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Anne Cruickshanks

Myanmar is not an ordinary country. And it would be a waste of time to see Myanmar the ordinary way. For the last ten years, I have been creating and leading trips through this beautiful country that I call home. I know that the 'sites' are amazing- and I would never want a visitor to miss the chance to gaze in awe at Shwedagon Pagoda or capture the sunset over Bagan. But I also want to make sure each visitor gets into the local culture by experiencing Myanmar with all five senses.

Eating, cycling, and trekking are the best way to do this in my opinion! Our company, Myanmar Pure, was founded with this in mind. Leave your guide books behind and let us plan the perfect adventure for you.

What places and activities do you specialize in?

"Myanmar is where I call home and I have been fortunate to travel throughout the country. We specialize in the area around Mandalay and north but have experience from north to south, east to west. We specialise in getting you in to the heart of the country and feel that adventure is the best way to do this. In the true sense of the word, this is cycling and trekking but we also think adventure is found in personal encounters, local food tastings and slowing down and soaking up the rhythms of Myanmar."

How did you get involved in travel?

"My great aunt was a world traveler and her stories and photos fascinated me when I was younger. After an extended trip through Southeast Asia, I took a job as a tour leader there. And the rest is history! Over the years I worked in various roles until setting up Myanmar Pure with a local friend of mine."

Please share a unique travel experience you will never forget.

"All of them! But one experience that sticks with me is from a motorbike trip in North Vietnam many years ago. When my friend's motorbike broke down, we were stuck on the roadside in the middle of nowhere trying to repair it with the few tools we had. After 30 frustrating minutes, a local farmer showed up on a motorbike with 5 pigs in a cage on the back. With a few cranks of the wrench and some subtle taps, he had my friends motorbike working again. When we presented money to pay him for his time, he started to open the pig cage and pull one out- he thought we wanted to buy a pig!"

Anne is part of the following groups: Myanmar Travel Agents
Cycling on a trail outside of Yangon, Myanmar
Cycle Myanmar - 14 Days

Hit the trails to see Myanmar on two wheels. This active 14-day trip takes you through the country's main destinations and lesser-known towns, giving you the chance to discover Myanmar's culture, history, and landscapes at a slow pace. From pointing out major temples to leading you along hidden trails, your local guide is an invaluable resource—and a support vehicle is always on hand if any problems arise. Grab a bicycle and get ready for an adventure!

Scenery in the Shan Hills, Myanmar
Myanmar Adventure Tour- 14 Days

Forget the typical tour bus holiday: lace up your trekking boots, grab a bike, and bring a sense of adventure to discover the real beauty of Myanmar on this outdoorsy holiday. Spend two weeks exploring the country’s main sites and hidden gems—from U Bein Bridge and the temples of Bagan to a day with elephants in Kalaw—forging a closer connection with the people and culture that make Myanmar so special.

Fisherman on serene Inle Lake
Best of Myanmar: Bagan, Mandalay, Inle Lake, & More - 14 Days

Get ready to experience the wonders of Myanmar. Featuring encounters with native tribes and peaceful bike rides through rice paddies, this two-week trip takes you to Mandalay, Bagan, Inle Lake, and Yangon, wrapping up with a beach break at Ngapali, one of Southeast Asia's most beautiful stretches of shoreline.

Tourists exploring Inle Lake
Best of Yangon, Bagan, & Inle Lake- 7 Days

From serene temples to bustling markets, city landscapes to divine natural paradises, this weeklong trip showcases the diversity of Myanmar. Start in intriguing Yangon, travel to temple-filled Bagan, then touch down in tranquil Inle Lake, where you'll boat past floating gardens and traditional villages built on stilts. After seven days, you'll wish you could stay longer.

Hot air balloons over the temples of Bagan
Best of Yangon, Bagan, Inle & Loikaw - 10 Days

Discover a treasure trove of cultural wonders on this adventure around Myanmar. As you travel from Yangon to Bagan to Inle Lake, you'll be immersed in rich local culture and see incredible sites, including Shwedagon Pagoda, floating gardens, and traditional villages in Loikaw, a region only recently opened to tourism.

Tourists on a boat in the Shan State
Yangon and the Shan State Adventure - 5 days

Experience the contrasts of Myanmar in just five days with this adventure in Yangon and the Shan State. Highlights include a visit to glittering Shwedagon Pagoda and the bustling street markets of the capital, interaction with ethnic groups in the town of Pindaya, a day trekking in the highlands, and a bike ride along the shores of Inle Lake.

Recent trip reviews for Anne

Beyond my dreams
Myanmar | Jan 8 - Jan 30, 2020

Bonnie
Bonnie S.
Canada | Reviewed on Oct 26, 2020

Our trip to Myanmar was our second month-long trip arranged through kimkim and once we are able to travel again, we will be booking a third!

All of our guides provided us with more information than expected and there were new discoveries every day.

Our countryside biking and nunnery lunch in Mandalay was very peaceful, but the bikes provided were far from comfortable for us. We loved the experience, but suffered later.

Bagan was breathtaking and the hotel was very special. I didn't feel... read more

Our trip to Myanmar was our second month-long trip arranged through kimkim and once we are able to travel again, we will be booking a third!

All of our guides provided us with more information than expected and there were new discoveries every day.

Our countryside biking and nunnery lunch in Mandalay was very peaceful, but the bikes provided were far from comfortable for us. We loved the experience, but suffered later.

Bagan was breathtaking and the hotel was very special. I didn't feel comfortable handling an e-motorcycle, so I hopped on the back of our guides bike while my husband drove his own. We made so many wonderful discoveries in Bagan including a cooking class with May. We had a tour of the market and then were given a basket and money to buy any ingredients we wanted for our meal. I was worried about the language difference, but the market vendors were so kind. We stopped for a tea before going to May’s house to cook our meal. So much fun! Our boat trip on the Irrawaddy River at sunset completed the day.

My personal favourite point in the trip was our time spent in Kalaw with the elephants at the Green Valley Elephant Camp, a retirement home for former logging elephants. We interacted with the elephants by feeding them, touching them and then bathing them in the river. The time spent with them in the river will stay with me forever!

Our guide, Thwe Wai Soe and driver for this part of the trip were the best that we have ever experienced!

We traveled by so many different means of transportation, had so many different experiences and stayed at wonderful accommodations. Well done, Myanmar Pure!

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Nov 01, 2020

Dear Bonnie and Dave,

Thank you so much for sharing these beautiful photos and feedback from your Myanmar trip! It is great reading about what enjoyed and where we need to improve plus I'm sure will be useful for future travelers too!

I will share the comments with our team- they will appreciate reading such positive words during this difficult time!

Hope you are staying healthy and looking forward to your next kimkim journey!

Best regards,
Anne & The Myanmar Pure Team

I couldn't have asked for a better first trip to Myanmar. I can't wait to go back with KimKim!
Myanmar | Feb 6 - Feb 13, 2020

Lisa
Lisa N.
Seattle, WA | Reviewed on Mar 14, 2020

Everything was perfect, from itinerary creation, to booking, to the actual visit!

Anne is a great communicator - she listened to everything I wanted and gave me just that. She was always reachable and very helpful with everything I needed (even random stuff like printing needs).

I also loved all of my tour guides. Each one was different with their own personalities, background, experiences, etc. and it was great to get to hear so many different perspectives.

The accommodations and... read more

Everything was perfect, from itinerary creation, to booking, to the actual visit!

Anne is a great communicator - she listened to everything I wanted and gave me just that. She was always reachable and very helpful with everything I needed (even random stuff like printing needs).

I also loved all of my tour guides. Each one was different with their own personalities, background, experiences, etc. and it was great to get to hear so many different perspectives.

The accommodations and transport options were all fantastic.

Overall, I couldn't have asked for a better first trip to Myanmar. I can't wait to go back!

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Mar 16, 2020

Thanks so much for your review! It's wonderful to read such positive feedback about your travel experiences in Myanmar. There is so much to see here and your first trip just scratched the surface so we would love to welcome you back for another visit. Fingers crossed this COVID-19 scare passes soon and we can all get back out on the road traveling again!

Looking forward to helping you plan your next Myanmar holiday,
Anne & the Myanmar Pure team

Ten Days Solo in Myanmar 2019
Myanmar | Dec 12 - Dec 20, 2019

Caitlin
Caitlin M.
Norwalk, CA | Reviewed on Jan 31, 2020

I had an excellent experience in planning my trip to Myanmar with Anne and with everything that she arranged for me while I was there.

Anne was extremely responsive as soon as I was put in touch with her, and she was very patient while I went back and forth on what I wanted to do on short notice. Once I decided to pull the trigger, she gave me great options tailored to the way that I like to travel and was very quick with suggestions and changes. She was amazing with everything within... read more

I had an excellent experience in planning my trip to Myanmar with Anne and with everything that she arranged for me while I was there.

Anne was extremely responsive as soon as I was put in touch with her, and she was very patient while I went back and forth on what I wanted to do on short notice. Once I decided to pull the trigger, she gave me great options tailored to the way that I like to travel and was very quick with suggestions and changes. She was amazing with everything within Myanmar, and I have to give her additional credit and thanks for making really helpful suggestions related to my international travel/ long haul flights, which she certainly didn't have to do since she wasn't directly involved with them.

I feel that everything that she planned for me allowed me to see a lot of the country and certainly all of the highlights within a relatively short period of time (roughly 10 days). I loved everything that I did - sightseeing by bike and boat in Mandalay, visiting the amazing pagodas and taking a cooking class in Bagan, seeing the markets, countryside and caves from Heho to Pindaya to Kalaw, spending a day with amazing elephants at the Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp, exploring Inle Lake, and finally seeing the sites in the big city of Yangon, which was so completely different than everywhere else I'd been. It would be hard to pick favorites, but Bagan, the elephants, Inle Lake, and Yangon were particularly wonderful.

Beyond taking in all of the places that that beautiful country has the offer, the people were amazing. Anne set me up with absolutely incredible guides and drivers everywhere that I went, and they were all for lovely to spend time with and informative about everything that they were showing me. I even got to meet some family! Anne herself also took the time to meet me in Mynamar and take me for a drink and nice conversation. As a more general note, I was traveling alone, and I always felt completely comfortable and welcomed everywhere I went.

