Mon State is Awesome; Thaton – Boat trip over Thanlwin River – U Na Auk Village – Bilu Islands – Thanbyuzayat – Setse Beach - 4 Days

Pick up from the hotel in Yangon and drive all the way to Mawlamyine; the capital city of Mon State. En route, enjoy scenic ride, beautiful landscape, and we’ll be passing through several towns and the rural countryside of Myanmar. A lunch stop is at Second Garden Café in Thaton town. Thaton is said to be the original capital of the Mons but now that distinction has shifted to Mawlamyine. However, Thahton still boasts some historical links. There are remnants of an old city wall with the shrine of a Bagan hero, Byatwi, who become a nat (spirit)after being killed by the lord of the town when he fell in love with the governor’s beautiful daughter. Now he is regarded as the guardian of the town and people come here to pray. Visitors still can see the old palace walls made with soil, the Bagan heroes’ statues and it’s interesting to listen Byatwi and Byatta’s stories. After seeing colonial town, sun dial clock and old airport that used by British, continue to Mawlamyine. In Mawlamyine, we’ll take you to Strand Road, sunset at Kyaikthanlan Pagoda or an optional sunset cruise tour over Thanlwin River.

Pottery cottage in Ta-Tar-Oo village

On the way between Belin and Thaton, we can study rubber plantation and rubber sheet production both sides of the road. As well as we can have a look at the pottery cottage where clay earthen pots and glaze pots are produced.

Marble Stone factory between Thaton & Zin Kyaik

Just before arrival to Zin Kyaik on our way to Mawlamyine, we’ll stop at marble stone production workshop which is quite interesting. To get black marble stone, the contractor has to dig up 40 to 70 feet sometimes depending on the geography formation at the mountains and lift it up. Same materials that make Myanmar Ipad (Stone slab used as exercise book to write with a stone stick).

Overnight at Cinderella Hotel, Deluxe

Breakfast is at the hotel.

After breakfast, we’ll be heading to Thanbyuzayat. Thanbyuzayat is a town in the Mon State of south-eastern Myanmar, located 40 miles south of Mawlamyine. During World War II Thanbyuzayat was the western terminus of the Thailand–Burma Railway linking up with the pre-war coastal railway between Ye and Yangon. Thanbyuzayat was also the site of a Japanese Prisoner of war camp for the prisoners who worked on building the railway and over 3,000 Allied servicemen are buried there in the Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery.

Arrival Wae-Ka-Wah Mon village hidden in the rubber plantation, enjoy welcome drinks and prepare yourself for the active trekking tour (3-4 hours) through the mountains, WW2 battle fields, and caves where Japanese soldiers hid from allied bombing when they were constructing the Death Railway line that joining to Thailand side. The trails are untouched, and Mon village guide will have to clear the vegetations along the trek. Bunker, trenches and caves we still can see in these days. Along the trek, we’ll also meet villagers, temple visit and enjoy the stunning view over the View Point Hill. At the end, back to the village. Lunch is ready with Mon foods.

Tracing the WAR https://frontiermyanmar.net/en/tracing-the-japanese-occupation-in-thanbyuzayat

Afternoon, visit to a temple donated by Japanese and Myanmar workers, the death Railway Museum and swimming at the natural Hot Spring where close to Jacucci used by Japanese officers during WW2. Sunset at the village temple hill and spend the night at Mon village home. Dinner is included.

Overnight at Village House, basic facilities

Breakfast at the hotel.

This morning you will be driven to Thanbyuzayat located 40 miles south of Mawlamyine. During World War II Thanbyuzayat was the western terminus of the Thailand–Burma Railway linking up with the pre-war coastal railway between Ye and Yangon. During the Japanese occupation of Burma, the railway was built to connect Bangkok and Rangoon. Japanese engineers estimated that it would take 5 years to build the 410 kilometres (260 miles) line, but due to the forced, hard labour of POWs, the railway was completed in 13 months. A Japanese comfort train (a brothel on wheels) inaugurated the track, and the line was in use for 21 months before being bombed by the British Royal Air Force. It is estimated that over 80, 000 Asians died in the construction of the railway, as well as over 12, 000 Allied POWs, the majority being British and Australian. Only one prisoner is known to have escaped – a Briton named Roy Pagani who escaped into the jungle and took refuge with pro-British Kayin (Karen) guerrillas. After the war, 111 Japanese and Koreans were charged with war crimes. At Thanbyuzayat there is a museum and a war cemetery with the graves of 3, 771 POWs, maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Note: For those who would like to trace the WWII footprints such as battle fields, bunker where Japanese hideout, well, caves and trenches, Wae-Ka-Wah village guide can take you to the hill top under the rubber trees. The trails are unexplored, hidden and it takes 2-3 hours to finish the trek. Tracing the WAR https://frontiermyanmar.net/en/tracing-the-japanese-occupation-in-thanbyuzayat

Lunch will be at a local restaurant.

After lunch, you will then be taken to the Setse Beach for the relaxation. The beach is situated 16 km southwest of Thanbyuzayut. This wide, brown-sanded beach tends towards tidal flats when the shallow the shallow surf-life recedes at low tide. The beach is lined with waving casuarina trees. At least we can feel the beach, sand and sun when we’re getting in this area. Sea foods are fresh and great to try for the dinner.

Overnight at 21 Paradise (Setse Beach)