Expedition - Myanmar's Naga Festival

7 days
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Small Group Tour
While Myanmar's been back on the traveller map for a few years now, most itineraries follow a fairly common route: Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay and a bit of time spent by Inle Lake. By comparison, this trip veers right off the trail and up into the northernmost reaches of Kachin state. This is the land of the Naga hilltribes, a collection of 62 clans, largely semi...

Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Full schedule

Highlights

    • This is a rare opportunity to become part of the traditions of the Naga people in their annual New Year celebration – a festival that brings together the 64 clans that make up the Naga tribes. Not only is the festival an annual reunion of people, but a time for prayer, the giving of thanks and preparing for the season ahead.
    • Parties don’t get more exclusive than this! Strict restrictions govern travel through this region of Myanmar, with outsiders needing to be invited by local people. The restrictions are relaxed a bit during the Naga Festival, but even then only a small number of visitors are able to attend. You'll be one of them.
    • At the festival grounds, watch the raising of the Ceremonial Pole, observe locals participating in traditional sports and join in a joyous dance around a huge bonfire.
    • Trek through local villages and witness the fascinating contrasts of a country both transitioning through modernity, and steeped in rituals that hark back centuries.

What's this trip about?

    While Myanmar's been back on the traveller map for a few years now, most itineraries follow a fairly common route: Yangon, Bagan, Mandalay and a bit of time spent by Inle Lake. By comparison, this trip veers right off the trail and up into the northernmost reaches of Kachin state. This is the land of the Naga hilltribes, a collection of 62 clans, largely semi-nomadic, who follow their own customs, practise their traditional beliefs and speak the Jingpho language. Each year, the clans of the Naga tribe converge to celebrate the year that's been and welcome in the year to come, through a two-day celebration of singing, dancing, socialising, thanks-giving and praying. Meet the Naga people in their traditional dress, dance around a bonfire, visit local villages and traverse a tract of land rarely visited on this one-off trip into the remote tribal lands of northern Myanmar.

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeIntimate group - max of 12 people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityOperator does not provide
End CityOperator does not provide

Travel Themes

  • Trekking & Expeditions

Destinations

  • Asia

Attractions

  • Bagan
  • Chindwin River
  • Mandalay
  • Rangoon
  • Yangon

Activities

  • Trekking

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Yangon

Welcome to Yangon, Myanmar's largest city and onetime capital. Your adventure today begins with a welcome meeting at 6pm. Should you arrive into Yangon any earlier, be sure to head out for an explore. Known during the British colonial era as Rangoon, Yangon's colonial...

Day 2 Lahe

This morning you'll be picked up early from your hotel and transferred to the airport to catch a 3-hour flight to the remote town of Hkamti (via Mandalay). When you arrive in the late morning, a welcoming committee will lead you to the jetty. Cross the Chindwin River,...

Day 3 Lahe

Today you have the option to head out on a trek to visit two nearby villages and see the Naga people living out their daily lives. If you're lucky, you might catch them preparing for the upcoming ceremony and practicing traditional dances and custom. Lunch boxes will ...

Day 4 Nanyum

Soon after breakfast, the traditional Naga Ceremonial Pole will be erected at the festival grounds and various clans, all decked out in traditional dress, will gather to celebrate and dance around poles decorated with colourful Kachin motifs. A vibrant celebration of ...

Day 5 Lahe

The official opening ceremony of Naga New Year begins at the festival grounds early this morning. Enjoy traditional New Year food and rice wine with the Naga community elders. At the end of the ceremony, dance competitions between troupes from surrounding Naga village...

Day 6 Yangon

At 5am, after an early breakfast, leave the Naga festival grounds and begin your journey back to Sinthe by car. On arrival at Sinthe jetty, board a shuttle boat to Hkamti and head to the airport, where you'll eat a packed lunch. From here, take a flight back to Yangon and transfer to your hotel. Tonight is the last night of the trip.

Day 7 Yangon

Your trip concludes this morning after breakfast. You are free to depart at any time.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $3,365
Price per day$481
Last Updated: 12/3/2021

Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Intrepid Travel.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Tour Operator

Intrepid Travel

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The Intrepid Travel Experience

If you’re looking for adventure, you’ve come to the right place. For the past 25 years, we’ve been taking small groups of travelers on unforgettable trips around the world. What makes them unforgettable? Take a look for yourself and discover the Intrepid experience.

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Our group size has an average of just ten travellers, which allows us to get off the beaten track, use local accommodation and transport, and really get to know the culture. It also ensures we are contributing to the local economy; by choosing local suppliers we were able to keep AUD 60 million in local economies in 2012. We’re also working hard to reduce our carbon footprint and were the first in our sector to introduce carbon offset trips. This, along with our many corporate sustainability activities, has meant we’re one of the travel industry’s leaders in responsible travel.

