Burma The Golden Land

Day 1- Depart London Heathrow midday on an overnight flight to Bangkok.

Depart London Heathrow midday on a Thai Airways overnight flight to Bangkok (11 hours 35 minutes).

Day 2- Connect with your onward flight to Yangon. On arrival transfer to the Traders Hotel.

Connect with onward flight to Yangon (1 hour 15 minutes), arriving in the former capital later this morning. You will be met by the Tour Manager for a transfer to the Shangri-La owned Traders Hotel (deluxe room) for a 2 night stay. The rest of the day is at leisure. There is the option (no additional cost) of taking an afternoon walk to Scott Market, located a few minutes from your hotel. Please note on the 16th October 2013 departure guests will be accommodated at the Chatrium Hotel (deluxe room).

Day 3- Morning visit to Sule Pagoda as well as the markets. After lunch visit the Shwe Dagon Pagoda.

Morning visit to Sule Pagoda which dates back over 2,000 years and take a walking tour through the markets of Rangoon’s old colonial and Chinese quarters. A stop will also be made at Kandawgyi Lake. After lunch at a local restaurant there will be some free time before a late afternoon visit to sacred site of the dominating gilded Shwe Dagon Pagoda, reputed to contain more gold than is held in the vaults of the Bank of England. The atmosphere of this ancient site at sunset never fails to enchant as the gilded stupa is bathed in the fading rays of the sun and takes on a magical glow.

Day 4- Transfer to the airport for your morning flight to Mandalay. Stay at the Sedona Hotel.

After an early breakfast at the hotel transfer to the airport for the morning flight to Mandalay (1 hour 30 minutes), capital of Upper Burma. Transfer to the Sedona Hotel (deluxe room) for three nights. In the afternoon visit Mahamyatmuni Pagoda, to see the most revered Buddha image in Mandalay. A stop will be made to observe the laborious process of gold-leaf beating where gold is painstakingly hammered out into tissue-thin squares. Later visit the Shwenandaw Kyuang or Golden Teak Monastery known for its exquisite wood carvings and Kuthodaw Pagoda, known as the ‘world’s biggest book’. Finish the day watching the sunset from Mandalay Hill. Please note for 2013/14 departures, clients will be accommodated at the Mandalay Hill Resort (deluxe room).

Day 5- Full day visit to the ancient cities of Amarapura and Ava.

Full day visit to the ancient cities of Amarapura and Ava, former capitals of the Burmese Kingdom, very different but equally fascinating sites. In Amarapura you will cross the U Bein wooden bridge across the Taungthaman Lake and see traditional silk and cotton weaving workshops. There is the chance to walk around Mahaghandayon Monastery to observe the daily life of the monks studying Buddha’s scriptures. You can also witness the approximately 1,000 monks as they sit down for lunch. Lunch is at a local restaurant (without the monks!) before visiting Ava where you take a tour by pony cart for part of the journey. Visits are made to the Nan Myint Watchtower, a monastery and a small workshop where alms bowls are made for monks.

Day 6- Today is free.

Today is free with the option to visit the beautiful landscapes and famous gardens around Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo), an old colonial hill station in the Shan Hills.

Day 7- An early start today for your cruise to Bagan. Board the RV Yandabo. Sail the river with stops along the way. Back on land, transfer to the Bagan Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Resort.

An early start today for your cruise to Bagan. Board the RV Yandabo and set sail on the Irawaddy River for a full day’s cruising along Myanmar’s captivating riverside landscapes. A breakfast box will be provided from the hotel and lunch will be served on board. Cruising commences soon after embarkation and in the afternoon you will visit the village of Yandabo to see how the community live and support themselves. It was in this village that the peace treaty of the First Anglo-Burmese war was signed on the 24th February 1826. The shore excursion is approximately 1 hour with time to see the pottery making process for which Yandabo is also famous. Cast off for Bagan where you will arrive just after sunset on the river. Back on land transfer to the Bagan Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Resort for 3 nights (deluxe garden view room).

Day 8- Full day's sightseeing of Bagan.

Full day’s sightseeing of Bagan and its fabulous archaeological ruins. Comparable with the great Temples of Angkor, there are more than 2,000 pagodas and at least the same number again of ancient temple ruins. Sightseeing begins with the Nyaung U local market before visiting some of the key temples and pagodas. Ananda Temple is one of the best preserved whilst Dhammayan-gyi is noted for its remarkable brickwork. Shwezigon was built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious shrine. In the afternoon visit Myin-kaba village to the interesting process of making traditional lacquer ware, one of Myanmar’s best-known handicrafts. Near the village are some more interesting temples with some fine mural paintings. At sunset climb to the summit of one of the more serene temples to enjoy a panoramic scene of glorious Bagan and see the sun drop into the distant hills.

Day 9- Today is free.

Today is free, perhaps taking an optional visit to Mount Popa and Salay.

Day 10- Morning flight to Heho, continuing by road to Nyaung Shwe. Continue by boat to the Inle Princess Resort. In the afternoon take an excursion to see the local sites.

Morning flight to Heho in the Shan States (1 hour 15 minutes) and continue by road (30km/approximately 1 hour) through scenery of outstanding beauty to Nyaung Shwe. Continue by a short boat ride (25 minutes) to the Inle Princess Resort (lake front view chalet) for 2 nights. In the afternoon visit the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda and the Nga Phe Monastery, also known as the Jumping Cat Monastery. There is also the opportunity to see some of the floating gardens, houses and village life at Intha.

