Photo Tour
Landscapes, People, Portraits, Cultural
Yangon (RGN)
Yangon (RGN)
November 9, 2021
November 22, 2021
4-12 Participants
Relaxed
WHY MYANMAR
Anyone interested in getting to know and experience South-Eastern Asia’s people and culture should visit Myanmar now.
Myanmar is going through a wake of political and economic reforms, many places were off-limits or totally banned for foreigners to visit just a couple of years back. With that, one of the most fascinating aspects of visiting Myanmar today is that in a lot of ways, you feel like a clock has turned back. Especially in the countryside, where people still use horse carts to get around, buffalos are used to plow the fields, and villagers enjoy the simple pleasures of traditional life.
To a street, documentary, or landscape photographer Burma is heaven. From the street markets in the bustling Yangon, ancient temples in the plains of Bagan, and captivating villages around Inle Lake…nothing can compare. Most importantly, its amazing people and communities that are always ready to welcome visitors and smile back.
OUR TOUR
Our group will start exploring Yangon. Often overlooked, the city has a lot to offer. There are many colonial buildings worth seeing, parks to wander, street markets, the circular train, and of course, the Shwedagon Pagoda, namely the biggest one in the world.
We’ll visit the ancient city of Bagan, an archeological zone located in the Mandalay Region. The site is surrounded by small towns and villages, but the center of the action happens in the plains, which is dotted with over two thousand pagodas and Buddhist temples.
Most of them were constructed between the 11th and 13th centuries during the golden era of the Kingdom of Pagan. Bagan is definitely the place to catch unique sunrises and unique spiritual experience.
We’ll also explore Inle Lake, home of the Intha, they support themselves by tending floating gardens of vegetables, fruits, and fishing. Small boats are the primary way of transportation here, we’ll move around the villages and visit the markets in the same fashion the locals do.
We’ll also go totally off the beaten path and explore traditional tribes and ancient villages, the ones not often covered in the regular photo tours. This journey is the result of two scouting trips to the area and designed not only to show you Myanmar in all its glory but also to learn and interact with its people.
When: November 9th to 22, 2021.
Who: Open to all skill levels, non-photographer spouses are welcome.
Group Size: Minimum 4 People, Maximum 12 People.
Where: This photo tour starts and ends in Yangon, Myanmar. Airport Code (RGN).
Fitness Level: Relaxed. Access to most of the shooting locations in Myanmar is easy. The walks are relatively short, and there is no much hiking involved. In the area of Kyaing Tong, there are some easy hikes to the hill tribes; distances are 2 to 3 miles round trip, with little elevation gain.
The tour is open to all levels of photographic skills, from beginner to experienced. However, there will be no formal workshops or critiques. We will share knowledge and skills along the way, in the spirit of real adventurers.
Mingalaba, welcome to Myanmar.
You’ll be greeted at the airport and then transferred to our hotel, there you’ll meet the other guests and your tour leaders. After a brief meet and greet, we will enjoy our first evening meal together.
Overnight at Sule Shangri-La or similar.
Our morning begins with a ride on the iconic Circle Train. Traveling to the outskirts of the city, we pay a visit to the Danyingon Market to capture the hustle and bustle of market life.
The rest of the day will be spent at a nunnery, followed by a monastery to photograph the famous Reclining Buddha.
After a late lunch and some free time, we will meet late afternoon to photograph Shwegadon, the largest pagoda in the world.
Overnight at Sule Shangri-La or similar.
Our day starts off with an early morning visit to the fish market to take another glimpse into the daily life of locals.
After breakfast, we will fly to Kyaing Tong, there we really begin to explore a side of Myanmar often not seen by tourists.
Once settled into your accommodation, we will explore portrait photography at Wat Zom Khan. Here you will get the opportunity to photograph the monks living there.
Overnight at Amazing Kengtung Resort or similar.
We will spend the day visiting three traditional villages. Our first stop will be to the En tribe, where we will meet the village chief, in his hut before exploring the village with our cameras.
Think Tuk Tuk rides and friendly locals in traditional clothes. There are no long hikes, and you will see very few tourists here having this a unique experience.
Overnight at Amazing Kengtung Resort or similar.
This is the second day of exploring traditional villages.
Today we will travel about two hours outside of the main town to reach more tribal communities. We will make stops along the way for a variety of impromptu photos in different settings.
Overnight at Amazing Kengtung Resort or similar.
Today we will start early visiting the Kyaing Tong Street Market, where local tribes meet and gather to sell and exchange goods.
This is one of the largest and most exciting markets you will find in Burma because of the diversity of the people gathered here.
You will then have some free time to explore on your own. If you prefer, we can take some time to review your images before our flight to Bagan.
Overnight at Thiripytsaya Sanctuary Resort or similar
With its sweeping temple-scapes filled with glittering pagodas, Bagan is the ultimate destination to perfect your sunrise and sunset photography.
Our first morning will be dedicated to capturing your first sunrise temple-scape.
The rest of the day is all about lighting and portraits. We will be focusing on candlelight and window light, as well as pictures of monks and local people.
