Compare Myanmar: Hiking and Visiting the Hill Tribes by Myths and Mountains vs 9 Day Classic Kenya Safari by Ker & Downey Africa

Day 1: Arrive Yangon. Sunset at Shwedagon. Welcome Dinner

Meals: Dinner

Accommodation: Sule Shangrila, Strand Or The Governor’s Residence

Arriving in Yangon International Airport, you will clear customs and immigration. Leaving the airport, you will be met by your guide and transferred to the hotel.

Late in the afternoon, you will be picked up in time for sunset at the Shwedagon Pagoda – a good way to start your visit to Myanmar. “Of all the shrines,” writes Shway Yoe in The Burman, “Shwe Dagon Paya, the great pagoda of Rangoon and the most venerable place of worship in all the Indo-Chinese countries, is the finest and most universally visited.” As Yoe indicates, the sanctity of Shwedagon is due to the fact that it contains relics not only of Gautama Buddha, but also of the three Buddhas that preceded him. Legend has it that there are Gautama’s eight hairs, the drinking gourd of Kaukkathan, the robe of Gawnagong, and the staff of Kasapa. Built by King Okkalapa about 525 BC, around the time of the Buddha, Shwedagon today is said to contain more gold than the Bank of England.

Spend a spiritual evening making offerings and watching the glowing colors of the golden stupas of Myanmar's most famous landmark. Every evening the residents of the city assemble at the pagoda to meditate and pay their respects to the Buddha. Enjoy the flickering lights and delicate aromas of candles and sticks of incense being lit as offerings and observe the saffron-clad monks passing through the temple. Join in this very special and unique ceremony with an offering of oil lamps. Note: Dress code is as most religious temples in Asia; wear trousers or at least knee-length shorts or skirt; t-shirts with elbow length sleeves are also expected and you are expected to be barefooted when entering Shwedagon Pagoda.

From Shwedagon, you will head to a welcome dinner at House of Memories.

Day 2: Tour Yangon

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Sule Shangrila, Strand or The Governor’s Residence

You have a whirlwind tour of beautiful Yangon in store for you. The city itself is bordered on three sides by water - the Hlaing River on the west and south side and Pazundaung Creek to the east. History indicates that there has been a settlement in the area for more than 2500 years, although most books start with the founding of the Shwedagon Pagoda on the hill of King Okkalapa’s village of Dagon. It was not until King Alaungpaya captured Dagon from the Mons in 1755 and renamed it “End of Strife,” or Yangon, that Yangon became a city and thriving port in its own right.

You have a whirlwind tour of beautiful Yangon in store for you. The city itself is bordered on three sides by water - the Hlaing River on the west and south side and Pazundaung Creek to the east. History indicates that there has been a settlement in the area for more than 2500 years, although most books start with the founding of the Shwedagon Pagoda on the hill of King Okkalapa village of Dagon. It was not until King Alaungpaya captured Dagon from the Mons in 1755 and renamed it “End of Strife,” or Yangon, that Yangon became a city and thriving port in its own right.

So that you can have an overview of Yangon as a city, you head first to the colorful Hledan Market, always bustling at this hour of the morning. From there, you embark on Yangon’s circular train. The train weaves through Yangon's main townships and districts in a rough circle and is the lifeline for many of the working classes and offers an unparalleled insight into the lives of the Burmese. Observe the students and workers in their daily commute and the vendors and hawkers plying their trade. Return to Yangon by train.

Leaving the train station, you head to the Botataung Pagoda, named after the 1000 military leaders who escorted relics of the Buddha brought from India 2000 years ago. Completely destroyed in WW2, Botataung, was rebuilt with a hollow interior, so that one can walk through it and see what is inside of a typical pagoda.

Next you take a walking tour of the city to see the old British colonial buildings, law courts, post office, several embassies, and the wonderful old Strand Hotel. The walk also takes you past Sule Pagoda and ends at Scotts Market.

