Experience the most famous sights of Myanmar (formerly Burma) on this guided journey and travel back in time and trace some of the footsteps of Kipling and Orwell.  Your trip starts from the 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 Mandalay to explore the ancient capitals of Myanmar, all situated near Mandalay City. We visit the last remaining palace building, a centuries old teak wood monastery, the sacred Mahamuni Buddha’s temple and observe traditional gold leaf application, wood carving, tapestry and weaving in local workshops. We explore some of the ruins of the Ava kingdom by horse carriage, and visit the Ubein teak bridge vistas known for spectacular sunsets. From Mandalay we continue to the colonial hill station town of Pyin Oo Lwin, formerly known as Maymyo, and explore its gardens, history and heritage and take a rail journey over the 300m deep Gokteik gorge. From Maymyo we return to Mandalay and fly to the ancient kingdom of Bagan, the greatest archeological treasure of Myanmar with over 4000 pagodas and temple ruins located on the plains Bagan by Ayeyarwaddy River (Irrawaddy). Bagan was, during its heyday, one of the greatest kingdoms in the World and is a truly magical destination to visit. From Bagan we fly to the Bay of Bengal coast and relax and enjoy the un-spoilt paradise beaches of Ngapali.       

 

Brief Itinerary

 

Day 1: Arrival to Yangon. Visit Yangon highlights.

Day 2: Mandalay, Ava, Amarapura, Sagaing.

Day 3: Pyin Oo Lwin & Gokteik bridge train journey

Day 4: Pyin Oo Lwin & Mandalay city sights

Day 5: Paukan Cruise Mandalay to Bagan

Day 6: Paukan Cruise Mandalay to Bagan

Day 7: Arrival to Bagan. Bagan highlights

Day 8: Popa & Salay or full day in Bagan

Day 9: Flight to Ngapali Beach

Day 10: Ngapali Beach

Day 11: Ngapali Beach & boat excursion

Day 12: Departure Ngapali – Yangon   

 

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

           

On arrival at Yangon international airport you will be welcomed by your guide and transferred to your hotel (approx. 1hr) in the unique, luxurious Elephant Coach, a restored 1930’s Chevrolet bus. Onboard you can enjoy a welcome drink en route. After checking in and freshening up, we drive to the 2000-year-old Sule Pagoda in the heart of the city where we start our Yangon walking tour, passing through the colonial administrative quarter containing the most beautiful heritage buildings. Along our route you will see book merchants, food stalls and all kinds of shops and sellers. We make a stop at the Yangon landmark hotel, The Strand, for afternoon tea (an assortment of savories, desserts, tea or coffee).  Developed as a luxury hotel by the Armenian Sarkies brothers (of Singapore Raffles Hotel fame), the Strand has been one of the finest heritage hotels in Asia for over 100 years. We will also visit the River Art Gallery next to the Strand, which showcases some of Myanmar’s most famous works.  We continue our Yangon exploration with a visit to Aun Sang (Scotts) Market housing hundreds of colorful shops selling merchandise from sandals to sapphires and rubies. From Aung San market we make a photo stop and a short visit to the Pegu Club, once the premier leisure and entertainment club in the country. We complete the day with a visit to one of the world’s most spectacular monuments, the Swedagon Pagoda, a gleaming 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.  In the evening you will be treated to great Indochinese and French fusion cuisine delights at the best restaurant in Myanmar, Le Planteur.

 

 

Meals included: Afternoon Tea at Strand Hotel, dinner at Le Planteur restaura     

Overnight stay: Governor’s Residence 5*, The Strand Hotel 5* or Savoy Hotel 4*

 

 

Day 2: Royal Capitals (near Mandalay)                                       [B/L/D]

 

After breakfast we transfer to the airport for a short domestic flight to Mandalay. Your guide and driver will welcome you at Mandalay airport and transfer you about 15 km to Ava (Inn Wa), the ancient capital of the Shan and Myanmar kingdoms for over four centuries. Crossing the Myint Nge River by ferry, the small roads of Ava are explored 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, 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, we 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. We continue to another beautiful ancient capital, Amarapura, famous for its textile industries. There, we visit a cottage industry workshop to learn how Myanmar longyi and traditional fabrics are woven. Continuing to the Ubein Bridge, a simple yet remarkable teak structure that spans 1.2 km over Taungtaman Lake, we have the option to board a rowing boat to take us across the the calm water. Ubein Bridge, silhouetted by the setting sun, is a magical experience and a photographer’s dream. 

