Myanmar Family Escape

Upon arrival at Yangon International Airport, you will be welcomed by your Guide and transferred to your hotel. 

Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, is a relatively quiet and charming city. Its impressive colonial and spiritual heritage makes it one of the most fascinating cities in Southeast Asia.

Day at leisure.

Today starts with a transfer to Shwedagon Pagoda. Kids will love visiting around the pagoda as there are many fun activities and interesting things to learn. They can make wishes by tossing coins into bowls, make an offering at their ‘animal’ post and see the unusual ‘neon’ Buddha’s in the prayer hall.

After visiting the pagoda, head down the eastern stairs to the ‘monks market’ where everything from monk robes to alms bowls are sold. It is a colorful spectacle that kids will love.

Next make a stop at Mahawizaya temple where the kids can have a chance to feed the fish. Feeding temple fish is a way that the local Buddhist make merit, a key aspect of Buddhism. But it’s also great fun for kids who can see the giant fish swim to the surface for a bite of food. 

From here, our car will transfer us to downtown and the fabulous Bogyoke Market. Also known as Scott Market, the building is filled with stalls selling local handicrafts such as marionettes, laquerware and jewelry. To get your family into the local spirit, we’ll purchase a traditional longyi (the sarong-like skirt worn by men and women) for everyone and try thanaka (the local yellow paste used as sun cream). Take a family photo- a perfect snapshot memory of your day in Yangon.

From here, head to lunch at the Rangoon Tea House. A modern take on the traditional Burmese tea shop, the Rangoon Tea House offers a variety of Asian dishes in a historic downtown building. 

Transfer to Kandawgyi Lake.  Walk around the lake’s shores enjoying the tranquil atmosphere and stunning views of Shwedagon. We provide a cane ball so that you can try your skill at chin lone, a local game that many families play when they come to the park. Or if you wish, just kick off your shoes and relax in the peaceful setting.

Remainder of the day at leisure.   

This morning, transfer to Yangon airport for your flight to Nyaung U Airport.

Your family holiday continues with a day out in Bagan, visiting some of the 2000 pagodas as well as exploring local workshops and villages.

Continue to Ananda Temple, an architectural masterpiece and one of Bagan’s most beautiful temples.  Built in the early Mon-style, Ananda contains two unique Buddha images whose expressions seem to change depending on the distance from which the statue is viewed.

Then, for animal lovers, we’ll make a short stop at Lawkanandar Sanctuary which is home to a family of unique star tortoises.

Transfer to traditional lacquerware workshop where you can observe the production of one of Myanmar’s best-known handicrafts. Get an in-depth understanding of traditional techniques for producing the exquisite inlaid and carved boxes, trays, tea sets and other wares.  Then it is the kids turn to paint their very own lacquerware coasters.  One of the craftsman will assist the kids bring their own creative touches to a Myanmar tradition.  After the masterpieces are completed, they will be set aside to dry, and picked up later in the evening. 

Then take a break back at the hotel to go for a swim and escape the midday heat.

In the early evening travel by horse cart for a tour passing Thatbyinnyu, the highest temple in Bagan, massive Dhammayangyi Temple, noted for its remarkable brickwork, and Sulamani Temple.

Enjoy an unforgettable sunset over the plains from the upper terrace of one of the temples.

Dinner at Nanda with puppet show.

After breakfast, we’ll visit the Nyaung U Market, where amid the produce stalls are local toys and other handicrafts that kids may enjoy. We’ll take a local trishaw to a nearby village to observe the making of poneyay gyi (a local pea paste) and plum jam.

Then we’ll spend a couple hours exploring a variety of temples.

We’ll start at Shwezigon Pagoda, one of the city’s most important, where we can see unique nat (local spirit) statutes and the glittering golden stupa. Then, using flashlights, we’ll explore Kyan Sitthar Cave - walking through the tunnel-like corridors and viewing the fading paintings on the ceiling.

Afterwards, we leave the temples behind for the beautiful plains east of Bagan.  Earthen temples give way to peanut, seseame and toddy farms.  After a short drive we’ll arrive to a functional toddy farm, where the sap is harvested to create toddy juice, sweet candies and a tasty liquor.  Kids will get to see the farmers scale 15 meter trees, help make a batch of jaggery and interact with the family. 

The family will set up lunch for us in the shade of the toddy palms.  Afterwards return to your hotel.

Remainder of the day at leisure.

This morning after your breakfast, transfer to Nyaung U Airport for your flight to Heho.

Upon your arrival, you will be greeted and transfer to Kalaw, a former British hill station (approximately 50 km). The scenic drive takes you into the heart of the Shan State, passing pine forests, rolling hills and small towns along the way.

Then continue to Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp in Magwe village (drive takes around 45 minutes).

Upon arrival a specialist guide from the camp will greet you and transfer you to the main camp base. Enjoy a welcome drink while receiving a briefing on the day’s activities, the background of the camp and the history of elephants in Myanmar.

Then embark on a short walk to the river, passing through a reforestation project set up by the camp and villagers. The elephants will likely be enjoying a refreshing swim in the stream and you can join the mahouts to bath these gentle animals if you wish.

Return to the main camp for lunch. There is time in the afternoon to explore more on foot with the local trekking guide or interact with the elephants. In the late afternoon say goodbye to the elephants and mahouts and transfer back to Kalaw.

Note: Due to weather and the nature of elephants this program may need to be altered and vary from the original proposal. Longer treks (from one hour to five hours) are also available.

After your breakfast, transfer to Nyaung Shwe’s Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery, located a few kilometers outside the town.  After exploring the beautiful carvings and Buddha images hop aboard a trishaw for the ride into town.  We’ll ride through the small avenues, past markets and pagodas, stopping off to visit the tomato house, where the lake’s recent harvest is sorted and shipped throughout the country.   

Enjoy lunch at Golden Kite, a haven for pasta and pizza lovers.  Years ago an Italian couple helped build a pizza oven, taught them Italian recipes and even imported meat, cheese and basil seeds.

This afternoon we will take a short bike ride to the outskirts of Nyaung Shwe.  The rides take in sweeping vistas of the surrounding Shan Hills, farmland and estuaries.  There is an option to ride to Red Mountain, a local winery.  The ride will be tailored to each family’s fitness level.

This morning after breakfast, we’ll set off for the lake’s morning market. The market rotates its location on a 5-day basis and attracts vendors from around the lake and its surrounding hills. Walking among the stalls you’ll see local produce, handicrafts and possibly vendors dressed in their traditional hill tribe costume.

Then visit to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the lake’s main sanctuary, which contains five sacred Buddha images covered in gold leaf.  Explore the local crafts of Inle Lake with a stop at the weaving village of Inpawkhone and a cheroot factory, where the typical Burmese cigars are made by hand.

Lunch stop at Inthar Heritage House. This traditional house is a great place to learn about the culture of the lake’s residence and also serves as a small breeding ground of Burmese cats.

After your lunch, continue your exploration of the lake, travelling down a small canal leading to the Pa-oh village of Indein. Explore the area on foot, strolling around the village, and wander through the beautiful Alaung Sitthou area. Alaung Sitthou is filled with picturesque ancient stupas and has magnificent views of the lake below.

This morning, transfer to Heho Airport for your flight on Yangon.

Upon your arrival, transfer to your hotel.

Remainder of the day at leisure