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On this luxury journey of Southern Myanmar highlights we visit Bago, the ancient capital of the Mon Kingdom and explore local crafts, markets and heritage sites of the region, including Shwemawdaw Paya, the tallest Pagoda in Myanmar and Shwethalyaung Paya with its impressive reclining Buddha. We take part in one of Myanmar’s holiest pilgrimage sites to the Golden Rock (Kyaikthiyo), a boulder covered in gold leaf that miraculously, delicately balances at the edge of a cliff. From the Golden Rock our journey continues to Hpa-An, the charming trading capital of Karen State blessed with a beautiful topography of limestone karst mountains. Near Hpa-An we explore some of the caves inside the limestone mountains before continuing to Mawlamyine (Moulmein), the first waterfront capital of the British Burmese colony. In Mawlamyine we trace Kipling’s footsteps and visit the last station of the infamous death railway built by prisoners of war during World War 2 and Bilu Island before driving back to Yangon.
Brief Itinerary
Day 1: Yangon – Bago – Golden Rock (Kyaikthiyo) Day 2: Golden Rock – Hpa-An Day 3: Hpa-An – Mawlamyine (Moulmein) Day 4: Mawlamyine – Bilu Island Day 5: Mawlamyine - Yangon
Day 1: Yangon – Bago – Golden Rock (Kyaikthiyo) [-/-/-] We will pick you up in the morning from your hotel in Yangon and drive 1.5hrs/80km to Bago, one of the richest archeological sites in Myanmar and the ancient capital of the Mon Kingdom. En route, we visit Htauk Kyan’s Allied Troops war cemetery honouring 6,000 war heroes, a Nat tree shrine, dedicated to the famous Nat spirit at the base of a very impressive tree, and a cottage industry that produces intricate woven bamboo crafts. In Bago we take a stroll through a colourful Bago Market and stop for a cup of tea or coffee in a local teashop. We continue to the impressive 55m reclining Buddha of Shwe Tha Lyaung and the 114m golden spire of the Shwemawdaw Pagoda, the tallest in Myanmar. After lunch at a local restaurant in Bago, we continue 3.5hrs/110km to Kin Pun base camp to change our mode of transport to an open truck. The ride is shared with local pilgrims for the next 11km to Yathetaung base camp, located 500m below the summit ridge. A further 1hr hike up a partly on a steep road and paved trail leads us to the summit. The Golden Rock, or Kyaikthiyo as the Burmese call it, is a fascinating sacred boulder covered in gold leaf and balanced precariously on the edge of a cliff. Crowning the boulder is a small shrine believed to contain Buddha’s hair relics, the source of the gravity defying magic. A continual stream of pilgrims from Myanmar and Asia come to witness the wonder at least once in their lifetime. We can then enjoy the tranquil sunset, soak in the unique atmosphere and share in wonder with the gathering of monks, nuns, and lay pilgrims.
Meals included: - Overnight stay: In a hotel near the Golden Rock
Day 2: Golden Rock – Hpa-An [B/-/-]
Today we wake up early for lovely sunrise views and a quiet morning stroll, and then have breakfast at the hotel before descending back to the Kinpun base camp. We drive to the quaint Karen State capital of Hpa-An, visiting Thaton, one of the ancient Mon kingdoms en route. Next we visit the Thamanya Monastery, the home of one of Myanmar’s most revered monks. After lunch at a local restaurant, we continue with visits to; the picturesque Kyauk Kalat, a standalone rock islet in the middle of a small lake; the Lumbini Garden, a park housing one thousand Buddha images with the majestic Mount Zwekabin as its backdrop; and the Saddar Cave, the most impressive limestone cave in the region, passing through an entire limestone mountain range and opening up to small lake and fields. The cave also displays fascinating rock formations inside. We arrive at Hpa-An late afternoon. Time permitting; we enjoy the sunset at Shweyinmyaw Pagoda at the bank of Thanlwin (Salween) River.
Meals included: Breakfast Overnight stay: In a hotel near Hpa-An.
Day 3: Hpa-An – Mawlamyine (Moulmein) [B/-/-] After breakfast, we take a stroll through the Central Market to get the feel for the life of the Hpa-An locals, and then visit the Kayin Cultural Museum, which exhibits the social, literary, musical and cultural heritage of the Karen (Kayin) ethnic peoples. Continuing on another 1hr drive, we reach Mawlamyine (Moulmein), the 4th largest city of Myanmar as well as 1st capital of British Burma, boasting many intact colonial era buildings. In the afternoon, we make an excursion 64km south of the city to Thanbyuzayat, the westernmost terminus station of the infamous Burmese-Siam “Death Railway” built by prisoners of war during World War 2. We visit the Mon State Cultural Museum with its displays of bronze, silverware, ceramics and sculptures; the Thanbyuzayat War Memorial that honors the Allied Troops of British, American, Australian and Dutch from the war; and a Death Railway museum with a small locomotive from bygone days to commemorate the start point of the tragic railway. If time permits, we learn about hand woven textiles at a weaving workshop on the way back to Mawlamyine.
Meals included: Breakfast Overnight stay: In a hotel in Mawlamyine.
Day 4: Mawlamyine – Bilu Island [B/-/-] After breakfast at the hotel we explore some authentic Myanmar rural life by catching a 1.5hr ferry ride to Bilu Island, a pleasant town that has been largely untouched by development. Touring by local pickup truck, we pass through idyllic rice paddy fields, rustic villages and palm-lined roads. A visit to cottage industry workshops allows us to learn about the how local crafts such as walking sticks, wooden pipes and pens are made. In the afternoon, we return to Mawlamyine and enjoy a trishaw ride, or bicycle taxi, to visit the city’s highlights. The day ends with a view of the sunset from the Kyaikthanlan Pagoda, immortalized in Rudyard Kipling’s poem that begins: “By the old Moulmein Pagoda, lookin’ lazy at the sea/ There's a Burma girl a-settin’, and I know she thinks o' me…”.
Meals included: breakfast Overnight stay: In a hotel in Mawlamyine.
Day 5: Mawlamyine - Yangon [B/-/-]
After an early breakfast at the hotel, we drive 7.5hrs/300km to Yangon. Near Kyaikthiyo, we stop for lunch at a local restaurant. If time permits, we visit a Mon weaving Workshop en route to Bago, with arrival to Yangon by the late afternoon.
Meals included: breakfast Overnight stay: not included
Optional: Elephant Coach A unique way of traveling in Myanmar with this lavishly restored, antique, post-Colonial, Chevrolet passenger bus. If you like to travel back in time in luxury, reliving the glamour of the past Asia, there is no better way to discover the heritage of Myanmar. Find out more on
http://www.asiaelephantcoach.com This tour is private and can be tailor-made to suit your travel needs. As a result the price is quoted in US dollars and shown on a per-person basis. The ‘Price From’ quoted is for a party of 6 to 8 people and for accommodation in 3 star hotels. The final price will be privately quoted, based on the number in your party, your preferred time of travel, grade of hotel and any additional services requested. Please click on the BOOK NOW button and fill in the booking form, after which one of our travel consultants will customize the best value holiday for you.
We are aware that a good tour must have good hotels. In Indochina particularly, hotel price makes up most of the cost of your holiday in Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos. All of our prices are calculated on a twin-shared basis. As a guide, Travel Loops defines hotel grades as follows: >>Superior Level (3 star hotels in good locations): > 60 USD/room/night
Price based on twin shared accommodation.
TBA 
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