Myanmar
Myanmar “This is Burma and it will be quite unlike any land you know� Rudyard Kipling
Truly is the most exotic country in Asia and advise to go now before it changes and enters 21st century
INTRODUCTION • Independence from Britain 1948 • Release Aung San Su Kyi Nov 10 • Sudden surge in interest and demand • Clients must be made aware of certain points • Very safe and welcoming people • Offers culture, soft adventure, scenery, beaches, river cruises, boutique hotels • High level of repeat clients • Myanmar or Burma. The Burmese prefer to call their country Myanmar as its the old name and not an invention by the Army
WHERE TO TRAVEL 1st TIME VISITORS
• • • • • •
Yangon Bagan Mandalay Lake Inle Shan Hills Ngapali Beach
WHEN TO TRAVEL Best time: Hot: Monsoon:
Nov – Mar Apr – May June – Sept
Dry zone in centre: Bagan & Mandalay - Good for summer holidays. Beach: Nov – April Beach hotels mostly closed during May to Oct as v. wet. Shan Hills cool in Winter
ACCESS / ENTRY Main Airport • Yangon International Airport operates but can be unreliable • Mandalay (Air Bagan from CNX) Overland • Muse/Ruli (China) • Tachilek/Mae Sai (North Thailand) • Kawthaung/Ranong (SW Thailand) • Currently Government rules that visitors must arrive and depart same point if coming in overland. But this may change.
FAST FACTS • Myanmar Visa - Mandatory prior to travel • Mobile phones do not work & landlines expensive • Only USD cash is accepted so
clients must take more than expect to spend. No way to get more if run out
• No hotmail/yahoo & telephone calls expensive • Be sensitive if discussing the Military regime with guides and local people
YANGON • Capital until 2005 when moved to Naypyidaw
• Shwedagon Pagoda – highlight Colonial architecture in the downtown area • Kandawgyi Lake/Karaweik • Sule Pagoda & the Botathaung
Pagoda • Green city with trees and lakes • Last authentic Asian tropical city
Shwedagon Pagoda
Downtown Yangon
Yangon – Inside Tips • Shop for jade, lacquerware and local handicrafts in Scott Market
• Discover the heart of the city on a downtown walking tour; past Indian, Chinese and Burmese markets and
busy harbour area stopping for tea at local stall • Quiet comptempletion - Sunset at
Shwedagon Pagoda is an unforgettable experience • Cocktail/dinner at colonial hotel or
restaurant • Chaukhatagyi pagoda
Bagan • Over 2000 temples dating from 11th century scattered over plains ( 26 sq mile site) beside Ayeyarwady River; one of Asia’s top cultural sights. • Start/finish point for river cruises Bagan /Mandalay • Day tour to Mount Popa (extinct volcano and spiritual home of Myanmar’s 37 nats. (spirits) • Repeat visitors head to Salay rooted in 1th century and with 50 monasteries!
Bagan – Inside Tips • Shwezigon Pagoda – Most holy stupa in Bagan • See how lacquerware is made and of course shop for some
• Balloon over Bagan (Oct –Mar) • Cycling • Horse cart or ox cart rides
• Sunset at one of the pagodas • Unspoilt villages • Puppet shows
Balloons over Bagan Use new Premium service as maximum 8 pax per balloon
New or Old Bagan? New
Old
• Where the locals were relocated from Old Bagan in 1990. • Best choice for mid- range hotels with nice rooms. • Atmospheric riverside restaurants • Hotels eg Thazin Garden
• • • • • `
Closest to biggest temples Clustered around riverside Mainly higher end hotels Less life outside of hotels Hotels eg Tharabar Gate, Thiripitysaya Sanctuary
Choice more likely to be determined by hotel standards/rates but for a 2 day visit it really is not so important where clients stay
New - Bagan Walking Tours
Mt Popa
1 hr from Bagan. Nat shrine on volcanic plug. Stop on route at Chauk market, toddy palm making and village.
Mandalay • •
Religious heart of country Modern rather scruffy city with
large Chinese population •
Not particularly attractive but is base
for visiting outside ancient sites •
Good for cycling outside of city as
flat and rural. Half day tour city sights: •
Mandalay Hill
•
Mahamuni Pagoda,
•
Kuthodaw Pagoda,
•
Shwenandaw Teak Monastery
•
Mandalay Palace (from outside)
Kuthodaw
MANDALAY outside city OPTIONS
Day 1 – Half day Mandalay city tour
Day 2 – Full day tour to Sagaing, Awa (Inwa) and Amarapura
Day 3 – Half day cruise to Mingun Bell Day 4 – Day trip or overnight to Pyin
U Lwin or Maymyo (Hill station one hours drive)
OUTSIDE MANDALAY Former capitals, stupas and pretty villages within easy reach
Located south of Mandalay and a full day tour:
•
Sagaing Hills (Monastic centre)
•
Amarapura U Bein teak bridge and craft shops
•
Awa (Inwa) ancient walls and city
OUTSIDE MANDALAY AVA
19thC. capital across river from Saigang. Peaceful, rural setting, excellent for easy cycling or taking horse cart to see scenery, 3 monuments
AVA by horse-cart OR bicycle (easy flat cycling)
Ava Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery 1822 AD
AVA Nanmyin Watchtower and Bagaya Monastery, built in 1834 entirely of teak wood.
