Please note the tour price reflected on the brochure is subject to change. Due to seasonality, and taxes prices of the tour are subject to change without due notice. Please consult with the operator directly for the recent price.
Expedition - Myanmar's Naga Festival
Preferred
Myanmar Golden Rock Short Break
View tripOverview
Highlights (Bullets)
- 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.
Short Description
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.
Itinerary
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 past is evident everywhere. Head to the city's downtown area for a stroll through leafy boulevards and past dilapidated fin-de-siècle architecture.
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, one of the major tributaries of the mighty Ayeyarwaddy. Enjoy lunch and a refreshment at Sinthe Village before continuing on to Lahe in 4x4 vehicles (approximately 4 hours). When you arrive at Lahe, check in to your accommodation. Accommodation is in simple guesthouses and homes, which are built using local materials. You'll be sleeping in twin or double shared rooms in the traditional style – on a mattress on the floor. Enjoy dinner and relax for the rest of the evening.
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 be provided at the information counter in reception for you to take with you. Afterwards, relax and rest up for the next day of activities.
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 the Naga New Year and victories in battle, this is one of the most popular festivals in Myanmar. After lunch, the afternoon is free for you to explore the town of Lahe, visit the neighbouring villages, watch some traditional sports or relax until dinner.
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 villages and various sport events will begin. In the evening, welcome in the Naga New Year by a large bonfire. You might even like to join the locals in their dancing.
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.
Availability
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3,191 Intrepid Travel Travel Reviews & Ratings
Expedition - Myanmar's Naga Festival
Company Reviews
A brilliant trip
Best guide ever...Thank You, Trang!
Perfect for Solo Travellers
Adventure and local interaction without the worry!
WOW!
What an amazing tour.
Details
Flight & Transport Inclusions
Roundtrip air to/from trip start & all internal transport Boat,Plane,Private bus,Private 4x4 vehicle
Group Size
Small Group - 24 max
Maximum Number of People in Group: 12
Accommodations
Guesthouse (3 nights),Hotel (3 nights)
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.
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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