Amazing Burma

An incredible journey through the must-see destinations of the Golden Land

The Golden Land
One of the world’s most colorful and exotic countries, Burma has been a favorite destination of Rustic Pathways travelers for the past eight years. Recent advances in the country’s air travel and infrastructure now allow us to offer an exhilarating one-week snapshot of this magical country. Whether you’ve never been to Southeast Asia or are a seasoned student traveler, you will find something unforgettable in this land of colorful Hill Tribe people, fascinating cultural traditions, and some of the most startling beauty in all of Asia. We invite you to join us in Burma for a journey through the Golden Land that promises something new and unexpected.

Shwedagon and New Burmese Friends
Yangon, Burma’s capital and largest city is the jumping-off point for the trip. After an orientation to the country at your beautiful, five-star colonial-era hotel, you will head out for your first taste of Burmese food, shopping at a lively local market, and a chance to get to know your fantastic and friendly new Burmese staff.

No trip to Yangon would be complete without a visit to Burma’s most defining monument, the three-hundred-foot-tall Shwedagon Pagoda. A shimmering golden shrine in the middle of the city, the pagoda is the most sacred place in Burma and one of the holiest sites in the Buddhist world. All Burmese people hope to make the pilgrimage here at least once in their lifetime – why not start the trip off on the right path?

Burma’s Ancient Heartland
A one-hour flight north will bring you to Bagan, where a beautiful resort situated on the banks of the Irrawaddy River will be your home base as you explore the region. Bagan is home to over 1,200 ancient temples, and your trip here will begin with a sunset picnic on top of one of these 1,000-year-old shrines. Then take a trip into the Burmese countryside, stopping along the way to make friends with buffaloes, taste fresh palm sugar and Burmese sweet tea, and barter for local crafts.

A visit to nearby Mount Popa will introduce you to another side of Burmese spiritual belief – the mischievous and playful nats. Pay respect to these powerful local spirits before climbing the winding staircase to the peak of Mount Popa. Watch out for the mountain’s many monkeys as you make your way up and marvel at the stunning view of the region that will greet you at the top.

After a full day immersed in the sights of Bagan, take a late afternoon cruise across the Irrawaddy River to the island home of Tuna – one of our Burmese staff members. Play soccer with the local kids, meet Tuna’s friends and family, and share in a traditional (and delicious!) Burmese meal before heading back to the hotel for an evening of swimming and hanging out with new friends.

Monks and Mountains
A 30-minute flight north will bring you to Mandalay. Here you will watch in wonder as more than 1,300 monks eat their one daily meal in silence, walk across the world’s longest teak bridge, barter for bracelets and charms with lively local vendors, and share a cold drink with the family of one of our local staff members. Then return to the beautiful Mandalay Hill Resort where a swimming party and a Thai banquet will cap off an exciting day.

From Mandalay, you will travel north to the charming town of Pyin Oo Lwin. Groove into local life in this cool mountain town as you chat with monks, check out Burma’s national gardens, and explore local markets. You will also be part of a very special ceremony at a small monastery that the Chairman of Rustic Pathways supports.

The Life Aquatic
Your last two days will be spent at Inle Lake, one of Burma’s most unforgettable places. Imagine a watery world where gardens float on serene water, houses are built on stilts right above the lake, and everyone moves by boat. Nestled in a valley at the edge of the Shan Hills, the lake is miles long and life here exists entirely on the water. Watch in wonder as men row vegetable-laden boats with one foot, visit the jumping-cats monastery, hunt for treasures at Hill Tribe markets, and immerse yourself in life on this stunning waterway. Home to Intha, Pa-Oh, Shan, Kayah, and Taung Yo people, Inle Lake will offer a fascinating window on Burma’s great cultural diversity and the traditional life of its many Hill Tribe people.

Great Connections
There are direct flights from most of our Southeast Asia program locations directly to Yangon. And new nonstop jet service from Chiang Mai to Yangon makes it especially easy to connect from Amazing Thailand, the Elephant Conservation Project, and the Hill Tribe Orphanage directly to Amazing Burma. Combine this program with Amazing Thailand and experience a wonderful two-week adventure in two of Asia’s most spectacular destinations. Questions? E-mail us at Burma@rusticpathways.com.

Day 1 (Tuesday)
Relax and prepare for a world-class trip on Singapore Airlines. Prior to your departure, you will have received your pre-departure packet, which includes your Rustic T-shirts, airline tickets, and important contact information. Once you arrive at your international departure city, our flight liaison will help you get checked in to your international flight. Working with our flight liaison will be your flight leader, who will escort you all the way to Southeast Asia! Our flight leaders are most often school teachers or good friends of our organization who happily fill this role for us each year. Once you’re checked in, feel free to relax and get acquainted with your new friends before boarding your flight!

