Monastery Overnights

Some Myanmar Pilgrimage tours feature overnight stays in monasteries. As described here, the pilgrim should expect different conditions in monasteries than are found in hotels. Specifically in regards to sleeping, there are three basic considerations that pilgrims should take in mind:

• Sleeping surface. Few Burmese sleep on standard beds in monasteries, often using instead a simple bamboo mat placed over concrete or wood. Depending on your physical needs, consider what kind of padding you will need for comfort and health.
• Warmth. Take a look at when your pilgrimage is scheduled and where you will go. If your tour will pass through some cold nights, then bringing warm sleeping clothes or a sleeping bag will be especially useful.
• Mosquitoes. Little can prevent a good night's sleep more than the incessant buzzing of mosquitoes in one's ear-- and the itchy bites they cause on the body. Sleeping inside a net will keep you protected from these and other insects.

Myanmar Pilgrimage's "Yogi Bundle"

Given the above considerations, yogis should decide what they need for overnights at monasteries, given their pilgrimage dates and route, as well as their own comfort level and preferences. Myanmar Pilgrimage also offers "Yogi Bundles," which consists of the following eight items (pictured below) and is sold for $60.

• One pillow
• One blanket
• One pillow cover
• One blanket cover
• One linen
• One mosquito net for sleeping
• One sleeping pad
• One bamboo mat (not yet pictured)

You can pre-order one of these for your monastery stays by purchasing from one of the links below.