Two Sample Itineraries:
(a) 5-day-Itinerary with one night each in Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay and Inle Lake
(b) 11-day-Itinerary with one night in Golden Rock, two nights each in Bagan, Mandalay and Inle Lake and total of three nights in Yangon.

5-Day-Itinerary

Day 01 : Arrive Yangon (International flight in the Morning)

Upon arrival in Yangon, you’ll be met and transferred to hotel. You’ll be guided to the following places of interest in Yangon.

• Chaukhtatkyi Reclining Buddha
• Landmark Shwedagone Pagoda
• China Town evening market

Overnight in Yangon at Kandawgyi Palace Hotel / Deluxe Room (B)

Day 02: Yangon – Bagan (W9009 – 0630 / 0725)

Tour of Bagan (private car)

After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll be transferred to Yangon airport for your flight to Bagan. Upon arrival in Bagan, you’ll be transferred to hotel for checking in. Then, you’ll be guided for sightseeing to the places of interest in Bagan.

• the most beautiful Ananda temple
• the landmark Shwezi Gone temple
• Lacquer ware handicraft
• Horse cart ride among the ancient temple
• Sunset and Panoramic view from a fairy high temple

Overnight in Bagan at Bagan Thande Hotel / Deluxe Room (B) more

Day 03: Bagan – Mandalay (W9009 – 0750 / 0820)

Tour of Mandalay and environ (private car)

After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll be transferred to Bagan airport for your flight to Mandalay. Upon arrival in Mandalay, you will be guided for places of interest of the ancient cities in and around Mandalay city.

• The longest wooden bridges of Amarapura
• mahagandayone monastery of Amarapura
• Landmark Mahamuni temple of Mandalay
• Gold Leaf pounding handicrafts centre
• Embroidery weaving handicrafts centre
• Golden Palace monastery
• The temple of the world biggest book
• Sunset at the Mandlay Hill

Overnight in Mandalay at Mandalay City Hotel / Deluxe Room (B)

Day 04: Mandalay – Heho (W9009 – 0845 / 0915)

Heho – Lake Inle (private car and boat)

After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll be transferred to the Mandalay Airport for the flight to Heho. Upon arrival in Heho airport, you’ll be met and transferred to the jetty on Lake Inle. It would take an hour drive in a private car to the jetty. You can enjoy beautiful scenery of Shan Plateau, the vegetation and the Tribal people at work. After that, you’ll be fascinating on an orientation tour on this magical lake by private motorboat featuring the boatmen with their unique ‘one-legged’ rowing style and visits to floating houses built on stilts. You’ll also be guided The follwoing places of interest in Inle can be visited (with/ without tour guide).

• Landmark Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda
• Ngaphaechaun Monastery
• Local handicraft centres (silk weaving, black smith)

There would also be some time for you to stroll around the lake and enjoy the scenery. Overnight in Inle at Amazing Nyaung Shwe Hotel / Deluxe Room (B)

Day 05: Lake Inle – Heho (private car)

Heho – Yangon (W9009 – 0940 / 1035)

Depart Yangon (International flight in the Evening). After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll be transferred to Heho airport (1-hour-drive) for your flight to Yangon.

Upon arrival in Yangon, you’ll be guided to the following places of interest before you are transferred to Yangon International Airport for your flight to onward destination.

• Private walking tour in the Colonial downtown of Yangon
• Bogyoke Aung San Market

In the late afternoon, you’ll be transferred to Yangon International airport for your flight to onward destination.

==========end of itinerary ==========

11-Day-Itinerary

Day 01 – Arrive Yangon (International Flight in the morning)

Yangon day tour

Upon arrival in Yangon you’ll be met and transferred to hotel in a private van. After that, you’ll be guided for sightseeing in a private van to the places of interest in Yangon.

