Day 1: ARRIVAL AT YANGON
Upon arrival at YANGON airport, you will be welcomed by your Travel Loops representative and transferred to your hotel.
Meals: No Meals
Overnight stay: Yangon.
Day 2: YANGON HIGHLIGHTS
After breakfast, you embark on a tour to explore the highlights of Yangon. Starting from colonial-style city centre and one of the key landmarks, the SULE PAYA stupa – built over 2,000 years ago and the focal point of numerous historical events in the city – on to 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. You visit BOGYOKE (SCOTTS) MARKET, where hundreds of gemstone, handicrafts, art, clothes and food stores are tucked in a maze of color. 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 Shwedagon is an iconic symbol of the country, a sight not to be missed.
Meals included: breakfast
Overnight stay: in Yangon
Day 3: YANGON – MANDALAY
After breakfast, transfer to airport for a domestic flight to Mandalay. On arrival, you will be met by our Travel Loops guide and go straight to see 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 KUTHODAW 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.
In the afternoon, you observe the process of pounding gold leaf, detailing teakwood carvings and embroidering Myanmar tapestry. You also see how bronze and marble Buddha statues are carved, cast and molded after visiting Zegyo Market.
Meals included: breakfast.
Overnight stay: in Mandalay
Day 4: AVA – SAGAING – AMARAPURA & UBEIN BRIDGE
After breakfast, you take a trip to the Ancient Kingdoms of Myanmar near Mandalay. You transfer 15km to AVA (INWA), the ancient capital of Shan and Burmese Kingdoms for over four centuries. Crossing the Myint Nge River by ferry, the small roads of Ava are explored by horse cart. You 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, a 300-year old architectural wonder with graceful archways. We continue to the ANCIENT KINGDOM OF SAGAING, located across the mighty Ayeyarwaddy River. From the SAGAING HILLS, you enjoy views of the hillside dotted with countless pagodas and pay a special visit to a monastery to learn about the life of Buddhist devotees. You continue to another beautiful ancient capital, AMARAPURA, famous for its textile industries. There, you visit a cottage industry workshop to learn how Myanmar longyis and traditional fabrics are woven. Continuing on, you cross the UBEIN BRIDGE, a simple yet remarkable teak structure that spans 1.2km over Taungtaman Lake, you have an option to be rowed accross the calm waters. Ubein Bridge, silhouetted by the setting sun, is a magical experience and a photographer’s dream.
Meals included: breakfast.
Overnight stay: in Mandalay
Day 5: MANDALAY – PYIN OO LWIN
After breakfast, you will transfer to a former colonial hill station, PYIN OO LWIN (MAY MYO) approximately 65 km/1.5 hrs away from Mandalay. The tranquil beauty of the town captured the minds of the British Administration, who developed it after defeating the last king of Myanmar. Burmese know the town for the flowers, fruits and vegetables that grow so well in its cooler climes. Continue to PEIK CHIN MYAING CAVE and PWE KAUK WATERFALL located near the town. Then, at the BOTANICAL GARDENS, you feast our eyes on the variety of flora available in the region. To finish the day, you enjoy a horse and cart ride to see the beautiful colonial architecture of houses built during the British rule.
Meals included: breakfast
Overnight stay: in Mandalay.
Day 6: PYIN OO LWIN – MANDALAY
After breakfast at the hotel, you visit PYIN OO LWIN MARKET where local farmers come to trade their produce. You then drive back to Mandalay. In the late afternoon, you observe the process of pounding gold leaf, detailing teakwood carvings and embroidering Myanmar tapestry. And you end our day with sunset panoramic views over city skyline on MANDALAY HILL, the highest point of the city.
Meals included: breakfast.
Overnight stay: in Mandalay
Day 7: MANDALAY – BAGAN (BY BOAT)
After breakfast, you transfer to the jetty and board the RV Yandabo Cruise Boat at about 6:00 am. You can enjoy the day on the boat as as per the itinerary. The boat trip takes approximately 8 hours. Upon arrival, you will be transfer to our hotel.
Meals included: breakfast.
Overnight stay: in Bagan
Day 8: BAGAN
After breakfast, you begin your journey into the Ancient Kingdom of Bagan. The DHAMAYAZEKA ZEDI is our first visit, providing panoramic views of the temple studded plains of Bagan. We continue to the gold gilded SWEZIGON 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 lacquerware 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 that seem to gaze back at you serenely from wherever you stand. For sunset, a bull or horse cart ride around the temples offers 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.
Overnight stay: in Bagan
Day 9: BAGAN – SALE
After breakfast, you begin a full day’s excursion outside of Bagan. You transfer to the jetty and continue by boat for the 35 miles/1.5 hrs drive to the TEAKWOOD MONASTERY in SALEY VILLAGE. The monastery houses the largest lacquerware Buddha image in the country and is also one of best preserved teak wood monasteries with its intricate carvings adorning its walls and doors. In the afternoon, you drive back to Bagan and stop en route at a family-run TODDY SHOP to observe the process of making the rich and caramel-like toddy candies from the sap of the toddy palms.
Meals included: breakfast.
Overnight stay: in Bagan
Day 10: BAGAN
You 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 WORK SHOP, you learn respectively about the traditional uses of the fragrant thanaka paste and how Burmese make the local cheroot cigars. A visit to the NYAUNG U MARKET, the largest market in the Bagan region, gives us a glimpse into local life. You also see how cottage industries like brick-making are carried out using traditional methods. Proceed to BUPAYA PAGODA or SHWE SAN DAW to watch the sunset over the famous Ayeyarwaddy River
* All touring schedules and activities can be adjusted according to guests’ wishes.
