Luxury Art & Design Tours

Decorative Arts & Gardens of England
(9 Days)
London, Cotswolds

Art Tour of France
(10 Days)
Paris & Versailles, Provence, Cote d’Azur

Art & Design Tour of Berlin
(5 Days)
Berlin & Potsdam

Art & Temples of India
(18 Days)
Delhi, Varanasi, Khajuraho & Panna National Park, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Ajanta & Ellora Caves, Mumbai

Culture, Crafts & Cuisine of Ireland
(13 days)
Dublin, Ballyfin, Ballymaloe, Killarney, Adare, Ashford Castle

Italy for Art Lovers
(13 Days)
Rome, Florence & Assisi, Bologna & Ravenna, Venice & Padua, Milan

Contemporary Art & Architecture of Japan
(14 Days)
Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto & Miho Museum, Naoshima, Tokyo

Art, Crafts & Design of Mexico
(9 Days)
Mexico City, Oaxaca

Arts & Crafts of Morocco
(13 Days)
Casablanca, Fez, Rabat, Atlas Mountains, Essaouira, Marrakesh

Arts & Crafts of Myanmar
(9 Days)
Yangon & Twante, Bagan & Mount Popa, Mandalay

Design, Architecture & Nature of Norway
(9 Days)
Oslo, Alesund & Atlantic Road, Norangsfjord, Geirangerfjord, Storfjord

Art & Design of Portugal
(8 Days)
Lisbon & Sintra, Porto

Contemporary Art & Design in Seoul & Jeju Island
(8 Days)
Seoul, Jeju Island

Swedish Design Tour
(5 Days)
Stockholm & environs

Art Tour of Switzerland
(6 Days)
Geneva, Basel & Weil am Rhein, Zurich with St. Gallen & Winterthur

Design & Gardens Tour of Sicily
(8 Days)
Palermo & Monreale, Taormina with Noto, Syracuse & Villa Romana del Casale

Decorative Arts & Gardens Tour of Paris
(8 Days)
Paris & environs

Traditional Crafts of Japan
(15 Days)
Tokyo, Kurashiki, Kyoto, Yamanaka Onsen, Kanazawa

Exclusive Japan: Amans, Art & Onsen
(15 Days)
Tokyo, Naoshima, Kyoto, Ise-Shima region

MULTI-COUNTRY TOURS

Food, Design & Culture of Copenhagen & Sweden
(12 Days)
Stockholm, Kingdom of Crystal, Wanas, Malmo, Copenhagen

Dutch & Flemish Art Tour
(10 days)
Bruges & Ghent, Brussels & Antwerp, Amsterdam with The Hague, Delft & Kroller-Muller Museum

Arts & Crafts of Myanmar

(9 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Yangon & Twante, Bagan & Mount Popa, Mandalay

This private tour of Myanmar focuses on traditional culture in the country's most popular destinations. It features private touring of crafts towns, art gallery districts, artisan workshops, local markets, Buddhist temples, monasteries and more. All touring is with your own expert escort guide and private drivers, and accommodation is at the country's best luxury hotels and resorts.

Begin in Yangon, the largest city in Myanmar. See atmospheric British-colonial architecture, the spectacular golden stupa of Shwedagon Pagoda and the enormous reclining Buddha at Chaukhtatgyi Temple while touring with your private guide and driver. Browse sprawling Bogyoke (Scott) Market for traditional Burmese crafts such as lacquerware, baskets and longyis. Visit Little India, Chinatown and other dynamic neighborhoods that reflect Yangon's diverse cultural influences.

One day, take a riverboat across the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) Delta to Twante, a renowned pottery village. Visit local pottery and weaving workshops, the central market and the landmark Shwesandaw Pagoda. En route back to Yangon, take in views of local farms and rural life along the waterfront.

Next, fly to awe-inspiring Bagan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where thousands of pagodas and temples cover arid plains along the banks of the Ayeyarwady River. During private touring, learn about Bagan's history as a major Buddhist center between the 11th and 13th centuries, and see the most interesting temple ruins and their Buddhist frescoes and sculptures. Also meet with local artisans who produce Bagan's revered traditional lacquerware. One evening, enjoy sundowner cocktails during a relaxing private sunset cruise on the river. Upon request, Artisans of Leisure can arrange additional activities such as a spectacular hot-air balloon ride over the temples of Bagan at sunrise; a visit to a local Buddhist monastery; and a private excursion to other local villages or Mount Popa, an important pilgrimage site.

One day, take a private excursion to Mount Popa, an extinct volcano that's considered the home of Myanmar's most powerful nats (spirits). Climb the 777 steps up the mountain to see the colorful shrines dedicated to the nats, and learn about this indigenous religion and its iconography. Also visit a local farm to see how palm sugar and toddy liquor are made.

Continue to fabled Mandalay, the cultural heart of Myanmar. One morning, visit a local monastery and observe a procession of Buddhist monks collecting their daily alms. During touring in town, visit local workshops to watch artisans create traditional crafts such as silk weavings, wood carvings, gold leaf, marble carvings and alms bowls. Visit the city's central market to learn about local ingredients and goods used in daily life, and perhaps enjoy a meal of Mandalay's famous noodles in a tea shop. Also see additional cultural and historical highlights in ancient former capitals surrounding the city such as Amarapura, Ava, Mingun and Sagaing.

Return to Yangon for a night and continue private touring. Depending on your interests, other touring options include visiting art galleries, the National Museum, Myanmar's only synagogue, or other architectural, cultural and culinary highlights.

