Myanmar
1,520€
Option 1 : 11 nights / 12 days
Option 2 : 17 nights / 18 days
Myanmar is an almost unspoiled jewel in South-East Asia. Slowly opening up to tourism after decades of political struggles, the people of Myanmar welcome you to their country. In Myanmar you will find incredible natural beauty, amazing temples and the most inviting and friendly people anywhere in Asia. The pagodas of Bagan are at least as impressive as Angkor Wat, with almost 5000 scattered around a vast area, easily to explore with an e-bike. Cities as Yangon and Mandalay offer a landscape of Buddhist temples and pagodas, British colonial architecture and busy streets. The west coast harbors beautiful beach resorts with white sandy beaches and palm trees. Inle Lake will offer you a view of entire villages built on stilt in a lake where people make a living weaving silk from lotus stems. Myanmar is an amazing county, you have to see and experience it yourself to believe it.
Itinerary
Day 1 & 2 – Mandalay
Our vegan travel to Myanmar starts on the morning of the first day. If you have not spent the night in our group hotel, you are expected to arrive there no later than 09.00 am for an introduction and to meet your fellow travelers.
It is up to you when you want to arrive in Myanmar. If you want to arrive a few days before the tour starts, we will gladly help you to arrange a hotel room for you.
After the introduction in our hotel we will visit the following sites using our private bus: Shwenandaw Palace Monastery, Kuthodaw pagoda and Mandalay Zay Gyo Market. The market is your first chance to find some nice souvenirs. We will pay a visit to Mandalay Hill and the monasteries and pagodas in the surrounding area in the evening before sunset.
On day 2 we start with a visit to the gold leaf shops, then we drive to very sacred Mahamuni Pagoda. You will see many Burmese families coming here to spend the day. We continue with a quick stop at the Marble Street where numerous Buddha statues are being made and will drive to Amarapura to visit some renowned monasteries. After that we visit Inwa, an old capital in the 17th and 18th century and finally, U Bein bridge over sunset.
Day 3 – Pyin Oo Lwin
By bus we will make our way east toward Pyin Oo Lwin, the former summer retreat of the British colonialists, who used it to get away from the heat of Mandalay. After checking into the hotel you can go for a walk around the town or join the bus for a visit to the botanical gardens, at the other side of town.
Day 4 – Mandalay & Sagaing
Today we drive back to Mandalay by bus, where we will arrive around lunch time. After lunch we take time to visit Sagaing on the other side of the river. Sagaing is an important religious and monastic center and houses numerous monasteries, pagodas and temples.
If time allows, we will continue our way to visit Mingun Pagoda, an enormous structure built out of brick. The pagoda is damaged by earthquakes, but still standing and very impressive. We will spend the night in our hotel in Mandalay.
Day 5 & 6 & 7 – Bagan
On this day we leave Mandalay behind us and make our first stop in Mongywa to visit the giant Laykyun Setkyar Buddha statue, the second highest Buddha statue in the world with a height of 129 m (31 floors). We then continue on our way to Bagan, certainly one of the highlights of this tour. The Bagan Archaeological Zone is equally as impressive as Angkor Wat in Cambodia, with over 2.200 temples and pagodas still standing of over 10.000 that were constructed in this area. Many of them were destroyed in earth quakes. We will have two full days in Bagan to explore the magnificent sites. You can get around on foot, bicycle or rent an e-scooter. Don't forget to get that magical sunset photograph!
Day 8 & 9 – Kalaw
From Bagan we will leave for Kalaw by bus, en route we stop at the spectacular Mount Popa and its iconic Buddhist monastery for a quick photo opportunity.
At the end of the day, and after long climb uphill we will arrive in the charming mountain town of Kalaw, another popular place for the former British colonialists.
The next day is a free day. There are many exciting things to do in and around Kalaw. Perhaps you want to do a day-trekking, try some cooking classes or visit the Green Hill Valley Elephant camp, winner of the tourism awareness project award 2018. Here you can visit retired logging elephants and learn about preserving Myanmar's ecosystem. You can even help plant trees and wash elephants!
Day 10 & 11 – Nyaung Shwe (Inle Lake)
From Kalaw it is only a short bus ride to Nyaung Shwe, which is the main town a little north of the lake. On our way there we will visit Pindaya Caves, an astonishing collection of Buddha statues inside a cave. The rest of the day is free to explore the town and local market. Another option is to take a bicycle and discover the surrounding area of the lake.
On day 11 we will organize a boat trip on the lake for all our travelers. On this boat trip we will see life as it happens in the towns that are literally built on stilts in the lake.
Day 12 – Nyaung Shwe (to Mandalay)
If you have booked the 12 day vegan travel to Myanmar, we will take you from Nyaung Shwe back to Mandalay on this day. You can enjoy the rest of the day in Mandalay for those last minute souvenirs or you can make your way to the airport, depending on when your flight is.
