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KANDAWGYI HILL RESORT OPENS IN
PYIN OO LWIN
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Kandawgyi
Hill Resort |
The Woodland Group, owners of the
Popa Mountain Resort, have opened a small resort hotel five minutes walking
distance from beautiful Botanical Gardens in Pyin Oo Lwin, the hill station
formerly known as Maymyo. The colonial style house has eleven superior rooms in
bungalows spread around the grounds, two deluxe rooms and two junior suites.
With no television or telephones the Kandawgyi Hill Resort provides the ideal
getaway for those looking to relax in a scenic environment just two hours' drive
from Mandalay.
The Botanical Gardens have
recently been renovated by the same company and are definitely worth visiting.
Other interesting things to do in Pyin Oo Lwin, apart from enjoying the
pleasantly cool climate, include taking a ride around town by horse and
carriage, visiting the market and the nearby waterfalls. From Pyin Oo Lwin you
can continue to Hsibaw passing the Gokteik Viaduct en-route.
EXOTISSIMO
INTRODUCE NEW MYANMAR BIKING TOURS
After introducing successful
trekking tours in Shan State last year, Exotissimo Myanmar is introducing new
biking itineraries for the coming season. With its mostly flat countryside,
virtually traffic free roads and friendly locals, Myanmar makes an excellent
biking destination. Myanmar is also a photographer’s paradise and travelling
by bike allows you stop wherever you want to get that special photograph.
Our new biking day-tours in
Mandalay and Bagan take cyclists off the beaten tourist trail offering
opportunities to explore the places tourists don’t normally see. Both these
trips are suitable for anybody who is reasonably fit and knows how to ride a
bicycle. For the more serious cyclist we have developed a 12-day trip from
Mandalay to Inle Lake via Bagan by bike. Following are brief descriptions of the
tours.
Mandalay by Bike
Exotissimo has put together a great biking tour in and around
Mandalay that explores the highlights of the city as well as other places known
only to the people who live there. Enjoy visiting local workshops, cycle across
the famous teak bridge at U-Bein and take in the beautiful scenery while cycling
along side the Irrawaddy River. An unforgettable day trip with many interesting
and unusual experiences offering a glimpse into the daily life of Mandalay.
Bagan by Bike
Bagan is the ultimate biking destination as there is never a
moment when you cannot see a great landscape of ancient temples while you are on
your bike. Bagan’s flat countryside is kind on the legs and there are
literally hundreds of wonderful photo opportunities along the way. Exotissimo’s
‘Bagan by Bike’ explores the forgotten temples of Bagan as well as the
better known sites. A professional guide introduces the sites including an old
wooden monastery on the banks of the Irrawaddy, the bustling jetty in Nyaung Oo
village, Minnanthu’s off the beaten track temples and the wonderful riverside
Lawka Nandar Pagoda. An active day trip taking in many of Bagan’s lesser-known
places and the magical scenery of this ancient kingdom.
Myanmar by Bike
A 12-day journey through Myanmar by bike beginning in
Mandalay and continuing to Bagan, Mount Popa, Kalaw, Pindaya and Inle Lake.
Accommodation en-route varies from charming superior class hotels to simple
guesthouses. Just how much time is actually spent in the saddle is entirely up
to the individual as all tours are accompanied by a back-up vehicle that carries
the luggage as well as weary cyclists and their bikes! As with Exotissimo’s
biking trips in other countries cyclists have the choice of hiring top quality
imported bikes from Exotissimo in country or bringing their own bicycles. For
more information on biking in Myanmar contact Exotissimo Travel at myanmar@exotissimo.com.
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Rhona
to head up Exotissimo’s adventure travel department
Exotissimo
welcomes Rhona Taylor to the team in October when she joins as manager of the
newly created adventure travel department. Rhona has previously been leading
tours around the world for the top UK adventure operator Exodus Travels and has
successfully lead dozens of biking tours through Vietnam and other parts of
Asia. Rhona will be in charge of developing all aspects of Exotissimo’s
flourishing adventure travel business including biking, trekking, kayaking,
charity challenges and off the beaten track adventures. The adventure travel
department will be based in our Hanoi office and will be responsible for
developing adventure products in Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar as well as Vietnam.
Rhona can be contacted directly at rhona@exotissimo.com.
More
rooms under construction in Bagan
In
anticipation of the coming high season several hotels are expanding their
capacity. The Bagan Golf Resort has added some more Deluxe bungalows in their
gardens and the recently renovated Thiripyitsaya Sakura Hotel is building
spacious new Deluxe River Suites in traditional Bagan style, which will most
probably become the best rooms in town. A new 100-room hotel is currently under
construction near the ancient Tharaba Gate. Managed by Summit Parkview from
Yangon, the hotel is due to open in the new year. Rates or category of this new
property are not known yet but according to the management it will be a superior
property. We will keep you informed about the progress.
Lauda
Air flies to Yangon from Vienna and Milan
Since
the beginning of August Lauda Air has been flying into Yangon International
Airport directly from Milan. Starting from November there will also be a direct
flight from the Austrian capital Vienna directly to Yangon. Both flights
continue to Phuket and return directly from Phuket to Europe.
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