Myanmar Extension Tours by Ayuda Myanmar Travels Co. Ltd.

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Myanmar Andaman Resort: Unforgettable Relaxing Stay at Paradise of Islands or Mergui Archipelago

Scuba Diving & Snorkeling

With the  own PADI Dive Center operated by experienced team of instructors and dive masters, Myanmar Andaman Resort offers a very convenient and comfortable way to dive in the Mergui Archipelago of Myanmar. These waters, completely isolated until 1997, have one of the best preserved reef systems in the region. Satisfaction will be met for Enthusiasts of both macro and big fish. While you enjoy the relaxing stay either with friends or family, it offers both dive packages and PADI dive courses. For non-divers, half-day and full-day snorkeling trips around the island can be performed.

Kayaking in the Sea

Macleod Island where Myanmar Andaman Resort is located offers a great opportunity to enjoy the sea's hidden nature in a kayak. You have a chance to take a 3-hour tour accompanied by the well trained guide who will take charge for your safety and will display you the most interesting places along the island’s shore. The visits to mysterious caves are of essence and exploration of the coastal mangrove forests is another attribute.

Visit to Villages

There is no better way to observe Sea Gypsies than visiting up to their village. At Myanmar Andaman Resort, the cultural tours that will let you see how the Sea Gypsies dwell in their vicinity and how they fish for their living. It is a great opportunity to take pictures and visit surrounding villages.

Exploration to the island

Of course, there are many things you can do around the island during your stay at Myanmar Andaman Resort. However, you should not forget about the island itself. The Macleod Island offers still unspoiled atmosphere, a virgin jungle with many tropical plants and animals, last but not least, the most awesome views from the top of the  highest peak. It is all yours for the taking! You have options to explore the hills by yourself or get  a guide who can explain and show you even more miracles than the nature itself has offered!

Macleod Island is an apple of birdwatcher's eyes! It’s a crucial breeding and foraging site for Wreathed Hornbills (Aceros undulates), which is another species indicator of the good health of the forest. Other interesting birds of the island include important populations of Edible-nest Swiftlets (Collocalia fuciphaga) that breed in caves at sea level, Collared kingfishers (Todiramphus chloris). The elusive Beach Thick-knee (Esacus neglectus), which is a large wader that requires undisturbed sandy beaches to live on. Many more bird species breed in the forest on the island, making it a real bird sanctuary.

We offer the best package rates for the RELAXING stay at Myanmar Andaman Resort as an extension trip to your major culture tour in the mainland of Myanmar or would you enjoy just relaxing stay for you and your love?

End of program

Detailed Itinerary 

Keng Tung – Pin Tauk – Ho Kyin – Lahushi – Wun Nyat – Wun Sen – Keng Tung

Day 1: Keng Tung Arrival & S/S

Trekking Duration = Nil

Upon arrival at Keng Tung airport, after luggage collection, you will be welcome by local tour guide. Then, drive to your hotel for check-in and if the time permits, drive to east of Keng Tung (approx: 30 minutes) to visit Akhe Tribal Village. Shan Ethnic has altogether 33 Tribes and Akhe is one of them who live in far off in the eastern Myanmar. Take a walk to the village when you car arrives at the junction in the rice-fields. Old Akhe ladies wearing their traditional costumes and kids will welcome you to their village selling hand-made traditional ornaments; Rosaries, pipes made of bamboo and so on. The tribe’s major means of living is farming and agriculture. Then drive back to Keng Tung.

Overnight in Keng Tung

Day 2: Keng Tung – Pin Tauk – Keng Tung (B/-/-)

Trekking Duration = Maximum 4 hours

After breakfast, drive to downtown of Keng Tung to visit the market. You may buy some snacks, medicines, stationaries, books to give as presents to the villagers and your picnic lunch should also be prepared in the market with the assistance of your Trekking Guide. Then, drive on the Chinese-Myanmar highway of Mai Yang approax; one hour to Pin Tauk where you can visit THREE tribal villages of Ann, Lahu and Akha. On the way you can visit a Shan village called Wan Kam where they distill the Country Spirit, schnap and why not try a bit! But be sure to taste looking carefully at the froths! Then continue to Pin Tauk. The car will arrive firstly at Lahu village and wait for you there.