Our travelers on the 18 day vegan travel to Myanmar have an extra day in Nyaung Shwe (Inle Lake) to do some more exploring or visit a spa and enjoy a massage.
Itinerary extension to 18 days
Day 13 – Bago
From Nyaung Shwe we will use our bus to drive to former capital city of Bago where we will spend the night. This will be a long day of travelling. Relax in the bus and enjoy the scenery. We will arrive in Bago in the early hours of the evening.
Day 14 & 15 – Hpa An
After breakfast there is an opportunity to visit some of Bago's landmark sites, such as Kanbawzathadi Palace, Shewmamdaw Paya or Kyaik Pon Pagoda. We will then continue on our way to Kyaikto where pick-up trucks will take us to Kyaiktiyo Pagoda (Golden Rock pagoda). This is an exicting adventure you will not soon forget. When we return from the pagoda we will arrive in Hpa An about two hours later, where you can settle into your hotel and have some time to explore this relaxed town and its beautiful surroundings.
Hpa An is surrounded by amazing karst rock formations and caves. In the morning of day 15, we will visit a number of these highlights such as: Yathapyan Cave, Kawgun Cave, Kyauk Ka Lat Pagoda & Lumbini Garden. The rest of the day you can enjoy some free time.
Day 16, 17 & 18 – Yangon
From Hpa An it will take us about 6 hours to drive to Yangon, the former capital of Myanmar, where everyone is free to fill the rest of the day as they please.
The last two days of this vegan travel to Myanmar are for you to visit the city center sites in Yangon. On the must-see list are of course the overwhelmingly stunning Shwedagon Pagoda, the Sule pagoda, Kandawgyi Lake & the National Museum of Myanmar.
You can enjoy a coffee in the luxurious The Strand Hotel, overlooking the harbor, visit the historic Aung San Bogyoke Market (also known as Scott's Market) for some last minute souvenir shopping or one of the many local stalls all over the city. If you are looking for something more modern, have a fancy cocktail in the Sky Bistro at Sakura Tower or visit the newly developed Junction City Shopping Mall with all the modern comforts and shops.
Depending on when your flight is, you can make your way to the airport on day 18. The airport is conveniently located near the city center.
Included in the price
Included
18 day Travel
- 17 Overnight stays
- Transportation according to program
- All breakfasts
- Boat trip on Inle Lake
- English speaking tour leader
- A local, English speaking guide
12 day Travel
- 11 Overnight stays
- Transportation according to program
- All breakfasts
- Boat trip on Inle Lake
- English speaking tour leader
- A local, English speaking guide
Not included
- International flights
- Meals (unless mentioned)(we WILL take you to vegan restaurants)
- Entrance fees (unless specifically mentioned)
- Visa for Myanmar (if applicable)
- Travel insurance (mandatory)
- Cancellation insurance (optional)
- Spending money*
- Tips**
*For spending money you should count on an average of € 125,- per person per week. In this amount are included costs for food and drinks, entrance fees, additional excursions and personal tips. Souvenirs are not included in this amount as this very much depends on the person.
**Tipping in Myanmar is common and often a necessary part of peoples income. For common expenses such as tipping in hotels and our bus driver and guide, a joint pot will be used for which a contribution is requested from all participants. For the 12 day travel to Myanmar this is € 25,-.
Transport
All transportation on this tour is done by a private bus, unless mentioned otherwise. Keep in mind that this is Myanmar and levels of comfort can deviate from what you are used to in your country, caused by factors such as road conditions, weather and local customs.
On Inle Lake we use local boats to transport us around the lake and floating villages. To give you an impression of the distances we will be covering, have a look at the table. Driving times do not include stops.
Money
The Burmese currency is the Kyat. You can exchange your Euros or US dollars at banks, exchange offices or in hotels. If you want to exchange Euro bills or US dollar bills, make sure you bring crisp, unfolded bills. If bills are in any way damaged (tears, creases, folds) they might be rejected or will at least influence the exchange rate.
More and more hotels and sometimes restaurants now also accept credit cards, especially in the cities. It is also possible to withdraw money from cash machines with a debit card with Maestro or Cirrus symbol.
We recommend to bring with you an amount of cash in Euros or US dollars for emergency purposes and to take out most of the money on arrival. We recommend to do this at the airport or near the hotel. If possible bring an additional credit and/or debit card for unexpected expenses or emergencies.
Travel documents
You are required to have a passport that is valid for the duration of your stay in Myanmar.
Passport holders from 100 countries are eligible to apply using eVisa for Tourist Visa. You can apply for your visa using the following link from Myanmar Immigration. A standard tourist visa will allow you to stay in Myanmar for a maximum of 28 days. The approval letter from Myanmar Immigration, which is the document you need to print to be able to enter the country, has a validity of 90 days, so don't start too early with the application process. Please ensure yourself of the through time for this application, we recommend to submit your request at least 4 weeks before departure. You are responsible for having the right travel documents.
