Experience all of the must-see places in  Myanmar on this guided tour. Your trip starts from the capital city of Rangoon, built by the British administration. Here we visit the magnificent gold plate and gemstone decorated Swedagon pagoda; take a stroll through quaint old quarter of Yangon enjoying sights and sounds of this bustling city. Our journey continues northbound to rural Shan State and the beautiful Inle Lake region inhabited by several minorities. At Inle we sample the local wineyard harvest; visit markets, floating gardens and cultural highlights on the lake and vicinity. From Shan State we continue our journey to Mandalay to explore the Ancient Capitals of Myanmar (Burma) 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 pounding, carving, tapestry and weaving in local workshops. We explore the ruins of the AVA kingdom by horse cart and enjoy the spectacular Ubein teak bridge known for its unforgettable sunsets. From Mandalay we continue to the Ancient Kingdom of Bagan, the greatest archeological treasure of Myanmar with over 4000 pagodas and temple ruins located on the Bagan plains by the  Ayeyarwaddy river (Irrawaddy). Bagan was during its heyday one the greatest kingdoms in the world and is a truly magical destination to visit.

ITINERARY BRIEF:

DAY 01: Arrival  Yangon
DAY 02: Yangon Tour
DAY 03: Flight to Bagan - Bagan Tour
DAY 04: Bagan
DAY 05: Flight to Mandalay - Mandalay Tour
DAY 06: Irrawaddy day cruise & Royal capitals
DAY 07: Flight to Heho - boat on Inle Lake
DAY 08: Inle Lake - Inn Thein
DAY 09: Inle Lake - Yangon
DAY 10: Golden Rock - Bago
DAY 11: Bago - Yangon.
DAY 12: Depart Yangon.
 

DAY 1 ARRIVAL YANGON
Upon arrival at YANGON airport, you will be welcomed by Travel Loops guide and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax and settle in.

Meals included: -
Overnight stay: In Yangon.

DAY 2 YANGON HIGHLIGHTS
Your journey begins with a tour through the colonial-style city center of Yangon. You visit the golden SULE PAYA stupa – built over 2,000 years ago and the focal point of numerous historical events in the city. Next it's on to the 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. You 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 Shwedagon is an iconic symbol of the country, a sight not to be missed.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Overnight stay: In Yangon.

DAY 3 YANGON – BAGAN
After breakfast, you will be transfer to Yangon airport for a 1hr flight to NYAUNG U/ BAGAN. You start your journey to the Ancient Kingdoms of Bagan with a visit to DHAMAYAZEKA ZEDI for a panoramic view of the temple studded plains of Bagan. You continue to the ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM and magnificent gold gilded SWEZIGON STUPA purported to contain a holy tooth relic of the Buddha. You enjoy the most well preserved mural paintings in Bagan at MYINGABA GU BYAUKGYI TEMPLE. You learn how Bagan’s famous lacquerware crafts are produced in MYINGABA VILLAGE. You visit HTILOMINLO temple and learn how Bagan sand paintings are made. You conclude the day’s sightseeing with a visit to beautifully symmetric ANANDA TEMPLE with its four standing Buddha images inside. You continue by horse or ox cart to witness a magical sunset behind the temples (weather permitting).

Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Overnight stay: in Bagan. 

DAY 4 BAGAN
Youcontinue the exploration of Bagan with visits to the MANUHA TEMPLE with its Mon architectural lines built by the captive Mon king in the 1300s. You continue to the THANAKA MUSEUM to learn about the traditional uses of the fragrant sandalwood paste and visit the CIGAR WORK SHOP to see how Burmese make local “cheroots.” You follow with a visit to the NYAUNG U MARKET, the largest market in the Bagan region. You then take a stroll through a local village and learn how bricks are manufactured using traditional methods. You have an opportunity to learn more about the national educational system with our visit to a MONASTIC SCHOOL where disadvantaged children are provided free primary education. In the late afternoon, you will be 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.

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

Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Overnight stay:  In Bagan.

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
After breakfast at the hotel, you will be transfer to Bagan airport for a 30 min flight to Mandalay. Upon arrival to Mandalay your will be transfer around 40 km/1 hour to Mandalay city where you enjoy a morning stroll through the lively ZEGYO MARKET in the heart of the city to experience more authentic local life in Mandalay. You continue to the ARTISAN QUARTERS, where some of the oldest craftsmanship is showcased dating back to last kingdom of Myanmar. 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. Next, you 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 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. You end our day with sunset panoramic views over city skyline on MANDALAY HILL, the highest point of the city.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Overnight stay: in Mandalay.

