Kipling Burma
5 days - price for 2 people
Land route journey with your rental car and own driver (no flights).If you feel a bit overwhelmed of the noice and the traffic in Yangon, here is the prefect way to escape the city life. But be aware: Going up to the Golden Rock is an adventure and you have to be prepared for some efforts
Tour Details
START INTO A GOLDEN TRIP
Yangon (arrival) – continue to Golden Rock
Depart Yangon and drive to Golden Rock. En route, visit a tree shrine dedicated to legendary animist spirits known as ‘Nats’, a handicraft village that produces woven bamboo wares and then visit the Allied War Graves cemetery near Htauk Kyan. Continue to Kin Pun ‘base camp’ where you will board a local open truck to the upper area of the mountain. The last leg of your journey will be an uphill walk to the summit which will take around 45 minutes*. The Golden Rock is one of Myanmar's most sacred sites. Balancing its great weight on the cliff edge, the Golden Rock is an extraordinary natural feature. According to the Buddhist legend, it is only kept in place by a hair of Buddha. Witness the nature , culture & traditions of local people, monks & nuns by enjoying the breathtaking view and the cooler air on top of the mountain.
Important notice: It is not that easy to get up to the Golden Rock. From the village of Kinpun you have to use a public truck for pilgrims. No private care or busses are allowed on the road up. The drive is not easy, too. Up to 45 people are squezzed on the back of each truck. From the final station you need to walk up for another 45 minutes or you hire a horse/dunky.
Good to know: Most of the time you can forget about the postcar image you may know from the Golden Rock. Mostly the sky is covered with haze and it is not easy to take good pictures. Kyaikhto is a very busy place with a lot of visitors and many little restaurants and shops. It is far away from being a holy place. . .
Drive to the Kayin State and its sleepy capital of Hpa An. While in the area, you'll visit Buddha-filled caves and the iconic Mt Zwe Kabin, where Rudyard Kipling drew inspiration for his poem 'Mandalay'.
HAVE A LOOK OFF THE BEATEN TRACKS
Continue your journey on bumpy roads to Mawlamyine – a city with an air of faded colonial glory.
Drive through old colonial era buildings and view this thriving previous colonial port city with its lovely colonial architecture , bustling Zaygyi Market and charming Belu Island by passing Bogyoke Aung San bridge. Take a walk in the charming village to meet the people, kids at primary school if open & its local product. Continue your visit to Kyaik Thanlan, a spectacular hillside temple with fabulous views of the countryside. This grand pagoda made famous in Rudyard Kipling's poem 'Mandalay'.
Finish your day of sightseeing Mawlamyine with a visit to Queen Sein Don Monastery, and U Zina Pagoda before sunset over the Than Lwin River from View point.
A night spent at Mawlamyine
Visit bustling Mawlamyine market and return to Yangon via amazing bridges , villages, farm lands and beautiful mountain range (245 km - 6 hours).
Arrive Yangon and transfer to your lodging for this night.
A night spent at hotel