Once you enter the village you will see the Akha Ladies with their traditional dress selling their hand-made home-made souvenirs. After 20 minutes or so easy trekking, you will arrive at the first Akha village where you may take a rest by visiting one of the village houses. Then, continue your ascending to reach the Ann village. Ann people live in the higher places away from the civilization and their ways of life seem to us a bit hard. The trekking is on up-and-up basis, but large green forest provides you ample of shade to take a occasional breaks. After more or less one hour, you will reach the Ann village. Visit Sha Mine, village;s spiritual leader house where you will experience the worshiping rituals and customs which is the old belief of Spiritualism mixed with Animism. Strict rules and disciplines reign over the traditional belief of remote place dwellers. Visit village Spirit Shrine on the hill in the village while hearing the commentary and explanations of Local Trekking Guide. Here the villagers speak their native language as well as State language of Shan but no one in the village can speak Myanmar. After picnic lunch arranged on your own, descending down to another Ann village living on the base of the mountains. Afterwards, the trekking trail slopes down crossing the rice-fields and finally you will arrive back to your car. Drive back to Keng Tung.

Overnight at Keng Tung

Day 3: Keng Tung- Hokyin – Keng Tung (B/-/-)

Trekking Duration = Maximum 5 hours

During your tribal tour in Keng Tung, you can make a visit one day to the Buffalo and Cow Market. It occurs 2 to 3 times a week on the outskirts of Keng Tung. How the dealers and traders work out the transactions at the market is really interesting.

Then you may visit the Keng Tung market for presents to the villagers and picnic lunch with Shan Food and Fruits! Afterwards drive to mountain base to Trek and Hike up to Mountainous Region of Hokyin on the Myanmar-Thailand highway. It takes about 50 minutes to reach the junction where you do the trekking ascending up to the Akha villages. Start your trekking of about 4.5 hours at this junction. After a few minutes, you will reach a small primary school where you can pay a visit and may be offer some books and stationary. Then, continue your hiking up the Hokyin Mountain passing on the way the Tea Plantation, Mandarin Orange Plantations and pine forest. Introduce yourself to the Akha people who you meet on your hiking trail.

After one hour or more, you will reach the mountain top where you can see the 4 Akha villages each sitting on the individual mountain top. The view is really outstanding from above and you may take a break there. Then descend down to the first Akha village. Here you will see three religious beliefs and separated by the three different wards of the village. For Buddhist villagers at the entrance gate, you will see a small pagoda, for Animist in the quarter you will see the crucifix, for Christians a Cross at the entrance. The main source of villagers’ income comes from Agriculture and Schnap Distillery. You can visit some houses to study how they brew the Rice Spirit using their own-version of yeast made of herbs collected in the jungle. Then proceed to another village, have your lunch there and in the afternoon, descend down to your car waiting for you at another highway junction and then drive back to Keng Tung.

Overnight at Keng Tung

Day 4: Keng Tung-  Lahushi – Keng Tung (B/-/-)

Trekking Duration = Maximum 6 hours

After breakfast, drive along the Mong Yan Chinese-Myanmar highway road and just outside the town at the toll-gate, turn left to the high mountains. Total driving hour is 50 minutes and you will arrive the starting point at the base of Mountain. From there ascend up about 20 minutes and you will arrive at a Akha village. You may take some pictures of Akha women in their traditional dress. Akha Traditional Head-dress is very famous in the world made of old coins, animal skins and so on. Then proceed up hiking for about 2 hours to get to the Lahushi Village which is on top of the mountain. You can see the village from a distance and the view is fantastic. To hike up to the village is a little hard but it is worth wearing out your energy. Very few tourists can reach them as it is remote from the society.

Visit the village head, which presides over 40 or so households and you may enjoy your lunch there at the house of Village Head. You can request the head to play their traditional musical instruments which they perform for their New Year festival that falls in the month of December. Enjoy the tea prepared by them from the fire-place that they use for cooking inside the house. After making friends with some curious villagers who come to see you at the village head’s house, you may continue to another village that can be seen at a distance on another hillock. Here the villagers shift from one place to another depending on the soil condition. If they live at one place for a certain time and the soil that they cultivate for agriculture has worn out and the whole village moves to another Rich-Soil Terrain. However, they choose only the site on the high mountains. Then, walk down back to your car in the afternoon and drive back to Keng Tung.

