Last chance to book this special festival tour

The Burmese New Year, Thingyan, will be celebrated 13-16 April this year. This is the most popular and colorful celebration of the year in Myanmar and Exotissimo has designed a tour for travelers wanting to join in the festivities.

Celebrate Myanmar New Year a six-day festival package that visits Yangon and Ngwe Saung. Spending three days in Yangon, guests have a chance to join locals in ‘water wars’ along the streets and witness the street performances and dancing. The program continues to Ngwe Saung Beach where they can experience the festivities in a different setting and enjoy a relaxed beach vacation at the same time. Returning to Yangon, guests will partake in a merit-making session at the Shwedagon Temple to conclude the Burmese New Year celebrations. It is best to start the tour between 13 to 16 April to capture the most of the Thingyan festivities.

For the detailed itinerary, click here.

Or contact myanmar@exotissimo.com

Recommended for clients seeking a truly serene getaway, this new 6-day Myeik Liveaboard Cruise offers a chance to explore the untouched Myeik Archipelago in Myanmar’s south. Sailing on a liveaboard, clients are free to dive, snorkel or kayak to discover the pristine underwater environs. Click here to view the detailed itinerary.

Ngwe Saung Beach Break is a new 4-day program designed for those wishing to experience a tranquil beach vacation in Myanmar. Ngwe Saung features 14 kilometers of sandy beaches and is accessible by a 5-6 hours’ drive from Yangon. Travelers can choose to spend their time freely or take up any Exo day trip in this 4-day break. View the program details here.

Paukan recently announced its sailing schedules for 2010/11, offering shorter exploration cruises along the Irrawaddy River. Our 2-day Cruise Mandalay to Bagan is the perfect itinerary for travelers who wish to experience the charm of the Irrawaddy without embarking on a long, costly journey. The detailed itinerary can be viewed here. For more information please contact myanmar@exotissimo.com.

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Leon van Neer as the General Manager of Exotissimo Myanmar. A Dutch national, Leon joins us with more than 15 years of experience in the travel industry, having conducted tours to many parts of the world and provided tourism consultancy, training and marketing services in various countries. In his new appointment, Leon will be responsible for the strategic development of Exotissimo Myanmar as well as overseeing all operational facets. He can be contacted at leon@exotissimo.com.

From 1 October 2009 – 30 September 2010, Ngapali Beach Hotel will be closed for major renovation works. Please contact our travel consultants at myanmar@exotissimo.com for other recommendations in the Ngapali area.

Newly opened in Pyin Oo Lwin, the Bravo Hotel boasts of international standard facilities and a restaurant serving Burmese, Chinese and Western cuisine. The Bravo is ideal for an overnight trip from Mandalay to Pyin Oo Lwin or for those traveling onwards to Muse.

The Pristine Lotus Spa Resort has just opened in the Inle Lake area. Decorated in the traditional Burmese architectural style, the resort consists of 52 suites and villas and counts a business center, spa, gallery and a café as amongst its facilities. Located near the natural hot springs in Khaung Daing Village, it is accessible by boat or car from Heho or Inle Lake.

House of Memories is a family-owned restaurant in Yangon. Set in a colonial style building, the restaurant is decorated with old-style fans, chandelier and the owner’s family memorabilia such as medals and photographs. The restaurant serves traditional Burmese cuisine with a wide variety of rice dishes as well as Western and Chinese dishes.

Following its annual renovation, the scaffolds have been removed from Yangon’s Shwedagon Pagoda. Visitors can pay homage to this splendid landmark as usual from 6am – 10pm every day without any disturbance.