• Private walking tour in the Colonial downtown of Yangon
• Chaukhtatkyi Reclining Buddha
• Landmark Shwedagone Pagoda
• China Town evening market

Overnight in Yangon at Governor’s Residence (Deluxe Room) - (B)

Day 02 – Yangon – Bago – Golden Rock

After breakfast at hotel, the guided journey to Golden Rock will be started in a private car. A long the way, you’ll be fascinating meeting villagers, seeing village activities and witnessing farmers at work on the paddy fields etc.. After 1 1/2 -hour drive from Yangon, you’ll be able to enjoy lively crowded Bago farmers’ market. Then, continue the journey until you get to the base-camp of Kyaikthiyo mountain range (2-and-half-hour-drive) where you’ll be transferred by local pick-up truck to the two-third of the mountain track (public transport which would take about 45 minutes drive up and down hills). Enjoy an up-hill trekking for about 45 minutes to complete the journey to Golden Rock. (There is another option to go up on a sedan chair carried by four people. It is fun and quite an experience.) Witness the wonders of Golden Rock and its lively pilgrims; enjoy the scenery and watch sunset. Overnight in Golden Rock at Mountain Top Hotel (Deluxe Room) - (B)

Day 03 – Golden Rock – Yangon

After breakfast at hotel, enjoy the morning scenery on the pagoda platform and watch sunrise. After that, you’ll be transferred on foot to the first one-third of the track (30 minutes down-hill light trek). And then, to the base-camp by pick-up truck (public transport, which would take 30-minute-drive). Upon arrival at the base-camp, you’ll be guided for the return journey to Yangon by the same car waiting at the base camp. Along the way, you can enjoy many interesting sights and sounds as well as more sites to be covered in Bago such as Shwethalyaung reclining Buddha. You’ll also be able to witnessed historic World War (II) allied cemetery and Golden Banyan Tree. Overnight in Yangon at Governor’s Residence (Deluxe Room) - (B)

Day 04 – Yangon – Heho Airport (flight HK717 – 1100/1210)

After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll be transfer from hotel to Yangon airport for your flight to Heho. Upon arrival in Heho, you’ll be met and transferred to Lake Inle (1-hour-drive). Along the way, you can witness tribal people at work and picturesque hilly region of Shan State. After that, you’ll be guided for sightseeing to the places of interest:

• Floating villages and houses built on stilt
• Way of lives of fisher men and leg rowers
• Landmark Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda
• Ngaphaechaun Monastery
• Local handicraft centers (silk weaving)

Overnight in Inle at Inle Princess Resort (Chalet Suite Room) – B only

Day 05 – Inle Lake and environ

After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll be transferred to Indein village and visit its traditional 5-day-market of Lake Inle area. The 5-day market rotates around the villages and towns of Shan state, where several tribal people in their colorful costume come from the nearby villages to sell their indigenous agricultural products. After that, you’ll be guided to the places of interest in Indein.

• Scenic trip up a narrow creek
• Idyllic site of Indein with its 17th century ruins of pagodas in an ‘Indiana Jones’ type setting
• Strolling along the trail among the bamboo grove

Return to Lake Inle and enjoy free and easy at leisure at the serene atmosphere Inle princess Resort and its neighborhood. Overnight in Inle at Inle Princess Resort (Chalet Suite Room) – B only

Day 06 – Inle Lake – Heho Airport – Mandalay (flight: HK721 – 1625/1655)

After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll be transferred to Nampan village and visit the biggest 5-day-market of Lake Inle area. Then, you’ll be guided for visiting the floating garden, where the tribal people grow vegetable and flowers. You’ll also be guided to the Shan paper production cottages, where paper are made out of raspberry barks. After that, transferred back to the resort and check out and then guided to the Heho airport for your flight to Mandalay. Upon arrival in Mandalay, you’ll be met and transferred to the hotel (1-hour drive). Overnight in Mandalay at Sedona Hotel (Deluxe Room) – B only

Day 07 – Mandalay – Amarapura – Sagain – Mandalay

After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll be guided to see the places of interest in the ancients towns of Amarapura and Sagain as well as to the places of interest in Mandalay.

