FOLK  POTTERIES   ANCIENT TEMPLES    TRADITIONAL CITY AND VILLAGE LIFE

We will  be visiting several potteries in the Ayeyarwady delta, Inle Lake, and Mandalay area  that are not on the usual tourist track, and we are also lucky to have contracted an expert in Burmese pottery to accompany us on these visitations.

Excursion Highlights

Timetable
Package includes
Options
Payment options
Cancellation Policy
Itinerary
Excursion Map

Excursion Highlights:

Visitations to pottery villages provide a unique opportunity for participants to communicate directly with locals through our translator; to engage in a dialogue about daily life and pottery making and firing; and to photograph in a free manner.

YANGON lies in the fertile delta of southern Myanmar, on the wide Yangon River. The city is filled with tree-shaded boulevards, while shimmering stupas float above the treetops. The city became the capital in 1885, when the British completed the conquest of Upper Myanmar and Mandalay’s brief period as capital of the last Burmese kingdom ended. The highlight of any visit to Yangon is the Shwedagon Pagoda. This pagoda towers over the city and is the most sacred spot in the country, built to house eight hair relics of the Buddha. The Shwedagon and surrounding shrines are particularly beautiful during the sunset hour, as the golden stupa reflects the changing colors of twilight.

Other attractions are the Sule Pagoda, a gleaming octogonal pagoda that stands squarely at the centerpoint of the city; the National Museum, housing the eight meter high Silasana Lion Throne, used by the last Burmese king, and other fascinating artifacts from Burmese history and culture. Enjoy a break at Bogyoke (Scott) Market, a pleasant covered market containing crafts from all corners of Myanmar; visit the Botataung Pagoda, named after the 1000 military leaders who escorted relics of the Buddha from India over 2000 years ago, and the Ngadatkyi Paya, with a giant seated Buddha image. Stay in a wonderful hotel on the grounds of  the Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake, stroll near the unique Karaweik Hall, built in the form of a traditional royal barge and enjoy the magnificent views of the Shwedagon Pagoda across the lake. After returning from Bagan, we will cross the river and visit the Oh-Bo pottery quarter in Twante, a little town near Yangon. Here, we’ll have extensive time to observe the local pottery making techniques, visit the kilns and a variety of studios as well as the opportunity to try the rich pottery techniques.

INLE LAKE is a beautiful lake, located in the Shan State, with very calm waters dotted with patches of floating vegetation and fishing canoes. High hills rim the lake on all sides. The lake’s shore and islands bear 17 villages on stilts, mostly inhabited by the Intha people. Enjoy the spectacular scenery and observe the skilled fishermen using their leg-rowing technique to propel themselves around the lake. Visit the floating gardens, a floating market, villages and towns, inhabited by Pa-O and Intha peoples and Kyauk Taing, a Shan village around the lake.

Observe the processes at Naung Bo pottery village, look at the kilns firing and arrange to come back the next day to work with the potters, if you wish.

Visit the Indein Temple complex, hidden on the lake shore with its hundreds of small stupas overgrown by moss and greens and observe the monastic activities at a monastery. Enjoy breakfast and dinner overlooking the lake at our amazing hotel and watch traditional dance and music performances.

MANDALAY, the last capital of royal Burma, is still one of the largest cities in Myanmar, and a cultural and spiritual center. We will visit the most important temples in Mandalay, starting at Mahamuni Paya. The Mahamuni image enshrined here is perhaps the most venerated image in Myanmar, covered in over 15 cm of gold leaf. Shwenandaw Kyaung, the Golden Teak Monastery, is built entirely of golden teak and intricately carved; it was once part of the Mandalay Palace, used as private apartments by King Mindon and his chief queen. Admire also Kyaukawgyi Paya, famous for its monumental seated Buddha, carved from a single block of marble, and Kuthodaw Paya, known also as the world’s biggest book. Around the central stupa are miniature pavilions, each housing a slab of marble. Numbering altogether 729, these slabs are inscribed with the entire Buddhist scriptures.

