This itinerary will be conducted at a relaxed pace. You will typically spend several nights at one location which means less time spent packing and unpacking, and more sightseeing. You will be required to move about unassisted, including getting on and off vehicles, walking up and down stairs and handling your own luggage.
This tour is fully escorted by an expert English-speaking guide who will accompany you throughout the tour.
River cruises are a relaxed, informal way to travel - there are fewer passengers on board compared to an ocean cruise, which means ample opportunity to make lifelong friends. You will pass through the world's most loved cities and towns; disembark and enjoy a shore excursion or two, or simply wander around and explore on your own.
These tours are our proudest creations. They have been crafted for Inspiring Vacations travellers exclusively, with personal and unique experiences in mind. Please see the Important Information on your selected tour for exact group size. Enjoy features such as hand-picked accommodation, a sampling of the region’s best culinary delights, and a range of optional activities to choose from to best suit your travel style.
Good quality properties chosen for their modern facilities and amenities, typically ideally located, offering easy access to the city centre.
Hotel stars are based on local ratings provided and the expected standard may differ depending on the destination. Hotels listed within the itinerary are indicative of the typical hotel we intend to use for that package but is subject to change.
✓ Small, intimate group experience – no more than 16 people
✓ Return international airfares with a full-service airline
✓ All airport and port transfers
✓ All coach and cruise transportation
✓ 7 nights in 4-star accommodation
✓ 7 nights cruising the stunning Irrawaddy River
✓ 15 breakfasts, 11 lunches and 7 dinners
✓ Professional, English-speaking guides throughout
✓ Incredible sightseeing, including the UNESCO-listed ancient ruins of Bagan, 2600-year-old pagodas, the pilgrimage site of Pindaya Caves and the bamboo stilt villages of Inle Lake
✓ 24/7 customer service and your own Dedicated Support Agent
Travel with the experts for a carefully curated, value-packed discovery of the world's most iconic destinations. Our tours are bursting with must-see sights, rich experiences and quality inclusions, all at an unbeatable price. Bucket list dreams are ticked off on these all-encompassing journeys.
Welcome to Myanmar! You’ll be met on arrival and transferred to your hotel. Feel free to relax or explore this historic city.
The former capital of Myanmar, Yangon is a bustling city – the commercial centre of a country steeped in mystique and rooted in tradition. Relatively unexplored by tourists, this magical country is now opening up, offering a truly unique opportunity to discover a culture that is a world away from our own.
The city features an interesting mix of British colonial architecture and modern buildings, ancient pagodas and street markets. It’s a lively city but it’s also incredibly green – there are many lakes, parks and tropical trees.
Some flights may depart the evening prior to Day 1.
After breakfast, enjoy a guided tour around the city centre, home to various historic and colonial buildings. We’ll stop at Sule Pagoda, 44 metres tall and more than 2600 years old, surrounded by government buildings. Then we’ll head to Mahabandoola Park, to see the Independent Monument.
We’ll pass City Hall – a Yangon City Heritage site – on the way to the Botahtaung Pagoda, located downtown beside the Yangon River. Next, see the Chaukhtatgyi Pagoda, home to the enormous, revered, reclining Buddha stretching nearly 70 metres long. The feet of the statue are carved with sacred Buddhist symbols and many locals gather here to pay homage and pray.
Enjoy the stop at Kandawgyi Lake, where you’ll see panoramic views from the lake overlooking the Shwedagon Pagoda. Next explore the famous Scott Market, a sprawling complex built in 1926, hence the colonial facade. Along the inner cobblestone streets you’ll find antiques, precious stones like Burmese rubies, handicrafts, souvenirs, clothing and other typical market wares.
The tour will conclude with a visit to one of the world’s most spectacular monuments. More than 2600 years old, the Shwedagon Pagoda is a gleaming bell dome structure that dominates the city’s skyline. At nearly one hundred metres tall, it’s gold plated with an enormous – 76 carat – diamond top. Legend states that the sacred hairs of the Buddha are enshrined here. It’s an icon, surely the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in this country.
You may choose to include 1 optional Inspiring Sight, free as part of your package.
