Burma (Myanmar) This is a new destination for Hinterland beginning with our first departure on the 11th November 2010. Due to the internal political situation and the Military rule there is considerable controversy about operating tours in the country in the West. However Hinterland Travel are of the school that considers contacts between peoples are more important than any political or other considered views. Also protests can be registered by simply not travelling there. The choice is yours. The people, the beautiful lush countryside and the sites be they historical or the late Colonial era, are wonderful. We are working with EPG who are based in Yangon and who are providing the local expertise for us. There are lectures available at the National Museum in Yangon and clients will receive a special tour booklet explaining our schedule and all the stops etc. Our History and Study tour 17 Days/16 Nights BURMA DELIGHTS   Day 1 Arrival Yangon Yangon arrival and transfer to your hotel. Free at leisure rest of day Overnight at Strand Hotel. Day 2 Yangon sightseeing Yangon sightseeing including Shwedagon Pagoda, Defence services Museum, the city centre with its markets and colonial buildings, the river front area and the historic Strand Hotel. Overnight The Strand Hotel. Day 3 Yangon-Pyay Yangon to Pyay (Prome) by car, approx 5 hours drive. Sightseeing at Shwesandaw pagoda, with splendid views of the river and town. After the British developed The Irrawaddy Flotilla Co in 1890 Pyay became an important river port. Overnight at Mingalar Garden Hotel. Day 4 Pyay Pyay sightseeing including the Museum and site of Thayekhittaya part of the ancient Pyu kingdom of the 8-9 th cent. Also travel along the river to see the Buddha images carved into the Cliff wall. Overnight at Mingalar Garden Hotel. Day 5 Pyay-Yangon Drive back to Yangon and on way visit the Shwemyetman paya to see the Buddha wearing spectacles. Overnight Strand Hotel. Day 6 Yangon-Heho-Inle Lake Morning flight to Heho airport ,transfer to magical Inle Lake, located in the Shan state. The lake is 20km long and the home of the Intha fishermen .Sightseeing includes the floating gardens, fishermen, lotus and silk weaving. Overnight Lake Van Resort Day 7 Inle Lake Morning visit to a market, a short trek in the hills, A scenic walk in the hills to a monastery Later travel by boat up a creek to reach Indain with its many semi hidden pagodas Overnight at Lake View Resort. Day 8 Inle Lake-Shwe Nyaung-Aung Ban train-Kalaw Leave Inle Lake transfer to nearby Shwe Nyaung for the train(2 hours)through the Shan hills to the market junction of Aung Ban . Transfer by car to the former British Hill station of Kalaw, an alpine oasis at an altitude of 1320 metres. Overnight at Amara Resort Day 9 Kalaw-Heho-Mandalay Morning transfer to Heho airport and fly to Mandalay, sightseeing includes a visit to Mandalay Fort which still has intact walls. Though the Mandalay Palace within was destroyed, by bombing. But there is full scale replica to be seen. Later go to Mandalay Hill for a panoramic sunset view of the city and river. Overnight Sedona Hotel Mandalay. Day 10 Mandalay-Amarapura-Inwa-Mandalay In Mandalay visit the former royal capital of Amarapura and walk on the worlds longest teak bridge. Then visit Inwa, another former royal capital where we travel by pony cart. Mandalay sightseeing includes gold leaf making and bronze casting craft shops. Overnight Sedona Hotel Mandalay Day 11 Check in and sail to Bagan We embark at 12 at Gawein Jetty. Welcome cocktails and we sail for 2 hours. We visit the Mingun Pagoda Complex. Moor overnight at a sandbank, mid stream. Sometimes a dance and drama performance can be seen on the sundeck. All meals on board. Day 12 On board Breakfast on board. Early morning we cruise downstream. Passengers can enjoy the river scenes . A visit to Sagaing Hill is possible. In the late afternoon we stop at Yandabo a village specialising in pot making and where the peace treaty of the First Anglo Burmese War was signed in 1826. Cruise all day and moor overnight near river village of Shwe Nann Tint. Day 13 Check out of Boat and drive to Mt Popa Early in the morning we proceed downriver to Bagan. After breakfast we visit another River village . We disembark at Aye Yar jetty. Arrive at Bagan and drive to Mt Popa an extinct volcano which is the legendary home of the nats (spirits ). On the way we visit a toddy palm farmer at work and stop at the resort of Mt Popa. Overnight at Popa Mountain Resort Hotel. Day 14 Mt Popa-Salay-Bagan From Mt Popa we drive back to Bagan by way of the small town of Salay which has many pagodas and temples. Then pass by Chauk which is notable for its oil wells. Overnight at Thiripyitsaya Sakura Hotel Day 15 Bagan A full days sightseeing of Bagan,s infinitely fascinating temples and enjoy a relaxing pony cart ride in the evening to watch the sunset. The view is one of the most striking in the world. Overnight at Thiripyitsaya Sakura Hotel Day 16 Bagan-Yangon Morning flight to Yangon. After hotel check in visit the Scott market. Built in 1926 it is filled with artifacts and handicrafts for your last minute shopping. Overnight at the Strand Hotel Day 17 Departure   Services included. Hotel accommodation with breakfast, entrance fees, one lunch at Popo resort and one farewell dinner at Strand Palace, all transfers and excursions by private A/C vehicle with drivers, private boat on Inle lake, domestic air tickets, two night river cruise, English speaking guide. Services not included International flight tickets, International airport tax, Meals, drinks, visa fees, insurance and any services not mentioned above. Ground tour cost £2,400 per person subject to US dollar changes and tour numbers . Minimum of two persons.