Burma is set to see another boom in demand following a visit from President Obama late November. Since the tourism boycott was lifted in November 2010, Burma has become the ‘must visit’ destination for travellers around the world, but with around just 25,000 hotel beds on offer, capacity is already stretched. Obama has this week vowed to help rebuild Burma’s economy with the provision of funds, meaning that the country could welcome greater numbers of tourists over the coming years.

For those who want to see Burma before the large crowds draw in, adventure travel specialist, Explore, now has six group tours on offer. Explore was one of the first major tour operators to return to Burma once the tourism boycott was lifted, and as a result can guarantee accommodation for its customers. It has worked hard to ensure its tours are responsibly designed and are of benefit to the Burmese people. Since it re-entered Burma, the company has closely followed the guidelines and has avoided junta owned facilities and services, as per the appeals of pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Sitting alongside its already popular Cycle Burma tour is Explore’s new and less challenging Burma by Bike tour. This 14-day tour cycles along the rural backroads of Burma at a gentle pace, allowing customers to get a feel for local life in this majestic country. Visiting Rangoon, Bagan, Inle Lake, Mandalay and the Shan highlands, the tour costs from $3490 per person and includes 12 nights’ hotel and one night guest house accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, bike hire, transport and the services of a tour leader and support vehicle.

For walkers looking for something unique, Explore’s new Burma Hilltribe Trek journeys through the remote hilltribes of the Shan state and offers the rare opportunity for customers to spend the night in a local Buddhist monastery. The tour also joins Buddhist pilgrims on a trek to Burma’s most important pilgrimage site: the sacred Golden Rock, and visits the famous highlights including Inle Lake, Bagan and Rangoon. Graded moderate, the tour costs from $4123 per person to include12 nights’ hotel and one night monastery accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis, six other meals, transport and the services of a tour leader, driver and some local guides.

Ashley Toft, Managing Director for Explore commented, “Since we reintroduced tours to Burma in June 2011, we have been increasing our portfolio to meet ever-increasing demand. Our new tours for 2013 sit alongside our already popular Burma Highlights, Burma in Depth, Cycle Burma and Family Adventures in Burma tours.”
He continued, “We are able to provide such high capacity in Burma because we were one of the first major tour operators to reintroduce tours to the country. We were amongst the first to build relationships with local agents and suppliers, meaning that we were able to book accommodation in non-junta owned hotels before the rush came in. A lot of operators are now struggling to source accommodation in this highly in-demand destination.”