In Focus: Bagan Community Experience
Bagan, Myanmar (Burma)
From EUR 77.85
Office phone number: +95 1 656259
In Focus: Bagan Community Experience
Bagan, Myanmar (Burma)
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
-
-
Tour snapshot
Travel to the village of Kyunkalay, an undeveloped town beyond Bagan that you won’t find mentioned in any guidebooks. Learn how locals are working with ActionAid Myanmar and using responsible tourism to improve local infrastructure and living conditions.
-
Highlights
- Visit a rural community and learn about local community development plans from village leaders
- Enjoy lunch in a local family’s home and find out what it’s like to live in this part of Myanmar
- Learn about thanaka, a traditional paste that’s used as a beauty treatment, and visit a market dedicated to it
- Ride a boat across the Ayeyarwady River, the largest river in Myanmar
- $4 per person is donated to the community development fund in the village we visit
-
Schedule details
- Duration: 6 hours
- Meeting point:
In front of New Wave Guest House, Wet Kyi Inn, Naung Oo, Bagan
- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 8.00 AM
- Ending point:
Ayar Jetty (near Aye Yar River View Resort)
Language: English
Inclusions: Transportation, lunch, local guide, boat trip, community development fund contribution.
Exclusions: Entrance fees, items purchased by the clients, tips for local guide or anyone
From the meeting point, we’ll drive about 45 minutes to reach Pakkoku, about 45 minutes away. Here, we’ll spend roughly an hour at the biggest thanakha market in Myanmar, as well as a local wet market. Thanakha is a cosmetic paste made from ground bark and is an ancient beauty treatment in Myanmar, said to treat wrinkles, sun damage, and acne, and even believed to help with fevers and headaches.
From the markets, we’ll head to a local tea shop and sample some tea and local street foods. Try some treats and get a literal taste for local life here!
We’ll then drive another 45 minutes to reach a small village, called Kyunkalay. This is a tiny place that you won’t find in any guidebooks or on Wikipedia — entirely undeveloped with no electricity, no school for the local children, and not even a monastery. The main form of transportation is by oxen cart and bicycle.
We’ve partnered with ActionAid Myanmar, an organisation working to bring human rights and social justice to neglected communities. ActionAid doesn’t believe in handouts, instead helping communities to find their own sustainable solutions. Urban Adventures has formed a partnership to help introduce tourism to the community of Kyunkalay in a way that is responsible, sustainable, and won’t negatively impact their culture and heritage.
You’ll get to walk around the village and learn about important tasks locals do, such as harvesting beans and vegetables, or growing flowers. We’ll then join a local family for lunch in their home, where you’ll be able to learn more about what life is like in this part of Myanmar.
We’ll finish off the tour with a ride on an ox-driven cart to reach the nearest jetty, where we’ll cross the Ayeyarwady River, the largest and most important waterway in Myanmar. We’ll reach Ayar Jetty on the other side, and from here your guide will help you to arrange for local transportation back to your hotel, or into the city to explore more on your own.
-
Additional information
Inclusions: Transportation, lunch, local guide, boat trip, community development fund contribution.
Exclusions: Entrance fees, items purchased by the clients, tips for local guide or anyone
Dress standard: As Myanmar is a conservative country and we are visiting local communities, please dress respectfully, ensuring your shoulders and knees are covered.
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.
-
Local contact
Office phone number: +95 1 656259
Email address: info@baganurbanadventures.com
BACK TO TOP