MYANMAR LUXURY TRAVEL

You’ve Earned It

Bask in the Old World Elegance of Exotic Burma: Boutique Luxury Hotels, Impeccable Service

Swoon through unsung Rangoon on an ultra-suites & fine dining romantic getaway, Myanmar luxury travel at its finest.

Adventure in Himalayan luxury? Traveling to Myanmar? Where else can you elephant safari, river raft, trek to remote tribes  by day, and enjoy cocktails & fine dining in luxury by night?

River Cruise along the legendary Irrawaddy aboard an old colonial style riverboat famous for its impeccable & charming service, landing in ancient Bagan, one of many Myanmar trips never to be forgotten!

Myanmar luxury travel is not complete without feasting on incredible seafood at tropical Ngapali Beach, winding down after a 9 day Myanmar luxury trip.

parchment

All Suites Ultra Myanmar Luxury Tour
12 Nights / 13 Days
Yangon – Mandalay – Bagan – Lake Inle – Ngapali Beach
Aureum-Inle-Lobby-Entrance
Highlights

Royal Bungalow @ Kandawgyi Palace Hotel – “Elephant Coach” Tour Yangon – Fine Indochine Dining @ Le Planteur – Luxury River Cruise, Mandalay to Bagan – Private Island Villa @ Aureum Palace, Bagan – Balloon over Bagan’s 2,220 Temples – Superb Burmese Dance & Culture Performance @ Mandalay Hill Resort – Private Dinner, Wine Cave, Inle Princess – Ngapali Beachfront Bungalow and Spa. Private Jet Service Available.

Let’s Get Started!

Himalaya Luxury Adventure
3 Days & Up/ Rangoon – Putao
Design My Tour!

Myanmar luxury travel in the Himalayas? Perched high above the Nam Lang River with glorious views of mountains and rice terraces, the Malikha Lodge in remote Putao has been designed by architect Jean Michel Gathyto create a natural sense of luxury while secluded in this exotic wilderness setting.

Well-manicured lawns and gorgeous gardens are carefully landscaped to merge with groves of giant bamboo and jungle. Traditional style bungalows have been carefully placed to recreate a sense of idyllic village life in this open garden paradise.

Putao is in the remote far north of Burma and is accessible only by air. The Eastern Himalaya is renowned for the incredible variety of birds and rare orchids, including the black orchid. New species of fauna are being discovered here at the rate of 35 per year. The vanishing Tarong People; who rarely reach even 4-feet in height, are only a 7-day trek away!

Don’t miss this rare & wonderful opportunity to unwind for individuals and/or rewind for business executives. Visit unique mountain peoples, adventure on elephant back, go river rafting, kayaking, biking… and after a hard day of hearty living, be welcomed home to the warm luxury of the Lodge. Luxury travel Myanmar doesn’t get any better than this.

Please click Game Plan tab above for sample itinerary. For more destination details, see Myanmar Destinations.

Himalaya Luxury Adventure

3 Days & Up/ Rangoon – Putao

Sample Itinerary

Day 1: Rangoon Arrival – Optional City Tour & Shwedagon Pagoda – Overnight Rangoon

Day 2: Putao Morning Flight – Malikha Lodge – Local “Get Acquainted” Bike Tour

Day 3: Nam Lang River Rafting Adventure – Massage, Cocktails & Dinner at the Lodge

Day 4: Mountain Trekking to Visit Local Tribes – Spa, Cocktails & Dinner at the Lodge

Day 5: Botanical Morning – Afternoon Return to Rangoon

Himalaya Luxury Adventure

“please inquire for quote”

3 Days and Up

Deposit required to secure reservation

Price Includes:
list-infoTop Rated English speaking guides
list-infoLuminous Journeys “Swag Bag”
list-infoAirport welcome & farewell
list-infoAll Accommodation with breakfast
list-infoMeals according to your personalized plan
list-infoAll in-country airfare, airport taxes, air porter fees
list-infoAll itinerary based transport, inc. private car & driver
list-infoAmple bottled water throughout
list-infoEntrance and zone fees
list-infoDonations to Luminous Journeys’ micro-NGO Charities
Price does not include:
list-infointernational airfare
list-infoany personal transportation unrelated to the itinerary
list-infotrip/medical insurance, medical expenses
list-infoEarly check-in or late check-out charges
list-infopersonal expenses, such as telephone, laundry, alcohol, etc.
list-infotips for hotel porters or wait staff
list-infocamera fees
list-infoguide or driver gratuities
list-infoMyanmar visa fee (Visa on arrival may be obtained via Luminous Journeys)
*Guides are optional, but highly recommended.

