Trekking & Volunteering In The Shan State

Day 1 - ARRIVE YANGON Upon arrival at Yangon International Airport, you will be welcomed by our Guide and transferred to hotel.
Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, is a relatively quiet and charming city. Its impressive colonial and spiritual heritage makes it one of the most fascinating cities in South East Asia.
Lunch at Padonmar Restaurant. (Own account)

This afternoon, your journey begins with sightseeing around the city and its' colonial buildings. Visit the National Museum where a tour of the priceless ancient artifacts, works of art and historic memorabilia will help you gain insight in to the country's history. Of particular note are the three halls on the ground floor, which hold exhibits on the evolution the Myanmar alphabet, the Lion Throne Room, and artifacts from the Yatanabon Period. Following your Museum visit, continue to the Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda, home to a 70 meter long reclining Buddha.

As the evening approaches, we arrive at Myanmar's holiest monument, the Shwedagon Pagoda. The temple features a towering stupa covered with 60 tons of pure gold leaf and is full of pilgrims and locals who come to make merit and meditate.
Dinner (own account).
Overnight in Yangon.

Day 2 - YANGON - HEHO - PINDAYA (B)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for domestic flight to Heho in Shan State. Upon arrival, you will be transfer by scenic drive to Pindaya through the picturesque hills of Shan State (1hr30).
Lunch at Local Restaurant. (own account)
Visit Pindaya's limestone caves- a maze of chambers filled with over 8000 Buddha images in various shapes and sizes. The statues have been there since the 11th century and wandering through the cave is an exhilarating experience. Before returning to the hotel, visit local handicraft workshops producing Shan Paper made from mulberry bark and traditional, hand-crafted umbrellas.
Dinner (own account) & overnight in Pindaya.

Day 3 - PINDAYA - MENETAUNG (TREK) (B,L,D)
After breakfast at hotel, trekking will start at 0800 to the Htut Ni village, home to the ethnic minority Danu people. Continue to the Sikya Inn Village (2 hour trek in total) Along the way, experience the stunning natural beauty and enjoy the panoramic scenery of the Shan Mountain ranges and valleys. After trekking over 7km for two hours, take a rest and refresh with a snack and green tea.

Continue to Menetaung Village via Lin Lay Inn village (2 half hour trek), where minority hill tribe Pa-O resides. They Pa-O people descend from Tibeto-Burman race and are very religious people. The majority of the Pa-O are farmers and their main cash crop is Sebesten tree leaves, which are used for making Cheroot cigars. The traditional dress for the Pa-o male is similar to the Shan, but only in black. The ladies costumes are also black but their turban is brightly colored.
Enjoy the lunch at village's Monastery.

This afternoon, help support the local community by participating in a charity project. Assist in building a home for an underprivileged family, help renovate the village school, or make a donation of cash or supplies to the villagers. There are several ways in which you can make a difference in the lives of these villagers and ensure a brighter future for their youth.
Dinner will be served in a village house.
Overnight at a monastery or local house. (Exotissimo will provide mosquito net, blanket and pillow)

Day 4 - MENETAUNG - KAN HLA KONE (TREK) (B,L,D)
After breakfast, take some time to walk around the village and see the morning activities of the local residents. Today's trek is to the Kan Hla Kone Village (3 hour trek). En route you will pass through Pin Se Inn and Htin Shu Kone, two villages inhabited by the Danu hill tribe. The name Danu is derived from the word ?Donke' which means 'brave archers'.
Enjoy the lunch at village's Monastery.

This afternoon, there is a similar opportunity to help support the local community by participating in a charity project. Various activities make be possible such as: Assisting in building a home for an underprivileged family, helping to renovate the village school, or making a donation of cash or supplies to the villagers.
Dinner will be served in a village house.
Overnight at a monastery or local house. (Exotissimo will provide mosquito net, blanket and pillow)

Day 5 - KAN HLA KONE - SHWE PAHTOO (TREK) - PINDAYA (BY CAR) (B,L,D)
After breakfast, walk through the village and watch the local farming methods before starting the return to Pindaya. A short trek (1 hour) takes you to Shwe Pahto village where you can visit the friendly locals and explore the village. From here, a car awaits for the transfer back to Pindaya (approximately 45 minutes).
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and return to your hotel.??The remainder of this afternoon is at your leisure.
Dinner and overnight in Pindaya.

