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Mingalaba...
Warm greeting from Tai Star Travels.
It is currently the wet season in Myanmar which may help cool down the soaring temperature in many places within the country. Although coastal area and beaches are getting more rain than the main land, occasional light showers on the hightlands of Myanmar made it very pleasant and green.
While preparing for the peak season, we bring you Myanmar travel news and information, as well as upcoming events, festivals promotions.
There are also great offers and discounts which are not to be missed.
Travel to Myanmar for your holiday of lifetime.
Tai Star Travels Team
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Click here for the full brochure
International Tourist Arrivals may reach 1 million people in 2009-10
Based on the current market conditions and the figures from the first 4 months of 2009, the United Nations World Tourism Organisation has predicted that the arrival of international tourists in Myanmar is likely to increase to one million people.
Myanmar was able to attract only 200,000 international tourists in 2008 due to many different events including Cyclone Nargis and airport closures in Myanmar and Thailand, the main gateway into Myanmar.
Although travel industry representatives in Myanmar are not convinced about the predicted arrival number of 1 million, they agreed that the incoming tourist number is likely to increase compared to last year's low figures.
The key industry players and trade associations in Myanmar are working together to promote Myanmar as a top destination which will help the country buck the global trend as well as to increase the arrival by five fold.
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Myanmar Tourist Visa on Arrivals (V.O.A) are for those who cannot appear at their nearest Myanmar Embassy or who don't have Myanmar Embassy in their country. Any licensed tour operator or travel agent in Myanmar can apply V.O.A for their customers. It is however required by the Ministry of Travel & Tourism that the travellers need to book at least a travel service, such as one day hotel, one transfer, domestic flight, car, boat, part or full tour packages or other tourism related services provided by tour operator or agent who is applying. V.O.A is valid to travel in Myanmar for 28 days just like the tourist visa one can apply for at a Myanmar Embassy. |
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Border crossing via land gives a richer experience travelling through diverse geographic regions dwelled by different ethnic people of Myanmar and the breathtakingly beautiful scenic roads from borders to mainland Myanmar is a bonus to it.
Cross border travelling between Myanmar and its neighbours China, Thailand and India are increasingly popular. The most popular routes are between China and Myanmar via (Ruili/ Jaegao - Muse), Thailand and Myanmar via (Mae Sai - Tachileik) or (Ranong - Kawthaung). To travel through border ports, travellers will need a Myanmar Tourist visa (or visa on arrival) plus a special travel permit to travel through borders. Travellers need to mention that they will be travelling through Myanmar border via land, at the time of their visa application.
Any licensed local tour operator or agent in Myanmar can apply for the special permit for a customer who buys parts (e.g. hotel booking, transport, transfers) or whole travel service (e.g. tour packages).
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Mandalay - Destination of the month
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Mandalay is the second largest capital of Myanmar and it's a hub for cultural, economic activity, education and health centre for upper Myanmar. It is the last Royal capital of Myanmar, founded at the foot of Mandalay Hill by King Mindon in 1857. The square shape palace citadel was 66 square kilometres in an area surrounded by a 2032m long brick wall and by a moat 64m wide and 4.75m deep. Although the palace was burnt down to the ground during the World War II, a replica was rebuilt in 1990. The city surrounds the palace citadel has grown over the years into a 113km2 today Mandalay and it still keeps growing.
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As the hub of Myanmar culture, Mandalay has so much to offer for its visitors. The must-see places to visit around town include: Mandalay Hill (the 230m high holy mount), Kyauktawgyi Pagoda built by King Mindon in 1853-78 in which a Buddha image was carved out of a single block of marble, Mandalay Palace with finely built palace walls, wooden pavilions, city gates and surrounding moat, Shwe Nan Daw Monastery with its famous intricate wood-carvings which was part of the old palace, Maha Muni Image which was revered as the holiest pagoda in Mandalay, and Kuthodaw Pagoda (home to the world's biggest book, where the entire Buddhist bible was inscribed on marble slabs). Yadanabon Zoological Garden near Mandalay Hill has over 300 species and is known to be the only zoo to have Burmese Roofed Turtles.
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Outside Mandalay there is, Amarapura old town & U Payne Wooden Bridge, old Royal town Ava, Mingoon and Sagyne - also known as the Valley of Saints. The summer town Pyin Oo Lwin (also known as May Myo) on cool mountains is only two hours drive away. Pyin Oo Lwin has a lot of charming colonial style buildings and also a botanical garden, beautiful waterfalls, a big lime cave with a stream flowing through it, orchards, vineyards and some idyllic farms that grow strawberries and peaches. |
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Upcoming Festival in Myanmar
Taung Byone Festival (9th to 16th August):
The most famous Nat (spirit) festival in Myanmar is held in Madayar, about 1 hour drive from Mandalay, for 5 days. Special programs are presented every evening. It is usually very crowded and takes a long time to get into the village through the crowds. People of all ages can join in the Nat dance and many young people enjoy drinking at the festival.
Yadanar Gu Festival (24th to 30th August 2009):
This traditional Nat (spirit) festival is held in Amarapura, situaged on Mandalay-Sagaing Road, 30 minute drive from Mandalay. From Mandalay side of Amarapurah, you can get on a small sampan on the lake or walk on the famous U Payne Bridge to the Nat Shrine Hall.
Shwe Kyet Yet Boat racing festival (22nd September 2009):
Boat racing at Shwe Kyet Yet Jetty, near Mandalay.
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Eco Adventure Tours this winter season
We are bringing Eco Adventure tours in the Himalayas and other highlands in Myanmar and on some tropical islands in the Mergui Archipelago for this coming season. Details will follow in the next newsletter.
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Mountain Trekking in the Himalayas
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We are running a special promotion period for Myanmar Himalaya trekking trips to Phongan Razi and Ma Doi mountains from October to January, to encourage solo travellers and those in small groups of less than 4 people to experience adventure travels in the Himalayas. We will be running tours on fixed dates and will definitely leave if we have at least two travellers on the tour. During this period, any traveller will pay one price (less than the published price for solo travellers & those in group of less than 4). Groups of more than 4 will still get their big group discount.
Book before 31st October 2009, for travel in January 2010 and travel for less.
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Snowshoe Hiking in the Himalayas
We are offering snow shoe hiking trip to Phon Yin Mountain, our newly added destination in Myanmar Himalaya. Phon Yin mountain is easy to trek and has very beautiful, panoramic scenic summit. It also has a crashed plane from World War II and a beautiful lake plus travellers can further climb up to 15,000 feet altitude.
Book before 31st October 2009, for travel in January 2010 and save 20% on this trip.
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10% off on Myanmar Himalaya Tours
10% off on Mergui Archipelago Trips
15% off on Balloon over Bagan ticket
20% off on Balloon Safari in Shan State
20% off River cruises
25% great saving on group bookings of 4 or more
15% discounts on upgrading to Luxury River Cruising between Mandalay and Bagan with your Classic Myanmar Tour packages.
All offers valid until 31st October 2009
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