Luminous Touches
Special Welcome: LJ Cover Girls
Luminous Travel Swag
LJ Signature T’s

Options
Malikha Spa Package
High Mountain Trek

Popular Extensions
Shangri-la
Bagan
Lake Inle
Ngpali Beach

Similar Tours
Rangoon Swoon
Elephant Family Adventure
Culture Dip

Rangoon swoon
3 Nights/ Romantic Getaway
Design My Tour!
Swooning in Rangoon? Why not? Asia’s friendliest and most exotic city has plenty to offer those seeking a little romantic getaway, including some fantastic hotels and world class restaurants offering fine dining with an authentic old world elegance that is rare anywhere these days.

Burma luxury tours feature classic hotels like The Strand near the Yangon River and British Embassy; The Governor’s Residence in the main embassy area; and the newly renovated Kandawgyi Palace Hotel on Royal Lake, with gorgeous Shwedagon Pagoda views. On the modern side, we love Traders in the city center just across from Scott Market. Their Sunday Champagne Brunch is not to be missed! Luxury travel Myanmar at its tastiest.

Our favorite rooms in the city are the Royal Bungalows at Kandawgyi Palace, with vaulted bedroom ceilings, oversize divans and private swimming pools. The service is impeccable, and always offered with natural warmth & charm of the Burmese.

The best fine dining experience in Yangon remains, Le Planteur, which offers both a set menu and a la carte French cuisine, and a wine cellar to die for. Bottle prices range from $35 to $6,000. There is also a private dining room available, with a terrace overlooking the garden. For fine Italian, the easy first choice is L’ Opera. For Burmese and international cuisine, as well as romance, House of Memories is also on our recommended list. For some lively Burmese culture, Myanmar beer & good street food, try Chinatown’s 18th street!

Please click The Game Plan tab above for sample itinerary. For more details on Yangon, please see Burma Destinations.

Itinerary: Best of the Best Romantic Hotel & Restaurant Sampler

Day/Night 1: Rangoon Arrival – Kandawgyi Palace Hotel

You’ll be greeted either discreetly or not so discreetly by the LJ Cover Girls, and driven to the Kandawgyi Palace Hotel. If she’s on duty, you’ll be checked in and shown to the Royal Bungalow by charming assistant manager, Thazin. There will be Champagne on ice waiting by your swimming pool to enjoy now or later. You may even choose to take it with you for a stroll on the lake. Should you wish to visit Shwedagon Pagoda or any other location this afternoon, your driver will be waiting.

This evening, a chauffeur driving either a 1947 Vauxhall, a 1953 Austin Somerset, or a 1954 Morris Oxford, will pick you up in front of the hotel. You’ll be driven to perhaps the finest French Indochine dining in Southeast Asia, at Le Planteur. Le Planteur is lovingly owned & operated by renowned Michelin star chef Felix Eppisser and his wife Lucia, formerly of Rigiblick fame in Zurich. It’s an exotic fine dining experience that’s after your heart, as well as your palate.

Day/Night 2: The Governor’s Residence

Anytime before noon — feel free to lounge by the pool and take a massage before or after breakfast — we will transfer you to the nearby Governor’s Residence set in an elegant, wooded neighborhood in the embassy district.

Daytime options include lounging around the hotel pool and Kipling Bar, touring the city and taking lunch at T-Sky Bistro on top of Sakura Tower for excellent food and commanding views, visits to a variety art galleries, world class precious gems dealers & artisans,(Burmese jade and pigeon’s blood rubies are considered by many the best on earth), and unique antiques shops with one of a kind Myanmar, Chinese, Japanese & British pieces, including furniture and the most ornate and intricately carved armoires you can imagine.

For dinner tonight why not try the best Burmese cuisine in the city, which also offers an authentic Burmese atmosphere. House of Memories is a Luminous favorite, and we don’t mind that’s it’s a tourist favorite, because it’s also a Burmese favorite! The colonial house where General Aung San had his office (you can see it upstairs) is filled with memorabilia of a bygone era, and you can really feel it. You’ll have a table reserved on the upstairs veranda where there are usually fewer tourists and more locals. This really is the place to eat excellent Burmese, or Thai, if you are in spicy mood. And you’ll blush at how inexpensive it is.

