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What was the highlight or most memorable moment of your tour?
The sight of all the white stupa's with all the scripts carved inside on stone. Also the beaches at Nagpali were super
How was your Explore Tour Leader?
As a Buddhist he was very good around the religious areas
What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?
Wifi freely available. Standards of hotels very good.
Do you have anything else to add?
No need for dressing up clothes. Good trekking shoes that slip on and off easily better than flip flops as everywhere dusty and shoes are taken off regularly.
What was the highlight or most memorable moment of your tour?
The sights of the temples in Bagan after we climbed up one of the monuments for a view point.
How was your Explore Tour Leader?
Our leader was very knowledgeable about the area and the religion.
What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?
"Most hotels now have wifi and also it was quite easy to change currency. It is hard to limit the number of photographs taken!
If male make sure any shorts you take are below the knee if you wish to wear them in temples and wish to approach the Buddha "
Do you have anything else to add?
The people of Burma were gentle and friendly. Food and drink was relatively cheap.
What was the highlight or most memorable moment of your tour?
Every day was filled with interest and lasting memories so picking highlights is difficult. The Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon is stunning, the time spent on Inle Lake was delightful, the sight of so many temples and stupas on the plane at Bagan especially at twilight is beyond description and in between there were many journeys using a variety of local methods of transport during which many aspects of Burmese life could be seen. The stay on a pristine beach in the Bay of Bengal finalised a great trip. One memory that stands out above all others is the cheerfulness and welcoming attitude of all the Burmese people which was quite exceptional.
How was your Explore Tour Leader?
"Han Soe was a delightful character. Very enthusiastic thoroughly enjoyed his job at which he was extremely good.
All local arrangements were made by him and all happened on time and without fuss. He seemed to have a good relationship with all the locals as well as all members of the Group. He was very knowledgeable about the areas and points of interest we visited as well as background information about the people and their customs. Could not have wished for a better Leader."
What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?
"Go soon before the pressure of the increased tourism makes changes."
Do you have anything else to add?
The organisation behind this trip has way beyond my expectations and those concerned should be congratulated
What was the highlight or most memorable moment of your tour?
The whole trip was great, but early morning on Inle Lake and at Bagan were my favourites. The people were lovely, and keen to chat and happy to have their photos taken.
How was your Explore Tour Leader?
Moe was an endless source of information, and clearly very knowledgeable about his country. He was polite, friendly and determined to ensure we all had a good time. Nothing appeared to be too much trouble for him.
What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?
"Take a plug adaptor, I only saw one UK style plug despite what the guide books / trip notes say
Easily removable shoes are essential!
We changed $300 as per Moe's advice and even with going to the beach and a few extras this was more than enough
On the village walk day from Kalaw we visited a school. If you can fit extra in your bag, exercise books and pencils were appreciated.
The bus trip to the beach was long, so be prepared. The beach was lovely though.
Bring a torch - not only for walking in the evenings but also for seeing in your room at the beach hotel where the lighting was rubbish!
When ordering tea - make sure you know what you are getting! Tea is served with milk (often evaporated milk) and sugar routinely. Green tea maybe a better option!
Otherwise go for it!"
Do you have anything else to add?
"I was disappointed not to go to U Bein bridge at either sunset or sunrise - we were there in the middle of the day. All the books / pictures show it at either sunrise or sunset, and other reviews on here also describe that.
Would have been good to know there was a school visit so we could have brought stationery etc for them
We weren't expecting a guide on the beach extension, but the drivers English was minimal, so we didn't really know when / if we were stopping for lunch, what time we were being picked up on our return etc. Would have been helpful to have this clarified before we set off.
The trip notes mention an optional sunrise trip at Bagan - our leader didn't know anything about this."
Our response
Thank you for your comments; all good advice. We would say though that as it is not possible to obtain further funds once in Burma, it is better to overestimate the budget rather than to run out of money before the end.
We think the U Bein bridge is stunning at any time of day, but will look into whether this can be included at either sunrise or sunset. We will also add some information on the possibility of school visits to the Tour Notes, but also ask our tour leaders to give sufficient advance notice of this so that stationery supplies can be bought locally, which has the additional advantage of supporting the local economy.
Unfortunately bus drivers rarely speak good English – they would be more likely to be working as tour guides if they could do so – but we have asked that better briefings can be given. Paperwork with the information you mention, provided at departure for the beach, might serve the purpose.
What was the highlight or most memorable moment of your tour?
The obvious highlights were Schwedagon Pagoda, Bagan (and especially sunset from a pagoda) and the Inle Lake boat excursions. More unexpected: Wine tasting at Inle lake (nice wine, but wonderful setting) and the market at Kalaw, where we were lucky to have the big market with hill tribe people participating. Beach was beautiful, quiet and a relaxing ending to this trip.
