14 days - November 4-17, 2009
$2995 ppdo includes roundtrip air from LAX!

"Forget about London, Paris, Rome.  Rangoon, Mandalay, and Bagan are not to be missed!"
--Andy Duvall, Palm Springs

Day 1: Check into LAX late this evening and depart shortly after midnight on award-winning Singapore Airlines.

Day 2: Singapore. Noon arrival in Singapore. After clearing customs, transfer to your centrally located 1st Class hotel. Balance of day at leisure. This evening, why not visit historic Raffles Hotel, home of the original Singapore Sling? ELIZABETH HOTEL.

Photos by Lynne Hoover

Day 3: Singapore. Morning city tour of this city/island/state, including visits to Little India, China Town, and the Singapore Botanic Gardens. The rest of your day is free, or opt to go out of the city and visit fascinating Sentosa Island. (B)

Day 4: Singapore-Yangon (Rangoon). Transfer this morning to the airport and fly to Yangon (Rangoon), Myanmar. Your journey through Burma begins with an afternoon tour of the former capital’s colonial-style city center. Visit 2,000-year old Sule Pagoda and the magnificent reclining Buddha at Chauk Htat Gyi. After a photo stop at the Karaweik Hall, a bird-shaped floating barge on Royal Lake, enjoy a welcome dinner hosted by your guide. TRADERS HOTEL. (B, D)

Day 5: Yangon. This morning, stroll through Scott’s Market, featuring hundreds of food, clothes, handicrafts, and gem stores. Then visit the National Museum, followed by an extended visit to one of the world’s most spectacular monuments, the Shwedagon Pagoda. The rest of the day is at leisure. (B, L)

Day 6: Yangon-Heho-Inle Lake. After breakfast, a short flight takes you to the city of Heho, gateway to Inle Lake. Exciting transfer to your hotel by motorized long boats. After check-in, your lake tour includes sightseeing of the famous leg rowers, typical floating gardens, local fishermen, a weaving village, and surrounding markets. Magnificent scenery! LAKE VIEW RESORT. (B,D)

Day 7: Inle Lake. Depending on the water level, sail to the western shore of Inle Lake, where you will find the beginning of a stair path leading to the hidden Inn Thein Pagoda complex. After lunch, proceed to Thei Lei Ol village, a beautiful rural farming village on the eastern shore. Here, you are at the heart of the most important farming area on the lake. The inhabitants of the village are Inn Tha and Pao ethnic minority groups, well known for their organic farming methods. They provide an excellent window onto a life untouched by modern development. Return to hotel by boat. (B, L, D)

Day 8: Inle Lake-Mandalay. After breakfast, fly to Mandalay, home to one of the most revered religious monuments in Myanmar, the Mahamuni Pagoda. Visit the site and the Kuthodaw Pagoda, home to the world’s largest book, made of marble. Check out Burmese silk and tapestry shops before proceeding to Mandalay Hill for spectacular sunset views, and then to your hotel. MANDALAY HILL RESORT. (B)

Day 9: Mandalay. This morning, A.C.T. has customized an intimate visit through the Myanmar Friendship Foundation to visit a monastic education affiliated high school. You will be given a personal tour of working classrooms—elementary and secondary—and of dormitories where young monks are housed. Many students travel miles by foot to attend the school to receive their free education, and all are very appreciative of any school supplies you may wish to donate. After your memorable visit, tour the former royal capital of Inwa (Ava), reached by a short river trip. A horse-drawn carriage takes you to Nanmyint Watch Tower, a.k.a. “the Leaning Tower of Ava.”(B, L)

Day 10: Mandalay-Bagan. Fly to Bagan, situated on the famed Irrawaddy River. Afternoon sightseeing features the most important sites in this region. Ascend a select pagoda for a breathtaking sunset view of over 3,000 mysterious and magnificent stupas and temples. THARABAR GATE HOTEL. (B,L)

Day 11: Bagan-Mount Popa-Bagan. A morning tour takes you to Mount Popa,an extinct volcano with gorgeous vistas and a shrine dedicated to animist spirits known as nats. Enjoy lunch at the Popa Mountain Resort. (B, L)

Day 12: Bagan-Yangon. Following breakfast, fly to Singapore, where an overnight hotel is provided at the airport. (B)

Day 13: Singapore/ Los Angeles. Return to LAX, arriving the same day, or opt to take A.C.T.’s Japan vacation extension.

Captivating Tokyo - 4 Days/3 Nights just $595 ppdo!

A unique culture and mix of high-tech and magnificent old shrines distinguish Tokyo. Discover the city’s abundant arts and cultural offerings, commercial shopping districts, museums, galleries and religious sites. Our extension package includes 3-nights at 1st Class Akasaka Prince Hotel, full American breakfasts daily, transfers, and half day sightseeing tour of Tokyo. Returns to LAX Nov. 19.