Customized trips and eco-tours to Myanmar (Burma)

PINDAYA: Starting from Lake Inle, the small town of Pindaya can be reached in about three hours by car. The journey leads the traveler through a landscape which beauty has earned it the well-deserved nickname 'Myanmar’s Switzerland'. In a mystic cave above the village of Pindaya more than 8,000 Buddha statues have been placed by the faithful in the course of three centuries.
The place enjoys the reputation of having magical powers that can cure quite a number of diseases. In the surrounding villages the Danu people produce hand-made paper.

PYAY:
A five hours' drive from Yangon (on a remarkably good road) the traveler reaches the town of Pyay (also called Pyi or Prome) on the mighty Ayeyarwady River. On the way to Pyay it pays off to make a short stop at Shwedaung. A temple in this small town houses the famous 'Buddha with spectacles', which most probably is the only one of its kind in the world.

Near Pyay the ruined stupas and temples of the Pyu town Shri Kshetra (or Tharekittaya) are definitely worth a visit.

The Pyu culture was most probably the oldest culture in what is today Myanmar - since the 1^st century A.D. these mysterious people built their cities in the Ayeyarwady Basin. Shrikshetra was the last and most powerful of these cities.

From Pyay the road continues north to Aunglan, Magway and Yenanchaung and Bagan, following the Ayeyarwady River. Crossing the river bridge at Pyay, a road leads across the Rakhine Yoma Mountain Range to Ngapali, the country’s most famous seaside beach resort (also see 'beach holidays').

SITTWE & MRAUK U:
Sittwe, the capital of Rakhine State, is situated at the Bay of Bengal. From Yangon the city can be reached in little over an hour’s flight time.

Sittwe has a lot of Indian flair - Bangla Desh is 'just around the corner' and it shows! It is a very important center for the country’s thriving fishing industry. From here the boats travel up the picturesque Kaladan River to Mrauk U (In Burmese: Myohaung or Myauk U). Until the Burmese occupied Rakhine in the late 18^th century, it was the capital of an independent state.
In its heighday Mrauk U was a very cosmopolitan city: Chinese, Indians, Burmese, Portuguese and Arabs, even Japanese had their trading posts there.

A number of buildings, showing a strong influence of Mahayana Buddhism and all built in the 15^th to 17^th centuries A.D., bear witness to the city’s former importance. Mrauk U is a worthwhile destination for those who want to see other temple cities after Bagan. From Mrauk U excursions to the ancient cities of Vesali and Dhanyavati (which origins are dating back even to pre-Christian times) can be organized.

THE DEEP SOUTH:
The province Tenasseerim/Tanintharyi has only recently been opened for tourists.Coming from Yangon, air transport is the only choice as road transport is forbidden (the area is not safe) and ships are going there irregularly. Inside this province you may travel by air or by speedboat between the cities of Dawei, Myeik and Kawthaung. Speedboats are reliable and fast. The boats leave Dawei at 5 a.m., stop over in Myeik at about 9 a.m., and arrive in Kawthaung in the late afternoon.

Dawei is a quiet provincial town with the usual pagodas and a nice beach at some distance - the town is not located at the sea coast!

Myeik is the province’s capital and the largest town in Tanintharyi as well as home to the biggest fishery fleet in the country. The people of Myeik are a colourful mix: next to the ubiquitous Buddhist pagodas various mosques as well as Hindu and Chinese temples bear witness to the amazing ethnic diversity.

Kawthaung, situated directly at the Thai border is the starting point for boat trips and sightseeing in the Mergui Archipelago. Recently tourists can enter the country at this entry point, too. Therefore, it is now possible to start your trip to Myanmar in Kawthaung and to leave the country either via one of its international airports or overland via Tachileik/Mae Sai. Of course we’ll help you to get the visa.

Two private airlines regularly connect the deep south with Yangon: Bagan Airways flies the sector Yangon-Dawei-Myeik-Yangon three times a week, Yangon Airways has four flights a week from Yangon to Kawthaung (via Dawei/Myeik) and return. Hotels in the south are generally simple but o.k. - except the Andaman-Club Resort Hotel near Kawthaung: It offers five-star-luxury at moderate rates for food as well as for the rooms. Most of the guests come from Thailand and their major purpose is - gambling.

As mentioned above, trips to the islands of the Mergui Archipelago can be arranged from Kawthaung. Several tour operators offer boat trips of various durations (four days/three nights tours or similar). The clients usually sleep on the boats but sometimes in tents on one of the islets. Their programs typically include kayak tours, jungle trekking, fishing, scuba diving and snorkeling or just sunbathing. On these tours you’ll meet the Salon people (also known as Moken or sea gypsies) who ply the archipelago since time immemorial. The boats can usually accommodate small groups but single travelers are welcome, too.

Some operators offer complete packages from/to Yangon but it is also possible to book a tour in Kawthaung directly. Wide parts of the Mergui Archipelago have been declared as national park and foreigners have to pay a fee of 100 USD to go to this area.

ATTENTION: You need a permit to visit this province. It is easily available in Yangon or in Kawthaung, if you enter from Thailand.

OTHER DESTINATIONS: Kachin State in the extreme north of the country is rarely visited, but it won't be long before travelers will be able to climb the country’s - and South East Asia’s - highest mountain, Mount Hkakaborazi, from Putao. Chin State is famous for its natural beauty (Mount Victoria!) and Kyaingtong in the extreme northeast for its colorful tribes and excursions into the Golden Triangle.
Apart from some areas that are 'off limits' to foreigners because of insurgent and bandit activities all parts of Myanmar can be visited. However, in some cases a permit has to be obtained - We will be more than happy to assist you in this matter!
back © 2008 Axel Bruns