The coast of Western Burma (Myanmar) presents some of the most isolated and natural settings in Burma, that is Rakhine. Far away from the rapid pace of change in Yangon and Mandalay, villagers continue to live here in the same way they have for hundreds of years. They live according to the rhythms of nature, fishing and harvesting coconuts. The people of Rakhine still use ox carts with wooden wheels.
Beach Safari Myanmar ( Burma ) invites you to truly get away and discover how people really live in Burma. We invite to join us in Maung Shwe Lay for a fun and memorable day exploring authentic village life in Myanmar and being part of our community.
Tour Duration: 02 days / 01 night
Tour Type: Cultural exploration
Cities: Maung Shwe Lay
Price: Contact us
Activity Level: Regular Itinerary
Highlights:
- Experience rural fishing village life
- Enjoy beach of St. Andrew’s Bay
- Pristine natural beauty
Day by Day Tours
DAY 1: Boat transport to Maung Shwe Lay and visiting the town
DAY 2: Morning market and enjoying the beach
Tour Prices (US$/person)
Group of 02 persons : OnRequest
Group of 04 persons : OnRequest
Important notes:
Surcharge in Peak Times eg: Christmas, New Year Eve, and Water festival may be applicable.
Inclusions
- Accommodation
- Transportation: A/C
- Professional English speaking guide
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary
- Water on tour
- All entrance and sightseeing fees
- Service charges and taxes 10%
Exclusions
- Travel insurance
- International Flights
- Other transfer not mentioned
- Tips for guides, driver
- Personal expenses
- Other services not mentioned
- Visa arrangement
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DETAILED ITINERARY:
DAY 1: Boat transport to Maung Shwe Lay and visiting the town
Pick-Up Car (Airport to Beach)
Boat transport (Ngapali Beach to Maung Shwe Lay)
Lunch
Ox cart ride & Visiting Monastery, Brick Factory Library and School
Meal: Dinner
Maung Shwe Lay Beach, Myanmar
DAY 2: Morning market and enjoying the beach
Breakfast
Visiting Morning Market
Snorkelling/Enjoying Beach
Lunch
Boat transport (Maung Shwe Lay to Hotel)
Maung Shwe Lay Snorkeling.
NOTE: What You Will See and Do in Maung Shwe Lay
Please be aware that we invite you to experience the same conditions that we live in every day. The village has only a few hours of electricity each day (in the evening). You will sleep in our family compound located on the beach, either in a small tent (for 2 people) or in the local house on sleeping mats (as we sleep). You may take a local shower using well water: you stand next to a barrel of cool well water and use a bowl to pour the fresh water over yourself, as we do. We have also installed a solar shower for the convenience of our foreign guests, so that you may enjoy a western style warm shower at anytime. It is very basic but you’ll never forget this experience in your life.
Once you have arrived and settled in, your English speaking guide will take you around the village to explain more about local life. You will slowly explore the tempo and patterns of rural life.
You will explore the bay and the country side by ox cart and on foot.
In the morning, just after sunrise, you can visit Maung Shwe Lay’s local market, where the village comes to trade and talk. Maung Shwe Lay’s market is on the main lane of the village, just a few steps from our compound. Each day, all year, villagers bring in seasonal produce fresh from the fields, and join their neighbours for breakfast at the market. They spread a blanket on the ground, and put what they’re selling on the blanket. You can also see some of the fresh catch just off the boats returning from the sea. Since Maung Shwe Lay is a small village (about 2000 people), our market is also small. Everyone knows everyone else, and neighbours come by to chat and gossip. We hope you’ll join us so you can share this essential part of village life. But you need to come early, because the market is over by 9am!
After breakfast, you visit the local school and meet the students, seeing how children are educated around Myanmar. If you like, you can spend some time talking to the children about your home country or asking them about life in Maung Shwe Lay. You can also visit our modest library where you can help for an hour or two by reading stories to the youngest children. You may help replanting trees and explain about environmental issues to the village elders (your fee for this homestay includes small donations to these village institutions). If it’s open on the day you visit us, you can also visit our healthcare clinic, built by donations. Because we have no nurse, the clinic is only opens a few days each week, when a nurse visits from a larger hospital in the next town.
