Discover Burma

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

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  Janet Wilson

  DISCOVER BURMA

  

  Written January 2013

  A beautiful country full of friendly and welcoming people.   

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  There was something everyday that I simply loved, whether it was Ubain Bridge at dawn, the temples in Bagan or simply the stunning countryside walk around Kalaw.  However, overall the most inspirational sight was seeing the Burmese people go about their day to day lives and the kindness and welcome they gave us.  I would go back in a heartbeat.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  My group leader was Yan.  He was friendly, approachable and ensured that anything we requested was fulfilled - even our attendance at a Burmese rock concert! 

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Main advice - remember that Myanmar is an emerging country for tourists.  Don't expect all service and arrangements to be perfect.  Have some flexibility and a relaxed attitude and you'll see one of the most amazing countries in the world. 

  January is a great time weather-wise, although it does get cold at night in Kalaw.  I wish I'd done the balloon adventure over Bagan - others that did said it was amazing.  ATMS and WiFI are available throughout the country, so don't worry too much about that.  Ensure you've got enough camera batteries and memory cards - you're going to want to take a LOT of photos!

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  There were 18 of us in our group and I honestly believe it was too many - a better size would have been 12.

  Changes in the organisation responsible for booking travel/hotels meant that in Kalaw our group was split between hotels.  Had the group size been smaller, this would not have been an issue.

  In future, I would like to see Exodus add more holidays in Myanmar, focussing on walking and/or different areas of the country.

  Exodus Response

  In response to Janet Wilson's comment regarding the group size on this trip , from April 2013 the maximum group size will be 16
  

  - Exodus Staff

   
• 

  Helen Shore

  DISCOVER BURMA

  

  Written January 2013

  We did not really know what to expect as Burma (Myamar) has only just opened up to tourists again and were very pleased with the whole experience. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  THe hot air balloon ride over the temples of Bagan.  The hill trek up to the village and the lunch in a village home.  The boat trip on the Ayerwaddy river and the canoe trip on Inle Lake.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Nathan was excellent - polite, knowledgeable, spoke good English and was good company.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  We did not need to take mosquito nets however we did take anti malarial tablets.  We took the usual precautions with regard to drinking water, avoided salad and no ice in drinks.  None of our group of 17 came down with a tummy bug.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Remember, Burma is only just opening up to tourists again so be patient.  If you are a dog lover, be warned about the many street dogs - some in quite a poor state.

   
• 

  Mike Kano

  DISCOVER BURMA

  

  Written January 2013

  Great trip, great group, great guide. An extermely picturesque country, and a lot of hope from locals that things are changing for the better. Tourism infrastructure is trying to keep up with rapid growth in Western tourists, so flights can be delayed (or occassionally crash), airports are quaint and at capacity, sometimes the tour group was split between hotels (often quite distant from each other). 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Going to Pindaya caves and being amongst 4,000 bhuddas, very serene and spirtually powerful.

  Crusiing on our boat across Inle lake, pursued by fishermen (the rowing with one leg around the paddle while standing is certainly unique) and seeing the floating farms and gardens.

  A further highlight was the Yangon circular railway (takes 3 hours), this was an incredible opportunity to journey through all of Yangon and out to the country and be with locals.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Yan was organised, positive and constructive. He wanted to impart the cultures of Myanmar and linked us to many really intersting locals as we travelled around Myanmar.

  Some of the group struggled with deadlines, return to bus times, and Yan did his best to marshall the group (we were 18) to time.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Myanmar is struggling to keep up with the rapid growth in tourist numbers, and while there have been many recent political reforms there is still some way to go.

  Locals were really friendly and interactive (especially the money changers :-).  We always felt safe. 

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  For a third of the trip the group (we were 18) were split between two hotels and they were not within walking distance of each other. Exodus did not inform us beforehand that there would be likely splitting of the group and this did create some challenges in socialising and getting around.

  The leg of the trip which includes landing at Helo, driving to Kalaw, then driving up to Pindaya, then driving back down to Inle Lake was a bit bizzare. Given Kalaw and Inle Lake are less than an hours drive from each other this leg of the trip would be better managed as: fly into Helo, drive to Pindaya, see the bhuddist caves, drive down to Kalaw, then short trip to Inle Lake (this would remove about 6 hours of driving).

   
• 

  Marilyn Squance

  DISCOVER BURMA

  

  Written January 2013

  A great mix of activities in a truly wonderful country with spectacular scenery and warm, friendly people.  Very well organised and a most enjoyable trip. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  There was so much - the thousands of temples in Began; the boat trips; the trek

  but the most inspirational for me was the sunrise at U Bein's Bridge which was stunningly beautiful and something I  shall always remember.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Nay was extremely professional and very organised.  He was always good humoured, always polite and he was very knowledgeable.  His English was superb and he cared for us and guided us extremely well.  A excellent group leader.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  The country was far more geared up for tourists than I had envisaged with good hotels, restaurants and in some places access to wi fi and I would have taken a laptop if I had realised.   Having said that it is early days for tourisim and part of the charm is the people and their friendliness and their calmness and laidback attitude to life.  In cafes, restaurants and hotels they might not always get things exactly right and, for example, you could wait some time for your meal (but it will be good and freshly cooked when you do get it) and it will be served with a smile.  It really is the warmth of the people that makes the country so very special.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Go there - you won't regret it.