Overnight in Keng Tung

Day 5: Keng Tung-  Wun Nyat – Wun San – Keng Tung (B/-/-)

After breakfast, visit Keng Tung morning market for purchasing lunch and other presents for the villagers. Or you may bring alone with you the small gifts that you think suitable! Then drive to Wun Nyat and Wun Sen villages for about two hours along the Mai Lar Highway to Chinese Border. The first driving hour is on the very rough part of disappearing asphalt country road and the second is rather smooth asphalt ascending road. The views on the mountains during your drive come up very scenic and beautiful, and you can make a few stops for Pees and Pictures. After checking in at the check-point control you drive on about 20 minutes and you will reach a spot where you stop and start your hiking. Nearly one and a half hour trekking under the shady on the mountain ridges, you will arrive at the first village called Wun Nyat.

The colorful and well built Shan Style monastery will welcome you to the peaceful village. Visit the monastery and relax there for a while in it. Take the picture of the murals on the wall of the monastery and hear the explanations of the guide. Some antique Buddha Images and Drums and gongs can still be seen inside well-preserved by the Buddhist Monks. Then walk to the village just at the back and you can visit one of the houses, the traditional Tribal house made of wood, bamboo and thatch. Enjoy your picnic lunch there and introduce the villages to yourself. Situated in the remote place and language barrier make the visit difficult and you are one of the few tourists of the year to that village. After a short break, you can continue to Wun San village. It just takes 20 minutes or so to get to that village. Walk around inside the village and you may distribute your peasants. Then walk back to your car and drive back to Keng Tung.

Overnight at Keng Tung

Day 6: Keng Tung City visit and Departure (B/-/-)

After breakfast, explore Keng Tung town starting with the Lonely Tree Hill. Overlooking the town from hill top, Thitapin Taung, One-tree Hill serves as a place for relaxing, photographing and for the families, for picnic spot. You will see on the hill the Old Keng Tung Palace Wall and Fort built of red bricks. Originally founded by the Old Hermit, the town is named after that hermit and called Keng Tung. Actually the word is a combination of the name of the hermit ‘Keng’ and the lake ‘Tung’. The legendary Lake is in the center of the city and you can take a walk around the lake where you can make the beautiful pictures of the Last Shan King’s Palace and pagoda across the lake. You can also visit the Rice Noodle Making Factory, Lacquer Ware Factory inside the town. Then drive to Keng Tung airport for the flight to your onward destination.

End of program 

Detailed Itinerary 

Yangon - Mawlamyine - Pa An - Bago - Golden Rock - Yangon

Day 1: Yangon - Bago - Mawlamyine

After breakfast, drive to Bago (approx: 2 hours), the ancient Mon Kingdom as well as the seat of second Myanmar Dynasty.  On the way, you can stop and visit Htauk Kyant Allied War Cemetery, the biggest war cemetery in the country maintained by the Common wealth War Grave Commission. Visit, Kyaik Pun pagoda with four Giant Buddhas sitting in back-to-back position, Bago Central Market, Shwe Thar Lyaung (Reclining Buddha) which dates back to centuries and which has the astounding history of its recovery from the bushes, and finally visit Shwe Maw Daw  pagoda, the biggest and tallest Pagoda in Southern Myanmar.

Then drive to Mawlamyine, the first British Burma Capital City called at that time as Molmein.

Overnight at Mawlamyine

Day 2: Mawlamyine - Win Sein Tawya - Phar Auk Tawya - Kyaikhami - Setse Beach - Mawlamyine (B/-/-)

After breakfast, drive to the further south of the city to visit the Giant Reclining Buddha, the biggest reclining Buddha ever built in the world. If you wish you may explore interior part of the Buddha which forms with 7-storey maze, each storey explains the Stories of Buddha’s life time and other related Buddhist History. Nearby is the man-made water fall where you will see a lot of locals enjoying picnic and water feast.

