Myanmar: Dreams of a Nation

Arrive into Yangon International Airport (RGN) and meet your Program Leaders who will be with you for the duration of the program. Catch another quick flight north to Heho (HEH), the gateway to the beautiful Shan state. Settle into your hotel and join your Program Leaders for an orientation discussion about the week ahead, expectations for your adventure, and an introduction to the local culture. Have dinner with the group and settle in for the night.

Tour Kalaw and learn about the fascinating history of this town and its diverse population. Visit a colorful local market filled with fresh, organic, local produce. Stop in a fair trade shop that supports local villagers, schools, and clean water projects.

In the afternoon, head to the Rural Development Society NGO, which functions as a children’s home that cares for kids from ethnic minorities all around the region. Learn about the projects they are working on and the challenges locals face. Serve as a conversation partner, helping students with homework assignments and English practice.

Over the next three days, trek through stunning mountains, visiting villages and learning about life here. Kalaw’s rolling hills are covered with colorful fields of canola, ginger, tea, and many other crops. The air is fresh and the views of the surrounding mountains and valleys are breathtaking. Stop at villages along the way to meet locals and stay for the night before continuing our trek in the morning.

Over the course of your three-day hike, interview people from various ethnic groups as well as activists who have been dealing with issues including conservation, agriculture, trafficking, and land disputes in this region for a long time. Travel through villages of hill tribes, including the Pa-O and Inthar ethnic groups. Spend tonight in a monastery to fully experience the Shan state.

Today is your last day trekking as you make the final push to Inle Lake! Arrive at the beautiful Inle Lake, one of the most visited natural attractions in Myanmar. Join your group for a mid-trip discussion where you will begin to reflect on what you’ve experienced and learned so far.

The massive Inle Lake is dotted with traditional houses along the banks and floating villages. Though Inle Lake is in the heart of the Shan States, there are several ethnic groups living in an around the waterways, and everyone makes a living off the plentiful fish and other natural resources that abound. Hit the waters as we explore a bustling morning market and the vibrant villages on the shores of the lake. Find various local handicrafts, speak with vendors, and witness Inle Lake’s diversity firsthand.

Visit the homes of some Rustic staff members, discovering the historic sites around the lake and understanding the impact that tourism is having on the lake, the local residents, and the economy. Interview locals and hear the experience of local minorities within the Shan State.

At the end of each program, students reflect on their experiences and the issues they engaged with, and talk about how to apply this new understanding to their own worlds. During or after their closing discussion, groups participate in Rustic Ties, a unique and powerful activity that allows students to capture the memories and learning moments of their program to process and share with their communities back home.

Your Program Leaders will take you to the airport for your departure as you say goodbyes and reflect on your adventure.