Burma is a special photographic destination. The people are among the friendliest
in the world. They are quick to smile, very warm, and very welcoming. They are
also beautiful, and they make wonderful photographic subjects. The Burmese culture
is fascinating and ancient, and the monuments, the temples, and the villages will
afford you extraordinary photo opportunities. Pagan at sunrise and sunset, for example,
is one of the great photography experiences of Southeast Asia. The monks are happy to
pose for your camera, and people who are engaged in prayer and meditation have no
problem being photographed. The colors in Burma are fantastic, the food is great, and
for an overall travel experience, Burma will be at the top of your list of fantastic
places you have visited.

VISIT THE PHOTO GALLERY

TOUR POLICIES:  Please click here to read the tour policies page.

 

 

Tour cost: $6895
Single supplement (if you have your own room): $875

Includes: All hotels (4 star) based double occupancy, 4 domestic flights, sightseeing
with air-conditioned vehicle, entrance fees into archeological zones, camera fees, all
meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner), all boat trips, service charges, government tax.

Not included: International airfare, visa fees, departure tax ($10), drinks, items
of a personal nature.

 

ITINERARY

DAY 1, Nov 9. Depart U.S. for the trans-Pacific journey to Southeast Asia

 

DAY 2, Nov 10. Cross the International date line and lose one day

 

DAY 3, Nov 11. Arrive in Yangon (formerly Rangoon) and transfer to our hotel. We will meet our
local guide, Win, and Jim will give you an orientation of the trip, answer questions, and if
the tour participants aren’t too jet lagged, we can do some afternoon and evening photography.
Overnight Kandawgyi Palace Hotel, Yangon.

 

DAY 4, Nov 12. The most stunning pagoda in Yangon and all of Burma is Schedegon, a 2500 year old
Buddhist temple. The golden stupa is the spiritual center of the country, and you will see monks
in their traditional robes, people in meditation, and richly decorated statuary. This pagoda offers
some of the most incredible architecture photography in Asia. We also visit Kandawgyi Lake to photo-
graph the incredible floating barge with its twin dragons as well as the octagonal Sule Pagoda in
the heart of the city. We will do night photography this evening because many of the pagodas are
illuminated dramatically. Overnight Kandawgyi Palace Hotel, Yangon.

 

DAY 5 – 7, Nov 13, 14, 15.  Today we fly to Bagan (formerly Pagan), one of the great treasures
of Burma. Lying along the Ayeryarwady River, Bagan is a vast deserted city of giant pagodas
from the 11th to 13th centuries. It is a treasure chest of stunning photographic opportunities.
The sunrises and sunsets are incredible, and the magnificent temples are as intriguing and
beautiful inside as they are on their exteriors. You will be able to photograph people as well,
and Jim will set up a number of classic shots that will be among your all-time favorite travel
images. You can take an optional hot air balloon ride above the ruins that you’ll never forget,
and Jim will demonstrate how you can dramatize portraits as well as details in the ancient stone-
work using off-camera flash. Overnight Bagan Thande Hotel, Bagan.

 

Day 8 – 10, Nov 16, 17, 18. Today we fly to Mandalay. We spend three days exploring this former
capital and its environs. Wood carved monasteries offer a stunning environment in which to
photograph young monks in red robes. We will travel by boat up the Ayeryarwady River to Mingun
where you can photograph pink-robed, cigar-smoking nuns and religious monuments that take your
breath away. In Sagaing, you’ll be amazed at the seemingly infinite corridor of Buddhas in the
Thonze Temple, and the unique style of pagodas in this area can be seen as far as the eye can see.
The 17th century Kaung Hmu Daw Pagoda is especially stunning to photograph as is the shocking
red and gold Kaungmudaw pagoda. Bring more flash cards than you think you’ll need because your
camera will be smoking! Overnight Sedona Hotel, Mandalay.

 

Day 11 – 13, Nov. 19 – 21. We fly to Heho today. This is the Shan Plateau, and our destination
is the incredible Inle Lake. Here we will photograph the famous leg-rowers who propel their
fishing boats with one leg rapped around an oar. Jim will hire some models so we get the perfect
images in perfect light. We also shoot a village built on stilts and you can take pictures of local
vendors as they offer bananas and other types of food by boat. There is a cluster of white stupas
that reflect in the blue water for a fantastic series of shots, and the ruins of 2000-year old Kat Ku
is awesome to shoot. This is the area that we photograph the long-necked Kayan women who wear brass
rings around their necks their entire lives. These will be among the most compelling portraits you’ve
ever taken. Overnight Sky Lake Inle Resort.

 

Day 14, Nov 22.  Today we fly back to Yangon and have the rest of the day at leisure for additional
photography, shopping, and for preparing some images to share with the group and for Jim to critique.
Kandawgyi Palace Hotel, Yangon.

 

Day 15, Nov 23. We depart Yangon today for our journey home, knowing that we have had an incredible
photographic, cultural, and artistic experience.

 

TOUR POLICIES:  Please click here to read the tour policies page.