Day/Night 3: The Strand

The Sarkies Brothers are famous for founding Singapore’s iconic Raffles Hotel, but they also built the The Strand in 1901. The 3-story, colonnaded Victorian is classic elegance at its finest, and a Rangoon landmark. The hotel has won numerous awards, and so has The Strand Grill, where you’ll enjoy lunch after checking in. There is an excellent art gallery, and the location by the Yangon river is perfect for beginning a walking tour of British Colonial Rangoon. Or you may choose to ferry across the river to visit the “other-world” of Dala.

In the mood for great Italian tonight? If so, then L’ Opera is Rangoon’s best, both for cuisine and romantic ambiance.

Day 4: The Strand – Departure

Time for a morning Strand spa & massage session? When ready, your driver will appear to take you to the airport and see you off. You’ll miss this place!

Rangon Swoon

Starting at $495 per person, double occupancy

3 Days and Up

Deposit required to secure reservation

Price Includes:
list-infoTop Rated English speaking guides
list-infoLuminous Journeys “Swag Bag”
list-infoAirport welcome & farewell
list-infoAll Accommodation with breakfast
list-infoMeals according to your personalized plan
list-infoAll in-country airfare, airport taxes, air porter fees
list-infoAll itinerary based transport, inc. private car & driver
list-infoAmple bottled water throughout
list-infoEntrance and zone fees
list-infoDonations to Luminous Journeys’ micro-NGO Charities
Price does not include:
list-infointernational airfare
list-infoany personal transportation unrelated to the itinerary
list-infotrip/medical insurance, medical expenses
list-infoEarly check-in or late check-out charges
list-infopersonal expenses, such as telephone, laundry, alcohol, etc.
list-infotips for hotel porters or wait staff
list-infocamera fees
list-infoguide or driver gratuities
list-infoMyanmar visa fee (Visa on arrival may be obtained via Luminous Journeys)
*Guides are optional, but highly recommended.

Luminous Touches
Special Welcome: LJ Cover Girls
Luminous Travel Swag
LJ Signature T’s

Options
Twante River Cruise
Ferry to Dala

Popular Extensions
Bagan
Lake Inle
Ngpali Beach

Similar Tours
Yangon Swan

Sailing Charters: Let’s Go Archipelago!
6 Days/ Hastings Island – Lampi – Clara – Pila – Frost & Potter – Zadetkyi
Design My Tour!
Luxury trips to Myanmar that feature tropical
island hopping aboard a gorgeous, air conditioned sailboat? You bet! Hearing the romantic, adventurer’s call of the last untamed tropical paradise on earth? The Myaik Archipelago off the coast of southern Burma is precisely where that ‘call’ is coming from. More than 800 islands slung across 14,000 square miles of the Andaman Sea, ranging in size from tiny dots to some the size of Singapore! Only 12 are permanently inhabited.

Once you clear port you will see no other tourists. You will see white sand beaches backed by 150-foot trees and cacophonous jungles. You will see no human footprints on those sands, only animal tracks, if not animals themselves. If you see elephant tracks, you are on the wrong island! They don’t much like trespassers.

You will see gushing waterfalls plunging from jungle rock walls right into pools on the beach. You may well see one of the rarest tribes in the world, the Moken sea Gypsies, who live on boats and survive by fishing & hunting island to island.This virtually virgin paradise has only been open since 1997, and by ‘open’ we mean barely. Only a handful of licensed charter yachts are allowed to operate in the area.

For itinerary please see Game Plan tab above. For more Sailing Charters and similar, please see Myanmar Destinations under Compendium of Touror Benn-home

