Southeast Asian Photo Safari--
Cambodia and Burma (Myanmar)
13 days, 12 nights, option for Laos (4 or 5 night extension to Vientiane & Luang Prabang)

Sign-up for our November 30- December 13, 2008 trip

Southeast Asia is one of the world's most exotic destinations, and one of the most photogenic. The great monument sites of Southeast Asia are unique in their variety and scale. Taken together, sites in Siem Reap (the Angkor Wat temple complex and surrounding sites), along with Yangon, Bagan, and Mandalay in Burma (Myanmar) offer the opportunity of a lifetime to discover the legacy of several of the important cultures which form the Southeast Asian mosaic, as well as the chance to capture stunning images of lasting interest. Sign-up Online

We start in Bangkok, Thailand (or optionally join us in Siem Reap, Cambodia), the perfect staging area for any trip to Southeast Asia. Feel free to arrive early and enjoy the sites or arrange for an optional pre-trip extension, but once the trip starts we'll be heading straight off to Cambodia and Burma:

Our first stop is Siem Reap, Cambodia, where we'll spend nearly five days photographing Angkor Wat and some of the dozens of nearby sites and villages. These temples, constructed between the ninth and twelfth centuries represent the apogee of one of the most powerful and influential cultures in Southeast Asian history. The number of worthwhile sites and the opportunity for getting great images is almost limitless.

The latter part of our tour takes us to Myanmar (Burma), a location seldom visited by American photographers. You'll visit the capitol, Yangon, home to the gold-covered Shwedagon Paya, which is possibly the most impressive single pagoda in existence. From Yangon you'll proceed to Bagan, where you will visit the fabulous temple plain dotted with literally thousands of individual temples. After that, it's on to famous Mandalay. Although Mandalay is a fairly modern city, the outskirts offer some of Burma's most ancient sites, such as Ava. There are many opportunities here to get excellent images, both of ancient and modern Myanmar.

Planned Trip Itinerary:

• Day "0" (optional), Arrive Bangkok, Thailand, 1 night in Bangkok: Arrival. Participants will be met at the airport and escorted to the hotel. Flights tend to arrive late in the day, so getting a good night's sleep will be everyone's top priority before our busy trip. If you want to arrive earlier we can arrange local sightseeing for you in and around Bangkok.

• Day 1, Bangkok to Siem Reap, Cambodia (Angkor Wat & Temple Complex), 5 nights in Siem Reap: In order to maximize our time at Angkor Wat, we will take an early flight to Siem Reap. Arrival in Siem Reap and proceed to hotel for check-in. Visit the famous South & North Gates of Angkor Thom. Sunset at Angkor Wat. Dinner in Siem Reap along with a walk around the picturesque riverfront area and market.

• Day 2-3, Siem Reap (Angkor Temple Complex): Sunrise at Angkor Wat, followed by a tour of the temple complex. Specific sites such as Angkor Thom, including the South Gate, Bayon, Phimeannakas & the Royal Palace, Elephant Terrace, Terrace of the Leper King , Thommanon, and Chao Say Tevoda. as well as Ta Phrom. Dinner in Siem Reap.

• Day 4, Siem Reap (Angkor Temple Complex): Sunrise at Banteay Srei. Return via Banteay Samre. Lunch Preah Khan, Neak Pean, Ta Som.  Sunset at Bayon. Dinner in Siem Reap.

• Day 5, Siem Reap (Angkor Temple Complex): Sunrise at Roulos Group, Roulos Market, Beng Melea Drinks at the famous Grand Hotel, dinner in Siem Reap.

• Day 6-7, Siem Reap to Yangon, Burma (Myanmar), 2 nights in Yangon: Last sunrise at Angkor Wat. Checkout from hotel, depart for airport. We'll arrive in Yangon with plenty of time for a walking tour of the city and the opportunity to photograph the Shwedagon. We've allowed an extra day in Yangon to make sure we have time to review photos from the first half of the trip, discuss important techniques and relax a little before launching into our exploration of Myanmar.

• Day 8-9: Bagan & the Plain of Temples, 2 nights in Bagan. There we will have almost two full days to explore and photograph in Bagan's Archaeological Zone, which contains nearly 3,000 recorded monuments in an area roughly 13 by 7 square kilometers. 3,000 seems like a lot, but don't worry, your local guides and the tour leaders know the best spots to maximize your chances of getting memorable images. You'll also have the treat of a boat ride on the Ayeyarwaddy River, enabling you to experience and photograph the sunset in its full glory. 
  

• Day 10-12: Colorful Mandalay, 3 nights in Mandalay. We'll visit and photograph Amarapura, the U Bein bridge, the Sagaing Hills, and the picturesque Mingun--reached by private chartered riverboat. There are literally hundreds of pagodas and monasteries, and about 6000 monks, enabling you to get great shots of Myanmar's people as well as its monuments.

• Day 13: Return through Yangon to Bangkok: We'll depart Mandalay for Yangon and connection to Bangkok. (Some sightseeing may be possible depending on precise flight schedules). Those continuing on the extension to Laos will depart with us that evening from Bangkok to Vientiane.

	For photos & an account of my recent trip to Burma, please read my article on our December 2007 safari, as well as our January 2007 safari: Burma from Buddha to Orwell and my 2005 trip: Burma: The Land that Time Forgot.
	For photos and an account of our recent trip to the Angkor temples in Cambodia you can read DigitalPro Shooter 3-1: Photographing the Magic of Angkor Wat.

The safari fee is $6395 per-person, double occupancy. That includes all airfare from the start of the trip in Bangkok until our return in Bangkok, all ground transportation during the trip, your hotel room and food, local wine or beer with meals, bottled water when we're out in the field, guide fees, park, temple and other entrance fees, and photo instruction. It does not include your International Airfare, phone usage, or additional drinks. If you need your own room, the single supplement is US$1000. Not included are any (optional) tips you wish to provide our local guides and your visa and departure fees (normally less than $100 total). A slight discount is available for those who want to join us directly in Siem Reap instead of starting in Bangkok. Please feel free to email us with questions at: safaris [at] cardinalphoto.com.

There is a $200 per person early bird discount if you book by March 31st, as well as a $200 companion discount for those booking two or more individuals. As always NANPA members also receive a discount.

Non-photographers are always welcome, especially as companions of photographers on the trip--this trip has proven quite popular for couples in particular. There are always alternative activities provided for times when we are working on images, and non-shooting companions are of course invited to be part of any of the talks or slide shows that are of interest to them.

You can reserve your place with a non-refundable US$1000 deposit. The balance of the fee is due 90 days before the trip. If you are worried about having issues which prevent you from going at the last minute please consider getting travel insurance. You can sign-up online.

The trip is limited to a maximum of 8 participants, both to ensure plenty of personal instruction and to make sure we have lots of flexibility in our itinerary and schedule.

For more information or questions:

sign-up online or
E-mail: safaris [at] cardinalphoto.com
or Call +1.650.851.8350

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