See beautiful downtown Yangon at night. You’ll be picked up from your hotel. You’ll walk along Wardan Street, crossing Strand Road on the bridge to see the slowly awakening, colourful night market. At Lan Thit jetty, you’ll see the ferry leaving and the vendors along the road. You’ll continue until you arrive at the lively night market on Strand Road, passing many local foods, snacks and fruits. After a visit to Kheng Hock Keong Chinese Temple, walk along 18th Street and end up on unpaved streets lined with old wooden shuttered houses and shopfronts. We’ll stop at famous 19th Street for a local beer and one of downtown’s delicious, famous barbeques. Sit and enjoy your food outside and enjoy Yangon’s nightlife like a local. We’ll then take a short walk to another Chinese temple, Guang Dong Kwan Yin Temple, before heading back to the hotel.
Starts: approx: Departs between 5:00pm-5:30pm
Duration: approx. 3 ½ hours
Please note the start and duration times outlined are subject to change based on factors beyond our control such as traffic and weather conditions. Your Tour Guide will confirm operation times with you whilst on-tour and can answer any further questions you may have.
You may choose to include 1 optional Inspiring Sight, free as part of your package.
Visit a selection of downtown Yangon’s art galleries. The tour lasts for four hours – we’ll visit at least three galleries but the itinerary will vary depending on opening hours, current exhibits and your personal interests. You’ll be picked up from your hotel and we’ll start with lunch at LinkAge, a quaint non-profit restaurant and gallery that teaches street kids hospitality and life skills. After lunch, head to Pansodan Arts for works covering the traditional period up to modern, abstract styles. You’ll see the store room upstairs with hundreds of paintings tucked away, including war-time propaganda. Next stop is the newest addition to Yangon’s art scene, Sule Eain, a loft-style space that features rotating exhibitions of contemporary painters. Other stops include River Gallery for the city’s widest range of contemporary art, and Lawkanat Gallery, a non-profit that features rotating exhibits of current Burmese artists and a small collection of traditional works. The tour will conclude in the area known as Golden Valley, at a gallery established by Min Wai Aung, a Burmese artist famous for his paintings of monks. You’ll be taken back to your hotel at the end.
Starts: approx: Operates either morning or afternoon. To be confirmed on tour by your Tour Guide.
Duration: approx. 4 hours
Please note the start and duration times outlined are subject to change based on factors beyond our control such as traffic and weather conditions. Your Tour Guide will confirm operation times with you whilst on-tour and can answer any further questions you may have.
You’ll be met in the hotel lobby and taken to the airport for your flight to the ancient capital of Mandalay, on the banks of the Irrawaddy River. Now a big, busy, modern Burmese city, it’s rich in culture and history. It’s the religious centre of Burmese culture and home to thousands of young monks.
You’ll be met at the airport on arrival. Before heading to your hotel, we’ll drive to the city of Ava, the ancient imperial capital. A short ferry ride across the river takes you to a waiting horse and cart. Visit the old wooden Bagaya Monastery, a typical Burmese monastery with two buildings – one for Buddha, and another for the monks living there. There are many small villages located among Ava’s ruins. Explore the area by horse and cart and get a glimpse up close of local life in the Burmese countryside.
We’ll continue onto Mandalay and check into the hotel to freshen up.
Later in the afternoon, visit 63rd Street, lined with dozens of street food stalls. We’ll visit the impressively named Maha Lawka Yan Hnain Aung Daw Mu Myat Swar Paya to witness Buddhist pilgrims grinding thanaka, a cosmetic paste which is also used to scent water that’s used for washing Buddha statues. There are many other symbolic, spiritual places at the temple, including a small pond with fish and turtles.
Today you’ll board the ship for your Inspiring Stay, cruising the stunning Irrawaddy River for seven nights between the royal capitals of Mandalay and Bagan. Along the way you’ll stop at charming villages and see traditional Burmese life on the shores of this mighty river.
You’ll board at 11:30am. After lunch onboard, enjoy an excursion to Mandalay to explore the country’s second-largest city.
Beyond the bustle of downtown, Mandalay is home to many majestic, sacred temples. Start with a visit to Mahamuni Buddha Temple, one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Myanmar. The Mahamuni Buddha image, brought here from Arakan, is deified in this temple. To pay respect to the Buddha image, male devotees apply gold leaves to the image. As a result, the Mahamuni Buddha Image has a thick coating of gold. Your walk continues along the street renowned for its marble carvers.
Continue to Shwe Kyaung (Golden Palace Monastery), built in 1857 as part of the royal palace, before it was moved to the present site in 1879.