I had always wanted to go to Myanmar, but it exceeded my expectations. I hope more people get to experience it and its lovely residents.

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Feb 02, 2020

Hi Caitlin,
Thanks for sharing this beautiful feedback from your travels in Myanmar! I'm glad that Myanmar exceeded your expectations, even in such a short trip, and that you felt safe and comfortable throughout the trip... hope you will have the chance to visit again and explore other corners of the country!
All the best,
Anne & the Myanmar Pure team

Wonderful Myanmar
Myanmar | Jan 3 - Jan 12, 2020

I
Ian R.
Australia | Reviewed on Jan 16, 2020

Anne was outstanding from initial contact, providing excellent advice during the planning phase and at every point during the trip. Nothing seemed too much trouble and she certainly goes the extra mile. The trip was wonderful and full of surprises. The daily itineraries were well balanced but it felt like every day had an unexpected bonus whether it was e-bikes in Bagan or the Irrawaddy cruise boat in Mandalay. We also loved meeting Anne in Mandalay. This was easily the best organised... read more

Anne was outstanding from initial contact, providing excellent advice during the planning phase and at every point during the trip. Nothing seemed too much trouble and she certainly goes the extra mile. The trip was wonderful and full of surprises. The daily itineraries were well balanced but it felt like every day had an unexpected bonus whether it was e-bikes in Bagan or the Irrawaddy cruise boat in Mandalay. We also loved meeting Anne in Mandalay. This was easily the best organised holiday we have had and we have had many. Our high expectations for the trip were exceeded.
We loved Myanmar and the people. The guides (Wai, Nay, Thinzar and Naing) were all superb....knowledgeable, enthusiastic, flexible and charming.
We were glad we did the trip in the order we did (Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan, Inle Lake) as highlights increased as we moved through the locations. There were certainly many highlights but the balloon trip over Inle Lake probably takes the accolade.
The hotels have all been great, with the Sanctum Inle Lake up there as amongst the best that we we have ever stayed in!
I also think the holiday was excellent value. So all in all a holiday to remember.

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Jan 17, 2020

Mingalarbar Ian,
Thank you for sharing your feedback and delighted that your Myanmar holiday exceeded your expectations! We do put a lot of effort in to ensure the trip is well organized and hassle-free, so I'm glad you were able to just relax and enjoy each experience along the way. I'll be sure to share your kind review with our guides, your balloon pilot in Inle and with the team at Sanctum Inle!
Best regards,
Anne

"this is the best trip ever, mommy"
Myanmar | Dec 25 - Jan 4, 2020

Elizabeth
Elizabeth S.
Manhattan, NY | Reviewed on Jan 15, 2020

My 23-year-old daughter and I chose to visit Myanmar to learn more about the fascinating culture, history, political transitions, and people there. Anne planned an 11-day adventure for us which far exceeded any expectations. We had an amazing time!

First, I will say that I barely needed to communicate with Anne. She “got” how I travel almost immediately and my trust in her decisions was gave me no worry. I could focus on the rest of my travels and the rest of my life. We spent the first two... read more

My 23-year-old daughter and I chose to visit Myanmar to learn more about the fascinating culture, history, political transitions, and people there. Anne planned an 11-day adventure for us which far exceeded any expectations. We had an amazing time!

First, I will say that I barely needed to communicate with Anne. She “got” how I travel almost immediately and my trust in her decisions was gave me no worry. I could focus on the rest of my travels and the rest of my life. We spent the first two nights at the Mercure in Mandalay. Nay was the first of several guides Anne arranged. Each of them is OUTSTANDING! Nay has spent a lot of time guiding trekkers, which we were not on this trip, and so he led us on a beautiful bike ride through the countryside outside of the city. We opted to start and end inside the city and I’m happy we did. We could handle the busy streets and we got to see some interesting sites. In the outskirts we stopped several times to learn about different industries and had lunch at a nunnery, which prepared and educated us on this fascinating side to Myanmar culture that we revisited everywhere we went. Nay also showed us other Mandalay sites — the sunset from high up, the World’s Biggest Book and the last remaining building from the former Royal Palace. Nay is lovely!

Our next two nights were spent aboard the Strand Cruise, motoring down the Irrawaddy. We visited U-Bein Bridge, Mingun, and Ava. Site visits included a tuk-tuk ride and a horse and cart ride…so fun. And the boat accommodations were wonderful. We upgraded our room upon arrival because there was a larger one available and the staff could not have been nicer. The entire crew deserve incredible accolades! All the details, the food, the excursions (Aung was our guide from The Strand Cruise), the entertainment, the rooms, everything was lovely. On the second evening dinner was served shoreside BBQ style. The crew had string lights, a bonfire, music, and had raked the sand into intricate patterns. Magical!

Our next two nights were in Bagan, which I could go back to tomorrow! We loved it. Numbers vary but I’ll use 8,000 — temples, pagodas and other religious monuments litter the landscape and sparkle with their gold. Thin was our guide in Bagan and she is really engaging. She grew up literally among the temples and was moved by the government to New Bagan before the site became a UNESCO site. I was super excited when we arrived at the e-bike stand to get our bikes, but my daughter was not. No problem…Thin just put her on the back of her bike and off we went! That is the way to travel there, scooting among the temples on the small pathways. We saw a LOT of incredible temples, each unique and full of stories. We visited a lacquer workshop where Thin’s mom used to work. They give a wonderful and really impressive explanation of the process. It will wow anyone, the amount of labor involved. We stayed at the Aureum Palace, which, if in your budget, is worth it! It’s in the middle of the site and I’ll bet one could not build a hotel there anymore. Views are stunning. The next morning was an early one for our balloon ride. Again, if in the budget DO IT! Enough said. That afternoon, another DO NOT MISS: May’s cooking class. May could run a Fortune 500. She had the 12 of us from 3:30 to 7:30. We made 21 dishes in her back patio on eight open flame wood stoves. She introduced all the ingredients, let us make choices, gave assignments for prep and manning the stoves. Everyone participated, everyone learned and the spread on the table was so impressive. I’ve been doing these cooking classes in various places on my travels and this one tops them all. May was so well organized that we were just finishing up the meal when our guide came to collect us. Not easy to do! As we were walking out, we passed an open garage facing the street filled with books on shelves, because May runs a free library for her community. 🙂

The next morning we took the first of our two in-country flights to Heho and drove to Kalaw. There, we met our next guide, Naing, who we LOVED! (Recommended reading: The Art of Hearing Heartbeats and A Well-Tempered Heart by Jan-Philipp Sendker). We stopped at Pindaya to visit the famous cave filled with thousands of Buddhas…pretty crazy! And we stopped at a local home to learn about their tea crops and the famous tea leaf salad, and at a local market for bulls, and the local every-five-day market which happened to fall on that day. We stayed overnight in Kalaw Heritage Hotel in order to drive the next morning to the Green Hill Valley Elephant Camp, a retirement home for logging elephants. We spent the day feeding and bathing the eight elephants in residence there, learning about their history and medical requirements, and eating a delicious lunch. I could go on an on about these beautiful animals, and certainly our phones are filled with special images of our time spent with them…it’s a special, special place and so beautiful. I would like to retire there. We drove to Inle Lake afterwards, which is where Naing grew up. We stayed at the beautiful Aureum Palace Resort on Inle. Naing picked us up the next morning by boat for a full day on the water. This was another highlight. We chose to visit a lotus fiber weaving factory and a silver factory. Then we had the most amazing experience: Naing took us to his home, where his sister-in-law cooked us a delicious meal and we got to sit around and chat (with Naing’s help) with his aunties and his mom, who put thanaka on us. His home is a traditional wooden one on pillars lining the lake. Wandering after lunch over bridges and alongside homes, and experiencing Naing chat with everyone he passed was really special. He is special.

We flew to Yangon the next morning to meet our final guide, Sandar. Each one of our guides, carefully chosen and nurtured by Anne, are young, eager, enthusiastic, transparent, delightful people. Our experience throughout our journey would not have been possible without them. And it’s clear that Anne knows how to not only find the right people, but communicate and manage them too. Sandi is adorable. The best way to learn about cultures is by sitting down to eat with local people. We did that throughout our trip. In Yangon, with Sandi, the experience was even more immersive. She is so chatty and funny and sweet. A simple stop at a street stand because my daughter was hungry, turned into an experience with crickets, the difference in taste between males and females, which ones her husband would like her to bring home, and more. Hilarious. Sandi guided us through the famous Shwedagon Pagoda the next day. I was really glad we organized the trip this direction, from Mandalay to Yangon, finishing with this impressive site. We went in the evening of the local new year, so it was a bustling scene, beautiful with the moon and the people and the spirituality of it all. A wonderful way to conclude our journey.

My daughter and I highly recommend Anne, Myanmar Pure and kimkim as travel planners. I’ve planned many trips in my life and just didn’t have the bandwidth. Anne connected with my request and created the exact experience I was hoping for. My daughter repeatedly said, “This is the best trip I’ve ever been on, Mommy.” Is there anything better? And we cannot wait to return someday to Myanmar — to connect with such a diversity of people, walk and ride through so many beautiful places, eat the delicious food, and feel the spirituality. Thank you!

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Jan 17, 2020

Dear Liz,
Wow, thank you for sharing this beautiful summary of your Myanmar journey- it makes me smile reading it and knowing you enjoyed the different experiences and interactions along the way! I will share this with Nay, Thin Zar, Naing and Sandi, as well as May and the crew from the Strand - they will all be thrilled to know you had such a memorable mother-daughter holiday!
We would love to welcome you back again to explore some of the more off-the-beaten track destinations (or to plan your retirement at Green Hill Valley!)
Many thanks,
Anne & The Myanmar Pure team

Magical 2 weeks of honeymoon in Myanmar
Myanmar | Dec 22 - Jan 2, 2020

A
Ayu K.
Japan | Reviewed on Jan 13, 2020

Our 2 weeks of honeymoon in Myanmar was magical. Anne was very helpful and she did her best to accommodate our needs. All local guides who accompanied us during our journey were not only knowledgable but also they told us their experience growing up as novice monks, how Myanmar has changed these past few years, development in the country they have seen so far, etc. And that was a great learning experience for us. Also, visiting villages and having lunch in a local house was a delight! We saw... read more

Our 2 weeks of honeymoon in Myanmar was magical. Anne was very helpful and she did her best to accommodate our needs. All local guides who accompanied us during our journey were not only knowledgable but also they told us their experience growing up as novice monks, how Myanmar has changed these past few years, development in the country they have seen so far, etc. And that was a great learning experience for us. Also, visiting villages and having lunch in a local house was a delight! We saw how the villagers helped one family building a house (it takes only one day to build a house!) at Inle Lake, getting to know their daily life, the challenges, their local belief... And this kind of insight would have been impossible without our guides. Although it was an intense trip, the balance in the schedule Anne made was perfect. Thank you so much for the unforgettable trip!

