Burma Encounter

Day 1 Depart London Heathrow
Your morning flight travels via Kuala Lumpur.

Day 2 Rangoon (Yangon)
After arriving into Rangoon you’ll have some free time to relax in your city hotel or to explore your new surroundings.

Meals: Breakfast.
Hotel: Traders
Day 3 Rangoon to Maymyo (Pyin Oo Lwin)
This morning you’ll fly to Mandalay then drive 2-3 hours up to the former British hill station
of Maymyo, and with its colonial-style buildings, and where you’ll take a tour by the town’s iconic horse and cart taxis and venture to the Peik Khin Myaung Caves.

Meals: Breakfast.
Hotel: Kandawgyi Lodge

Day 4 Maymyo to Mandalay
On a morning tour you’ll visit the large botanical gardens, before a scenic drive back to Mandalay, Burma’s spiritual centre, where you’ll spend 2 nights.

Meals: Breakfast.
Hotel: Mandalay Hill Resort

Day 5 Mandalay
You have full free day in Mandalay today to do your own thing, or you can join our
optional excursion ‘A Day in the Life of a Monk’, which includes visits to the monk accessory shop and the monastery

Meals: Breakfast.
Hotel: Mandalay Hill Resort

Day 6 Mandalay to Pagan (Bagan)
You’ll embark on a leisurely 8 hour journey on the Ayeyarwaddy River with lunch served on board. You’ll be charmed by Pagan’s centuries old pagodas and dusty roads on your 3 night stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Hotel: Treasure Bagan

Day 7 Pagan
On this morning’s half day tour of Pagan you’ll travel by horse and cart to a selection of the most significant ancient pagodas and temples. You’re free to explore by yourself this afternoon.

Meals: Breakfast.
Hotel: Treasure Bagan

Day 8 Pagan
Today you’ll take a bicycle tour to Myinkabar village to visit a farmer’s house and barber’s shop and experience some traditional family businesses such as lacquer ware, bamboo fence makers, cigar workshops and traditional rice pounding. This afternoon, the itinerary is up to you.

Meals: Breakfast.
Hotel: Treasure Bagan

Day 9 Pagan to Inle Lake
This morning you’ll fly to Heho then drive to Ayethayar, a hilly resort town famous for its wine production. After a vineyard visit, you’ll enjoy lunch and a wine tasting before transferring
by road and boat for 3 nights on the shores of Inle Lake itself.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch.
Hotel: Treasure Bagan

Day 10 Inle Lake
We’ve lined up a half day excursion to some of the most fascinating sites on the lake. You’ll visit Phaungdaw Oo Pagoda sat amidst the lake’s stilted villages, then board a boat to the western shore to a stairway leading to the hidden Inn Thein Pagoda complex.

Meals: Breakfast.
Hotel: Treasure Bagan

Day 11 Inle Lake
You have a free day to enjoy your wonderful surroundings, or take an optional excursion to a hilltop meditation centre and Nga Phe Kyaung Monastery with its famous jumping cats.

Meals: Breakfast.
Hotel: Treasure Bagan
Day 12 Inle Lake to Rangoon
You’ll transfer by boat to Nyaung Shwe then drive to Heho airport for your flight back to Rangoon. Here you’ll visit the stunning Shwedagon Pagodabefore a farewell dinner at a top restaurant.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner.
Day 13 Rangoon
After breakfast, you’ll transfer to the airport for your flight via Kuala Lumpur, or continue to your beach extension.

Meals: Breakfast.

Day 14 Arrive London Heathrow
Your flight lands early this morning.

Tour includes

Maximum group size: 25
Local expert guides in resort
All flights specified
Inspirational sightseeing programme
11 breakfasts, 2 lunches and 1 dinner
Ayeyarwady River cruise
Local village bicycle tour
Travel by horse and cart

On a Journey of Distinction, you are not merely a bystander. They believe that the wonders, customs and cultures you experience will live on in the core of your being. They even go so far as to say that one of their holidays will change your life forever.

Their combination of Tour Managers and Local Guides is what makes Journey of Distinction so distinctive. When you’re embarking on a voyage of discovery, it’s reassuring to know that a seasoned traveller is with you every step of the way; planning, organising, checking details and offering their advice and support. Their groups all depart from the UK, and no one joins us along the way, so you have the reassuring constancy of always knowing your travelling companions.

Our Opinion
“Limited to just 25 travellers per departure, every Journeys of Distinction escorted tour has an intimate, personal feel that makes for a more enjoyable experience.”