Burma off the beaten track: trekking, tribes and temples

Yangon
Upon arrival at Yangon International Airport, you will be welcomed by our representative and take a sightseeing tour of the city, which includes visits to the Reclining Buddha at Chauk Htat Gyi and the Gitameit music center which is non-profit community center and devoted to music teaching & nurturing, performing, offering exchange possibilities for Burmese students to study abroad and inviting international artists and teachers for performances and workshops in Yangon. (If time permit we will also visit pomelo handmade shop before lunch.) Afternoon sightseeing tour includes the National Museum, which is filled with many exhibits and artefacts from Myanmar’s past. Our tour will finish with a visit to the remarkable Shwedagon Pagoda, which towers over the city and is the most highly-revered religious structure in the country. It is a sight that no visitor to Myanmar should miss.
Overnight in Yangon (B).

Yangon – Pan Pet – Loikaw
Early morning transfer for the flight (flight available on Mondays, wends and Fridays) to Loikaw. Upon the arrival airport we will go to the local restaurant for lunch. There are many rural villages in Loikaw and we’ll visit one of the Padaung ethnic villages, Pan Pet which is just 20 miles away from the town. Most women from that village have followed their traditional culture of wearing neck rings. Girls first start to wear brass neck coils at age of five but young generations seem not to want to continue with this tradition anymore. Over the years the coil is replaced by a longer one with more turns. The neck itself is not lengthened the weight of the brass pushes the collar bone down and compress the rib cage. All houses in the village are made of wood and bamboo. In the main room they all have corn hung from the ceiling just above the fireplace. This is the corn they will use to plant and grow. The reason for placing them there is to prevent birds from eating the corn seeds once they plant them. The smoked corn seeds will not attract them. Travel to Pemsong hamlet, to enjoy a moderately challenging trek, through lush, shady, forest. After a short climb, guests enjoy over 3 hours of continual, great views. En route, local guides will show guests various edible plants and herbal medicines which are used by community members in their “jungle larder”. A highlight of the trip is arriving at the original settlement of Pan Pet, perched on a mountain top, where evidence of past habitation is visible. This is considered one of the first Kayan settlements of Kayah state. Guests also enjoy a jungle picnic. The trek ends in Rang Ku hamlet, where guests can meet the famous Kayan people (popularly known as Long Neck Karen), who are a symbol of Kayah state. Enjoy learning a few words of Kayan language and interacting with these fun-loving and artistic people. There are also opportunities to buy local handicrafts.
Return back to the town for overnight.
Overnight in Loikaw (B/L)

Loikaw – Kalaw
After breakfast at the hotel we will leave the hotel and visit one of the most famous village for the distinctive ‘long-necked’ women of the Kayan tribes. The village is considered as one of the best established Community-Based Tourism programs in Myanmar, with a number of different village visit and trekking options. There are several fascinating occasions to have interesting insights into local life and culture, and activities were developed based on special elements of local life which community members feel proud and comfortable to share with guests. You will have the chance to visit also the “Hta Nee La Leh ‘Kayhtoebo” hall and shrines, where animist traditions are practiced. Guests learn why the site is important for the local community, and about festivals and ancient hunting traditions and rituals. You can even try your hand using a catapult. After lunch trnsfer drive to Kalaw (approximately five hour drive). Enjoy the nature beauty, on the way you’ll see little boys and girls helping their parents. Check in in the hotel in Kalaw for the overnight.
Overnight in Kalaw (B)

Kalaw- Kyauk Su- village
Early morning transfer to start point for trekking through beautiful pine forest with great views of paddy fields and spotted villages in the valley. It is going to be cold, it is 1400 meters above sea level. After one and half hour walk we arrive in a village of Taungyo tribe. They live on rice and vegetable farms. And then an hour walk to Shapin village, where we are going to have lunch in a village family house of Danu Tribes. Danu tribes are very friendly and hospitable people. After Lunch, continue our journey through thick pine forest on the top of the mountain ridge and suddenly open to the vast grass-land on the long mountain range. We pass through chili farms, rice plantations, potato fields and beautiful bright yellow seasome fields. It will be two and half hours walk to Kyauk Su village, where we will stay in one of the family home of Pa-O Tribes. Enjoy the sunset by watching people walking back to village with their buffalos and smokes on the top of their roofs.
Overnight in Kyauk Su village (B/L/D).

