Burma Highlights

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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  Ross Bishop

  BURMA HIGHLIGHTS

  

  Written November 2012

  Burma (or Myanmar as the locals always refer to their country as) is a land of contrasts.  There are shrines to Buddhism everywhere and many photogenic sights to see.  The fact that this nation is not yet as developed as other countries in the region adds to its charm, but there are already signs of rapid development as western tourism adds to an economy that was already more developed than I expected. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  The numerous temples and pagodas of Bagan were the sightseeing highlight of the trip and I loved the stunning photo opportunities at several sunrise / sunset viewpoints at this and other locations, but the overall highlight of the trip for me was the privilege of being able to experience Burma in its current stage of development – things are and will continue to change here as more tourists come to Burma.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Ko Ko did a good job of efficiently organising this busy itinerary and adapting it where necessary (for example we flew from Bagan to Mandalay rather than taking the boat trip up the Irrawaddy River).  He remarked at the end of the trip that the standard of tourist infrastructure doesn’t quite yet match western expectations and while this is probably true for now, I felt this is entirely understandable given that Burma has recently emerged from international isolation and I find it encouraging that Ko Ko is a great example of Burmese pride / aspirations to improve the situation in the future.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  For currency exchange, it is vital that your US Dollars are in pristine condition.  For keeping in touch, there was wifi available at all the hotels we stayed at.  In terms of accommodation, I found all the hotels to be of a pretty good standard, but some people found outside noise to be a problem so consider ear plugs.  In terms of local food, recommended restaurants were good – I made the mistake of sampling a bit of street food in Mandalay on one occasion and regretted it.  In terms of temperatures, the cities were humid, but the overall temperatures were warm, but not too oppressive in November.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  I believe tourism in Burma is set to evolve rapidly over the coming months and years.  If you want to see a country emerging from isolation, but are prepared to be patient with certain things not operating like clockwork, I recommend visiting Burma as soon as possible.  If you prefer a more developed tourist experience, but are prepared to share this with larger tourist numbers, I recommend visiting Burma further down the line.

   
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  Charlotte Reeve

  BURMA HIGHLIGHTS

  

  Written November 2012

  A full on and exhausting trip, but worth it for the amount crammed in and the amazing sights and experiences.  Now is a great time to go before it gets too 'touristy'. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  There were two highlights of the trip for me:

  1)  The optional sunrise hot air balloon ride over the temples at Bagan.   It was absolutely stunning and very well run, with a champagne breakfast with croissants and fruit after landing.

  2)  The day on Inle Lake.  Again, the scenery was stunning and there were lots of interesting places to stop off at.  It was very hot in the middle of the day though and some people were flagging a bit. 

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Ko Ko did a great job of steering us round the country to a tight timescale, and dealing with changes to the itinerary (flight to Mandalay rather than boat).  He also did his best to keep the group happy - when we were split between wanting to do the Mandalay tour on a local truck or air conditioned bus, he organised one of each and we paid according to which option we wanted.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  If you are interested in doing the Bagan balloon ride, book it as far in advance as possible.  A lot of people on our trip were disappointed not to get a place - the only two of us who managed to do it booked 4 months in advance.  It is very popular and there is a significant waiting list every day.  It also depends on the weather - we were very lucky as it hadn't run the previous 3 days.

  Take ear plugs and an eye mask - some of the hotels suffered from outside noise and only had thin curtains.

  Research the temperature at Inle Lake at the time you are going - we all took woolly hats etc as advised in the trip notes, but while it was definitely cooler at night than most places, I was fine with a thin cardigan (and I feel the cold!)  My fleece was useful for the start of the boat ride on the lake though as its a bit chilly with the wind when the boats are moving fast.  Other (less wimpy) people were fine without coats though.

   

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Most tourist restaurants have a mix of Chinese, Thai and Burmese food and a lot have some western food such as chicken/fish and chips or pasta.  I can't eat chillies but had no problem - they often ask you how spicy you want dishes when ordering and it was easy to get them just to leave the chillies out.

  Be prepared for a bit of a mix in the standard of accommodation.  The hotel in Rangoon was very clean and comfortable but some of the others were quite basic with not everything working.  The hotel at Inle was mixed - some people had really nice rooms whereas the solo travellers had small more basic ones.  Most of the hotel bathrooms were wet rooms so it would be worth taking some flip flops to wear in there (if you don't want to use the ones provided which have seen better days and have obviously been worn by many people!)

  The money rules were starting to relax when we were there, but you're probably still safest taking mint condition USD.  People on our trip did manage to change non mint dollars in some places though.  Changing money is easy at most of the hotels and airports.

