Burma 2010
Burma Conference
Itinerary
Orient Express are preparing the full operational details of our specific tour and more detailed descriptions and information will replace this when they are received from Burma. Naturally, we have to highlight the fact that Burma is perhaps one of the world’s most difficult countries to operate in and so do be aware that the itinerary could change. We hope not.
Monday 4th October
Leave Heathrow at 11:55 on SQ 317- the Airbus 380 flight to Singapore.
Tuesday 5th October
Singapore - Rangoon
Morning arrival in Singapore and though your bags are checked all the way through you will have a private coach tour of Singapore allowing you to get a flavour of the city. Return to the airport for your 14:20 flight to Rangoon (Yangon) arriving there at 15:45.
Transfer to the Orient Express Governor's Residence Hotel for overnight and dinner.
Wednesday 6th October
Burma
After breakfast fly to Mandalay to join the extension group (please click here for more details about the extension).
Arrive at Mandalay airport and hand your luggage over to the Orient Express staff who will take it straight to the boat for you. Meanwhile start your tour of Burma in the historic capital of Mandalay. We will visit this centre of Buddhist learning and Burmese culture taking in the key sights. After the tour we shall meet the boat at Mandalay pier and have lunch as it gently cruises back to its base at Shwe Kyet Yet.
After lunch there will be a Welcome Meeting followed by Academic Session 1. As the day fades we shall visit the longest wooden bridge in the word - the Ubin bridge for a special sunset.
Then back to the boat for dinner and the evening programme.
Thursday 7th October
Burma
An early morning half hour walking tour through the village of Shwe Kyet to experience the nature of these small rural Burmese communities. Then breakfast on board before we set sail for Mingun.
During the 90 minute journey we will hold Academic Session 2.
We will spend some time touring Mingun and visiting the massive unfinished stupa and the 90 ton bell - the world's largest.
We will have lunch on board as we sail back and then this afternoon's tour is to Saigang. Sagaing is a religious and monastic centre, with numerous pagodas and monasteries which crowd the numerous hills along the ridge running parallel to the river. The central pagoda, Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda, is connected by a set of covered staircases that run up the 240m hill.
On return to the boat we will have Academic session 3 before dinner and the evening programme.
Friday 8th October
Burma
Today we take to the hills rather than the river with a visit to the colonial hill station of Maymyo situated at 1000m in the hills above the river.
It is a 90m bus ride from the boat and the views as we climb the escarpment above Mandalay are spectacular.
We shall tour the town in traditional horse drawn carriages and see the iconic Purcell tower. The highlight of the visit may well be the botanical gardens a 437 acre beauty spot containing countless specimens of Myanmar's rich natural resources: forestland (pines, bamboo, teak and other trees), open parkland with free roaming peacocks, swans, ducks, formal gardens full of temperate flowers in season, orchids and roses.
In the afternoon the tour will continue whilst the studious will have Academic Session 4 during our stay in Maymyo.
On the way back we will visit the spectacular Dat Daw Kyaing falls swollen by the rains.
Saturday 9th October
Burma
We shall be sailing all day along the Irrawaddy heading for the confluence of the Chindwin. After all the touring this will be a day for Academic study or hedonistic pleasure.
Academic Sessions 5 & 6.
Sunday 10th October
Burma
This will be an important day as we board tenders for a 90 min journey which will take us up the River Chindwin to the town of Yesagyo. It is there that we will be attending the opening of the Tel Kho Saung or Zayat (community house) which will have been built for the town by Orient Express as part of the boat charter package. This house will serve a multiplicity of functions from shelter in the rainy season to meeting house for elders (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zayat ).
The monks who will be singing and maintaining the building will be there and we will also try and donate some medicines and equipment for use in the village.
We shall hold Academic Session 7 in the Zayat whilst non delegates tour the village. A barbecue lunch will be prepared.
We shall return to the boat in the afternoon.
Monday 11th October
Burma
Today we arrive at the magnificent highlight of our trip - the temples of Bagan.
We shall start the day with a morning sightseeing tour of the temples made even more special by the fact that we shall do this on horse and cart. We shall follow this with a lesson in the manufacture of lacquer ware. We normally try and avoid "my uncle’s carpet shop" type of destinations but producing Burmese lacquer ware is an amazingly skilful and artistic process and the products well worth a closer look.
We shall return to the boat for lunch and then Academic Session 8.
In the late afternoon we shall return to Bagan for the sunset tour. Bagan is magical at sunset as the light warms the red brick of the stupas and the sky goes golden over the river.
Tuesday 12th October
Burma
Our final day on board and a trip to Mount Popa and its beautiful monastery. Before ascending the steep steps to the monastery we shall use our visit to make a further donation of medicines at the Orient Express sponsored schools in the village.
After a guided tour of the monastery and taking in the wonderful views from the mountain peak we shall return to the boat. The final academic session 8 will take place in the late afternoon before the final gala dinner.
Wednesday 13th October
Burma - Rangoon - UK
Departure from the boat to catch the 08:40 flight from Bagan to Rangoon arriving just after 10:00.
Our bags will be kept at the airport whilst we are taken to Rangoon for a tour of this city of tree lined streets and grand colonial architecture.
The highlight of Rangoon is the Swedagon Pagoda whose stupa is set with gold slabs and its pinnacle with precious stones. We will also visit Scott market for any last minute craft shopping before heading back to the airport for the flight back to the UK.
We take MI 517 at 16:20 arriving at Singapore at 21:50. Then it is a 23:30 Airbus A380 flight SQ322 arriving into Heathrow at 05:55 on 14th.