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Jan 14, 2020

Thanks, Ayu, for sharing your feedback! It was fun helping design your honeymoon in Myanmar and I'm thrilled that you and your husband had so many unforgettable experiences along the way. I really appreciate your kind words about our guides, as well- they truly turn a good trip into a great trip!
From the whole team here at Myanmar Pure, a genuine 'thank you' for coming to Myanmar for your honeymoon and we wish you many more wonderful journeys in your married life!

Anne is amazing: always goes the extra mile t...
Myanmar | Dec 30 - Jan 8, 2020

J
Jehonathan P.
Canada | Reviewed on Jan 10, 2020

Anne is amazing: always goes the extra mile to accommodate any request
Excellent guides and hotels
Very well organized tour

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Jan 11, 2020

Hi Jehonathan,
Thanks for taking the time to leave such a nice review about our guides and your travels! We want to make sure our guests have a great time so I'm happy we were able to make some small adjustments along the way to fit your requests!
And we are all looking forward to welcoming you back for the marathon later in 2020!
Best wishes,
Anne & The Myanmar Pure team

Our experience with Kimkim was exceptional.
Myanmar | Nov 14 - Nov 20, 2019

C
Christine C.
New Zealand | Reviewed on Nov 29, 2019

Our experience with Kimkim was exceptional. To start with Anne was one of the best communicators I have worked with. She was professional, helpful and knowledgeable. Our guides were also wonderful and understood what we were looking for in experiences. In Yangon we learnt so much from our guide. Inle Lake was the highlight of our trip. We loved the 2 days and wished we had more time. This was enhanced by our wonderful guide, Wei. He was delightful. In Bagan we were once again thrilled with... read more

Our experience with Kimkim was exceptional. To start with Anne was one of the best communicators I have worked with. She was professional, helpful and knowledgeable. Our guides were also wonderful and understood what we were looking for in experiences. In Yangon we learnt so much from our guide. Inle Lake was the highlight of our trip. We loved the 2 days and wished we had more time. This was enhanced by our wonderful guide, Wei. He was delightful. In Bagan we were once again thrilled with the guides we had. May really assisted and made the market and cooking class a day to remember. I have absolutely no negative feedback and will be recommending Kimkim at any opportunity. I hope to have the pleasure of travelling with your help in the future. Thank you

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Dec 03, 2019

Thanks so much for your review! It was fun planning this mother-daughter trip and our guides had a blast sharing their hometowns with you. We'd love to welcome you back to Myanmar again or another kimkim destination soon!
Best regards,
Anne & The Myanmar Pure team

Rich, rewarding trip
Myanmar | Oct 17 - Nov 11, 2019

Rebecca
Rebecca W.
Jackson, WY | Reviewed on Nov 22, 2019

From start to finish, in country operator Myanmar Pure made our 26-day trip to Myanmar a seamless, rewarding experience. Passing off logistical arrangements allowed us to focus on all this geographically and ethnically diverse country has to offer. Our requested itinerary included the well known "don't miss" sites and a peek into the often unseen "real" life of Myanmar people. Myanmar Pure delivered. Owner Anne's relationship with her local guides brought us into homes for meals, tea, and... read more

From start to finish, in country operator Myanmar Pure made our 26-day trip to Myanmar a seamless, rewarding experience. Passing off logistical arrangements allowed us to focus on all this geographically and ethnically diverse country has to offer. Our requested itinerary included the well known "don't miss" sites and a peek into the often unseen "real" life of Myanmar people. Myanmar Pure delivered. Owner Anne's relationship with her local guides brought us into homes for meals, tea, and conversation. We were even serendipitously invited to join wedding receptions in two small villages, an opportunity missed if our guides had not been there to translate. More often than not, we were the only foreign visitors in places off the standard tourist trail.

While the known sites were certainly worthwhile, the overall best part of the trip for us was the brush with day-to-day life. The depth of that experience we owe to Myanmar Pure. Anne chose well when she selected local guides Zayyar, Lu Wine, Thinzar She and Aung Naing Thu. They were our gateway to rewarding interactions with the people we met on the course of our travels. And, they were just plain fun to be around.

We recommend "the kimkim team" for anyone considering Myanmar. Your pre-trip questions will be answered promptly, courteously and completely, and in-country logistics will, if our experience is an indicator, run smoothly.

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Nov 25, 2019

Dear Becky & Rich,
Thanks for sharing your feedback of your recent Myanmar journey - I'm glad we were able to design a rewarding, smooth trip for you! The unexpected experiences (like weddings!) and interactions are magical and delighted that our guides were able to bring you a bit closer to their local culture through these events.
All the best to you and we hope 2020 brings many more rich travel experiences,
Anne

Honeymoon in Myanmar
Myanmar | Sep 24 - Oct 4, 2019

Z
Zara S.
Las Vegas, NV | Reviewed on Oct 08, 2019

My husband and I went on a 10 day tour of Myanmar for our honeymoon, and it was the best decision we could have made. What a beautiful country with amazing people! The whole Pure Myanmar team took extra care of us from our first contact until the end, treating us like friends.

We loved every part of the trip and were sometimes moved to tears of happiness -- some highlights being the circular train in Yangon and Shwedagon Pagoda, the elephant preservation in Kalaw, watching the sunset on U... read more

My husband and I went on a 10 day tour of Myanmar for our honeymoon, and it was the best decision we could have made. What a beautiful country with amazing people! The whole Pure Myanmar team took extra care of us from our first contact until the end, treating us like friends.

We loved every part of the trip and were sometimes moved to tears of happiness -- some highlights being the circular train in Yangon and Shwedagon Pagoda, the elephant preservation in Kalaw, watching the sunset on U Bein bridge near Mandalay, the Pennywort Cooking Class and cruising Inle Lake during the pagoda festival.

If you are considering visiting Myanmar with Pure, you won't be disappointed. Just do it!

Thanks Anne, Cherry, Nay, Tim and Naing and our skillful drivers for an extraordinary life experience.

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Oct 09, 2019

Mingalarbar Zara & Ian- we were delighted to welcome you to Myanmar and create such memorable moments for your honeymoon! Thanks for taking the time to share your kind words about Myanmar and our team. From all of us here at Pure, we wish you a marriage filled with happiness, love and many more travel adventures!

Laid back, cultural trip
Myanmar | Aug 8 - Aug 14, 2019

Terrence
Terrence Y.
Malaysia | Reviewed on Aug 18, 2019

Great trip throughout. Our guides Aye, Nay and Thin was absolutely fantastic, and we had a lots of fun visiting the beautiful Myanmar. The guides gave us tips to the best vantage points to take our photos.

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Aug 18, 2019

Thanks, Terrence, for your kind review of our team and your experience. The photos are simply stunning and capture the beauty of Myanmar so well- thanks for sharing them! I know your travel wish list is extensive but hope you can squeeze in another visit to Myanmar soon so that we can show you other parts of the country!
All the best,
Anne & the Myanmar Pure team

Myanmar
Myanmar | Jul 22 - Aug 2, 2019

V
Victoria S.
Australia | Reviewed on Aug 14, 2019

We had a really wonderful time in Myanmar, the country and people are beautiful and the food was simply delicious. Like others we were used to travelling independently and haven't used an agent before but our experience with Anne and everyone at Myanmar Pure couldn't be faulted. We were able to see/do so much more based on their advice visiting Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan, Kalaw and Inle and places in between. We travelled with our 2 year old and everyone went the extra mile to accommodate his... read more

We had a really wonderful time in Myanmar, the country and people are beautiful and the food was simply delicious. Like others we were used to travelling independently and haven't used an agent before but our experience with Anne and everyone at Myanmar Pure couldn't be faulted. We were able to see/do so much more based on their advice visiting Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan, Kalaw and Inle and places in between. We travelled with our 2 year old and everyone went the extra mile to accommodate his extra needs providing car and bike seats, beautifully made up cots, flexibility in trip timing and a variety of travel/activities from air, bike, boat, horse to car and train. Our guides Min, Nay, Arkar, Wai and were all incredibly knowledgeable, friendly and helpful. Having spent many years living and travelling in Asia this was still a fabulously different experience. I have told as many people as I can about visiting Myanmar and using Anne and her team - thank you!! xx

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Aug 18, 2019

Thanks for your kind words about your family holiday in Myanmar! I'm delighted that we were able to show you so many diverse aspects of the country and take care of your little one along the way. We were on a team retreat when I received this so it was special to be able to share this feedback with everyone while we were gathered. Hope to see you here for another visit again soon!

Myanmar Adventure Tour - 15 Days
Myanmar | Jul 5 - Jul 19, 2019

R
Ray F.
Canada | Reviewed on Jul 26, 2019

Overall the trip was great. Anne put together a great agenda and her team of guides and drivers delivered, giving my son and I a very memorable experience. The one down event was a ATM owned by KBZ. Bank it took money from my bank account but did not dispense cash to me. I opened an investigation that day but The money has still not been returned. I advise against using KBZ ATM,s.

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Jul 27, 2019

Thanks, Ray, for your feedback- we are glad that you and Cole had a memorable time in Myanmar! Hope the rest of your travels in South East Asia were also enjoyable!

Thank you, as well, for sharing with future travelers your experience at KBZ. We will continue to follow up on your case and hope they will get this all sorted soon!

Wishing you many other memorable father-son adventures in the years to come!