   
• 

  Sarah Cox

  DISCOVER BURMA

  

  Written December 2012

  If you don't like sunrises or sunsets, or walking around pagodas/temples in bare feet to see all the Buddhas, then this definitely NOT the trip for you!First impressions were of how easy Burma was to go to as a holiday destination, as everyone is taught English as a second language at school, and so menus/signs are all in English as well.  We were also shocked by the complete lack of military/government prescence that tourists encounter and were expecting it to be a tough country, and it wasn't.  Plus the visibility of the NLD (National League for Democracy) has stalls / visible prescence everywhere which is another sign of how far the country is coming.Although the country has only been opened up to Western tourist for the last 9 months, there has always been lots of tourists from other parts of Asia.  Hotels can cope with group bookings and are use to this.   

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

   

  1. All similar moments to what everyone else's reviews have said previously really.  And I'm so glad that I went to see Burma as it is now, before it changes so rapidly over the next couple of years, and gets completely spoiled by tourism.  How nice it was to not spot any Starbucks/McDonalds/Pizza Hut/Tescos yet!! Great to get to all the iconic places with all the hawkers gently hassling you to buy, rather than in yer face hassle.
  2. The few days in Bagan was one of the highlights - hiring a bike for 1500 kyat (about £1.20) and then cycling around to see lots of pagodas/temples, was superb.  Ballooning over Bagan at sunrise was one of the highlights, but you have to book IN ADVANCE to even stand a chance of getting a place (see my comments further down below).
  3. The day on Inle Lake speeding along in a boat was excellent.  Seeing the fishermen with their nets and steering with their feet will stay with me too. Plus the walk the next day around the villages was very interesting too.
  4. U Bein Bridge - if your tour leader doesn't point this out when you are sitting in a hut on the bridge, you need to walk all the way over to the other side of the bridge and get off down onto ground level, to be able to get THE most incredible photos of the monks & locals at sunrise going about their daily business on the bridge.  Insist on staying until well after sunrise, so you can get the reflections in the water of the sun coming up.  There is absolutely no need to dash off for breakfast at the hotel, when the photo opportunities are just everywhere.  Just keep snapping away!
  5. Also going to see 'The Moustache Brothers' in Mandalay (p218 Lonely Planet) at night was one of the strangest moments.   You are literally sat in their garage watching them poke fun at the regime. One of them has been imprisoned & done hard labour 3 times. The satisfaction of being able to support them and stick 2 fingers up to the government/military regime was immense.  (The second half of the act with their wives dancing I must admit, I didn't quite 'get' and began to zzzz off to). 
  6. When you are in Kalaw and walking into town at night to get food, make sure you look up at the skies and see the stars.  Incredible clear skies.

   

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Ko Ko has a lot of patience, with repeating information over & over again.  My friend and I sat next to him at a lot of lunches/dinners and we had a lot of interesting conversations and were able to really fire 50 questions at him, to be able to get a good insight into various aspects of Burmese life.  You have to appreciate when tour leaders are on coach with a driver / other Burmese helper on the bus, they are not as free to speak potentially as on a one to one basis.

  Apart from the place in Yangon where we went for our 1st night group dinner after the Welcome Meeting, the rest of his restaurant choices/recommendations were spot-on. 

   

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

   