Sample Itinerary (Note any number routes, islands and durations are available. Please inquire.)Day 1 – We’ll meet you at the airport in Kawthaung, Myanmar, or in Ranong. It’s now possible to enter Myanmar here and not have to exit here, if your journey takes to northward after the trip. Relax on deck with a welcome cocktail (or two) while we sail toward the Myeik Archipelago! Spend the afternoon on the beach at Hastings Island. The island has a Moken “sea gypsy” village which is a very interesting visit indeed.Day 2 – Early the next morning we will arrive at Lampi Island, the largest in the region. We will brunch on board and visit a village of Moken sea gypsies. Dinner will be a feast of fresh seafood, before sailing northwest to the gorgeous and aptly named Clara Island. The water here is indeed amazingly clear.Day 3 – It’s a lovely cruise to Pila Island, and along the way we’ll fish for tuna. Once there, we barbeque out catch on the very long unnamed beach and go for a jungle hike along a creek and marvel at the wildlife. Before a relaxed sundowner, we cool down snorkeling in the teeming azure water.Day 4 – We pick up the east winds and broad reach towards the Mid Group. We could spend a full week exploring its small islands, hidden coves and beaches, so we choose the the most beautiful: Frost and Potter Islands. Spectacular white beaches and huge fig trees, all to ourselves!Day 5 – We spend most of the day on the water, only stopping for a glorious dip in the open sea. Some get busy sailing, others laze on deck and watch the dolphins or schools of bat rays jump. Dinner today on the beach at Zadetkyi Island.Day 6 – After a lazy morning followed by long brunch, we sail back to Kawthaung and say our goodbyes. With so much more untouched wonder left to explore, we hope to see you again!

Sailing Charters: Let’s Go Archipelago!

Starting at $1995 per person, double occupancy

Deposit required to secure reservation

• Duration: 6 days, 5 nights
• Departure: Saturdays, noon time
• Return: Thursdays, noon time
• Port of departure and arrival: Kawthaung, Myanmar
• Max. 8 passengers in 4 double guest cabins

Including
• Full crew: captain, chef, 2 sailors
• All on-board meals and non-alcoholic drinks
• Fuel for boat, tender and generator
• Snorkeling equipment and fishing gear
• Kayak and dinghy

Schedule and Rates*

Nov. 02, 2013 – Apr. 24, 2014 USD 2,400 per person
Apr. 26, 2014 – Jul. 03, 2014 USD 1,995 per person

*Rates for full 5-night-trips based on 8 passengers, departing Saturdays, returning Thursdays. Private charter rates for up to 10 people start as low as $1950 per day.

**Inquire about our special Dive Trips with state of the art gear and dive instructor expert in these waters.

Luminous Touches
Meet Moken Sea Gypsies
Luminous Journeys T’s
LJ Swag Bag
Fruit Bat Salad!

Options
Fishing Charter
Elephant Island Kayak
Robin & Robinson Crusoe Fantasy

Extensions
Andaman Islands
Similan Islands
Thai Mainland

Similar Tours
Scuba Dooba Doo!
Endless Beach Chill

WATERS OF DESTINY
9 Days/ Yangon -Inlay Lake – Mandalay – Ancient Bagan
Design My Tour!
A highlight of this diversion through time is the luxury cruise on the Irrawaddy aboard the old world elegance of the RV Paukan. Built in 2007 and modeled after the 1947 RV Pandaw, the Paukan harkens to the romance of colonial South East Asia.

At 180-feet in length with an atmosphere of relaxed vibrancy, the feel is much more that of a classic yacht than an ocean liner. There is a distinct aura of authenticity and discovery as you glide through history on the Irrawaddy. The high level of personal service and care on board is as good as it gets; luxury travel Myanmar at its exotic best. You’ll spend a half day on the river and overnight in your luxury stateroom, arriving the next day at the ancient temple-scape of Bagan, feeling as if you’ve woken up a thousand years ago.

At Lake Inlay you’ll stay at the Intha-Shan designed Inle Princess Resort. It’s a perfect location with large, quiet bungalows on the water, outstanding restaurant and bar, uniquely designed Burmese spa, and a 2,500 bottle “wine cave” with mural ceiling. The cave can be reserved for those special dining experiences for 2 -16 people, seated around a luminous longboat table! You have never known luxury travel quite like this.

Please click Game Plan tab above for sample itinerary. For more destination details, see Myanmar Destinations.

Big 4 Destinations

Yangon is more known for the golden magnificence of Shwedagon Pagoda than for the city itself. What most people miss passing through is the fascinating culture and history, along with the colors, sights, sounds and smells. It’s populace could not be ready to smile and welcome you with that inimitable Burmese charm. No big city in the world makes a traveler feel more at home.

Inlay Lake is commonly preceded by the word “magical”, and for good reason. This isn’t just travel hype. The tranquility almost envelops you from the start, and the feeling will always be a part of you. Think of Inlay twenty years after your visit, and it’s still there, all warm and tingly. Things to see and do include taking a long-tail boat to the ruins of mysterious Nyaung Oak; the ever friendly and photogenic Intha fisherman, who row their skiffs with one leg wrapped around a single oar; the long-necked Padaung people; colorful floating markets, gardens and pagodas; lotus silk shawls and other beautiful ethnic textiles; and distinctly Myanmar cottage industries, like parasol making & hand-painting, and giant cheroot rolling! The lake is also home to some wonderful boutique hotels with fabulously exotic spas.

