Experience many of the most famous sights of Myanmar (formerly Burma) on this exciting guided journey. Your trip starts from British administration-constructed capital city, Yangon (formerly Rangoon) where we visit the magnificent gold plate and gemstone decorated Swedagon pagoda; take a stroll through the quaint old quarter of Yangon enjoying the sights and sounds of this bustling city. Our journey continues northbound to the Ancient Kingdom of Bagan, the greatest archeological treasure of Myanmar with over 4000 pagodas and temples ruins located on the Bagan plains by the Ayeyarwaddy River (Irrawaddy). During its heyday, Bagan was one the greatest kingdoms in the world and is a truly magical destination to visit. From Bagan we continue to Mandalay to explore the ancient capitals of Myanmar all situated near the current Mandalay City. We visit the last remaining palace building; a centuries old teak wood monastery; the sacred Mahamuni Buddha’s temple; observe traditional gold leaf pounding, carving, tapestry and weaving in local workshops. We explore ruins of the Ava kingdom by horse carriage and enjoy the Ubein teak bridge vistas known for it’s spectacular sunsets. From Mandalay we journey to the rural Shan State and the beautiful Inle Lake region inhabited by several minorities. By Inle we visit markets, floating gardens and cultural highlights on the lake and the surrounding area. From Shan State we fly back to Yangon and finish our tour in this thriving economic heart of the country.

 

Brief Itinerary

 

Day 1: Yangon Arrival

Day 2: Yangon – Walking Tour – Bagan

Day 3: Bagan Temples

Day 4: Bagan – Mt. Popa – Private Sunset Cruise

Day 5: Mandalay – City Impressions

Day 6: Ava (Inn Wa) – Sagaing – Amarapura – Ubein Bridge

Day 7: Inle Lake – Floating Islands

Day 8: Inle Lake – Inn Thein – Boat Excursion

Day 9: Red Mountain Estate Vineyard

Day 10: Depart Yangon

 

Day 1: Yangon Arrival                                                                                [-/L/D]

 

On arrival at Yangon airport, you will be welcomed by your guide and transferred to your hotel for check in. After freshening up we will visit some of Yangon’s highlights; Chauk That Gyi pagoda to view its magnificent reclining Buddha, and Karaweik Hall to marvel at the uniquely decorated “hamsa-bird-shaped” floating barge on Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake. We complete the day with a visit to one of the world’s most spectacular monuments, the Swedagon Pagoda, a gold covered bell dome structure that dominates the city’s skyline. Legends state that the sacred hairs of the Buddha are enshrined here. The Swedagon is an iconic symbol of the country, a sight not to be missed.      

 

 

Meals included:           lunch, dinner  

Overnight stay:           Yangon hotel 

  

Day 2: Yangon – Walking Tour – Bagan                                                  [B/L/D]

 

After breakfast at the hotel we embark on a trip to explore the highlights of Yangon. Starting from the colonial-style city center and one of the landmarks, the Sule Paya stupa, built over 2,000 years ago and is now the focal point of numerous historical events in the city. We continue on foot to the quaint Yangon Old Quarter, built during the British colonial era. Many charming historical buildings can still be seen here. During our stroll through the bustling market streets full of merchants and food stalls, we visit a local pharmacy and learn about Myanmar traditional medicine, stop for tea and a snack as the locals do, and enjoy the sights and sounds of Yangon. We continue to one of Asia’s architectural landmarks, the elegant Strand Hotel built by the Sarkies brothers. Inside, we visit the River Art Gallery, where the works of some of the most famous and skilled Myanmar artists are on display, very fitting of the grand surroundings. We continue to the bustling Bogyoke (Scotts) Market, where hundreds of gemstone, handicrafts, art, clothes and food stores are tucked away in a maze of color. (Please note that the market is closed on Mondays and on public holidays). After lunch we transfer to Yangon airport for a 1-hour flight (if direct) to Nyaung U and Bagan. On arrival at Bagan airport you transfer to your hotel in Bagan.     

 

 

Meals included:           breakfast, lunch, dinner         

Overnight stay:           Bagan hotel

 

 

Day 3: Bagan Temples                                                                    [B/L/D]

 

After breakfast at the hotel we begin our journey to the ancient kingdoms of Bagan. The Dhamayazeka Zedi is our first visit, providing panoramic views of the temple-studded plains of Bagan. We continue to the Archeological Museum and the gilded Shwezigon Stupa, purported to contain a holy tooth relic of the Buddha. Not far from the stupa, the Myingaba Gu Byaukgyi Temple is a sight to behold, housing Bagan’s best preserved mural paintings of the Buddha’s Jataka re-incarnations. Next, we learn how Bagan’s famous lacquer ware crafts are produced in Myingaba village, and then visit Htilominlo Temple to learn how Burmese sand paintings are created. The day’s temple tour ends with a visit to the beautifully symmetric and majestic Ananda Temple with its four standing Buddha images whose serene gaze seems to follow you wherever you stand. At sunset we take a bullock or horse cart ride around the temples, offering unparalleled photo opportunities of one of the richest archeological treasures in Southeast Asia as the sun dips behind the temple ruins (weather permitting).