• Mahagandayone monastery of 1500 monks and observe their important morning activities
• The world longest teak bridge, U Bein
• Silver smith work of art of Sagain
• Scenic U-Min-Thoun-Se Temple
• Landmark Mahamuni temple
• Gold Leaf pounding work of art of Mandalay
• Mandalay Hill for Sunset

Overnight in Mandalay at Sedona Hotel (Deluxe Room) – B only

Day 08 – Mandalay – Mingun – Mandalay – Bagan (flight: HK722 – 1715/1740)

After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll be transferred to the jetty in Mandalay for half-day excursion to Mingun, an ancient capital before Mandalay on the other side of Irrawaddy River.You’ll be enjoying sightseeing to the places of interest in Mingun and the relaxing private boat ride (45 minutes one way):

• Interesting way of lives along the river
• the landmark unfinished Pagoda
• the world biggest ringing bell
• the typical village lives of a village in upper Burma

And then, return to Mandalay by the private boat. After that, you’ll be guided to the Mandalay airport for your flight to Bagan. Fly from Mandalay to Bagan. Upon arrival in Bagan, you’ll be met and transferred to Hotel. Overnight in Bagan at Thiripyitsaya Sakura Hotel (Deluxe Room) (B)

Day 09 – Bagan

After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll be guided for a full day sightseeing to the places of interest in Bagan.

• Landmark Shwe Zi Gone Temple
• Artistic Ananda temple
• Unique Manuha and Nanpaya temple
• Lacquer ware handicraft
• Horse cart ride among the ancient temple
• Sunset and Panoramic view from a fairy high temple

Overnight in Bagan at Thiripyitsaya Sakura Hotel (Deluxe Room) (B)

Day 10 – Bagan – Popa – Bagan Bagan – Yangon (flight: HK722 – 1755/1915)

After breakfast at the hotel, you’ll be guided for an excursion to extinct volcano, Mount Popa and the villages along the way.

• A visit to Palm tree village and observe the way of life of the villagers
• the place of spirit worshiping and animism
• a beautiful resort of Mount Popa
• Popa Hillock and its wild life

Return to Bagan in the afternoon. After that, you’ll be transferred to Bagan Airport for your flight to Yangon. Upon arrival in Yangon airport, you’ll be met and transferred to the hotel. Overnight in Yangon at Governor’s Residence (Deluxe Room) - B only

Day 11- Dapart Yangon (International Flight in the Morning)

Breakfast at the hotel. After that, you’ll be transferred to Yangon International Airport for the flight to onward destination.

========= end of itinerary=========

Kindly be advised: Due to current economic situation and very few tourist arrivals in the country, the service providers are operating the business in a careful and limited scale and price structures are constantly varied and no one guarantee for long term.

Cost of travel will be provided upon request based on the price point of the traveler. Hotel options vary, place of travel will vary according to personal interest. Therefore, we have we have kept the above example itinerary simple due to the current lack of flights, unknown budget of travelers.

We stand by ready to serve you giving the best quote for the prices on one by one individual basis, upon request. Our services include personal travel translators, guided tours, flights, hotels, private car, boat, private bus, and trekking. Trips can be arranged for a party of one to a large group. It is our pleasure to serve you. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely,
William Myatwunna (william@myanmargoodnewstravel.com)
Good News Travels (www.MyanmarGoodNewsTravel.com)
Phone: + 951-37 50 50 , + 951-25 38 45
Phone: + 959-5116 256 , + 959-514 8180
E-mail: goodnewstravels@gmail.com
Address: FMI Centre, 4th Flr., Unit 18, Bogyoke Aung San Rd., Yangon
Wesite: http://www.myanmargoodnewstravel.com/where-we-are.htm

On 15 August 2008, Burmese Travel Agent, William Myatwunna, who has handles our travel arrangements and for several other Vancouver travellers was named one of the world’s 128 Top Travel Specialists by New York based Condé Nast Traveler magazine. William is the managing director of Good News Travels Myanmar.

http://www.myanmargoodnewstravel.com/
goodnewstravels@gmail.com

The state of Myanmar in terms of Tourism

After two quiet years of tourism in Myanmar caused by internal political crisis in 2007 and cyclone in 2008 followed by global economic crisis in 2008~2009, a lot of people, until the end of September 2009, were not positive about the prospect of the current (October 2009 ~ March 2010) travel season. However, to the big surprised to everyone, it turns out as pleasant surprise that there have been a lot of last minutes inquiries and arrival taking place since the beginning of October until now and the hotels and the limited number of flights the domestic airlines have are extremely congested until the February 2010.