Mandalay is a lot more than just a dusty economic center with a moat around it! The place is loaded with interest — Ornately carved teakwood monasteries; the longest teak bridge in the world at Amarapura; the ancient rock temple of Mingun and its attendant nuns in pink robes smoking giant hand-rolled cigars; the 600 monasteries and nunneries of Sagaing; glorious views over the city and Irrawaddy river from a top Mandalay Hill; amazing artisans and craftsmen, and of course the legendary Burmese comedy team, The Mustache Brothers!

Bagan is one of the great archeological wonders of the world. The area was once home to more than 13,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas and zedis. (Kublai Khan’s Mongols sacked the city in 1287, destroying 9,000 religious structures in the process. Many lay in ruin today much as they left them more than seven centuries ago). The site offers surreal panoramas from temple tops, and even aerial views from hot air balloons! The world center of Theravadan Buddhism for a thousand years, Bagan is simply a must visit for anyone and everyone who travels. Period.

Day 1: Yangon Arrival – Royal Lake – Shwedagon Pagoda

You will be met at the airport the classiest greeters in Myanmar, The Ladies Luminous. They will assist you with your luggage and currency exchange needs before escorting you to the beautiful 5-star Kandawgyi Palace Hotel, on Royal Lake. After lunch, a rest, a massage, a swim, a cocktail or all the above, a Golden Hour visit to Shwedagon Pagoda is an absolute must. For dinner we recommend Le Planteur for perhaps the best Indochine style dining experience in all of Southeast Asia. Your classic limousine will pick you up in front of the hotel.

Day 2: Yangon – Inlay Lake – Floating Gardens & Pagodas

For those interested in Asian Art & Antiques, Yangon is a little known treasure trove. There is time after breakfast to visit the many antique marvels of Augustine, and Patrick Robert’s, The Gallery, at Mangosteen Mansion. Then it’s back to the airport to catch an early afternoon flight to the Shan Plateau and Lake Inle. On the drive in you’ll stop to visit the adorable novice monks at a teak monastery on stilts, before taking to the water. We fell in love with the Intha designed Inle Princess, and we’re sure you will to. This is a Burmese boutique luxury hotel at its most exotic. Your private boatman will take you out for the afternoon and introduce you to the magic of Inlay’s floating gardens and pagodas. Sunset cocktails on the lake and dinner at the Inle Princess.

Day 3: Inlay Lake – Indein – Ruins of Nyaung Oak

The 5-day market at Indein is the largest and most colorful on the lake. You’ll cross the lake in a long-tail boat and cruise a narrow channel through wonderful bucolic scenes of life on the water’s edge. At Indein you see many different ethnic tribal groups gathered to buy and sell their produce, wares, textiles and more. It’s a marvelous scene. From the market it’s a short walk to Nyaung Oak, where 1054 zedi’s lie in ruin, overgrown with flora. From there a climb to the old monastery on top of the hill, offers exhilarating views over the vast emerald lake.

Day 4: Inlay Lake – Mandalay – Sunset Bridge at Amarapura

This morning was made for a visit to the Princess Spa, where Burmese massage and a choice of exotic face and body treatments that are available nowhere else on earth, await. Lunch will be in charming Naungshwe, where you can try the best of the delicious Shan style pasta restaurants. Then it’s back to the tiny airport at Heho for the short flight to Mandalay, on the legendary Irrawaddy River. After check-in and a rest, we’ll take you to nearby Amarapura and the longest teak bridge in the world – the U Bein. There you can walk the span with monks and locals carrying their wares on their heads. Then you might venture onto the river in a rowboat to watch the sun set under the silhouette of the bridge.

Day 5: Mandalay Hill – Mandalay Palace – The Mustache Brothers

For you early risers, dawn from a top Mandalay Hill can be an ethereal light show as you gaze over temples and zedis to the city and the mighty Irrawaddy wending by. Breakfast is followed by a full day of fascinating sights and cultural engagement, capped by dinner and a distinctly Burmese treat – The Mustache Brothers comedy show. In less exuberant times, the political humor of the brothers landed them a stint in prison. After that, their show could only take place underground at changing locations. Guests of the show had to be taken on labyrinthine routes to reach each venue, so that the authorities could not follow. Today the Brothers are free to brandish their satire as they wish, but the tradition of secreting guests through the city to “secret” venues has become part of the show!

