

HIGHLIGHT! Mahagandaryone Monastery is one of the biggest monastic schools in Myanmar with more than one thousand Buddhist monks studying. The group will arrive in time to see the monks gather for their lunch which is an impressive sight as they all line up together for their second and last meal of the day.

Day 6
November 3, 2012 – Mandalay (Meals: B, L, D)
Before breakfast, the group will visit an area where you’ll observe monks walking along the roadside to receive food and offerings from the community. After breakfast back at the hotel, you’ll take the hour-long boat excursion on the Ayeyarwaddy to the village of Mingun.

Upon arrival in Mingun, you’ll visit the impressive Mingun Bell, the world’s largest ringing bell, Mingunphahtotawgyi, the biggest temple in Myanmar, and Myatheindan Zadi.

After sightseeing in Mingun, you’ll head back to Mandalay for lunch. After taking a short rest at the hotel, you’ll then take a half day tour to Shwenandaw Monastery and Kuthodaw Pagoda. In the late afternoon, the group will head up to Mandalay Hill for the sunset. Here you’ll be able to take in a magnificent view of Mandalay and the countryside. Dinner at a local restaurant specializing in delicious Myanmar food and then overnight in Mandalay.

HIGHLIGHT! Seeing the monks and the beautiful pagodas on this day will give you tremendous insight into how deep the Buddhist religion is ingrained into the country’s psyche.

Day 7
November 4, 2012 – Mandalay – Pyin Oo Lwin (Meals: B, L, D)
After breakfast, the group will head out by road to Pyin Oo Lwin (about 1.5 hours away) and located at an elevation of about 3,500. This town is famously referred to as the flower city of Myanmar and is known for its natural beauty (and slightly cooler weather). You’ll arrive early enough to visit and photograph the morning vegetable market where you’ll see vegetables and flowers that are unique to the region. In the late morning, you’ll visit Pyikechinmyaung Waterfall and Pyichit, the single stone Buddha statue.

After lunch, the group will have a chance to stroll in Kandawgyi National Botanical Gardens and see its stunning landscape. In the late afternoon, you’ll check into the hotel and have some leisure time to enjoy the natural surroundings of the area (including this very special hotel). Dinner and overnight at hotel in Pyin Oo Lwin.

HIGHLIGHT! Heading up in to elevation will give you a different perspective on Myanmar as this fertile area is home to some 300 orchid species and a wide range of indigenous tree, bamboo and roses.

Day 8
November 5, 2012 – Pyin Oo Lwin – Sagaing – Inle Lake (Meals: B, L, D)
In the morning, the group will drive back to Mandalay and proceed to Sagaing to visit a nunnery. Here you’ll have the unique opportunity to serve lunch to the nuns.

NOTE – a portion of your tour cost will cover the donation made for this day’s lunch and, as a donor, you have the honor of serving them their midday meal as an offering.

The group will then continue sightseeing by visiting a silver workshop to see the process of creating handmade silver products in the traditional manner of the Sagaing people. You’ll then continue on to Sagaing Hill and visit Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda and the Buddha images in U Minthonesel Cave.

After lunch at a local restaurant, you’ll be transferred to the airport for your flight to Inle Lake. Upon arrival in the late afternoon, you’ll check into the hotel and enjoy some leisure time in this peaceful setting. Dinner and overnight at hotel on Inle Lake.

HIGHLIGHT! It is considered a great honor to provide service to nuns and monks who have committed their lives to following the Bodhisattva’s way of life. You’ll gain merit and good karma on this day

Day 9
November 6, 2012 – Inle Lake (Meals: B, L, D)
After breakfast, you’ll take a scenic boat ride on Inle Lake which is surrounded by the enchanting Shan Mountains. The group will then go to a local village where you’ll visit one of the famous “five-day markets.” Many of the local hilltribes come to the market, dressed in their traditional clothes.

This market is fantastic for photography and shopping. Souvenirs abound while goods for the locals (fruits, vegetables, clothes, kitchen goods, etc.) make up the majority of the goods for sale.

