This wonderful price for a tour to exciting, mysterious Burma (Myanmar) covers all of the following:

• Return Air fares from Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane to Rangoon with Thai International, one of the world's best airlines and three domestic flights within Burma. 

• A 12-day tour of Burma by coach, plane and boat. Although this is one of the world's poorest countries, it is rich in culture, with lovely, friendly people and magnificent scenery.

• A 2 night stopover in Bangkok.   

• Full breakfast daily in Bangkok and Rangoon, with all meals supplied outside these two cities.  

• All transfers and transport. 

• Good accommodation, mainly three to four star.

• Services of Burmese and Thai tour guides and also an Australian tour leader for the flights between Sydney and Bangkok and for the stay in Bangkok.

If you don't have a travel partner but wish to travel at twin share rates, we will do our best to match you up, but this is not guaranteed.
If you require a single room, there will be an additional charge of $385.        

NOTE: Burma is very much a third world country, so not everything always goes to plan. Also some of the roads are quite rough, so road travel can take longer than expected.

Tour Itinerary

Terms and Conditions

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	Itinerary for Burma September 2010
	Included meals are indicated as B = Breakfast, L =Lunch, D = Dinner
08.09.10	Australia - Bangkok Depart Sydney at 10.00am on TG 456, arriving in Bangkok at 4.25pm. Depart Brisbane at 2:20pm on TG 474, arriving in Bangkok at 8:40pm. Depart Melbourne at 4.05pm on TG 466, arriving in Bangkok at 10.25pm. All flights will be met at Bangkok Airport and transferred to the Manhattan Hotel, centrally situated in the Sukhumvit shopping and entertainment area and within easy walking distance to a Sky rail station and an underground station.
09.09.10 (B)	Bangkok Morning optional tour to see Bangkok's beautiful flower market, followed by a boat tour of Bangkok's klongs (canals) and the busy Chao Phya River. See the Royal Barges and the spectacular Temple of Dawn. This is followed by a visit to a jewelery manufacturer.  Price $35.00 In the evening, there is an optional tour to a Thai banquet with a magnificent presentation of classical Thai dancing.  Price $40.00
10.09.10 (B)	Bangkok - Yangon Early transfer to Bangkok Airport, departing at 8.00am on TG 303, arriving in Yangon at 8.45am. Upon arrival you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Today's sightseeing includes the old colonial style city centre, the gilded Sule Pagoda, dating back over 2,000 years. The tour continues to Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda, a huge reclining Buddha image, followed by a photo stop made at the Karaweik royal floating barge. An extended visit to Shwedagon Pagoda, one of the world's most spectacular religious monuments, will conclude the tour of this picturesque Garden City. The golden dome of Shwedagon Pagoda rises 98 meters above its base and is covered with 60 tons of pure gold.
11.09.10 (B/L)	Yangon - Bago - Yangon After breakfast leave your hotel and drive out to Yangon. The journey from Yangon to Bago leads through a picturesque rural landscape of paddy fields and small villages. Bago, formerly called Pegu, was founded in the year 825 by two Mon princes. The town, a former ancient port and capital, is situated about 84km from Yangon. The highlights include the enormous reclining Shwethalyaung Buddha image, one of the country's most revered objects, and the Shwemawdaw Pagoda, which is over a thousand years old. Repaired after an  earthquake in the 1930's, the pagoda has an impressive spire, on that is even taller than that of Yangon's Shwedagon Pagoda. At the nearby local market, agricultural produce grown locally is on sale. Lunch will be served at a local restaurant. On the way back to the capital, visit Htaukkyan War Cemetery, situated between Bago and Yangon. It houses the graves of more than 27,000 allied soldiers. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission administers this beautifully landscaped cemetery. This is a tour that gives insight into the history and culture of this region. Return to your hotel in the afternoon.
12.09.10 (B/L/D)	Yangon - Heho - Pindaya After early breakfast, transfer to airport for domestic flight to Heho. Upon arrival, drive to Pindaya (2 hours). Lunch is taken at a local restaurant on the way. The road is bumpy but the scenery is interesting, with endless paddy fields in the morning and rolling hills in the afternoon, as the road climbs into the mountains of southern Shan State. Arrive Pindaya and visit magnificent Pindaya Caves, set in the limestone ridge overlooking a picturesque lake, where thousands of different types of Buddha images are on display in the various cave chambers. Enjoy dinner in Pindaya.
13.09.10 (B/L/D)	Pindaya - Inle Lake After breakfast, proceed by road to Nyaung Shwe (95km - 2 1/2 hours) and transfer by boat to your hotel for check in. After lunch at a local restaurant, you will commence the excursion by boat on the Inle Lake. En route you encounter famous leg rowers, typical floating gardens, local methods of fishing, village life and magnificent scenery. Visits are made to Phaungdawoo Pagoda, the weaving village of Inpawkhon. Enjoy dinner at Inle Lake.
