How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Absolutely terrific. Very professional at all times yet sympathetic to the needs of western tourists. Nyi Nyi was able to explain local ways and involve us in getting to grips with some of the more obscure traditions. We really felt we were getting under the skin of what was going on in the country.  Nyi Nyi had a great sense of humour and looked after us all  very well.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Go with an open mind. Be prepared for some early starts and do your homework.

Do you have anything else to add?

The only negative was the overlong wait in transit on way home at Kualur Lumpur airport. Also we were not aware that although there were only 3 internal flights , these necessitated many take offs and landings for each flight en route to our destinations. eg from  Tachilek we had to fly to  Lashio then Mandalay and finally Rangoon.

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Aye-Kyaw was a brilliant leader.   He was extremely knowledgeable about everything Buddhist and gave us a really good grounding in the Buddhist philosophy and knew everything there was to know about each site we saw.   He was attentive all the time and he made the trip really easy.   This is the first time we have travelled on a "group" tour, we usually travel independently, and we were amazed that we didn't carry or move our bags from the minute we stepped off the plane in Yangon till we got back on.   Our leader had absolutely everything under control all the time.   When we trekked to the more remote villages in the Shan province we had a local guide who knew the villages personally and Aye-Kyaw was happy to take a step back to let him lead, whilst keeping an eye on all our needs.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Definitely do it soon.   The country is changing quickly.   We felt lucky to be able to see it before tourism has really got a hold.  Tourist numbers are increasing rapidly.

Do you have anything else to add?

We would have liked a bit more walking/trekking.   It was a very full programme with very little time to relax, but that's what we signed up to.   We did waste some time on internal flights and long drives when there may have been direct flights available without the long drives, or alternative areas of the Shan province more easily accessible.  However, we were very pleased to be able to go to the places we went to and the internal airports were part of the experience!

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

His organisational skills of sorting out hotels and transport were very good and he had a pleasant personality. However, he was disappointing in the information he gave us, his understanding of English was not good and generally I learnt more from the Lonely Liar than I did from him.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

If you want to do the ballon trip over Bagan then book it yourself in advance because it gets booked up early and Explore guide just say its booked - big disappointment having taken $700 (2 people)in cash to pay for it.

Do you have anything else to add?

I consider the scenary in Vietnam to be better, the Anchor Wat sites in Cambodia have more impact and Laos is more laid back. The people of Burma are friendly and tipping is a novelty to them. The hard sell souvenirs is quite tolerable but every possible opportunity is taken to sell to tourists. The village we walk to of Prin Nae Bin was a building site with all new houses replacing the traditional ones - another disappointment. Do not expect a country still in the 1960s as the Chinese and Thai are pouring money in there for teak and oil resources. One market on the Thai border would not except dollars or kyatts only Thai bahts - which we didn't have.

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Other than getting us to where we were supposed to be each day he failed us in every way, particularly by his lack of information and inability to speak understandable English.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

If you are interested in the Balloons Over Bagan flight you must book on the internet yourself as many months in advance as possible.  There is a huge waiting list every day.  I booked 6 weeks in advance and even then was on the waiting list, and had a confirmed place a couple of weeks before leaving. Nobody else in our group could get a last minute place. Take a fleece etc as Kalaw is cold morning and evening. Ask your leader to include the jade market in Mandalay en route to Amarapura as it is fascinating.  Be prepared for some very long coach trips, and as two thirds of our group had either D. or V. or both have sufficient medication with you.I changed $500 into kyat on day 1. $400 would have been enough (group tip kitty and balloon flight were paid for seperately).

Do you have anything else to add?

I would rate this holiday higher if we had had a decent guide. More time needed in Rangoon, and rather than the last two nights spent in different hotels they should both have been at the Summit Park View after all the travelling we had done. Go now to see the country before it changes too much. Explore should investigate other airlines for the group flight as seven and a half hours at K.L. on the way back is too long.

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Our tour leader was called 'George', he was informative, spoke excellent English, had a good sense of humour and has years of experience working for NGOs as an interpreter.  George was so good I have voted for him as the tour leader for 2012.  Unfortunately I met other groups who were not as fortunate.    Burma is expanding its tourist industry so fast that many guides cannot speak English very well and are not as knowledgeable as George.   |Check this point before booking.   

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Book the two week 'Burma Highlights' instead, not the three week tour.

Do you have anything else to add?

