<h2>Myanmar February 2014</h2>
<span style="text-decoration: underline;">February 5th...</span>Depart Cape Town 10:40am on Singapore air.

<span style="text-decoration: underline;">February 6<sup>th</sup>...</span>Arrive at Yangon airport 9:20am and transfer to our hotel.

Yangon (formerly Rangoon) has been the capital of Myanmar (former Burma) since the British transformed it into their administrative center of future India. It’s impressive colonial and spiritual heritage makes Yangon one of the most fascinating capitals of South East Asia. Rest and relax the remainder of the day. There will be a welcome dinner tonight which is included.

Overnight...The East hotel

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<span style="text-decoration: underline;">February 7<sup>th</sup>...</span>After breakfast we will have a tour of the city visiting the Karaweik royal barge, Kyaukhtatgyi colossal reclining Buddha image and Botataung Pagoda. It is said it enshrines a relic, a hair of the Buddha carried

by 8 Indian monks. Then to the Nag Htat Gyi Pagoda. A visit to Bogyoke market (Scott market) gives you the opportunity to see Myanmar’s wide range of handicrafts.

Afternoon visit  to the 2,500 year old Shwedagon Pagoda rising 326 feet.  It is said to be the richest golden stupa. The golden dome rises 98 meters above the base and is covered with 60 tons of pure gold and numerous precious stones such as jade, ruby, sapphire, and diamonds. A 76 carat diamond is at it’s top.

Overnight...The East hotel

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<span style="text-decoration: underline;">February 8th...</span>

After breakfast we are transferred to the airport for a flight to Heho. From Heho we travel along a scenic drive to Inle Lake, one of Myanmar’s best known sights.  The Intha people, a tribe of Mon decent, mostly inhabit the lake shores and floating villages.

On arrival at Nyaung Shew village we transfer by boat to start a sightseeing tour of Inle Lake including a chance to see the leg rowing fishermen.

We will see the floating gardens built up from strips of water hyacinth and mud anchored to the bottom with bamboo poles. There are also floating villages like Ywama, the lakes downtown, where a floating market is held every 5 days. In the afternoon we visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the weaving village of Inpawkhon and the jumping cat monastery.

Overnight...Inle Resort hotel

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<span style="text-decoration: underline;">February 9<sup>th</sup>...</span>After breakfast we take a boat to Dein, an off the beaten track site in the south of the lake. The boat leaves the lake and enters a beautiful natural environment as we move along a narrow canal.  Here we come across a small Pa O tribal village. From the market place of the village we follow an old covered path to the 13<sup>th</sup> century monastery and the very impressive ruins of hundreds of ancient pagodas, some hidden in the vegetation. The main stupa area on top of the hill offers breath taking views over the surrounding mountains and down to the valley and the lake in the far distance. Free afternoon.

Overnight Inle Resort hotel

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February 10<sup>th</sup>... A free day on Inle Lake.

Overnight...Inle Resort hotel

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<span style="text-decoration: underline;">February 11<sup>th</sup>...</span>After breakfast  we move off  the lake and travel the scenic road to Pindaya in the picturesque countryside of the Shan State.  We will visit Pindaya’s limestone cave with it’s maze of chambers displaying more than 8,000 Buddha statues. There are local handcraft workshops producing Shan Paper made from Mulberry bark and traditional umbrellas made from the same paper. These are used by monks throughout the country.

We transfer to the Heho airport and our flight to Mandalay.

Overnight...Mandalay City hotel

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<span style="text-decoration: underline;">February 12<sup>th</sup>... </span>After breakfast we have a full day trip to the former capitals of Amarapura, Ava, and Sagaing. The day begins with a visit to the 18<sup>th</sup> century capital Amarapura. We will attend the daily meal of over 1,000 monks at the country’s largest monastery, Mahagandagan. We will visit a silk weaving workshop, the craft speciality of Amarapura. We proceed to Ava, the capital from the 14-18<sup>th</sup> centuries.  We travel by horse and carriage to the old wooden Bagaya Monastery and the remains of the Royal Palace and fort. In the afternoon we cross the Irrawaddy River and continue to Sagaing.  The area is covered with 600 white pagodas and monasteries. Sagaing Hill is widely reguarded as the religious center of Myanmar and home to 3,000 monks and 100 meditation centers. Finish with a walk at sunset over the 200 year old U Bein Bridge which is entirely constructed of Teak.