 

 

Meals included:           breakfast, lunch, dinner in a local restaurant (with traditional marionette show performance).

Overnight stay:           Bagan hotel    

 

 

Day 4: Bagan – Mt. Popa – Private Sunset Cruise                      [B/L/D]

 

After breakfast, we make a morning visit to the Manuha Temple, built by the Mon king in the 1300s to represent his time in captivity under the Bagan king. We continue on to the Nyaung U market, the largest market in the Bagan region, and a cigar workshop to learn how Myanmar “cheroots” are produced. Next, a 1.5-hour drive takes us to Mount Popa, the Myanmar spiritual epicenter for those who worship the pantheon of Nat spirits and martyrs. After paying respects at the Nat Shrine at the foot of Mount Popa, we climb nearly 800 steps to the pagoda perched at the top of the mountain to admire the views of the surrounding plains and farm lands. In the afternoon, we drive back to Bagan and stop en route at a family-run toddy shop to watch how they make the rich and caramel-like toddy candies from the sap of the toddy palms. In the late afternoon, we transfer to the Ayeyarwaddy River for a private sunset cruise where local cocktails can be enjoyed on board along with views of the temple silhouettes and bustling shore.

 

 

Meals included:           breakfast, lunch, dinner         

Overnight stay:           Bagan hotel

 

 

N.B. Our guides are flexible. All touring schedules and activities can be adjusted according to guests’ wishes.

 

Optional Tour: Hot Air Balloon Flight over Bagan

 

Imagine floating over thousand-year-old pagodas and the mighty Ayeyarwaddy River, as the sun sinks slowly behind distant mountains. The magic of Bagan has inspired visitors to Myanmar for centuries. One of the most remarkable sights in Asia, ancient temples dot the landscape as far as the eye can see. Now, Balloons over Bagan affords visitors a unique opportunity to see this ancient kingdom, as it never has been seen before. The sunrise and sunset champagne flights take off daily from October through to the end of March.

 

 

Day 5: Mandalay – City Impressions                                           [B/L/D]

 

After breakfast at the hotel, we transfer to Bagan airport for a 30-minute flight to Mandalay. Upon arrival at Mandalay you will be transferred (40km/1hr) to Mandalay City where you enjoy a morning stroll through the lively Zegyo market in the heart of the city to experience some authentic local life in Mandalay. We continue to the artisan quarters, where some of the oldest craftsmanship is showcased dating back to last kingdom of Myanmar. We observe the process of pounding gold leaf, detailing teakwood carvings and embroidering Myanmar tapestry. We also see how bronze and marble Buddha statues are carved, cast and molded. Next, we proceed to the highlights of Mandalay: the sacred Mahamuni Pagoda, housing one of the most significant Buddha images in the country, covered in several tons of gold leaf and the crown prize in long past wars between competing Myanmar kingdoms; the Golden Palace Monastery, the only surviving Royal Palace building in Mandalay, offering a glimpse of the original style and architecture of the Myanmar royals; and lastly, the Kathodaw Pagoda, a compound housing Buddha’s teachings carved in the sacred Pali script on stone slabs and regarded as the world’s largest book in terms of surface area. We end our day with panoramic sunset views over city skyline on Mandalay Hill, the highest point of the city. 

 

 

Meals included:           breakfast, lunch, dinner         

Overnight stay:           Mandalay hotel

           

 

Day 6: Ava (Inn Wa) – Sagaing – Amarapura – Ubein Bridge             [B/L/D]

 

After breakfast at the hotel, we set off on a journey to the Ancient Kingdoms of Myanmar near Mandalay. We transfer 15km to Ava (Inn Wa), the ancient capital of the Shan and Myanmar Kingdoms for over four centuries. We cross over the Myint Nge River by ferry and explore the small roads of Ava by horse cart. We visit the Bagaya Teak Monastery, over three hundred years old yet well preserved and still in use by local monks today; the Nanmyin Watch Tower, the last standing structure of the Ava dynasty palace compound also known as the “Leaning Tower of Ava”; and the Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery building with its graceful curves and archways. We continue to the Ancient Kingdom of Sagaing, located across the mighty Ayeyarwaddy River. From the Sagaing Hills, we enjoy magnificent views overlooking the river and hillside covered with countless pagodas. We visit a monastery in Sagaing to learn about the life of Buddhist devotees and continue to well-known silversmith village. We continue to another beautiful ancient capital city, Amarapura, famous for its weaving and textile industries. There, we visit a cottage industry workshop to learn how the Myanmar longyi and traditional fabrics are constructed. We continue to the Ubein Bridge, a simple yet strong teak structure that spans 1.2km over Taungtaman Lake. The bridge silhouetted by the setting sun is one of the most magical experiences in Myanmar and a photographer’s dream. 

