Our Hidden Treasures journey delves into Myanmar’s less-visited regions, exploring newly-accessible areas and supporting inspiring, community-focused projects. Explore hidden gems in Yangon and Nyaung Shwe, then step into remote Kayah and South Rakhine, confident that any money spent during your stay is going directly to local people.
At a glance
Discover a different side to Yangon
Watch the sunset from Thirimingala Pagoda
Trek uphill to Rang Ku village
Immerse yourself in Kayaw traditions
Feel inspired at Arakan Nature Lodge
Glide over Ngapali Beach in a hot air balloon
- Bhutan Tours
- Borneo
- Cambodia
- China
- Halong Bay Cruises
- India
- Indonesia
- Japan
- Laos
- Malaysia
- Myanmar
- Nepal
- North Korea
- Philippines
- Singapore
- South Korea
- Sri Lanka
- Taiwan
- Thailand
- Tibet
- Vietnam
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Highlights
1
Itinerary idea in detail
Includes international flights from a choice of UK airports, including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Newcastle, Edinburgh and Glasgow.
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1
On arrival in Myanmar, you’ll be met by your private guide, who will accompany you to your Yangon hotel.
Your day will be at leisure until a late afternoon visit to the magnificent, 2,000-year-old Shwedagon Pagoda – the perfect spot to enjoy the Yangon sunset. Explore the surrounding shrines and makeshift food markets, as the city’s residents flock to this incredible landmark for their daily prayers. As night falls, witness the mesmerising sight of the pagoda’s glimmering surface illuminated by floodlights.
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2
Take up the option of breakfast at the chic Rangoon Teahouse, then drive to the recently-opened Secretariat, perhaps best-known as the sombre location of General Aung San’s assassination, to explore the gutted interior of a colonial gem that’s long been off-limits. See social enterprise in action at the Yuwaddy Centre; YHT blue plaque conservation at the Armenian Church of St. John the Baptist; and local-led regenerated at ‘491-501 Merchant Street’, which now houses apartments, restaurants, tea shops and a hostel. Stop for lunch in one of the historic Lokanat Building’s international eateries; pop into the contemporary River Gallery; and visit the evocative Strand Hotel, along with many more of the city’s extraordinary buildings, before looking down over it all from the Independence Monument. Explore the Indian and China quarters, or relax at leisure back at your hotel.
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3
Fly to Loikaw to visit the local monastery and nunnery, and enjoy the marvellous sunset view from Thirimingala Pagoda (Taung Kwe Zedi).
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4
Begin your exploration of Loikaw by visiting Haw Nan Monastery, built during WWI by the Chief of Kayah, which is one of the oldest buildings in Kayah State, and still a working monastery. Leaving Loikaw behind, head to the settlement of Pan Pet, to gain insight into the life and culture of the world famous Padaung tribal community. Continue to the hamlet of Penmasong, to embark upon a moderately challenging uphill trek to Rang Ku village, as your guide repeats some of the stories shared by the community leader, and points out various edible and medicinal plants that grow here. Your reward at the summit will be a rarely photographed view of Pan Pet and its natural surrounds. Once you’ve taken it all in, set off back downhill to spend time with the locals in Rang Ku, before returning to Loikaw.
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5
Spend a day deep in the mountain ranges south of Loikaw, and visit the remote Kayaw tribal village of Htay Ko. Take the slow drive along undulating mountain roads, stopping to take in the wild jungle scenery, before arriving in the village and heading to the community guide’s house – a local guide who can to translate the Kayaw dialect. There’s no set order of events, just a focus is on spending time with the villagers, visiting their homes and learning more about their traditional lifestyle, which could include anything from visiting the workshop of a jeweller (with the opportunity to purchase a personally engraved necklace) to discussing the meaning of life with a coffin maker. Enjoy a simple, locally sourced lunch of rice, foraged vegetables and a selection of meat, then bid farewell to the villagers and travel back to Loikaw.
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6
Leave Loikaw by road, heading north to Phekhon to transfer to a private boat for your journey to Inle Lake. Stop en route in Sagar for an early lunch and to stretch your legs, then cross the lake to Nyaung Shwe. On the outskirts of town is your accommodation: A Little Eco Lodge. This aptly named, family-run property is committed to eco-tourism principles and was constructed entirely from locally sourced natural materials. It plays an important role in the local community, actively recruiting and training staff from nearby villages. After receiving a warm welcome, the rest of your day will be at leisure.
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7
Take part in one of our favourite travel experiences: a cookery class treasure hunt. With a shopping list and a few basic Burmese phrases under your belt, you’ll head into the nearby village to collect instructions on what to do next from various local families, who’ll each give you the next envelope, along with tea, snacks and plenty of laughs! Having fully immersed yourself in the local community, collect a few last ingredients from the hotel’s organic vegetable gardens, then prepare the dishes and enjoy the fruits of your labour for lunch. In the afternoon head out of town to the haw (palace) of the last prince of Nyaung Shwe: a fine example of Shan architecture and a cultural museum. Continue to the picturesque Red Mountain Winery to explore the vineyard, learn about wine production in the region, and sample the wine.
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8
Fly out early to Thandwe and transfer on to Zikhone beach and your unique accommodation: Arakan Nature Lodge. Billed as Myanmar’s ‘first true eco lodge’ it has been constructed using recycled wood and sustainable local materials and runs completely on green technologies and practice. Having checked in, the remainder of your day will be at leisure; take a leisurely stroll along the beach, soaking up the serene surroundings before dinner.
Your stay at Arakan Nature Lodge can be as relaxed or active as you wish. Explore the surrounding hills on foot, cycle through the rural landscape and local villages, take a boat trip to nearby Gwa Island to snorkel in calm waters, or have a go at stand-up paddle boarding. Alternatively, you can while away the hours simply swimming in the crystal clear shallows or dozing in a hammock.