As you explore the village, you can visit our temple, which has just a few monks, who have served our community for decades. If you’re interested, you may be able to visit some of our local cottage industries. There are brick makers, and coconut-meat driers, as well as a carpentry workshop.
During your stay, breakfast, lunch and dinner are back at the house. We will cook local food for you as we do for ourselves (see ‘Food’ below). Western food is not available in Maung Shwe Lay. We’re happy to accommodate vegetarians.
In the afternoon you will go with a local boat for a snorkelling trip out in the bay. You can enjoy swimming in the bay just steps away from our compound. You may decide to just enjoy the beach of St. Andrew’s Bay, which spreads out a few feet away from your tent. You can lie under the palm trees absorbing the energy of village life. People come and go and the village children play nearby. Fishermen set out in their boats and return with their catch. Our beautiful beach is a working beach but you can still enjoy the peace and tranquillity of being far away from hustle and bustle. No one in Maung Shwe Lay is in a rush. You can take a walk along the coves and inlets of the bay and the surrounding area. In the evening, you will sit on the beach and admire the clear skies and abundant stars. There is no smog or air pollution in Maung Shwe Lay and on cloudless nights you can see the visible universe spreading out above you.
Myanmar & Rakhine Food: In Maung Shwe Lay, you will have the chance to eat real Myanmar food. You can also try our local Rakhine specialties; you’ll have to be careful because unlike food in Yangon, Rakhine foods tend to be spicy! You can observe village women cooking in the kitchen where you stay. You’ll see how we prepare the food we eat when we’re ready to eat, fresh from the field or the ocean, using techniques and technology that people have used for hundreds of years. We have no electric stoves or refrigerators. Every dish is fresh, clean, and prepared right before you eat it.
Same Day Return
Boat transport (Ngapali Beach to Maung Shwe Lay)
Ox cart ride & Visiting Monastery, Library, School and local houses
Lunch at the beach
Boat transport (Maung Shwe Lay to Ngapali Beach)
Detailed Description
Escape to a tropical paradise today with a full day beach safari. You’ll be picked up from the Thandwe airport or your Ngapali Hotel and drive to meet your local fishing boat and guide. Cast off and sail across blue seas from Ngapali’s shores to the beach at St Andrew’s, a journey of around 1 hour.
On arrival in the perfectly shaped bay of Maung Shwe Lay walk to your local house on the beach under the lots coconut trees. Bury your toes in the white sand, while sipping a refreshing coconut drink.
A brief orientation of the Bay and Maung Shwe Lay village will be given. From here the day is yours to do as you please. We recommend joining your guide on a walk through the village- a special opportunity to see a typical rural fishing village. You’ll stop at the Buddhist monastery, elementary school, community library and local houses.
Bullcarts in Maung Shwe Lay, Myanmar
A home cooked lunch will be served at midday.
The afternoon is yours to do as you please. Explore more of the village, spend time with the local students or relax in a hammock on the beach and snorkel. Around 3pm we’ll set sail for the white sands of Ngapali where you will be dropped at your hotel.
Enjoy your tours with Our top favorite Burma package tours
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Tour Prices (US$/person)
Group of 02 persons : OnRequest
Group of 04 persons : OnRequest
Important notes:
Surcharge in Peak Times eg: Christmas, New Year Eve, and Water festival may be applicable.
Inclusions
- Accommodation
- Transportation: A/C
- Professional English speaking guide
- Meals as indicated in the itinerary
- Water on tour
- All entrance and sightseeing fees
- Service charges and taxes 10%
Exclusions
- Travel insurance
- International Flights
- Other transfer not mentioned
- Tips for guides, driver
- Personal expenses
- Other services not mentioned
- Visa arrangement
| I NEED TAILOR-MADE | I’LL TAKE THIS TOUR |
Essential Notes
Passports and Visas
The first thing goes first. You definitely must obtain valid VISA in order to travel into any country and so is Myanmar (Burma). Unless your country is in VISA exemption list, it is your responsibility to get valid VISA before arrival. There are two ways to get Myanmar VISA:
- Go to Myanmar Embassies and Consulates in your home country and you will be guided procedure. You may want to check the list of countries where Myanmar has embassies and consulate offices by clicking here.