Kyauk Su- Nan Daing-Nti Tein monastry
Wake up with the sound of village life and have a delicious breakfast cooked by local traditional chef. Continue our journey for 1:30 hours to Nan Daing village, Pa-O tribes village of over 700 population, where market happen every five days and it is a great opportunity for us see colorful local market. Have local tea in the market and walk 2 hours to Htito village, have lunch at the old wooden monastery with ancient Buddha statues in a peaceful environment. Rest for some time and trek to Pattu village of Pa-O tribes for 2:30 hours, along the way you will pass through never ending rice terraces and beautiful limestone cliffs with karsts topography. Enjoy the lively rive that flow into the lake, where village buffalos stay in water on hot noon times. Walk for 30 minutes to Hti Tein monastery of Pa-O tribes and stay overnight. Witness the Buddhist monks life in a monastery.
Overnight in Hti Tein monastery (B/L/D).

Nti Tein monastery- Nyaung Shwe (Inle)
Wake up by the Monks chanting in early morning. Enjoy the peacefulness while having breakfast and get ready for next 4:30 hours walk through villages of Pa-O tribes, mostly descending down to iIle lake. Enjoy the great view of inle lake from top of the mountain. Arrive to Than Daung village and have lunch and take a relaxing boat ride along the river and into the big lake. Arrive to hotel and ready for a good rest!!!
In the afternoon, we will then visit the revered Phaungaw U Pagoda, Leshae village and Nga Phae Caung monastery to see the floating gardens.
Overnight in Nyaung Shwe (B)

Inle
Today you have your own time to rest after the trekking and/or explore on your own around the town.
Overnight in Nyaung Shwe (B)

Inle – Heho – Bagan (flight)
Transfer to the airport for your flight to Bagan. We begin our sightseeing tour of one of Asia’s best-known archaeological sites, the Bagan Temples. Highlights include the lively Nyaung Oo market, and some of the most beautiful pagodas at the site such as Shwezigon, Wetkyi-in-Gubyaukgyi, Ananda Pagoda and Ananda Ok Kyaung. After some rest, in the afternoon we visit a traditional lacquerware factory and one of the finest pagodas at the site, Dhammayangyi Pahto. Witness one of the most beautiful sunsets from atop a pagoda selected by your guide.
Overnight in Bagan (B).

Bagan
A boat ride across the Irrawaddy presents an opportunity to spend the morning with the monks and villagers of Kyun Thiri Island. You’ll pay a visit to the local monastery and spend the morning learning about the local daily lives. So you’ll get an opportunity to interact with the locals and support underprivileged children. Other highlights include Shwesandaw, for its panoramic view of the temples, the mural paintings at Gubyukggyi and Abeyadana Temple, which is famed for its mural paintings about Mahayana Buddhism.
Overnight in Bagan (B).

Bagan – Mandalay (boat)
Transfer to the jetty to take a boat to Mandalay. Enjoy the Ayeyarwaddy river scenery.
Overnight in Mandalay (B).

Mandalay – Amarapura – Mandalay
Today you will visit the highly revered Mahamuni Pagoda and see the world’s largest book at Kuthodaw Pagoda. Then we continue visit Phaung Daw Oo monastic education which is targeting children from poor family and orphans. In the afternoon, we explore some of the other ancient capitals near to the town. First off is Amarapura, which was capital during the Konbaung dynasty and includes the Mahagandayon Monastery and the world’s longest teak bridge at U Bein. Afterwards, we visit another ancient capital at Innwa, where highlights include the ‘leaning tower of Ava’, Maha Aungmye Bonzan and Bagaya Kyaung.
Overnight in Mandalay (B).

Mandalay – Mingun – Innwa – Sagaing – Mandalay
After breakfast, we will go to Mandalay jetty to take the pleasant boat ride upriver to Mingun, which is the site of what would have been the world’s largest pagoda had King Bodawpaya not died in 1819 during its construction. Suffering poor luck, an earthquake in 1838 reduced it to partial rubble. However, the temple remains a spectacular sight as you approach it from the river. There is also the Mingun Bell, which was moved from the temple, and is said to be the largest hanging bell in the world. In the afternoon, we visit another ancient capital close to Mandalay, Innwa. The town was founded in 1364 and was the royal capital off and on for 400 years. Highlights here include the ‘leaning tower of Ava’, Maha Aungmye Bonzan and the teakwood monastery of Bagaya Kyaung. We head further afield in the afternoon to Sagaing, which was the capital of the Sagaing Kingdom in the 14th and 18th centuries. We will visit the Zayyatheingi Nunnery which is a home to over 60 nuns. And you can discuss with the nuns about their ways of life. Enjoy the view of thousands of stupas dotting the hill of the picturesque Sagaing Hill, from where we will enjoy sunset before returning to Mandalay.
Overnight in Mandalay (B).

Mandalay international airport
Transfer to the airport to take your flight back home.