Experience many of the most popular sights of Myanmar on this guided journey. Our trip starts in Mandalay and explores the ancient capitals of Myanmar (formerly Burma), all situated near Mandalay City. The visits include the last remaining royal palace building, the centuries old teak wood monastery, and the sacred Mahamuni Buddha’s temple. We also learn about traditional crafts including gold leaf pounding, woodcarving, and tapestry and weaving in local workshops. We explore the ruins of the Ava kingdom by horse and carriage and marvel at the Ubein teak bridge at dusk, known for it’s spectacular sunsets. From Mandalay we journey to Ancient Kingdom of Bagan, the greatest archeological treasure of Myanmar with over 4000 pagodas and temples ruins located on the plains of Bagan 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 the rural Shan State and the beautiful Inle Lake region inhabited by several minorities. At Inle we visit markets, floating gardens and some of the surrounding cultural highlights of the lake.. From Shan State you can choose to fly back to Mandalay or continue on for a visit to the British administration-constructed capital city, Yangon (formerly  Rangoon); and make an optional visit to the magnificent gold plate and gemstone decorated Swedagon pagoda.   

 

Brief Itinerary

 

Day 1: Arrival Mandalay City – City Tour

Day 2: Royal Kingdoms – Ava (Inwa) – Sagaing – Amarapura – Ubein Bridge

Day 3: Bagan Temples

Day 4: Bagan

Day 5: Inle Lake – Heho - Red Mountain Estate Vineyard

Day 6: Inle Lake – Inn Thein

Day 7: Inle Lake – Yangon or Mandalay

Day 8: Departure

 

Day 1: Arrival Mandalay City – City Tour                                               [B/-/-]

 

On arrival at Mandalay airport, you will be welcomed by our driver and guide and transferred to your hotel. Today we enjoy a stroll through the lively Zegyo market in the heart of the city to experience the typical 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 sunset panoramic views over city skyline on Mandalay Hill, the highest point of the city.    

 

 

Meals included:           breakfast

Overnight stay:           Mandalay hotel

 

 

Day 2: Royal Kingdoms – Ava (Inwa) – Sagaing – Amarapura – Ubein Bridge

     [B/-/-]      

After breakfast at the hotel, we embark on a journey to the Ancient Kingdoms of Myanmar near Mandalay. We transfer 15km to Ava (Inwa), the ancient capital of the Shan and Burmese 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; 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 a well-known silversmith village near Sagaing. 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 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

Overnight stay:           Mandalay hotel          

 

 

Day 3: Bagan Temples                                                                    [B/-/-]

 

After breakfast we transfer to Mandalay domestic airport for a 30-minute flight to Nyaung U/Bagan. We start our tour of the ancient kingdoms of Bagan with a visit to Dhamayazeka Zedi for a panoramic view of the temple-studded plains of Bagan. We continue to the magnificent gilded Shwezigon Stupa purported to contain a holy tooth relic of the Buddha. We enjoy the most well preserved mural paintings in Bagan at Myingaba Gu Byaukgyi Temple. We learn how Bagan’s famous lacquer ware crafts are produced in Myingaba village. We visit Htilominlo Temple and learn how Bagan sand paintings are made and we conclude the day’s sightseeing with a visit to beautifully symmetric Ananda Temple with its four standing Buddha images inside. We continue on a decorated bullock cart to witness a magical sunset behind the temples (weather permitting).           

 

 

Meals included:           breakfast, dinner in a local restaurant with traditional marionette show  

Overnight stay:           hotel in Bagan            

 

 

Day 4: Bagan                                                                                     [B/-/-]

 

We continue the exploration of Bagan with visits to the Manuha Temple, built by the Mon king in the 1300s to represent his time in captivity under the Bagan king. Continuing to the Thanaka Museum and a cigar workshop, we learn respectively about the traditional uses of the fragrant Thanaka paste and how the Burmese make the local cheroot cigars. A visit to the Nyaung market, the largest market in the Bagan region, gives us a glimpse into local life. We also see how cottage industries like brick making are still carried out using traditional methods.

 

 

Meals included:           breakfast

Overnight stay:           hotel in Bagan

 

 

Day 5: Inle Lake – Heho - Red Mountain Estate Vineyard                   [B/-/-]

 

After breakfast at the hotel we transfer to Bagan airport for the flight to Heho, a quiet transit town with one of the few airport links in the beautiful hills of Shan State. We visit the bustling 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. Near Inle Lake, we visit the Red Mountain Estate for a tour of the lush vineyard situated on the side of mountain; we taste some of Myanmar’s premiere wines, and observe the different aging methods completed in their cave cellar. After checking into the hotel, we head out to 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 balance and row standing on one leg, a technique indigenous to the Inn Thar minority group who do this only on Inle Lake.

 

 

Meals included:           breakfast

Overnight stay:           In a hotel built on stilts over the lake

 

 

Day 6: Inle Lake – Inn Thein                                                          [B/L/-]

 

After breakfast we journey out 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 the 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 in a local restaurant

Overnight stay:           In a hotel built on stilts over the lake

 

 

N.B. 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 our travel itinerary

 

 

Day 7: Inle Lake – Yangon or Mandalay                                      [B/-/-]

 

The morning is free for sightseeing on the Lake. We can make arrangements for a leisurely stroll to neighboring villages to observe local village life, or alternatively, we can make arrangements for a visit to Nyaung Shwe town to explore the quaint town or shop for local handicrafts. In the afternoon, we transfer to Heho Airport for the next connecting flight to Yangon or Mandalay. On arrival we transfer to hotel after which, the rest of the day is free for you to relax or explore by yourself. 

 

 

Meals included:           breakfast

Overnight stay:           hotel in Yangon or Mandalay

 

 

Day 8: Departure                                                                             [B/-/-]

 

You have free time until your transfer to either Yangon or Mandalay airport for your onward flight.

 

 

Meals included:           breakfast

  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