Wildlife and Ornithology tour

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Myanmar boasts many rich, diverse and untouched wildlife habitats, from the remote wetlands of Indawgyi Lake in the north to the mountains of Chin State – this tour, with dedicated local expert guides, will prove a true treasure trove for the dedicated nature lover.

Tour Overview

Book Tour

Start: 

Mandalay

Finish: 

Yangon

Length: 

14 days/13 nights

Transport: 

plane, car, boat

Accommodation: 

hotel, resort, eco lodge

Deluxe Hotel Supplement: 

US$36 per day

Total Price From

US$2,4991

Per Day From

US$1781

Tour Highlights
Spot hundreds of indigenous and migratory bird species at Indawgyi Lake
Discover historic Mandalay and see the iconic teak-built U Bein Bridge
Take a boat to Bagan and witness the wildlife of the mighty Irrawaddy river
Witness a dazzling array of rare fauna a flora in mountainous Chin State
Catch a uniquely stunning Bagan sunset
Walk the bustling and diverse streets of Yangon

Day-by-day Itinerary
Days 1-2 Mandalay

Arrive in Mandalay. After checking in at your hotel, visit the last royal palace of the Konbaung dynasty and recount the days of Thibaw and his queen, Supayalat, before they were expelled by the British into India. Visit the sacred Mahamuni Pagoda and receive a blessing for auspicious travels and then climb the 1729 steps up Mandalay Hill to be rewarded with a stunning sunset over the city. 

Days 3-6 Myitkyina and Indawgyi Lake

 Fly to north Myitkyina and then drive to the remote Indawgyi Lake. The lake is said to have been created by a naga – a water dragon from Burmese folklore – and the birds that migrate here year-round from North America to Africa are the dragon’s children returning home. Take a kayak out on the lake and observe up to one hundred different bird species that include a large number of new indigenous species that were discovered in the last few years. Spot the rare Sarus cranes, plus a range of woodland and 90 wetland birds. Other wildlife includes a number of different types of turtle, a vast array of butterflies, as well as a number of amphibian species.

Return to Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State and a true melting point of ethnic groups in the north of Myanmar - as well as people from further afield, such as the city’s large Gurkha community; the riverside Strand is a bustling hub of activity with a colourful riverside market to explore.

Day 7 Mandalay and U Bein Bridge

Spend a day sightseeing and bird watching around Mandalay and its neighbouring old capitals. The  wetlands and rice paddies of the Mandalay area provide many opportunities to see dozens of bird species that include the Oriental Darter, the Eurasian Pigeon, the Pheasant-tailed Jacana and many more. The iconic U Bein Bridge, the longest teak bridge in the world, is a wonderful spot for wildlife photography.

Day 8 Mandalay to Bagan by boat

It’s an early start from Mandalay to Bagan, and it can get quite chilly in the early morning so come prepared with some warmer gear. Enjoy breakfast on the boat and take the leisurely trip past beautiful Irrawaddy riverside scenes. There are some quieter stretches on the water so this is a perfect time to catch up on some reading or write those postcards to people back home. Arrive in Bagan in time for one of its famously stunning sunsets

Days 9-12 Mount Victoria and Nat Ma Taung National Park

Drive 8 hours west of Bagan to the small Chin mountain town of Kanpetlet and wander around the simple homesteads and churches of this quiet rural backwater; you will stay at one of the eco lodges higher up the mountain.

The next day you make the straightforward hike up Mount Victoria (known as Nat Ma Taung in Burmese or Khonuamthung in the local Chin language), witnessing beautiful mountain vistas and rare species of indigenous and migratory birds, butterflies and orchids and as you pass through evergreen, deciduous and pine forests, as well as hill savannah. Mammals in the area include tigers, bears, wild boars, leopards, serow and gibbons.

After your climb, you will visit the town of Mindat, dramatically perched on a mountain ridge. Here, you will find members of the indigenous Dai, Upu and Ya tribes, of which the older womenfolk all have distinctive full facial tattoos. Explore the local market and mountainside villages and then return to Bagan for the chance to explore some more temples and enjoy some Myanmar wine over dinner by the pagodas. 

Drive back down from the mountains to spend some more time exploring the temples of Bagan.

Days 13-14 Yangon

Fly to Yangon, a large and bustling city whose lovely parks are home to many bird species that include the little grebe, the bronze-winged and pheasant tailed jacana, the lesser whistling duck, the bee-eater and many more. Try out some sweet laphayet (Myanmar tea) at one of the many downtown teashops on your final day in the country; pair it with some fresh ee char kway, a deep fried dough snack that somehow is the perfect marriage. Walk it off by wandering the streets of downtown and there may be time for those last minute presents at Bogyoke Market before you head home.

Would you like to extend your tour to the vast and untouched Myeik Archipelago or the beautiful and relaxing Ngapali Beach? Our travel advisors will be able to arrange this for you, along with any other travel, accommodation or activity requirements you may have. Just fill out the ‘Any further queries’ box after you have clicked on the ‘Book Tour’ button.

Indicative standard and deluxe hotels for this tour
Standard hotels for above program Deluxe hotels for above program
 Mandalay - Hotel Rama  Mandalay - Mandalay Hill Resort
 Myitkyina – Xing Xian Hotel  Myitkyina – Xing Xian Hotel
 Indawgyi Lake - IndawMaHar guest house  Indawgyi Lake - IndawMaHar guest house
Bagan - Floral Breeze Hotel Bagan - Bagan Lodge
 Kanpetlet - Mount Oasis Resort (Kanpetlet)  Kanpetlet - Sky Palace Villa
 Mindat - Mount Oasis Resort (Mindat)  Mindat - Mount Oasis Resort (Mindat)
 Yangon - Clover Hotel  Yangon - Chatrium Hotel

To get prices for this tour with luxury accommodation or basic accommodation, please enter a query in the ‘Any further queries’ field when you submit your tour booking form (link below).

Our Service Include: 

Accommodation with breakfast (twin room basis)
Domestic flight tickets, including insurance surcharge and current fuel surcharge
Passenger service charges for domestic flights
Entrance fees and zone fees for the visits mentioned
All transfers and sightseeing by private air-con vehicle with drivers, as mentioned in program
Private local boat fare for Inle Lake excursion, as mentioned in program

Our Service Do Not Include: 

International ticket to/from Yangon
Visa fees and visa arrangements for Myanmar
Visits not mentioned in the program
Dinner at hotel
Drinks and personal expenses
Tips and porters at the hotels
Any other items not mentioned

Important Notes: 

The above itinerary is indicative and some details may change according to conditions and availability; you will always be informed of such changes.

There may be changes to estimated prices depending on air fuel cost, domestic airfares, US$ exchange rates and festive season surcharge. All supplemental cost to be advised.

[1] Price per person based on two person tour (twin hotel room sharing basis). Larger groups will pay less per person, single person purchase will mean a higher price.

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Map DataMap data ©2015 Basarsoft, Google, SK planet, ZENRIN
Map Data
Map data ©2015 Basarsoft, Google, SK planet, ZENRIN
Map data ©2015 Basarsoft, Google, SK planet, ZENRIN
 
 
 
 
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