How was your Explore Tour Leader?
Mya Mya was wonderful. Seems like she is devellopping a fanclub, I will happily join in. Good knowledge, respectful of the country, its culture and its people, very well organised. She really pampered us.
What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?
"Take enough warm cloths when travelling in winter time, it gets really cold in the evenings/mornings at Kalaw and Inle lake and even at Bagan. You need more than just a fleece. Hotels/ restaurants do not have heating. No use bringing spaghetti tops except for the beach."
Do you have anything else to add?
Transportation to the beach took us 6,5 hours, it could have been shortened with a better bus. The beach resort itself was wonderful though, and worth the effort.
What was the highlight or most memorable moment of your tour?
Temples were good.... beach extension was nice
How was your Explore Tour Leader?
Completely inexperienced. . . .unable to converse at a reasonable level in any european language. . . .unable to book a balloon flight.. for anyone. ( lots of people wanted one, no-one got one )
What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?
Go with exodus if you want to come away any wiser about the country you just visited (as explore have decided to save a few quid and not use local area guides on this tour) and/or want a balloon ride in bagan because explore can't be bothered to book 'em in advance..... exodus do.
Do you have anything else to add?
"Nobody on my trip seems to have posted anything complimentary on your website.....
i wonder why....."
Our response
Thank you for your review. We are sorry you were unable to book a balloon flight in Bagan. Due to increased demand, it is becoming difficult to secure a place on the flight whilst on tour. We are therefore going to highlight this on our trip notes and explain to customers how they can make the booking in advance direct with the balloon operator to secure their place.
Read moreWe were most concerned to read your comments regarding your tour leader. Our tour leaders undertake extensive training before they are able to lead our tours. Against this background, we would expect him to be capable of carrying out his duties effectively. Our Operations Manager will be monitoring future feedback and we will take appropriate action if necessary action.
What was the highlight or most memorable moment of your tour?
"The people of Burma are friendly and very welcoming.Take time to engage with them as often as possible ..they want to talk.
The whole area around Inlie Lake was very interesing and Bagan was magical.
The trek into the highlands was a wonderful way to see villagers in their everyday environment.
Be sure to have a traditional Burmese massage (or two!)"
How was your Explore Tour Leader?
Unfortunately , although our tour leader was very organised and extremely willing ; her English language skills were poor and so it could be frustrating trying to understand what she was saying.We felt we missed out on learning about the culture of the country ..and had to depend a great deal on the guide book for information.
What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?
Go soon ! It is a wonderful country .But check that your tour leader has reasonable English.
Do you have anything else to add?
If you can , try to take a tour around Kuala Lumpur on the return journey as it is over a seven hour wait at the airport.
What was the highlight or most memorable moment of your tour?
Yangon: Schwedagon Pagoda - early morning: lots of characters, few tourists; at sunset more tourists, but it was sunset. Get time to do the Circular Train: 3 hours of Burmese life for $1. Inle Lake and Indein were stunning. The boat trip across the lake and up the creek to Indein was really enjoyable. Kalaw: after dinner vist the 'Hi Snack and Bar' just around the corner from the Dream Villa Hotel (a real local music scene with a memorable loo). Mandalay: visiting a monastery for the monks' late morning meal; U Bein bridge at sunset (absolute MUST); wished we had more time in Inwa – that part was rushed due to the morning doing endless ‘cottage industries’. Bagan: stunning pagodas, particularly Schwezigon. Ngwe Saung Beach: the hotel was exceptional by Explore standards.
How was your Explore Tour Leader?
Myo Set was one of the best I've come across. Excellent English with a keen sense of humour, he was knowledgeable on everything we encountered. For those of us too to lazy to think, he organsied an evening meal each day. Myo Set added lots to the itinerary - such as ... visiting the National League for Democracy in Yangon, a nunnery at Inle Lake, a monastery for the monks' late morning meal in Manadalay. He was brilliant when the train derailed on the way to Kalaw - we walked 40 minutes to meet our bus at the next station. He was remarkable when 14 of the group suffered from D&V the day we went from Kalaw to Manadalay. He became our 'Mr Fix-it' when we needed a suitably posed monk!
What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?
Search out alternative flights. I had one of the best combinations - Thai airways via BKK. Search on Skyscanner and give flight details to Explore - they were excellent at getting the flights booked for me. I saw 2 ATMs in Yangon that accept 'foreign' cards but don't rely on them. Money - take new $50 bills - you get a better exchange rate for them. Do take a fleece for evenings at Inle Lake and Kalaw. It DOES get cold there. The trek at Kalaw can be done in sandals if it's dry - after all, the locals only wear flip-flops!
Do you have anything else to add?