14.09.10 (B/L/D)	Inle Lake - Heho - Mandalay This morning you will travel by boat to the Western shore of the Inle Lake, where you will find the beginning of a stair path leading to the hidden and unknown Inn Thein Pagoda complex. In the late afternoon you transfer by boat and road to Heho airport (25km 1 hour) for domestic flight to Mandalay. Upon arrival in Tado Oo Airport, transfer to your hotel in Mandalay. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
15.09.10 (B/L/D)	Mandalay - Amarapura - Mandalay After breakfast, you drive to Amarapura and visit Mahagandayon, a famous Buddhist monastery, where more than a thousand monks live and study; continue to the 150 year old U Bein teak bridge, built in 1851 at the time when Amarapura was the royal capital. Visit Bagaya Monastery, with a superb collection on Buddha statues. Lunch is served at a local restaurant. An afternoon of sightseeing in Mandalay includes Mahamuni Pagoda with its spectacular Buddha images covered with thick layers of gold leaves, a visit to a craftsman's workshop to see Kalaga tapestries being created, Shwenandaw Kyaung (or Golden Palace Monastery) a superb example of a traditional wooden building and Kuthadow Pagoda (known as the world's largest book) consisting of 729 marble slabs engraved with Buddhist scriptures. Enjoy a sunset from Mandalay Hill. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
16.09.10 (B/L/D)	Mandalay - Maymyo Breakfast at hotel. This morning we leave Mandalay  for a scenic drive to the cool hill station of Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo) with its lovely lake and waterfalls, botanical garden and colonial era buildings. Explore the town centre by the famous horse drawn carriages. Lunch is taken at a local restaurant. Sightseeing continues to the National Kandawgyi Garden, the beautiful botanical gardens of Pyin Oo Lwin. The cooler weather allows many flowers and fruits, commonly found in the temperate climates, to thrive there. An opportunity to take pictures is made at the historical Candacraig Hotel, which was built during the colonial era about one hundred years ago. Enjoy dinner in Maymyo.
17.09.10 (B/L/D)	Maymyo - Mandalay - Mingun - Mandalay Breakfast at hotel. Return to Mandalay. Lunch is at a local restaurant. After lunch proceed for a boat trip to Mingun, site of a brick pagoda towering 50 meters above the Ayeyarwaddy River, and home to the world's largest intact bell. The boat trip is interesting because you see all types of wooden boats and bamboo rafts, carrying goods up and down the river. Return to Mandalay to visit Zegyo Market. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
18.09.10 (B/L/D)	Mandalay - Mt Popa - Bagan After breakfast drive overland to Mt Popa, an extinct volcano with a shrine dedicated to animist spirits, known as "Nats". For the energetic, time to climb 777 steps to the shrine at the top of the volcanic plug. Lunch is served at Popa Mountain Resort. Continue to Bagan, a scenic journey of varied agricultural landscapes and small villages. Late afternoon, you arrive into Bagan and enjoy dinner.
19.09.10 (B/L/D)	Bagan After breakfast stroll through the colorful local market. Continue the day with visits to the most significant pagodas and temples of Bagan including Shwezigon Pagoda, built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious shrine; see 12th century frescoes adorning the corridors of Kyansittha Cave Temple; Gu Byauk Gyi, a temple with superb murals of Jataka scenes; Htilominlo, the last Bamar style temple built in Bagan, with old murals and friezes; Ananda Temple with four standing Buddha images and Thatbyinnyu Temple, known as 'temple of omniscience' and dating from 1144. After lunch at a local restaurant, learn about one of Myanmar's most treasured handicrafts at a lacquer ware craftsman's workshop in nearby Myinkaba Village. Then to Bupaya Pagoda or Shwesandaw Pagoda to watch the sunset over the famous Ayeyarwaddy River. Enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.
20.09.10 (B/L)	Bagan - Yangon After breakfast visit Tayokepyay Temple in Minn Nan Thu village, Phaya Thone Zu and Nandamanya Temples (noted for exquisite 13th century murals) and Kyat Kan Cave Monastery, a famous meditation centre in Bagan. Visit farming villages around Bagan and lunch is at a local restaurant. In the late evening, you transfer to Bagan Airport for your flight to Yangon. upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel.
21.09.10 (B)	Yangon - Bangkok - Australia After breakfast you will visit Thiri Mingalar fruit, flowers and vegetable market. Then continue to the Bogyoke (Scotts) Market and stroll through a compound of hundreds of food, garment, handicraft and gem stores. You guide and coach will remain at your disposal for the balance of the day. Late evening you will transferred to Yangon International Airport for departure for you flight to Bangkok. Arrive Bangkok at 9.35pm. Sydney passengers depart Bangkok at 11.59pm on TG 457, arriving in Sydney at 12 mid-day (22.09.10). Brisbane passengers depart Bangkok at 11.59pm on TG 473, arriving in Brisbane at 12.05pm (22.09.10).
22.09.10	Melbourne passengers depart Bangkok at 12.15am on TG 465, arriving in Melbourne at 12.05pm.