Meals included: breakfast.
Overnight stay: in Bagan
Day 11: BAGAN – HEHO – INLE LAKE
Enjoy breakfast and then transfer to the airport for the flight to HEHO, a quiet transit town with one of the few airport links in the beautiful hills of Shan State. Visit the bustling main HEHO MARKET, the meeting point for different ethnic minority groups of the surrounding areas to trade handmade goods and locally grown produce (on market days only). En route to Inle Lake, you 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, you 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, you embark on afternoon explorations 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 with one leg, a technique indigenous to the Inn Thar minority group who do this only on Inle Lake.
Meals included: breakfast.
Overnight stay: in Inle Lake.
Day 12: INLE LAKE & INN THEIN
After breakfast you 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 portal to a long-forgotten time. To access the complex, you walk through verdant bamboo groves that open up to a field covered with the ancient pagodas constructed over 1,000 years ago. You 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. You also make a visit to the INPAWKHON WEAVING VILLAGE to learn how local silks, linens and lotus fabrics are handmade and crafted. As an extra treat, you stop at a house for BURMESE CATS built over the lake, where you 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. You end our day with magnificent sunset canoe ride with boatmen who gracefully navigate and row perched on one leg.
Meals included: breakfast.
Overnight stay: in Inle Lake.
Day 13: FULL DAY SAGAR – KALAW
After breakfast we proceed by boat to NAMPAN VILLAGE. Continue by boat on a 2 - 3 hour journey through lake and river scenery to the southern part of Inle Lake where time has stood still and the ethnic population of Pa-O, Inthar, Shan and Padaung has remained untouched by modern civilization. Walk through several villages on shore that produce local goods such as pottery, bamboo ware, sugar cane, weaving, alcohol, fishery products and much more. Visit the ancient pagoda sight of SAGAR and THA KONG built in the 17th century in typical Shan style. And then transfer by boat to Nyaung Shwe and drive to Kalaw, a former British colonial hill station where ambassadors would spend the summers enjoying the crisp mountain air and sipping on gin and tonics.
Meals included: breakfast.
Overnight stay: in Kalaw.
Day 14: AROUND KALAW
Breakfast at hotel. A 10 minute drive will bring you to Nyee pagoda where your trekking guide will meet you. After approximately one and a half hours hiking through tea and cheroot leaf plantations you will reach Ohn Pin village. Have a look around the Palaung village and visit the beautiful monastery. Continue walking for another one and a half hours through beautiful landscapes and small villages to a spectacular view point and have lunch at a small local restaurant. After lunch, continue walking for about an hour to Tar Yaw, home of the Palaung hill tribe. The animist Palaung Tribe was amongst the earliest inhabitants in Myanmar and has kept to their tradition living with several families in 'long-houses', cultivating cash crops and tanapet for Burmese cheroot cigars. Next you trek back to Kalaw.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch at View Point
Overnight stay: in Kalaw.
Day 15: KALAW – HEHO – NGAPALI BEACH
Enjoy breakfast and then transfer to Heho Airport for the next connection flight to Thandwe (the Gateway of the Ngapali Beach). Upon arrival transfer to your hotel where after check in, the rest of the day is free at your leisure to enjoy the beach.
Meals included: breakfast.
Overnight stay: in Ngapali Beach.
Day 16: NGAPALI BEACH
After breakfast, the whole day is at your leisure in Ngapali Beach.
Meals included: breakfast
Overnight stay: in Ngapali Beach.
Day 17: NGAPALI BEACH
After breakfast, the whole day is at your leisure in Ngapali Beach.
Meals included: breakfast
Overnight stay: in Ngapali Beach.
Day 18: NGAPALI BEACH – YANGON
After breakfast, the whole morning at leisure after which you will be transferred to the airport for the domestic flight to Yangon. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel.
Meals included: breakfast
Overnight stay: in Yangon
Day 19: DEPARTURE
After breakfast, the whole day is at your leisure for further sightseeing, relaxing and shopping until transfer to the airport for your international departure 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 above is for parties of 2, 4 and 6 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.
REMARKS:
We are aware that a good tour must have good hotels. In Indochina particularly, hotel price makes up most of the cost of your Cambodia cycling, Vietnam cycling, Laos cycling, Myanmar cyclingor Thailand cycling. All of our prices are calculated on a twin-shared basis. As a guide, Travel Loops defines hotel grades as follows:
>>Superior Level (3 star hotels in good locations): > 40 USD/room/night
>>Deluxe Level (4 star hotels):> 80 USD/room/night
>>Luxury Level (5 star hotels): > 180 USD/room/night
Price based on twin shared accommodation.
Tour price is indicative only, please enquire for a detailed quotation.
More people means more discount. Please enquire for more details
If, after reviewing the details of this tour, you would like to receive a "Special Offer" tour price, just click on the "INQUIRY" button below. If you wish to “Tailor Make" your trip, simply click on the "CUSTOMIZE TRIP" and enter your contact details.
COST INCLUDED:
- Experienced English speaking guide
- Private transportation by air-conditioned vehicle
- Accommodation in double/twin sharing rooms with daily breakfast
- Meals as mentioned in the itinerary
- Bottled drinking water for sightseeing
- All sightseeing entrance fee where required in the itinerary.
COST EXCLUDED:
- International/domestic airfares & tax
- Travel Insurance. (We highly recommend purchasing travel insurance from home)
- Personal expenditure (telephone, laundry, shopping and so on…)
- Tips for guide, driver, porters and project cost
- Beverage and alcoholic drinks
- Any other services not clearly mentioned on itinerary and trip inclusive portion.
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