Explore Kuthodaw Pagoda, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that contains the world’s biggest book. 729 marble slabs, engraved with the Buddha’s Parli Scriptures, are housed in shrines.
After visiting a gold leaf hammering workshop, stop by the moat surrounding the Royal Palace for a great photo opportunity with Mandalay Hill as the backdrop.
Set sail to Mingun for a morning walking tour around the unfinished zedi (stupa) built by Amarapura’s King Bodawpaya in 1790. It was intended to be the world’s largest stupa but has remained unfinished since 1808.
The village of Sagaing is home to several Buddhist monasteries, with pagodas and monasteries dotted along the hills parallel to the river. In the afternoon, drive up to the top of the hill to Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda, the central pagoda that’s connected by a set of covered staircases up the hill. Admire the bird’s eye view over the Irrawaddy River, curving around the city of Sagaing.
Later on you’ll be introduced to a Buddhist nun’s way of life at a nunnery.
You’ll then drive to Amarapura, a former capital. Here you’ll visit a silk and cotton weaving workshop, a tradition and livelihood the town is famous for.
At sunset you’ll take a local boat ride on Taungthaman Lake at U Bein Bridge. At 1.2km long, it’s the oldest and longest teakwood bridge in the world.
Explore Yandabo village, famous for producing terracotta pottery from the river bank clay. This village is well-known as the place where the first Anglo-Burmese war ended, with the peace treaty signed here in 1826.
Enjoy a morning walking tour and a visit to a pottery workshop, to see the production process firsthand. This is a hands-on experience which you are welcome to try!
Visit the Pandaw-supported Yandabo School (not in school holidays).
You’ll visit Pakokku today, a quiet town located 30km from Bagan. It’s well-known for its tobacco production. You’ll experience the local market and centre by tuk tuk. Stop by a cheroot workshop and discover how traditional cheroot cigars are made.
Sail to the Ayardaw charity clinic, supported by Pandaw, that treats patients from the remote villages of Pakokku and Seikphyu. Enjoy an afternoon walk around the village.
Docking at Tant Chi Taung, drive up the winding road of the Tant-Chi-Taung mountain to visit the hilltop stupa. On the way back, watch a traditional paper mache elephant dance performed by the Tant-Chi villagers.
Sail on to Salay. Once a bustling trading port, it’s now a sleepy village filled with colonial architectural treasures and timeless teak monasteries. Walk from the ship to Yoke-Sone Kyaung, the best-known teak monastery with its spectacular wood carvings. Stop at Salay House on your return.
In the morning, cruise upstream from Salay to Bagan, the greatest archaeological site on earth. You’ll explore this city’s many temples – there are over 2,000 built between the 9th and 13th centuries – and admire the pagodas’ ancient architecture. The first is Ananda, known as the finest temple in Bagan in terms of ancient architecture. It was built in AD 1105 by King Kyan Sit Thar, a great king of the Bagan dynasty. Explore the high standard of Bagan craftsmanship including niches with statues, glazed plaques, the standing Buddha statues and murals.
Next stop is Gubyaukgyi Temple in Myinkaba village, built in AD 1113 by Prince Rajakumar, son of King Kyan Sit Thar. You’ll see the well-preserved murals depicting day-to-day life in Bagan.
End the day with a walk through West Pwa Saw village, a small village with just over 500 inhabitants, situated between New Bagan and Nyaung U airport. It was named after the very famous and influential queen in late 13th-century Bagan. These villagers rely on bean and pea farming, breeding cattle and their small lacquerware handicrafts. As you walk through the village in the late afternoon, enjoy the sunshine as you see the villagers’ way of life – fetching water, herding cattle back home and preparing for dinner.
You’ll remain docked at Bagan today, to explore this ancient city, former capital of the Pagan kingdom.
Visit graceful Shwesandaw stupa and the glimmering, gold-plated Shwezigon Pagoda, built at the end of the 11th century and believed to enshrine a hair relic of the Buddha.
Take a stroll around the Khay Min Ga pagoda complex before you enjoy lunch onboard.
In the afternoon, visit a lacquerware workshop to discover this process, the specialty craft of Bagan. Continue to unique Payathonzu, three temples built in the late 13th century, all connected by a narrow passage.