Best,
Anne & The team at Myanmar Pure

Boating in Myanmar
Myanmar | Jul 5 - Jul 22, 2019

P
Pip S.
New Zealand | Reviewed on Jul 25, 2019

Anne was incredible from the first contact. She was flexible and seemed to understand the type of holiday we wanted and planned it fitting in everything we wanted to see and do.
All our guides were great and it was fabulous that they were all different.
Cherry was so bubbly and her knowledge of Yangon and enthusiasm to show us its highlights from the pagoda to trying the food was infectious. We laughed so much and felt really welcome.
Ney was more reserved but so accommodating and happy for... read more

Anne was incredible from the first contact. She was flexible and seemed to understand the type of holiday we wanted and planned it fitting in everything we wanted to see and do.
All our guides were great and it was fabulous that they were all different.
Cherry was so bubbly and her knowledge of Yangon and enthusiasm to show us its highlights from the pagoda to trying the food was infectious. We laughed so much and felt really welcome.
Ney was more reserved but so accommodating and happy for us to climb every floor of every building, photograph every angle of every street and shop in every street of Mandalay. we joked with him and teased him and he just laughed. His knowledge of Myanmar history is incredible!
Aka was fun, taking us on a great scooter ride and showing us the highlights of Bagan including some great restaurants and encouraging us along to the UNESCO rock concert!!! His passion for Bagan and its history was also evident.
Naing was just an absolute delight! He wanted so much to please and share in our holiday. He had even surfed the net finding slang colloquialisms to share with us and desperately seeking to speak fluent English. He also is passionate about Myanmar, its history, culture and religion and has a lovely desire to see his country succeed. He shared a very intimate love of his family when he took us to his family home for lunch: an incredible experience with delicious food!

Cottage House in Pindaya, is an absolutely delightful homestay. The hospitality of the owner Miamia was second to none and her warmness and openness made our stay very special. The rooms are minimalist but clean with lovely linen and special touches of handmade paper wrapping the bathroom accessories, fresh mangoes from her trees and homemade jam along with a friendly, fun staff and great menu for dinner if you want to eat in. Breakfast also great.

Umbria hotel in Bagan was a great choice with a lovely infinity pool to use after a hot, dusty day out and big spacious rooms with nice linen. Also the proximity of the hotel to the sights and amenities was great.
The cooking class with Maymay was amazing. From the 7:30 start in the market where she explained the different veges and ingredients and their uses to the final sit down at the finish was so much fun and so interesting. Her passion for charity work was also infectious and truly admirable. I was so excited that we had been able to contribute in a very tiny way to helping children get access to books by doing her class.

One of the greatest experiences was having a day at the elephant camp feeding and bathing the great beasts. Hearing the story of the camp and meeting the wonderful man who set it up was very special. Being that close to the elephants and helping out was a privilege that I will never forget.

We had tea in 3 different families on our various adventures completely spontaneously with friends of our guides and the way we were made to feel so welcome was also a great privilege. We shared laughter, food and culture without language and that was incredibly humbling. In particular the lunch with Naings family was a very special time that I felt very humbled to be a part of.

All the modes of transport, train,kayak,cycles,e-scooter,trekking and boats in all the different waterways were such a great option as the perspective is so different from each seat!

The food was also a real highlight for this foodie! Curries, Mohinga, Shan noodles, ginger, garlic, chillies and so much fresh fruit and vege. What more could a girl want!

KimKim you certainly have my tick! When you want to add NZ to your list let me know.

Thank you for the opportunity to see Myanmar in such a fun,educational and varied way.

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Jul 30, 2019

Mingalarbar Pip, Tony and Anna! Thanks for this amazing review and photos- they really paint a beautiful picture of your trip here for future visitors.

I have shared your kind words with our guides- Naing was blushing!- and with Pindaya Cottage House and Green Hill Valley. I'm delighted our team and the trip plan made your Myanmar holiday an enjoyable one.

We hope to see you on another KimKim journey soon!

Best regards
Anne & The Myanmar Pure team

Burma 19
Myanmar | Jun 17 - Jun 25, 2019

L
linda h.
Lafayette, CA | Reviewed on Jun 27, 2019

perfect trip...exceptional attention to detail. looking forward to future collaborations.

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Jun 29, 2019

Thanks Linda for your kind words about your June visit. We are looking forward to helping you plan your next journey and welcoming you back to Myanmar!

8 Days Myanmar Highlights
Myanmar | Apr 30 - May 9, 2019

V
Vasudevan K.
Australia | Reviewed on May 12, 2019

Anne is an exceptionally good tour organiser and we are so very happy to have chosen her (via KimKim) for our 10-day Myanmar tour. Anne was away in Turkey when we were in Myanmar but she kept monitoring our tour progress (through the guides), stayed in touch with us and NEVER took more than a few minutes to respond to our needs whenever we raised any issues. The tour itinerary she put together for us was also great and it covered everything we wanted to see and more.

Of course no trip... read more

Anne is an exceptionally good tour organiser and we are so very happy to have chosen her (via KimKim) for our 10-day Myanmar tour. Anne was away in Turkey when we were in Myanmar but she kept monitoring our tour progress (through the guides), stayed in touch with us and NEVER took more than a few minutes to respond to our needs whenever we raised any issues. The tour itinerary she put together for us was also great and it covered everything we wanted to see and more.

Of course no trip would be enjoyable unless the tour guides are good. All our guides (Yangon: Maung Maung, Bagan: Thinzar, Mandalay: Nay and Inle Lake: Naing) were very knowledgeable, passionate about their country and went out of their way to make sure we all had a great time. It was a pleasure to have such fantastic tour guides.

We highly recommend Anne/KimKim to anyone wishing to have an amazing Myanmar experience and exposure to a very pious Buddhist society.

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on May 23, 2019

Dear Madhu,
Thanks for your kind feedback! Glad the trip itinerary fit your personal travel style and that you enjoyed the company of Maung Maung, Nay, Thinzar and Naing- it makes me smile to know you appreciated their passion and knowledge! Sorry we didn't get a chance to meet while you were in Myanmar but hopefully our paths will cross when I visit Australia in the near future.
Best regards,
Anne

Myanmar
Myanmar | Apr 18 - Apr 28, 2019

D
DANE W.
Australia | Reviewed on May 06, 2019

WE had a fantastic experience using Kimkim again this trip. We were linked with Anne and here tour guides really did their best to make our trip perfect. We really did not need to worry about anything and every day we had something interesting to do. The selection of accommodation was really comfortable even in the remote town's and we really felt like we were having thw 'boutique' and personalised trip we wanted. I am really happy we did it this way and let Anne organise everything because... read more

WE had a fantastic experience using Kimkim again this trip. We were linked with Anne and here tour guides really did their best to make our trip perfect. We really did not need to worry about anything and every day we had something interesting to do. The selection of accommodation was really comfortable even in the remote town's and we really felt like we were having thw 'boutique' and personalised trip we wanted. I am really happy we did it this way and let Anne organise everything because we would have never been able to have so many local experiences and have been so well looked after if we'd tried to organise everything ourselves. The highlights were Bagan and Inle Lake, it was boiling hot during the time of year we visited but when we got to more altitude the weather was more pleasant. I definitely will be using Kimkim again, twice now I have had great holidays and such memorable experiences through using these guys.

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on May 10, 2019

Hi Dane,
Delighted we made your second experience with KimKim a memorable one! We always try to take the hassle out of the holiday - so I'm glad you felt you didn't have to worry and could enjoy the different experiences along the way, despite the soaring temperatures!
We'll look forward to helping you plan your next kimkim journey soon!
Best,
Anne

Magnificent Myanmar - 8 Days
Myanmar | Apr 20 - Apr 29, 2019

R
REbecca R.
Switzerland | Reviewed on May 01, 2019

Our trip to Myanmar has been just excellent. From the start until the end the communication with Anne was great, as she organised in a very short time a trip which allowed us to see as much as possible of Myanmar in the limited amount of time that we had. Our guides were all knowledgeable and we felt always safe with our drivers, and we were able to experience local highlights which allowed us to get to know Myanmar and the people of Myanmar better (cooking class, eating lunch in the homes of local families ). All in all we were very happy with our trip and would definitely recommend Anne!

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on May 03, 2019

Thanks Rebecca! It was a pleasure to plan this trip- and especially fun as you two were up for anything! I'm glad you felt safe with our drivers and enjoyed all of the local experiences with our guides. Hope you can come back for a longer visit in the near future!

Exploring Myanmar in 12 days!
Myanmar | Feb 21 - Mar 5, 2019

Terri
Terri M.
San Diego, CA | Reviewed on May 01, 2019

Everything about our trip to Myanmar was fantastic! The guides were personable and knowledgable. We asked TONS of questions and they always had the answer! Ann was amazing. She quickly made our last minute changes when we added another person to our hotel and a tour. We are so pleased with the whole process, flights, drivers, guides, hotels and tours, that we are already planning our next trip!

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on May 06, 2019

Hi Terri, thanks for taking the time to write this lovely review and share your feedback. I'm delighted to hear you enjoyed exploring Myanmar with our guides- its a special country and they loved sharing their hometowns with you and your family. Looking forward to helping you with your future SE Asia travels! All the best,
Anne

Buddhist Highlights of Burma
Myanmar | Mar 18 - Mar 25, 2019

D
Don W.
Flagstaff, AZ | Reviewed on Apr 03, 2019

Don't know where to begin - Everything was great!

Anne made planning the trip an easy and interesting experience. We changed our format, timing and group numbers several times and she worked with us to ensure the trip went off without incident. She had excellent recommendations on where to go (we customized the format).

Tin, our River guide, was amazing. Comprehensive knowledge of Myanmar, the areas we traveled and of Buddhism; excellent English, friendly but non-intrusive, and... read more

Don't know where to begin - Everything was great!

Anne made planning the trip an easy and interesting experience. We changed our format, timing and group numbers several times and she worked with us to ensure the trip went off without incident. She had excellent recommendations on where to go (we customized the format).

Tin, our River guide, was amazing. Comprehensive knowledge of Myanmar, the areas we traveled and of Buddhism; excellent English, friendly but non-intrusive, and flexible. He was always ready to work with us to make sure the group's varying needs were met. Far superior to any guide we have experienced so far.