Myanmar attracts the most visitors from:  

1. France
2. Germany
3. Italy
4. American
5. Asian Pacific countries

55% of Myanmar tourists are from Europe
20% of tourists from North American
5% from Australia

The top 5 most visited places in Myanmar:

1. Yangon
2. Bagan
3. Inle Lake
4. Mandalay
5. Ngapali Beach

Concierge.com‘s Insider Guide

Last Spring, while Myanmar’s government was refusing foreign aid for the survivors of Cyclone Nargis, local travel companies were among the first to provide relief. When little Ma Pandaw grows up, she can tell her pals she was born on a luxurious cruise ship. She first saw the light of day in its bar, which served as a temporary delivery room after the ship was converted into a mobile hospital to treat victims of the cyclone that swept through Myanmar s Irrawaddy Delta in May.

Ma Pandaw s mother, 17-year-old Khin Mar Oo, named her baby in honor of the ship in which she was born. The Pandaw IV was lent to the cyclone relief effort by Pandaw Cruises, one of dozens of tour companies, hotels, and resorts in Myanmar that responded to the Cyclone Nargis disaster by collecting donations and offering their staff, transportation, expertise, and, in this case, a replica of a nineteenth-century steamboat. We have collected $600,000, mostly from former passengers, said Pandaw Cruises founder Paul Strachan, adding that another $150,000 had been pledged.

Many tour companies have linked themselves to on-the-ground humanitarian relief groups such as Merlin, Save the Children, and the Red Cross. Donations are spent mostly on emergency supplies like cooking oil and pots, rice, salt, water, candles, soap, tools, tarpaulins, and clothing. Mistrustful of the military government-which blocked international aid agencies, including the UN, from entering the cyclone-ravaged delta for weeks following the disaster-former visitors turned to the tour companies they travelled with to ensure that their donations reach the needy. “We face far fewer restrictions on our movements than the relief agencies,” said Brett Melzer, owner of the luxury Malikha Lodge, in Myanmar’s far north, and Balloons over Bagan, a firm that specializes in hot-air balloon trips.

“We have the support of the authorities as long as we inform them of our movements and remain apolitical. There is already a sense of trust in place that enables us to move immediately without time-consuming internal meetings and detailed budgets. As tourism companies, we have experience in logistics and are able to handle and receive foreign funds. This allowed many in the industry to react quickly after the cyclone struck.”

Abercrombie & Kent, the large British tour operator, set up a Myanmar Relief Fund. Eight days after the cyclone, one of its relief teams reached the village of Ta Pyan Gyi, where they discovered 279 survivors in a church, the only building left standing. The relief packages-including blankets, mosquito nets, and rehydration salts-were the first aid the survivors received. By June 20, the fund had collected $340,000, including money for tractors and seeds, urgently needed in the rice-growing Irrawaddy Delta.

Yangon-based tour operator William Myatwunna and his staff at Good News Travels were among the volunteers. After we had fixed our own homes, we helped construct shelters for those in the neighborhood. Some of our staff cooked porridge for the survivors. A few tour companies had charitable foundations in place prior to the cyclone. Asia Transpacific Journeys, a Colorado travel agency, collects donations from clients and others to fund a water-filtration facility in Yangon. It reacted to the crisis by stepping up its distribution of clay water filters, which can be lifesavers during a natural disaster where clean running water is scarce.

Tourism to Myanmar has slowed to a trickle following the military regimes violent response in September 2007 to monks who were protesting inflation and living conditions. Even before then, visiting Myanmar (or Burma as it is widely known) had long been a contentious issue. Some Burmese dissidents and Western activists argue that tourist dollars only help to prop up the isolationist military regime. But proponents of tourism counter that foreign visitors not only help support the local economy but also keep the notoriously reclusive country open-and remind the Burmese people that the world has not forgotten their plight.

Tourism plays a vital role in allowing an exchange of information-something the government is desperate to stop, said a tour operator who works in Myanmar and who asked not to be identified. Without this degree of openness, the world would not have seen the Saffron Revolution take place last year. Tourists are one of the few things that the government cannot so easily control.