Myanmar Family Tour
Overview
When you traveling with kids, Myanmar is like a magical new world to explore. Centuries-old temples standing on hills hidden in caves are shrouded in mystery and serenity, the odd street foods fill the air with pleasant taste, and the trational wet markets allows you to meet and talk with various ethnic minority groups and glimpse into local way of life. On this 10 days Myanmar family tour, there’re things to cheer up both parents and kids, from cooking class, hiking journey, boat cruise to temple tour and exciting ancient capital adventure.
Duration: 10 days & 9 nights
Destinations: Yangon - Heho - Kalaw - Inle Lake - Mandalay - Bagan - Yangon
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Welcome to Yangon, the capital of Myanmar. Landing at the airport, you will be met and welcomed by your English speaking tour guide and start your trip to explore Yangon highlights. Get into the colonial-style city center and visit one of Yagon’s landmarks, Sule Paya stupa – traced back over 2,000 years ago and the focal point of lots of historical events in the city – Chauk Htat Gyi pagoda to view its majestic reclining Buddha. Later visit Karaweik Hall to marvel at the uniquely decorated “hamsa-bird-shaped” on Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake. Contine the trip of Yangon and visit Bogyoke (Scotts) Market, where all kinds of gemstone, handicrafts, art, clothes and food stores are tucked in a plethora of color. We end the day with a visit to one of the world’s most remarkble monuments, the Shwedagon Pagoda, a gold covered bell dome structure that reign over the city’s skyline. It is said that strands of sacred Buddha’s hair are kept and enshrined here. The Shwedagon is an iconic symbol of Myanmar, a must-see sight for your Myanmar tour.
Important Notes:
- The market is closed on Mondays and on public Burmese holidays.
This morning, we head for Moeyungyi. En route, pay a visit to the Allied Troops War Cemetery honoring 6,000 war heroes of WWII. Continue driving on Yangon-Mandalay highway, arriving Moeyungyi wetlands located in Bago Division, about 113 km / 70 miles north of Yangon. In 1878 a water storage reservoir was built in Moeyungyi area and changed naturally and magically into a vast wetlands with the extent of 103 sq km / 40 square miles many years later. Moeyungyi wetlands have a high wetland conservation value, and therefore have been listed as a wildlife sanctuary since 1988. Every year, millions of birds may fly from the northern hemisphere to the south along the East Asian Australian Flyway to escape from the coldness of winter. They stop for months, resting and living momentarily in Asia. Moeyungyi is one of network of wetlands along the incredible flyway.
Moeyungyi is a crutial refuge for both local residents and migratory waterfowls. According to a census report of Moeyungyi there are 125 species of water birds including 70 species of migrants, such as Little Grebe, Purple Heron, Grey Heron, Sarus Crane, Asian Open-Bill, Ruddy Shelduck, Pheasant Tailed Jacana, Black Winged Stilt, Great Cormorant, etc., can be seen abundantly. The best time to visit Moeyungyi wetlands is from November to the next February. In addition to bird watching, you can also observe the livelihood of local populace, fauna and flora of the wetlands.
In the afternoon, drive back to Yangon and return to your hotel.
Meal: B
Leave Yangon. Transfer to Yangon airport to catch your morning flight to Heho, a peaceful transit town with one of the few airport that links in the beautiful mountains of Shan State.
Visit the bustling main Heho Market, a local fair for different ethnic minority groups of the surrounding areas to trade handmade goods and locally grown products (on market days only). On the way to Kalaw, we stop at a Local Family Work Shop to learn how to make Shan umbrellas and paper in a traditional way using old skills and the fibres of the mulberry tree. Kids can work out the traditional methods, use their creativity to make different designs on Shan paper.
Next, we take a 1-hour journey by driving to Kalaw, a former British colonial hill station where British officials and ambassadors would spend hot summer season enjoying the fresh mountain air and drinking gin and tonic. After we settle into the hotel and enjoy lunch (own arrangement). Then we will spend the afternoon hours hiking around Kalaw to take in beautiful forest vistas, especially suitable for active travelers. Local guides can adjust the hiking length and add some more active activities according to your personal wishes.
Meal: B
Today we drive for about 50 mintues getting to Magwe village where Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp Site is situated. Get out of the vehicle and be welcomed by our team who will lead you to the camp (5mins) to enjoy some light refreshment. Walk (5-7min) to the river where the elephants, fathers, mothers and baby elephant are bathed happily and your family can join in feeding and bathing the elephants. Then you will sit on the elephant’s back going through the forest, with chance to see butterflies, birds and orchids around our conservation area (30-40 min). For the rest of the time, you may explore the surrounding area that interest you accompanied by local trekking guide.
Your family are also welcome to join us in our forest recovery efforts program - planting regional trees from our nursery. Walk back to the main camp. Then drive back to Kalaw.
