Photography Tour 2023 P9

DAY 1: YANGON ARRIVAL – WALKING TOUR

Morning arrival in Yangon, and check-in to a comfortable, downtown hotel close to the famous Scott Market. Introductory session from Gary before an afternoon walking tour of the city followed by a scenic, sunset boat cruise on the Yangon River and a welcome dinner.

Photography Themes; introduction to travel photography.Street-life, architecture, sunset on the river.

Meal: Dinner
Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon

DAY 2: YANGON – LOCAL TRAIN AND SHWEDAGON PAGODA

Morning departure for a fascinating and unusual train journey on the Yangon circular line. The (very) slow local train completes a loop through the suburbs and outlying villages providing an original and behind the scenes view of local life and Yangon city – a great introduction to Burma. After lunch, we will take a stroll through the picturesque Kandawgyi Lake Gardens before a sunset visit to the incredible Shwedagon Temple, Burma’s most sacred and certainly one of it is most awe inspiring sights.

Photography Themes; Local life, Markets, Shwedagon Pagoda.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon

DAY 3: MANDALAY – INWA OLD CITY – U BEIN SUNSET

Morning flight to Mandalay and time to explore the nearby ancient city and former 14th to 19th century capital of Inwa(Ava). Discover the old city, temples and villages by horse and cart. Check-in to our downtown hotel and time at leisure before a sunset visit to the iconic U Bein Bridge-reputed to be the longest wooden bridge in the world.

Photography Themes; Street-life, Temples at Inwa Old City, UBein Bridge.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Mandalay

DAY 4: MANDALAY – WORKSHOP – AFTERNOON AT MINGUN

Morning workshop with Gary followed by an afternoon boat trip up the Irrawaddy to the spectacular site of Mingun for an opportunity to put some ideas and advice into practice among the picturesque riverside ruins of the ancient city and temples.

Photography Themes: Technical advice and tips, river-life, ruined temples.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Mandalay

DAY 5: MONYWA – OFF THE BEATEN TRACK ON THE CHINDWIN

Overland departure for the fascinating, yet rarely visited, town of Monywa on the banks of the Chindwin River. We will take in what is said to be the world’s largest standing Buddha statue, a monastery housing an astonishing 500,000 Buddha images and some ancient underground temples hewn out of the solid rock. In the afternoon we’ll continue south to Bagan for a dusk visit to one of the ancient city’s fabulous temples.

Photography Themes; Architecture, Temples, Landscapes, Sunset at Bagan.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan

DAY 6: BAGAN – DAY TOUR OF THE TEMPLES

Orientation visit and introductory tour to the site of the 11th to 13th century capital. The area still contains over 2,000 chedis, stupas and pagodas, scattered across a riverside plain, and is certainly one of the most incredible sites of Southeast Asia.

Photography Themes; Temples, Landscape, Village Life, Bagan, Sunrise.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan

DAY 7: BAGAN – AT LEISURE TO EXPLORE AT YOUR OWN SPEED

Visit Bagan at your leisure: with a map, hat and torch (to discover temples hidden stairways); roam the country lanes by bicycle; hire a pony and trap; visit the best known temples or find some hidden chedis of your own; rise early to take in dawn or sit out the hot part of the day by the pool. Your guide will be on hand to advise and recommend, but we’d like to give you the opportunity to explore this phenomenal and highly photogenic site at your own leisure and pace.

Photography Themes; Temples, Landscape, Village Life, Bagan

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan

DAY 8: BAGAN – HEHO – PINDAYA – INLE LAKE

Flight to Heho airport and drive through the picturesque countryside of the Shan Plateau taking in one of the local markets before heading to the town of Pindaya to visit the spectacular ShweUmin cave temples. Lunch by the lake and a chance to check out the traditional umbrella making which Pindaya is also famous for. In the afternoon we will continue our scenic route to NyaungShwe – gateway town to the famous Inle Lake.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Inle Lake

DAY 9: INLE LAKE – BOAT TRIP

Fascinating day trip by boat around the picturesque lake. We will visit a lakeside village market, a traditional hand rolling cheroot factory, a lotus weaving project and the unusual floating gardens.

Photography Themes; Village Life, Handivrafts and Traditional Industries, Fishing and Lake Life, Landscapes.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Inle Lake

DAY 10: INLE LAKE – INDEIN – BOAT TRIP

Morning departure across the lake and up river to the small lakeside village of Indein from where we will walk through the picturesque landscape to visit the site of a ruined Shan city. The site, known as the “Shan Bagan”, has myriad ruined stupas dotting the lush vegetation. Return to NyaungShwe for lunch and an afternoon at leisure.

Photography Themes: Lake Life, Local People, Local Markets, Landscapes, Ruined city of Indein.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Inle Lake

DAY 11: INLE LAKE – HEHO – YANGON

Free morning at Inle Lake to do your own thing: cycle to the extraordinary Red Mountain Winery; check out the local market; visit a local village by canoe or just relax in a tea shop before an afternoon flight to Yangon.

Photography Themes: Local Market, Street Life.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon

DAY 12: YANGON – MORNING AT LEISURE – DEPARTURE

Free time to perhaps do some last-minute souvenir hunting at the famous Scott Market of check out one of the City’s bustling markets before a late afternoon departure.

Photography Themes: Local Markets, Architecture

Meal: Breakfast