Day 6: Mandalay – Luxury River Cruise – Mingun – Sagaing

This is the perfect time for a luxurious sleep-in morning, with champagne breakfast in bed. At about noon you’ll be boarding the classic riverboat, the RV Pakaun, to begin your overnight river cruise to Bagan. A luxury stateroom and impeccable service by the charming crew are just part of the enjoyment on this classic cruise into antiquity. First day land excursions include the iconic rock temple at Mingun, and the holy hills of Sagaing, which is nested with over 600 nunneries and monasteries perched above the river. The food and drinks aboard the Pakaun are world class.

Day 7: River Cruise – Bagan – Bagan Temples & Sunset

Arrive at the Bagan jetty around 11 am where your driver will be waiting to take you to the ever so luminous Aureum Bagan Hotel, which sits within a cluster of ancient temples. What a setting! If you have opted for the private island villa, your butler’s name is Winn, and he’s at your service. A half day temple tour by horse & carriage is yours for the asking, and you’ll probably want to take in the sunset from on top of Shwesandaw Pagoda.

Day 8: Hot Air Balloons Over Bagan – Temples & Local Villages – Yangon

An exhilarating dawn flight in a hot air balloon over one of the most exotic landscapes on the planet is not to be missed. Not to worry, the balloons are built to the highest standards of the British aerospace industry by Cameron Balloons Limited, UK, the world’s largest manufacturer. The pilots are British as well, and among the best in the world. Balloons Over Bagan owner Brett Melzer and his Burmese wife, Omar, run a very professional operation. (Their new luxury hotel on 21-acres of riverfront has begun construction, and with a bit of red-tape cutting could be open by the Autumn 2015 season). After breakfast there is plenty of time to finish your temple tour and visit some local crafts villages. Afternoon flight back to Yangon.

Day 9: Yangon Departure

You’ll wake up in the Trader’s Hotel, in the heart of city. It’s right across from the 2,000 shops of Scott Market, perfect for some serious last minute shopping. When you’re ready, we will drive you to the airport and see you off. You’ll miss this place!

WATERS OF DESTINY

“please inquire for quote”

9 Days / 8 Nights

Deposit required to secure reservation

Price Includes:
list-infoTop Rated English speaking guides
list-infoLuminous Journeys “Swag Bag”
list-infoAirport welcome & farewell
list-infoAll Accommodation with breakfast
list-infoMeals according to your personalized plan
list-infoAll in-country airfare, airport taxes, air porter fees
list-infoAll itinerary based transport, inc. private car & driver
list-infoAmple bottled water throughout
list-infoEntrance and zone fees
list-infoDonations to Luminous Journeys’ micro-NGO Charities
Price does not include:
list-infointernational airfare
list-infoany personal transportation unrelated to the itinerary
list-infotrip/medical insurance, medical expenses
list-infoEarly check-in or late check-out charges
list-infopersonal expenses, such as telephone, laundry, alcohol, etc.
list-infotips for hotel porters or wait staff
list-infocamera fees
list-infoguide or driver gratuities
list-infoMyanmar visa fee (Visa on arrival may be obtained via Luminous Journeys)
*Guides are optional, but highly recommended.

Luminous Touches
Special Welcome: LJ Cover Girls
Luminous Travel Swag
LJ Signature T’s

Options
Balloons over Bagan
Bagan by Horse & Carriage
Exotic Spa Packages

Popular Extensions
Mt. Popa
Pindaya
Pyin Oo Lwin

Similar Tours
The Big Four in Ten
Elephants & Ice Cream
Legendary Rivers
Culture Plunge

Grace, glory and a Tropical Beach
12 Days/ Rangoon – Lake Inle – Mandalay – Pyin Oo Lwin – Bagan – Ngpali Beach
Design My Tour!
The grand-eloquent grace of the 2,500 year old Shwedagon Paya, covered in 60 tons of gold and capped with more than 4,000 diamonds, emeralds and rubies; the historical glory of the 1,000 year reign of Bagan as the world apex of Theravadan Buddhism, it’s surreal temple-scape once covered with some 13,000 Buddhist temples, pagodas, payas& zedis – these are only two of the incredible sites you’ll visit on this unforgettable luxury vacation.

