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Air Mandalay Destinations

Yangon

Mandalay

The commercial centre of Myanmar, Yangon still maintains its colonial charm and features wide, tree-lined avenues, tranquil lakes and gracious turn-of-the-century architecture. The magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda dominates the city skyline, while at street-level Yangon is a paradise for those wanting to hunt out exotic arts and crafts. Of particular interest are the many shops in Bogyoke Market and its many jewellery stores are famous for their rubies, sapphires and jade. At night, the Chinatown district comes alive with its street bazaars and night stalls selling snacks and fresh food.

Immortalised by Rudyard Kipling, Mandalay was established in 1857 in accordance with an ancient Buddhist prophecy. It was the final capital of Myanmar’s Konbaung Dynasty before the country was annexed by the British. The city takes its name from Mandalay Hill and is centred around the walls and moat of the old palace, which was destroyed in the fighting of World War II but was rebuilt in the 1990s. Mandalay is considered a centre of Buddhism in Myanmar and is also home to many of the country’s craft industries.

See and Do:* Wander around Shwedagon Pagoda, the 99-metre-

tall (330 foot) stupa that glows golden at night

* Shop in Bogyoke Market, the city’s premier outlet

for precious gems and jewellery

See and Do:* Walk up Mandalay Hill, where more than 2000 years

ago the Buddha reputedly prophesied the establishment of the modern city

* Cross the Ayeyarwady River to Mingun, home to a giant unfinished pagoda

BaganOne of the most remarkable archaeological sights in Asia – if not the world – the magic of Bagan has brought visitors to Myanmar for nearly 1000 years. Once the centre of a glorious kingdom, Bagan sits on a dusty plain and thousands of ancient temples dot the landscape as far as the eye can see. Today, apart from spectacular sunset views and serene river cruises, Bagan is also the centre of Myanmar ‘s lacquerware industry.

See and Do:* Take a pony cart around the thousands of ancient

temples that dot the Bagan plain

* Eat out on “Restaurant Road”, the centre of nightlife

in the area

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Heho (Inle Lake)So near, yet so far. Inle Lake is just a short flight Yangon but it feels worlds apart from the rest of Myanmar. Located in the cool green highlands of Shan State, it is an area of incredible natural beauty and the lake itself sits a pleasant 870 metres (2900 feet) above sea level. It is famous for the local Intha fishermen who row their boats using their legs, as well as the floating markets and prolific birdlife. In this unique wetland environment, whole villages sit on floating islands perched above the water. Colourful hill tribes inhabit the surrounding fertile valleys and forested mountain tops, and their hand-woven silks are a speciality of the region.

Thandwe (Ngapali Beach)Famous for its miles of picture-perfect sandy beaches, brilliant turquoise water and swaying coconut palms, Ngapali is Myanmar’s premier beach destination. Intimate resorts offer visitors the chance to swim, sail, kayak and feast on fresh seafood by candlelight as the sun sinks lazily into the Bay of Bengal. Ngapali is the perfect place to unwind and savour those few precious weeks in Myanmar.

Sittwe (Mrauk U)The Rakhine State capital Sittwe is the gateway to the ancient city of Mrauk U, the former centre of a flourishing Rakhine empire. Mrauk U reached its peak in the 15th century and today has a completely different atmosphere to Myanmar’s other ancient sites. It also gets far less tourists and is often touted as an interesting alternative to Bagan. Be one of the first to discover these ancient temples, which are accessible from Sittwe by a picturesque boat ride up the surging Kaladan River.

See and Do:* Admire Shittaung Pagoda, whose name literally means “Shrine of the 80,000 Images”* Continue further up the Lemro River to Chin villages, home to women with tattooed faces

See and Do:* Laze on the beach, or sip cocktails at your hotel bar

as the sun sets over the water

* Visit nearby fishing villages in the early morning to

see locals unload their catch

See and Do:* Peruse the floating markets,

where ethnic groups in colourful traditional dress sell local handicrafts

* Explore the ancient and cracked stupas of Indein Pagoda

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Kyaing Tong

TachileikKnown as the gateway to the Golden Triangle, Tachileik was once notorious for its proximity to the drug trade but now is better known for its markets and shopping. Situated across the river from Mae Sai, Tachileik sees plenty of Thai visitors looking to pick up a bargain amongst the thousands of stalls of Chinese-made goods. The city is also close to the Mekong River and the border with Laos.

