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| Hotline: +84 936237786 | Email: nhan@vietourtravels.com |
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Mandalay, just the name of itself evokes romantic notions of days gone by. On this Mandalay Tour spend your days visiting Myanmar's second largest city's sites and environs. Witness the spectacular sight of red robed monks collecting their daily alms. Explore the Ancient Cities of Sagaing, Ava and Amarapura and spend time learning about local handicrafts. Relax on the banks of the Irrawaddy River and taste local delicacies from markets and local dining spots. A great introduction to the city and more DAY 1: MANDALAY - ARRIVAL (L)
Our tour guide will meet you at your hotel with a visit to the top of Mandalay Hill, which rises 240 metres above the city, for great views of the surrounding countryside, Irrawaddy River and city centre. At the base of the hill you’ll stop to visit Shwe Nandaw Kyuang - or the Golden Palace Monastery - which is noted for its intricate wood carvings and to Kayuk Taw Gyi Pagoda to view the huge marble Buddha. The marble is from Sagyin quarry and took 10,000 men almost two weeks to transfer the rock from the riverside to its current location. Finally we’ll visit Kuthodaw Pagoda, home to ‘the world’s largest book’, a collection of more than 700 marble slabs inscribed with Buddhist teachings. Take a break midday for lunch at a local curry shop or tea house for a chance to experience one of the city’s famous noodle dishes.
Kayuk Taw Gyi Pagoda - Mandalay
This afternoon we’ll explore the craft shops of Mandalay. Mandalay has also long been known as a centre of skilled craftsmanship and in former times supplied the Royal courts. A tour of traditional workshops includes crafts such as marble masonry, Kalaga tapestry and gold leaf making.
OPTIONAL TOURS: Make your own marionette - Visit a local craft shop, select the style and dress of your marionette and put together your unique souvenir. A perfect personalized memory of Mandalay.
Continue to 63rd street in the late afternoon. Located in the city centre, this street comes alive around 16.00 when the locals begin to gather outside the temple. Outside the temple you will find various street stalls selling snacks, temple offerings and small toys or games for children. Inside the temple is busy with Buddhists preparing offerings or earning merit through tasks such as feeding fish, grinding Thanaka on large stones to make scented water and praying at the many shrines.
After this glimpse of local life, return to your Mandalay hotel.
Overnight in Mandalay
DAY 2: MANDALAY - SURROUNDINGS (B, L)
This morning, drive to the jetty to board a local boat to Mingun. Your visit begins with the famous Mingun Pahtodawqyi. This huge brick structure was left unfinished after an astrologer predicted the King would die should the temple be completed. In the 1800s, an earthquake left several large cracks in the structure. Continue your visit at the beautiful white Hsinbyume Pagoda whose distinctive style is meant to resemble the mythical Mount Meru. Then, see the Mingun Bell which weighs 90 tons and is considered the world’s largest uncracked ringing bell.
Next visit Sagaing. Covered with 600 white-painted pagodas and monasteries, Sagaing Hill is widely regarded as the religious center of Myanmar. It is home to 3,000 monks and 100 meditation centers. You will visit pagodas such as Swan Oo Pon Nya Shin and U Min Thone Sae.
Swan Oo Pon Nya Shin - Mandalay
We’ll also go to Sagaing’s local market, a typical Burmese market that few tourists visit. Here you will find a range of items for sale including locally made pottery, silver and other handicrafts. We will also stop at a small pottery village to see the process of making the ubiquitous water pots found throughout Myanmar.
Lunch at a local restaurant.
This afternoon drive south to Amarapura, a former capital whose name means ‘City of Immortality’. First, visit a silk weaving workshop which produces exquisite handmade products.
Continue to U Bein Bridge, a 200-year old bridge constructed of 984 teak posts that were once part of the deserted Inwa Palace. It is 1.2 kilometers in length, making it the world’s longest teak span.
Enjoy a stroll along the bridge and the fabulous views of the surrounding farms and streams as the sun begins to set.
Return to Mandalay late this afternoon.
Overnight in Mandalay
DAY 3: MANDALAY - DEPARTURE (B)
It’s an early morning start today, with your guide and driver picking you up at your hotel at 4.00. Transfer first to Mahamuni Pagoda, Mandalay’s most important religious sites. The main Buddha image here is more than 3.5 metres high and is coated with golf leaf applied by the local pilgrims- in fact, so much gold leaf has been applied over the years that the image is now distorted and appears lumpy in texture. Every morning at 4.30 the monks and locals gather at Mahamuni to wash the statue’s face with scented water and clean his teeth with a soft brush. This bizarre yet beautiful ceremony is worth getting out of bed for!
Next we continue to a local neighborhood to witness the daily alms collection of the monks. Clothed in red robes and carrying their alms bowls, a solemn line of barefoot monks walk along the streets to collect offerings from the locals. The morning alms collection is an important part of daily life for the monks and for the Burmese people as it symbolizes ‘making merit’ and also reminds the Buddhists of their mutual inter-dependence.