Our final shoot of the day will be capturing rural village life with cattle, goats, and villagers at sunset.
Overnight at Thiripytsaya Sanctuary Resort or similar
Our morning will begin with a second Bagan sunrise photoshoot, where we hope there will be some hot air balloons for you to capture.
After breakfast, we have arranged a photoshoot with some Buddhist monks and locals.
In the afternoon, we will travel back to a monastery in Bagan to photograph window light rays before finishing the day photographing the sunset from a monastery with panoramic views of Bagan.
Overnight at Thiripytsaya Sanctuary Resort or similar
If you still haven’t taken that killer sunrise or sunset photograph, don’t worry. Today is our final full day in Bagan, and we have chosen two incredible locations for you to photograph as well.
The highlights of today include: photographing an old farmer smoking cheroot, low light portraits in a monastery, photographing silhouettes, Sulamani Temple garden, and umbrellas.
Also, there will be an option to photograph from the Hot Air Balloon.
Overnight at Thiripytsaya Sanctuary Resort or similar
We will visit Shwezigon Pagoda to photograph its hall of pillars before taking an early lunch and catching a flight to Lake Inle.
Lake Inle is the last stop on our incredible adventure across Myanmar. Here we will be focusing on our documentary and street photography at the famous floating markets and gardens on the lake.
Overnight at Golden Island Cottages or similar.
Our morning begins with another sunrise photoshoot, for today, we have arranged for you to capture three local fishermen working.
This is sure to be a magical morning. After breakfast, we will travel to the 5-day market, visit the floating villages, and capture the lotus silk weaving.
We will spend the afternoon taking our time capturing the beauty of the floating gardens of Lake Inle before returning to our accommodation for the evening meal.
Overnight at Golden Island Cottages or similar.
After a relaxing boat ride to Indein, you will have time to explore the marketplace.
This is a free-shoot, and you are welcome to practice your street, documentation, and portrait photography here.
Our second location of the day is the ruins of Nyuang Oak, where we will spend some time before taking a walk to a traditional village.
Overnight at Golden Island Cottages or similar.
After breakfast, we make our way back to Yangon, where our tour began.
After our flight, you will have some free time to rest, explore Yangon, squeeze in one final street shoot, or get some last-minute gifts from the 2000 shops of Scotts Market!
In the evening we will have our last dinner together during the tour. This is always an exceptional evening where we share our fondest memories and enjoy our final meal together as a group.
Overnight at Sule Shangri-La or similar.
This is the final day, after breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight home according to your flight schedule.
This optional extension will take us to see and photograph the famous Kyaiktiyo Pagoda, also known as the Golden Rock. This is an easy day trip from Yangon, and we will have the opportunity to photograph it both, during sunset and sunrise.
Mingalaba, welcome to Myanmar.
If you are joining the pre-tour extension, this one will be your first day in the country.
You’ll be greeted at the airport and then transferred to our hotel. After a brief meet and greet, we will enjoy our first dinner together.
Overnight at Sule Shangri-La or similar.
After an early breakfast, we will drive for about five hours along a scenic drive.
We will make several stops along the way to photograph exciting sights. Upon reaching Golden Rock, we will stop in Kin Pun, a small town at the base of the mountain, where we will switch vehicles to proceed up the steep mountain path.
Our designated hotel is walking distance from the pagoda, so depending on the time of arrival, we might get a chance to photograph the Golden Rock for the first time.
Overnight at Mountain Top Hotel or similar.
Today we will et up early to catch the best view of Golden Rock during the morning.
The glimmering boulder will be bathed in the misty, purple light of dawn – a truly memorable sight. There will also be time to wander and photograph the other stupas scattered on the outer ridges atop Kyaiktiyo Pagoda.
We’ll stop in Bago, the former capital of the Mon kingdom, on the way back. The place remains a bustling city with a busy commercial center, and we will take this time to browse through the colorful local markets.
Overnight at Sule Shangri-La or similar.
Today is the first day of the main tour. So you’ll have time to relax during the day, maybe use the hotel Spa, and get ready for the meet and greet with the rest of the group in the afternoon.
Photography is more than a passion for Daniel; it’s a golden opportunity to document the world and share unique cultures with people across the globe. Embarking upon his creative path at the age of 17, he has since shot assignments, commercial work, and lifestyle campaigns. However, his primary focus is on travel and landscape photography. During the last few years, Daniel led photo tours in Morocco, India, Peru, Cuba, and Vietnam. Daniel is fluent in both, Spanish and English.
George is an adventure/travel photographer based in Miami; however, most often, he is traveling somewhere in the world. His passion started in his youth; the love for photography has never stopped growing for the 40 plus years. His unique approach for developing itineraries, for arranging high-quality excursions, and guiding people to unique locations yields the capture of great images. He brings all of his experience and knowledge to share it personally with each participant.
Myanmar is an incredible country with amazing people.
You’ll get to see one the best places for landscape in South East Asia, and mingle with locals eager to share their culture and traditions. If you love to photograph landscapes and document the daily lives in far-flung regions, this trip is for you.
While several photography tours are being offered to Myanmar, none of them provide a similar experience. Just do your due diligence and compare the number of days, meals, and accommodations.