You’ll end the day with a visit to Dhammayangyi, the widest and largest temple in Bagan. The story behind its construction is interesting; it was built during the reign of King Narathu (1167-1170), who came to the throne by assassinating his father and brother. It’s said he built this grand temple to atone for his sins.
Watch the sunset from the top of Taung Guni temple before returning to the ship.
Imagine floating over thousand year old pagodas and the mighty Irrawaddy River, as the sun rises slowly from the horizon over the misty fields and temples. The magic of Bagan has inspired visitors to Myanmar for centuries. One of the most remarkable sights in Asia, where ancient temples dot the landscape as far as the eye can see. The flight duration is approximately 45 minutes to an hour, depending on wind and air currents and other local factors. You’ll be picked up from your hotel (between 5-5.30am) and transferred to the launch site. After a briefing session, set off for the spectacular flight. Upon landing, enjoy a glass of champagne and light snack before returning to the hotel. This tour operates daily between 15th October to 10th April.
Starts: approx: Departs between 5:00am-5:30am
Duration: approx. 3 hours (45 minute flight)
Please note the start and duration times outlined are subject to change based on factors beyond our control such as traffic and weather conditions. Your Tour Guide will confirm operation times with you whilst on-tour and can answer any further questions you may have.
After breakfast on board, you’ll dock and be transferred to the airport for your flight to Heho, a quiet town in the beautiful hills of Shan State.
It’s then about a one-hour drive to Pindaya, up into the hills and across the Shan Plateau, through fields of mountain rice. Visit magnificent Pindaya Caves, a Buddhist pilgrimage site set in a limestone ridge overlooking a picturesque lake. Thousands of different types of Buddha images are on display in the various cave chambers. You’ll visit some local houses, where families produce Shan paper and parasols.
After lunch, we’ll drive down to the valley of Nyaung Shwe on the edge of Inle Lake, about a two-hour drive. On the way we’ll stop at Shwe Yan Pyay wooden monastery on stilts, a distinctive red-painted teak building with oval windows.
Board your own local boat and delight in seeing the local fisherman who fish using traditional methods – operating the oar using one leg – a technique indigenous to the Inn Thar minority group who do this only on this lake.
Located 900m above sea level and approximately 22km long and 11km wide, much of the water paradise of Inle Lake is only accessible by boat. Villages, hotels, temples and monasteries are on stilts – the Venice of Asia. The lake is most famous for the extraordinary lives of the people who live on and around it, known as the Intha people.
Today you’ll visit a local market (if it’s open), where you’ll catch a glimpse of the life of the ethnic Pa-O, Danu and Intha people who buy and sell at these markets. It’s called the five-day market as it rotates from one village to another on a five-day system. It’s hard to keep track of, though – the market calendar is lunar.
Continue to Nam Pan village, entirely on stilts, to meet with residents and see traditional Ikat weaving techniques. You’ll continue to Inpawkhon village, to interact with locals and immerse yourself in village life. Visit a boat builder’s workshop, blacksmith shop and cheroot making factory, where you can try your hand at making the fabled Burmese cigar.
Today you’re invited to join a local family for lunch. Enjoy this Inspired Taste, a traditional Intha meal cooked by your hosts according to treasured family recipes. You’ll be welcomed into the home to discover some traditional cooking techniques and to get to know your hosts, residents of this magical part of the world.
In the afternoon, you’ll return to your hotel and have the afternoon at leisure.
You may choose to include 1 optional Inspiring Sight, free as part of your package.
You’ll travel by boat to Nyaung Shwe, to start with a leisurely bike ride through this thriving trading town on the north end of Inle Lake. Pedal through the side streets of town, stopping to see warehouses piled high with tomatoes and check out the bustling canals. As you cycle away from town, you’ll head into the fields and farms of this area that is home to a diverse mix of hill tribes. See people from the Pa-O, Shan and Inthar ethnic groups in their traditional dress. Follow the lake’s eastern shoreline south, stopping for photos and to visit villages on the way. Then, turn off the main road and climb a short hill to arrive at Red Mountain Estate Vineyards & Winery. Take a tour of the winemaking facility and learn about this area’s wine industry, still in its early days. You’ll sit at a hillside restaurant for your tasting experience as you enjoy the fabulous views over Inle Lake. Then it’s time to pedal back to Nyaung Shwe, where the boat waits to bring you back to your hotel.