Then, drive to Kyaikhami Pagoda. The pagoda in which many Buddha Images are housed is situated in the shrine jutting out into the sea, and one of the images is, according to history, sent floating onto the ocean by the most Pious Buddhist King, Asoka from India. There are wonders to be told about the pagoda and no wonder that the pagoda is the famed pilgrimage spot for the Myanmar Buddhists. Then drive to Setse Beach to enjoy the sea breeze. If the water was clear, the beach would be as popular as Phukhet!! In the afternoon, drive back to Mawlamying, on the way visit most tranquil Phar Auk Meditation Center which lies in the deep forest. If you desire to learn meditation, that is a good place to carry out the plan. Peace and tranquility reign over the center except the chirping sound of birds and rippling spring that flows through the Meditators’ cottages. After exploring around the center, drive back to Mawlamying.

Overnight in Mawlamyine

Day 3: Mawlamyine - Bilu Kyun Island - Mawlamyine (B/-/-)

After breakfast, visit Mawlamyaine Market. You will see a lot of seasonal fruits and vegetables and also foreign products mostly from Thailand. As the city lies on the trading trail to Thai Border, Thai products can be seen. The town is very prosperous from trading and smuggling too. Then drive to the jetty to take a boat to Bilu Kyun Island or Ogre Island.

After about half an hour boat cruising, you will arrive at the Kalwee Jetty of Ogre Island and welcome by many Sea Ogres. Explore the island in a horse-cart to the villages where they make their living by home industries such as Smoking Pipes, Ballpoint Pens, Rubber Bands, Coconut-fiber Ropes and many other items. You may stop at some houses and tea shops to meet with the locals and talk with them about their daily life. Then drive back on a horse-cart to the jetty and transfer back to Mawlamying.

Overnight in Mawlamyine

Day 4: Mawlamyine - Pa An (B/-/-)

After breakfast, visit Kyaik Than Lan pagoda that overlooks the city. Nearby is the Famous Queen Sein Done’s Monastery where you will see very fine and delicate wood-carvings on the ceilings. Then drive to viewpoint where you can enjoy the looks to the Than Lwin river delta filled with many small islands and the old Molmein City with Colonial Buildings scattering here and there inside the town.

And then transfer to Mawlamying- Pa An Ferry Jetty to take a boat ride to Pa An. The cruising on the Than Lwin River is best recommended in Myanmar. Among many sweet water rivers of Myanmar, Than Lwin River is the second longest and it has most clear water with the color of blue-green. Along the 5-6 hour boat ride you will feel like you are in the middle of the deep jungle. On the both side of river banks sometimes you will see the lime-stone mountains coming out to the sky like stalactites or skyscrapers. After the peaceful ferrying on the historic river Than Lwin, you will arrive Pa An, the capital city of Karen State. Karen is one of the major ethnic majorities of Myanmar Ethnic Groups and most friendly people. Upon arrival at Pa An Jetty, transfer to your hotel for check-in.

(If the ferry boat is not available on your departure day to Hpa An, you can drive to Hpa An by car and on the way, you may visit Kadoe Village where you can see the most beautiful Teak Wood Carvings on the single Teak Planks and colorful little figures explaining the Buddhist Stories. The monastery is donated by U Na Oak, the legendarily wealthy merchant who competed with the British Era Irrawaddy Flotilla Steam-ship Company that ran the River Transport.)

Overnight at Pa An

Day 5: Pa An - Bayintnyi Cave - Kaw Kun Cave - Kyaik Hto - Kyaikhtiyo (Golden Rock) (B/-/-)

After breakfast, visit Zwekabin Mountain which is the symbol of Karen People on the top is the pagoda with the Buddha’s hair relic. You may go up to the mountain top approximately one hour to enjoy the panoramic view. Visit Kyauk Ka Lak Mountain Monastery where you can take the beautiful pictures. You can also visit Lumbini Park with 1000 Buddha’s images at the base of Mt. Zwekabin.  A visit to Kawkon Cave should not be missed where you can see the terra-cottas on the walls of the natural limestone cave. The Cave is supposed to have been found out since 7th Century and the Buddhas in Terracotta are dating back to approximately 16th to 17th Century.

In the afternoon, drive to Kyaik Hto, the junction town to go up the Golden Rock. On the way you can stop at Bayintnyi Cave, also known as the cave of younger brother of the king. You can explore the cave whose inner part is filled with many Buddha Images and natural sparkling stupas; Ruby Stupa, Sapphire Stupa. There is thermal whose stream flows from underneath the cave. You can take a hot shower at the hot spring right in front of the cave pagoda. Then continue your drive to Kyaik Hto.