"The only part of the trip I would change is ditch the boat journey from Manadalay to Bagan. 10 hours of reading / chatting / little to see from the boat. Going under a bridge caused excitement! Going by road looks to be about 100 miles on Googlemaps and would give more time at Inwa or a stop at Sagaing. Didn't seem that many tourists overall at the moment, but there were more at Mandalay and Bagan. No doubt this WILL increase.
Of all the trips with Explore I have done, this has to be one of the best."
What was the highlight or most memorable moment of your tour?
Overall an excellent trip, one of our best. Many great memories of places mentioned by others, but our abiding memory is of the wonderful people. Despite being mostly very poor, they were always friendly and pleased to see us - even when they weren’t hoping to sell us something ! They are hopeful about the future political situation. For visitors there was no visible sign of any oppression and several NLD ‘shops’ were seen on streets, each with a picture of The Lady’s father, General Aung San, the no. 1 national hero.
How was your Explore Tour Leader?
Our guide, May, was very knowledgeable about places and the history of Myanmar. She was extremely well organised, had a pleasant personality with a good sense of humour and nothing was too much trouble for her. But the group size of 18 was too large for this type of trip and led to information sometimes being missed.
What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?
"We agree with previous comments about lousy flight times, possible alternatives, also Plaza Lounge in KLIA. We went out a day early to give recovery time. No group transfer but taxi from Yangon airport was only USD12 for 4 people. In KL the Plaza wasn’t very busy so we haggled the 5-hour price down by USD10 and gained a 2-hour extension.
For money exchange there is now a bank at Yangon airport which gives a decent rate (K800) as did hotels. It’s possible to get a higher rate but beware receiving a wallet-straining pile of dirty, low denomination notes. Our guide suggested changing USD350 per person and that was about right (excluding big purchases). A lacquerware shop in Bagan gave a useful top-up for those in need, with excellent rate and notes."
Do you have anything else to add?
"One gripe, and a departure from previous trips, was that lunches were usually organised to be at local restaurants. We just don’t eat that much and don’t like being herded unnecessarily. Worst meal by far was at the (optional USD25) Puppet Show in Bagan, just luke-warm mass tourist tack.
We went in Nov-Dec and the only mozzies seen were (nesting?) around the hotel computers in Mandalay. Big mistake was to take trainers rather than sandals so flip-flops bought to slip off at pagodas. My only bite was from an ant that crawled up a sun-lounger at the very welcome beach extension. "
Our response
Thank you for your feedback – it is all really useful, not just to future travellers, but also to our Product and Operations team here in Farnborough. We appreciate this.
Read moreWe take your point about the lunches – most of our customers prefer to spend time sightseeing and have a quick snack, rather than a full lunch. Our tour leaders are aware of this, although many find it a strange viewpoint as lunch is the main meal in Burma, but they should not be trying to herd customers into joining big midday meals if they would prefer not to take part. We know how good your tour leader is, and we will just offer a gentle reminder on the lunches issue to our local agent, to pass on to all our local staff.
What was the highlight or most memorable moment of your tour?
Indein - after going by boat down a narrow waterway through villages on stilts you arrive at a village where the main temple is the side show. Hundreds of stupas - nearly all unrenovated to explore - fabulous. In other places every old carved teak monastery was truly wonderful, our favourite we found ourselves by bike in Bagan, appearing like a Hansel & Gretal house at the end of a sandy track. A local unlocked centuries old Buddhist teachings to show us.
Read more
How was your Explore Tour Leader?
Knowledgable, eager to please, fun and pretty organised although it was his first Exlore trip and he found 18 opinionated Europeans hard to manage. Give him a few months and he will be excellent.
What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?
Ngapali was not available due to the troubles but Nwe Saung is still worth the trip and a lovely way to unwind after a very busy tour. Try to extend an extra day if possible as returning to Yangon on a Monday is disappointing as Scotts Market and the Museum are closed. Flying via Doha or Bangkok is a much better option than via KL.
Do you have anything else to add?
Go soon before it's spoiled!
What was the highlight or most memorable moment of your tour?
"As with all Explore tours, the days were filled with wonderful visits and experiences, from huge golden working temples to horsedrawn carriage rides through the stupa-filled plain at Bagan, and vistas over jungle hillsides, from a local train, to hundreds of acres of rice fields in various stages and colours of development, worked by patient white cattle and their owners. The towns were full of noise and smells and fantastic street market stalls.
BUT seeing as how you ask....most memorable moment? vomiting violently* ( and the other end as well) into the side of the steep path up a hillside to a village with a nunnery. The sun, heat and effort had got to me. "
Read more
How was your Explore Tour Leader?
Myo, our Leader, was quite unfazed by this 'incident'*, and wrapped his( white) shirt around me, acquired a motor bike to carry me to the top, found a local family to sort me out with water to wash myself in their very primitive but adequate loo, and bought a local outfit for me to wear. He then bought the flipflops that a local lady was wearing for me. I do hope she was able to get another pair soon.
