Starting in October 2012
An enigmatic land of golden pagodas and mist-shrouded jungle, Burma was once described by Rudyard Kipling as a place ‘quite unlike any...you know about’. Isolated for years by the outside...
Starting in November 2012
An enigmatic land of golden pagodas and mist-shrouded jungle, Burma was once described by Rudyard Kipling as a place ‘quite unlike any...you know about’. Isolated for years by the outside...
An enigmatic land of golden pagodas and mist-shrouded jungle, Burma was once described by Rudyard Kipling as a place ‘quite unlike any...you know about’. Isolated for years by the outside...
An enigmatic land of golden pagodas and mist-shrouded jungle, Myanmar was once described by Rudyard Kipling as a place ‘quite unlike any...you...
Starting in December 2012
An enigmatic land of golden pagodas and mist-shrouded jungle, Burma was once described by Rudyard Kipling as a place ‘quite unlike any...you know about’. Isolated for years by the outside...
Starting in January 2013
An enigmatic land of golden pagodas and mist-shrouded jungle, Burma was once described by Rudyard Kipling as a place ‘quite unlike any...you know about’. Isolated for years by the outside...
Starting in March 2013
An enigmatic land of golden pagodas and mist-shrouded jungle, Burma was once described by Rudyard Kipling as a place ‘quite unlike any...you know about’. Isolated for years by the outside...
Starting in May 2013
An enigmatic land of golden pagodas and mist-shrouded jungle, Burma was once described by Rudyard Kipling as a place ‘quite unlike any...you know about’. Isolated for years by the outside...
Located on the Central Burmese Plains, along the eastern bank of the Ayeyarwady River, Bagan was first settled around the 2nd century AD. Its golden age though began with the ascension to the Burmese throne of King Anawratha in 1044. A disciple of Theravada Buddhism, Anawratha began a policy of temple building that over the next two centuries saw the completion of an astonishing 13,000 temples, pagodas and religious monuments. The famous golden domes of the Shwezigon Pagoda, which was started by Anawrath and completed in 1102 by King Kyanzittha is believed to hold a bone and a tooth belonging to the Gautama Buddha, whilst the Ananda Temple (also from the reign of King Kyanzittha) is considered to be a superb fusion of Mon and Indian architecture. At its zenith, Bagan attracted monks and artisans from as far away as India, Sri Lanka and the Khmer kingdoms of Cambodia, but in 1287 it was sacked by the Mongol armies of Kublai Khan, after which it fell into a state of steady decline.
The economic centre of Upper Burma, Mandalay lies at the heart of the country’s religious and cultural traditions. One of modern Myamar’s most vibrant cities, it is still nonetheless home to more than 700 pagodas and numerous monasteries, including the revered Mahagandayone Monastery, one of the largest centres of Buddhist learning anywhere in the city. Founded by King Mindon in 1857 and set around the dominating presence of Mandalay Hill, the city was the last of Burma’s royal capitals, until its annexation by the British at the end of the Third Anglo-Burmese War in 1885. The original palace was destroyed by fire during the Second World War, but the remaining walls and gates still present an impressive testament to its former glory, whilst the remarkable Kuthodaw Pagoda presents visitors with one of Buddhism’s most extraordinary settings. The city’s economic resurgence is thanks mainly to the strong influence of the Chinese who, over recent years, have helped shape a city that has become a rich mix of Chinese ingenuity and Burmese traditions.
Yangon, formerly Rangoon, was the capital of Myanmar until it was superseded by Naypyidaw in November 2005. Today, with a population of over 5 million people, it remains the largest city and main economic hub of the country. The city is an amalgamation of British, Burmese, Chinese and Indian influences, and is known for its colonial architecture, which although decaying, remains an almost unique example of a 19th-century British colonial capital. New high-rise buildings were constructed from the 1990s as the government began to allow private investment. However, Yangon continues to be a city of the past, as seen by its longyi-wearing pedestrians, its street vendors and its pungent smells. There are some stunning sights - particularly the Shwe Dagon Pagoda - some wonderful markets - particularly Scott’s Market - and some fascinating walks - particularly along the Irrawaddy River. All in all Yangon is an interesting place from which to begin and end your trip.
Occupying a 22 kilometre long plateau in the middle of the central highlands, Lake Inle is home to the Intha, a people of Tibetan-Burmese descent who live amongst the waterside villages that spread along the shoreline and the islands of the lake. Wonderfully scenic and rich in tradition, the lake and its surroundings provide visitors with a glimpse of a rapidly disappearing world. The Intha still go about their daily business much as they have for generations, travelling around the lake in small wooden rowing boats from which they fish and farm, much as their ancestors have for centuries. The area is also renowned for its weaving industry, with Shan bags and high-quality silk fabrics known as longyi a particular speciality. The lake also produces a unique lotus fibre that is used in weaving special robes for images of Buddha, called kya thingahn (lotus robes). Whilst the lake encompasses nearly 120 square kilometres, its depth reaches no more than around 3 metres, resulting in the aquatic rural idyll of floating gardens of hyacinth and stilted thatched huts that makes this one of the most picturesque settings in the country.