Upon arrival at Kin Pun Base Camp, transfer by open-truck up to Hermit Hill. From there, wail about one hour to reach the Golden Rock. The trekking from Hermit Hill to the top is not very difficult meeting with Myanmar pilgrims on the way, encouraging each other.

After check-in at the hotel, walk to Golden Rock. Enjoy the marvel of the situation of the Rock and view the evening activities of many Myanmar Buddhist pilgrims. After sunset on the Golden Rock, walk back to your hotel.

Overnight at Golden Rock

Day 6: Golden Rock- Kyaikhto - Yangon (B/-/-)

After breakfast, walk down to Hermit Hill and by open truck transfer to Kin Pun Base Camp. From there, drive to Kyaik Hto town to get the train to Yangon. You can visit Kyaik Hto Morning market where you can see a lot of local foods, seasonal fruits and vegetables, fish and prawns. Walk around in the market and take pictures. Talk to the vendors who are very friendly and not accustomed to the visits of foreigners. Then, drive back to Yangon. Upon arrival at Yangon, transfer to your hotel for check-in.

Overnight in Yangon

End of program 

Detailed Itinerary 

Mandalay - Kyauk Me - Hispaw - Pyin Oo Lwin - Mandalay

Day1: Mandalay - Hispaw (B/-/-)

After breakfast, drive to Hsipaw (approx: 6 hours). On the way, you will drop at Naung Cho Station to take the train bound for Naung Pain Station. The train will pass on the one of the amazing sites that is the famed Goke Hteik Viadut. Then, proceed to Hsipaw by car on arriving at Naung Pain Station.  Upon arrival, check in at hotel. After a short rest, visit the ancient pagodas complex which is renowned as A Little Bagan and the old monastery with Bamboo Buddha image which is more than 100 years old.

Overnight at Hsipaw

Day 2: Hsipaw Exploration (B/-/-)

Early morning, go to Jetty of Dukhtawaddy River to take a boat trip upstream to visit the confluence, where in the clear green water, you may dip in to take a swim. You can do a small trekking to the Shan villages. Visit traditional Shan people and talk to them about the daily life. After tasting Shan Noodle at a certain village, walk back to Hsipaw. In the afternoon, you can visit the last Shan Saw Bwar, Shan King’s Residence built in the Colonial Era, and enjoy the sunset from Theim Mountain.

Overnight at Hsipaw

Day 3: Hsipaw – Kyauk Me – Sa Khan Thar – Pyin Oo Lwin (B/-/-)

In the morning, drive to Pyin Oo Lwin. On the way, you can stop for visiting Sa Khan Thar Shan Palace which was Summer Palace of the Sha Prince. Then, continue to Pyin Oo Lwin, the British Hill Station, formerly called as Maymyo. Upon arrival, check in at the hotel and free at your leisure.

Overnight at Pyin Oo Lwin

Day 4: Pyin Oo Lwin – Mandalay (B/-/-)

After breakfast, visit Botanical Garden, one of the chains of the Kew Garden in London, which can offer the visitors the ambience of British Colonial Era, BE falls to relax, and then drive up to the Image of Maha Aunt Htoo Kanthar Buddha on the hill where you can see the surrounding area as a partially panoramic view.  You should not miss to take a Tour of Stage Coach to explore the town still filled with the Colonial Houses. In the afternoon, drive to Mandalay (approx: 2 hours) and check in at the hotel.

Overnight at Mandalay

End of program

Detailed Program

Day 1: Yangon – Shwe Daung – Golden-spectacles Buddha(Shwe Myat Hman Pagoda) – Pyay

Today, drive to Pyay approximately 6 hours. After about 5 hours and half driving, you will arrive at a small town of Shwe Daung. Inside the Shwe Daung Town, from the main high-way, turn left to pay a visit to a Unique Buddha Image in Myanmar called Shwe Myat Hman Pagoda, that is, the Buddha who wears the Golden Glasses.

Then, continue your drive to Pyay (Prome) which is located on the bank of Ayeyarwaddy River.

Overnight in Pyay  

Day 2: Pyay sightseeing – Ah Kauk Taung Hill

Drive across the Ayewarwaddy River to Htonbo village (about 2 hours drive) and take a short boat ride down the river to a unique mountain. On its cliff face are carved hundreds of Buddha images. There is an optional short but steep hike up to the top. The view from the top of the River Bank of Ayeyarwaddy is breath-taking with the rice fields in the sand banks and enjoy the river life of the Myanmar people. Then, drive back to Pyay.