Neighbouring SAGAING is home to over sixty percent of the country’s monks. Hundreds of stupas, monasteries, temples and nunneries are to be found in Sagaing Hill; thousands of monks and nuns retreat here for meditation and contemplation. Stop at some of the most famous temples, such as Tupayon Paya and Hsinmyashin Paya, the Pagoda of Many Elephants. Visit the pottery village adjacent to Sagaing. Here we can experience a fully functioning traditional pottery village, where women carry the greenware pots on their heads to the firing area. Pots are fashioned with amazing skill and soul, using coil and thrown methods. Arrangement can be made for you to return to work with the potters on another day.

Visit the former royal capital Amarapura and observe monks and novices as they line up to receive their daily offerings of alms and food from faithful Buddhists at Mahagandayon Monastery in the morning and enjoy the atmosphere of U Bein’s Bridge, a picturesque teak bridge which extends over one kilometer across a lake.

Travel upriver to Mingun, enjoying the views of river life, fishing villages, market boats, women attending to their washing, and children playing in the water.

Explore the ruins of the vast Mingun Paya, a monument to human ambition – never finished, its size would have dwarfed all contemporary pagodas - and the largest hung, uncracked bell in the world.. Enjoy the overnight stays in the charming boutique Red Canal Hotel in Mandalay and stay one night aboard a River boat.  

BAGAN is a spectacular plain stretching away from the Ayeyarwaddy River, dotted with thousands of 800-year old temple ruins. Although human habitation at Bagan dates back almost to the beginning of the Christian era, Bagan only entered its golden period with the conquest of Thaton in 1057 AD. The temples are divided into three periods: the early period (850-1120), influenced by Mon and late Pyu architecture and characterised by perforated windows and dimly lit interiors; the middle period (1100-70), when temples became bigger and were better lit by broader windows, with more of an eye to vertical proportions than horizontal lines, and the late period (1170-1300), when more intricate pyramidical spires or adorning tile work was added to the buildings, with an increase of Indian influence.

After a relaxing journey on a lovely spacious boat down the Ayeyarwaddy river from Mandalay, we arrive in Bagan and stay at the charming Bagan Thande Hotel, situated on the river bank, surrounded by towering temples. Travelling the archeological site of Old Bagan in an old-fashioned horse drawn buggy, we visit the most famous temples, such as the Shwezigon Paya with its stupa’s graceful bell shape, which became a prototype for virtually all later stupas over Myanmar. The great colourful painting about  the previous life of Buddha and the distinguished architecture make the Gubyaukhi Temple, built in the early 13 th century, an interesting site for a visit. Another temple with the same name in the tiny nearby village Myinkaba is famous for its well-preserved Stuccos on the outside walls. The magnificient paintings are considered to be the oldest original paintings in Bagan. The village is known for producing the finest lacquerware in Myanmar. Stop by one of the workshops and learn about the process of laquerware making and decoration. We continue by visiting one of the finest, largest and best preserved of the Bagan temples, Ananda Pahto, with its corncob golden stupa top. The base and the terraces are decorated with 554 glazed tiles showing Buddhist scenes, thought to be derived from Mon texts.

Admire also the 12 th century brickwork of the Dhamayangyi Temple, said to rank one of the finest in Bagan, and Sulamani Temple with its carved stucco representing some of Bagan’s finest ornamental work. Enjoy the sun setting over the plain of Bagan from one of the pagoda platforms and dine at the outside restaurant of our riverside hotel, accompanied by Burmese music.

NGAPALI BEACH (optional add-on excursion)
Fly from Yangon to Thandwe and spend a relaxing holiday in one of the charming resorts at the wonderful 3 km palm-backed white sand Ngapali beach, enjoy swimming and long walks on the beach, meeting friendly people, snorkelling, going out on a fisherman’s boat, explore the nearby fishing villages and local pagodas and savour the incredible cuisine including fresh fish and seafood of the day.

See Participants' Photos NEW! or Denys's Photos from past excursions to Burma.

Timetable
January 16, evening: Yangon.

February 1, departure from Yangon.
This trip does not include international airfare, however, we can make arrangements for you, please see OPTIONS below. 

