Travel-Myanmar.net

NEWS UPDATE

"Thingyan" Myanmar New Year's Water Festival
The Thingyan Festival is the New Year occasion held in Myanmar throughout the country. Myanmar people take part in the traditional water-throwing activities, go to pagodas and stupas to perform good deeds and keep Precepts, pay respects to elderly persons and do charity.
For the year 2008, the gazetted Myanmar New Year's Holidays had been designated from the 11th to the 20th of April whereas "Thingyan" New Year Water Festival will be celebrated from the 13th to the 17th of April. During "Thingyan", everything is closed: restaurants, shops, markets, Museum, etc.
 

Shwe Yoo Travels & Tours:
Our office will be closed from 11.04.08 – 20.04.08. During this time we will spend a few days at Ngwe Saung Beach. Our office will be open again on 21.04.08.

Green Elephant Restaurant:
The Green Elephant Restaurant in Yangon, Mandalay and Bagan (River View Yamonar) will be closed during Thingyan Holidays starting from 12.04.08 – 17.04.08 and will reopen again on Friday, April 18, 2008.

Padonmar Restaurant in Yangon:
Will be open for dinner only from 19:00 to 23:00 during the Water Festival holidays from 12.04.08 - 16.04.08 und will be back for lunch and dinner from 17.04.08 onwards.

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TRAVEL UPDATE

Yangon:
The Nagar Glass Factory had to close temporary due the high costs of gas. We will check with the factory from time to time and inform you as soon as the factory is open again.

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Rakhine State / Sittwe & Mrauk Oo:
The road between Sittwe & Mrauk Oo is very bad and the trip by car takes at least 6 hours.
Therefore we have changed our Sittwe & Mrauk Oo program accordingly.
For safety reasons it is also not allowed anymore to travel from Sittwe to Mrauk Oo after 12 noon. As domestic flights are arriving in Sittwe only in the afternoon, clients have to stay the first night in Sittwe and continue by boat to Mrauk Oo the next morning.

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Kyaing Tong airport is still closed:
The airport in Kyaing Tong still closed. Clients visiting Kyaing Tong during this time period will fly to Tachileik and drive by car to Kyaing Tong. The road is good and the drive takes appr. 3 to 4 hours.

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Domestic flights:
Air fares will increase by 20% for the summer season from 01.05.08 – 30.09.08.

Air schedule for Air Mandalay:
01.05.08 – 15.07.08
16.07.08 – 30.09.08

Air schedule for Yangon Airways:
01.05.08 – 30.09.08

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Express boat service between Mandalay to Bagan:
Please note, that there will be no express boat service between Mandalay and Bagan from 01.04.08 – 31.07.08. Schedule for August and September will be published as soon as possible.

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River cruises between Mandalay & Bagan:
RV PAUKAN (2007) is finally completed and will operate in the future between Mandalay and Bagan. The lovely Paukan is a boutique hotel on the river, beautifully furnished with a unique combination of modern and traditional motifs. The timber-walled cabins are furnished with colonial style cupboards, dresser and doors while the ceiling is traditional Myanmar. The single or double beds are proper and comfortable ones and not mere bunks, enough room for 55 passengers who will be looked after by a 30-member crew.
For luxury-living, Paukan has suites, deluxe or superior cabins as well as singles for guest or guides. There are two massage rooms on the lower deck offering traditional Myanmar massage designed to give soothing relaxation.

For more information visit the RV Paukan 2007 website at: www.ayravatacruises.com

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The RV Pandaw 1947 will offer 3 nights and 4 night cruises from 12.11.08 – 22.04.09

THE ROYAL CAPITALS - MANDALAY AND BEYOND TO BAGAN
3 night cruise / departure: Sunday
http://www.travel-myanmar.net/rv_mdy_bagan_3days.htm 

ROYAL CAPITALS” FROM BAGAN TO MANDALAY AND BEYOND
4 night cruise / departure: Wednesday
http://www.travel-myanmar.net/rv_bagan_mdy_4days.htm 

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Delta River Cruises:

R.V Mya Ponnami:
A cruise on the Yangon river gives you a different view of the terrain; a lush and green spectacle with the melody of the river. While in Myanmar, a river cruise is an opportunity
Not to be missed since the river will take you to your destination in a comfortable and pleasant way.

The R.V Mya Ponnami offers:
- Candlelight river cruise around Yangon
- Romantis Sunset Cruise for the Newlyweds and Honeymooners
- Sunset Cruise and Dinner in Myanmar Style
- Delta Cruise for the Local Colour Tour
- Expedition for Ecotourists

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RV Mahaythi 2:
Is now operating and is located at Lann Thit Jetty.
The RV Mahaythi-2 will operate Yangon-Twante-Yangon for evening sunset cocktail cruise and is also available for private rental to Delta area.

The upper deck includes a dining lounge area for 70-90 passenger day trips and dinner cruises and the below deck has 5 bed rooms to accommodate 10 passengers for overnight trips which consist of 1 Double bed room with air-con and bath room attached and 4 Twin bed rooms with air-con & bath room attached.
www.rvmahaythi.com

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R.V Aung Chan Thar River Cruise in Bagan:
Can be chartered for day excursions, sunset cruises and dinner cruises on the Ayeyarwaddy River. You can also charter the boat for day trips to Mandalay, Monywa, Pyay, Sale and Pakokku.