Day 11- Spend a full day exploring Inle Lake and surrounds by longtail boat.

Spend a full day exploring Inle Lake and surrounds by longtail boat. In the morning visit one of the five-day markets (so called as the markets rotate between 5 different locations over a 5 day period) where a variety of produce from around the lake is sold and is crowded with ethnic minorities in their traditional dresses. In the afternoon continue to the village of Indein, a 16th century temple site quite unlike those in Bagan, which has only recently been discovered.

Day 12- This morning return to Nyaung Shwe jetty. Continue to the Aye Thar Yar vineyard. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Yangon. Stay at the Trader's Hotel.

This morning return to Nyaung Shwe jetty. After continue to Aye Thar Yar vineyard. The vineyard is set in a stunning location than has been compared to Tuscany. An informative wine-tasting is obviously part of your visit as well as a tour through the vineyard, both conducted by professionals in their field. Lunch will be taken at the vineyard before driving the short distance to Heho airport for the flight back to Yangon (1 hour 10 minutes). Stay overnight at the Trader’s Hotel (deluxe room) with the option to upgrade to the Governor’s Residence for the last night. In the evening there will be a farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Day 13- Morning at leisure. In the afternoon depart the airport for your flight to Bangkok. Connect with your onward flight to London Heathrow.

The morning is at leisure. A late check out has been booked so you make the most of the day. In the late afternoon depart to the airport for Thai Airways flight to Bangkok (1 hour 25 minutes) and connect to the Thai Airways flight to London Heathrow (13 hours 5 minutes).

Day 14- Arrival at London Heathrow this morning.

Arrival at London Heathrow this morning.

Traders Hotel

Traders Hotel is in a prime location in the bustling business capital of Myanmar, with its colonial past blending with awe-inspiring pagodas, temples and monuments. It is close to key local attractions such as the Sule Pagoda, Bogyoke Aung San (Scott) Market and Chinatown. Room facilities include satellite/cable television, IDD telephone, electronic safe, mini-bar, coffee/tea making facilities and an in-house movie channel. Facilities include an outdoor swimming pool and health club and a choice of restaurants. The hotel does not have a money changing facility but provision for this will be made by the local guide who will be able to assist with exchanging hard currency into local Kyat on the day of arrival.

Sedona Hotel

Nestled on four acres of landscaped gardens, Sedona Hotel Mandalay is ideally located in the heart of the city and faces the majestic Royal Palace and Mandalay Hill. Sedona Hotel Mandalay has 247 rooms and suites, decorated with a mixture of ethnic and modern. Rooms have air-conditioning, colour TV with in-house movies and satellite channels, hairdryer, mini-bar, safe deposit box and IDD telephone. Hotel facilities include swimming pool, tennis court, fitness centre, shopping arcade, drugstore, 24-hour Doctor-on-call and laundry service.

Bagan Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Resort

The Thiripyitsaya Sakura Hotel is the best hotel in Bagan and is nestled on the banks of the mighty Irrawaddy River. Once a Government VIP guest hotel, this charming collection of villas is located in one of the finest sub-tropical gardens in Asia. The hotel has 52 international class bungalow rooms each with multi-split airconditioning, satellite TV, mini-bar, refrigerator, security safe and well-appointed ensuite shower room. Each villa has a spacious balcony and is decorated in local fabrics and natural woods evoking a traditional atmosphere. (www.thiripyitsaya.com)

Inle Princess Resort

The Inle Princess Resort nestles on the Eastern shore of the Inle Lake about 20 minutes boat ride from the town of Nyaung Shwe and near the village of Magyisin. The Resort offers guests a secluded retreat with 25 individual cottages, each built in the traditional style by local craftsmen using local wood and bamboo. The hotel restaurant serves a variety of International, Myanmar and Chinese dishes including the local specialties of the Shan, Intha, and Pao ethnic minorities.

Balloon over Bagan - £225.00 per person

Extra Days:0Cost:from £ 0

A unique opportunity to see the ancient temples of Bagan, described by Marco Polo as ‘one of the finest sights in the world’, from an entirely different perspective. Your flight will take place in the early morning or an hour or so before sunset and is subject to stable weather conditions. Advance booking is highly recommended for this once in a lifetime experience.

Thailand Extension

Extra Days:0Cost:from £ 420

From the Andaman Sea to the Gulf of Thailand, these tropical havens are amongst the finest beaches in the world. Served by some of the best resorts in Asia, the golden sands of Koh Samui, Krabi, Koh Lanta and the royal favourire Hua Hin offer a choice of idyllic getaways.

The Governor’s Residence upgrade

Extra Days:0Cost:from £ 155

Spectacular and stylish, the imposing grandeur of this resorted Burmese mansion house is the perfect setting from which to explore the delights of Rangoon's former glories. Set within a lotus garden in the embassy district of Yangon, the Governor's Residence is ideally located for exploring the city, and its 49 air-conditioned teak furnished rooms provide luxury and an enviable range of modern amenities, including large free-form baths. The hotel also offers a good range of dining experiences, as well as cookery classes, a beautiful swimming pool and revitalising massage facilities.

Thai Airways - Business Class

Cost: from £ 1625

Thai Airways currently has two types of business class seats available on long haul flights: a cradle style 'old' seat, and a new lie flat style which reclines to 170 degrees for sleeping, with each seat having telephone and laptop power point. The new seating is available on the A340-600, B747-400 (Selected aircraft), B777-300 (Selected aircraft),B777-200 and B777-200ER.