AVA views
AVA views AVA VIEWS
SAIGANG a collection of monasteries on a hill and the living centre of Buddhist faith in Myanmar.
Amarapura - U Bein Bridge (Built in 1849 from teak) Very photogenic especially early morning and late afternoon. Connects 2 villages across Lake Taungthaman for 1.2 km
Mingun cruise – well worth it especially if not doing cruise on Ayeyarwady River
Pyin Oo Lwin Colonial character, cooler hills and half day walks
New - Pyin Oo Lwin Half day walks in Shan Hills
MANDALAY– Inside Tips • Get up early to see the monks morning alms collection followed by teahouse visit
• Stunning view from Mandalay Hill • Walking across U Bein bridge • Buy a local hand stitched puppet or
embroidered tapestry • Burmese food at “A Little Bit of Mandalay Restaurant”
• Take a horse cart around Awa to see ancient sites and village life • Visit and shop at the lively jade market
INLE LAKE and the SHAN HILLS (Accessed Heho Airport)
• • • • • •
Beautiful Lake in Shan Hills at 1000m Intha people inhabit floating villages Floating vegetable gardens 5 day rotational markets Sagar in southern end of Lake (rarely visited) Kalaw Hill station
Transport on the lake
INLE LAKE – Inside Tips
•
Many boat trips
•
Walking and cycling tours
•
Red Mountain vineyard!
•
Day to Sagar in the rarely visited southern part of the Lake
•
Weaving village of Inpawkhon and buying a shawl or top!
•
Simply enjoy one of the most scenic places on Earth
•
Eat delicious Shan Noodles in Nampan restaurant on the Lake
•
Early am bird-watching from Inle Lake Princess
•
Visit a 5 day rotational market
Red Mountain vineyard
Sagar
Sagar
NEW – INLE LAKE TREKS
Walks /treks range from 2 hrs easy to 8 hrs full day
NEW – INLE LAKE TREKS
Range from 2 hrs easy to 8 hrs full day
SHAN HILLS - between KALAW and INLE
KALAW Hill station at 4287 ft with large pop of Nepalese Little in town to see but good for half or full day walks. Best experience is local train Kalaw to Heho
NEW - KALAW DAY TREKS
NEW - KALAW DAY TREKS
NEW - KALAW DAY TREKS
NEW -TRAIN FROM AUNGBAN/KALAW TO HEHO
NEW -TRAIN FROM AUNGBAN/KALAW TO HEHO
Basic carriage but 90 mins journey – fantastic photo opportunities and lovely scenery
NEW -TRAIN FROM AUNGBAN/KALAW TO HEHO
NGPALI BEACH • Best beach in the country • Accessed by flight only to Thandwe Airport • 18 hours drive to Yangon (bad road) • Quiet beach – no water sports • Nice Fishermans village one end
• A few local simple restaurants behind beach • Avoid May – Oct as wet
• Have leeway between Thandwe /Yangon flight and international dep ( 5 hrs at least)
CRUSING ON THE AYEYARWADY RIVER FROM BAGAN TO MANDALAY OR VICE VERSE
RV Pandaw 1947
RV Paukan
Road to Mandalay
Amara
Amara II
Road to Mandalay on Bhamo cruise upstream from Mandalay
THE LOWDOWN – WHERE TO STAY HOTELS • Mainly small boutique hotels
• Very few chain hotels • In high demand Oct – April • Often simple but have garden
• Staff speak good English and very friendly service. • Rates are increasing this season due to demand
The Strand Yangon No 1 or 2 choice depending on client
The Strand
Governor’s Residence Yangon
Governor’s Residence Yangon No 1 or 2 choice
Kandawgyi Palace Hotel Yangon No 3 choice
Savoy Hotel Yangon No 4 choice
Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Bagan No 1 choice but only for suites
Aureum Palace Bagan
No 2 choice for clients wanting luxury if T.S suites full
Tharabar Gate, Bagan
No 3 choice – suite or deluxe rooms
Mandalay Hill Resort
No 1 choice
Red Canal Hotel Mandalay.