Five-star luxury suites are yours for the asking, including Shwedagon Pagoda views in Rangoon, triple waterfall views at Pyin Oo Lwin, lake views with a purple mountain backdrop at Inlay, temple views from a private island villa in Bagan, and Indian Ocean views from your Ngpali beachfront bungalow.

You get it all on this baby. The Big Four plus the beautiful former British Hill Station of Pyin Oo Lwin ending with a beach relaxer at tropical Ngpali, where the dense congregation of seafood chefs create some of the best and most exotic seafood dishes on earth.

Please click Game Plan tab above for sample itinerary. For more destination details, see Burma Destinations.

Day 1: Royal Lake – Shwedagon Pagoda

You will be met at the airport the classiest greeters in Myanmar, The Ladies Luminous. They will assist you with your luggage and currency exchange needs before escorting you to the beautiful 5-star Kandawgyi Palace Hotel, on Royal Lake. After lunch, a rest, a massage, a swim, a cocktail or all the above, a Golden Hour visit to Shwedagon Pagoda is an absolute must. For dinner we recommend Le Planteur for perhaps the best Indochine style dining experience in all of Southeast Asia. Your classic limousine will pick you up in front of the hotel.

Day 2: Yangon – Inlay Lake – Floating Gardens & Pagodas

For those interested in Asian Art & Antiques, Yangon is a little known treasure trove. There is time after breakfast to visit the many antique marvels of Augustine, and Patrick Robert’s, The Gallery, at Mangosteen Mansion. Then it’s back to the airport to catch an early afternoon flight to the Shan Plateau and Lake Inle. On the drive in you’ll stop to visit the adorable novice monks at ?? teak monastery before taking to the water. We fell in love with the Intha designed Inle Princess, and we’re sure you will to. This is a Burmese boutique luxury hotel at its most exotic. Your private boatman will take you out for the afternoon and introduce you to the magic of Inlay’s floating gardens and pagodas. Sunset cocktails on the lake and dinner at the Inle Princess.

Day 3: Inlay Lake – Indein – Ruins of Nyaung Oak

The 5-day market at Indein is the largest and most colorful on the lake. You’ll cross the lake in a long-tail boat and cruise a narrow channel through wonderful bucolic scenes of life on the water’s edge. At Indein you see many different ethnic tribal groups gathered to buy and sell their produce, wares, textiles and more. It’s a marvelous scene. From the market it’s a short walk to Nyaung Oak, where 1054 zedi’s lie in ruin, overgrown with flora. From there a climb to the old monastery on top of the hill, offers exhilarating views over the vast emerald lake.

Day 4: Inlay Lake – Mandalay – Sunset Bridge at Amarapura

This morning was made for a visit to the Inle Princess Spa, where Burmese massage and a choice of exotic face and body treatments that are available nowhere else on earth, await. Lunch will be in charming Naungshwe, where you can try the best of the delicious Shan style pasta restaurants. Then it’s back to the tiny airport at Heho for the short flight to Mandalay, on the legendary Irrawaddy River. After check-in and a rest, we’ll take you to nearby Amarapura and the longest teak bridge in the world – the U Bein. There you can walk the span with monks and locals carrying their wares on their heads. Then you might venture onto the river in a rowboat to watch the sun set under the silhouette of the bridge.

Day 5: Mandalay Hill – Mandalay Palace – The Mustache Brothers

For you early risers, dawn from a top Mandalay Hill can be an ethereal light show as you gaze over temples and zedis to the city and the mighty Irrawaddy wending by. Breakfast is followed by a full day of fascinating sights and cultural engagement, capped by dinner and a distinctly Burmese treat – The Mustache Brothers comedy show. In less exuberant times, the political humor of the brothers landed them a stint in prison. After that, their show could only take place underground at changing locations. Guests of the show had to be taken on labyrinthine routes to reach each venue, so that the authorities could not follow. Today the Brothers are free to brandish their satire as they wish, but the tradition of secreting guests through the city to “secret” venues has become part of the show!

Day 6: Mandalay – Pyin Oo Lwin Hill Station

About 50 miles north eastward brings you to an elevation of 3,500 feet, where lies the picturesque former British colonial hill station of Maymyo, now called Pyin Oo Lwin. It’s a delightful town famous for its horse carriages, flower production, 100-year old National Botanical Gardens, four acre orchid garden, silk worm farms and waterfalls. It is also the center of Myanmar coffee & bean roasting, which is a fast growing industry.

