Burma Family Adventure

This Burmese family adventure is all about discovering Myanmar through immersion into the local culture and via some gentle walking, trekking and even kayaking.

Begin the holiday in Yangon with a trip to the Shwedagon Pagoda in the evening. The following day head out by train for a day cycling around the countryside.

Fly to Bagan and explore the amazing plain of temples. Enjoy some cycling around the temples, a horse cart ride through the monuments and a cruise on the Irrawaddy River.

From Bagan head to Kalaw in the hills, where the weather is cooler and more conducive to walking.

Walk through the hills and stay overnight in a local village. Continue on to Inle Lake with some easy cycling and at Inle Lake take to the water on kayaks.

This is a great family holiday for adventurous families looking to discover a destination full of exotic charm and very family-friendly.

The activities are easy going and you will be accompanied by a local English-speaking guide during all excursions.

All of our Myanmar Family Holidays are completely tailor-made and can be adjusted to suit your interests or budget.

Day 1: Fly UK to Yangon

Overnight flight from UK to Yangon.

Day 2: Yangon

On arrival at Yangon you will be greeted by your guide and driver and transferred to your chosen hotel.

Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, is a relatively quiet and charming city with an impressive colonial and spiritual heritage. It’s a great starting point for any Myanmar trip.

In the evening, head to the famous Shwedagon Pagoda, which is one of Myanmar’s holiest monuments, its central stupa soars 99 metres upwards and is covered with 60 tons of pure gold leaf.

This is a fascinating monument which also offers the chance to witness local pilgrims and learn about Burmese Buddhism, all the while enjoying the ‘Golden Hour’ of sunset’

Dinner at a local restaurant is included.

Overnight Yangon. Breakfast & dinner included.

Day 3: Yangon - Wanat Chaung

This morning travel by train from Yangon to Wanat Chaung for some easy cycling (30 km).

The journey begins with a short transfer to Kyi Myin Daing train station for a two-hour scenic train ride to Wanat Chaung, on the outskirts of Yangon.

Pass small villages, colourful bustling markets and get to witness everyday local life.

On reaching Wanat Chaung, you’ll be fitted for the bikes and have a test ride before heading off.

Leaving the station, cycle through trails and villages that never really see tourists. The ride has views of farmland and paddy fields and offers a great opportunity to interact with local people.

There will be a lunch break at a local restaurant.

After lunch it’s a short ride to the Phu Gyi Reservoir, a very photo-friendly location.

Phu Gyi Reservoir is one of the main water sources for Yangon. Enjoy a leisurely ride on the 3km long bank of the reservoir and take in the fresh air.

Then cycle to the famous Pan Ta Pwint Taung Monastery and finish off with a ride through a forest of rubber trees before hitting the finish line back at Wanat Chaung and taking a 90-minute transfer back to your hotel in Yangon.

Overnight in Yangon. Breakfast & lunch included.

Day 4: Yangon - Bagan

After breakfast transfer to the airport for the flight to Bagan and its famous temples.

On arrival, head straight to the first temple, elevated and with spectacular views over the surrounding plains, this is the perfect introduction to the grandeur and scope of Bagan’s architecture.

Next continue to Ananda Temple, one of the most revered temples in Bagan and quiet in the morning before all the tour buses arrive.

Afterwards, go through Tharabar Gate and into the city of old Bagan. Just a few decades ago, this area was highly populated and home to a vibrant town.

To protect the archaeological remains, the town was moved south to what is present day New Bagan. Take a while to visit some of the sites in this region before stopping for lunch.

Lunch is taken at a local restaurant.

After lunch, transfer to a traditional lacquerware workshop where it’s possible to observe the production of one of Myanmar’s best-known handicrafts.

Get an in-depth understanding of traditional techniques for producing the exquisite inlaid and carved boxes, trays, tea sets and other wares.

If you wish, the children have the chance to paint their very own lacquer-ware coasters. One of the craftsmen will assist whilst letting them bring their own creative touches to a Myanmar tradition.

After the masterpieces are completed, they will be set aside to dry, and picked up later in the evening.

Then, take a break back at the hotel, a good time for a swim and to escape the midday heat.

In the early evening travel by horse cart to enjoy an incredible sunset. The sunset, with views across the plains studded with chedis and temples is an unforgettable experience.

Overnight Bagan. Breakfast & lunch included.

Day 5: Bagan

After breakfast, spend a half-day biking around the ancient temples, the perfect way to explore ancient Bagan.

After taking a morning cycle around the Archaeological Zone, return to the hotel. This is good opportunity to cool down by taking a refreshing dip in the hotel pool.

In the afternoon, transfer to a puppet workshop. The puppeteer will give a brief explanation of the puppet making process and how a block of wood is turned into a lively puppet.

Later this afternoon, transfer to the jetty where a private wooden river boat is waiting.

Sitting under the shade or on the open-deck, enjoy fabulous views cruising down the Irrawaddy River to Shwezigon Pagoda.

Pass by small villages, fishermen, local boats and of course many riverside temples.

The views of Bagan are spectacular and offer a different perspective from the usual sightseeing.

On board, a mocktail will be served, so relax and enjoy the scenery.

As the sun begins to dip low in the sky, return to dry land and transfer to a local restaurant for dinner.

Overnight Bagan. Breakfast, lunch & dinner included.

Day 6: Bagan – Heho – Kalaw – Green Hill Valley

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the short flight to Heho from where it’s a scenic one-hour drive to the pretty town of Kalaw, a former British hill station.

The drive leads into the heart of the Shan State, passing pine forests, rolling hills and small towns along the way.

The slightly higher elevation means the air temperature can be cooler than the rest of the country especially in the evening.

From Kalaw, proceed to the Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp in Magwe village.

On arrival, a specialist guide from the camp will take you to the main camp base.

Enjoy a welcome drink while receiving a briefing on the day’s activities, the background of the camp and the history of elephants in Myanmar.

Then embark on a short walk to the river, passing through a reforestation project set up by the camp and villagers.

The elephants will likely be enjoying a refreshing swim in the stream and there is the option to join the mahouts and help bathe these gentle giants.

Then return to the main camp for lunch. There is time in the afternoon to explore more on foot with the local trekking guide or interact with the elephants.

In the late afternoon say goodbye to the elephants and mahouts and transfer back to Kalaw.

Overnight Kalaw. Breakfast & lunch 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.

Your family 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 family holiday to Burma, 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.

The hotels we suggest on this itinerary are chosen with families in mind. Having a swimming pool in Bagan is useful as the weather can get hot so it's nice to be able to cool off.

We specialise in boutique hotels and so we will often suggest some of our favourite smaller family 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.