GONE 2 ASIA

		Day 2 - Bangkok
		After breakfast, the day is on your own. You can rest, shop or just enjoy your river view room from which to watch the fascinating river traffic. This evening our "welcome aboard" dinner will be on a converted rice barge on the Chao Phraya River.. B,D.
		Day 3 - Yangon (Rangoon)
		After an early morning flight, we will be met by our English speaking guide and transferred to our hotel. Our sightseeing begins with an afternoon tour through Yango's colonial-style city center. Visit Sule Pagoda, dating back over 2,000 years, the magnificent reclining Buddha at Chauk Htat Gyi and after a photo stop at the Karaweik Hall, a "hamsa bird shaped" floating barge on Kandawgyi Lake, stroll through the Bogyoke (Scotts Market) with hundreds of food, clothes, handicraft and gem stores. We complete our first day in Myanmar with an extended visit to the Shwedagon Pagoda, the most sacred of all Buddhist sites in Myanmar, which Kipling called "a golden mystery...a beautiful blinking wonder". One of the most spectacular religious monuments in the world, it's golden dome rises 98 meters above its base and is covered with 60 tons of pure gold. Overnight at Traders Hotel. Lunch and dinner on your own. B.
		Day 4 - Yangon - Bago - Kyaiktiyo
		After breakfast we start our journey to Bago (84 km). Sightseeing starts with the charming and characteristic monastery of Kya Khet Waii, an eminent teaching center for hundreds of monks who come from neighboring regions to study Buddhism. We will have the opportunity to observe the monks in procession for their last meal of the day. Tour continues to the over thousand year old Shwemawdaw Pagoda with its spire taller than Shwedagon Pagoda. Proceed to Kin Pun "base camp" (110 km), with lunch at a local restaurant in route. On to Kyaiktiyo, famous for its precarious position and religious importance. The "Golden Rock", a huge boulder covered completely by gold leaf and delicately balanced on the edge of a cliff. (This requires quite a climb, however it can be arranged for you to be carried up by sedan chair). B,L,D.
		Day 5 - Kyaiktiyo - Bago Yangon
		After breakfast we will drive back to Yango (194 km). After lunch at a local restaurant in Bago, we continue sightseeing with the 55 meter long reclining Shwe Tha Lyaung Buddha, which is among the country's most impressive images along with the four giant Buddha images at Kyaik Pun Pagoda. After visiting a "Mon" weaving and handicraft village producing woven bamboo wares, we return to Yangon in mid-afternoon visiting the Allied War Cemetery near Htauk Kyan and an animist "Nat" tree shrine where the locals bring their new automobiles to be blessed. B,L,D.
		Day 6 - Yangon - Mandalay - Pyin Oo Lwin
		After breakfast we travel 80 km by road to the lovely, cool hill station of Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo) with its lovely lake, water falls and botanical garden. The drive up the winding road through the mountains offers a variety of vistas. The countryside as we reach the plateau is almost like a series of Swiss valleys. Here we will visit the Peik Khyin Myaung Caves, which have been a Buddhist shrine since ancient times. Maymyo, popular with the British during colonial times, boasts manor houses that are right out of Kent of Yorkshire. Its a charming and lovely small town. B,L,D.
		Day 7 - Yangon - Pyin Oo Lwin - Mandalay
		After breakfast we proceed to the local market by horse drawn carriage, before returning to Mandalay. After lunch at a local restaurant, experience the sights and sounds of Mandalay, including one of the most revered religious monuments in Myanmar, the Mahamuni Pagoda, the Shwe Inbin Monastery, The Golden Palace Monastery ( a superb example of traditional wooden building) and Kuthodaw Pagoda, the worlds largest book made of marble. Visit a traditional hand woven silk workshop as well as a Kalaga Tapestry craft shop before proceeding to Mandalay Hill for sunset. B,L,D.
		Day 8 - Mandalay - Mingun
		After breakfast we take an excursion by boar on the Ayeyarwaddy River to Mingun, about 11 km upriver from Mandalay. Our visit will start with the Mingun Bell, the world's largest un-cracked bell weighting 90 tons. We will continue to Hsinbyume Paya as well as the unfinished Mingun Paya, built as one of the worlds largest chedis by King Bodaw Paya. After lunch we will return to the hotel for an afternoon of leisure. Time to explore on your own or relax around the pool. B,L,D.
		Day 9 - Mandalay - Amarapura - Sagaing
		After breakfast we have an excursion to Amarapura, 15km to visit Mahag-andayon, a famous Buddhist monastery, where more than a thousand monks live and study. We will visit the 200 year old U Bein teak bridge, built in 1782 at the time when Amarapura was a Royal Capitol and the Bagaya Monastery, with a superb collection of Buddha statues. After lunch, we'll visit the former Royal Capital of Inwa (Ava), reached by a short boat trip; visit by horse drawn carriage to Nanmyint Watch Tower, the remains of the palace building nicknamed "the leaning tower of Ava", Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery built of brick and stucco, Bargayar Monastery, famous for its impressive ornate wood carvings and teak posts and continue on to Sagaing Hills, a retreat for Buddhist devotees for sunset. B,L,D.
		Day 10 - Mandalay - Bagan