Day 7: Pyin Oo Lwin Hill Station – Gokteik Viaduct – Bagan

Pyin Oo Lwin is also the best place to embark on one the great, if short, railway journeys in the world — up through mountain passes and across the Gokteik viaduct. Since you probably don’t want to go all the way to China, we will pick you up after you cross the Gokteik and drive you back to Mandalay for a very short flight to Bagan.

Day 8: The Aureum Bagan is a fantastic property, and sits within a cluster of ancient temples. What a setting! If you have opted for the private island villa, your butler’s name is Winn, and he’s at your service. Sunset standing atop Shwesandaw Pagoda offers surreal panoramas. Freshen up for cocktails, dinner and traditional Myanmar puppet show.

Day 9: Hot Air Balloons Over Bagan – Flight to Ngpali Beach

An exhilarating dawn flight in a hot air balloon over one of the most exotic landscapes on the planet is only to be missed those with a fear of flying. Nothing to worry about, the pilots are well trained and from the U.K.. The balloons are built by Cameron Balloons Limited, UK, the world’s largest manufacturer. The owners of Balloons Over Bagan, Brett Melzer and his wife, run a very professional operation. Catch a flight in time to get you to Ngpali Beach for an afternoon swim and sunset cocktails lounging in front of the Indian Ocean.

Day 10: Ngpali Beach Chill

Ngpali is the most developed of Myanmar’s thousands of beaches, which says more about those thousands of empty beaches than it does Ngpali. It’s got a wide white sand beach with requisite swaying palms and clear blue ocean. Your luxury beachfront bungalow may well be at the Sandoway, of which we are very fond. Needless to say the seafood in Ngpali is outrageously good, as most of the top seafood chefs in Burma are here! If you feel like catching your own, we’ll arrange a fishing charter for you.

Day 11: Ngpali Beach – Yangon

An easy getaway day like this is made for what you’re made for. Feel like sleeping late and having a champagne brunch served on the veranda of your beachfront bungalow? How about rising early and going for a run along the beach and around the village, where you will become an instant celebrity? You could wind it down with a massage and spa treatment in time to join your sleepy partner for that brunch on the veranda. Check out at noon fly back to Yangon for your last night in Myanmar and special farewell dinner at the Governor’s Residence.

Day 12: Yangon Departure

You’ll open your eyes in the Trader’s Hotel, in the city center. Just across the street are the 2,000 shops of Scott Market, ideal for any serious last minute shopping. Also ideal for a walking tour of British Colonial Yangon. Or perhaps you’ll want to return to Augustine and buy that incredible piece after all. They can insure it and ship it home for you. And you can use your credit card! When the time comes, your driver will bring you to the airport and see you off. It’s impossible not to miss this place!

Grace, Glory And A Tropical Beach

“please inquire for quote”

12 Days / 11 Nights

Deposit required to secure reservation

Price Includes:
list-infoTop Rated English speaking guides
list-infoLuminous Journeys “Swag Bag”
list-infoAirport welcome & farewell
list-infoAll Accommodation with breakfast
list-infoMeals according to your personalized plan
list-infoAll in-country airfare, airport taxes, air porter fees
list-infoAll itinerary based transport, inc. private car & driver
list-infoAmple bottled water throughout
list-infoEntrance and zone fees
list-infoDonations to Luminous Journeys’ micro-NGO Charities
Price does not include:
list-infointernational airfare
list-infoany personal transportation unrelated to the itinerary
list-infotrip/medical insurance, medical expenses
list-infoEarly check-in or late check-out charges
list-infopersonal expenses, such as telephone, laundry, alcohol, etc.
list-infotips for hotel porters or wait staff
list-infocamera fees
list-infoguide or driver gratuities
list-infoMyanmar visa fee (Visa on arrival may be obtained via Luminous Journeys)
*Guides are optional, but highly recommended.

Luminous Touches
Special Welcome: LJ Cover Girls
Luminous Travel Swag
LJ Signature T’s

Options
Balloons over Bagan
Temple Tour by Horse & Carriage
Home Cooked Lunch w/ Local Family
Spa Packages

Popular Extensions
Mt. Popa Resort
Pindaya Caves
Golden Rock

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