Day 2 (Wednesday)
Today is lost as you cross the international dateline. Fear not – you will get this time back on your way home.

Day 3 (Thursday)
You will arrive into Yangon today and head for the Savoy Hotel, a beautiful, five-star colonial hotel that has incredible views of Schwedagon Pagoda. Take some time to catch up on sleep or go for a swim in the pool before having a welcoming banquet at the hotel. Get to know our fun and welcoming Burmese staff over a delicious dinner and learn a little about the trip and the local culture during an orientation.

Day 4 (Friday)
After a delicious buffet breakfast, you will head out to one of Burma’s most famous monuments, Schwedagon Pagoda. This shimmering golden shrine will be a great introduction to Buddhism in Southeast Asia. No trip to Yangon is complete without a stop at Schwedagon, and you will want to have your camera ready to snap a few unforgettable photos of this memorable place. After a traditional Burmese lunch, you will make a stop at Scott Market, Yangon’s bustling local bazaar, before heading to the airport to catch the afternoon flight to Bagan.

Bagan is the ancient heartland of Burma and home to thousands of temples and stupas that dot the plains of the Irrawaddy River. You will enjoy a sunset picnic on the top of one of the temples and then head to the hotel for a little pool time and a good night’s rest.

Day 5 (Saturday)
An early morning visit to Bagan’s lively market will give you a taste of local life. Then set out for a journey into the Burmese countryside. You will stop along the way to check out a sugar palm plantation, drink Burmese sweet tea, and perhaps even go for a ride on a passing ox-cart! Your journey will end at Mount Popa, the country’s largest shrine to the nats, the mischievous and playful spirits that the Burmese believe watch over everyday life. After paying your respects to these powerful spirits, climb the winding staircase up Mount Popa – you’ll want to watch out for monkeys along the way – and marvel at the stunning view that greets you at the top.

After your visit to magical Mount Popa, you will return to the resort to cool off with an afternoon swim. To cap off this incredible day, you will take a late afternoon cruise to the island home of one of our local staff members, Tuna. Enjoy the boat ride on the Irrawaddy, Burma’s largest river, play games with the excited children who will be waiting to greet you when you arrive, and help cook a delicious traditional Burmese dinner with Tuna’s family.

Day 6 (Sunday)
An early morning flight will take you from the arid plains of Bagan to one of Burma’s most famous cities, Mandalay. Check into the beautiful Mandalay Hill Resort before heading to Mahagandhayone Monastery, where you will watch in wonder as 1,300 monks take their one daily meal in silence. Then visit U Bein Bridge, the longest teak bridge in the world, where you can barter for local crafts with lively vendors and enjoy a cool drink and a snack with the family of Myinzaw, another of our local staff members.

You’ll have a local-style feast of Shan food for lunch and then head back to the resort for an afternoon of swimming and relaxing at the hotel. Around sunset, head out for a stroll along the waterfront and a delicious dinner of Thai food.

Day 7 (Monday)
Leave the bustle of the city behind today and head up into the Shan hills for a visit to the mountain town of Pyin Oo Lwin. You’ll pass several intriguing sights along the way, and as the van climbs in altitude, the air will cool down and the views will become spectacular. Stop at the Golden Triangle Café for a taste of home and a delicious Western-style lunch of pizza, sandwiches, croissants and fruit shakes. After you get checked into the cozy hotel and have a fun orientation to local culture, you will head to a very special monastery that Rustic Pathways supports for a little time to chat with the monks. They are all very friendly and love getting to know our students. In the afternoon take a drive to Aneesakan, one of the region’s most beautiful waterfalls and cool off with a swim. Then return to Pyin Oo Lwin for an evening at the best restaurant in town.

Day 8 (Tuesday)
You will come down out of the hills this morning and return to Mandalay for the flight to Inle Lake. You will arrive at Heho Airport in the morning and set out for the lake, stopping along the way to visit local markets, spend some time with young Pa-Oh monks at a small monastery, and devour a gourmet lunch at View Point Restaurant in Naunge Shwe. Then hop in your private boat and go for a cruise on Inle Lake. The boat ride will end at your hotel, where you will stay in a charming bungalow that sits on stilts over the lake. In the afternoon, head out to a nearby village to play soccer with the kids and cook dinner with our local friends.

Day 9 (Wednesday)
You will rise early this morning and jump in your boat for a full day of touring on Inle Lake. Visit Intain Market where you can find all sorts of local treasures and crafts to bring home for your friends and family. Stop in at Inta and Pa-Oh villages, explore floating gardens, check out ancient stupas, and visit one of Burma’s most bizarre sights – the jumping-cats monastery! In the afternoon you will visit Mine Thouk Orphanage, where you can get to know the students by playing games, singing songs, and laughing together. Return to View Point Restaurant in Naunge Shwe for a gourmet dinner, and then take a sunset cruise back to your bungalow.