Day 6 - PINDAYA - NYAUNG SHWE - INLE (BY CAR/BOAT) (B)
After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Nyaung Shwe, the gateway village to Inle Lake. The 2 hour drive passes through beautiful scenery of fields and hills. Before reaching Nyaung Shwe stop at the wooden Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery.

Board a private motorboat to head out onto Inle Lake, one of Myanmar's most spectacular sights. Pass villages built on stilts over the lake and see their floating gardens built up from strips of water hyacinth and mud and anchored to the bottom with bamboo poles. The lake is mainly inhabited by Intha people and you may see the men out fishing using a unique leg-rowing technique.
Lunch at local restaurant.(own account)

This afternoon, your sightseeing begins with a visit to the Nga Hpe Chaung Monastery which is filled with over 600 teak pillars and beautiful Shan Buddha Images. The Monastery is also referred to as 'jumping cats' monastery because the resident monks have trained cats to jump through hoops. Continue to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the lake's main sanctuary. Along the way, stop to explore the local handicraft villages including the weaving village of Inpawkhone and a cheroot factory where typical Burmese cigars are made by hand.
If the time permits, a short walk may be taken through one of the villages.
Dinner (own account)
Overnight on Inle Lake.

Day 7 - INLE - INDEIN - SEMA - INLE (BY BOAT) (B,L)
After breakfast, a one hour boat ride takes you to Indein, a "Pa Oh" village on the western banks of the Inle Lake.  After walking around the village, pass by the local school, and climb a covered stairway to the top of a hill. At the summit, a Buddha image is enshrined at a whitewashed stupa and hundreds of ancient stupas dot the hill, some of which are overgrown with bushes and vines. The views from the top of the hill are mesmerizing, with sweeping views of Inle Lake in the background.

A one hour trek takes you to "Se Ma" village. The walk is under the shade of a bamboo grove and is filled with natural scenic beauty and panoramic landscapes. Upon arrival, visit Se Ma and observe their daily lives of this rural village. Relax and enjoy a picnic lunch here. Transfer back to Tharlay village by sunset canoe boat ride, enjoying the unique beauty of Inle Lake and the friendly people.
Transfer to your hotel.
Dinner (own account)
Overnight stay at hotel on Inle Lake.

Day 8 - INLE - HEHO - YANGON (B,L) This morning is at your leisure.
Lunch at hotel.
After lunch, transfer to the airport for your domestic flight to Yangon where there is time for last minute sight-seeing or shopping.
Dinner (own account)
Overnight in Yangon.

Day 9 - DEPART YANGON (B)
After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Yangon International airport for your onward flight.

Cost in US$ per person in the party (valid 30 Sep'09)	TREKKING & VOLUNTEERING IN THE SHAN STATE
	Standard
2 pax	0
3 - 4 pax	0
5 - 6 pax	0
7 - 10 pax	0
11 - 15 pax	0
Single supplement	0

Our services include as follows:

* Accommodation at local village monastery or local house in a village (mattress, bed sheets and blanket provided by Exo)
* 8 nights accommodation on half-twin room basis with daily breakfast
* Meal arrangement in Pindaya Trek and Indein Trek mentioned in the program
* English-speaking station guide and trekking guide
* Porters
* Transfers to/from start/end point of trek
* Donation at the local monastery for the night
* Water and drinks during trek and for meals
* Private motorized boat in Inle Lake excursions
* All transfers and excursions with private air-conditioned vehicles
* Entrance fees for the visits mentioned

Our services do not include as follows:

* International ticket to/from Yangon
* Meals not mentioned (B = breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)
* Visa arrangements for Myanmar
* Visits not mentioned in the program
* Drinks and personal expenses
* Tips and porters at the hotels
* Any other items not mentioned
* International departure Airport Tax Yangon 1/2 (USD 10/pax at present)

IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to the constant fluctuations of the world oil prices, local suppliers are liable to raise their contract rates without notice due to fuel increases. We always do everything we can to absorb such increases, however in some cases it can be impossible for us to operate the file without incurring a loss. In such cases we reserve the right to increase our price if necessary. This will always be with a minimum advance notice of 30 days.

We apologize for any inconvenience that may arise from these conditions. However we hope your clients understand that in this increasingly uncertain world, such measures are necessary and that by guaranteeing the price with full payment in advance, they at least have some control over the cost of their holiday.

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