The Chin state in Myanmar is probably one of the less explored regions, mainly due to poor road conditions before, which now have been finished in 2017. We can explore amazing mountain villages with a culture based on tribes and amazing traditions, still used to this day. We will visit the National Park of Mount Victoria, explore remote tribal villages, visit people at home (by invite only) and attend a home party with the locals. We will visit the amazing tribes of the Tattooed faced women of Mindat and Kampelet, and go beyond these villages to see more remote locations,…
Beginner, amateur, enthusiast and pro photographers.
Travel by minivans and walking.
Moderate elevation changes and some walking.
(*non-photographers also welcome)
This photography expedition is led by Expeditions in Photography and is limited to 10 travelers.
Trip Type: Photography Expedition
10 Days | Arrival city: Mandalay
Departure City: Bagan
Group Size: Min 6 max 15
Dates:
BANGKOK MANDALAY
Arrival in Mandalay, if the flight arrives on time we will visit U-Bein Bridge to shoot the sunset at U-Bein, an amazing construction wooden bridge a bit out of the city center. Amazing photos can be done here either from a small boat or on the bridge. Overnight at the hotel in Mandalay.
MANDALAY
Full day phototour of Mandalay City, Visit to Mahamuni Pagoda which houses one of Myanmar’s most sacred Buddha Images covered with thick layers of gold leave.
Visit to local artisan’s workshops of gold leaf making, woodcarving and kalaga tapestries.
Visit to Zaycho Market, the oldest, largest and the most important market in upper Myanmar. Visit to Shwenandaw Monastery, noted for its exquisite wood carvings and consists mostly of teak wood; the renovated Atumashi Monastery which is referred as incomparable monastery
And the ‘world’s largest book’ at Kuthodaw Pagoda, being the Buddhist Scriptures inscribed on marble slabs.
Go up the top of Mandalay Hill, a vantage point for panoramic view of the city and spectacular sunset view. Overnight ate our hotel in Mandalay.
MANDALAY MINDAT
Today we leave in the morning after breakfast and head by minivan to the town of Mindat, located in the Chin Mountains, a lovely hill station located 4860 feet above sea level. arrive in the early afternoon and check-inn the hotel for our overnight. Overnight in Mindat.
Mindat
In the morning after breakfast we will visit the local town and explore the first tattooed lady from the Makaan tribe, wearing amber beads and full tradional dress, she demonstrates the dying tradition of playing the nose flute,
In the afternoon we visit local villages to see more ladies and people from the Moon Tribe, like Nup Htai and and Pan Au village, here we try to make amazing portraits of the ladies around the village, the local daily life of famers and the tradional culture of the Chin Tribes.
Overnight in Mindat
Drive to Kanpetlet, a drive that takes normally 4 hours, but we will make some interesting photostops in the villages of Saw and Kangyi. In saw we will be in a different landscape than the mountains, where we will see the rice culture and try to find the last ladies of the Oppu Tribe (face is fully covered in black ink tattoo) and take some photos of their way of life, we then proceed to make more landscape photographs of the rice culture, people working in the fields (depends on season) and proceed to Kanpetlet. Overnight in Kanpetlet.
In the morning, drive an hour to the base camp of Mount Victoria and see the landscape around the area of the National Park. We drive to some villages where we can watch different people of Chin Tribes. We will also learn how to make amazing portraits on the go with a small build studio on location, without using any studio lights. Overnight in Kanpetlet.
Second day to visit some more villages around Kanpetlet, today we focul on people in their environment, how can we show the living conditions of these tribes, how can we make a story with our photos, our local guide will explain more about their personal life, their history and daily routines, many people farm chickens, pigs etc while some people still hunt for boar and other wildlife, we will have a session photoshoot with a traditional Chin hunter, and walk with them down some amazing locations, houses etc to show the people in their landscape.
Overnight in Kanpetlet.
Drive from Mindat to Bagan, check in the hotel and free afternoon.
Overnight in Bagan.
Full day in Bagan, we visit the the Shwezigon pagoda, very early for sunrise shoots over Bagan. The Shwezigon is one of the four most significant buildings in Bagan. Continue to visit the Htilominlo pagoda, famed for its original fine plaster carvings and glazed sandstone decorations which are remarkably well preserved before the visit to the Ananda Pagoda, one of the finest, largest and best persevered in Old Bagan.
Rest and lunch in our hotel, we proceed around 3 PM for the rest of our photoshooting.
During your visit in Bagan, you will also have a chance to see a lacquer ware workshop whose birthplace is in Bagan. Finally, visit the Dhammayangyipagoda, Bagan’s largest temple. We will shoot the sunset with tripod, from one of the most scenic spots in town and return to the hotel and enjoying your dinner. After dinner, transfer back to your hotel.
Departure from Bagan to Yangon for your connecting international flight.
Tour inclusions
Tour exclusions
PRICE
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT
Please bring:
Tripod and camera gear, wide angle lens is recommended, as well
as a 10 stop filter for long exposures.
A portrait lens you are comfortable with.
Memory cards and notebook to copy, Hard drive for backup your photos.
Protective waterproof bags for your gear
Good walking shoes for rocks and hard/wet surface.
Minimum 4 guests is required to confirm the trip.
Cancellation Conditions:
If the balance is not received in time, Asia 4 You Co., Ltd retains the right to resell the booked available spaces on this trip.
PAYMENT:
Payment Conditions:
8. Payment Method: Payment to be made:
a) by US Dollar – cash at our office (Asia 4 You Co Ltd) in Bangkok
b) by wire transfer, net amount, to the indicated account (account details will be mentioned in the Invoice)
c) by your credit card via PayPal (we have to charge you a 3% extra service fees if you decide to pay through PayPal as PayPal is charging this fees to us).
We strongly recommend that each guest purchases comprehensive accident, medical, baggage and trip cancellation / interruption insurance when they book the trip. Please be advised that if guest chooses NOT to purchase any trip insurances, we will not be responsible for any financial disappointment caused by any reasons beyond our control. No partial or full refund will be made for unused services.
VISA
Note - Visa: Please be advised that agents or passengers are required to obtain all the necessary visas for the county to be visited. For Myanmar and Thailand a valid passport for six months are required. You will have to apply and obtain a 28 days valid tourist visa for you to enter Myanmar. We recommend that you contact your local Myanmar Embassy for the most up to dated information on visa and passport requirements. A combination to enter Myanmar in Yangon and leave Myanmar in Kawthaung is allowed,. Since 1st September 2016 one can apply for e-visa to allow tourists and business people to enter through Kawthaung and then they can travel freely from Kawthaung to other destinations in Myanmar on the same tourist or business visa, please see https://evisa.moip.gov.mm/