If Shwedagon is the heart of Burma, the Sule Pagoda, is the heart of the city, the place where many Burmese go after a busy day to find relaxation and tranquility. The pagoda was named after Sule Nat, an ogre and one of the mythical beings revered by all Burmans. It was Sule Nat who helped Thagyarmin, the Nat King, locate the relics of the Buddhas and pinpoint the location for Shwedagon. Sule Pagoda dates back to the 3rd century BC. What it lacks, perhaps, in magnificence, is more than compensated for by its homespun warmth and charm.

You have time to make a stop at the River Gallery, not for shopping, but to get a sense of some of the modern artists in Myanmar today and see what they are creating. The exploration ends at Scotts Market.

Tonight’s dinner is on your own, but you might enjoy the Shwe Kaung Hot Pot Restaurant in Chinatown.

Day 3: Fly Bagan on K7 262 (0700/0820) and Tour

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Bagan Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Resort

Rising early, you will return to the airport and catch a 45-minute flight to Bagan on K7 262 (0700/0820).

If Angkor Wat amazes the visitor with its size, Bagan will stun with the extent of its building. Although in its heyday, from about the 11th to 13th century, Bagan must have had thousands of temples, even today the remains of about 5000 temples dot an area of 16 square miles along the east bank of the Irawaddy. The history of Bagan can be traced back to about 108AD, but its glory dates from the reign of Anawrahta from 1044-1077AD. It was Anawrahta who was responsible for transporting Theravada Buddhism north from Thaton to Bagan, Mandalay, and the rest of Burma. A movement spread with a blend of magic, war, and fervent faith. Bagan is a land of ghosts, hermits, kings, Pali scholars and lovers on a site that once was nothing but jungle. The city flourished as a center of learning and architecture until 1287, when the great Chinese Emperor, Kublai Khan swept through, ravaging the countryside and destroying the temples. Bagan was violated twice more - by a serious earthquake in 1975, and by the forced eviction of the local people by the government in 1990.

Your tour today will begin at the Nyaung U Market, a lively affair in the mornings, when people come to buy and sell spices, crafts, vegetables, meat and other goods.

Nearby is Anawrahta’s Shwezigon Pagoda, his center of worship for the new Theravada religion he had brought to Pagan. Enshrined in the temple are all sorts of relics - a collar and frontal bone of the Buddha, the Celonese Tooth of Kandy, and an emerald Buddha from China. In the tradition, however, of other Buddhist missionaries, Anawrahta did not ignore the original local Gods. The Burmese has, always revered Nats, or local spirits,, and Anawrahta incorporated the 37 key nats into the design of the Pagoda.

Next you can head to the Bagan Archeological Museum. Built in 1998, the Bagan Museum gives an interesting glimpse into the glorious past of Bagan. The Museum holds a large number of religious images found in the temples around Bagan. The main gallery houses the 'Rosetta Stone', dating from 1113, which is inscribed in Pyu, Mon, Pali and Burmese allowing scholars to decode the Pyu script for the first time.

From the museum, your path leads to the last of the Burman style pagodas, Htilominlo, constructed in 12ll by King Nantaungmya. Htilominlo contains some interesting frescoes representing the 28 Buddhas of the future.

The masterpiece of Mon architecture is the Ananda Temple, inspired by the magical stories of 8 monks who visited King Kyanzittha.

Next you head to the area around Myinkaba. The Kubyaukkyi Temple here is classic Mon style, and contains Burma’s “Rosetta Stone,” the Myazedi Stone. Rajakumar, the builder of Kubyaukkyi, inscribed the stone in four languages, among them, the previously indecipherable Pyu language. The stone also detailed the history of the Pagan dynasties. King Manuha’s home in Myinkaba was later converted into the Nanpaya Temple, and illustrates the Brahman influence on Mon architecture.

In the evening, you will have a home-hosted dinner in Baw Lone Kyun Village

Day 4: Burmese Tea Experience and Excursion to Mt. Popa and Kyauk Gu Umin

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Bagan Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Resort

You have a full day excursion to Mount Popa. On the way, stop in the small village of Shwe Hlaing for a Burmese tea experience at a local toddy farm hut. Try some famous tea leaf salad accompanied by a cup of delicious Burmese tea. Then take a stroll to watch the locals demonstrate how they climb the palm trees and use the sap to make palm sugar and fiery liquor.

