Family Adventure to Burma

Burma’s biggest city, Yangon is your first stop and offers a perfect introduction to Burma. Hop on the local ‘Circular Train’ which passes through various neighbourhoods. Disembark at Kyee Myin Daing, one of the most beautiful station buildings in Burma, where you’ll board a trishaw to a nearby neighbourhood.

You’ll be enthralled by the exotic banana market in Yangon’s jetty, which sells bananas of all kinds and colours, and the metal craft market, where you’ll get an expert lowdown on the intricate tools and techniques used to build pagodas. You'll also get to taste traditional food and try your hand at ‘chin lone’ – a game played by families at the park – before heading to the Shwedagon Pagoda. Adorned with 40 tons of gold leaf, it is especially spectacular at sunset. 

There isn’t another hotel in Yangon that matches the opulence of the Belmond Governor’s Residence, where you’ll be staying for two nights. This regal retreat is the former home of the British governor, which has been reincarnated as a lavish hotel.

Beautiful Bagan is your next stop, where you will enjoy a scenic cycle ride on the criss-cross lanes of Bagan – with a guide, if you wish – stopping off at the local villages for refreshments at the colourful markets. You can also travel by horse and cart to the impressive Dhammayangyi Temple, which is one of the largest temples in Bagan and boasts exquisite brickwork and architecture – its wide terraces are also the ideal spot to watch the sun go down. 

Get ready for a thrilling hot air balloon ride over the stupa-scattered countryside. As the sun begins to rise over the Irrawaddy River, you’ll be treated to some stunning views of the region, which will surely be left imprinted in your memory long after you leave. Back on the ground, you will have the chance to meet young monks at the Shwe Gu monastery school and find out more about their daily life. Young boys, as young as 18 months old, get enrolled and stay for a while in the monastery to learn about the core values of their religion. Bagan Lodge will be your home for two nights, where an inviting pool awaits you.

Adults and kids alike will love the experiences that await in Kalaw, home to the Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp. Enjoy a light walk from Wet Pyu Ye to Magwe, where the camp is located. The camp is a conservation project, and aims to protect local elephants and the ecology of the area, as well as local traditions – making this is an ethical - as well as exciting- way of seeing these animals in their natural environment. Several Asian elephants, once neglected, have found a loving home at Green Hill Valley, and you can help to look after them while enjoying the lush green surroundings, with indigenous flora and fauna including different types of exotic birds and butterflies and a variety of colourful orchids. You’re likely to encounter these majestic creatures foraging for food or bathing by a waterfall, and you'll enjoy a freshly-prepared lunch made from locally-grown produce. Children will love getting their hands dirty and they'll also get a chance to plant a sapling, leaving their mark on the environment. 

Enjoy a short guided trek around the lively village of Kalaw, and visit bustling local markets. You'll spend two nights at Kalaw Hill Lodge, where you’ll be in the heart of the landscape in this verdant hillside location, with panoramic views over pine forests, the Shan Hills and the Blue Mountains.

Floating gardens, bamboo-stilt houses and fishermen who row with one leg… Inle Lake is simply enchanting and is sure to captivate young, inquisitive minds. Hop onboard a motorboat to take in the sights, including the colourful floating markets and the lush gardens, which are ingeniously built from strips of water hyacinth and earth and anchored to the bottom of the lake with bamboo sticks. Stop off at the beautiful Nga Phe Chaung monastery, built on wooden stilts over the lake, which features early Shan Buddha images, and the ornate Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, home to five sacred images of Buddha decorated in gold leaf. You'll also meet local families and find out about daily life and traditions on the lake. 

With its impressive white and gold pagodas, the Indein Complex is another key attraction of the area – as are the sunken stupas of Sagar, which remain partially covered by water at certain times of the year. To give you maximum time on the lake, you’ll stay at Sanctum Inle Resort, a tranquil spot on the water’s edge. Borrow a bike for a lovely way to explore the lakeshore, and in the evening, relax with books and games in the hotel's lounge.

Despite its immaculate beaches, clear waters and first-class resorts, Ngapali keeps its style meek and humble, with an attractive chilled, fishing-village atmosphere. After imbibing Burma's top attractions and cultural experiences, relax on the beautiful beach, or if you're still up for some action and adventure, enjoy a plethora of water activities including diving, snorkelling and boat trips, making the most of the colourful marine life and even swimming to the many small islands nearby. You can also explore the villages by bike, with their lively local communities and fishermen bringing home their catch of the day - you can tuck into the freshest of seafood here.

Burrowed in a tropical setting among coconut palms, the luxurious Sandoway Resort will be your home over the next few days. There are no TVs here, allowing for premium relaxation - you can watch films in the cinema (much better than a TV) - and enjoy the views over the Bay of Bengal.