Deluxe Hosted Myanmar Pottery Tour – 10 days from A$5,975
12-day deluxe hosted Myanmar pottery tour 14 to 25 January 2020 from A$5,975 per person twin share, and A$7,995 for solo travellers with sole room and cruise cabin use.
- Relax on a stress-free, seamlessly-hosted itinerary with friendly and expert local guides
- Stay in deluxe boutique accommodation in convenient and iconic locations
- Enjoy a luxury 2-night Irrawaddy river cruise on the Paukan 2007
- Discover the natural, social and historical origins of the culture of pottery in Myanmar
- Explore the 4 unique regions of Yangon, Inle Lake, Bagan & Mandalay
- Interact with local artisans of pottery villages in each of these 4 regions
- Sample the local cuisine of each region, with most meals included
The tour is hosted by Chris Riou, tour director from Newport Travel and Dianne Turner, Ceramic Artist. Our local guides in Myanmar are highly qualified, licensed guides and regional specialists. 
Up until recently, Myanmar (previously known as Burma) has been relatively cut off from the outside world and off the radar for most travellers. For four decades up until 2011 the closed door policy of the ruling military junta at the time led to economic stagnation, crumbling infrastructure and slow development in Myanmar. The good news is that this has helped preserve the vast nature reserves, colonial heritage, Buddhist buildings and teachings, and traditional lifestyles of the Burmese people, making Myanmar the jewel that it is today - a land seemingly suspended in time. Over 100 years ago, Rudyard Kipling wrote of Burma, “It is quite unlike any place you know about”. This is still so true today and definitely a destination to explore before modernisation and over-tourism spread their influence here. This tour of Myanmar is an opportunity for us to connect with the Burmese people through pottery and the ceramic arts and appreciate the huge role that pottery has played in the development and sustainability of the Burmese culture. You’ll return home from this journey not only with a bagful of wonderful memories, but knowing that, on this sustainable tourism adventure, you have genuinely supported the local cultures and social enterprises that are working towards improving the lives of the local Burmese communities.
For more information or to book, contact Newport Travel on 9997 1277 or email info@newporttravel.com.au
Itinerary summary
Day 1 – YANGON 14 Jan 2020 Today is an arrival day and a group transfer from Yangon Airport to our hotel for 3 nights is provided for flights arriving by 7pm
- Accom: Savoy Hotel (3 nights)
Day 2 – YANGON (B, L) 15 Jan 2020 We will begin our private guided tour of Yangon this morning with a visits to the Reclining Buddha and the Yangon Museum for an overview of the diverse cultures of Myanmar and their arts and crafts. Lunch is at the social enterprise restaurant, Monsoon for a typical Burmese banquet meal. After lunch enjoy a relaxed walking tour along Sule Pagoda Rd ending at the Sule Pagoda. Transfer to our hotel for an afternoon at leisure, or choose to stay on and visit Scott Market or Yangon at your leisure. In the late afternoon we visit the iconic Schwedagon Pagoda for a sunset tour and to witness the oil lamp ceremonies. Return transfer to the Savoy Hotel and an evening at leisure
- Accom: Savoy
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 3 – TWANTE POTTERY VILLAGE (B, L, D) 16 Jan 2020 Today is a full day excursion to Twante pottery village, about 2 hours drive away, through the Yangon countryside. Lunch is at a local restaurant in the village. Return to our hotel around 4pm. You will have free time before a private group dinner at the hotel this evening.
- Accom: Savoy
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 4 – YANGON – INLE LAKE (B, L) 17 Jan 2020 This morning we will have an early morning transfer to Yangon airport for a flight to Inle Lake and a drive through the Shan and Pa-Oh countryside to Kakku ancient stupa site. Enjoy an included Pa-oh banquet lunch at a local restaurant overlooking the stupas. Travel by road and boat to Inle Princess Lodge arriving to enjoy the stunning sunset over the water bird sanctuary in front of the lodge.
- Accom: Inle Princess 2nts
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 5 – INLE LAKE (B, L) 18 Jan 2020 The Inle Princess Lodge has its own artisan village and pottery kiln, where you can participate in a morning pottery workshop to discover local techniques. Lunch is included today at the Inle Princess Lodge After lunch we take a long boat ride to the Inle Lake pottery village of Kyauk Taing for a half-day interactive guided tour. As we return to our accommodation in the late afternoon we will witness the one-legged fishermen in action against a stunning sunset backdrop. This evening is at leisure to relax at the resort or make use of its facilities.