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HOTEL UPDATE:

Royal Kaytumadi Hotel in Taungoo:
Located 175 miles from Yangon and good starting point to visit one of the Elephant Camps towards the Bago Yoma, which means Bago mountain ranges. It is the home of the best teak, and the topography of Bago Yoma is a place of genuine beauty.
The new Royal Kaytumadi Hotel (2-3*) has 48 Deluxe, 12 Executive Suites and 3 Royal Kaytumadi Suites.

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Inle Lake / Shwe Inn Tha Floating Hotel:

The Shwe Inn Tha Floating Hotel has upgraded all superior rooms to deluxe rooms and has now 31 deluxe rooms, 4 deluxe family rooms and 2 junior suites
Website: www.myanmarinlefloatingresort.com

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Inle Lake / Paramount Inle Resort:
The Paramount Inle Resort will be closed from 02.05.08 till 07.07.08 for season upgrade renovation work and re-open again on 08.07.2008
www.amazing-hotel.com

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Inle Lake / Inle Princess Resort:
Will be closed from 01.06.08 – 30.06.08

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Chaungtha Beach / Belle Resort:

The Belle Resort a 3* hotel was established in 2005, partly open in October 2006 and fully finished in January 2008.
The Belle Resort has 2 family, 12 deluxe, 12 superior and 18 standard rooms.
www.belleresort.com 

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PRODUCT NEWS:

Our special offers for 2008/2009
http://www.travel-myanmar.net/myanmar-special-phaungdawoo.htm
http://www.travel-myanmar.net/myanmar-special-overland.htm
http://www.travel-myanmar.net/special-offer.htm

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Our new itineraries for 2008/2009

10 DAYS NORTHERN MYANMAR

This round trip brings you to northern Myanmar, a mountainous region bounded on the NW by India and on the N and E by China and traversed by tributaries of the Ayeyarwady River. Visit Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State, drive by car to Bhamo, a small river town close to the Chinese border and drift on a chartered boat the Ayeyarwaddy downstream to Mandalay, the city of the last Myanmar Kings.
This round trip combines scenic interest with a study of local life and culture. We visit the main historic and cultural centres as well as many remoter places well off the beaten track. Such small towns and villages are part of a rich river economy and thriving with local industry and activity. Irrawaddy valley civilization has changed little in hundreds of years and wherever we go the people are warm, friendly and very hospitable.
The river varies enormously: it is vast with endless winding channels just above Mandalay and then dark and narrow through the 3rd Defile. It is a constantly changing landscape with a stunning back drop of mountains.

http://www.travel-myanmar.net/myanmar-travel-10days-northern.htm

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13 DAYS THE FAR NORTH OF MYANMAR

This round trip brings you first to Putao, the far north of Myanmar. Here on the borders of Tibet and Northern India, in one of the great wilderness areas in the world, is this exclusive lodge, with its focus on adventure, nature and cultural activities, offering a unique and exhilarating insight into this area in style, comfort and safety. From here fly to Myitkyina, the capital of Kachin State, drive by car to Bhamo, a small river town close to the Chinese border and drift on a chartered boat the Ayeyarwaddy downstream to Mandalay, the city of the last Myanmar Kings.
This round trip combines scenic interest with a study of local life and culture. We visit the main historic and cultural centres as well as many remoter places well off the beaten track. Such small towns and villages are part of a rich river economy and thriving with local industry and activity. Irrawaddy valley civilization has changed little in hundreds of years and wherever we go the people are warm, friendly and very hospitable.
The river varies enormously: it is vast with endless winding channels just above Mandalay and then dark and narrow through the 3rd Defile. It is a constantly changing landscape with a stunning back drop of mountains.

http://www.travel-myanmar.net/myanmar-travel-13days-northern.htm

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BALLOONS OVER BAGAN
Update and news for 2008 - 2009 season

1. Capacity
The capacity will finally increase following a delay during this current season due to the recent drop in tourism numbers. We will therefore, as originally planned, be able to operate a maximum of four balloons at any one time. Total capacity will therefore increase to 40 passengers per flight from the 20th October to 31st March, and will be 24 passengers per flight from the 1st October to the 20th October.

2. Season
Next season will run from October 1st 2008 to March 31st 2009

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UPCOMING FESTIVALS

Festivals in April:

SHWEMAWDAW PAGODA FESTIVAL, Bago
Apr. 15 – 24, 2008
Same with the other pagoda festival. There are evening entertainment such as Zats, Anyeints, stage show and also a popular sales fair where all kinds of goods, most of them are clothes, toys & kitchen supplies. (not expensive one)

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THINGYAN WATER FESTIVAL Throughout Myanmar
Apr. 12 - 16, 2008
The Burmese New Year will be celebrated in April and everybody joins in the fun of dousing each other with water. Youths go out for the enjoyment, while elder people take retreat in monasteries and pagodas to perform meritorious deeds.
One cannot avoid of getting very wet because every one throws water at everybody. People drive through the city in open cars and there are stages along the street where people throw water. During this time, everything is closed: restaurants, shops, markets, Museum, etc.

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