Description

Welcome to Burma. This is one of the worlds most colorful countries and is home to sincere and gentle people. During your stay, you'll explore big cities and small rural hamlets, stay in five-star resorts and simple country hotels, and eat in gourmet restaurants and Burmese teashops - all while traveling at a leisurely, Burmese pace.

The trip starts in Yangon (also called Rangoon), the bustling and colorful home to exotic markets, historic buildings, and one of Burmas most famous and revered residents, Aung San Suu Kyi. You'll stay just steps from one of the most significant temples in the Buddhist world the Shwedagon Pagoda. But because big cities arent the best places to get close to the locals, this will be your shortest stop.

Leave the Tourists Behind
An hour flight north will bring you to Bagan on the banks of the Irrawaddy River. The temples of Bagan rival the appeal and sheer scale of the temples of the Angkor period in Cambodia, but instead of a city overrun by the effects of tourism, youll find a sleepy country town here. Take time to hang out with villagers, visit our monk and student friends, ride around in a horse cart, cruise on the Irrawaddy River, visit the monkeys and magic men at Mount Popa, and groove slowly into Burma. This trip is about getting to know the Burmese people, and youll be unlike other tourists because we know owners of tea shops, tour guides, teachers, students, boat drivers, goat herders, cane growers, Buddhist monks, and a group of really cool Burmese soccer players who will help you get to know the country.

The Faces of Modern Mandalay
After a few days in Bagan you will fly farther north to one of the most intriguing cities in Southeast Asia Mandalay. Cooler, calmer, and more colorful than Yangon, Mandalay is home to 70 percent of all the Buddhist monks in Burma. You will visit with monks, meet the young women and men who work on the banks of the Irrawaddy River, sample Shan and gourmet Burmese cuisine, and learn about the citys history while you are here. The farther you get from Burmas capital city, the more exotic and intriguing the trip becomes.

Next you'll turn west and leave modern Burma behind as you drive into the Shan State - home of the Shan or Tai Yai people. If stepping into Burma feels like traveling 50 years back in time, then the trip into the Shan hills feels like moving back another decade. Here you'll explore small Hill Tribe towns, visit Burmas famous gardens, shop in some very cool local markets, swim in spectacular waterfalls, and visit elderly monks at an old Shan monastery.

Life on the Lake
You'll come down from your cool mountain perch after a few days and fly to Inle Lake, one of the most beautiful places in Southeast Asia. Villages accessible only by boat ring Inle Lake, and you'll sail out to them to visit exotic markets selling everything from brass buffalo bells to handmade fabrics, clothing, and antiques. Using our boats to get around, you'll spend several days visiting markets and ancient monasteries, seeing jumping cats and floating organic farms, and learning about real daily life here. You'll also take an afternoon trip high into the mountains to visit Taunggyi, the last town open to visitors in Shan State. Beyond this pretty mountain town the road is closed and the gate into the rest of Burma effectively locked.

A Fond Farewell
At the end of the trip, you'll fly back to Yangon to make an offering at the Shwedagon Pagoda before leaving the country.

This trip is perfect for experienced student travelers who are excited to visit a rich and colorful country while challenging themselves to open their hearts and minds to a new culture. If you are an adventurer who wants to get off the beaten track and visit places few tourists have with Rustic Pathways Chairman and Founder, then this is the trip for you. This is one of our most popular programs, and it sells out very early each year.

Highlights

VENTURE down dusty backcountry roads to small hillside villages, crumbling ancient temples, and friendly local tea houses that few Westerners have the opportunity to visit.

LEARN about Burmas rich history from our knowledgeable local staff as you travel to spectacular temples, big cities, and small rural hamlets far off the beaten tourist track.

TRAVEL with David Venning, Rustic Pathways Chairman and Founder, and enjoy special access and connections as he introduces you to Burma, one of his favorite destinations.

GET TO KNOW the people and places that make Burma one of the most colorful, controversial countries on the planet.

Travel Types

• Native Culture Studies
• Overland Tours
• Student Tours
• Tours

Type of Programs

• Cultural Exploration
• Student Tours

Languages

• English

Cost in US$:

3,895 USD + 765 USD Internal Airfare + International Air

Program Fees Include:

The above cost includes all ground transportation in-country, 3 meals a day, housing, staff through the duration of the program, and all excursions on the program itinerary not listed as optional.

This Program is open to

American, Asian, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants.

Application Process Involves

• Online Application plus Application Assessment

Typically The Application Process Time is

1-2 business days

Rustic Pathways's Mission Statement

Rustic Pathways is a pioneer in providing superior quality travel and service programs for students and families in some of the world's most welcoming countries. Rustic Pathways demands professionalism and integrity across all of its operations, insists on quality in all aspects of its programs, and places the safety of its students above all other considerations. We enrich the lives of our students and our staff, benefit the parts of the world we serve, and build cultural bridges that lead to greater global understanding and cooperation.

Year Founded

1983