Myanmar 2 week itinerary

Planet

This tour program is designed to ensure every traveler has authentic interactions with local people, businesses, transportation, and food and drink. As we know, “Flying” is one of the fastest growing sources of CO2, we include only two essential air travel in this program. Travel by land, water transport and Community Involved Trekking Program, the passengers can taste more deeply to natural beauties, scenery, villages, ways of life, local culture and also have more chance to interact with local people whilst maintaining and/or improving the environment.

All our tours and activities are run by local experts, who are trained on initiatives of Sustainability Management and Responsible Travel practices. We also educate local community and raise awareness about the environmental issues and responsible behavior.

We distribute useful information sheet to our passengers which provides tips to travelers on best practices while traveling (codes of conduct / guidelines for sensitive excursions or activities). And well inform to our clients about sustainable offers such as sustainable accommodations and excursions, activities etc..

All the hotels we used are locally owned and are strong in implementing the Code of Conduct. These hotels strive to take measures in order to reduce damage to the environment. This includes measuring, monitoring and reducing our consumptions.

Regarding energy reduction, we strive to use sustainable energy whenever possible and to reinforce our light and office equipment “switch-off” policy. Water usage is to reduce by replacing toilet water tanks and shower heads to low volume units. Office paper usage to reduce by adopting a sustainable printing policy, to optimize daily printing efficiency and two sided printing policy.

We provide our guests with refillable BPA free water bottles and reusable Myanmar Traditional Bags to be green travelers. We set up a waste management system to reduce, reuse and recycle waste produced. Therefore we commit to measure our recyclable and non-recyclable, reduce the amount of packaging materials and plastic water bottles and finally to recycle batteries. In our hotels and vehicles, the trash containers are set up with the labels of Glass, Metal, Paper, Plastic and Wet Waste etc. Our travelers are well informed of our waste management system and clients are happy to dispose the waste accordingly.

Here below are some points of our promise on environmental sustainability and improvement :

- Yangon Heritage Walk highlights the historical importance of the colonial-era heritage buildings and the need for their preservation.

- River journey up the Irrawaddy River from Mandalay to the riverside village of Mingun, enjoying the picturesque scenery of this river and the lifestyles of the local people who live and work on these waters. Unlike Ava and Amarapura, Mingun was not a royal capital yet has many interesting sites to see. The entry fee we pay in this area is used for maintaining the area and environment.

- Innwa (Ava) visit by local boat and horse cart, are conducted by local people, contribute to the local economy and reducing the environmental impact on this area.

- In Monywa, cross the Chindwin River by ferry and proceed to Po Win Taung by local open-air jeep. This extraordinary complex consists of 947 sandstone caves dug out of the hills and contains what is considered by archaeologists to be the richest collection of mural paintings and Buddhist statues in Southeast Asia. We make donations and co-operations with local authorities for sustainability of sandstone caves, mural paintings and the area.

- In Bagan area, visit a rural villages and enjoying lunch at village house supports the local economy and preserves the local environment.

- 2 Days 1 night trekking in Inle Lake, as a Community Involved Tourism (CIT) program, conducted by local people of the area, uses locally-sourced products, sustaining the environment and contributing to the local economy.

People

Our guides inform travelers about the best places to consume from local sources during the visit. We introduce our passengers to local artists, productive projects and social cooperatives, promoting fair trade. All of the projects that are included in our tours and trips find another fundraising source in responsible tourism. Moreover, our passengers are invited to make additional donations and purchases to the social projects we visit, as a way of showing gratefulness for receiving us and in order to contribute to their mission and sustainability.

Furthermore, our trips contribute to diversify the local economies, to give employment to local communities as well as motivations for younger people.
As a company, we mainly support orphanages at present. We work with our local suppliers closely, encouraging them to implement to our Code of Conduct. We trust in these local suppliers do their utmost to respect and achieve the standards we set out. We have a responsibility towards society to be a good corporate citizen, from a sustainable supply chain to ethical human rights.

Here below are some points of our promise on community and community development:

- Hla Day Gift shop is Yangon provide a sustainable market place, business and design training to support the livelihoods of local producers, many of whom are struggling to overcome disability, exclusion and poverty. It is a non-profit social enterprise and work together with Myanmar artisans, disadvantaged groups and small local businesses to design, develop and sell quality handmade products with a contemporary twist.

- Visiting Mahagandayon Monastery in Mandalay, and offering a monk is contributing to local education and the monastery.

- Enjoying lunch at village house in Bagan effect mainly benefit to local community whilst clients can learn more deeply to local ways of live.

- Visiting local workshops in Mandalay, Bagan and Inle lake are where your contribution will directly help the local economy.

- Boat trip in Mingun, Inle Lake and Pakokku to Bagan are conducted by local people. Enjoying this activities is contributing for development of local community directly.

- Two days 1 Night Kalaw to Inle Lake Community Involved Trekking helps directly to support local community economic development, whilst clients can learn more deeply to locals ways of life and culture, without any negative impact to environment.