--by Ed Reinke
After the recent easing of sanctions by the U.S. government and moves toward greater political inclusiveness and democratization, Myanmar is back as a tourist destination for many Americans who were put off by the sanctions (which never banned travel by U.S. citizens) or by the entreaties of Myanmar activists, including Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, to avoid dealings which could help the military regime. Now that you can go, the question is why should you go. Quite simply, Myanmar is a beautiful, relatively unspoiled country, with friendly people and an amazing wealth of historic sites and natural beauty.
Our tour leaders, David Cardinal and myself, Edwin Reinke, have been travelling to Myanmar – often still called Burma by Westerners -- and leading tours there since 2005, and our experience has enabled us to pick the best spots…