"I booked the three week tour - don't!  
The first two weeks were great then the holiday went down hill fast.  Too much travel on planes and the coach in the third week, followed by the long journey home (a seven hour wait in Kuala Lumpur airport).  You'll get back home exhausted.  Additionally, the accommodation was inferior and the villages visited in the third week are not that different to the villages seen in the first two weeks, so save your money and go on the two week 'Burma Highlights' instead.  Burma is wonderful, I'd have liked to spend longer in Rangoon, Mandalay, Inle Lake ( a must) and Bagan.  Go now!"

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Outstanding

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Just enjoy yourself

 

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Excellent,and amazingly good.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Go with the flow,and enjoy.

 

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Very good, especially at making the most of opportunities with meeting local people.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

"Avoid group meals as the restaurants can not cope.
Take a sleeping bag liner and sleeping mat."

 

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Good.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

"Checking into the Hotel at Golden Rock, use an overnight bag. We were advised that, but not about the fact that the 15-minute walk is a very strenuous uphill walk! Would have lessen the load a lot more."

Do you have anything else to add?

"It could have been a more comfortable trip. Transport and accommodation were disappointing. At Golden Rock, the public truck operator engaged, sardine-packed us to maximize load. We saw a smaller group being transported in comfort. Some of the hotels were lacking in essentials, such as hot shower, and leaking air-conditioner. Signs of poor maintenance were evident in a good number of the hotels used. On the last 2 days in Rangoon, we were made to check-in 2 hotels, one night each. Why? We felt that every possible cheaper options were employed, giving us a bitter taste in an otherwise wonderful trip with beautiful people in our group."

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

"Excellent and organised all aspects of our tour very well".

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Be prepared for alot of time in the coaches due to fully packed itinerary and very little time to relax at hotel/destinations. 

Do you have anything else to add?

"Would liked to have had more opportunity to sample more authentic Burmese food and not the standard fried noodles/rice dishes etc but owing to the large group this would have been challenging to cater for all needs. 

Hotel standards were good and higher than expected.

Exchanging money at Yangon airport is okay to do and they offered a good rate of exchange for USD notes"

 

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

Very personable and knowledgeable.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

Go!

Do you have anything else to add?

"Just fantastic.

Such a packed itinerary, so many ways of travelling .

Good job I have photos to help me remember what we did.

I think that when we had free time it would have been good to be staying in town rather than at hilltop but really it was great trip."

 

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

 

Our tour leader was excellent. A charming man who did everything he could to make our tour enjoyable.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

 

 

Everything was cheaper than we expected so you can calculate your money accordingly. if you want to do the balloon flight in Bagan it should be booked before you go. 

Do you have anything else to add?

 

 

The group size was too large. I have noticed that groups are getting bigger and 17 (was 18 but 1 dropped out) is too many. The memorable experience with the woman would not have happened had it not been for the fact that a number of our party were ill and so did not go on the trip. 17 of us could not have sat on the platform of her house and talked to her through the interpreter as we did. There was only about 12 of us and I think that to get a real experience of the local people the group needs to be about that size. we made the same comment last year about our experience in Vietnam when our Laos group joined with another group and the size was 18. It is really too many and I think it is something you need to consider for trips such as this.

 

 

How was your Explore Tour Leader?

She was very knowledgeable and had a good sense of humour.

What tips would you give to someone else booking this tour?

"It gets dark by 5.30 in October/November so be ready for some pretty early starts to make the most of the daylight.

There is a lot of time spent on coaches - roads are sometimes poor and journeys take longer than expected (eg 75 miles takes 3 hours!)."

Do you have anything else to add?

I will be sending you a fuller review by post with some more detailed comments and suggestions for adaptations.

 

If at all possible do this trip. Every other tour seems to do a standard two week circuit that is ondoubtably fascinating in a country of gold temples and buddhas of all sizes and quantities. BUI , in addition, goes to two far less visited areas which take you away from most other tourists and give you a chance to see locals who are as interested in you as you are in them. Golden Rock is as fascinating to be amongst the burmese in their very holy place as is the structure itself. The trip is very busy, we visited many temples saw Buddhas in all positions and sizes , Gold is everywhere, on the outside of most religious structures and added , in the form of gold leaf, to some buddhas already encrusted in leaf applied by countless others! The people are just lovely, with friendly dispositions . Infrastructure is poor but improving and much road improvement is totally manual with no mechanism available. The tour organisation must win prizes , hotels are well above H+ standard and the longer boat trips are private charter. It can be phenominally hot, but free bottled water is available on buses & in hotels. There are no ATMs and few mobile phones. Wifi, for those who must have it, is available in many hotels. It is a cash only economy. Prepare to have your mind blown.