Burma video: Get beneath the surface with InsideBurma

Earlier this year, our Burma travel expert Charlotte Bower headed back to Myanmar to explore the southern reaches of this wonderful country. Along with her went videographer Sara Pretelli, a regular collaborator with InsideAsia Tours, with the goal of bringing us back some beautiful footage from some of our favourite places. We weren't disappointed!

Charlotte and Sara began their trip in historic Mandalay, the last royal capital of Burma and a former colonial outpost. Its name lives on in the romantic imagination through the poetry of Rudyard Kipling - but few realise that Kipling never even visited the city! His poem, Mandalay, was written about Mawlamyine (Old Moulmein, as he knew it), and the "Road to Mandalay" it refers to is the Irrawaddy River, which transported British troops and goods to Mandalay.

After exploring the former royal capitals of Ava and Amarapura, on the outskirts of Mandalay, our adventurers then headed to Bagan: the jewel in Burma's crown. Here they cycled amongst the thousands of red-brick pagodas before flying onwards to Inle Lake - where the locals live in stilt villages and farm their food in floating gardens. The former capital, Yangon, was next, with its glittering pagoda; Mawlamyine provided a glimpse of a bygone colonial era; a hair-raising trip up to Golden Rock brought interactions with pilgrims from all over Burma, and the caves of Hpa An concluded an incredible trip.

Sara's Burma video will give you a peek into all of these wonderful places - introducing the history, culture and people that make Myanmar such a beguiling destination. Meanwhile, keep your eyes peeled for the next issue of East Magazine, where Charlotte will be writing about her experiences in the south of Burma. To receive your free copy, subscribe here.

Are you interested in travelling to Burma? Get in touch with Charlotte to begin planning your trip now - click here to find out more.