Overnight...Mandalay City hotel

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<span style="text-decoration: underline;">February 13th...</span>After breakfast we depart Mandalay on a 2 hour drive to the former British hill station of Maymo now officially called Pyin Oo Lwin. The

town is on a 1,000 m plateau and renowned for it’s cooler temperatures and

lush foliage. Many reminders of the colonial era are still present. There is a

local market in the center of town. Then we head for the BE falls and the beautiful Botanical Gardens. It is a large coffee growing area as well.

We can enjoy the sunset from Mandalay Hill.

Overnight...Mandalay City Hotel

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<span style="text-decoration: underline;">February 14...</span>After breakfast  we have a 3 hour drive to Monywa, a typical Burmese town on the banks of the Chindwin River. On our way we will visit the Thanboddhay Pagoda where more than 500,000 Buddha images cover every wall and archway of this huge Buddhist temple. We will also visit Boditahtaung Pagoda and the largest reclining Buddha in Myanmar which is 312 feet long.

Overnight...Win Unity hotel

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<span style="text-decoration: underline;">February 15<sup>th</sup>...</span>After breakfast we leave Monywa along a rarely visited east bank of the river passing traditional villages where farmers climb palm trees to extract the juice which they convert to palm sugar. We stop in Pakokku to visit one of the oldest surviving wooden monasteries in Myanmar.

Pakokku, a lively typical Burmese city with a strong craftwork tradition producing colourful woven blankets, paper mache toys, and traditional sandals. We continue by boat, cross the river, and arrive in Bagan at the end of the day.

Overnight...Thazin Garden hotel

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<span style="text-decoration: underline;">February 16<sup>th</sup>...</span> You can begin your morning with a hot air balloon flight over the plains of Bagan. Enjoy the fabulous views as the sun rises over the stupas and the Irawaddy River.

After breakfast we visit the colourful Nyaung Oo Market, the Shwezigon Pagoda, and it’s magnificient  golden stupa, Wetkyi-in Gubyaukgyi, a cave temple with exquisite jatakas mural paintings and the Htilominlo temple noted for it’s plaster carvings and glazed sandstone decorations.

In the afternoon we visit Ananda, an architectural masterpiece of early styled temples with two original standing Buddha images whose facial expressions change depending on the distance the statue is viewed from.

A break for lunch and to hide from the heat of the day.

At 5pm we enjoy the sunset from the upper terrace of the Myauk Guni Temple.

Overnight...Thazin Garden hotel

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<span style="text-decoration: underline;">February 17<sup>th</sup>...</span>After breakfast  we visit the village of Phawr Saw and observe their process of traditional laquerware, a speciality of Bagan. We will go to the Three Pagoda to see the murals and then a visit to Kyat kan monastery.

Break for lunch and the heat of the day.

At 5pm we will have a sunset cruise down the Irawaddy River to watch the sunset over the plains.

Overnight...Thazin Garden hotel

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<span style="text-decoration: underline;">February 18<sup>th</sup>...</span> Free day in Bagan

Overnight Thazin Garden hotel

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<span style="text-decoration: underline;">February 19<sup>th</sup>...</span>After an early breakfast we leave for our 8am flight to Yangon.

Free time in Yangon to shop.

Overnight...East hotel

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<span style="text-decoration: underline;">February 20<sup>th</sup>...</span>After breakfast you have free time until we depart for our 4:40pm flight home.

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<span style="text-decoration: underline;">February 21th...</span>Arrive Cape Town 9:20am

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<p align="center">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>
<p align="center">Optional extension of 2 nights in Yangon at the</p>
<p align="center">~~~~~~~~~~~~</p>
<p align="center">***A R5,000 deposit holds a place on this tour~~~~Single supplement applies</p>
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<p align="center"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">The tour price includes:</span></p>
<p align="center">Airfares to and from Myanmar</p>
<p align="center">Two domestic flights</p>
<p align="center">All hotels with breakfast</p>
<p align="center">All tours with English speaking guides</p>
<p align="center">All transport, transfers, entrances</p>
<p align="center"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Not included:</span></p>
<p align="center">Items of a personal nature</p>
<p align="center">Meals</p>
<p align="center">Visas</p>
<p align="center">Tipping</p>
<p align="center">~~</p>
<p align="center"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">A second tour is scheduled for November 14, 2014</span></p>
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