Starts: approx: Operates either morning or afternoon. To be confirmed on tour by your Tour Guide.
Duration: approx. 4 hours
Please note the start and duration times outlined are subject to change based on factors beyond our control such as traffic and weather conditions. Your Tour Guide will confirm operation times with you whilst on-tour and can answer any further questions you may have.
After breakfast, head across the lake by boat to Indein, deep in the jungle at the western end. You’ll pass through the busy village of Ywama, the largest on the lake, with many channels and tall teak houses on stilts. Enter a long, often tree-lined canal, and watch farmers ashore tending to their land, against the backdrop of the Shan Hills.
Disembark at the jetty and it’s about a 15-minute walk through Indein village to reach the 14th-18th century pagoda ruins of Nyaung Ohak. Many pagodas here remain charmingly unrestored – crumbling ruins – with plants and even small trees growing out of them. It’s surreal. A covered walkway, popular with souvenir stalls, leads up to Shwe Inn Thein, a complex of weatherbeaten 17th-18th century stupas, some newly reconstructed. Some lean at precarious angles! From this hill you’ll enjoy panoramic views of the village and surrounding areas.
You’ll return to the river and continue downstream by boat past Yethar village, watching local life on the banks and birds in the trees. We’ll head to a stunning location for your cooking class.
After meeting your chef and enjoying a cup of tea, you’ll get started and learn how to prepare 8 to 10 special Shan dishes. At the end, you’ll sit down to enjoy what you’ve created. A recipe book is yours so you can recreate these dishes at home!
Before heading back to the hotel you’ll have the chance to go on a short canoe trip, about 20 minutes, around the area to see some of the floating gardens and villages.
After breakfast, you’ll leave by boat for Nyaung Shwe and then be taken to Heho Airport, for your flight back to Yangon.
You’ll be met on arrival. At Nanthida Jetty you’ll take a ferry across the river to Dala. It’s about a 15 minute ferry ride that gives great views of the waterways, as well as an opportunity to interact with curious locals! When you reach Dala you’ll take a tuk tuk through the town.
Visit a traditional, family-run candle factory and a monastery to learn about monastic life in Myanmar. This monastery also serves as a community centre and is an important part of rural Burmese life. If time permits, you’ll visit social enterprise ChuChu, with a shop, workshop and gallery. Six families work here and sell their crafts, made from recycled plastics.
Return to Yangon by ferry and back to the hotel.
This evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with your group and tour guide to celebrate your time in Burma. You’ll dine at the House of Memories restaurant, where General Aung San once had his office. This teak mansion is heritage listed, more than 100 years old, and filled with antiques and old momentos.
Enjoy one last delicious breakfast this morning, before your Burmese adventure comes to an end. You’ll be met in the hotel lobby to be taken to the airport for your flight home.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this extraordinary journey.
Arrive home today after your amazing adventure, we hope you have been Inspired!
Inspiring Stays
Inspiring Sights
Inspiring Tastes
To be inspired about your cruise click here for a feature video.
**RV Pandaw II **One of the larger vessels in Pandaw’s fleet of characterful, colonial style river cruisers, the Pandaw II still provides an intimate experience as you journey through some of Asia’s most picturesque landscapes, its shallow draught enabling you to reach remote areas that are off limits to many other vessels.
Both the main deck and upper deck cabins offer 16 square metres of living space. They also feature air conditioning, a shower room with hot water, windows that open, an electronic safe and traditional teak ship beds. Broad promenade decks run around the outside of the accommodation, with rattan chairs and marble-top tables outside each cabin to provide each guest with a fantastic vantage point.
**RV Orient Pandaw **The RV Orient Pandaw is a charming boat, built in a traditional colonial style, with finishing touches such as old prints, maps and oil paintings on the walls creating an authentic atmosphere on board. The vessel’s shallow draught means it can access more remote areas along the river that can’t be reached by some other craft in the region.
Both the main deck and upper deck cabins offer 16 square metres of living space. All are air conditioned and have an en suite shower room with hot water, traditional teak ship cots and panoramic French doors that open out to private deck space.
For more information on the Pandaw II ship, click here.
For more information on the RV Orient Pandaw ship, click here.
The included cabin in the lead in package price is the Main Deck Cabin.