The boat was exactly what we needed. Our cabin was roomy and bed was comfortable. The HVAC wasn't able to keep our cabin cool but others said they were very comfortable. Food was very good. Boat staff was excellent- pleasant, attentive and professional.

Trip up the Chindwin to Buddhist caves and monuments was most memorable. The "beach BBQ" the last night on the river was very special too. I had several comments from friends of "Trip of a Lifetime" and these people travel almost constantly.

I also appreciate the extra effort given by Anne and the Staff. For example, I left my phone on a Singapore Air Flight. Anne arranged for the phone to be picked up at Yangon airport and delivered to me during a stop on the Irrawaddy!

Kim-kim provided a great experience from design to conclusion.

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Apr 10, 2019

Mingalarbar Don, thanks for this kind review and feedback.

I am so glad your group of worldly travelers enjoyed their time in Myanmar! Your input during the planning process was incredibly helpful as well- it helped me to design the best route and pair you up with the right guide. I'll be sure to pass along your warm words to Tin and the boat crew and we hope that one day you will come back for another river journey along the Irrawaddy or Chindwin Rivers!

Best regards from Mandalay,

Anne

First Trip to Myanmar
Myanmar | Mar 17 - Mar 26, 2019

Z
Zulfikar J.
Canada | Reviewed on Apr 03, 2019

All guides were amazing. We enjoyed the entire trip. Special thanks to Anne for taking care of all the details.

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Apr 08, 2019

Hi Zul,

Thanks for the kind review- great to hear you enjoyed your trip and time with our guides! It was a pleasure planning the details of your trip and hosting you during your travels in Myanmar.

Best,

Anne

Highlights of Myanmar - 10 Day Tour
Myanmar | Feb 12 - Feb 22, 2019

Naresh
Naresh C.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Mar 14, 2019

Thanks Anne for re-scheduling according to our needs - especially in light of the flight problems.

All went according to plan. All guides and drivers were helpful. We will be visiting Myanmar again with Kimkim.

Naresh and Nila

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Mar 20, 2019

Dear Naresh & Nila- thanks for your review and happy to hear you enjoyed your time in Myanmar! Changes unexpectedly do happen with flights, so I am glad we were able to make some last minute changes to accommodate your international delay. We look forward to helping you plan your next visit here to the Golden Land!

Yangon & Bagan
Myanmar | Mar 2 - Mar 6, 2019

M
My Chau T.
Springfield, VA | Reviewed on Mar 14, 2019

From planning to the actual trip, we couldn’t be happier with our trip to Myanmar. Anne was a super guide, very prompt and accommodating during the planning process. The trip went smoothly, everyone in our group thoroughly enjoyed and just love Myanmar. Our local guides, Sai in Yangon and Zaw in Bagan were great, we quickly became friends in a very short period of time. We will gladly refer our friends to Anne in the future!

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Mar 21, 2019

Thanks for the kind words, My Chau! It was fun planning this trip with you and will share your feedback with Sai and Zaw. Myanmar is a special place so I hope we have the chance to welcome you and your friends back to see a bit more (and hopefully fit in a balloon flight next time!)

Highlights and culture
Myanmar | Feb 27 - Mar 5, 2019

S
Sue J.
Canada | Reviewed on Mar 11, 2019

Our recent trip to Myanmar was excellent from start to finish! Anne’s pre-planning was spot on and her quick responses and suggestions for any changes along the way made everything so easy and completely worry free.
We only had a short time to take in as many experiences and sites as possible without feeling rushed - and we succeeded.
Each of our local guides were wonderful - knowledgeable, accommodating and so generous and passionate about their part of the world.
Niang in Inle Lake, was a... read more

Our recent trip to Myanmar was excellent from start to finish! Anne’s pre-planning was spot on and her quick responses and suggestions for any changes along the way made everything so easy and completely worry free.
We only had a short time to take in as many experiences and sites as possible without feeling rushed - and we succeeded.
Each of our local guides were wonderful - knowledgeable, accommodating and so generous and passionate about their part of the world.
Niang in Inle Lake, was a gem, thank you so much for everything and lunch at your uncle’s house was very special - we had a great time.
Thinzar in Bagan was just lovely, and took such good care of us on those motor bikes! By far the most beautiful sunset I have seen.
And Su in Yangon was a true delight - her wonderful energy and stories made it so enjoyable and fun! We would have loved to spend more time exploring Yangon.
Drivers were terrific too.
We’ve done a fair bit of traveling (with and without guides) and must say that this whole experience was ace!
We highly recommend Anne and the local team. (just don’t tell anyone else 😉)
Myanmar is a wonderful country with so much to offer - the people, culture, food and sites - we’ll definitely return.
Cezu tin ba deh, everyone!
Sue and Susan

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Mar 12, 2019

Hi Sue and Susan,

Thanks for your feedback about your short but sweet holiday in Myanmar! We are glad you enjoyed your time with our guides and discovering the best of the local food and culture. I'll share this with Naing, Thinzar and Su as well as our drivers- we all look forward to welcoming you back again soon!

Cezu ba,

Anne

Myanmar Family Holiday - 12 Days
Myanmar | Feb 19 - Mar 1, 2019

Monique
Monique R.
Arlington, TX | Reviewed on Mar 09, 2019

Our trip to Myanmar was absolutely amazing in large part because of Anne’s outstanding skills in getting this trip together for us so it would be perfect! All the hotels were great and most of All all our guides were so knowledgeable and kind. We felt pampered and cared for and felt safe and happy the whole time!
We would definitely recommend this trip and most of all
Recommend Anne . She was outstanding!

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Mar 12, 2019

Thanks so much for your kind words, Monique & Chili! It was fun designing your holiday and I'm glad it worked out to be the perfect fit. Our guides are proud to have shared their hometowns with you and to help you create wonderful memories of Myanmar. We wish you many more great travel adventures to come!

Action Cycling
Myanmar | Feb 22 - Mar 4, 2019

W
William T.
Canada | Reviewed on Mar 07, 2019

Anne was very responsive to our requests in the planning process. The choice of our guide Akar was excellent. Good listener and adjusted plan on the fly. My wife was sick for the first 2 days and he was very attentive. His choice of meal stops was great and were the nutritious snacks along the way.
Hotels were as requested, porches, quiet and off the beaten path. The driver chosen was skilled and cautious-we felt safe in the van.
We will use Kimkim again for future adventure travel.
Regards,
William Thomas

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Mar 13, 2019

Mingalarbar! We are glad you enjoyed your cycling trip through Myanmar- going by two wheels is certainly a great way to see the country! Arkar enjoyed riding with you and sharing his knowledge of Myanmar, the food, its people and its backroads with you. Hope to see you on another cycling adventure again soon!
Je zu tin ba deh!

Myanmar with the locals (and a touch of luxury)
Myanmar | Jan 20 - Feb 5, 2019

lisaandmal
lisaandmal ..
New Zealand | Reviewed on Feb 16, 2019

Our recent 17 day tour in Myanmar was superb. Anne, our 4 guides and 4 drivers made us feel like royalty. We have never had the luxury of a private tour for 2 before and we have now been well and truly spoilt. The local people of Myanmar, the sights, the food - quite the experience. Thank you for having us.

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Feb 23, 2019

Hi Lisa & Malcolm, thanks for your review. We loved sharing the beauty of Myanmar with you both and glad we were able to offer the right mix of luxury and local experiences for your holiday! Wishing you many more great travels in the years to come and perhaps will see you back in Myanmar again one day!

Myanmar Private Your
Myanmar | Feb 4 - Feb 11, 2019

A
Andrew H.
Australia | Reviewed on Feb 13, 2019

I booked a trip to Myanmar with Anne and it was one of the best trips I've ever had going solo. My itinerary was specifically tailored to my wants and needs. I spent 7 days in Myanmar, visiting Yangon, Lake Inle and Bagan with a mixture of sight-seeing and learning the history of Myanmar, eating delicious food and spending time with local families.

Anne (the trip planner) has been a god-send, super experienced and knowledgeable about Myanmar, but also most importantly very accommodating... read more

I booked a trip to Myanmar with Anne and it was one of the best trips I've ever had going solo. My itinerary was specifically tailored to my wants and needs. I spent 7 days in Myanmar, visiting Yangon, Lake Inle and Bagan with a mixture of sight-seeing and learning the history of Myanmar, eating delicious food and spending time with local families.

Anne (the trip planner) has been a god-send, super experienced and knowledgeable about Myanmar, but also most importantly very accommodating and lightning quick with any questions I might have. Throughout the entire trip, we would be in touch constantly over Whatsapp. Anne would always send a message here and there to know if everything was okay.

The whole process was seamless, from my initial chat to my first steps outside of Yangon airport everything was taken care of.

The guides in each different were so down-to-earth, so knowledgeable but I think most importantly, absolutely passionate and devoted to their job but also to their country, which makes for a riveting holiday experience. Nothing was rushed with the daily itinerary according to my energy levels! I had Hnin-Hnin in Yangon, Thet Wai in Inle and Zaw Htun in Bagan.

Hotels were up to standard, (a bit big for me as I was travelling solo) and also located centrally to most things, like markets, convenience stores and local historical sites.

Transportation was also great, the drivers were all very courteous and professional. But try and use alternative methods of transport if you can; bike, scooter or walking is best to see and experience the real life of the Burmese people.

Lastly, Myanmar is really opening up to the world, and although it is a bit far from the rest of the world, it is a must for people who love travelling through Asia. The country has some of the most magical scenery I've ever seen. Taking a boat across Lake Inle , and although I never got the chance to do it, taking a hot-air balloon ride over Bagan are two must-dos. And lastly, Myanmar is extremely safe place. The people are super friendly! Never on my trip did I ever feel like I was in danger.

If you are like me, been to Vietnam, Thailand or Cambodia, then make sure you use Anne and book a trip to Myanmar! It's been a life-changing trip!

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Feb 22, 2019

Mingalarbar Andrew- thanks for taking the time to share such a detailed review with us. I'm delighted that the trip, hotels and services were a perfect fit. And thanks for your praise of our guides- I agree that their passion truly makes the experience extraordinary! Hope to welcome you back again one day soon!