In the afternoon, Sightseeing highlights of Pyay include Shwesandaw pagoda believed to have Buddha’s Hair Relic enshrined. You may wish to visit one of the famous 4th to 9th Century Pyu-era Pagoda such as Phaya Mar located on the outskirts of Pyay.

Overnight in Pyay  

Day 3: Pyay – Yangon

After breakfast drive back to Yangon, arriving late afternoon.

Detailed Itinerary 

Sittwe – Mrauk U – Chin Tribal Villages

Day 1: Sittwe Arrival (B/-/-)

Upon arrival at the airport of Sittwe, the capital city of the Western Myanmar, Rakkhine State, you will be welcomed by our local tour guide and transfer to your hotel for check-in. Then, visit Rakkhine State Cultural Museum. You will see the old Muslim Mosque next to the State Museum.

Visit another mini museum opened at the old Monastery. Right across from the mosque on the Main Road lies the Sittwe University where you will see the trees filled with the Bat Fruits. Enjoy the sunset with a bottle of local beer at View Point sitting on the bench feeling the breeze on the face coming from the sea.

Overnight at Sittwe

Day 2: Sittwe- Mrauk U (B/-/-)

In the early morning around 6 o’clock, walk to the Sittwe Main Fish Market where you will see the returned fishing boats with many lots of sea fish. Then, drive to the Sittwe-Mrauk U Jetty to embark the private boat to head for the Ancient city of Mrauk U (approx; 6 hours). Upon arrival at Mrauk U jetty, transfer to hotel and check-in.

In the afternoon visit Shit Thaung Temple. Then, walk to Htukkant Thein Temple where you can see the Mrauk U period Hairdos of the then Ladies all in sandstone. Then visit the Ann Daw Thein Pagoda, Yadanapon Pagoda, Lin Ban Brauk Pagoda and finally ascend the Hari Taung Hill to have a panoramic view and sunset.

Overnight at Mrauk U

Day 3: Mrauk U Temple and Local Daily Life Visits (B/-/-)

In the morning after breakfast, visit Mrauk U Market where you can see the local vegetables and Rakkhine Traditional snacks, foods and mix with the local people in order to learn the culture.

Visit fish market and then visit the Nipa Plam Leaves Roof Makers’ Workshop and start Mrauk U temples exploration with the Bandoola Monastery where you will see one of Mahakyan Sandamuni Buddha Image whose metal alloy was the leftover of the Mahamuni Buddha Image now seen in Mandalay. In the monastery, there is another Monastic Museum with artifacts and antique Buddhas. Then visit Let Sei Kan, the Moat and Water Reservior of the Last Palace of Mrauk U and explore the 16th to 17th century sandstone Pagodas; Koe Thaung Temple which has 90,000 Buddha Images and also known as Borobudur of Myanmar, Sakya Man Aung, Yadana Man Aung.

In the afternoon visit U Mra Wah Hill to see the sunset.

Overnight in Mrauk U

Day 4: Mrauk U- Chin Tribes Village- Mrauk U (B/L/-)

In the early morning, drive by car to the south of the city approximately 45 minutes to the village where you embark on a small private boat to go upstream Lay Myo River. After nearly 3 hours of upstream, your boat will reach the first Chin Village where only a few Chin Ladies with the Tattooed Faces remain bearing their custom with the big earplugs. After the first village, your boat will float down a few kilometers to visit another village. Afterwards, moor to a certain farm house on the bank of the river to enjoy picnic lunch in it.

In the afternoon, drive by boat back down to the same village where your car is waiting for you to transport back to Mrauk U.

Overnight in Mrauk U

Day 5: Mrauk U- Sittwe Departure (B/-/-)

Early morning transfer to the Mrauk U jetty to embark the boat back to Sittwe. If you still have the time in Sittwe, visiting fish crackers workshops, pork sausages making home industry are also another option for leisure as well as photographing spree.

Then, transfer to the Sittwe Airport for the flight to your onward destination.

End of program organized by Ayuda Myanmar Travel Tour Agency!

Have a nice trip!