While news reports of military action in remote Myanmar in 2017 were tragic, please understand that Myanmar remains one of the friendliest, most welcoming, and safest travel destinations anywhere in the world.
Petty crime for tourists such as pick-pocketing is rare, and personal violence on tourists is all but nonexistent.
We have rated this tour as Relaxed.
If your fitness level is average, you’ll be able to participate in this tour with no problems.
For the most part, we will reach to each place by private transportation.
So if you can walk an average of 4 to 6 KM per day on a flat surface and climb 3 to 4 flights of stairs, you’ll do good.
During our stay in Inle Lake, our way of transportation is long-tail motorboats. You’ll need to be able to ride on the boats.
Since we pack as many activities as we can every day to maximize the photo opportunities, keep in mind that all these are optional.
You are free to participate in each of them, just one or anything in between.
No vaccinations are officially required for a visit to Myanmar. You should check a travel immunization clinic and check with your doctor.
Take along any prescription medication with sufficient supplies, as those might not be readily available in Myanmar.
It is wise to use an insect repellant against mosquitoes, especially in forested areas.
The sun can be remarkably hot, and a hat and high-factor block cream are advisable.
The best time to visit Myanmar is from October to March when temperatures are relatively low (average 15 – 30 degrees centigrade) and when there is practically no rain.
We recommend concentrating on trekking/outdoor clothing and lightweight walking shoes.
Wear long sleeves and pants to avoid mosquito bites. We also recommend packing a light rain jacket and don’t forget your sunglasses.
Yes, all travelers are required to have a valid passport and visa to enter Myanmar.
There ere a couple of ways to obtain a visa for Myanmar; one is applying on any embassy or consulate or by pre-arranging an on arrival visa.
It is required that all of our guests have their own travel insurance, which should include evacuation for medical reasons.
The local currency is the Kyat. However, US dollars are used more often than anything else in Myanmar. ATM’s are just starting to open, but we can’t guarantee their availability, especially outside Yangon.
For your cash, make sure that the bills are clean and new, without rips, tears, or wrinkles. Bring bills that are newer than 2006. Credit cards are accepted in most hotels.
Unique properties, boutique hotels that can offer a historical or cultural feature. Most properties are 4 to 5 stars where available.
But as we always strive for the best, some locations are more remote, and we need to settle for convenience instead of comfort. The list of the preliminary hotels booked for each location is listed here.
However, keep in mind that there could be occasions where it won’t be possible to obtain final confirmation. In such a case, we will replace it with a hotel of a similar category.
On or around forty-five days before the trip, you’ll receive a list of final confirmed hotels:
Myanmar cuisine embraces Indian style curries with meat or fish as well as vegetables and regional salads and soups.
The food, in general, is not as hot as Thai cuisine. There is a broad range of Chinese, Thai, and Indian restaurants sprinkled around the major cities, and also Western food, as well as many other types of food, can be found in Yangon and tourist resorts.
Myanmar has domestic GSM and CDMA mobile networks, but there is limited to none international roaming yet.
It is possible to buy prepaid tourist SIM cards with one-month validity. Internet cafes have emerged in most cities in
Myanmar in the last few years, and it is also possible to connect in the hotels. Keep in mind that connections are still slow.
Yes, a converter is required. Electricity is supplied throughout Myanmar at 230/240 volts, 50 hertz. For all other equipment, an adapter/converter is necessary, unless the item has a multi-voltage option. For plugs, you’ll need adapters for plugs type C, D, F, and G.
1) Booking procedure:
We will send you an email shortly after confirming your booking. Do not book your flights at this time unless otherwise indicated by us. We will let you know once the minimum number of guests to run the tour has been reached.
2) Balance of Payments:
The final payment for the trip is 90 days before departure. Such payment shall be made via credit card or wire transfer. Failure to meet the payment schedule will result in cancelation and forfeit of deposit.
3) Cancelation and Refunds
If, for any reason, DAK Photography Inc. must cancel the trip, 100% of paid deposits will be fully refunded. We reserve the right to cancel any trip/tour/group due to insufficient registration at any time. In the event of such cancellation, those with reservations shall be notified as soon as possible, and a full refund of trip payment will be given.
If a guest needs to cancel, we must receive written notification, email is accepted.
The following cancelation fees apply:
In the event that you have to cancel, we will do our best to fill your spot. If we do so, we will refund 100% of the tour fee less an administrative fee of $ 150.-
Refunds will be not be made for any other costs you may have incurred as a result of your booking.
Travel and medical insurance that includes emergency evacuation coverage are mandatory. We recommend that you purchase this as soon as the trip is confirmed to protect your investment.
Price: $5,895 US Dollars.
Single Supplement: $890 US Dollars.
Small-Group Fee: $595 US Dollars. For less than 6 registered participants, a small group supplement will apply.
Optional Balloon Flight in Bagan: $ 350
Deposit: $595 US Dollar, secures your spot.
Balance: Due 90 days before departure. Full terms and conditions in FAQ.
Price: $745 US Dollars.
Single Supplement: $295 US Dollars.
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