  There are quite a few very early starts, especially if you also do the balloon ride (three days were pre 5am).  Also, with so much to pack in, the morning activities often ran over and we didn't really end up with the free afternoons listed in the itinerary.  We often didn't stop for lunch till 2 or 3 so it would be a good idea to take some cereal bars or similar as it was often a long gap between breakfast and lunch.

   
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  (Charles) Tim Shaw

  BURMA HIGHLIGHTS

  

  Written October 2012

  Burma - Myanmar - is only now coming back as an acceptable tourist destination and as a result there are not that many other tourists around - which is nice.  This Exodus trip was superb in giving us the opportuiny to see many of the most important Burmese sites.  My experience of Exodus tours so far has had me in groups of like minded people.  The group this time too gelled and are now friends.  Well planned and well executed, all in all a simply wonderful experience. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  For me the highlight day of the trip was the day in the boats on Lake Inle.  It was a very comfortable trip and the variety of stops and places to see was breathtaking.

   The teak bridge at Mandalay at dawn was another of the highlights.  Beautiful and interesting with the variety of people crossing it even at that early hour.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Gabriel or guide and mentor was quite simply wonderful.  He loves his country, knows its history and can impart his knowledge, and made sure our travel and accommodation worked without a hitch.  We could not have had a better guide! 

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Do not miss the opportunity to take this trip if you have it.

   
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  Susan Sargeant

  BURMA HIGHLIGHTS

  

  Written October 2012

  Burma is an astonishing country.  Every day of the trip was a whole new and unexpected experience.  Whatever I had anticipated, the reality was exceeded over and over again. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  I had fantasized about seeing the Irrawaddy River.  We had a memorable day on a boat from Mandalay visiting Sagaing Hill with its beautiful shrines, a magnificent lunch, and on upstream to Mingun.  Also the day on the boat at Inle Lake was absolutely magical

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Gabriel was undoubtedly the best group leader I've had with Exodus (and all the others were very impressive too!)

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  The weather in Burma is really, really hot!  But there were amazingly few mosquitoes.  And it's true - no ATMs, no internet coverage, and you can only change unused US dollars.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Absolutely fabulous trip.  The opportunity to visit a country that is just opening up to western tourists and to be welcomed by lovely people everywhere we went was very special

   
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  Sean Cripps

  BURMA HIGHLIGHTS

  

  Written October 2012

  Myanmar is an extraordinary country, in the process of undergoing profound changes: Exodus gave us an opportunity to explore it at the perfect time, before it is too commercialised and overrun with Western tourists - like ourselves!   

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  The temples of Bagan - over 4,000 of them - as the sun began to set were truly beautiful, but the sunset over the Ayeyarwaddy from Mandalay Hill was simply magical.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  We all adored Gabriel, who showed us his country in the very best light. He was knowledgable, well-organised, patient, but above all funny: wonderful company and within nine days a good friend.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  If travelling in September don't worry about the rain - we hardly saw any! But it was hot - 36-38 Celcius. Also, the hotels were all of a very high standard - far cleaner and more modern than I would have expected. The change to the trip notes which saw us fly to Mandalay rather than take the boat up the Ayeyarwaddy was felt by everyone to have been a success.

  The requirement for pristine US dollars is still accurate - we got through about $230 each.

  Myanmar is changing rapidly: expect ATMs that Westerners can use in 2013, and credit cards to follow. There may even be international mobile phone coverage soon.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  A fascinating country, with some similarities to other parts of SE Asia, yet unmistakably distinct. Gabriel was outstanding, the people universally friendly and helpful and the country beautiful.

   
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  King Hsu

  BURMA HIGHLIGHTS

  

  Written September 2012

  It was an excellent trip covering many highlights of Burma/ Myanmar in a short time. This trip also allowed some free time to rest and observe local life. I enjoyed this trip very much. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Seeing some of the most beautiful and inspiring monuments and interacting with friendly locals.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Gabriel did an amazing job for us. He made our trip smooth and enjoyable. He is very organized, helpful and explains the history and culture of the country well. I think he went beyond his call of duty to arrange a birthday party for one of the travellers and arranged a city tour during our unexpected free day in Mandalay.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Burma/ Myanmar is changing fast. It is a friendly country with splendid history.

   During my visit in 2012, I had to use cash to exchange local currency. It is best to bring $50 or $100 brand new US dollar bills for better exchange rates. I had one instance where they did not accept my $20 US bill because of a small black mark on the bill. Internet was quite slow when I was there.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  The hotel facility was good as well.

  During this trip, the boat ride from Bagan to Mandalay was cancelled. We flew from Bagan to Mandalay instead and had an unexpected free day in Mandalay. I enjoyed all the beautiful and impressive sites in Mandalay, which was not on the original itinerary. I would recommend flying from Bagan to Mandalay for this short tour to allow visitors to see the city sights in Mandalay.

   

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