Myanmar Adventure

This comprehensive journey through Myanmar is ideal for those looking to see the best of Myanmar on a trip which includes plenty of activity and some slightly off the beaten track destinations.

Begin with a day exploring Yangon before flying to the Shan state for a few days trekking and discovering hilltribe villages around Kengtung.

Visit Pindaya and continue to explore on foot in the hill country around Kalaw, including a visit to Green Hill Valley Elephant Sanctuary.

Discover the Intha culture and the beautiful scenery around Inle Lake before flying to Bagan with its thousands of temples dotting the plain by the Irrawaddy River.

Cruise upriver to Mandalay where the trip culminates with a couple of days exploring the cultural and spiritual centre of Myanmar.

Day 1: Fly UK to Yangon

Overnight flight to Yangon.

Day 2: Yangon

Arrive in Yangon and transfer to your hotel by private car. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Overnight Yangon.

Day 3: Yangon

Depart your hotel after breakfast for a morning tour of Yangon.

Start with a visit to Shwedagon Pagoda, one of Myanmar’s holiest sites. Instead of taking the lift, like most visitors, spend time exploring the eastern base of the temple first. Turn down a hidden laneway to discover an atmospheric market tucked amid a labyrinth of small alleys.

Then venture back through the ‘monks market’, a row of shops selling various religious items. Here you will find monks robes, alms bowls, offerings, incense and other unique Buddhist objects.

In the morning hours the pagoda and its surroundings are busy with local pilgrims, monks and nuns. Spend time walking around the platform and learning about Burmese beliefs such as the astrological system and its role in the daily life of the locals.

Visit an open-air teashop busy with local office workers, businessmen and families who come to enjoy a meal and a chat with their friends. Sample a cup of sweet tea or local coffee along with some lunch - perhaps some famous mohinga noodles.

Overnight Yangon. Breakfast included.

Day 4: Yangon – Kengtung

Transfer to the airport and fly to Kengtung and take a short tour of Kengtung on arrival. The town is in a lush valley and most of the city’s buildings reflect the traditional architectural styles of the Shan people, such as wooden houses with balconies.

Explore the city streets and the Maha Myat Muni pagoda before continuing to the hotel for check in.

Overnight Kengtung. Breakfast included.

Day 5: Kengtung trek

After breakfast visit Kengtung’s local market, busy with minority hilltribes in their traditional dresses.

Depart by road to the Hokin area (around 45 minutes), the starting point of today’s trek. The trek begins with a 1.5-2 hour walk to an Akha village. Spend some time in the village with the locals to discover more about their unique customs and daily lifestyle.

Resume trekking for a further 45 minutes to the Lahu village of Na Phi Phank. Then loop back to where your car is waiting possibly passing a Wa village en route. During the trek a picnic lunch will be served in a scenic spot or village.

Return to Kengtung by car this afternoon.

Overnight Kengtung. Breakfast & Lunch included.

Day 6: Kengtung Trek

This morning after breakfast drive in the direction of Mong La. The drive follows a good road with gorgeous views of mountains dotted with tribal villages. After around 2 hours (40 km), arrive at the start point of the trekking trail.

The first hour of the trek features rolling, hilly terrain. In the middle of this natural landscape, arrive at a beautiful wooden monastery, which is thought to be more than 300 years old. The woodcarvings, paintings and furniture are noteworthy.

Continue a short way to Wan Nyat, a unique village whose inhabitants are Loi people living in long houses. Spend time walking around the village to learn about the way of life, culture and traditions of the Loi.

If you wish, continue hiking one more hour along a flatter, easier trail to another Loi village. Wang Seng is rarely visited by tourists and features an impressive and even larger monastery. A lunch box is included.

After your visits, return along the trekking trail to your car and drive back to Kengtung, arriving in the late afternoon.

Overnight Kengtung. Breakfast & Lunch included.

Day 7: Kengtung – Heho – Pindaya

After breakfast at the hotel, this morning is at your leisure to explore Kengtung. If time allows, visit a traditional Shan lacquer ware workshop and the water buffalo market, which is held twice a week in Kengtung.

Transfer to Kengtung Airport and fly to Heho and transfer to Pindaya.

Overnight Pindaya. Breakfast included.

Day 8: Pindaya

Spend today exploring Pindaya and its surroundings.

The morning begins with a light trek to See Kya Inn village. The hike takes around 1.5 hours and climbs gently rolling hills. Along the way you will likely see Palaung and Danu villages, two of the ethnic groups residing in the area who grow crops such as ginger, chilies, cauliflower and cheroot leaves.

After lunch return down to Pindaya and take a short drive and continue on foot to a small village and see the daily activities of the people. This quaint village is filled with friendly locals and curious kids who usually give a rapturous welcome.

From here transfer to the famous ‘Buddha Caves’. This multi-chambered cave system is filled with hundreds of Buddha statues and is a popular pilgrimage spots for locals.

Afterwards visit a local workshop making umbrellas and paper from the mulberry tree, one of the few areas in Myanmar still practicing this craft.

Overnight Pindaya. Breakfast & Lunch included.

Day 9: Pindaya – Kalaw

After breakfast, drive further into the Shan Hills to Kalaw. Near the Aung Ban junction make a brief detour to the town’s market. Oftentimes the traders are dressed in traditional costume and few foreign travelers venture here.

Arrive in Kalaw at midday and after checking in, take a walking tour of the town visiting the market, some small local art galleries, the British-built train station and a local teashop for snacks. Climb the stairs to the hilltop monastery for panoramic views over the town.

Overnight Kalaw. Breakfast included.

Day 10: Kalaw – Elephant Camp

Today’s excursion takes you into the forest for a unique encounter with Myanmar’s wildlife. Begin with a 45-60 minute transfer to a small village, typical of many Shan State villages, where a guide from the camp will greet you.

Enjoy a light trek through the woods, during which time the guide will point out the indigenous flora and fauna as well as explain more about the local lifestyles in this region.

Come face-to-face with a Burmese elephants. Formerly working as logging elephants, these gentle giants have now been given the chance to live freely in their natural environment and give visitors a unique opportunity to interact with them. Feed and help wash the elephants and learn about the history of elephants in Myanmar.

A lunch is served using traditional preparation methods and ingredients from the camp’s organic garden. This afternoon return to Kalaw.

Overnight Kalaw. Breakfast included.

Is this a Private Tour or a Group Tour?

All of our tours are private tailor made itineraries, customised for you - we can amend things to entirely suit you.

You will have your own private car, driver and guide on excursions.

What are the departure dates?

Let us know your preferred dates of travel and we will find the best and most suitable flights to fit your itinerary.

As this is a private tour, there are no set departure dates.

Which Airlines do you use?

We work with all the major airlines flying to this part of the world.

Typically for Burma, Thai Airways, Singapore Airlines and Emirates would be airlines we would often use.

However, just let us know your preferred airline if you have one. We can organise flights from any regional destination in the UK.

There are no direct flights from the UK to Myanmar currently.

Which Hotels do you use?

We're careful with our choice of hotels, but we're guided by our customers also. If you have some preferred hotels, just let us know.

We specialise in boutique hotels and so we will often suggest some of our favourite smaller hotels where we think these will be suitable.

We keep on top of hotel developments in Burma from our office in South East Asia and regularly inspect the hotels we use.