Mount Popa (the name means “flower” in Sanskrit), the abode of the nats amidst the woodlands, is an enchanted place where goblins and spirits still wander. As a popular song intones:

Popa, the Sacred Mount Popa,

The Golden Popa, how I wish I could come to thee.

How I wish I could be where in their grand shrine,

Dwell happy the Blacksmith Maung Tint Dai and his sisters.

O how I wish to be where the dark stranger Byatta,

With his Golden Girs went a mating,

And where two princely sons came forth.

The drive to Mount Popa from Pagan runs first through dusty, arid plains, then through vineyards, banana plantations, and woodlands laced with flowing streams. Suddenly, alone, rising 4,981 feet above the range of hills is Mount Popa, an extinct volcano thrust to the surface about 2500 years ago by an earthquake. It takes about an hour to make the steep climb up to the top of the mountain with its pagodas and Buddhist shrines, but the view of the countryside is perhaps the most beautiful panorama in central Burma. If you were Burmese, you might buy a green coconut encased in a woven cane hanger, decorated with a spray of red ribbon and a longstemmed palm leaf fan. This offering is for Maung Tint Dai (Mr. Handsome), the “Lord of the Great Mountain,” who, with his sister Dway Hla or “Golden Face,” and his daughter, Ma Nai Lay (“Little Miss Lonesome’) are the dominant deities of the Mountain. The shrine for these nats is about half way up the mountain.

After visiting Mt. Popa, travel by boat to the Kyauk Gu U Min, a cave temple on the banks of the Irrawaddy, with notable sandstone carvings and a colossal Buddha image. Continue downriver back towards Bagan, watching life along the riverbanks and enjoying the view of sunset over the Irrawaddy.

Day 5: Drive Kampetlet Via Chauk

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Floral Breeze

Today you want to leave early, as you have a long drive up to the Chin area of Kampetlet. Be prepared, depending on weather, roads can be bumpy or under repair. You can stop along the way for photos, get out and stretch your legs and enjoy lunch at some local restaurants. If all goes well, you will arrive in Kampetlet midafternoon.

The hotel where you are staying – Mountain Oasis II is fairly simple, but you will have nice views over the Chin hills. You are fairly high, so be prepared and bring a jacket.

Day 6: Climb Mt. Victoria And Return to Kampetlet

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Floral Breeze

Today you begin with a climb up Mt. Victoria. After breakfast in the cool of the morning, you can head out with a picnic lunch to climb 10, 016-foot Mt. Victoria. The path begins rather steeply along a road, but then levels off more easily about a third of the way up. As you walk the path is dotted with wildflowers at all seasons, and there are wonderful views across the mountains to the north. In the spring, the hillside is ablaze with rhododendrons of all colors. You walk through a blend of hobbit forests and open areas – a good diversity along the way. Walking slowly, the climb can take about 3 hours or a bit more. Unfortunately, the road is wide enough for motorcycles and occasional cars, so you may bump into non-hikers along the way. On the top, there is a small pagoda and shaded area where you can picnic.

Descending the mountain by the same route you climbed, you can drive back to your hotel and wash up. Then you can explore the small town of Kampetlet. There are a few bead stores, a small market and an orphanage, started by a delightfully energetic woman, who has managed to fund a good part of the care of abandoned children on her own.

In the evening, you will sleep at the hotel.

Day 7: Option A – Drive Mindut and Explore.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Mountain Oasis Ii

After and early breakfast, you will drive out to Mindut. Assuming the roads are good, the drive should take only about a couple of hours. Arriving in Mindut, you can wander the area. Mindut is a simple Chin town, situated at about 4860 feet. The area is semi-cultivated and has a lovely pine forest. The weather tends to be cool and pleasant all year. As you walk the town, you will notice that many of the houses are built in the British colonial style.