For emergency purposes make a scan of your passport, visa, and other important documents and mail them to yourself, or put them online in the cloud. So, in case of theft or loss during the journey, you always have copies of your important papers on hand.
Vaccinations
When you travel to other countries, it is important to prepare yourself well. For thorough advice on required vaccinations and malaria prophylaxis, contact your family doctor or a clinic specialized in vaccinations. Travelers who reside in The Netherlands can find relevant information onthuisvaccinatie. Starting well on time with a vaccination program is essential as some vaccinations have to be repeated one or more times to be sufficiently effective. Make your 1st appointment at least 6 weeks before departure.
For Myanmar, in general, you are advised to protect yourself against the following diseases:
- Hepatitis A
- DTP (diphtheria, tetanus, polio)
- Typhoid
- Rabies
- Malaria (advice on malaria prophylaxes for Myanmar varies, depending on itinerary but also country of residence, please show you doctor your travel itinerary)
- Dengue (no vaccination possible, protection from mosquitoes is advised)
Check with your health and/or travel insurance if costs for travel vaccinations will be reimbursed.
Accommodation
All our hotels are located within walking distance of the city/town center and restaurants with vegan food, unless mentioned otherwise in the program.
The hotels we have chose for you are comfortable and all have private bathrooms and usually air conditioning. Because the exact accommodation can vary depending on the date and group size, we do not send a list. As a general example, rooms will look something like this:
Our advertised prices are based on double occupancy. If you travel alone and would like to have your own room, we will charge you the single's supplement as specified below. If you would like to share a room we will try to find another traveler of the same sex to share your room with. The single's supplement for this travel is € 295,- for the 18 day tour. For the 12 day tour, the supplement is € 195,-. Rooms are generally fitted with two single beds, unless otherwise requested.
If you would like to arrive 1 or more days early, or would like to extend your stay after the tour has ended, we can arrange a room for you in the hotel we are using for the tour. The daily rate for this is € 38,- for Mandalay and € 40,- for Yangon. This rate includes the occupancy for 1 or 2 people, and breakfast. For booking extra nights, you can use the section 'extra nights' in our booking form.
Practical Information
Level of fitness
For this tour you need medium level of fitness. Long walks and bike rides are all optional. If you are in good health you can easily participate in this journey. To cover longer distances we use our own bus. Taxis are readily available and inexpensive.
Due to the active nature of the trip this journey is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Luggage
From a practical point of view, it is best not to bring a hard suitcase, these do not fit well in the luggage compartments of the bus. It is best to bring a backpack or flexible holdall. Take a careful look at what you want to bring with you. We know from experience that you usually have too much with you. You do have to carry your own bag from the bus to the hotel, so do not make it too heavy.
Dress
In Buddhist temples you must cover your shoulders and knees. Please dress appropriately in places of worship or cultural significance. To prevent mosquito bites, we recommend that you wear clothing that covers the skin, especially at dusk.
Insurance
The costs of health care abroad or an unexpected repatriation can be huge, even in a country like Myanmar. Therefore, to prevent these high costs, you require travel insurance. For all our travels you are thus required to obtain adequate travel insurance for the full coverage of medical assistance and repatriation. We can ask for proof of this insurance. Failure to comply with this requirement can be cause for cancellation.
We also advise you to take out cancellation insurance, but this is not mandatory.
Travel medication
We advise you to bring a modest travel pharmacy containing painkillers, diarrhea tablets, ORS (Oral Re-hydration Salts), disinfectants, anti-histamine tablets and motion sickness tablets, if required.
If you are bringing other medication into the country, make sure these medications are permitted and ask your pharmacy to provide you with a list of subscribed medication.
Booking process
After we have received your application, we will send you a confirmation by email as soon as possible, but no later than within 72 hours. The booking is agreed with the submission of the booking form and from this moment on, cancellation is no longer possible without incurring cancellation costs.
The tour is confirmed to depart if at least the minimum required number of travelers have booked.
Do not book your international flights before you have received a message from us that the departure of the tour is confirmed.
The Group
Your tour leaders
The tour leader is the first point of contact during the journey. They are excellent organizers and will be there to answer any questions you might have and help you with any issues that might arrive. Because we value freedom and choice during our travels, our tour leaders operate mostly in the background. They have a lot of knowledge about our destination countries, but they will not shower you with facts and figures all day long. We advise you to bring your own travel guide to get the most out of this trip.
In Myanmar we use local guides to assist our tour leaders during our travels. These guides have extensive knowledge of the country and its practices.
Your travel companions
We travel in small groups, for Myanmar there is a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 12 travelers. The tour is confirmed to depart if at least the minimum number of travelers have made a booking.