Burma with Asian Trails

So many travel stories have been printed about the wonders of Burma (Myanmar), we decided to check it out. We are grateful we did. In November ’02 my husband and I were there for 17 days and had our own amazing 15-day tour. Our only disappointment was that we didn’t stay longer.

The tour company which made our arrangements was Asian Trails, Ltd. (15th Floor, Mercury Tower, 540 Ploenchit Road, Bangkok 10330, Thailand; phone [66 2] 658-6080-9, e-mail res@asiantrails.org or visit www.asiantrails.com). Our contact with them was with Ms. Chaw Su; she answered each of our e-mailed questions promptly, and our plans were made with superb efficiency.

The cost for each of us was $1,498 (the price goes down with each person added). This included daily touring, wonderful hotels, highly professional and courteous guides and drivers, air-conditioned vehicles, scrumptious breakfasts and lunches and three domestic flights. Not to be left out is the priceless daily interaction with the marvelous people of Burma.

We decided to stay upon arrival two extra nights at the fabulous Sofitel Plaza in Yangon. This way, we could be rested for our tour and also wander the fascinating city. The extra nights cost us $142 and included scrumptous buffet breakfasts.

Our international airfare, from Los Angeles to Bangkok, THAILAND, was arranged through Starlink Tours (phone 866/337-0909 or visit www.starlinktours.com) at $689 each round trip plus departure tax of $65. This price also included five nights at Bangkok’s Mandarin Hotel, buffet breakfast, airport transfer and a city/temple tour. We split up the days, which cost an extra airport transfer, but it was well worth it.

Starlink also arranged our round-trip flight from Bangkok to Yangon for $246 each. The arrangements they made for us worked out terrifically.

— CELA & CHARLES LOHRSTORFER, Pahrump, NV