Today you can visit at least one of the nearby hill tribes. You can walk down a road to a small village, explore the houses and fields and learn about their worship and burial practices. When you return to town, you can visit the local market and an excellent textile store with local textiles and others from remoter border areas. You can also meet with some of the few women left in the area know how to use a “nose flute” and play different tunes.

Area Background:

Actually, the word “Chin” was a derogatory term used by the Burmans to denote all of the various hill tribes in the area. In fact, the people, about 30,000 of them, are known as the Mindut. Most of the tribes here earn their living by trapping, hunting and logging and practice swidden cultivation. Essentially, they clear the dense plant growth off the land by burning the vegetation, grow dry rice on the cleared fields for three or four years, and then move on.

Since the Mindut are not able to raise enough rice to feed themselves, they supplement their income by working at seasonal migratory jobs – cutting sugarcane, working in factories, and mining precious gems, such as jade, rubies and sapphires.

Most Mindut houses have only one room and all activities take place on the floor where food is cooked and eaten. Mats are laid out on the floor for sleeping at night and then rolled up during the day. Since the floor is the center of the home, one would never walk on it wearing shoes.

Generally speaking, the Mindut are animistic and believe that all of the elements of the world are connected with spirits or supernatural beings, who can help deal with life’s problems.

Some of these spirits are good and some are very evil – the nats. They will spend their lives trying to appease these spirits, often spending more money on religious issues than health, schooling, clothing or other basic needs.

Day 8: Return to Bagan

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Bagan Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Resort

When you are ready, you will begin the long drive back to Bagan on some of the world’s bumpiest roads. Your drive takes you across the Pontaung and Ponnyar mountain ranges. Here Myanmar and foreign anthropologists discovered fossilized remains of an anthropoid primate as well as wild fauna and flora dating back more than 40 million years, 7 million years older than their Egyptian counterparts, once considered the oldest.

After lunch in Pauk, you continue to Kyunchaung, cross the Irawaddy by ferry and drive on to Bagan.

Day 9: Fly Mandalay and Tour City

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Accommodation: Bagan King Hotel Or Mandalay Hill Resort

This morning, you will catch a flight from Bagan to Mandalay on K7 262 (0835/0905) and begin to learn about the last seat of Burma’s kings before the British annexation in 1885.

Although today’s tour ends with sunset on Mandalay Hill, in fact, the city’s history begins here. Legend has it that an ogress, Canda Mukhi, came to pay homage to the Buddha, who was giving teachings on the top of what came to be Mandalay Hill. Wanting to make a gift to the Buddha, and having nothing worthy to offer, she plucked off her breasts and laid them at Buddha’s feet. Blessing her, Buddha said that she would be reborn one day as the prince who would be the founder and ruler of a future Mandalay. King Mindon, the founder of Mandalay, is believed to be the reincarnation of Canda Mukhi. At the foot of Mandalay Hill is King Mindon’s Kuthodaw Pagoda, famous as the repository of the “world’s largest book.” The “book” consists of a series of marble tablets with a Pali script rendition of the Buddhist cannon or Tripitaka. The tablets were carved for the Fifth Buddhist Synod, convened by King Mindon. Near the hill’s south staircase is the Kyaukdawgyi Pagoda, begun in 1853 and housing a monumental marble statue of the Buddha.

One of the most interesting and beautiful sites in Mandalay is the Shwenandaw Kyaung, or Golden Palace Monastery. Once part of King Mindon’s palace complex and the building in which he died, Shwenandaw is a delicate example of a traditional Burmese wooden monastery. Dismantled and reassembled by King Thibaw in 1880 as a monastery, Shwenandaw today houses a large number of monks. Some of the carved panels on the inside represent stories from the Jatakas, tales of the Buddha before he became enlightened.

After lunch at a local restaurant, you can explore some of the crafts of Mandalay. You will visit a puppetry workshop, a gold leaf hammering workshop, the Jade Market, and a tapestry and woodcarving workshop.