- Obtain VISA On Arrival (VOA). For tourists coming from countries has no Myanmar Diplomatic Rep offices, you can obtain VOA online via www.myanmarevisa.gov.mm – the official portal for VOA by Myanmar government. The portal launched in Sep 01, 2014 and took its pilot operation for a month. Providing you encounter any issue, please contact us for support.
Climate & Clothing
Generally speaking, Myanmar is a tropical country with rather hot weather. Sometimes in year or in some Northern places, temperature cools down but not that can be called cold. Roughly saying that the best time to travel Myanmar is from Oct to March due to dry and cool season. Other months, however, you may get very nice deals of promotion.For clothing: comfortable clothes, absolutely. We suggest you should take at least one long pan, a long skirt and a sleeve top because we will visit some religious site and many of them require proper code of dress.All of temples and pagodas require you enter with bare feet. A pair of sandals is highly recommended.
Cell Phones & Calling Cards
You may wish to carry a cell phone while traveling. Check with your cell phone provider if your phone will work in the destination(s) you are visiting. Myanmar service is dominated by the GMS technology standard, while some of the world such as U.S uses the incompatible CDMA standard. We suggest that you should check carefully or you may incur high international roaming fees.We said previously “the SIM card in Myanmar is not very popular and still quite expensive”. But now, forget it! SIM cards in Myanmar now are cheap and easy to buy in any main city as cheap as about US$ 02 each. Cell phones, even smart phones are available on sales widely.
Making Telephone Calls from One Country to Another
When dialing a number from one country to another, you should proceed as follows: dial your country’s Exit Code + destination Country Code + Phone Number. Country Code of Myanmar is 95.
Wireless Internet Access
Passengers traveling with WiFi enabled devices (such as a personal computer, smartphone, tablet, or digital audio player) may be able to connect to the internet via a wireless network access point (or hotspot). Wifi is now popular in most hotels from three stars up. Most of them are supplying Free Wifi but some may incur extra charges. We suggest you should ask the receptionist before.
Cards and Currency
Myanmar’s national currency, the KYAT (pronounced chat, abbreviated in MMK) is divided into the following banknotes: K1, K5, K10, K20, K50, K100, K200, K500 and K1000.We once said “ATMs are still very hard to come” but from my latest inspection of Myanmar, the country now starts using ATMs. Most three stars hotels up often have at least one AMT machine right at their lobbies. Main hotels now accepts credit cards payment.Anyway, we suggest you should bring with some cashes just in case. Local buying there accept Burmese and US dollars widely. However please pay at attention when bring US notes with you:
- The US$ notes must be new.
- The US$ notes torn, marked, folded will not be accepted.
- The US$ notes having series before 2003 backward may not accepted.
You are allowed to bring up to US$ 5000 in cash per person to enter Myanmar.
Trip Preparation
A little pre-planning can make your trip go a lot smoother. We suggest you should taking a checklist below:
- Several weeks before your trip, make a list of what you will need to take with you.
- Make sure your personal documents (passports, visas, driver’s license) are in order.
- We suggest that you make photocopies of passports, visas, personal ID and any other important travel documents and pack them separately from the originals. If you lose the originals while traveling, you’ll have copies for easier reporting and replacement.
- You may consider bringing a small supply of over the counter medications for headaches and/or anti-diarrhea pills. Pack a list of medications including dosage and generic names.
- We recommend that you pack a portable alarm clock.
- Avoid placing valuables such as cameras in your checked luggage.
Happy Travelling with CRYSTAL HOLIDAYS ASIA!