If you wish to upgrade your ship cabin the following amounts are payable in addition to the package price:
Upper Deck Cabin: $800 per person twin share, $1600 single share (subject to availability)
Please select your preferred cabin type in the ‘Upgrade Options’ field prior to making your purchase.
Refundable deposit within 28 days of purchase:
For cancellations made within 28 days of paying the deposit on any tour, your deposit can be refunded in full or can be transferred to a new booking should you decide to change to another package or destination. Please note this change of mind guarantee does not apply for bookings made within 90 days of departure, after which time our standard 48 hour cooling off period applies. After this time, your booking becomes non-refundable.
All cancellation or change requests must be advised in writing to our Customer Service Team at support@inspiringvacations.
Refund times will vary and the timeframe of which will be advised at the time of cancellation. Any refund of deposit will be issued back to the original form of payment.
Any bookings made prior to 13 March 2020 must abide by the original payment term conditions.
Transferrable second installment up until 120 days before scheduled departure:
Following the second installment payment and up until 120 days before your departure only, should you wish to postpone your travel or transfer to another package, we can provide you with a credit note of the current balance paid on your booking, to be used to rebook within 18 months of the credit being issued.
Any change request must be advised in writing to our Customer Service Team at support@inspiringvacations.
Any bookings made prior to 13 March 2020 must abide by the original payment term conditions.
Please refer to our full Terms and Conditions for more details
Deposit & Payments
Booking Process
Airfare Information
Full-service airline used will be Singapore Airlines, Cathay Pacific, China Southern, China Airlines, Vietnam Airlines or similar.
Flights are not direct and include a maximum of two connections
If you would like to travel with a preferred airline, please ensure you mention this in the special request field. Please note that appropriate fare and tax difference will be applicable in order to confirm your request.
All tickets will include 20 kilos checked baggage per person, along with 7 kilos of hand luggage.
Despite the airlines baggage allowance, we recommend travelling with 20 kilos per person due to restrictions with internal flights (where applicable), as well as coach and train transportation. Also, you will be responsible for handling your luggage at all times as the services of porters is not included. If travelling over this amount, you will be liable for any excess baggage fees enforced by the airline, payable direct.
Once ticketed, flights are non-refundable. Any changes will be subject to the airline rules and change fees.
Full names as per passport (including all middle names) are required.
Any airline schedule changes or cancellations are beyond our control.
Any airline 'extras' such as pre-allocated seating are at your own arrangement (additional charges apply)
Premium Economy or Business Class upgrades
Please specify this as a 'Special Request' when completing your booking and you will be quoted for the additional fare. In the event your selection is unavailable, or that you are dissatisfied with the quote, you will be provided with a full refund.
Extending Your Stay
Some customers like to enhance their holiday by extending their stay pre- and/or post-tour or including a stopover in another destination. If you wish to do so, please follow these steps:
By choosing to extend your stay, please note that a supplement of $150 per person, plus applicable fare and tax differences will apply. We will contact you via email with a quote and proposed flight itinerary, and then proceed with collecting the additional payment required to confirm your request.
Land Only discount
A $800 per person reduction from the twin share price applies if you wish to arrange your own airfares. Should you wish to purchase land only, please select this option in the booking process, under 'Departure City'.
Please note, if you are not arriving or departing as per the group itinerary and not booking pre or post accommodation, airport transfers are still included.
You can enhance your holiday by arriving or departing before or after the tour, adding a stopover package en-route or booking a tour extension. On this tour you can choose from the following options:
Pre and post tour accommodation (deviating from group flights forfeits your group airport transfers)
Arrival and departure airport transfers
Your transfer may be shared with other Inspiring Vacations customers.
Please specify in the 'Special Request' field when making your purchase your preferred travel arrangements and if you would like our team to book additional nights' accommodation and/or airport transfers. The additional cost for these land arrangements will be added to your final payment invoice and are subject to availability.
To enhance your journey, we're offering 1 free sightseeing experiences out of a choice of 4 options, listed below. Guests can also purchase the remaining 1 sightseeing experiences:
Optional Tour - The following may also be pre-purchased but is not included as one of your Inspiring Sights:
Optional tours can be selected once you have finalised your tour purchase and paid your deposit. When completing your Passenger Booking Form, you will be asked if you would like to add Optional Tours, where any applicable cost will be added to your final balance. If you choose not to select them at this time, you can choose to add them later by logging in to your Account online or speaking with your Dedicated Support Agent for assistance.