Then, in case you need to shop, you can head to the huge Zeigyo Market, where you can find just about everything made in Myanmar, from jam to jewelry to fabrics.

The afternoon ends with sunset on Mandalay Hill.

In the evening, you can enjoy a string puppet and cultural show at the Marionettes Theater.

Day 10: Tour Mandalay

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Bagan King or Mandalay Hill Resort

It is truly worthwhile to get up early and watch Buddha get a bath at Mandalay’s religious hub - the Maha Muni Pagoda. Believed to be one of only five likenesses of Buddha created during his lifetime, Maha Muni is revered by Burmese Buddhists as an opportunity to actually see the Buddha in person. In fact, legend has it that the Buddha himself embraced the statue seven times, imparting life to it, and exhorted it to represent him and his teachings. King Bodawphaya brought the statue to Mandalay from Arakan in 1784 as a war trophy. Buddha gets his bath at 4:30am; and that so many people are in the temple at that hour is a testimony to the reverence in which the statue is held.

After breakfast, explore Sagaing and Amarapura, two of the ancient capitals of Myanmar, and discover hundreds of beautiful temples and artisanal workshops.

On the way to Sagaing, stop at Shankalay Kyun, a small village and home to talented artisans. Take a stroll through the plantations and visit some of the workshops to see the craftsmen practicing furniture making, wood carving and bronze casting.

Cross the Irrawaddy River via Yadanapon Bridge, also known as New Ava Bridge, and enjoy the views of the Old Ava Bridge built by the British in 1934. The bridge leads you into Sagaing, the spiritual center of Myanmar, where hundreds of white, silver and gold pagodas and monasteries dot the hilly landscape. Visit U Min Thoe Se Pagodas containing 45 Buddha images; and the 17th century Kaung Hmu Daw Pagoda, which boasts a number of Buddhist relics.

Carry on up Sagaing Hill to see Sun U Pon Nya Shin Pagoda and admire the sweeping views over the city and the Irrawaddy River. Stop in one of the small villages to discover the unique craft of making paper dolls. See how the dolls are molded, and then decorated with gold paper and paint. Keep a look out for the paper dolls in the shape of owls, as these are believed to bring good luck and fortune to the owner.

Continue to Amarapura to see exquisite fabrics being produced in the silk weaving workshops. Then head to the famous U Bein Bridge, built from teak and stretching for more than half a mile across Taung Thaman Lake. Linger here for a while to take photos of the breathtaking sunset, before returning to Mandalay.

Day 11: Fly Kyaing Tong

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Amazing Kyaing Tong Resort - Suite

Returning to the airport, you will catch a flight from Mandalay to Kyaing Tong and drive through some extraordinary countryside to Kyaing Tong, the center of the Golden Triangle and one of the most picturesque of the towns in Shan State. Once strongly fortified, you can still see the remnants of one of the walls. Not only is Kyaing Tong an important Shan business center and frontier town, it is a jumping off point for treks up to the different minority villages in the area.

Some of the local tribes include:

Wa People: Darker-complexioned and stocky, they are one of the better known of the smaller ethnic groups. They used to practice headhunting as a part of their fertility rites until fairly recently.

Palaung People: Descended from Mon-Khmer stock and inhabiting the Kalaw area, they were amongst the earliest inhabitants of Myanmar and are famous for growing tea. Unlike other minorities, they have never grown opium.

Lahu People: Lahu women are skilled in weaving cloth, both on back-strap and foot-treadle looms and produce delicate patchwork trims and unusual embroidery work. The Black Lahu women wear the most distinctive costumes within this tribe - a black cloak with diagonal cream stripes. The top of the sleeve is decorated in bold colors of red and yellow. Lahu men produce excellent crossbows, musical instruments, and other items made of wood, bamboo and rattan.

Akha (Kaw) People: Like most other hill tribes, the Akha have no written language and transmitted their history orally through colorful legends and proverbs and through rituals handed down from one generation to the other. The Akha are able to at least trace and recite the male line of their family back to what they consider the "beginning."