What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?
"Costs for local food were much less than advised. We took far too much money.
Temperatures were higher than we expected for November.
The road journey to the rearranged coast venue (Ngwe Saung) took 5 hours driving along windy, bumpy roads, each way, which ate into the 4 day break. It's a fantastic beach and hotel, though, and the scenery and activities seen along the road were great."
Do you have anything else to add?
nuff sed!' ..... Now to filter the several hundreds of brilliant photos!
What was the highlight or most memorable moment of your tour?
Inle lake was a lovely and unexpected surprise. The culture is amazing, and the temperature and humidity quite pleasant. Mandalay was hotter and more humid and Bagan is tropical. The Burmese people are lovely, and I’ve brought back lots of pictures of smiling faces. A lovely trip in this beautiful country, full of Buddhas, temples and stupas.
How was your Explore Tour Leader?
Our tour leader, Ko Nyi Nyi Kyaw, happy to go by the name of “Nee”, was great, courteous and extremely knowledgeable about Myanmar (Burma). I lost count of the number to temples and Buddhas visited, as well as numerous local craft shops, but this is what you get on this type of holiday. It would have been nice to have some wildlife and nature though!
What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?
"Pack cropped trousers (below the knee) and some cheap loose fitting sandals, as you have to tread barefoot in the various temples. I lost my good sandals outside a temple in Bagan!
Take new US dollars to change in Rangoon (old creased ones are not accepted). There are no international ATMs. You will be carrying a thick wad of 1000 and 5000 Kyat notes for the rest of the holiday!"
Do you have anything else to add?
We had a mix-up with our beach extension booking (a 6-7 hour rough overland transfer to a different resort rather than fly in/out) but it was resolved satisfactorily. It is worth checking the FCO advice though before booking as some areas of Myamar are still unstable (both politically and geologically).
What was the highlight or most memorable moment of your tour?
I think it was the people of Myanmar,who were so welcoming,very happy to have us there.The beach extension was lovely,and although I was travelling alone,I was never on my own.
How was your Explore Tour Leader?
He was very good,so informative and very willing to help at all times.
What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?
Definately do the beach extension,the hotel was very good.
Do you have anything else to add?
Some of the hotels could have been a little better, not that this was an important part of my trip.
Wow, what a great experience! Our guide Myo Min Zaw was experienced, knowledgeable and refreshing. He went out of his way to accomodate our needs. In out particular case, my partner had to visit a clinic in order to get a monthly blood test for his cumadin level. Myo got a driver, took us to the clinic, did the paper work and they both stayed with us. It was necessary for us to return the next night for the results and Myo and another friend accompanied us again.
The group we travelled with bonded very nicely. Part of that was the way Myo treated everyone with respect.
| Burma is a great country with lovely people and it's a privilege to be there during their transition to freedom - let's hope that carries on! The landscapes, the peoples and the menus are very varied. Some sights were expected - endless stupas gleaming in every direction, and farming by ox-cart - but others were not - women in the stone breaking gangs at road works, and NLD stalls in local markets. Mohingar fish broth for breakfast is a taste worth acquiring. And someone should introduce tofu crackers to British pubs! But the traditional preference for cold curries is less appealing - though tourist oriented places know to offer hot fresh dishes. One of the best and freshest meals was in a small plain seafood place opposite the Amata resort gate (called Silodo?) - much better than the candles-and-tablecloths joints on that strip. George was a good tour leader - always cheerful, helpful, well informed and interested - but 18 people was too large a group for this type of tour. The highlights for me were: going up to the Shwedagon Paya at dusk (Explore should build that into the itinerary); walking around the colonial downtown of Rangoon; the day exploring Awa and Amarapura from Mandalay, particularly in the horse-and-cart; the rickety slow train journey on the way up to Kalaw (take care near open doorways as the train lurches!); wandering around Mandalay at night after a visit to a beer station; the temple-strewn landscapes of Bagan; and then swimming and sunbathing at Ngapali! But it's a pity that the itinerary doesn't include Sagaing, as it looked wonderful as we passed on the river. The downside was, as usual with Explore, the relentless traipsing around ruins and the shufling around craft shops. But that's a small price to pay for seeing so much of Burma. And you can always do your own thing and find independent experiences when the group herding gets too much. We were surprised by the cold nights at Kalaw and even in the evenings at Inle and the beach - you'll need to take several layers. And you'll need the days on the beach after all the sightseeing - and before the grim endurance test of the flights back. I can recommend using the Plaza Premium Lounge in the satellite terminal at KL - c.£35 for 5 hours quiet and comfort, with free hot meals and drinks, beer, shower and even a massage! So if you're wondering whether to take this trip, I'd say just do it! |