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Intrepid Travel has come a long way since its beginnings in 1989. From two university friends, a typewriter and a kitchen desk, it is now a proud member of The Intrepid Group, taking over 100,000 travelers every year.

Intrepid Travel is part of The Intrepid Group of companies, alongside leading small group adventure companies Peregrine, Urban Adventures and PEAK DMC.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Guesthouse (3 nights),Hotel (3 nights),

Transportation & Flights

Boat,Plane,Private bus,Private 4x4 vehicle,

Transportation & flights

Boat,Plane,Private bus,Private 4x4 vehicle
Guides
All Intrepid group trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced leader however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders. Your leader will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you were interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your leader can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory for all our trips. We require that, at a minimum, you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. When travelling on a trip, you won't be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24 hour emergency contact number has been seen by your leader. If you have credit card insurance your group leader will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number and emergency contact number rather than the bank's name and credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country. http://www.intrepidtravel.com/insurance.php
Visa requirements
Visas are the responsibility of the individual traveller. Entry requirements can change at any time, so it's important that you check for the latest information. Please visit the relevant consular website of the country or countries you’re visiting for detailed and up-to-date visa information specific to your nationality. Your consultant will also be happy to point you in the right direction with acquiring visas. Visas can take several weeks to process, so familiarise yourself with any requirements as soon as you have booked your trip to allow for processing time. As a general rule most countries expect that your passport has a minimum of 6 months validity remaining. Please ensure the name on your passport matches the name on your booking and airline tickets. Your passport details are required to complete your booking. Your consultant will contact you when this is required. Take a copy of the main passport pages and other important documents with you, and leave another copy at home with family or friends. MYANMAR (Burma): Most nationalities require a visa to visit Mynamar, and can obtain a tourist visa using a eVisa system. For information on obtaining an eVisa visit website: http://evisa.moip.gov.mm/ Important to note when applying for an eVisa: - Passport validity must have at least (6) months validity from date of return. - You will need to present one colour photo (4cm X 6cm) taken within the last 3 months and a copy of your return ticket. - Length of stay is 28 days from the date of arrival in Myanmar. - The eVisa fee is US$50 per person, payable by credit card (note: visa fee is non-refundable should the eVisa be denied) - The processing time is approximately 3 working days for granting an eVisa however we recommend allowing longer in the event of delays. - The validity of eVisa approval letter is 90 days from the date of issue. If it has expired, entry will be denied. - eVisas are applicable for single entry into Myanmar only and you will not be permitted to re-enter on an eVisa that you have previously entered on (multiple entries not possible). - eVisas are only obtainable if you are arriving into Yangon International Airport, Nay Pyi Taw International Aiport and Mandalay International Airport, as well as land border crossings at Tachileik, Myawaddy and Kawthaung. If arriving into another Myanmar entry point you will need to apply for your visa in advance through a Myanmar Embassy. Nationalities who are unable to obtain an eVisa should contact the Myanmar embassy in their country of residency. Note - you may be requested to provide a letter of invitation from a local Myanmar ground operator. In such cases please contact Intrepid to attain this letter and we will forward to you.
Health & Safety
Many national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all areas your itinerary covers. Please refer to our website's safety page for links to major travel advisories and updates on safety issues affecting our trip. We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe-keeping of your passport, air tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of our hotels have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. Your leader will accompany you on all included activities, however during your trip you'll have some free time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it easy or explore at your leisure. While your leader will assist you with the available options in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your Intrepid itinerary, and Intrepid makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. Please also note that your Leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it's deemed necessary due to safety concerns. For more details on the type of conditions and safety standards you can expect on your trip, please refer to Intrepid's operational safety policy on our website. We recommend that you take a moment to read through this information before travelling, and would appreciate any feedback on how well it's being implemented in the field: http://www.intrepidtravel.com/contact-us/safety FIRE PRECAUTIONS: Please be aware that local laws governing tourism facilities in this region differ from those in your home country and not all the accommodation which we use has a fire exit, fire extinguishers or smoke alarms. SEAT BELTS: Please be aware that local laws governing transportation safety may differ from those in your home country and not all the transport which we use is able to provide seat belts. PETTY THEFT AND PERSONAL SAFETY: While travelling there is always the risk of pick-pocketing and petty theft, particularly in the more touristy cities. We recommend that you exercise caution when walking alone at night and encourage you to walk together and only on main, well-lit thoroughfares. Be particularly vigilant on public transport. Simple measures like carrying your day pack on your front, not hanging your bag over the back of your chair or on the floor and wearing a money belt will reduce any chance that your valuables should go missing. MOTORBIKE BAG SNATCHING: Be particularly aware of motorbike bag snatching, especially in the bigger cities.
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Finish point Asia Plaza Hotel 277 Bogyoke Aung San Road Corner of 38th Street Kyauktada Township Yangon Yangon MYANMAR Phone: +95 139 1070
Trip ID
intrepid-TRSN

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