- Accom: Inle Princess
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 6 – INLE LAKE TO BAGAN (B,L, D) 19 Jan 2020 We have an early transfer by boat and road to Heho airport for our flight to Bagan. After a meet and greet at the airport with our new local guide, we travel by coach to Salay via the inland Mt Popa route. Visit a Palm Sugar farm and restaurant with a tasting plate of local produce for morning tea. Continue on to the colonial town of Salay. Enjoy a walking tour of Salay town including visits to Mann Paya Pagoda with the lacquered straw golden buddha, and the teak monastery, Youqson Kyaung Lunch is at the Salay River View Inn on the banks of the Irrawaddy. Return to Bagan via the river route with a brief orientation tour of old Bagan before checking in to our hotel. You will have some free time for sunset viewing before a group dinner tonight at The Hotel @ Tharabar Gate
- Accom: The Hotel @ Tharabar Gate (2 nights)
- Meals: Breakfast, morning tea, lunch, dinner
Day 7 – BAGAN (B, D) 20 Jan 2020 This morning we will visit some of the key sites of Old Bagan with our local guide - Schwezigon Pagoda, Ananda Temple, Lawka Hteik Pan Temple and Shwesandaw Pagoda. Return to our hotel around midday. Lunch and afternoon are at leisure today. This evening enjoy a private sunset “dinner in the temples” with traditional Burmese entertainment.
- Accom: The Hotel @ Tharabar Gate
- Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Day 8 – BAGAN – river cruise (B, L, D) 21 Jan 2020 Board a traditional river cruise boat from Bagan to Mandalay for 2 Nights aboard Paukan 2007 (max 55 guests) Embarkation time is 11.30am at Bagan - Koe Lone Ye Kin Jetty and cast off after half an hour. There is a Welcome Cocktail and briefing in the Saloon or Sundeck followed by Lunch. In the late afternoon we stop in a typical river village
- Accom: Paukan 2007 (2nights)
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 9 - YANDABO POTTERY VILLAGE – river cruise (B,L,D) 22 Jan 2020 In the morning we dock at Yandabo, a typical river village specializing in water pot-making. Yandabo was also where the peace treaty of the First Anglo-Burmese war was signed on Feb. 24, 1826. We visit the pottery workshops and the monastery. The afternoon is spent relaxing on the ship as we cruise upstream on the Irrawaddy River towards Mandalay We moor overnight in nearby a village (Ywar Thit Gyi or Pauk Myaing Pauk Taw) a few miles away from Ava Bridge on the way to Mandalay.
- Accom: Paukan 2007
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 10 – MANDALAY (B,L) 23 Jan 2020 After breakfast, disembark at Sagaing Jetty at around 09.30hrs We will be greeted at the jetty by our local guide for a visit of ancient Ava (Inn Wa). The visit will include Bagaya Monastery, a visit of the ancient kingdom of Ava by horse and cart, and lunch at a local open-air restaurant. After lunch, we enjoy a brief tour of Mandalay including a visit to a gold-leaf making workshop before checking in to hotel. You will have some free time at the resort before a late afternoon visit to U Bein bridge for sunset viewing by row boat. The rest of the evening and dinner is at your leisure
- Accom: Mandalay Hill Resort 2 nights
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Day 11 - NWE NYEIN POTTERY VILLAGE (B,L, D) 24 Jan 2020 Today, we have an early departure from our hotel at 7am and travel to Halin UNESCO site We then continue on to Shwebo and Kyauk Myaung to visit the Nwe Nyein pottery village. Lunch at a local restaurant is included. We return to our hotel in time for an optional sunset viewing from Mandalay Hill Our farewell group dinner tonight is a barbeque dinner at the Mandalay Hill Resort
- Accom: Mandalay Hill Resort
- Meals: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 12 MANDALAY (B) 25 Jan 2020 Morning at leisure (hotel checkout is midday). There is a 9am group transfer to the airport for onward flights. (Individual private transfers and extra nights at the hotel can be organised but are not included in the cost.)
- Meals: breakfast
Summary of inclusions:
All internal flights within Myanmar; transfers; local English-speaking licenced guides; private drivers and comfortable coaches; 2-night luxury river cruise onboard the Paukan 2007. Accommodation:
- 3 nights Yangon – Savoy Hotel
- 2 nights Inle Lake – Inle Princess
- 2 nights The Hotel @ Tharabar Gate
- 2 nights Paukan 2007 river cruise (up to 55 guests)
- 2 nights Mandalay Hill Resort
Meals: 11 breakfasts; 9 lunches; 6 dinners
For a complete itinerary and to book, contact Newport Travel on 02 9997 1277 or email info@newporttravel.com.au
You may also be interested in these blog posts:
