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Myanmar, previously known as Burma, is a profoundly Buddhist country.
Temple Historically this country has been known for its plight to preserve its own unique culture by shutting its doors to the outside world. It has only been in recent years that the socialist government has allowed foreigners in to see its hidden and timeless beauty. There are few countries remaining in the world where there are few, if any, western influences and one can absorb a culture that has truly escaped outside influencs.
The Buddhists endless and peaceful search for nirvana is a welcome reprieve from our western fast-paced competitive lives. Once we adjust our timetables and patience levels, it is easy to engross oneself in the floating and serene lull of daily life.
Studying monks

Feeding Monks

Rise with the sun and partake in a ritual where one is able to
put food in the bowls of the waiting monks.
There are many sights that highlight the Buddhist religion, but none more magnificent than the Shwedagon Pagoda in the capital city, Yangon (previously Rangoon). One will be awe-struck by the 326 foot golden dome encrusted with 5,448 sparkling diamonds and over 2,317 rubies, sapphires, and topaz.
Temples of Pagan
Another architectural marvel is the 5,000 shrines and temples that rise from the plains of Pagan. The sight of thousands of domes and spires dominating the skyline at sunset is an image that one can only see in this enigmatic country.
Jumping Cat Monastery For those who need a reprieve from archaeological sites and temples, the Inle Lake area in the hill country is a beautiful natural environment. The ethnic minorities of this area anchor patches of weed on the water and use them as floating flower and vegetable gardens. One can also visit the "Jumping Cat" Monastery where monks have trained cats to do amazing tricks.

THE ROAD TO MANDALAY

An ideal way to see a different side of life in Myanmar is aboard one of the Orient Express' luxury river cruisers, the "Road to Mandalay." One can make the peaceful river journey along the Ayeyarwady River from the cultural center of Mandalay to Pagan, the treasure trove of Buddhist art history. Here one has the opportunity to disembark and visit one of the nearby villages to see how the local people live. A truly eye opening experience!
Upper deck of the "Road to Mandalay" View from Boat
Relax on the upper deck while taking in the temple studded horizon and ever-changing scenes of the surrounding river life.

POSSIBLE COMBINATIONS AND EXTENSIONS
We highly recommend a combination trip to Thailand. It is a nice contrast to see two countries similar in that both are predominantly Buddhist, yet on different sides of the spectrum in terms of modern development. It is also interesting to compare the architectural greatness of the ancient temple of Angkor Wat in Cambodia to the temples of Pagan. A visit to Vietnam will show one why people are talking about this country in such glowing terms. This country is surprisingly beautiful with subtle French architectural influences, images of farmers with conical straw hats working alongside water buffalo in the rice fields, and the white sand of China Beach. Isn't it time to replace our old memories of Vietnam with new ones? Legendary spas are a great extension for a few extra days in either Thailand or Bali. Spoil oneself with herbal steam aromatherapy or a relaxing massage. Careful, you may never want to return home!
LAOS IS A PERFECT EXTENSION FOR THOSE WITH A FEW DAYS TO SPARE
Laotian Temple One of Indochina's former French colonies; Laos has also been isolated from the outside world until recent years. Visit the Wat Si Saket Temple in the capitol city of Vientiane and climb the long staircase up to the Phoussy Temple in the former imperial capitol city of Luang Prabang. Once in Luang Prabang, board a riverboat on the fabled Mekong River and be rewarded with stunning views of deep forests and the mystical caves of Pak Ou. One can even learn the secret behind distilling Laotian whiskey from one of the local villagers. A visit to a hill tribe of weavers gives one a glimpse of a local craft that supports an entire village. These weavings make beautiful gifts for those loved ones not able to experience this rustic country firsthand!
For more information or questions, please contact us.