 

 

Meals included:           breakfast, lunch, dinner

Overnight stay:           Mandalay hotel          

 

 

Day 7: Inle Lake – Floating Islands                                                          [B/L/-]

 

After breakfast you will transfer to Mandalay airport for a 30-minute flight to Heho, a quiet transit town with one of the few airport links in the beautiful hills of Shan State. You visit the bustling main Heho market, the meeting point for different ethnic minority groups from the surrounding areas to trade handmade goods and locally grown produce (on market days only). En route to Inle Lake, we stop at a local family workshop to learn how Shan umbrellas and paper are made by traditional methods using the fibres of the mulberry tree. Next, we take a 1-hour drive to Inle Lake that descends through the valley with views of the Shan mountains and rice paddy fields. After checking into the hotel, we embark on an afternoon exploration of Inle Lake, populated with floating islands and gardens made from the naturally tangled roots of water hyacinth plants and reeds. Delight in the picturesque sights of fishermen who row gracefully, balanced on one leg, a technique indigenous to the Inn Thar minority group who do this only on Inle Lake.

 

 

Meals included:           breakfast, lunch

Overnight stay:           in a hotel built on stilts over the lake or on the shore          

 

 

Day 8: Inle Lake – Inn Thein – Boat Excursion                                      [B/L/-]

 

After breakfast we set off by boat, following the currents of a small river to reach the Inn Thein Pagoda complex, a site that makes us feel as if we’ve stepped through a forgotten portal in time. To access the complex, we walk through verdant bamboo groves that open up to a field covered with the ancient pagodas constructed over 1,000 years ago. We boat back to the lake and visit Phaungdaw Oo pagoda, the home of some of the country’s most sacred Buddha statues covered in gold leaf by devout followers. We also make a visit to the Inpawkhon weaving village to learn how local silk, linen and lotus fabrics are handmade and crafted. As an extra treat, we stop at a house for Burmese cats built over the lake, where we see the preservation efforts and reintroduction of this rare pure breed of felines to Myanmar. At Nampan village, local craftsmen show us how Burmese cigars, or “cheroots,” are traditionally packed and rolled. We end our day with a magnificent sunset canoe ride with boatmen who gracefully navigate and row perched on one leg.

 

 

Meals included:           breakfast, lunch

Overnight stay:           in a hotel built on stilts over the lake or on the shore          

 

 

Inle Lake markets

 

The colorful and bustling morning market is one of the highlights of Inle Lake. Local ethnic minority groups come from near and far to trade their goods, and this presents an opportunity to observe people in traditional costumes in an authentic market atmosphere. The market rotates five days a week, each day making its base in a different village (though closed on national holidays). Market visits can be included in any tour program if the market location falls within proximity of your travel itinerary.

 

 

Day 9: Red Mountain Estate Vineyard                                                     [B/L/D]

 

In the morning we transfer to Nyaung Shwe town and visit the nearby Red Mountain Estate to take a tour of the lush vineyard situated on the side of mountain. We get to taste some of Myanmar’s premiere wines, and observe the different aging methods completed in their cellar cave. After lunch in Nyaung Shwe we drive for about 1 hour to Heho airport to catch an afternoon flight to Yangon. On arrival at Yangon we transfer to our hotel after which the rest of the evening is free for you to relax or explore Yangon on your own.

           

 

Meals included:           breakfast, lunch, dinner         

Overnight stay:           Yangon hotel

 

 

Day 10: Depart Yangon                                                                               [B/-/-]

 

After breakfast at the hotel you have free time until your transfer to Yangon airport for your departure flight.

 

 

Included:

 

•          Private tours and transfers with air-conditioned vehicles as specified in our itinerary

•          2 bottles of water & 2 refreshing towels per passenger per day

•          All entrance and permit fees to the sites mentioned in the itinerary

•          English speaking local guides (other language guides available with additional cost)

•          Lodging with breakfast as specified in the itinerary

•          Meals as specified in the itinerary

•          Luggage handling fees at airports

 

 

Excluded:

 

•          Visa to Myanmar (note that pre-arranged visa is required for tourists)

•          International airfares or domestic air fares  (always quoted and mentioned separately from tour package price)

•          Meals or any other item not described in the itinerary

•          Early check-in, late check out. Normal check out time from hotels in Myanmar is 11am or 12 o’clock noon           

•          Expenses of personal nature

•          Drinks during meals, hotel extras and personal spending

•          Camera & video fees. Some of the sites visited may ask small fees for photographing and video recording. 

•          Tips & gratuities        

 This tour is private and can be tailor-made to suit your travel needs. As a result the price is quoted in US dollars and shown on a per-person basis. The ‘Price From’ quoted is for a party of 6 to 8 people and for accommodation in 3 star hotels. The final price will be privately quoted, based on the number in your party, your preferred time of travel, grade of hotel and any additional services requested. Please click on the BOOK NOW button and fill in the booking form, after which one of our travel consultants will customize the best value holiday for you.

 TBA