Private tour of Myanmar

I took a 2-week vacation to Myanmar, Nov. 27-Dec. 9, 2006, and had a wonderful time. Mr. Aung Kyaw Lynn of Majestic Mandalay Tourism Services Company (65 Ayeyarwady Street, Ahlone Township, Yangon, Myanmar; phone 95 1 212882 or e-mail akl-kkn@mptmail.net.mm) arranged everything except reservations for international flights, which I made separately, New York-Bangkok-Yangon and back.

I made arrangements with Majestic Mandalay for a one-person tour, as I’d been to Myanmar with a group tour in 1994. It was made clear that the price would have been lower had more than one person been on this tour.

The price was $2,800. That included a full-time guide (Mr. Lynn, himself, throughout the tour); all hotels, which were excellent; a private car and driver every day (a total of three drivers); a full day of boat sightseeing on Inle Lake and a boat to and from the “floating” hotel on the lake; airfare from Yangon to Mandalay and from Inle Lake to Yangon; a full-day boat trip from Mandalay to Bagan; a half-day boat trip from Yangon to Twante and back; city sightseeing in Yangon, Mandalay, Pyin U Lwin (formerly Maymyo), Bagan and Twante, and visits to Pindaya Cave and Mount Popo.

The price was reasonable, the accommodations were excellent and the restaurants, fine. In addition, Mr. Lynn proved to be an excellent guide who speaks perfect English and Japanese. If anyone is considering a trip to Myanmar, I highly recommend using his services.

WALLACE SCHROEDER

Weehawken, NJ