Day 10 (Thursday)
You will have a morning flight from Heho Airport back to Yangon today. From here you can connect directly to Chiang Mai, Bangkok or Singapore, depending on what adventure you have lined up next. We hope you have had an amazing adventure in the Golden Land. Burma will miss you!

Golden Triangle Packing List

Carry-On Luggage: A small backpack is the best carry on bag.

• Passport and Wallet *Travel Wallet that can be hidden under clothing is a good idea.

• Photo Copy of Passport (2 additional photocopies should be carried in checked luggage)

• Sunglasses

• Journal and Pens

• Good Book (trade with buddies)

• Make sure everything you pack in your carry-on complies with the new carry on regulations of the TSA: http://www.tsa.gov/travelers/airtravel/prohibited/permitted-prohibited-items.shtm

Checked Luggage: A medium sized duffel bag or large backpack work best. Wheeled bags are OK as long as they are medium sized and can easily be carried like a duffle over rough terrain. 15 kilos is often the weight limit on SE Asian airlines overage costs are the responsibility of the student

CLOTHING ITEMS

*Please bring at least a few items appropriate for temple visits, (knees and shoulders covered)
• 1 long pants or skirt
• Underwear (6 to 7)
• Socks (3 to 4) * Lightweight quick dry athletic socks like Smartwool are the best.
• T-Shirts and tank tops and sports shirts (2-5 cotton t-shirts + 2-3 quick dry shirts like capilene or polypropylene) approximately 8 t-shirts total
• 1 light sweater/sweatshirt
• Rainproof Jacket (1)
• Shorts (3-5 pairs of shorts)
• Swim Suit (1 or 2)
• Athletic Shoes *Shoes that dry quickly, you can hike short distances in and protect your feet are best. Shoes will get muddy and dirty so don't get too attached to your footwear.
• Sandals and/or Flip-Flops *it is recommended to have a pair of strap on sandals that will not fall off in water (Teva or Chaco brand sandals work great) YOU WILL LIVE IN THESE SHOES IN SE ASIA
• Hat for Sun
• towel (NOT white) *Large travel towels are great!

TOILETTRIES (Please pack all items that could leak in a PLASTIC or ZIPLOCK bags)
• Shampoo and Soap (preferably with little or no fragrance because of bugs) *you can find non-fragrance and biodegradable soap at natural food stores and outdoor adventure stores. Dr. Brauner's and Mountain Suds soaps are both good.
• Non-Fragrant Deodorant
• Toothpaste and Toothbrush
• Sunscreen (2 bottles of strong Sunscreen)
• Insect Repellant (2 bottles 35% DEET)
• Anti-itch Cream (1 Benedryl Anti-itch Gel works great)
• Hand Sanitizer (1 or 2 small bottles per week)
• Contact lenses and accompanying paraphernalia PLASTIC BAG

ADDITIONAL ITEMS
• Flashlight/Headlamp w/ Extra Batteries (to read at night or in the case of power outages)
• Watch or Clock with an Alarm
• Heavy Duty Garbage Bags (2) *for packing wet and dirty clothes/shoes
• Large (one gallon) Ziplock© Freezer Bags (4)
• Medications (must tell staff about)
• Small Personal First Aid Kit (our guides will have comprehensive first aid kits on hand, but having a small personal kit is always helpful)
? Band aids
? Triple Antibiotic Ointment
? Medical Tape
? Moleskin or preferred blister care
? Preferred Mild Pain Reliever
? Antihistamine (Benedryl or preferred type)
? 2 Non-adherent, sterile dressing
? 2 Gauze dressing
? 5-8 After Cuts and Scrapes Wipes

*Note: See the following link for ideas on small, personal first aid kits: http://www.adventuremedicalkits.com/kit_detail.asp? series=300&seriesNav=Dom&kit=302&kitNO=0125-0292

OPTIONAL ITEMS:
• Burmese or Shan/English dictionary
• Deck of Cards

Amazing Burma FAQs

What is unique about the Amazing Burma trip?
This is our signature touring program in Burma, designed to give students the chance to experience all of the “must see’s” of Burma while in country. Most of our students come to delve into the many service projects across SE Asia, and we have designed Amazing Burma as an easy one-week add-on to allow students to have a good look around while in this part of the world. In just a short week, students can expect to see it all, from ancient temples and lush rainforests, to 5-star Yangon hotels and remote Hill Tribe villages. Students will stay in nice hotels, home stay in simple villages, float down the Irrawaddy river, topple Mount Popa, shop along the world’s longest teak bridge, awe at the infamous 1-legged rowers of Inle Lake, and fall in love with one of the world’s truly beautiful cultures. In short, this is an action-packed week of the best in Burma!

