PACKAGE tours have become increasingly popular in recent years, as busy lifestyles prevent many people from spending too much time planning and arranging their holidays. With meals, accommodation and transportation all taken care of by package tour operators, travellers can sit back and enjoy their vacation without worry.

Rubyland Tourism Services Company Ltd has arranged package tours for both foreigners and locals since 1991.

“We offer more than 500 itineraries for foreigners,” U Aye Kyaw the managing director of Rubyland, told Myanmar Times.

He said some foreign travellers come Myanmar to see its culture and observe the colourful lifestyles of different people, some to experience the country’s rich Buddhist monuments and traditions, and some for ecotourism and adventure travel.

Most tourists visiting the country for the first time opt for ‘classic package tours’ that include the most popular destinations – Yangon, Mandalay, Bagan and Inle Lake. Longer variations on the classic tours might also visit additional areas near the major sites, such as Pindaya near Inle Lake or Pyin-Oo-Lwin near Mandalay.

For the travellers who love ecotourism and adventure trips, there are also tours to more remote areas, such as Chin, Kachin, Mon and Rakhine states. Boat tours to Myeik in Tanintharyi Division often include scuba diving and snorkeling on the agenda.

“We also arrange seasonal package tours to towns and areas that coincide with special festivals held there, such as the Festival of Lights in Taunggyi (in November),” U Aye Kyaw said.

Packages for the more leisurely minded might focus on visits to Chaungtha or Kanthar Yar beaches in Ayeyarwaddy Division, or Ngapali Beach in Rakhine State.

Another tour company, Oriental Dragon Travels and Tours Company Ltd, started in 1997 by offering package tours to foreigners, then expanded to include locals in 1999.

U Aye Thein, the managing director of the company, said that most of his company’s customers are now locals.

“People in Myanmar have become more interested in travelling for relaxation and recreation rather than just on pilgrimage tours for religious purposes ... with this shift has come an increased interest in package tours that can be taken without worrying about making preparations and arrangements for trips,” he said.