Local Highlights of Yangon, Bagan and Inle Lake - 8 Days
Myanmar | Feb 5 - Feb 11, 2019

E
Eleanor Y.
Singapore | Reviewed on Feb 12, 2019

I've always loved the planning process for my holidays but while researching on Myanmar on a tight timeline, I felt increasingly unsure as I navigated through inconsistent and outdated details from Tripadvisor forums. For once, I wanted to just sit back and not worry about planning and timings etc. And than I came across KimKim.
I had sent Anne a query on a weekend and heard back from her in under an hour with recommendations based on my needs. The itinerary was so thoughtful that I didn't... read more

I've always loved the planning process for my holidays but while researching on Myanmar on a tight timeline, I felt increasingly unsure as I navigated through inconsistent and outdated details from Tripadvisor forums. For once, I wanted to just sit back and not worry about planning and timings etc. And than I came across KimKim.
I had sent Anne a query on a weekend and heard back from her in under an hour with recommendations based on my needs. The itinerary was so thoughtful that I didn't even think to make any changes. And with that, two weeks later I was packed and ready to visit Yangon and the lesser known southern towns of Mawlamyine/Hpa-An.
I was guided by the knowledgeable Nwel in Yangon. What an incredibly smart and articulate guide - no history question fazed her, and I am determined to come back and explore more of Myanmar with her. And then we moved to Mawlamyine and Hpa-An for the next 3 nights with the kind and sincere Akm. To anyone who is curious about Hpa-An... my advise to you is - go! I was blown away by the scenic - many a times I felt like I was in Jurrasic world (no kidding), and curious to why such a beautiful and idyllic town does not see as much visitors as a place like Bagan. When you go, you must stay at Hpa-An Lodge. We were incredibly sad to leave the place and are determined to bring more of our friends back.
And lastly, we want to give a shoutout to our kind, earnest and affable driver Thaw. He was with us the entire 7 days and we greatly enjoyed his presence that it almost felt like we made a new friend.
If you're thinking of going to Myanmar, go. And go with Anne from Kimkim/Myanmar Pure - you will have the trip of a lifetime.

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Feb 20, 2019

Thanks, Eleanor, for sharing your feedback on your visit to Myanmar! I am glad we were able to put together such a memorable trip for you at the last minute- your photos truly capture the beauty and serenity of Hpa An! On behalf of Nwel, AKM and Thaw, thanks for visiting and we hope to welcome you back again to Myanmar soon!

Myanmar Adventure Tour - 15 Days
Myanmar | Dec 29 - Jan 16, 2019

Gregory
Gregory R.
Australia | Reviewed on Jan 25, 2019

Anne was fantastic for start to finish. Easy to communicate with, understood our requirements ..... and delivered. All the guides without exception were great, as were the drivers and the sub guides in the various specialised areas.

Myanmar is a brilliant destination. People are suffering in the tourism industry due, seemingly unjustly to the misinterpretation of “ the troubles “ in the Rokine State by the international media. It is unfortunate that the fall out from this means less tourists, less jobs & less income.

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Jan 31, 2019

Thanks for the review, I will share your kind words with our team! So great to see these beautiful photos and read your impressions of Myanmar- we hope more guests will look beyond the headlines and come visit to support the local economy. All the best!

Best of Myanmar- 3 weeks
Myanmar | Dec 27 - Jan 17, 2019

M
Michelle R.
Australia | Reviewed on Jan 22, 2019

Myanmar, what an amazing desitination! Such a diverse country and the people are so very gracious.
Tourism is just starting to take off there, so go sooner rather than later!
Our trip organiser Anne put together an amazing trip for us and included everything we asked for plus more! We went to all the main areas....Yangon, Mandaly, Bagan, Inle and a few not so frequented spots. Our accommodation in Inle was at the very tranquil south end and was our very favourite memory, we went to a... read more

Myanmar, what an amazing desitination! Such a diverse country and the people are so very gracious.
Tourism is just starting to take off there, so go sooner rather than later!
Our trip organiser Anne put together an amazing trip for us and included everything we asked for plus more! We went to all the main areas....Yangon, Mandaly, Bagan, Inle and a few not so frequented spots. Our accommodation in Inle was at the very tranquil south end and was our very favourite memory, we went to a community based elephant project in Kalaw, a cooking school in Bagan where some of the money goes back to the community, we went to Loikaw and visited some of the local tribes and lastly spent time chilling on beautiful Ngapali beach!
Nothing was ever too much trouble for Anne, she was incredibly accommodating....she even delivered imodium to us when we were struck down with Burma Belly.
Our trip didn't miss a beat...it just ran so incredibly smoothly and the guides were all amazing and so very knowledgeable, they taught us so much and added to the overall experience of our trip.
I can't recommend Anne enough, she's on the ground in Myanmar and knows her topic incredibly well, which was apparent in her recommendations she made to us. Plus she kept in touch with us during our travels in Myanmar...how may travel agents do that!!!!
If you're considering Myanmar don't hesistate!

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Jan 31, 2019

Mingalarbar, Thanks so much for feedback and glad you had such a memorable journey -the pictures are fabulous, too! I'm delighted to hear you loved the local experiences and lesser-known destinations- it was fun to create this trip and I know our guides had fun along the way. Hope you have many more great adventures to come in 2019!

Highlights of Myanmar - 10 Day Tour
Myanmar | Dec 22 - Jan 2, 2019

Vicky
Vicky Z.
San Jose, CA | Reviewed on Jan 20, 2019

Anne is great and super efficient, helped me to finalize the 12-day trip schedule quickly just one week before the trip, by adapting to my budget and major interests as much as she could. The trip was very well organized covering all the places I wanted to visit and also lots of interaction with the locals. All the tour guides and drivers are professional and very friendly. Myanmar is an amazing country with very unique history, culture and local customs, people are genuine and extremely... read more

Anne is great and super efficient, helped me to finalize the 12-day trip schedule quickly just one week before the trip, by adapting to my budget and major interests as much as she could. The trip was very well organized covering all the places I wanted to visit and also lots of interaction with the locals. All the tour guides and drivers are professional and very friendly. Myanmar is an amazing country with very unique history, culture and local customs, people are genuine and extremely friendly. Food is also great, make sure you try the tea leaf salad, the best salad I’ve ever had! Bagan itself and the hot air balloon flight was the highlight of the whole trip, maybe one day I will go back again!

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Jan 24, 2019

Mingalarbar Vicky! Thanks for sharing your feedback with us and your recommendations for future travelers- Myanmar is a magical place and we loved sharing it with you. So glad that we could put together the last minute trip for you and hope that you will come back again soon!

Myanmar’s 'Big Four' Destinations
Myanmar | Dec 30 - Jan 2, 2019

T
Thao T.
Dallas, TX | Reviewed on Jan 03, 2019

Anne was incredible! She’s prompt, responsive and professional. I want Anne to plan every one of our trip if possible! Thank you Anne for a wonderful trip!

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Jan 07, 2019

Hi Thao and Brad- thanks for spending your new year holidays in Myanmar! Glad you had a wonderful time and that I could help make the planning process a smooth one. Please do let us know if you plan to return again!

Photo tour
Myanmar | Dec 6 - Dec 16, 2018

T
Tack S.
Hong Kong | Reviewed on Dec 28, 2018

The guides provided were all excellent and they know their job well. Starting in Yangon we're greeted by Cherry Kyaw who attended to our need in details and with always a smile. In Mandalay, after a delay of our flights from Yangon, we're greeted by Lu Wine who immediately took us to a lovely dinner. We arranged for an early morning start for a sunrise at Mandalay Hills. No problems there. After the morning sunrise shoot, went back to the hotel breakfast after which we continue for the... read more

The guides provided were all excellent and they know their job well. Starting in Yangon we're greeted by Cherry Kyaw who attended to our need in details and with always a smile. In Mandalay, after a delay of our flights from Yangon, we're greeted by Lu Wine who immediately took us to a lovely dinner. We arranged for an early morning start for a sunrise at Mandalay Hills. No problems there. After the morning sunrise shoot, went back to the hotel breakfast after which we continue for the day's itinerary. Finishing the day for sunset at U Bien bridge. The next day was also an early start for morning sunrise at U Bien Bridge again after that the day continues. In the afternoon drove all the way to Bagan and was met the next day by our Bagan guide, Soe Kar Ar who took care of us for the next two days. Went on to Inle Lake through the Shan Mountains road, wonderful scenic drive. Our guide for this sector, Thet Wai was just as wonderful. All in all we had a wonderful 10 nights 11 days trip. Will always recommend Anne if you want a trip well organised and enjoyable.

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Dec 31, 2018

Thanks Tack for sharing your feedback and all of these amazing photos! We are delighted that you enjoyed your photo-focused tour through Myanmar and spending time with our local guides. We would love to welcome you and your friends back again! All the best and wishing you many great adventures to come in 2019!

Birthday away
Myanmar | Dec 4 - Dec 12, 2018

Peter
Peter J.
Australia | Reviewed on Dec 17, 2018

Superb organisation, all my thoughts, hopes and desires were accommodated .. and improved on.
The style and direction of my birthday away was fitted in beautifully. As I suggested my preferences,
Ideas and thoughts were suggested to improve my enjoyment of the visit.

Each day required different transport, food, accommodation, in the manner I chose to travel, and I was not disappointed . Everything dovetailed together and gave me a special time away.

A pleasure to have a breakfast with Anne on my final day. Wonderful send off. Loved Burma.

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Dec 25, 2018

Mingalarbar Peter- we are glad you enjoyed your (re)visit to beautiful Myanmar! Your trip request was quite different from most, so I'm pleased that we were able to put together the perfect combination in the end. It was a delight sharing a beer on your birthday and a farewell bowl of mohinga- hope our paths cross again soon!