Day 12: Visit Villages

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Amazing Kyaing Tong Resort– Suite

After breakfast, travel by vehicle for about 45 minutes and begin an easy walk through monsoon forests overlooking rice paddies, stopping to visit Wan Sai, an Akha village. The costume of the Akha ladies is simple: a wide sleeved short black jacket over a sarong of horizontal red stripes on black.

Enjoy a picnic lunch at Kaba Aye Naung, a Mon village, and continue to Ho Lan, an Enn village, before returning to Kyaing Tong. The Enn inhabit the higher slopes and are distinctive for their black-dyed teeth and traditional costumes.

Day 13: Visit Loimwe

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Amazing Kyaing Tong Resort – Suite

Drive out of Kyaing Tong past forest, rice fields and lakes, and climb up to Loimwe, or “Misty Mountain”, a former British Hill Station. On the way, you will stop at different villages to get a sense of local life, such as the Akha village of Ho Lup, and the Wa villages of Nang Cho and Wa. The surrounding area is home to Akha, Panwal, Lahu and Akha ethnic groups.

Day 14: Fly Heho

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Amara Mountain Resort

The morning is free to wander the market or relax. Then it’s back to “Ye Olde Airport” for a flight to Heho. When you get to Heho, you will head out to Kalaw, about 45 miles west of Taunggyi.

Day 15: Hike to Elephant Camp, Care for Elephants and Return Kalaw

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Amara Mountain Resort

This morning, you can take a 1-2-hour hike to the Green Hill Elephant Camp, to learn about the elephants and help with a reforestation project undertaken by the people. You will have the opportunity to feed and bathe the elephants under the watchful eye of the mahouts. There is a lovely waterfall, where you can enjoy some refreshments before heading to the camp for lunch. In the afternoon, you can try sitting on the elephants like the mahouts. You will return to the main camp and help plant regional trees and aid in our reforestation efforts. Then you return to Kalaw by car.

Day 16: Explore Kalaw Villages and Drive Inle

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Inle Princess Resort

Kalaw is a charming hill station surrounded by pine trees and forests. Nearby are villages of Palaung and other hill tribes, who visit the Kalaw market in their colorful ethnic dress. Kalaw is still a peaceful and quiet place, with an atmosphere reminiscent of the colonial era. The small population is a mix of Shan, Indian Muslim, Bamar and Nepali.

Today you can visit the town with its different temples and the Catholic Church under the supervision of the Burmese Father Paul and the Italian Father Angelo Di Meo, who have been in Myanmar since 1931.

If time permits, you can also visit some of the villages. People of the Palaung and Pao tribes inhabit the plateau near Kalaw. Intha, Shan Taungthu, Taung-yo, Danu, Kayah, Danaw and Bamar people occupy the mountains to the north and east. One of the main income sources for the region is the cultivation of “thanaq-hpeq” a large leave used to wrap Burmese cigars.

In the late afternoon, you will drive to Inle, and take a boat to your hotel.

Day 17: Tour Inle

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Accommodation: Inle Princess Resort

If one had to pinpoint Peter Pan’s “Never Never Land,” Inle Lake is as good a place as any. Travel books use such adjectives as “mystical,” “magical,” or “fairy tale” to describe the 70-mile long, relatively shallow expanse of water that has become the home and lifeblood of the Inthas, or lake people. Originally from Tenasserim, a village in the south of Burma on a part of the narrow Malay Peninsula bordering on Thailand, the Inthas migrated north to Shan State from the 14th to the 18th centuries to avoid the continual territorial conflicts between Thailand and Burma. They brought with them their unique way of fishing and developed a fascinating lifestyle and system of cultivation. Around the lake is a network of water hyacinths anchored in a layer of silt. Some of the Inthas buy plots of this “land,” tow it off home, and use it to plant gardens. Those that don’t buy the plots, make troughs of floating weeds bound together and anchored to the lake bottom with bamboo poles. The troughs are filled with dirt, planted with vegetables of all sorts, and become floating gardens or kyunpaws.

Today you have the chance to mix and mingle with the Inthar people and discover their life, culture and cuisine.