No 2 choice or 1 for clients wanting boutique but small rooms
Inle Lake Princess No 1 choice
Inle Lake View Resort
No 2 choice or can be 1 for some clients
Sandoway
No 1 choice – rec beachfront villas
Amata Ngapali 2nd choice
Amara Ngapali Not yet open or recommended due to price but worth keeping in mind for future
Amara Ngapali
Mrauk U Princess No 1 choice in Mrauk U
OTHER REGIONS FOR REPEAT VISITS •
Golden Rock of Kyaiktiyo
•
Putao – Himalayas
•
Mrauk U, Sittwe and Chin region
•
Kyaing Tong Shan Hills
•
Mawlamyine (Moulemein)
•
Pyay
•
Pathein and Delta
•
Shan Hills – Lashio, Hsipaw
•
Mount Victoria trekking
•
Ngwe Saung Beach
•
Pindaya soft trekking
Golden Rock. 2 day/1 night tour and not rec during monsoon
Hpa’an en route to Moulemein
PUTAO
Putao Lisu village
Top Rec. For repeat clients or those wanting remote
MRAUK U
Journey from Sittwe to Mrauk up the Kaladan River by Mrauk U Princess boat
Mrauk U
Mrauk U
Mrauk U Chin villages
Kyiang Tong
Ngwe Saung Beach Accessed via Pathein in Ayeyarwady Delta. Famous monks umbrellas made here. 5 hour drive but roads bumpy. Hence beach unspoilt and not overdeveloped. Flights unreliable
RELIGION •
89% Buddhist population
•
Buddhism plays a huge part in Burmese daily life
•
Holidays spent at pagodas with family
•
Great family event when a boy joins a monastery for few days.
-
Novitiation ceremony
•
Daily alms giving to monks
•
Poor families yet still give to
•
monastery for merit.
•
Visit to any pagoda great way to observe true life
Go
TRANSPORT • Sanctions effect – imported cars either not allowed or prohibitively expensive. Only for Army/Gov • Use best available but need to warn clients as cars are old. • Roads and infrastructure basic • Barely any public transport • Flights quickest way to get around to see most in short time
• Nice to include 1 road or boat journey for variety and slow pace • Include other transport ie horse or ox cart, bicycle
•
Ferry in Ayeyarwady Delta
Elephant coach – great for upmarket small groups
•
Shopping Good buys are: • Jade (not necessarily top quality but nice • Precious stones (but no guarantee of standard!
• Lacquer-ware • Any craft/postcard from stall sellers to circulate money
• Modern art • Batik sarongs • Puppets • Silk in Inle • Monks red umbrellas
What is Myanmar •
Known s the Golden Land
•
Longyi (Sarong style garment)
•
A million Pagodas
•
Ayeyarwady River
•
Thanakha
•
Teastalls
•
Cyclone Nargis
•
Velvet flip flops
•
Bamboo
•
Jade and rubies
•
Teak and elephants
Ethnic Diversity • 11% of 47 mi. Pop in Yangon. • Broad central plain/Ayeyarwady River mostly Bamar (Burmese) who make up 68% of population
• • • •
Ethnic groups live in mountains East are Shan, Kayah and Karen North are Kachin West are Chin and Rakhaing South are Mon
• Within these 8 groups are 67 subgroups and this excludes the Chinese, Nepalese and Indian pop
FOOD • Mixture of Indian, Chinese and Thai cuisine • Mohinga - Yangon Fish soup • Shan Noodle Soup • Curries; meat, fish, seafood • Fish sauce (ngapi) • Tealeaf salad • Chai at a teastall • Rice and rice noodles • Lime leaves and chilli
Festivals • Jan – Bagan - Ananda Festival • Feb/Mar Yangon Shwedagon Festival • Mar/Apr Popular for Novitation ceremonies • April Water Festival/New Year • May/June Mt Popa - Nat Festival • Aug Amarapura - Nat Festival • Sep/Oct Phaung Daw Oo - Inle Lake • Oct – Feb popular for Golden Rock pilgrimages • Oct/Nov Taunggyi Ballon Festival • Dec Christmas in Kachin, Chin and Kayin states
Group specials
Inle Lake boat race
Walking and monastery overnight programmes • For those willing to sleep a little rough, we have some innovative walking tours near the main circuits. • 2 days Shan Hills around Kalaw • 3 days Shan Hills around Pindaya • Further afield: • 4 days Kyiang Tong hilltribe villages
• 4 days Mt Victoria and Chin Hills • 4 days and 5 days trekking in Putao
• Chance to meet local people for a fantastic experience
Interaction with local people is our emphasis on all tours
WHY DIETHELM MYANMAR?
• Office in Myanmar since 95 & operated tours as early as 1980’s. • Excellent guides
• Head office in Yangon • 3 Local offices upcountry • Highly experienced sales staff; knowledgeable over entire country • Competitive rates • Creative programmes • See the real Myanmar and interaction
with local people
Its PEOPLE are what make Myanmar so special
DIETHELM TRAVEL MYANMAR WELCOMES YOU TO MYANMAR