Spiritual and Physical Exploration
Myanmar | Nov 20 - Nov 29, 2018

Lexi
Lexi C.
Washington, DC | Reviewed on Dec 07, 2018

This review will inevitably be too short to capture the brilliance and splendor of Myanmar -- both its people and its places. My guides: Minthu, Thinzar, and Wai were all fantastic. Anne, owner of Myanmar Pure and all-around amazing human, used my input to handcraft a one of a kind spiritual and physical journey that had me interacting with locals, cooking meals, watching handmade crafts be made, and involved planes, trains, automobiles, e-bikes (think vespa), and boats. I met local fortune... read more

This review will inevitably be too short to capture the brilliance and splendor of Myanmar -- both its people and its places. My guides: Minthu, Thinzar, and Wai were all fantastic. Anne, owner of Myanmar Pure and all-around amazing human, used my input to handcraft a one of a kind spiritual and physical journey that had me interacting with locals, cooking meals, watching handmade crafts be made, and involved planes, trains, automobiles, e-bikes (think vespa), and boats. I met local fortune tellers and got a traditional tattoo. I took in the wonders of Old Bagan and the radiance of Inn Lay lake. I meditated for 20 minutes in a small crawlspace within the Pindaya Cave. Overall, this will forever be my favorite trip, partially because it is the trip of a lifetime, but partially because my guides and the local people made it so effortlessly special. THANK YOU.

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Dec 11, 2018

Hi Lexi, thanks for the lovely feedback- it speaks volumes about the wonderful people and hospitality in Myanmar! Glad we were able to fit in so many unique experiences for you and hope the memories stay with you and bring a smile to your face. Minthu, Thinzar and Wai are waiting for you to come back again so hope it is not too far in the distant future!

Kimkim's Cycling Myanmar Trip
Myanmar | Nov 14 - Nov 23, 2018

Lisa
Lisa M.
San Francisco, CA | Reviewed on Nov 30, 2018

Myanmar was AMAZING. The care and quality of the planning made all the difference. Anne went far far beyond my expectations in building a trip that reflected all that excited me (in this case cycling, culture, food, the people, the reasons why, ...). I have had countless great travel experiences, and working with Pure Myanmar was one of the top. Each day was unique; transitions were seamless; lots of little extras (I'm not a big beer fan & she handed me a bottle of rum ... I wanted consistent... read more

Myanmar was AMAZING. The care and quality of the planning made all the difference. Anne went far far beyond my expectations in building a trip that reflected all that excited me (in this case cycling, culture, food, the people, the reasons why, ...). I have had countless great travel experiences, and working with Pure Myanmar was one of the top. Each day was unique; transitions were seamless; lots of little extras (I'm not a big beer fan & she handed me a bottle of rum ... I wanted consistent wifi and a hot spot appeared ... my companion bailed & she created a killer solo experience). Oh, and the guides - Anne has nurtured solid relationships with the best local guides. Really, I just can't say enough good things!

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Dec 01, 2018

Thanks, Lisa, for the great feedback and positive words about Myanmar! Arkar and Thet Wai enjoyed cycling with you and introducing you to the culture and some of the more unusual local food. We do our best to take care of the little things - and being well 'hydrated' is important on a cycling trip :) Hope we can welcome you and your friends on a group foodie/cycling journey next year!

Three weeks in Myanmar
Myanmar | Nov 4 - Nov 23, 2018

Emilia
Emilia L.
United Kingdom | Reviewed on Nov 27, 2018

Everything about this trip was superb, from the moment I first got in touch with Anne. She was an excellent planner who understood exactly what I was looking for. On the ground, the guides, drivers, accommodations and arranged food were excellent. I was all around impressed. I had an emergency and Anne was on hand via WhatsApp immediately, which was a great help and relief. I highly recommend Anne and a trip to Myanmar.

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Nov 30, 2018

Hi Emilia, thanks so much for your kind words! Your spirit of adventure and discovery made it so much fun to plan the journey and our team enjoyed sharing their home towns with you. Thanks for visiting Myanmar, sharing your experiences with your friends back home and we hope you come back again soon!

Adventure Culture & Relaxation
Myanmar | Sep 25 - Oct 14, 2018

R
Rachael W.
Australia | Reviewed on Oct 26, 2018

Our trip to Myanmar was truely amazing. We had hoped to achieve meeting the locals & becoming part of the culture in a real way & this is what happened for us. Myanmar is a beautiful country & the people are warm & welcoming. They gave us such insight into their lives plus showed an interest in us as people also. We were very grateful for the hotels Anne had chosen for us & staff couldnt do enough to make sure we were happy. We were able to go into the villages & non-touristy areas &... read more

Our trip to Myanmar was truely amazing. We had hoped to achieve meeting the locals & becoming part of the culture in a real way & this is what happened for us. Myanmar is a beautiful country & the people are warm & welcoming. They gave us such insight into their lives plus showed an interest in us as people also. We were very grateful for the hotels Anne had chosen for us & staff couldnt do enough to make sure we were happy. We were able to go into the villages & non-touristy areas & found it was refreshing not to be harassed by market vendors. Our guides along the way were exceptional. They interacted well with us & were full of great information plus their English made communication easy. Our cooking class was fantastic firstly visiting the local markets to buy ingredients then cooking in our cook’s home We especially loved riding around Kalaw on electric bikes, visiting villagers in their homes on our Treks & being transported around Inle Lake in the long boat. We had lunch with a family known to our guide in the floating village. . There was always time to stop along the way. Most evenings were free as we requested. We were very grateful to Anne who professionally organised everything. . She was totally approachable giving attention to detail from beginning to end. Anne was always willing to listen & adjust the schedule to suit our needs.
We were able to relax & recharge. Our trip was magical. A perfect way to experience a bit more off the beaten track , less touristy exciting plus time to relax & take in all Myanmar has to offer.

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Oct 27, 2018

Mingalarbar! Thanks for sharing your Myanmar experiences and photos- you paint a beautiful picture of the country and your experiences here. It was such fun planning a flexible journey that matched with your adventurous spirits! I will pass your kind words on to our guides and team. All the best!

How Many Days Should You Spend in Myanmar?
Myanmar | Sep 29 - Oct 13, 2018

R
Ros W.
Australia | Reviewed on Oct 15, 2018

Our three guides and three drivers in the areas of Mandalay, Pyin Oo Lwin, Bagan, Popa, Salay, Pindaya, Dalaw and Loikaw were all excellent. There was nothing we could fault them on. They gave us an insight into the lives and culture in each area we visited. They warmed to our Australian sense of humour and made our trip a lot of fun. All the various Hotels that we stayed in all staff couldn't do enough to please us. Our guides on the Pindaya Trek and Loikaw Village Trek interacted well... read more

Our three guides and three drivers in the areas of Mandalay, Pyin Oo Lwin, Bagan, Popa, Salay, Pindaya, Dalaw and Loikaw were all excellent. There was nothing we could fault them on. They gave us an insight into the lives and culture in each area we visited. They warmed to our Australian sense of humour and made our trip a lot of fun. All the various Hotels that we stayed in all staff couldn't do enough to please us. Our guides on the Pindaya Trek and Loikaw Village Trek interacted well and we had a wonderful time. Anne Cruickshanks who tailored our trip to suite our interests was nothing but professional in her communication skills and there was nothing we would have changed. We felt we could relax and enjoy ourselves and re charge on our annual holiday and felt safe wherever we went.
We were pleasantly surprised by the friendliness of the Myanmar people.
Happy Travellers
Ros & Geoff Wilson
South Australians

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Oct 17, 2018

Dear Ros & Geoff,

We loved hosting you in Myanmar - it was great fun planning the journey and sharing different local experiences with you two. All of our guides send you a big 'hello' and we genuinely thank you for visiting Myanmar!

Cheers,

Anne & the Myanmar Pure team

Myanmar highlights
Myanmar | Sep 25 - Sep 30, 2018

K
kerry b.
Australia | Reviewed on Oct 02, 2018

Anne was great! My initial request was vague but Anne pulled together the perfect itinerary.

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Oct 03, 2018

Mingalarbar Kerry,

Thanks for leaving a review and sharing the great photos! We are glad we could create the perfect trip plan and hope we will see you here again soon to explore more of Myanmar!

All the best,
Anne, Cherry, Naing and the Myanmar Pure team!

Brief trip to Myanmar from Bankik
Myanmar | Aug 20 - Aug 24, 2018

Cynthia
Cynthia C.
| Reviewed on Aug 28, 2018

Our 2 main guides Akkar and Nye Nye were amazing: professional, funny, accommodating. And they truly made our experiences so perfect. We found Myanmar magical. Loved going by e-bike through the pagodas. Akkar got us a romantic horse and carriage ride through the pagodas the first night and had recommended the restaurant Moon which was delicious. Nye nye was a total joy to be with. We particularly loved going to his village on Inle Lake, eating lunch at his family’s house and getting a tour of the village by dug our canoe with he and his Mum. Loved it all

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Sep 28, 2018

Minglarbar! Thanks Cynthia for taking the time to share your feedback here- it is always great to read about our guests' favorite parts of the trip and to know that you enjoyed traveling with our team! We hope you can come back again soon- Nye Nye's mom is already asking when you will return for more fish and canoe rides!

Myanmar
Myanmar | Jul 17 - Jul 29, 2018

G
Gienke O.
the Netherlands | Reviewed on Aug 23, 2018

We had a wonderful trip. Myanmar is beautiful country, the people are so friendly! The first contact with Anne was very promising and after a few e-mails we got a very good proposal in which Anne really proposed what we like to do. We love having close contact with the local people and we had! Lunches at family homes, a trekking around Pindaya, the Inle Lake, Kalaw and much more. The train rides between Kalaw and Inle lake was a great experience. In Bagan we explored the beautiful area with E... read more

We had a wonderful trip. Myanmar is beautiful country, the people are so friendly! The first contact with Anne was very promising and after a few e-mails we got a very good proposal in which Anne really proposed what we like to do. We love having close contact with the local people and we had! Lunches at family homes, a trekking around Pindaya, the Inle Lake, Kalaw and much more. The train rides between Kalaw and Inle lake was a great experience. In Bagan we explored the beautiful area with E bikes which was great.
Our guides made the difference! Nee, Aka, Wee and Chris told us a lot about their daily live and about the history of Myanmar. They made it possible to interact with the local people.
the hotels were good, not the big chain hotels but the real Myanmar experience. Especially Kalaw Heritage; a lovely hotel, great service, beautiful rooms.

