Expeditions in Photography INTRODUCTION
This trip starts in the the amazing city of Mandalay, where we will photograph the highlights of this city, and then proceed to the Chin State in Myanmar, an unexplored mountain paradise where landscape and cultural photography brings you amazing variations in your shots.
We cover the amazing Chin Tribes with the Tattoo faced ladies, the National Park of Mount Victoria and the lowland plateau around Saw and it’s rice culture. We then return to Bagan and its hundreds of ancient pagoda’s to do another day tour of Photography. This trip could be extended with a citytrip to Yangon at the end.
Cities and highlights covered: Mandalay – Mindat – Kampetlet – Mount Victoria – Bagan
EXPERIENCE
Beginner, amateur, enthusiast and pro photographers.
Travel by private a/c car or minibus Moderate elevation changes and some walking. (*non-photographers also welcome)
Arrival in Mandalay, if the flight arrives on time we will visit U-Bein Bridge to shoot the sunset at U-Bein, an amazing construction wooden bridge a bit out of the city center. Amazing photos can be done here either from a small boat or on the bridge. Overnight at the hotel in Mandalay.
Full day phototour of Mandalay City, Visit to Mahamuni Pagoda which houses one of Myanmar’s most sacred Buddha Images covered with thick layers of gold leave.
Visit to local artisan’s workshops of gold leaf making, woodcarving and kalaga tapestries. Visit to Zaycho Market, the oldest, largest and the most important market in upper Myanmar.
Visit to Shwenandaw Monastery, noted for its exquisite wood carvings and consists mostly of teak wood; the renovated Atumashi Monastery which is referred as incomparable monastery, and the ‘world’s largest book’ at Kuthodaw Pagoda, being the Buddhist Scriptures inscribed on marble slabs. Go up the top of Mandalay Hill, a vantage point for panoramic view of the city and spectacular sunset view. Overnight at our hotel in Mandalay.
Today we leave in the morning after breakfast and head by minivan to the town of Mindat, located in the Chin Mountains, a lovely hill station located 4860 feet above sea level. arrive in the early afternoon and check-inn the hotel for our overnight.
Overnight in Mindat.
In the morning after breakfast we will visit the local town and explore the first tattooed lady from the Makaan tribe, wearing amber beads and full tradional dress, she demonstrates the dying tradition of playing the nose flute.
In the afternoon we visit local villages to see more ladies and people from the Moon Tribe, like Nup Htai and and Pan Au village, here we try to make amazing portraits of the ladies around the village, the local daily life of farmers and the tradional culture of the Chin Tribes.
After breakfast,drive an hour to “Chi” creek. Leave the car there and starts your trekking by crossing a string-bridge.Trek up to Lote-pe’ village for two hours to observe the settlement features as well as their honorable tomb stones.
All Chin traditional houses are decorated with skulls of different animals they got from the forest and some animals, they sacrificed. Proceed to Kyardoe village and enjoy your lunch with Chin traditional dance. Crossing Makee’ creek, we head back to drive up to Aye village and overnight there.
Morning depart from Aye village to the base camp of Mt Victoria. Pass through virgin forest abserving wild orchids, colourful butterflies and then continue further to make a few landscape stops on the road.
While observing the natural resources and undestroyed beauty of Mt Victoria area, you will gain an opportunity to study the exotic tattooed face of Chin women, the customs and their traditions of the hill tribes of Chin state. Overnight in Kanpalet. Kanpalet is a small, lovely hill station situated 4000 feet above sea level.
to visit some more villages around Kanpetlet, today we focul on people in their environment, how can we show the living conditions of these tribes, how can we make a story with our photos, our local guide will explain more about their personal life, their history and daily routines, many people farm chickens, pigs etc while some people still hunt for boar and other wildlife.
We will have a session photo shoot with a traditional Chin hunter, and walk with them down some amazing locations, houses etc to show the people in their landscape.
Continue your tour to Bagan, drive along the road which meanders down to the lower land before you enter into Yaw Region. Pass by “Saw”,”Seik -Phyu”and Chauk towns, finally back to Bagan. Overnight in Bagan.
Full day in Bagan, we visit the the Shwezigon pagoda, very early for sunrise shoots over Bagan. The Shwezigon is one of the four most significant buildings in Bagan.
Continue to visit the Htilominlo pagoda, famed for its original fine plaster carvings and glazed sandstone decorations which are remarkably well preserved before the visit to the Ananda Pagoda, one of the finest, largest and best persevered in Old Bagan.
Rest and lunch in our hotel, we proceed around 3 PM for the rest of our photoshooting. During your visit in Bagan, you will also have a chance to see a lacquer ware workshop whose birthplace is in Bagan. Finally, visit the Dhammayangyipagoda, Bagan’s largest temple.
We will shoot the sunset with tripod, from one of the most scenic spots in town and return to the hotel and enjoying your dinner. After dinner, transfer back to your hotel.
Departure from Bagan to Yangon for your connecting international flight.
INCLUDED IN THE EXPEDITION
- All teaching done by professional photographers and guides that know the locations very well in Myanmar
- Accommodations based on shared double room, please note accommodations in Chin State are very basic, and sometimes like on day 5 a home stay with toilets and showers outside the main building. This area has no hotels at all and we stay at a basic guesthouse.
- All meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner)
- Photography guidance
- Transport (A/C car, minibus or tuk tuk)
- All entrance fees
- Model fees, guides setup, assistants and special entree fees for specific locations
EXCLUDED IN THE EXPEDITION
- International travel to this destination and domestic flights if applicable.
- Any kind of insurance
- Other personal expenses, e.g. laundry, phone calls, gifts etc. Tips for local guide and staff
ACCOMMODATION OPTIONS
Accommodation is included for all nights in the price of this tour and based on shared double room. Extra charges apply for single occupancy.
FOOD
Sometimes we eat local food and go to restaurants on the way. Some areas are remote so will eat local (clean) Burmese food.
HOW TO BOOK
Our trips are designed for photographers in small groups, contact us for the rates by email (mention which tour you would like to book and how many people in your party) and we send you a detailed price list for your desired period.
If you are a single photographer and would like to join one of these trips then send us an email and we will send you all planned trips for the year: hotelfiles@gmail.com
INTERNATIONAL BANK TRANSFER
PAYABLE TO: Asia 4 You Co Ltd, based in Onnut 53 Yeek 1-7, Ket Praweth Bangkok 10250.
Bangkok Bank: Account Number: 232-481172-4
Branch: Seacon Square SWIFT code is BKKBTHBK
Email payment slip to: hotelfiles@gmail.com
TRAVEL INFORMATION
We meet in the capital city of Bangkok in Mandalay. (ticket Bangkok to Mandalay is not included in the tour rate)
International Passport needed for the trip, at least valid for 6 months. A valid visa for myanmar is also needed, you can apply here: https://evisa.moip.gov.mm
BEACH EXTENSIONS
Why not extend your stay in on of the most beautiful beaches of the world. We take care of your extensions to relax and enjoy your holiday even more.
CITY EXTENSION BANGKOK
We have an amazing extension in Bangkok, where we visit the photographic highlights of the Big Mango, and a visit to South Bangkok and the old capital city of Ayuthaya, contact us for more information.
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