 

 

Meals included:           breakfast, lunch, dinner with cultural show at Mandalay Hill Resort Hotel            

Overnight stay:           In Mandalay Hill Resort Hotel 4*

 

 

Day 3: Mandalay – Pyin Oo Lwin (May Myo) – Gokteik Bridge          [B/L/D]

 

After an early breakfast, we transfer to a former colonial hill station, Pyin Oo Lwin (May Myo) approximately 65 km/1.5 hours 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. The Myanmar people know the town for the flowers, fruit and vegetables that grow so well in its cooler climate. We board a local train and journey 3 hours to Naungpein Village. En route, the train crawls slowly across the Goktiek Bridge, the scenic highlight of the day as the bridge spans a 300 m deep gorge. From Naungpein Village, we return to Pyin Oo Lwin by car and enjoy lunch on the way. Then, at the botanical gardens we feast our eyes on the variety of flora available in the region. To close the day, we take a look at some of the beautiful colonial architecture of houses built during the British rule. We stop at the historical Candacraig Hotel, a British mansion built in 1906, to enjoy the sunset.           

 

 

Meals included:           breakfast, lunch in a local restaurant, dinner at hotel          

Overnight stay:           in Hotel Pyin Oo Lwin 4*

 

 

 

Day 4: Pyin Oo Lwin - Mandalay                                                   [B/L/D]

 

After breakfast at the hotel, we visit Pyin Oo Lwin market where local farmers and flower merchants come to trade their produce. We continue to Peik Chin Myaing cave and the Pwe Kauk waterfall and then drive back to Mandalay for lunch. Today we sample local cuisine and tea in one of the popular teashops in Mandalay. We try some national favorites; shan noodles such as ‘mohingar’, ‘onyh khaow suay’ (coconut noodles) or local curries accompanied with green tea as well as ‘la phay ye’ sweet tea.     

 

After lunch 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 applying 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 major highlights of the city: the sacred Mahamuni pagoda, housing one of the most significant Buddha images covered in several tons of gold leaf and which was frequently the crown prize in wars between competing kingdoms. Near Mahamuni we visit a fortuneteller / astrologer. Fortunetellers play important role in Myanmar society and are found all over the country. It is common practice to drop in for a consultation every now and then with a palmist or astrologer before committing to new endeavors. It is important to know the auspicious timing of planetary positions and to get advice on actions that lead to success and to avoid mistakes and ill-fortune.  From the fortuneteller we continue to the Golden Palace monastery, the sole surviving Royal Palace building in Mandalay, offering a glimpse of the original style and architecture of the Myanmar royals.

 

 

Meals included:           breakfast, lunch, dinner at local restaurant  

Overnight stay:           In Mandalay Hill Resort Hotel 4*

 

 

Days 5 and 6: Paukan Cruise Mandalay - Bagan                                    [B/L/D]

           

After breakfast we transfer to the jetty and board our vessel the R.V. Paukan for our river cruise. The R.V. Paukan is one of a fleet of modern luxury river ruise boats modeled on the colonial river steamers that used to transport people and goods along the Irrawaddy and Chindwin rivers. During your 2 nights cruise experience you will be treated to shore excursions, onboard entertainment and cooking demonstrations. Luxuriate in the great cuisine, spa treatments (not included) and library during your relaxing cruise. The comfortable and well appointed boat facilities and cabins are decorated in oriental style.

 

 

Meals included:           breakfast, lunch, dinner         

Overnight stay:           On board R.V. Paukan

 

 

Day 7: Bagan                                                                         [B/L/D]

 

We will have breakfast on board as we arrive in Bagan. Your guide will welcome you on arrival at the jetty where we head off on 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 Swezigon pagoda, 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 reincarnations. Next, we learn how Bagan’s famous lacquer ware is produced in Myingaba village, after which we visit Htilominlo temple to learn how Myanmar 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 at the viewer with fixed serenity wherever the viewer stands. At sunset, a bullock 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 onboard R.V. Paukan, lunch in a riverside restaurant, dinner with marionette show

Overnight stay:           In Aureum Palace 5* or Aye Yar Riverview Resort 4*

 

 

Optional excursion: Hot air balloon flight over Bagan

 

Imagine floating over thousand-year-old pagodas and the mighty Ayeyarwaddy River, as the sun sinks slowly behind the 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 has never been seen before. The sunrise and sunset champagne flights take off daily from October through to the end of March.