		After an early breakfast we transfer to the jetty and board the boat for our ferry journey on the Ayayarwaddy River to Bagan. The trip takes approximately 8 hours down river, depending on the river conditions and water level. A wonderful way to see life along the river. A box lunch will be provided for this portion of the trip. Note: This trip is subject to river conditions and we may have to travel by road. We start our sightseeing upon arrival in Bagan with time permitting. B,L,D.
		Day 11 - Bagan
		After breakfast we stroll through the colorful local market and continue the day with visits to the most significant pagodas and temples of Bagan, including Shweizigon Pagoda, built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious shrine, Ku Byanuk Gyi, a temple with superb murals of Jataka scenes, Khay Min Ga Temple, noted for its panoramic view of the areas numerous monuments, and Ananda Temple, with four standing Buddha images. After lunch, we visit one of Myanmar's most treasured handicrafts, a lacquerware craftsmen's workshop in nearby Myinkaba Village. We will continue to Manuha Temple, built in the Mon style in 1059 and follow on to Nanbaya Temple, a unique sandstone monument said to have been the palace of King Manuha, proceed to Bupaya Pagoda or Mingala Zedi Stupaa to watch the sunset over the famous Anayardwaddy River. . B,L,D. (Optional: Experience the magic of Bagan and a thousand years of history from the enchanting platform of a hot air balloon. This is the first time ever that it's been available. You can do either sunrise or sunset "champagne" excursions.)
		Day 12 - Bagan
		After breakfast, we visit the site of Tayokepyay Temple in Min Nhan Thu Village; Phaya Thone Zu and Nanfamanya Temples noted for their exquisite mural of the 13th century; Kyat Kan Cave monastery, a famous meditation retreat in Bagan. Farming villages around Bagan will give you an insight into the lives of the local people. After lunch, a colorfully decorated ox-cart, the traditional way of transportation used by the people of Myanmar in the countryside, will take us to more of the ancient temples of Bagan. We'll close the day with an excursion by boat on the Ayeyarwaddy River to watch the sun set over the plain of Bagan. B,L,D.
		Day 13 - Bagan - Mount Popa - Kalaw
		After breakfast, a 300 km drive will take us to Kalaw. Along the way we will visit Mount Popa, an extinct volcano with spectacular views. Its shrine is dedicated to animist spirits known as "nats" and you will have time to climb the 777 steps to the shrine at the top of the peak. After lunch to journey continues through the Shan hills. In the late afternoon we reach Kalaw, a delightful hill station on the rim of the Shan plateau, which is a market center for the ethnic minorities from the surrounding regions. B,L,D.
		Day 14 - Kalaw - Pindaya - Nyaung Shwe
		This morning after breakfast we will proceed to Pindaya, 52km, and visit Pindaya Caves, a unique site housing thousands of Buddha images placed there by pilgrims over the centuries. After lunch, we continue on to Nyaung Shwe, 95km, for an overnight stay at the elegant Inle Princess Resort. B,L,D
		Day 15 - Inle Lake
		After breakfast, a full day excursion by boat on Inle Lake will include sight of the famous leg rowers, typical floating gardens, local methods of fishing, village life and magnificent scenery. Lunch will be at a local restaurant on the lake. Visits will be made to Phaungdaw Oo Pagoda, the weaving village of Inpaqkhon and to one of the local markets in the Inle Lake region. In the afternoon, depending on the water level, we will visit the hidden and until recently inaccessible Inn Thein Pagoda complex on the western shore of the lake. B.L.D
		Day 16 - Inle Lake - Heho - Yangon
		After breakfast we will be transferred by boat to Nyaung Shwe. Hopefully, we will be able to see and photograph the fascinating hill tribe women with the brass bands around their necks and legs. We drive to Heho Airport for our domestic flight to Yangon. Upon arrival in Yangon we will have the remainder of the day at leisure. You may want explore, shop or just relax by the pool. B
		Day 17 - Yangon - Bangkok
		After Breakfast we will transfer to the airport for our flight to Bangkok. The rest of the day is at leisure. B
		Day 18 - Bangkok - Los Angeles
		You depart for the US or other destinations. The flight to Los Angeles leaves at 7:45AM and after recrossing the International Dateline, you arrive in the morning of the same day you left Bangkok.

		Note: This itinerary is representative only. Exact content and order of sightseeing and time of flights may vary from itinerary and change without notice.
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		Myanmar, the country formerly known as Burma, is one of the few truly original travel experiences remaining in this much-traveled world. Despite the frequently inaccurate and unfair press coverage in this country, Myanmar is a captivating travel destination. It offers the diversity of its 135 ethnic groups, wide range of sightseeing, the wealth of cultural and scenic attractions it can offer and, above all, for the warmth and friendliness of its charming people. It is the diverse peoples of Myanmar that you support by your visit to their country. Decades of social and economic isolation have preserved here many of the traditional features, physical and cultural, which have been lost in other Asian countries. Moreover, the strength of Buddhism over 90% of the population, has a profound effect on the national character and is reflected in the calm serene, happy and friendly attitude of the people toward foreigners.

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				"Beyond Rangoon"
				MYANMAR (17 Day Adventure)