Myanmar: Magic of the Golden Land

Arrive into Yangon International Airport (RGN) and meet your Program Leaders who will be with you for the duration of the program. Visit the country’s pride and joy, the famous golden Shwedagon pagoda. Learn about the legend behind it and why thousands of Buddhists make the pilgrimage to this site every year. Enjoy dinner at the former office of General Aung San, Myanmar’s national hero, and join your Program Leaders for an orientation discussion about the week ahead, expectations for your adventure, and an introduction to the local culture. Minglabar!

Wake up early for a morning flight to Bagan, Myanmar’s famous archaeological zone, covered in stunning peaks of thousand-year-old temples. After checking into the hotel, take a brief stroll through town to the local morning market. Split up into small teams for a market scavenger hunt, talking to vendors, sampling local fruits and snacks, and even getting your face painted with thanaka, used by Burmese people as sunscreen, makeup, and skin care.

Visit a language center supporting Burmese teenagers, university students, and young professionals. Sit down with volunteer teachers to learn about their mission and goals and help to improve Burmese teens’ English fluency by serving as a conversation partner.
End the day wandering the dusty plains exploring the hundreds of temples and pagodas that dot the landscape. Cap it off with one of the most picturesque sights in Myanmar, sunset from the roof of a pagoda.

Start your morning with a chartered boat across the Irrawaddy River to a small island rarely visited by tourists – home to several of Rustic Pathways’ staff members and their extended families.

Spend the day exploring this traditional village, meeting with teachers, elders, the head of the village, members of the community, and other teenagers. For lunch, enjoy a delicious feast made from local ingredients cooked personally by our staff’s family! Cross back across the river to Old Bagan for a special sunset dinner along the Irrawaddy. Join your group for a mid-trip discussion where you will begin to reflect on what you’ve experienced and learned so far.

Catch a short one-hour flight to Heho Airport and take a gorgeous one-hour drive through the rolling country hills on your way to Kalaw. Upon arriving, tour the town and learn about the fascinating history of Kalaw and its diverse population. Spend time at a friendly children’s home that cares for kids from all around the region, and learn about projects being undertaken by NGOs in the region. Visit a fair trade shop that supports local villagers, schools, and clean water projects.

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 as you fully embrace 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 debrief in the evening, discussing 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.

Make the short trip back to Heho Airport and catch a quick flight to Yangon, where we’ll have a final farewell dinner and savor the last night in this amazing country.

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.