15 September 2012

burma in october ...

i previously wrote a post about searching for a holiday - going through lots of different websites ... well, this time i found a decent search engine called Tour Radar ... hope it survives !

i'm looking for a trip to Burma which leaves on or after Friday 5th October and returns by 1st November ... and can be away up to about 16 days (3 weekends) ...

one of the cheapest options is Imaginative Traveller / Gecko who have a trip for 951 gbp - it includes an overnight train to Bagan/Pagan but doesn't mention whether it's a seat or bed (most trip fly up) ... starts in Yangon on Sunday 14th October and finishes on Sunday 28th

Explore have departures every couple of days starting in Yangon for example from Sunday 14th October to Saturday 27th October (but with limited availability), cost 1,399 gbp (or 2,233 gbp if the group flights are available) and includes two flights

The Adventure Company have a trip starting in Yangon on Saturday 6th October and finishing on Saturday 20th October for 1,570 gbp (or 2,619 gbp if the group flights are available) which includes 2 flights and a night on a riverboat / riverbank !

Exodus have a trip starting in Yangon on Wednesday 10th October which ends on Tuesday 23rd October for 1,449 gbp (or 2,259 gbp if the group flights are available) and includes 4 flights.

Spice Road have a cycling tour which is unfortunately fully booked, starting in Yangon on Sunday 7th October and finishing on Saturday 20th October for 2,895 USD plus 525 USD for cycle hire.  It includes 2 internal flights, 8 and a half days of cycling and is fully supported in case the cycling is too tough !

KE Adventure unfortunately don't start their interesting looking trip, which includes 4 days of hiking, until November

Bales Worldwide are fully booked for their October trips which cost 3,295 gbp from London

Panoramic Journeys unfortunately don't start their trips until late October.

Regent Holidays don't start their trips until November, and anyway, they're fully booked

Kumuka has gone bust

Travel Indochina have a trip starting in Yangon on Monday 15th October and finishing on Saturday 27th for 1,835 gbp including 4 internal flights.

Cox & Kings have a departure from London on Friday 19th October arriving back on Wednesday 31st October for 2,933 gbp including 4 internal flights.

Asian Horizons have a shorter trip with departure from London on Saturday 13th October, arriving back on Thursday 25th (seems too short for such a long way away) for 2,499 gbp staying in 4* hotels and includes three flights (rather than transferring by boat from Bagan to Mandalay) ... I guess you could add a few beach days on the end ...

Trans Indus have a trip starting on Sat 6th October from London arriving back on Thursday 18th for 2,698 gbp and include 4 internal flights


Amongst the companies offering private trips are Trailfinders who offer a 13 day itinerary, including 3 or 4 internal flights for 1,562 gbp from Yangon.

Mountain Kingdoms don't have any availability on the group trips, but do offer them as private trips.

Bamboo offer a 15 day itinerary from London for 2,995 gbp which includes 5 internal flights and takes in the west of the country that most trips ignore.

Another odd looking website has more suggestions.