Burma

In The Footsteps of Kipling....

Burma - now known as Myanmar - remains the undiscovered gem of Southeast Asia. Closed to travelers for decades, Burma is now open for travel and represents perhaps the most exotic and unspoiled destination in the region.

Rangoon (Yangon), the capital, is home to the Shwedagon - arguably the most magical and impressive pagoda in the world. Plated with tons of gold and encrusted with thousands of carats of diamonds, rubies and emeralds, the Shwedagon soars hundreds of feet above the city skyline. The number two city, Mandalay, is a laid-back affair with monasteries carved out of teak wood; unique craft guilds that carry on the old traditions of puppet-making, gold-smithing and wood carving; and no less than four ancient, royal capitals on its perimeter. The Shan State and Inle Lake area is a scenic wonderland. But Burma's crown jewel is surely Pagan (Bagan) - an ancient city-state nestled on the banks of the wide Irrawaddy River. Pagan, a World Heritage Site, consists of thousands of Buddhist temple ruins, ranking among the wonders of the ancient world.

The Burmese themselves are among the friendliest people on earth. The children in particular are fascinated by Western travelers, and you are sure to make a few new friends during your travels "in the footsteps of Kipling."

Burma is featured in one of our scheduled, small group tours for 2005. . Southeast Asia: World Heritage Explorer focuses on the spectacular World Heritage sites of the region. You'll visit the ancient capitals of Ayutthaya in Thailand, Pagan in Burma, Luang Prabang in Laos, and awesome Angkor Wat in Cambodia.

Group tour not your thing? We have twelve years experience designing custom travel itineraries to Southeast Asia! Our custom itinerary planning service enables travelers - from solo travelers to large groups - to combine the advantages of a more independent style of travel with that knowledge and expertise that Your World, Your Way Travel has to offer, at a reasonable cost.