Package Includes:

1. Three flights within Burma, on top quality, modern airplanes.

2. All ground transportation first class mini-vans with a/c, drinking water and cold towels.

3. All water transportation on Inle Lake and Ayeyarwaddy River.

4. On-board professional guides and interpreters during the entire excursion.

5. On-board professional ceramic artist and excursion leader.

6. Accommodation (based on double occupancy) in 4 star hotels.

7. Breakfast buffets.

8. Two special dinners.

9. Entrance fees to all historical and cultural sites.

10. All transfers for domestic flights, boats and hotels.

11. Meet, assist and transfer for international arrivals and departures.

12. Special guided tours to sights in Yangon, Inle Lake, Mandalay, and Bagan.

► Special return air fares from North America to Yangon with a variaety of airlines, including stop-over possibilities, can be arranged on request.

► Optional add-ons: Extend your vacation by having us arrange an add-on excursion from Yangon to Ngapali Beach on the Bengal Sea in Burma.

►Extend your Asia experience with a  stopover in Thailand, Korea, Singapore or other Asian country.

Cancellation Policy:

If you must cancel, the following cancellation fees will apply:

There is no refund for arriving late or leaving the trip early.

Discovery Art Travel reserves the right to cancel the trip due to low enrolment, or if we feel that the quality of the trip or the safety of travelers would be compromised. In such a case ,we will refund all payments received to date, which constitutes full settlement.

Itinerary

Day 1  – Arrival in Yangon. A few hours to unwind and acclimate at the wonderful Kandawgi Palace Hotel (4-star) with grounds on a lake, with a view of the Shwedagon Pagoda. Welcoming dinner.       

Day 2 - Fantastic buffet breakfast at the hotel. Sightseeing in Yangon: We start the day at the Sule Pagoda, afterwards we visit the National Museum to gain an insight into Myanmar. After a break at Bogyoke (Scott) Market we visit some of the more well known pagodas, including Botataung Pagoda and Ngadatkyi Paya. Enjoy the late afternoon at the Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake, stroll near the Karaweik Hall and admire the views of the Shwedagon Pagoda. We visit the Shwedagon Pagoda for sunset.
Day 3- Yangon sights T.B.A.      

Day 4 – Buffet breakfast. Flight from Yangon to Heho. Transfer by vehicle from Heho to Inle Lake and by boat to our wonderful lake side resort, the Inle Princess Resort (4 star), overnight.            

Day 5 – Breakfast by the water. We depart from the Inle Princess  and begin travelling by boat to Sankha, a picturesque town on lower Inle Lake, inhabited by Pa-O and Intha people. Explore the hillside village, observe the traditional culture and lifestyles of these ethnic groups. We visit the market at the Shan village of Kyauk Taing. In Naung Bo pottery village, we observe the processes, ask questions, look at the kilns firing, and some of you may wish to arrange to come back the next day to work with the potters. Dinner overlooking the lake at the Inle Princess restaurant, traditional dance and music performance.      

Day 6 – Excursion by boat on Inle Lake to the Indein temple complex and Sae Ma village OR pottery experience at Naung Bo pottery village (see day 5).

Day 7 – Excursion by boat on Inle Lake. Enjoy the spectacular scenery and observe the fishermen and their leg-rowing technique, visit the floating gardens, a floating market and an Intha village around the lake. The day’s sigthseeing also includes a visit to the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda and the Nga Phe Kyaung, or the Monastery of Jumping Cats. Transfer by boat and by vehicle from Inle Lake to Heho. Flight from Heho to Mandalay. We overnight at the wonderful Red Canal Hotel, a 4-star boutique hotel in Mandalay. Dinner at a famous Thai restaurant.
Day 8 - Explore Mandalay details T.B.A.
Day 9 – Excursion around Mandalay and visit to Sagaing, the spritual center of Myanmar. Stop at some of the most famous temples, such as Tupayon Paya and Hsinmyashin Paya, the Pagoda of Many Elephants. Visit the fully functioning pottery village adjacent to Sagaing, where women carry the greenware pots on their heads to the firing area. Observe how the pots are fashioned with amazing skill and soul, using coil and thrown methods. We arrange for you to return to work with the potters on another day, if you wish. Dinner at a Burmese restaurant. Stroll along the canal in the evening.