Please note that you must select your Optional Tours no later than 65 days before departure, after which you will be required to purchase them on tour. Please keep in mind that anything purchased on-tour is subject to availability and prices may vary as you will be paying in local currency. We appreciate your understanding.
Fitness Requirements
While the tour itinerary should give you some guidance and overview to the expected requirements, to determine if this tour is right for you we categorise each of our tours in terms of their intensity. These guidelines are to ensure that each tour group is conducted as expected and to ensure the overall satisfaction of all Inspiring Vacations customers.
As a general rule, porterage is not included, therefore at all times you are expected to handle your own luggage where help may not be available.
This particular tour is categorised as a “3”:
3 – Moderate Tour: A good level of fitness and mobility is required, as this tour includes a moderate level of physical activity and is considered a medium-fast paced tour. You should be able to walk up and down stairs, get on and off the coach and able to walk reasonable distances of approximately 2 kilometres per day or more with ease. Any physical ailments you may have must be disclosed at the time of booking to determine your suitability. If you have any form of walking aids, other than a walking stick or hiking poles, then this tour is not suitable.
Tipping
A friendly reminder that tipping is not included in your package. While tipping is not customary, it's of great significance to the people who will take care of you during your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many destinations. You may also consider tipping your tour leader and driver for outstanding service throughout your trip. Remember, a tip is not compulsory and should only be given when you receive excellent service.
Accommodation
The accommodation listed is subject to change. Any changes will be of an equal or higher standard. Bedding configurations (double or twin) are requests only. All efforts will be made to meet your preferences, however any changes are beyond our control.
Single Supplement
The single supplement is $525 on top of the twin-share price.
Triple Share
Not available.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is required to protect yourself against the unexpected.
Visa & Passport information
It is the traveller's responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport. The passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of your return.
A visa is required to enter Myanmar.
Apply for a visa at your closest Embassy of The Republic of the Union of Myanmar prior to travel.
Alternatively, if you are travelling for tourism or business you can apply for an e-Visa online for use at select entry points. Apply for an e-Visa directly through the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population website. Print out the e-Visa approval letter and present it to Myanmar immigration authorities on arrival.
E-Visas can be used to enter Myanmar at:
Travelling for tourism or business you can apply for an e-Visa online for use at select entry points.
Please note that these details are subject to change without notice. We recommend visiting https://safetravel.govt.nz/ for up to date information in terms of entry requirements.
Tour Documentation
Final documentation, including e-tickets and hotel details, will be provided approximately 30 days prior to travel.
Group Size
6-16 people.
Note - where the group size falls between 6-8 people, you will have local English speaking guides throughout, apart from the cruise where you will accompanied by local staff. Where the group size is more than 8 people, you will have an English speaking Tour Leader for the land arrangements, apart from the cruise where you will accompanied by local staff.
Trip Style - Small Group Tour
These tours are our proudest creations. They have been crafted for Inspiring Vacations travellers exclusively, with personal and unique experiences in mind. You will travel with only a maximum of 20 other guests. Enjoy choice features such as hand-picked accommodation, a sampling of the region’s best culinary delights and a range of optional activities to choose from to best suit your travel style.
Children
Children must be five years old or over and share a room with parents at all times. Children are charged the same price as adults.
Tour Length
The total length of the tour in days includes time spent inflight and is subject to change, depending on the flight schedule. Please refer to the day-by-day itinerary for the time spent in your destination(s).
18 Sep 2020
Get up close and personal with the heart and soul of Myanmar, and most importantly, its people The expansive Irrawaddy River is the backbone of Myanmar, and the Delta area is a critical part of the country’s culture, economy, and environment. This rich, fertile area is home to the Myanmar rice industry, along with fish...
14 Sep 2020
Myanmar has a wealth of experiences to offer, including ancient cultures, extraordinary crafts, and incomparable food It would be an understatement to describe Myanmar as a complicated country, but experiencing the warmth and splendour of its people, culture, and stunning landscapes is beyond comparison. The country’s...
13 Nov 2019
Things are looking up for Yangon’s contemporary art culture, which has become a creative backbone for the city While Myanmar may be known for its rich ancient history and culture, today’s most popular pursuits in the old capital are decidedly more modern. The contemporary art scene in Yangon is made of a growing collec...
