Burma Highlights - Tour Overview

This tour introduces you to the culture of Burma, taking in the most popular and spectacular sights this beautiful country has to offer. Beginning in Yangon you visit the majestic Shwedagon Pagoda then travel up to Bagan and its thousands of stupas and pagodas. Continue on to Mandalay and the ancient capital cities of Ava, Amarapura and Sagaing ending at the vast Inle Lake.

Special Festival Departures

Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda Festival, Inle Lake
16 October - 02 November 2012

Watch the procession of leg-rowed boats, which ceremoniously tug four Buddha statues situated on a royal barge clockwise around Inle Lake. Throughout the event leg-rowed boat races are held and you will come across them during the excursion on the lake. Hundreds of other vessels travel in the entourage in a general festive atmosphere. Thousands of people from around the Shan State attend this most holy of all Shan celebrations.

*The tour has special sightseeing organised to enjoy the festival.

Departure: 24 October 2012

Taunggyi Balloon festival
22 - 28 November 2012 

The festival started as a simple ceremony by the youths of the town to pay homage to Sulamuni Pagoda, said to be in the abode of the Celestial Beings in heaven. It is a festival to keep alive the ancient tradition of constructing hot-air balloons from local materials. Balloons are made of bamboo frames and papier mache what the locals call “Shan paper”, made from the mulberry plant. During the daytime competitions are held for various categories of hot air balloons; one animal category, double animals etc. 

The most spectacular events are the "big night Balloons". These huge balloons, some 20 to 30 feet in diameter hung with fireworks and lighted lanterns on the sides, make for the most remarkable sights against the moonlit sky. At a predetermined height pyrotechnics display will start with rockets and star clusters shooting out from the balloons. A good design, the flight characteristics, the decorations on the sides and dangling below, a good fireworks display, all are important to get good ratings.

*The tour is a day longer with an extra night in Taunggyi to enjoy the Balloon festival.

Departure: 21 November 2012