Quite unlike any land you know about.....

Rudyard Kipling once said “this is Burma”, “It will be quite unlike any land you know about” and coined as the Golden Land for its rich cultural history and natural resources.

More than a century later, Burma (Myanmar) still surprises and delights with its scattered gilded pagodas and the traditional ways of Asia and there’s no better time than now to join a tour or luxury river cruise and see this transitioning nation for yourself. One of the most famous pagodas in the world is Yangon, it’s like the Eiffel Tower of Yangon with Yangon being the main commercial city of Burma.

This enormous golden icon can be seen from most rooftops in the city, in fact, many clubs and bars seek out prime rental spaces and shell out extra money for a view of this place. It is a symbol of pride for the people of Burma.

As Burma’s most revered shrine it has always been customary for families, mendicants and followers of the Buddha to make the pilgrimage to the Shwedagon in much the same way that Muslims feel compelled to visit the Kaaba at Mecca at least once in their lifetime.

Burma has a richness of natural attractions that stretch from the highlands in the north to the pristine Myeik Archipelago in the south, with the sinuous Ayeyarwady River providing the cruising route between Mandalay and the Temples of Bagan and into more remote regions.

Exploring Burma may feel like you've stumbled into a living edition of National Geographic, c 1910 at its heart Burma is a rural nation of traditional values. Every day you'll encounter men wearing the sarong-like longyi and chewing betel nut, women with faces smothered in thanakha (a natural sunblock), and grannies smoking cheroot. Trishaws are the most common mode of transport, while the horse or bullock and cart is everyday rural transport.

Once isolated from the rest of the world, tourism is now encouraged in small groups allowing visitors to once again discover this beautifully preserved nation. Blended with a century of imperial colonialism and the diversity of regional influences, Burma is a cultural destination that will capture the hearts of adventurous travellers. It’s a unique and mysterious country with some of the most beautiful landscapes in Asia and still relatively untouched by the outside world.

Burma’s temple-strewn landscape and royal palaces survive refreshingly unspoiled. Bagan in central Burma is one of the world’s greatest archaeological sites, more than 2,230 original temples have survived from the 4,450 or so, a legacy of the Buddhist belief that to build a temple was to earn merit.

Burma (Myanmar) is the perfect destination for...

• Drifting down the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River in an old steamer or luxury cruiser between the enchanting Rangoon (Yangon), Mandalay and Bagan
• Having your own slice of beach on the blissful Bay of Bengal
• Trekking through pine forests to minority villages scattered across the Shan Hills far away from scores of fellow travellers
• Experiencing ancient traditions and cultures such as the leg rowers of Inle Lake
• Getting off the beaten track to immerse yourself in local culture
• Getting a bird’s-eye view of the temples and rural village life from a hot air balloon

At Cochoa Travel we can create your tailor-made Burma holiday, shaped around your preferences.

Enquire today get packing tomorrow for your journey to Burma!

#dreams #memories #paradise