Meal: B, L
Enjoy a happy and relaxing morning, walking with children to the Kalaw Market, where ethnic minority groups gather for busy trading with one another. Thereafter move to Inle Lake, with about 2-hour road trip to take in the views of the countryside. After checking into the hotel, we visit Phaungdaw oo Pagoda, home to some of Myanmar’s most sacred Buddha statues blanketed in gold leaf. It will also an interesting experience visiting Inpawkhon Weaving Village to observe and learn how local silks, linens and lotus fabrics are handmade and crafted.
Meal: B
After breakfast, we transfer to Bamboo Delight in the heart of Nyaung Shwe to take a cooking class. But first your family will be escorted to a market to pick fresh vegetables, mushrooms, fruits, herbs and some other food materials needed in cooking. Here comes the cooking class. Firstly the teacher will explain the logic behind each step of the cooking process. Everything is cooked over traditional wood-fired open pots. Enjoy lunch with foods cooked by yourself.
In the afternoon, transfer to Heho airport, flyin to Mandalay. Upon arrival, We visit to beautiful and magical ancient capital, Amarapura, known for its textile industries.
There, your family will visit a cottage industry workshop to learn how Myanmar longyis and traditional fabrics are woven. Continue the trip visiting the famous Ubein Bridge, which is a simple yet remarkable teak structure that spans 1,2km over Taungtaman Lake. For your family fun, a boat trip can be arranged onto the calm waters. Watch the sun set at Ubein Bridge, which will be silhouetted by the gleamy light. It is a incredible experience and a photographer’s dream.
Meal: B, L
Today we have an amazing journey to the Ancient Kingdoms of Myanmar near Mandalay. We transfer 15km to Ava (Inwa), the ancient capital of Shan and Burmese kingdoms for over 400 years. Take a ferry crossing the Myit Nge River, the small roads of Ava are explored by horse-drawn carts.
We visit the Bagaya Teak Monastery, built over three centuries ago, old yet well preserved and still in use by local monks; the Nanmyin Watch Tower, the only remaining structure of the Ava dynasty palace compound also called the “Leaning Tower of Ava”; and the Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery, a 300-year old architectural wonder with beautiful and graceful archways.
And we head for the major highlights of the city: the holy Mahamuni Pagoda, home to one of the most significant Buddha images covered in several tons of gold leaf and the crown prize in wars between competing kingdoms; the Golden Palace Monastery, the last standing Royal Palace building in Mandalay, offering a glimpse of the original style and architecture of the Myanmar royals; Lastly but the least, the Kuthodaw Pagoda, a compound housing Buddha’s teachings carved in the sacred Pali script on stone tablets and considered as the world’s largest book in terms of surface area.
Enjoy the sunset panoramic views over city skyline on Mandalay Hill, the highest point of the city，cherishing the loving moment with family and end of today.
Meal: B
Depart from Mandalay, flying to Bagan /Nyaugn U. Upon arrival, we visit to the Nyaugn U Market, the largest market in the Bagan area, to witness yourself into the local life. Your family will also see how cottage industries like brick making are carried out with traditional methods. Then admire the gilded Shwezigon Stupa, purported to keep a holy tooth relic of the Buddha. Later visit Kyansitha Umin, a cave temple, with long dimly lit corridors beautifully decorated with murals, which some believed were painted by Tartar invaders during the Mongol occupation after 1287.
Next, we pay a visit to Gubyaukgyi (Wet-Kyi-Inn). this 13th-century ‘cave temple’ has an Indian-style spire like the Mahabodhi Paya in Bagan. Here you can find the fine frescoes of scenes from the Jatakas. Then go to Htilominlo Temple to learn the way to make Burmese sand paintings.
Today’s temple tour continues with a visit to the wonderfully symmetric and majestic Ananda Temple. Inside the temple there are four standing Buddha images that seem to gaze at the visitor with fixed serenity wherever the visitor stands. Then we visit Dhamayangyi Temple, the biggest temple of Bagan with the thickest walls and the Sulamani Temple. In the end, proceed to Bupaya or Shwesandaw Pagoda to watch the sun set over the serene Ayeyarwaddy River.
Meal: B
Wake up for another interesting day, taking a boat out across the Irrawaddy to the island of Kyun Thiri, where we enjoy the morning peace and refreshment visiting the local monastery. According to Burmese tradition that all Buddhist males must at some time in their lives become monks – even if it is only a few days. During our visit we will make a donation to the monastery to help some of the poor or orphaned boys in undertaking their vows. Spend the remainder of the morning taking with the people of the island, understanding their unique agricultural way of life.
In the afternoon, we proceed to Monastic School (Zay Ta Won) where over 500 students from nearby villages study here. The students and their families are not able to afford normal education. Your family, the parents and chidren, can help pupils with their daily activities or teaching them some English lessons and make donation if only you wish.
Meal: B
Free time in the morning until your guide and driver pick you up and transfer to Bagan/Nyaung U airport for the domestic flight to Yangon. Upon arrival, directly transfer to Yangon international airport for your flight back home. End of service and 10 days Myanmar Family Tour.
Meal: B
