Dr Bob Hudson is one of the few international researchers currently conducting regular excavations in Burma. He specialises in the origin and development of early Buddhist urban centres of South East Asia, with a special focus on Myanmar. Bob is an experienced leader of educational travel programs to Myanmar and other Buddhist destinations, most recently with Australian Museum Members. He looks forward to sharing his enthusiasm and knowledge of Myanmar’s rich, textured and binding culture with fellow travellers.

This is a touring program with moderate transfers via air, riverboat and coach between centres. Visits to museums and outdoor sites will require medium mobility and the ability to stand for varying periods.

This is Burma, and it will be quite unlike any land you know about.

Kipling’s words echo as true today as when they were written. Primitive and untamed,
Myanmar (Burma) is one of the most enigmatic nations of Southeast Asia. Part of the reason is due to the terrain: ringed by rugged mountains on three borders and the Bay of Bengal to the south, Myanmar’s physical setting is a key influence in its climate; but it also kept it politically and culturally apart from the rest of the world, introverted and caught up in its own strange and exotic destinies. This isolation and the relative absence of foreign influence offers travellers an unparalleled glimpse of traditional life in Southeast Asia, where even today in many provinces there areminimal concessions to modern living. Myanmar’s built environment includes exquisite sites full of interest - caves, temples, pagodas, gardens, museums, monuments and picturesque districts – and when not exploring these, you will be introduced to the curiosities of local tribal and Buddhist cultures and, of course, the delights of some of the most exciting, colourful and fragrant markets in Asia.

Our Myanmar itinerary has been carefully designed by a specialist team supervised by our leader Dr Bob Hudson to encompass a wide-ranging number of historical and cultural Burmese sites. Our tour differs from conventional Myanmar itineraries and includes a visit to the lost ancient kingdom of Arakan (now Rakhine State in Myanmar), a largely undiscovered region which played a central role in the cultural exchange between India and South East Asia.  We cover a lot of ground, but we do so in a leisurely manner that will leave free time for personal exploration, shopping or for visiting additional places of interest along the way.

We journey through breathtakingly beautiful and infinitely varied landscapes as we explore the many strands of the country’s cultural tapestry. The Burmese remain a tribal and predominantly rural people and their relationship to the dynasties who emerged and ruled them can only be understood by reference to the countryside. The fertile agricultural plains give way to the mountains, each range possessing its own character.

Insular and intriguing, Burma is one of the oldest, richest cultures in the world, mysterious, beautiful and addictive. You are going to see incredible things, enjoy unforgettable experiences, and meet many warm, friendly people.