What do students generally like most about this program?
Students like the diverse highlights featured on this program and the chance to explore and connect with the untouched culture of Burma. It is almost like traveling back in time, where life is simpler, the land is pure, and the people are kind.

Do we need to get visas for this program?
Yes. You are responsible for getting your own visa to Burma well ahead of the departure date. The following link will take you to the application form:
http://www.mewashingtondc.com/visas_passports.htm
We will be sending you more information regarding your visas as we get closer to the summer.

What will the accommodations be like?
We’ll stay at hotels and guest houses. There will be a range of accommodations on this trip, including nice hotels with beautiful swimming pools and all the amenities you could hope for. We also stay at a couple of simple guest houses owned by our friends along the way.

How often will I have the chance to do laundry?
Students will have the chance to wash their clothes at least once during the trip.

Are the mosquitoes a problem?
There are mosquitoes. They’re usually not too bad, but you will want to have a long sleeve shirt and long pants in the evenings. Students are also advised to bring a small bottle of insect repellent containing DEET at least 15%-20% DEET.

What will I need to spend my allowance money on?
There will be ample opportunities to shop! Our staff will take you through some of the finest stalls, malls, and markets of Burma. You’ll see all kinds of souvenirs and fun stuff to buy, so budget accordingly. Prices in Asia are on average significantly cheaper than in the West, but be wary that a lot of great deals can add up. Markets and local crafts are huge part of Burmese culture and a great way to support the local community. Here are some approximate, sample prices (listed in US dollars) that should help you prepare a budget: hand-woven scarf = $3; hand-woven shoulder bag = $6; T-shirt = $6; small wood carving = $5; soccer ball = $10

What is the weather like?
It’s hot, and humid in the day and a little cooler in the mountains at night. Daily downpours are short and give way to sunny skies. Be prepared for heat and dampness. Synthetic fiber clothes are great because they dry fast much faster than cotton can.

Are there any extremely physical or strenuous activities on this trip?
No. But be prepared to do quite a bit of walking while exploring the country, temples, rivers, and lakes. Plus you have to make it across the world’s LONGEST teak bridge, all while bartering for local goods!

How often will I have access to email and phones?
Phones are always available on an emergency basis. Students will be able to use phones and internet in their free time almost every day, although we encourage our students to use the internet only for a limited time, and only for corresponding with their family and friends.

Who will the staff members be on the trip? How many staff members will there be?
Each trip is staffed by a combination of western (American) and local leaders, and in most cases each team will include a nationally licensed guide, a western man and a western woman. We never have fewer than one staff member for every five students.

What kind of food will I eat? What if I have certain dietary restrictions?
We’ll eat a wide variety of Thai and ethnic food, as well as a good deal of Western food. Burma is famous for its food, and this trip will awaken your tastes to flavors you didn’t even know existed. Almost all dietary concerns can be accommodated, but please alert us of any relevant restrictions beforehand just to make sure. Vegetarians Welcome!

What water will we be drinking?
We will be drinking all bottled water. Bottled water is safe and readily available.

Where is the nearest healthcare?
The major cities in Burma offer decent healthcare, and in the event of any serious issue we can quickly transport students to Bangkok for some the world’s finest medical care. For the short time we will be in more rural areas farther from top-quality medical care, our staff will have a clear plan and route to the nearest healthcare depending on the severity of the situation.

Is your staff qualified in First Aid?
Because safety is our number one priority, all of our programs have staff that is certified with First Aid and CPR training. Many of our guides are also qualified Wilderness First Responders, EMTs, Wilderness EMTs, or Life Guards.

What immunizations do we need to get for the trip?
Rustic Pathways does not make recommendations regarding immunizations. You will need to visit your local travel clinic and discuss your specific itinerary with a physician so that they can make medical recommendations for you. For general information about travel around the world, please see the Center for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov.

Will there be a flight leader to this country?
All flights departing from and returning to the United States will have flight leaders. In the event a student is connecting from another country, they may or may not have a flight leader. In such instances, we generally have coordinated with the airlines to escort the students from check-in through customs, and delivered to a verified Rustic Pathways staff member.

How does this program connect to other programs?
All of our programs within Asia connect seamlessly. All trips begin and end on Thursday, thus allowing for easy connectivity and convenience.

Did you know?
Burma is estimated to have over 135 distinct ethnic groups, making it a cultural phenomenon.

Departs Tue	Returns Fri
12 Jun	22 Jun
3 Jul	13 Jul
17 Jul	27 Jul

TOURING + ADVENTURE

COMMUNITY SERVICE

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Amazing Burma

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