DISCOVERY HILL TRIBES

13-Day Chin Tribe Expedition

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DAY 01          ARRIVE YANGON

Upon arrival to YANGON airport you will be welcomed by our guide and transferred to your hotel. Your Myanmar journey begins with an afternoon tour through Yangon’s colonial-style city center. Visit SULE PAGODA, built over 2,000 years ago; the magnificent reclining Buddha CHAUK HTAT GYI and after a photo stop at the KARAWEIK HALL, a 'hamsa-bird-shaped' floating barge on Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake; stroll through the BOGYOKE (SCOTTS) MARKET, of hundreds of food, clothes, handicrafts and gems stores. Complete your first day in Myanmar with a visit to one of the world’s most spectacular monuments, the SHWEDAGON PAGODA.
Overnight stay in Yangon.

DAY 02          YANGON – BAGAN (BY FLIGHT)

After early breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for a domestic flight to BAGAN. Upon arrival, start your day with visiting the most significant pagodas and temples of Bagan: including SHWEZIGON PAGODA, built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious shrine; KHAY MIN GA TEMPLE, noted for its panoramic view of the area’s numerous monuments and ANANDA TEMPLE, with four standing Buddha images.
After lunch at a good local restaurant, learn of manufacturing Myanmar’s most treasured handicrafts and visit a lacquer ware craftsmen’s workshop in nearby MYINKABA village. Later continue to MANUHA TEMPLE, built in Mon style in 1059 and explore the NANBAYA TEMPLE, a unique sandstone monument which according to legends used to be palace site of the King Manuha. Next you will explore the UNESCO protected MYINGABA GU BYAUKGYI TEMPLE, a temple known for its mural paintings. Complete the day by watching sunset over the majestic Ayeyarwaddy River from a temple top.
Overnight stay in Bangan.

DAY 03          BAGAN –KANPETLET

After breakfast, drive (34 km- 1 hour ) to Chauk South of Bagan and cross the over the mighty Ayeyarwaddy river. Continue your journey (106 km, 7 hour) to KANPETLET located on the South Eastern side of the Mt. Victoria.
The drive from Chauk will take you across the vast plains and gentle hills of Magway Division. This region becomes extremely dry during the hot season in the spring time but will revive and flourish during the monsoon rains in the summer. Erosion caused by the rains change the landscape and the road conditions every year making this journey a 4WD safari travelled mostly on dirt tracks.
You will pass on bumpy and dusty roads through the villages and towns of Myit Chay, Kanma and the township of Pauk, where people are still living very isolated from the rest of the world.
Lunch will be served at a simple local restaurant en-route.
Once reaching Saw town, at the foot of Chin Hills, the nature becomes suddenly more lush and green. Continue up the Chin Hills on a winding road and forested slopes until reaching Kanpetlet, a beautiful village set on mountain ridge between deep valleys on both sides. Upon arrival, check in to your accommodation.
Dinner and overnight stay at Mountain Oasis Resort (*) in Kanpetlet.

DAY 04          KANPETLET

After breakfast, visit several Chin minority villages near Kanpetlet. Meet the local people and learn about their customs, traditions and heritage as well as of their different style facial tattoos. Many of the Chin minority villages can be conveniently reached with a short drive and walk from our lodge. The Chin people consist of several tribes namely: Asho, Cho, Khumi, Kuki, Laimi, Lushai and Zomi. Some of these minority groups can be found in Kanpetlet area. After tribal encounters visit European Union funded rural project office in the heart of Kanpetlet and a local monastery and school. Enjoy a picnic lunch with magnificent sceneries. The air is crisp, and cool up the mountain and eagles can often seen gliding over the forested mountain slopes around Kanpetlet.
Dinner and overnight stay at Mountain Oasis Resort (**) in Kanpetlet.

DAY 05          KANPETLET- MINDAT

After breakfast, drive (60 km, 3 hour – on a seasonal mountain road!!) to MINDAT, located on the North Eastern side of Mt. Victoria. Road conditions permitting driving on the seasonal road to Mindat, it is possible explore en-route the rarely visited Aye and Kyardo Chin villages and meet the local people. The villagers are known for their hunting skills and live virtually out of touch from the modern world. Elderly ladies in these villages have different tattoo patterns than ladies inhabiting the Kanpetlet area. On arrival to Mindat check in to a local guest house and time permitting, set off to explore Mindat and the surrounding ethnic minority villages. Three different Chin tribes: Dine, Mum and Ma inhabit this region. Meet the ladies with tattooed faces and listen to the sounds of a flute played by nose.
Enjoy a bonfire farewell dinner with a cultural show and overnight stay at Victoria Guest House or Khawnutum Guest House (very simple and basic).

Note: Seasonal road between Kanpetlet and Mindat deteriorates annually, during the rainy season, and is partially rebuilt every year. The road is subject to closures without prior notice by authorities. Hence a longer alternative route may need to be used to reach Mindat, extending travel time to about 6 hour.

