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10 - 21 Jan 2014 (12-days) Myanmar Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan (plus Ananda Pagoda Festival), Kalaw Trekking & Inle Lake
Rm3,300 (12-15 pax group), Rm3,100 (16-20 pax), Rm2,900 (21 pax and above)
EXCLUDES FLIGHTS AIR ASIA KUL-Yangon-KUL

Update 3 Oct 2013 - Malaysia Airlines offering Rm329 return with 30kg check-in luggage both ways. Offer until 14 Oct 2013, subject to availability. Those interested, please email soon wyeyim@gmail.com to register.

Update 2 Sept 2013 - Malaysia Airlines offering Rm301 return with 30kg check-in luggage both ways. Offer until 16 Sept 2013, subject to availability. Those interested, please email soon wyeyim@gmail.com to register.

Update 29 Aug 2013 - Quick check on flights today - Malaysian Airlines offering Rm433 return with 30kg check-in luggage both ways. Whereas AirAsia cheapest flight is Rm434 without check-in luggages. We hope to form min group size of 12pax quickly, so that we can start booking the cheaper flights currently on offer.

Update 19 Aug2013 - This trip, which will be led by Wye Yim, is specially designed to coincide with the Ananda Pagoda festival, one of the most famous pagoda festival in Bagan. We shall spent whole morning on its 15th day to watch one thousand monks collecting offerings from villagers, who come from around Bagan in their bullock carts and set up camp in Bagan. During this period, there will also be plenty of road-side stalls and theatrical troupes entertaining the locals. Because of the popularity of this festival, we want to form the group quickly to secure accommodations & transport.

BEFORE BUYING YOUR TICKET, PLEASE CHECK WITH US IF WE STILL HAVE AVAILABLE PLACES
Details for Malaysia Airlines Flight Bookings KLIA Yangon
10 Jan 2014 Fri MH742 KLIA to Yangon 13:50 15:00
21 Jan 2014 Tues MH743 Yangon to KLIA 16:00 20:15

If you like to fly in earlier our out later to take advantage of lower fares, please do so and inform us for hotel and airport transfers.

  
Bagan / Shwedagon Pagoda

IMPORTANT NOTICE: This is meant to be a "free and easy" budget trip. Participants should be relatively fit, with a good sense of humour, and above all, have the right attitude for close travel with others through possibly some trying times. Most definitely, this is not a trip for prudes, whiners, fuss-pots, and other similarly assorted types! Although every effort will be made to stick to the given itinerary, ground conditions may change and cause some disruption and/or deviation from the norm. Otherwise, have fun!

Day 1 LCCT-Yangon: We meet at KLIA latest 10:30AM Fri 10 Jan 2014 for the afternoon flight MH742 from KLIA at 1350PM reaching Yangon at 1500PM. Transfer to hotel. Overnight (O/N) Yangon.

Day 2 Yangon-Overnight BUS: After early breakfast, we start off at Pazun Daung wet market before commencing with our sightseeing tour around Yangon. This will include Shwedagon Pagoda (Golden Pagoda), Sule Pagoda, colonial-style city centre and Bogyoke (Scotts Market). Late afternoon, we transfer 4:30pm to bus station for our night bus to Mandalay 700km 10hr drive.

Day 3 Mandalay: Arrive Mandalay about 6am in the morning. Our sight-seeing begins with Mahamuni Pagoda, with its spectacular Buddha image covered with thick layers of gold leaves and Shwe Indin, one of the most outstanding monasteries in the country. We then visit Mahagandayon, famous Buddhist monastery where more than thousand monks live and study. We proceed to Inwa for lunch and then sightseeing around Inwa ruins by horse cart to visit Maenu Okkyaung Monastery, Nan Myint Tower & Bargayar monastery well known for its wood carving with 267 teak pillars. Time permitting, we shall visit 200-year old U Bein Bridge constructed entirely from teak and various cotton weaving, bronze-making, wood carvings and gold-leaf beating shops. O/N Mandalay.

  
Monks at Mahagandayon Monastic school

Day 4 Mandalay-Bagan: After breakfast, we head to Mandalay bus station to catch our 8am express bus to Bagan (200km approximately 7 hours drive). Upon arrival about 2pm, transfer to hotel for refreshment. Free & easy rest of afternoon. Evening we shall visit Shwesandaw Paya Temple to catch the sunset colours, either by horse-cart, bicycle or car/bus. O/N Bagan.