After these beautiful ceremonies, it’s time to head to the morning market in central Mandalay. Covering several city blocks, the market is a hive of activity in the early morning hours with vendors selling mounds of fresh produce, meats, flowers and other items and shoppers arriving by trishaw or motorbike. You may even see monks and nuns walking through the market to collect alms or purchase items for the monastery. The setting is incredibly colourful and as you walk through the market you are likely to see things you have never seen before - from exotic fruits and spices to dried meats and prepared sweets.
Finally it’s time for breakfast! We’ll visit a local tea shop- a busy meeting place throughout the day and an integral part of Burmese life. Sip a hot cup of coffee or try the local tea, a strong brew mixed with sweetened condensed milk. You’ll sample a bowl of local noodles - Mandalay is famous for its mee shay (noodles with pork or chicken, bean sprouts, toasted chickpea flour, rice flour gel, soy sauce and various herbs) and nan gyi toke or mont di (rice noodle with a chicken curry - the difference is the size of the noodles). You can also have mohinga or Shan noodles if you wish. Other dishes such as curries, rice and chappati are also available.
Then transfer back to your hotel to freshen up before the day’s other sightseeing or continue to the Airport (Airport transfer not included).
INCLUSIONS:
º Carefully selected accommodation with breakfast
º Meals as mentioned (B= Breakfast, L= Lunch, D= Dinner)
º Expert English or French speaking guide (for other languages supplements apply)
º Tours as mentioned and air-conditioned transfers
º Single entry sightseeing and permit fees during guided times
º Boat cruises, train ticket and rides while on tour if any
º Service charges and government VAT tax
EXCLUSIONS:
º Other meals that not mentioned
º Other services not mentioned
º International and domestic Flights
º Laundry, telephone calls and expenditure of a personal nature
º Tips, Travel insurance
º Visa arrangement & Visa stamp at international gate
º Drink & Beverage in meals
TERMS & CONDITIONS
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No refunds or exchanges can be made in respect of accommodation, meals, sightseeing tours, transport or any other services which are included in the Tour price but not utilized by the Tour member.
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In case The Customer has to change the confirmed itinerary for certain reasons, we are happy to assist subject to the following fees and conditions:
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Where travel documents and tickets have been issued, your changes can be only made subject to the availability of the airlines and the supplier’s conditions at that time. Kindly be advised that you may not be allowed to change the outbound date of departure on most discounted airfares. Please note, most discounted domestic airfares and air reservations for groups do not allow changes to be made to the date of departure for any pre-booked flights. Accommodation and cruises cannot be changed and revised within 2 working days prior to departure.
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Regrettably, amendments may sometimes be necessary and errors occasionally happen. We reserve the right to make changes or correct errors at any time both before and after our confirmation. Flight timings, aircraft types and routings, train schedules and cruises are subject to change for operational and technical reasons. If changes need to be made to your itinerary, we will inform you as soon as it is reasonably possible.
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For certain reasons, if The Customer has to cancel his booked tour/travel services with Vietour Travel, we will obviously be sorry not to be able to serve you and will accept the cancellation subject to the cancellation fees and conditions as listed below:
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♦ Between 30 and 44 days prior: deposit is forfeited
♦ Between 11 and 20 days prior: 30% of the tour price is charged
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♦ 5 days prior: 100% of tour price is charged
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If as a consequence of “Force Majeure” (as defined below), Vietour Travel is obliged to curtail, alter, extend or cancel the Tour, you shall not be at liberty to maintain a claim for compensation or otherwise for any loss arising as a consequence of said curtailment, alteration, extension or cancellation of the Tour.
“Force Majeur” means Acts of God, natural disasters, adverse weather conditions, fire or other destruction of any vessel, craft or vehicle to be used in connection with a holiday, destruction or damage to holiday accommodation, riots, acts of war, civil commotion, exercise of legislative or government action, municipal or military or other authority, strikes, industrial action, requisition of equipment, mechanical breakdown, shortage of fuel, insolvency or default of any carrier or service connected with the Tour, fraud perpetrated against Vietour Travel.
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All Customers must be in possession of a valid passport and necessary visas or permits at the commencement of travel. All such documentations are the sole responsibility of the client. Your travel advisor may assist you in applying for the necessary travel documentation upon request Vietour Travel accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever for the failure of clients to obtain appropriate documentation.
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Since our package tours, day trips and other travel services DO NOT INCLUDE TRAVEL INSURANCE you are required to obtain your own full travel insurance. It is your responsibility to read your insurance policy before you travel and ensure that the insurance scheme provides you with the requisite level of cover.
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In accordance with the regulations of Vietnam Airlines, the free baggage allowance within Vietnam is 20 kg for economy class and 40 kg for business class, plus limited carry-on luggage. Excess baggage charges are the sole responsibility of the client. Regulations within Vietnam specify that all suitcases must have a locking device attached. Failure to follow this regulation may result in refusal by airport staff to load suitcases onto the aircraft.
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If you have a problem during your trip, it is a legal requirement that you bring it to the attention of the relevant suppliers (e.g. hotelier or airline) as soon as possible. We hope that any complaint which you may have can be handled amicably and efficiently. Our Operations staff are empowered to deal with complaints on the spot. However, where a complaint is not dealt with to the Customers’ satisfaction, Vietour Travel management can be reached at any time. You can contact our General Director by email at hcns@vietourtravels.com or on our Customer Hotline: +84 983 730 882 (24/7) for a quick response.
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