DAY 06          MINDAT- BAGAN

After breakfast, visit one or two more villages before a drive back to BAGAN (160km, approx: 7½ hour). Along the way you will travel across the Phon Taung & Phon Nya mountain ranges. Following down the mountain slopes and rural roads (mostly unpaved dirt tracks) you will reach Kyak Tu, Pauk and Kanma villages and towns.
Lunch stop will be at a simple local restaurant en-route. Final lap is to cross the mighty Ayeyarwaddy River by a ferry boat at Kyun Chaung (30 minutes boat ride) and arrive to Bagan late afternoon time. On arrival to Bagan transfer to your hotel.

DAY 07          BAGAN – YANGON (BY FLIGHT)

After breakfast, the day is free for your private activities until departure for domestic flight to YANGON.
Overnight stay in Yangon.

Optional : Experience the magic of Bagan and a thousand years of history from the enchanting platform of a hot air balloon, for the first time ever. ‘Balloons over Bagan’ offers visitors exclusive sunrise champagne flights over the ancient pagodas of Bagan from late October to April. Details see 'Balloons over Bagan' )

DAY 08          YANGON – SITTWE (BY FLIGHT) – MRAUK U (BY BOAT)

After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for the domestic flight to SITTWE, the provincial capital and main port of RAKHINE (Arakan). Upon arrival, transfer to the jetty proceed by boat (no toilet facilities on board) for the 70km (6-8 hour) journey upriver to the last royal capital of Rakhine, MRAUK-U. Lunch box will be provided for the boat trip.
Overnight stay in Mrauk U.

DAY 09          MRAUK-U

After breakfast, drive to VESALI (Wethali), a former 2.7 square mile size city built by the King Mahataing Chandra during the reign of Vesali Dynasty which lasted until the 8th century. Visit the ‘Wethali Great Image’ from 327 AD, a huge sitting Buddha image made out of one piece of sandstone, as well as the remaining ruins of the palace site. Continue by car to DANYAWADDY. See the MAHAMUNI PAGODA, built during the period of the Dhanyawaddy Dynasty. It once housed the famous Mahamuni image made of bronze, which was according to a legend cast during Buddha’s visit to Rakhine. Nowadays this famous image can be seen in Mandalay.
Return to Mrauk-U.
After lunch, walk through the maze-like SHITTAUNG Temple, a shrine of 80,000 Buddha images; the adjacent ANDAW THEIN ORDINATION HALL and to HTUKKAN THEIN TEMPLE and the 17th century temple of KOETHAUNG. You will also visit the ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM and the PALACE SITE.
Overnight stay in Mrauk U.

DAY 10          LAYTOO CHIN VILLAGES

After early breakfast, start a scenic journey on a very bad and bumpy road (72 km – 2½ hour) to CHAO MAY and SANKAY, tattoo villages of the Laytoo Chin minority. The Chin minorities are probably best known for their colourful fabrics and tattooed faces. This centuries old tradition is fading and new facial tattoos are not made anymore in our modern times. Return to Mrauk-U for your lunch at a local restaurant. In the afternoon explore a typical village of the Shakama (Thet) minority and take a look into the rural way of life. Enjoy a short canoe trip through the beautiful landscape of Lemyo River followed by further temple explorations.
Overnight stay in Mrauk U.

DAY 11          MRAUK U – SITTWE (BY BOAT)

Breakfast is followed by a visit to the local market. Transfer to the jetty for the boat journey back to Sittwe with picnic lunch served on board. On the way stop to visit one of the Myo Villages, famous for their natural Khami Cloth. Upon arrival to Sittwe, transfer directly to the town’s old commercial area. Stroll along the Strand Road, lined with a fascinating variety of stores and enjoy watching the hustle and bustle of local business activities.
Overnight stay in Sittwe.

DAY 12          SITTWE – YANGON (BY FLIGHT)

After breakfast, set off by car to visit the main market of Sittwe, where fishermen, town and rural people come to buy and sell fish and general supplies. Time permitting, visit the 100 year old Buddha with a golden face at the PAYAGYI TEMPLE; the CULTURAL MUSEUM and the local MOSQUE.
Lunch at a local restaurant and transfer to the airport for the flight back to Yangon. Upon arrival you will be transferred to your hotel.
Overnight stay in Yangon.

DAY 13          DEPART YANGON

Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Yangon airport for your departure flight.

Itinerary is subject to changes depending on flights, road conditions and availability of rooms.

Important Notes:

• We reserve the right to change and reroute the itinerary without prior notice, due to unforeseen circumstances that may occur and arise.
• A special permit is required for all nationalities in order to be allowed to enter Chin State. Asian Tour will obtain such permits at the discretion of the Myanmar government. We require all client passport details as well as occupation latest 30 days prior to arrival.
• During the winter months weather can be cool make sure to bring warm and wind proof clothes for cool mornings and evenings.
• This is essentially a soft adventure, lifestyle and hiking tour. A good physical condition is necessary for the daily treks. The walking times specified in the itinerary are average walking times and depend on the physical condition of the participants. Many of the treks have a different starting and ending point, guests who feel that the trekking period and elevation is too tiresome for their physical condition should inform the guide prior to starting the trek in order to arrange an alternative itinerary. We reserve the right to change the visit of villages in order to avoid sending crowds of tourists to the same villages. Travel insurance is excluded from our arrangements and Asian Tour will deny all claims arising from a lack of insurance by the passenger.