  1. INCREDIBLY frustrating that as soon as you book this trip, Exodus do not send you a separate email to tell you about the opportunity to book the Balloon ride in Bagan.  They should do!!  It's literally first come first served, and such high demand to do it.  So you have to book it WAY AHEAD of going on the trip, so sooner you book it, the more chance you have of getting a place.  Yes it was an expensive addition to my trip, but I was only going to be in Burma once in my lifetime, so it was fantastic to see the vast number of temples from the air, so I really recommend it.
  2. If you love people watching, make sure that you go do the 3 hour circular train ride around Yangon (Yangon Circle Line - p50 in Lonely Planet - $1 USD and you have to pay dollar). Best place is to sit e right next to the doorway, so you get the cool breeze and best view.  It won't be the most comfortable train ride you've ever done, as there are just 2 benches down the sides of the train. Great fun to see locals get on/off the trains with local produce and to try and interact with them.
  3. If you are vegetarian, then absolutely DO NOT MISS literally the best veggie restaurant and food that you will have in whole of Burma. My meat-eating friend absolutely loved it too. When you are in Bagan, there is a place called 'Be Kind to the Animals the Moon' (P122 of Lonely Planet), and the food was just incredible. You won't be able to go there at night as too far from hotel, so make sure you go there for lunch, and stop off on your bicycle.   Rest of the time, very easy to find veggie options for rest of the trip.
  4. Bring more US dollars than Exodos recommend, as their trip notes are out of date.  MAKE SURE you pay attention to the very strict condition of the dollar bills that you need to bring into the country, or else you will not be able to exchange them in a bank. Prices are going up, and although everything is cheap out there, it is very hard to get your head around not being able to go to a cash machine and get extra money out if you need to.  The infrastructure is changing so quickly, that it won't be long until Westerners will eventually be able to use ATMs.  
  5. Every hotel (except one) you will get wi-fi access, although warning it is dial-up speed/not broadband.  Plus Facebook and BBC aren't banned (which we thought would be!).
  6. Bring the usual headtorch and ear plugs.  It did get incredibly cold at Kalaw at night in mid December - glad I had brought winter coat.
  7. We also got much better flights with connection times by booking directly with Qatar Airways. Cheaper as well as a much more direct route to fly, plus only 1 hour or so between both flights.
  8. Bring a sense of humour - restaurants do struggle to cope with large tour parties arriving and being able to choose literally anything off the massive menus. You could the person that gets their food last, when everyone else has already eaten. 
  9. Power sockets are a mixture of English plugs and 2-pin plugs.   

   

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  We asked for the bus to go past Aung San Suu Kiy's house on University Avenue on the last day when we landed in Yangon and were heading to our hotel to check-in.  Saved all of us getting a taxi back.  Lonely Planet's advice is completely out of date on this front.   

  Absolutely heartbreaking to see the kids and schools with very little in the way of books and writing books/pens for the pupils. Or learning charts that they can put up on the walls.  If you have some spare room in your luggage, please bring some English children's books out for them, as it will be so appreciated.  You go past so many schools on the trip, your tour leader will be able to help you hand them over. Plus you really will have made an incredible difference to their education.

   

   
• 

  Vivien Newrick

  DISCOVER BURMA

  

  Written December 2012

  This is an amazing trip - especially for photographers. But prepare to be exhausted - action packed from dawn to dusk we saw such a lot! It was a great holiday with so much to see in a country still underdeveloped for tourism. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Everyday brought new highlights and weird, wonderful and unique sights.

  OK - the golden Shwedagon pagoda at night, the dawn balloon ride over Bagan, taking a horse drawn carriage ride around Bagan, seeing life along the Irrawaddy river by boat, visiting the school, the ox cart taxi, the 2 - 3hr 1$ train ride around Yangon, Mount Popa, the caves with 8000 Buddhas, U Beins bridge at dawn........

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Ko Ko was kind, calm and patient and efficiently managed to organise a large group of 18. His English was sometimes difficult to understand which made for a few amusing moments.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Change money at the airport as soon as you arrive in the arrivals hall - a good rate.

  We spent $420 each - that includes everything food, drinks, souvenirs, tips.

  Take a few 1$ notes.

  Go for the optional trips - the Moustache Brothers bizarre show which gave a different view of Myanmar, Mount Popa - so unexpected!, and the balloon ride - but book EARLY as some were dissappointed.

  The day trek could be done in trainers/ walking shoes - a rough stoney track with just a few mud patches.

  Mosquito nets not required but torch is useful.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  I wonder if Exodus should consider reducing the group size as there was so much to do and see that it became wearisome at times with such a large number to organise.

  Also the return flight was just not customer friendly with a 7 and half hour wait at Kuala Lumpa. Those people who made their own flight arrangements had much quicker and cheaper journeys!

  I have only given the trip 4 stars as we have been to Antarctica and nothing will ever match that!

   
• 

  Barry Cooper

  DISCOVER BURMA

  

  Written December 2012

  This was a well planned trip excellently organised and competently led. The tour gave an insight into a changing country and this was an excellent opportunity to see the country before it lost its old ways of life. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

   The overall impression is one of a friendly people and the first impression of arriving in Yangon Airport is to be received by a smiling Immigration Official. The USA Customs should send their Staff to Yangon on training on how to receive visitors!

  The cities are busy but you never feel hassled and you can walk the streets with confidence and no-one is coming up to you continually pestering. The country side is beautiful and the pagodas appearing through the jungle at Bagan spectacular. Inle Lake with its bustling water life is a fascinating experience but the trip overall has so many highlights that to decide on a few is impossible.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Nay, is a new Exodus leader but he has been well trained by Exodus staff and is highly efficient, friendly and completely fair. He is up to the standard that I have come to expect of an Exodus leader. Always calm and 100% committed to his clients.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  In spite of being a trip into an emerging third world country, no-one had any serious health problems but do take the normal precautions and only drink bottled water.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Visit Myanmar now before it becomes overwhelmed with tourists and spoilt beyond recognition. The signs of inward investment are already there and buildings are being torn down in Central Yangon to be replaced by high-risebuildings. The country is on the road to rapid modernisation.

   

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