Day 10 – Morning: Excursion to Amarapura and/or return to the pottery at Sagaing. We head to Amarapura, a former royal capital, and the Mahagandayon Monastery to observe monks and novices as they line up to receive their daily offering of alms and food from faithful Buddhists. Afterwards, visit the 19th century Pahtodawgyi Paya and the reconstructed Bagaya Kaung. Pause to enjoy the atmosphere of U Bein’s Bridge, a picturesque teak bridge which extends over one kilometer across Taungthaman Lake. Afternoon: Sightseeing in Mandalay/or return to pottery. We begin our tour at Mahamuni Paya and admire the Mahamuni image, covered in over 15 cm of golden leaf and head to Shwenandaw Kyaung, the intricately carved Golden Teak Monastery. Continue to Kyaukawgyi Paya, famous for its monumental seated Buddha, carved from a single block of marble, and the elegant Sandamani Paya. Finally, we visit Kuthodaw Paya, the world’s biggest book with its 729 slabs of marble inscribed with the entire Buddhist scriptures. Dinner in Mandalay.

Day 12 – Transfer to pier. By boat from Mandalay to Bagan aboard the Shwe Keinayee. Drift down the Ayeyarwaddy on a lovely spacious boat complete with relaxing chairs, full cafe, and facilities. Enjoy views of river life at every turn. Arrive in Old Bagan at sunset and transfer to the charming Bagan Thande Hotel (4-star), situated on the river bank, surrounded by towering temples.

Day 13 – Enjoy the magnificient view over the river bank while having a fantastic breakfast at the outside restaurant of our hotel. Take a break from rhythms of modern life and explore temples in an old-fashioned horse drawn buggy. The duration of the horse ride is approximately 2 hours, depending on the length of temple visits. See some of the most interesting temples including Shwezigon Paya, Gubyaukhi Paya, Ananda Pahto, Manuha Temple and Shwesandaw Paya. You will see amazing architecture representing the three construction phases as well as frescoes, stuccos and ceramic tiles showing Buddhist scenes on the temple walls. Enjoy a panoramic view of the sun setting over the plain of Bagan from one of the pagoda platforms. Dine at the outside restaurant, accompanied by Burmese music.  

Day 14 – See more temples in the archeological zone of Old Bagan, travelling by horsecart, including Mahabodhi Temple, Dhamayangyi Temple, Sulamani Temple, Nandamannya Temple and Thatbyinnu Temple. Watch the sunset over Bagan. Dinner.

Day 15 – Free day in Bagan. Enjoy the buffet breakfast and a relaxing swim in the outside hotel pool with views of the temples. Explore more temples or return to your favourite temples, accompagnied by our guide, if you wish. Transfer and flight from Bagan to Yangon. Overnight in Yangon at the Kandawgyi Palace Hotel.

Day 16 – From Yangon, we take a ferry across the Hlaing River to Twante, a typical and picturesque Burmese town. After visiting the Shwesandaw Pagoda (the third tallest in the country), explore the daily life of the town itself, stopping to see local cottage industries including mushroom farming and bamboo raft making. Extensive visitation of the Oh-Bo pottery quarter. Observe a demonstration of the local pottery making techniques. Visit kilns and a variety of studios. Ask questions using our translator. Try the techniques and enjoy the rich pottery tradition. On the way back to Yangon, visit the Indian-inspired Paung Daw Gyoke Pagoda. Overnight in Yangon, final group dinner at a fantastic Indian food restaurant.

Day 17 – Breakfast, excursion ends.

OR

We can  help you arrange  to extend your stay in Myanmar, for example, a week on the Rakhaing coast at the Bay of Bengal.

Free stop- overs are often possible on the return trip.

Side trips to most S.E.Asian countries, India, Indonesia (Bali) can be arranged at a reasonable cost as an add-on ticket  with most airlines.