Six of the Best in Burma

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Aug 29, 2013, 12:09 ET

LONDON, August 29, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Cox & Kings Picks What Not to Miss in Burma

Demand for holidays to Burma continues to increase, and with new luxury hotels and river cruises launching, this is set to continue. Luxury Burma holidays specialist Cox & Kings reports that Burma remains one of its bestselling destinations.

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Sunrise balloon ride over Pagan

No Burma tour would be complete without seeing the myriad pagodas and temples of Pagan and what better way than in a hot air balloon at sunrise. The Pagan Archaeological Zone is one of the country's top attractions, covering an area of 67 sq km. Tea and coffee are served while the crew prepare the balloons and a light champagne breakfast is served on landing. In 2014, balloon rides over Inle Lake will also be available.

Moulmein

The country's third largest city was once a busy seaport and the administrative capital of British Lower Burma known as 'Little England'. Today it is a pleasant and quiet town with a rich history lying off the normal tourist trail. Plenty of colonial-style architecture can still be seen, along with brilliantly coloured mosques, built for Indian immigrant workers decades ago. Moulmein is also home to Burma's first Baptist church.

Kalaw

Located between Mandalay and Inle lake, Kalaw was a popular hill station during the British rule and remains a peaceful place to relax and explore the surrounding countryside. At an altitude of 1,320 metres, temperatures are pleasantly cooler offering wonderful hiking opportunities through rugged mountains and bamboo groves to remote hill tribe villages. Kalaw has a charming and quaint atmosphere created by its unique mix of ethnic tribal minorities, Burmese, Nepalese and Indians.

Ngapali Beach

Burma's most famous beach, on the shores of the Bay of Bengal, has 3km of palm-fringed white sand. Still maintaining its fishing community, there are charming villages nearby that are waiting to be explored, and almost deserted offshore islands that can be visited. Rumour has it that the beach was named many years ago by a homesick Italian sailor from Napoli.

Golden Rock Pagoda, Kyaiktiyo

According to legend, the golden rock is precariously perched on a strand of the Buddha's hair, seemingly defying gravity as it permanently appears to be on the verge of rolling down the hill. Situated at the top of Mount Kyaiktiyo, it is the third most important Buddhist pilgrimage site in Burma after the Shwedagon Pagoda and the Mahamuni Pagoda. The Golden Rock Pagoda is built on the top of the granite boulder and covered with gold leaves, which are pasted on by the flow of devoted pilgrims. A glimpse of the 'gravity defying' golden rock is believed to be enough of an inspiration to turn anyone to Buddhism.

River cruise

Lined with ancient palaces and pagodas, the fascinating Irrawaddy river has stirred the imagination of some of the world's greatest writers including George Orwell and Rudyard Kipling. There are a variety of boats that cruise the river, ranging from smaller traditional Burmese boats to the two luxurious Orient-Express boats - the Road to Mandalay and the 25-cabin Orcaella, which launched this summer and sails to the remote villages and ancient monasteries in the north of Burma.

Cox & Kings arranges escorted and private luxury holidays to more than 100 countries around the world.

NOTE TO EDITORS

Cox & Kings is the world's longest established travel company. Its history stretches back more than 250 years to 1758 when Richard Cox was appointed regimental agent to the Footguards (later the Grenadier Guards). The company's fortunes grew hand in hand with the British empire and by the early 20^th century the company was acting as agent and banker throughout the armed forces and as a shipping agent. In 1922 Cox & Co merged with the Henry S King bank, which had strong connections with India. The bank became part of Lloyds and the shipping agency grew separately, evolving into the modern travel company.

Today, built on the high quality service and attention to detail established by Richard Cox in the 18^th century, the company continues to flourish as an independent tour operator, with operations in London, the US, Japan, Australia and throughout India. Cox & Kings organises escorted small-group tours and private tailor-made travel in the Indian Subcontinent, Latin America, the Middle East, the Far East, Africa, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, and the Caribbean.