The Old Burma Road - 21 days

Departure's suspended until further notice

$8699pp twin/double | solo traveller please add $1900

The Burma Road was constructed by the British from Mandalay to Kunming in 1937 to support the Nationalist Chinese in their fight against the Japanese however the route had been in use for a thousand years before by traders, settlers and invaders.

This journey travels for 21 days from Yangon in Myanmar to Kunming in China. Along the way we visit the 10th century ancient capital of Bagan where we will see over 3000 pagodas and temples sprawling across a flood plain of the Irrawaddy River. In the southern Shan State we will spend time on the Inle Lake, arguably the most stunning attraction natural in Myanmar before joining the Burma Road in Mandalay.

Our route takes us north through the old British hill station of Pyin OO Luin where we will travel by local train across the Gok Tek gorge through fields of corn- the wooden huts of the Shan people clustering on the sides of the valleys. We cross the border into China (Yunnan Province) and contrast is evident immediately. Broad roads, substantial buildings and immaculate agriculture fill the valleys enroute to Tenchong. Yunnan province is the most ethnically diverse in China and we will see many locals in the colourful costumes tilling the fields and in markets. The towns of Dali and Lijiang are a delight where cobblestone streets meander past flowing streams with tiny bridges dating from 1000 years before. In this part of China three great rivers (Yangtze, Salween and Mekong) are only separated by 100 kilometres – we will cross all three before reaching Tiger Leaping gorge.

We visit the Tibetan town of Zhong Dian before reaching the conclusion of our journey in Kunming.