 

 

Day 8: Bagan – Saley – Mt Popa                                                     [B/L/D]

 

After breakfast, we begin a full day’s excursion outside of Bagan with a 35-mile/1.5 hour drive to the Teakwood monastery in Saley Village. The monastery both houses the largest lacquer ware Buddha image in country and is one of best preserved teak wood monasteries in the country with intricate carvings adorning its walls and doors. Next, a 1.5-hour drive takes us to Mt. 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 Mt. 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, stopping en route at a family-run toddy shop to observe the process of making the rich, caramel-like toddy candies from the sap of the toddy palms.

 

Alternative Tour for this day: Bagan

 

We continue to explore Bagan with visits to the Manuha Temple, built by the Mon king in the 1300’s 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 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. We also see how cottage industries like brick making and are carried out with traditional methods. During a visit to a MONASTIC SCHOOL that provides disadvantaged children with free primary level education, we have the opportunity to interact with the school children.

 

 

Meals included:           breakfast, lunch, dinner

Overnight stay:           In Aureum Palace 5* or Aye Yar Riverview Resort 4*

 

 

Days 9 & 10: Bagan – Sandoway (Ngapali Beach                                   [B/-/-]           

 

After breakfast at the hotel we will and transfer you to Bagan airport for a 30-minute flight to Thandwe near Ngapali Beach. Thandwe (the British called it Sandoway) was a trading seaport of historical significance for hundreds of years in the Rakhine State. Nestled within gentle valleys at the mouth of the Sandoway River, Thandwe was reputed to have once been the capital of an ancient Arakan empire. Located 10km north of Ngapali, it offers glimpses into British colonial times buildings of colonial design and invokes a sense of a snapshot of times gone bye.

 

Ngapali Beach is a tropical paradise of pristine sand, clear blue waters and groves of picturesque coconut palms. Over 10km of white sandy beach runs along the Bay of Bengal, with a smattering of only a dozen or so resorts to create a sense of seclusion and hidden discovery. The limited development and small number of visitors means the beach never feels crowded, a dream come true for lovers of the sun, sea and sand. Besides the usual sunbathing and swimming, leisure activities include snorkeling, sailing, scenic walks and bike trips. Far away from tourist crowds, Ngapali Beach is still a truly undiscovered paradise. The long beach is dotted with charming boutique style resorts built using local materials, the architecture blending harmoniously with the natural surroundings. There are no high rises, no noisy roads, no booming discotheques, no jet-skis and no packed rows of oiled bodies baking in the sun. The stretch of white sand, natural beauty of the blue sea, swaying palm trees and quiet privacy are guaranteed ingredients of an exquisite beach holiday.

 

 

Meals included:           breakfast, lunch, dinner

Overnight stay:           In Sandoway Resort 4-5* or Amara Ocean Resort 4-5*

 

 

Day 11: Snorkeling, fishing and villages                                    [B/L/-]

                       

After breakfast your local guide will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the boat jetty where we begin our Rakhine coast expedition. A non-native living in Ngapali manages our boat and as such we pay great attention to safety. The boat is equipped with life jackets, sunroof, fishing rods, stands and lures. There will be a welcome cool box with refreshments on board. A picnic-style BBQ lunch will be served on the beach during the trip. This trip will take you to remote bays and secret snorkeling spots, which very few people know about.  You will have an opportunity to visit some remote Rakhine fishing villages that have received very few foreign visitors until today.  Some of the fish our guests have caught includes Barracuda, Tuna, Kingfish and Mahe Mahe among many others. If you catch something we will even cook it and share it with the locals so that nothing goes waste.

 

 

Meals included:           breakfast, lunch

Overnight stay:           In Sandoway Resort 4-5* or Amara Ocean Resort 4-5*

 

 

Day 12: Ngapali – Yangon                                       [B/-/-]          

 

After breakfast at your hotel you transfer to Thandwe airport for your flight to Yangon.

 

 

Meals included: breakfast

 

 

Included:

 

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

•          2 nights cruise on RV Paukan in main deck cabin (2 people sharing)

•          All entrance fees to the sites mentioned in the itinerary

•          Private transfers & tours with English speaking guides (language guides with supplement). In Ngapali Beach all transfers are handled by hotels.

•          2 bottles of water and 2 refreshing towels per person on full day excursions

•          Lodging with breakfast as specified in the itinerary

•          Meals as specified in the itinerary

 

 

Excluded:

 

•          Visa to Myanmar

•          International airfares or domestic air fares

•          Meals or any other item not described in the itinerary

•          Early check-in, late check-out, services and non-mentioned meals in the itinerary

•          Drinks during meals, hotel extras and other expenditure of personal nature

•          Travel insurance

•          Tips

   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