Kyaing Tong is situated in the easternmost part of Shan State, about halfway between the Chinese and Thai borders. A picturesque city in itself with a vibe unlike almost anywhere else in Myanmar, the area is home to many ethnic minority groups who live in the surrounding hills, including the Wa, Akha, Anh, Akhu and Lahu. The morning market in the centre of town features a colourful mixture of ethnic groups selling locally grown produce.

See and Do:* Eat a bowl of traditional Shan-style noodles in the

morning market* Hire a guide and head out into the countryside to

explore the local hill tribe villages

See and Do:* Shop in the sprawling markets, which attract hundreds of Thai visitors each day

Chiang Mai (Thailand)This city in northern Thailand was founded 700 years ago as the capital of an ancient Lanna kingdom. Thailand’s second-largest city, Chiang Mai is set within a two-square-kilometre moat and has managed to retain many of its traditional wooden houses. The city is the centre of Thailand’s handicraft industry and has many popular markets. It is also a good departure point for trekking into nearby hill tribe villages.

See and Do:* Visit the impressive Wat Pra Singh, the centre

of the old city* Shop for hand-made goods at the lively night

market

Air Mandalay Destinations

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Travel Tips

Business & SocialThe following are some tips on business and

social visits that may help you during your stay in

Myanmar:

* Appointments should be made in advance and

punctuality is appreciated.

* Bus iness cards a re exchanged af ter

introduction.

* For business meetings, men should wear a

lightweight suit and tie, while women should

wear modest clothes.

* It is customary to shake hands on meeting

and saying goodbye. When addressing people

always use the appropriate prefix and family

name.

* Many people in Myanmar do not have a first

name and last name as in Western countries

but instead have several names, often of three

or four words. Generally, every name has a

meaning; therefore, it is advisable to address a

person with their complete name, especially if

you are not well-acquainted with them.

* It is useful – but not essential – to have some

business cards in Myanmar script.

* Many executives in Myanmar speak English.

* Visitors should be receptive to local customs

and conventions. When sitting cross-legged on

sofas or cushions, soles of the feet should not

be shown.

* Footwear is strictly prohibited in pagodas and

monasteries.

* Tipping in restaurants and hotels is not required

but appreciated (about 5 to 10 percent of the

total bill). Tips for taxis are not necessary.

* On social occasions such as an invitation to a

restaurant, be punctual and dress as for business

meetings unless otherwise indicated.

ClimateMyanmar has a tropical climate with three distinct

seasons:

* Cool season from October to February which is

dry and with temperatures ranging from 21ºC to

28ºC.

* Hot (dry) season from March to May with average

temperatures of between 30ºC and 40ºC.

* Rainy (monsoon) season occurs from June

to September with average temperatures of

between 25ºC and 30ºC and frequent short

rainstorms and higher humidity.

During the rainy season, Yangon normally receives

early morning and afternoon showers while rainfall

in Bagan and Mandalay is very low. The weather

around Inle Lake and Shan State is pleasant all year

round but usually cold at night from December to

February. Bagan, Mandalay and Inle Lake are good

to visit anytime of the year.

Health & ClothingEven though no vaccinations are required for entry

to Myanmar, please consult your family physician

about immunization requirements, particularly for

malaria and hepatitis. You should drink only bottled

water and exercise caution when eating from street

vendors and at small local restaurants.

Cotton clothing and a light wrap for the evenings

during the cool season are recommended. Do

not wear shorts, tank tops or sleeveless blouses,

especially when visiting temples, pagodas and

monasteries. Dress modestly at all times; revealing

clothing is frowned upon in Myanmar. Footwear

must be removed before entering a temple/

pagoda.

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