The villages on Inle Lake have survived by specializing in crafts and products that are sold at the markets. The group will visit a number of these villages including a lotus-weaving factory (where beautiful clothes are made from lotus plants and sold for as much as $200!), a blacksmith workshop and a cheroot (cigarette) making factory. After lunch at a restaurant on the lake, you’ll boat around the villages and pass through the floating islands where people live and cultivate prolific gardens.

You’ll also visit the “jumping cat monastery” at Ngaphalchaung Village, where monks have trained the cats to leap through hoops. Dinner and overnight at hotel on Inle Lake.

Day 10
November 7, 2012 – Inle – Indein (Meals: B, L, D)
After breakfast, the group will head to the village of Indein. Along the way, you’ll be taken through small locks and down narrow streams that are surrounded by green bamboo forests and paddy fields. In Indein, you’ll walk through a local village and on to the ruined pagoda complex where beautiful stupas and temples dominate the area.

The lake tour will continue with a visit to Ywa Ma Village to see a traditional silver workshop and then on to a small community of longneck tribal women. In the afternoon, you’ll return to the hotel and enjoy some free time and the sunset on the lake. Dinner and overnight at hotel on Inle Lake.

Day 11
November 8, 2012 – Inle Lake – Yangon (Meals: B, L, D)
After breakfast, you’ll return by boat to the small town of Nyaun Shwe. This is the town in which the locals begin their trading in and out of the lake. Here there may be time for some sightseeing before you transfer to the airport for your flight to Yangon.

Upon arrival at Yangon, you’ll check into the hotel and have time for a short rest before lunch at a local restaurant. The afternoon will be spent with some final sightseeing, including a visit to Chaukhtetgyi, which houses the largest reclining Buddha statue in the country, and also the famous Scot Market for last-minute souvenir shopping. Dinner and overnight at hotel in Yangon.

Day 12
November 9, 2012 – Yangon – Departure (Meals: B)
After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll transfer to Yangon International Airport for your international flight.

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* Only a few spots left, register now to grab one of the last spots.

Costs:
Price: $3,750
Single supplement: $620

Interested in sharing? We do our best to pair up same-sex travelers so as to avoid the single supplement. However, priority is given to the first deposits received. If you’re interested in sharing – PLEASE send in deposit as soon as possible in order to take advantage of this benefit. (Why a single supplement charge? See this FAQ page for an explanation.)

Final payment due no later than August 29, 2012.

Price includes: Accommodation in 3-4 star hotels, 33 meals, land transportation, in-country flights, local guides, entrance fees to pagodas.

Price does not include: Flights to and from Myanmar, departure tax, evacuation insurance (highly recommended), camera fees, purchases of personal nature such as souvenirs, laundry, tips and beverages.

We recommend MedEx Assist for travel and/or evacuation insurance.

NOTE: For best pricing on international flights, we will provide the name of our travel agent upon receipt of deposit for this or any other tour.

This unique journey requires a minimum of 6 and is limited to 15 women.

This tour requires an $800 deposit.
Minimum required: 6 people

Registration Form Burma 2012 (PDF)

For deposit and payments, please make payable and mail check to:

WanderTours
PO Box 16102
Seattle, WA 98116

For questions, please contact Beth at:
info (at) wandertours (dot) com
888-818-9918

It’s easy to make your deposit of $800! Simply click on the Buy Now button below and you’ll be taken to PayPal where you add your debit or credit card information. Subsequent payments may be made through PayPal by sending to: beth (at) wandertours (dot) com.

Burma Packing List: Provided upon registration

Burma Cultural Tour 2012 Itinerary (PDF)

Tour Leader
About Beth
Having traveled around Southeast Asia for nearly 20 years, Beth finally visited this very special destination just as the country began opening its doors to the outside world. This tour is the inaugural tour to Burma for WanderTours. The country is just now letting in tourists and Beth is excited to share this adventure with you.

Beth is the author of the Wanderlust and Lipstick guides including The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo, For Women Traveling to India and is the publisher of Traveling with Kids. She is also the publisher and founder of Wanderlust and Lipstick and WanderTours.

Related links:
Burma Photo Gallery