Day 5 Bagan: After breakfast, short visit to the local Nyang Oo market. After that, we proceed with our half-day cycling tour in Bagan. Highlights include historic pagodas and temples such as Shwezegon Pagoda – the prototype for later Myanmar pagodas built by King Anawyethta, Ananda temple - a master piece of King Kyansittha, Kyansittha Umin (cave) - a tunnel with an interesting feature of paintings of mongo warriors and Htilominlo Temple noted for its plaster carvings. After lunch, continue sightseeing other places by car, such as Thatbyinnyu temple - the highest building in the Bagan plain and Dhamma Yangyi temple - the most massive temple. O/N Bagan.

Day 6 Bagan (Ananda Pagoda Festival Day): Early birds will catch the monks procession along the street to collect the donations from locals who come from around Bagan. Afternoon, we proceed to nearly Myinkaba village to visit lacquer craftmen's workshop and sightseeing to Manuha palace of King Manuha and Myingaba Gu Byaukgyi Temple, famed for its ancient mural paintings. Last night to capture sunset falling on Bagan's ancient monuments. O/N Bagan

Day 7 Bagan-Mt Popa-Kalaw: We will go Kalaw (situated 1,320 meter above sea level) on Southern Shan Mountains. Enroute we stop by Mt Popa, an extinct volcano more than 1,500 m above sea level to see middle plain regions spread below. Short stop to visit volcanic plug (736 meters high cone shape small hill built up of lava and rocks) on the slope of the main Popa. It is locally called Popa Taung Kalat. There are many pagodas, monasteries and spirit houses around the base of Taung Kalat. The drive Mount Popa to Kalaw is about 220 km and it will be roughly about 8 hours driving. On the way from Mt Popa to Kalaw, one can see local village style, local farming, and change of country style from mid-land to Southern Shan Plateau. Arrive Kalaw ( a beautiful hill town with cool weather) by evening. Take a walk along pine-dotted hill. O/N Kalaw.

   
Pak Oo folks / Floating gardens at Inle Lake

Day 8 Trek in Kalaw: After breakfast, drive to Myin Ka village in East of Kalaw. From here we start our trekking for the day through beautiful scenery. After walking approximately 1½ hr, we arrive Pane Hne Pin, a Palaung Tribal Village. They make their living from farming and hunting and still live in long houses, sharing with 4-5 families. From Pane Hne Pin (after lunch) we walk another ½ hour to the view point, where you will enjoy a panoramic view over Kalaw area. Then return to Pane Hne Pin. Walk back another ½ hour to reach junction back to Kalaw. O/N Kalaw.

Day 9 Kalaw-Pindaya-Nyaung Shwe: After breakfast, drive to Pindaya 60km 1.5 hours. Visit Pindaya Caves, unique for the thousands of Buddha images placed here by pilgrims over many centuries. After lunch at Pindaya market, we drive to Aung Ban and then continue drive to Inle Lake, Myanmar's 2nd largest lake. O/N Nyaung Shwe.

Day 10 Nyaung Shwe-Inle Lake: An excursion by boat on Inle Lake will include sights of the famous typical floating gardens for fruits & vegetables, local methods of fishing and village life. Lunch at a locat restaurant on the lake. Visits are made to Phaungdaw Oo Pagoda, the weaving village of Inpawkhon and other sights. O/N Nyaung Shwe.

Day 11 Indein: Explore one of the local 5-day markets (on market day only). Opportunity to see the life-style of the ethnic Pa-O, Danu and Intha inhabitants who come to these markets to sell their goods. Then boat tour to Indaing, at the western end of the Lake. The boat takes us through a long channel where you watch the farmers cultivate their produce. This ride is one of the most scenic boat tours on Lake Inle. Follow a stair path lined with magnificent columns to the top to visit the Pagoda Complex. Return to the boat jetty with a leisurely “nature walk”. O/N Nyaung Shwe.

       
Local people at markets

Day 12 Heho-Yangon-Home: Early bus to Heho airport and fly back to Yangon. Spend rest of the day at Chinatown for lunch and final shopping. We fly home on MH743 at 1600pm, arriving KLIA at 2015pm on Tues 21 Jan 2014

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. Cost cover accommodation, land transport, bus, guides, boat trip, bicycle rental and entrances fees.
2. Accommodation will be in budget hotels and guest houses..
3. Not covered are airfares (Air Asia KL-Yangon-KL), Visa fees (Rm100), Heho to Yangon flights (estimated USD120), airport taxes & fuel surcharges, activities and meals (except for breakfast in most stays).
4. Not covered are guide tips. Yongo encourages group members to be generous but should commensurate with services rendered.
5. A deposit of Rm900 is payable to confirm your place.
6. Cost is subject to change if there's a significant changes in foreign exchange rates and airfares.

Email: wyeyim@gmail.com or yongo123@gmail.com
Phone Wyeyim 012 233 4717 or Lee Min 016 220 9033 40316225
Mail: 19 Lorong Air Bersih Tiga, Air Panas, 53200 Kuala Lumpur