If you want to experience Myanmar a bit more of the beaten track, not the standard tour operating thing which you see everywhere, go for Anne. What we also really appreciated was the idea that the money we spend ended up well, local family businesses.

Anne: thank you so much for the beautiful journey! We loved every minute.

Thomas, Gienke, Martijn and Friso

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Sep 28, 2018

Thanks so much for your feedback- on behalf of our team, we are glad you enjoyed your stay here and loved Myanmar as much as we do! It really makes us happy to welcome guests like your family who want to spend time immersed in the local culture, so it was a lot of fun for us to put together your holiday.

We hope you enjoyed your onward travels and that one day we can welcome you back to Myanmar again!

Myanmar & Thailand Tour - 15 Days
Myanmar | Jul 23 - Aug 6, 2018

R
Rodney S.
Australia | Reviewed on Aug 13, 2018

What a great trip! Loved Myanmar. The first time I visited was as a backpacker in my mid 20s in 1986. That as a remarkable time to visit what was then Burma but I certainly travelled rough.
This time I requested higher end accommodation for my wife and I. Anne excelled with her selection. For instance, the Sanctum Inn and Bagan Lodge were modern suites in 5 Star accommodation. But we loved every choice she made for us, plus she saved us some money by recommending we stay at the Savoy in... read more

What a great trip! Loved Myanmar. The first time I visited was as a backpacker in my mid 20s in 1986. That as a remarkable time to visit what was then Burma but I certainly travelled rough.
This time I requested higher end accommodation for my wife and I. Anne excelled with her selection. For instance, the Sanctum Inn and Bagan Lodge were modern suites in 5 Star accommodation. But we loved every choice she made for us, plus she saved us some money by recommending we stay at the Savoy in Yangon rather than the Strand.
As well the selected itinerary suited our preferred pace of travel. Every morning we were busy site seeing until after lunch and then most days we were free to swim and lounge around our hotel pool. We are in our late 50s so, for us, this was ideal. However, if we made the request our fantastic guides were only too willing to show us more. So to Nay, Arwar, NeeNee and Cherry, our guides, thank you. So too to the drivers.
We had lots of highlights but I think the pagoda strewn hills surrounding Mandalay, the railway journey to the viaduct, the cooking class in Bagan and the visit to the Elephant Camp near Kalaw will stay in my memory the longest.
Thank you kimkim.

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Sep 28, 2018

Dear Rod and Jane,

Thanks for the wonderful feedback and delighted to hear you loved Myanmar- it is a special place and your photos really capture the beauty and atmosphere of the country! I will pass on your kind words to our guides and drivers. No matter what I plan, they are the ones who really 'make it happen' and I'm so glad you enjoyed your time with them and their flexibility with your excursions.

Hope you can make it back for a third visit to Myanmar one day soon!

Best,
Anne

Myanmar: Off-The-Beaten-path
Myanmar | May 4 - May 13, 2018

A
alexandria c.
Naples, FL | Reviewed on May 21, 2018

Our Trip- Myanmar off the beaten track 10 days.
If we could give this trip a 10 we would. Anne was a fantastic organizer/planner. She understood what we were looking for and put together an itinerary that suited us immensely.
Everything went logistically smooth in terms of timelines, dates, pick ups and bookings. Our guides or drivers were always there greeting us with a big smile wherever the next place be.
In terms of the guides themselves they were all locals from the specific region... read more

Our Trip- Myanmar off the beaten track 10 days.
If we could give this trip a 10 we would. Anne was a fantastic organizer/planner. She understood what we were looking for and put together an itinerary that suited us immensely.
Everything went logistically smooth in terms of timelines, dates, pick ups and bookings. Our guides or drivers were always there greeting us with a big smile wherever the next place be.
In terms of the guides themselves they were all locals from the specific region we were traveling in. They were friendly, warm, caring and very knowledgeable. We genuinely enjoyed their company.
Myanmar was an amazing country to visit. From the landscape, the people and the experience itself. We definitely would love to explore more there again in future.
We would definitely recommend Myanmar, Anne and her team of guides to give you a truly wonderful and real Myanmar experience.
Thank you!
Alex Trey

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Jun 13, 2018

Hi Alex and Trey,
Thanks for the lovely review! I am so glad we could help make this 'dream trip' a reality- I enjoyed chatting with you before the trip and creating a trip that fit your personal travel style. Thanks for the kind remarks about our guides and drivers, I will be sure to share your praise with them.
Hope you had enjoyable onward travels!
Anne & The Myanmar Pure Team

Magnificent Myanmar - 8 Days
Myanmar | Mar 30 - Apr 8, 2018

E
egidio c.
Philadelphia, PA | Reviewed on Apr 09, 2018

Very professional experience that meet expectations. I would recommend both kimkim and Anne.

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Apr 17, 2018

Mingalarbar Egidio and Chinyu, thanks for the kind words! I am glad you enjoyed your time here - our guides really appreciated your enthusiasm for the local culture and their hometowns. If you have the chance to visit again we would love to show your more of Myanmar!

Trip
Myanmar | Mar 24 - Apr 2, 2018

C
christian r.
San Diego, CA | Reviewed on Apr 09, 2018

Anne and the rest of the guides/drivers were great. I could not say more about Anne and the response time, care of client etc... This was a once in a lifetime trip and I was happy that Anne was the one that could plan it for me.

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Apr 17, 2018

Thanks Christian! It was fun planning this trip - you were up for every local experience we could offer! And so glad we could fit in the visit to Green Hill Valley at the last minute. I hope you enjoyed your onward travels in Thailand and that we get a chance to welcome you to Myanmar again soon!

Myanmar Trip
Myanmar | Jan 29 - Feb 13, 2018

J
J C.
Canada | Reviewed on Feb 22, 2018

We had an incredible Myanmar trip that Anne Cruickshanks from Myanmar Pure helped put together. Anne was amazing in creating an itinerary filled with activities that were tailored to our interests, intentions and yet gently pushed us beyond what we normally do on our own trips.

She truly listened and talked to us prior to the trip to better understand us as travellers and proposed itineraries that suited our needs. Anne is responsive, intuitive and knows Myanmar beyond the beautiful... read more

We had an incredible Myanmar trip that Anne Cruickshanks from Myanmar Pure helped put together. Anne was amazing in creating an itinerary filled with activities that were tailored to our interests, intentions and yet gently pushed us beyond what we normally do on our own trips.

She truly listened and talked to us prior to the trip to better understand us as travellers and proposed itineraries that suited our needs. Anne is responsive, intuitive and knows Myanmar beyond the beautiful pictures and images.

For our 16 days trip, she included the 'essentials' of Myanmar along with the 'personal/intimate' side of the country, that helped us not only see but experience and feel the country. From the religious/spiritual side of Myanmar to the friendly and charming people of the country to the many local food scenes that she and her guides set up for us were just simply amazing, loved the BBQ.

Being independent travellers, we had a fair sense of what we wanted from our trip but Anne and her team over delivered on each of the experiences and made our journey unforgettable. Some of the more memorable and unique experiences include the Buddhist Nunnery (very touching), the cooking lesson and market outing with Ma May (immersive, personal and delicious), the bike tours (a little exhausting but exhilarating), the sunset cruise (great way to end the day), the hikes (incredible views and great way to work up an appetite for the delicious foods of Myanmar). The guides and drivers were all very personable and Ah Korn was a stand out, he made the Bagan temples come to life with his story telling. Impressive.

The whole trip went smoothly without a hitch and Anne was there every step of our journey. I cannot wait for her next curated journey. J & R.

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Feb 26, 2018

Hi JC! Thanks for the wonderful, personalized feedback. I'm so glad that KimKim connected us and even happier to know that you enjoyed your Myanmar travels and all of the experiences along the way! I will pass on your kind words to our team and would love to help you plan your next journey!

Sabbatical
Myanmar | Jan 21 - Feb 2, 2018

T
Tom S.
Australia | Reviewed on Feb 18, 2018

As experienced travellers this was the first time we had 'outsourced' our travel planning and we couldn't have been happier with the outcome. Anne took the time to fully understand our ambitious wishlist and returned with a suggested itinerary that whilst action-packed never felt overwhelming or rushed.

Each of our local guides managed to strike the right balance between being extremely attentive whilst also letting us explore at our own leisure. As well as visiting flagship attractions... read more

As experienced travellers this was the first time we had 'outsourced' our travel planning and we couldn't have been happier with the outcome. Anne took the time to fully understand our ambitious wishlist and returned with a suggested itinerary that whilst action-packed never felt overwhelming or rushed.

Each of our local guides managed to strike the right balance between being extremely attentive whilst also letting us explore at our own leisure. As well as visiting flagship attractions such as Inle Lake and Bagan, the tour also provided an opportunity to scratch below the surface and visit places off the beaten track such as the fish markets of Yangon and artisan quarter of Mandalay. These combined experiences provided us with some fantastic memories and a genuine desire to return to Myanmar and explore this fantastic country further.

Huge thanks to Anne and our fantastic guides and trek leaders in Myanmar!

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Feb 21, 2018

Mingalarbar Tom & Harriet! Thanks for putting your trust in us to plan your Myanmar holiday-
it was a fun challenge to design and organize the trip! Wonderful to hear you enjoyed the balance of excursions and getting in to the local culture with our guides. We sincerely do hope you will come back and explore more of Myanmar with us- there is so much to see and do and we would love to share it with you. All the best!

Thai Burma
Myanmar | Feb 9 - Feb 16, 2018

T
Tim K.
Delray Beach, FL | Reviewed on Feb 18, 2018

One of the best trips of my life! Tour was nicely set up, and Anne make changes where necessary when my flight screwed up my arrival. The Bagan tour guide was very good, and the accommodations at the hotel were superb. And the cooking class was very informative and tasty. Flights and airport transfers went without a hitch. I highly recommend the tour, and KimKim tour company.

Local specialist: Anne Cruickshanks
Anne
Anne Cruickshanks
Local specialist in Mandalay, Myanmar | Reviewed on Feb 20, 2018

Dear Tim- thanks for the kind words and beautiful photos! I know you and Robert had a short time on the ground (even shorter with the hitch on the international flight!)- I am glad we could maximize it and provide such memorable experiences. I hope you can come back so that we can show you other parts of beautiful Myanmar!