Itinerary Overview
Day 1 Arrive Yangon
Private arrival transfer to hotel for 2 nights. Afternoon private tour
Day 2 Yangon & Twante
Full-day privately guided excursion to pottery village, including transfers by riverboat
Day 3 Yangon – Bagan
Private airport transfer and flight to Bagan. Private arrival transfer to hotel for 3 nights. Full-day private tour. Horse-drawn carriage ride at sunset
Day 4 Bagan
Full-day private tour, including Ayeyarwady River cruise
Day 5 Bagan & Mount Popa
Optional morning hot-air balloon flight. Full-day private excursion
Day 6 Bagan – Mandalay
Private airport transfer and flight to Mandalay. Private arrival transfer to hotel for 2 nights. Full-day private tour
Day 7 Mandalay & environs
Full-day private touring
Day 8 Mandalay – Yangon
Morning private tour. Private airport transfer and flight to Yangon. Private arrival transfer to hotel for 1 night. Afternoon city tour
Day 9 Depart Yangon
Private airport transfer

Hotels
Yangon: Rosewood Yangon or The Governor's Residence
Bagan: Aureum Palace or Bagan Lodge
Mandalay: Mandalay Hill Resort or Hilton Mandalay

Cost
$7,425 Per person (double occupancy)

Luxury Art & Design Tours

Decorative Arts & Gardens of England
(9 Days)
London, Cotswolds

Art Tour of France
(10 Days)
Paris & Versailles, Provence, Cote d’Azur

Art & Design Tour of Berlin
(5 Days)
Berlin & Potsdam

Art & Temples of India
(18 Days)
Delhi, Varanasi, Khajuraho & Panna National Park, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur, Ajanta & Ellora Caves, Mumbai

Culture, Crafts & Cuisine of Ireland
(13 days)
Dublin, Ballyfin, Ballymaloe, Killarney, Adare, Ashford Castle

Italy for Art Lovers
(13 Days)
Rome, Florence & Assisi, Bologna & Ravenna, Venice & Padua, Milan

Contemporary Art & Architecture of Japan
(14 Days)
Tokyo, Kanazawa, Kyoto & Miho Museum, Naoshima, Tokyo

Art, Crafts & Design of Mexico
(9 Days)
Mexico City, Oaxaca

Arts & Crafts of Morocco
(13 Days)
Casablanca, Fez, Rabat, Atlas Mountains, Essaouira, Marrakesh

Arts & Crafts of Myanmar
(9 Days)
Yangon & Twante, Bagan & Mount Popa, Mandalay

Design, Architecture & Nature of Norway
(9 Days)
Oslo, Alesund & Atlantic Road, Norangsfjord, Geirangerfjord, Storfjord

Art & Design of Portugal
(8 Days)
Lisbon & Sintra, Porto

Contemporary Art & Design in Seoul & Jeju Island
(8 Days)
Seoul, Jeju Island

Swedish Design Tour
(5 Days)
Stockholm & environs

Art Tour of Switzerland
(6 Days)
Geneva, Basel & Weil am Rhein, Zurich with St. Gallen & Winterthur

Design & Gardens Tour of Sicily
(8 Days)
Palermo & Monreale, Taormina with Noto, Syracuse & Villa Romana del Casale

Decorative Arts & Gardens Tour of Paris
(8 Days)
Paris & environs

Traditional Crafts of Japan
(15 Days)
Tokyo, Kurashiki, Kyoto, Yamanaka Onsen, Kanazawa

Exclusive Japan: Amans, Art & Onsen
(15 Days)
Tokyo, Naoshima, Kyoto, Ise-Shima region

MULTI-COUNTRY TOURS

Food, Design & Culture of Copenhagen & Sweden
(12 Days)
Stockholm, Kingdom of Crystal, Wanas, Malmo, Copenhagen

Dutch & Flemish Art Tour
(10 days)
Bruges & Ghent, Brussels & Antwerp, Amsterdam with The Hague, Delft & Kroller-Muller Museum

Testimonials

Our guide in Japan arranged one-on-one conversations with some amazing artisans… lots of credit to Artisans for arranging things so well, understanding our interests and making sure they were communicated to Japan.
~ J.R., Raleigh, NC

The art scene in Mexico City was even better than we could have imagined. Thank you for organizing such a great guide. We never would have been able to experience the city in the same way without him. We really appreciated all of the Artisans of Leisure touches and special connections.
~ L.S., New York, NY

Our recent Vietnam trip was excellent…Thank you for arranging for us to visit the home and studio of the renowned art dealer in Hanoi.
~ A.R., Easton, MD

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In the Press

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Must Visit: Naoshima, Japan’s Art Island

Interiors & Architecture: A Private Tour of Bayt al-Suhaymi in Cairo, Egypt

Architecture and Design Touring in Vienna

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Just Back: French Art, History, Interiors & Fine Dining in Paris & Versailles

Behind-the-Scenes Culinary and Crafts Touring in Japan

Must Experience: James Turrell’s Gathered Sky in Beijing

Ceramics in Japan: Robert Yellin’s Yakimono Gallery in Kyoto

Helsinki: Top 10 Architecture & Design Sites

Luis Barragan: Modern Architecture in Mexico City

Exclusive Tours of the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia

Blue-and-white Ceramics and Azulejo Tiles in Portugal

A Conversation with Renowned Art Curator David Elliott

A Private “Sound of Music” Tour in Salzburg, Austria

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