Named after Colonel (later Major General) James May of the 5th Bengal Infantry, Maymyo was once a staunch stronghold for British traditions and eccentricities. Located in the Shan Highlands, some 67 kilometres to the east of Mandalay, it was established as a summer capital for the colonial overlords at the latter end of the 19th century. Decades of British influence turned this lush corner of Central Burma into a little slice of Middle England and today many of the former colonial mansions have been renovated by rich Chinese merchants or turned into luxury hotels, reviving graceful memories of that bygone age. The cool, clean air makes the town a refreshingly elegant destination to escape the heat and humidity of the summer and the town’s wonderful botanical gardens provide a welcome blaze of colour amongst the verdant green of the surrounding hills. Home to a thriving Eurasian community, the town is one of the most unique in Burma, with its distinctive horse-drawn transport providing the perfect means of exploring its historic heart.
From its humble beginnings as a small Danu village, Heho has grown into the main air gateway for tourists heading out to Lake Inle. Expanding with the arrival of the railway in the 1920s, the town became a major airbase for both the Allies and the Japanese during the Second World War and today its bustling markets attract a wealth of goods and villagers from the surrounding countryside. Pa O women, with their distinctive woven baskets and colourful headscarves are regular visitors to the market, which bears the distinction of being the largest of its kind in southern Shan State.
Located over 1300 metres above sea level, amongst the rolling hills of the Shan Plateau, Kalaw lies at the centre of some of the best trekking country in Burma. Surrounded by Palaung, Danu and Pao villages, it is the ideal starting point for today’s hike to the Palaung village of Pein Ne Bin.
Visa Information:
Your passport must be valid for at least six months after the end of your tour, and it must have at least one blank page for each visa required.
Please ensure the passport details we hold for you are correct.
Please note it is your responsibility to ensure you have the correct visa documentation when starting your tour. Country entry regulations can alter daily and it is always best to check with the relevant embassies for any changes.
Before departure UK passport holders require visas for Myanmar. These can either be bought in person at the relevant embassies or through a visa company such as:
Travcour (UK)
Tempo House
15 Falcon Road
Battersea
London SW11 2PJ
Tel: 020 7223 5295
Fax: 020 7738 2617
Email: info@travcour.com
Website: www.travcour.com
The details below specify relevant information for your visa application forms (based on taking the suggested group flights).
Myanmar Embassy
You will also need: authorisation letters, we will provide these in time for your visa application
NB: Please note that for the application you will need
• 2 completed visa application forms
• 2 (MUST be white background) passport photographs
• Copy of flight itinerary
• Passport.
If you are travelling on a non-UK passport, please contact your nearest consulate/embassy for up to date visa information.
Insurance:
Insurance that provides cover for emergency repatriation in case of a medical emergency is compulsory for all tours.
You should be aware that many standard insurance policies may not cover you adequately for all aspects of a Wild Frontiers trip and so we strongly recommend that you purchase a suitably designed insurance policy.
One such policy is the "Wild Frontiers" policy underwritten by Ace European Group Limited (ACE " firm reference 202803), which is available to EU residents (which excludes Norway & Switzerland) through our website or via the insurance company direct on 0845 345 3456. Under this policy there are two different levels of cover available.
Standard policy: a comprehensive travel insurance policy that provides cover for all Wild Frontiers activities, including trekking up to 6,000m. This policy does not provide cover for travel to areas where the FCO is advising against all or all but essential travel.
Elite policy: provides the same comprehensive level of cover as the standard policy. In addition the Elite policy also provides cover for travel to areas where the FCO is advising against all or all but essential travel. The policy will not provide cover for any claims arising from or relating to the reasons why the FCO is advising against travel.
If purchasing the Elite policy you also have the option to extend the cover provided by the policy to include cover for claims arising from a terrorist act in an area where the FCO is advising against travel. You can add this cover to your policy when purchasing online or over the telephone.
These policies are only available to those travelling on a Wild Frontiers holiday.
For more information and to purchase your policy online please visit the Insurance section of our website.
The cover is underwritten by Ace European Group Limited (ACE), and is arranged by Travel & General Insurance Service Limited. Both companies are authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). Wild Frontiers Limited is an Introducer Appointed Representative of Travel & General Insurance Company plc, details of which can be found at the FSA's website www.fsa.gov.uk.
To contact them please visit their website at www.travel-general.com or call 0845 408 0583.
Health and Vaccinations:
There are no mandatory immunisations for travellers to Myanmar though you should be up-to-date with Typhoid, Tetanus, Polio and Hepatitis A. Malaria is present in parts of Myanmar so we recommend you seek advice from your local GP or travel centre
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