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9 & 10
A few days at leisure
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11
After a final hearty breakfast at Arakan Nature Lodge transfer with your local driver to Ngapali Beach, where you can unwind with a few days at leisure exploring, relaxing and laying back on those golden sands…
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Your days will be at leisure to relax and reflect on your experiences.
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13
Fly to Yangon in time to connect with your onward flight.
Accommodation options
While the itinerary price reflects the suggested accommodation, Audley trips are 100% tailor-made, and a specialist can help you select the option best suited to your tastes and budget.
Booking Policy
- English speaking, local guide
- All accommodation listed
- Land transportation by private air-conditioned vehicles
- Any domestic flights listed (unless marked otherwise)
- All admission fees at attractions, temples and activities as mentioned in the itinerary
- All meals listed
- International flight reconfirmation.
- Entry visas
- International airport departure taxes
- Any meals not listed in the itinerary
- Drinks, other than water on activity days
- Personal expenses (laundry, telephone, drinks, tip…)
- Travel insurance
- All other services not listed in ‘inclusive’
We'll help plan your trip based on you like and want to do. We know a lot about the place you're gomg. so we can give you good advice. WIIether you're into history, food, or culture, ue'll make sure your trip is just right for you. With us. your travel will be easy and fun!
We carefully choose our expert guides and travel concierges to make sure you have an authentic experience. They're passionate about their work and will bring your destination to life with care and enthusiasm.
We design our luxury trips with responsible travel principles in mind. This means we prioritize experiences that benefit both you and the planet.
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What our clients say about us
Eriberto P
16 March 2024 ★★★★★We did a 10 day private tour of Thailand with Amazing Bike Tours (ABT), including a couple of days of biking in Chiang Mai and a day in Phuket. ABT put together a great mix of biking and classic tours at a reasonable price. They responded quickly to emails and were very easy to deal with. The whole trip was fantastic, from the boat trips to James Bond Island to staying overnight in Bangkok and other towns. Our guide, Tom, was not only knowledgeable but also really friendly - he even became our unofficial photographer and shared all his photos with us. I definitely recommend ABT if you're planning a trip to Asia.
Jeremy
28 April 2024 ★★★★★We had a fabulous time on the cycling tour from Bangkok to Chiang Mai and Phuket with Amazing Bike Tours company. Our tour guides TOM in Bangkok and Chiang Mai were fantastic, and I want to thank TUK in Phuket for taking such good care of me. This experience will always be special to me.
Steven
23 April 2024 ★★★★★I booked Cycle Thailand to Cambodia in 2023. Stephen at Amazing Bike Tours was excellent, very helpful, responsive and knowledgeable. In particular, our local tour guide Tom was outstanding. He was essential to connecting with local village people, visit remote villages, and explore exotic food. Can't wait for my next adventure
Naad
16 April 2024 ★★★★★We had a great time biking through the Mekong Delta and Angkor Wat. Bob was a fantasic tour guide who took us through Angkor Wat and showed us a different side of the delta in his own way. We visited temples and a floating market many delicious snacks. It was really fun ! A great tour !
Alex Boshoff
19 April 2024 ★★★★★Our Thailand Vietnam Bike Tour was very well managed. The teams took great care of us, they support van was always available when needed. The food was excellent. We loved all the restaurent. The accommodations were great, offering a variety of options from resorts to boutique hotels to city hotels, all of which were comfortable. Biking on and off-road was enjoyable. The people in both countries are warm, welcoming & kind. The experience in the Mekong Delta was fantasic. We definitely recommend this trip.
Tavelshab
6 May 2024 ★★★★★We had a great time biking through the Mekong Delta and Angkor Wat. Bob was a fantasic tour guide who took us through Angkor Wat and showed us a different side of the delta in his own way. We visited temples and a floating market many delicious snacks. It was really fun ! A great tour !
Scott
5 May 2024 ★★★★★We spent 12 days with Amazing Bike Tours from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh via Battambang. Our tour was perfectly tailored to our route and physical condition and on the last day, we were safely transported to our beach accommodation in Sihanoukville. The organization was flawless from start to finish. The accommodation was also comfortable, allowing us to rest well after eventful days. The tour provided great value for money. The experiences were unique and could fill two vacation reports! The bikes were perfectly adjusted to our needs, with well-maintained gears and brakes. If there was a minor issue, the guide promptly addressed it. The minivan support was modern and very comfortable. The driver was excellent and we felt safe! Besides the visual impressions, we learned a lot about the country and its people.
Kyle
18 January 2024 ★★★★★We had a custom and private 3-day bike tour in the Mekong Delta with Loc, our expert bike tour guide who organized, coordinated, and led three days of fantastic bike touring. Our tour of the the Mekong Delta included Cai Lay, Cai Be, Can Tho, and My Tho, before catching a luxury Mekong River cruise up to Cambodia. Loc was a great guide who really helped us appreciate the culture of the untouched tourist areas of the delta where we met fantastic people and toured through incredible villages, markets, Khmer temple, and even a local school. Loc did an excellent job of pacing the bike ride to our activity level and we enjoyed some great lunches at some local residences, even picking up some rat at a local market we toured and having it expertly prepared at a local home. Our best, most authentic Vietnamese meals were enjoyed on this biking tour. We had a van w/driver following us throughout the bike rides to ensure we had plenty of water and picked us up when we were ready to be done for the day. Loc also gave us a tour of Saigon as well as the underground Vietnam war tunnels at Cu Chi. I can't say enough about the biking tours and Loc was just a fantastic guide. We hated to say good-bye as we continued our tour of Southeast Asia but will always cherish the bike tour we had with Loc in Vietnam.