Watching the Inthas fish is as fascinating as watching the gardening. Intha boatmen balance on the stern of the boat with one foot and maneuver through the clear water with the other leg wrapped around an oar. When they notice the movement of a fish, they drop a special trap, with a gill net supported by a ring, that captures any fish within its circumference. In addition to fishing and gardening, the Inthas are excellent metalworkers, carpenters, and weavers.

During your tour of the lake you will spend time with a local fisherman learning how he earns his livelihood and about his way of life in Inle.

You visit the village of Ywar Ma with its gardens, floating market, handicraft center and Phaung Daw U Pagoda. The pagoda boasts five Buddha images brought from the Malay Peninsula by King Alaungsithu in the 12^th century. Over time, these images have had so much gold leaf applied to them, that they have lost many of their human features, and resemble round metal balls. During the annual fall festival, villagers transport these images on a royal barge to all the villages on the lake and hold a major rowing competition.

Next you head to Mya Set Kyar Traditional Silk- Weaving Workshop to see how the lotus fabrics are woven.

You end the day at Kyauk Daing a small village, with many houses and a population of about a hundred families. This village of famous for its artistic pottery since hundreds of years ago. They process the yellow-red clay soil in their area using water buffaloes, grind the soil into a fine clay. In the lower level of each house, women are making pots on hand operated pottery wheels made of stone.

Day 18: Visit Indein, Floating Garden and Intha House or Learn One-Legged Rowing

Accommodation: Inle Princess Resort

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

You have another day to explore the area around Inle Lake and you have two options.

Option A

Today, you will take a boat excursion to the middle of the lake and head down a small canal leading to In Dein village. You can take a short walk around the village, by the local school and the Alaung Sitthou area, where ancient stupas are partially hidden by vegetation. There is also a wonderful view of the lake.

There is also time to watch the fishermen fishing and rowing with one leg, perhaps trying yourself as well as see the floating gardens.

Option B – The Art of One-Legged Rowing

Clients who wish to book and participate in this activity will be requested to sign a release form either prior to arrival or on the ground before commencing the tour - (7.5 hours) Enjoy an authentic experience learning the traditional skill of one-legged rowing and getting to know an Intha family.

In the morning, along with your guide, climb into a long-tail boat and set off across the picturesque Inle Lake. Relax and enjoy the peace and quiet of the shimmering water surrounded by undulating mountains. Arrive at Pauk Par village, an Intha village of wooden stilt houses. Change into Shan baggy trousers and a bamboo hat – the traditional clothes of the fishermen working on the lake. Now you look the part, it's time to meet the Intha fisherman who will teach you the art of one-legged rowing. Learn how to balance on one leg with the other leg wrapped around the oar to steer and turn the boat. Once you have mastered the maneuvers, set off across the water and around the village. This traditional rowing technique requires good balance. Don't worry if you wobble and fall in the water - it's all part of the fun! After the rowing activity, spend some time at a local house where an Intha family will warmly welcome you into their home. For another authentic experience, take an openair shower before changing into dry clothes. Then sit down to a cup of green tea and some local snacks such as tofu crackers and rice crackers. This is followed by a typical Intha lunch while chatting and getting to know about the life of your hosts. After saying your goodbyes, return to the hotel by long-tail boat.

Day 19: Drive Heho and Fly Yangon

Accommodation: Sule Shangrila, Strand Or The Governor’s Residence

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Your journey comes full circle today. You will transfer by boat from the hotel to the shore and then drive back up to Heho in time to catch K7 245 (1020/1130)). Here you will catch the plane back to Yangon. The rest of the day is free for shopping, perhaps at Scotts Market, or repacking. A car is available.

Day 20: Transfer Out

Meals: Breakfast

The day is free until time to transfer to the airport for your flight out.

Day 1:

Nairobi

Days 2 - 3:

Amboseli National Park

Days 4 - 5:

Samburu National Reserve

Days 6 - 8:

Masai Mara National Reserve

Day 9:

Departure