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Deposits and Payments - A non-refundable deposit of $200.00 per person is payable within 7 days of booking. This deposit is not refundable should you later cancel. The balance is payable in full 8 weeks prior to departure.

Refunds and Cancellations - Cancellations after final payment will result in a refund limited to whatever we can recoup from the airline.

Insurance - Adequate travel insurance is essential. We can arrange this for you if desired.

Passports - All travellers require a current passport with at least 6 months left on it at the end of the tour. Non-Australian passport holders require a re-entry visa for Australia.  Visas are required for all Australian passport holders to Burma. Visa fee for an Australian passport holder  is $35.00 and we charge $30.00 for processing.  Please note: Visa fees are subject to any increases imposed by the Burmese Consulate.

Basic Tour Price and Taxes - Air taxes and fuel levies are included in the basic tour price, and as air taxes and fuel levies change regularly  the exact amount will be advised at time of invoicing. At present air taxes and fuel levies come to $395 for the standard tour. Total tour cost may therefore change.

Breakaway Fee
All fully inclusive prices are based on group travel and any deviation from the set  itinerary will incur a breakaway fee.

Not  Included in the Cost -  Travel insurance, visas and all items of a personal nature such as telephone calls, drinks, excess baggage, tips, meals (except those specified in the itinerary), etc. are not included in the cost.
Similarly, credit card payments can only be accepted if 2% is added to the price to help defray the heavy merchant fees charged to us by the credit card companies.

Booking through other Agents - As we keep the cost of our tours as low as possible, there is insufficient margin for us to be able to pay commission to other travel agents, so some bookings can only be accepted if the client pays the other agent's commission. 
Macleay Valley Travel is a fully licensed travel agent and as such any monies paid to us are fully insured by the Travel Compensation Fund. We are happy for any prospective traveller with us to check us out with your local Consumer Affairs (fair trading) department.

Health and Fitness -Macleay Valley Travel recommends that the passenger is reasonably healthy and/or fit to participate in this tour.  Persons with a disability requiring special assistance must be accompanied by a companion. Macleay Valley Travel and their representatives cannot provide this service.  Macleay Valley Travel reserves the right to accept/decline or terminate a passenger's participation in the tour under certain circumstances.

Limitation of Liability - As Macleay Valley Travel acts only as agent for the Airlines, Hotels, Coach Companies etc., providing accommodation, transportation and other services, Macleay Valley Travel shall not be liable or responsible for death or injury to any person or loss or damage to any property including baggage arising out of or connection with any transportation, accommodation or other services, or resulting directly or indirectly from acts of God, fire, breakdown in machinery or equipment, acts of Government or other authorities, de jure or defacto wars, whether declared or not, hostilities, civil disturbances, strikes, riots, thefts, epidemics, quarantines, medical or customs regulations, delays or cancellations caused by changes in schedules or itinerary, or over bookings or defaults or for any causes beyond Macleay Valley Travel's control or any loss or damage resulting from improper or insufficient passports, visas or other documents and neither Macleay Valley Travel, and its servants or employees shall be or become liable or responsible for any additional expenses or liability sustained or incurred by the tour member as a result of the foregoing causes.
Macleay Valley Travel reserves the right to modify the itinerary or the accommodation if circumstances make this necessary, provided that the amended itinerary is of equal value or greater value than that of the original program.
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