DAY 6 AVA (INWA) – SAGAING – AMARAPURA – UBEIN BRIDGE
After breakfast at the hotel, you embark on a journey to the Ancient Kingdoms of Myanmar near Mandalay. You will be transfer 15 km to AVA (INWA), the ancient capital of the Shan and Burmese Kingdoms for over four centuries. You cross over the Myint Nge River by ferry and explore the small roads of Ava 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 building with its graceful curves and archways. You continue to the ANCIENT KINGDOM OF SAGAING, located across the mighty Ayeyarwaddy River. From the SAGAING HILLS, you enjoy magnificent views overlooking the river and hillside covered with countless pagodas. You visit a monastery in Sagaing to learn about the life of Buddhist devotees and continue to well-known SILVERSMITH VILLAGE near Sagaing. You continue to another beautiful ancient capital city, AMARAPURA, famous for its weaving and textile industries. There, you visit a cottage industry workshop to learn how Myanmar longyis and traditional fabrics are constructed. You continue to the UBEIN BRIDGE, a simple yet strong teak structure that spans 1.2 km 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
Overnight stay: in Mandalay 

DAY 7 INLE LAKE
Enjoy breakfast and then transfer to Mandalay airport for the 30 min 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 WORK SHOP 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, lunch
Overnight stay:  In Inle Lake.

DAY 8 INLE LAKE
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 back in 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 on 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 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, lunch
Overnight stay: In Inle Lake.

Note: Inle Lake Market
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 9 INLE LAKE – YANGON  
The morning is for sightseeing on the Lake before our team transfer to Nyaung Shwe town and take a 1 hour drive to Heho airport for our flight to Yangon. You arrive late afternoon to Yangon and transfer directly to your hotel.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch
Overnight stay: In Yangon. 

DAY 10 YANGON - BAGO – GOLDEN ROCK (KYAIKHTIYO)
Morning pickup from the hotel in Yangon and drive 2 hs/99 km to THANATPIN, where you take a stroll through  the colourful local market. Next, you board a local longtail boat for a ride through rice fields and small MON VILLAGES scattered along the waterway. After lunch at a local restaurant in Bago, you continue 3.3 hrs/110 km to Kin Pun base camp to change our mode of transport to an open truck. The ride is shared with local pilgrimags for the next 11 km to Yathetaung base camp, located 500m below the summit ridge. A further, 1 hour hike up a partly-paved steep trail leads us to the summit. The GOLDEN ROCK, or Kyaiktiyo as the Burmese call it, is a fascinating sacred boulder covered in gold leaf and balanced precariously on the edge of a cliff. Crowning the boulder is a small shrine believed to contain Buddha’s hair relics, the source of the gravity-defying magic. A continual stream of pilgrims from Myanmar and Asia come to witness this wonder at least once in their life time. Enjoy the tranquil sunset, soak in the unique atmosphere and share in wonder with fellow monks, nuns, and lay pilgrims.

Option: The Royal Treatment
For those who would preferthe ultimate in decadence, you can enjoy views from a bamboo sedan chair carried by four local porters. Arrangements can be made by trip guides at the base of the climb. Prices are determined by season, availability and body weight (typical rates run around 20 USD).

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight stay: In a hotel near Golden Rock. 

DAY 11 GOLDEN ROCK – BAGO - YANGON
Wake up early for lovely sunrise views and a quiet morning stroll. Breakfast at the hotel before descending back to the Kin Pun base camp. You drive 3.5 hrs/110 km to BAGO, one of the richest archeological sites in Myanmar and the ancient capital of the Mon Kingdom. You visit the impressive 55 m reclining Buddha of SHWE THA LYAUNG and marvel at the 114 m high SHWEMAWDAW PAGODA. Taller than even the famous Swedagon of Yangon, the golden spire of the Shwemawdaw is a popular pilgrimage site for Buddhist devotees. After lunch you will visit a MON WEAVING VILLAGE near Bago. The rest of the 1.5 hrs/80 km drive to Yangon is broken up with visits to a dedicated to a legendary Nat spirit, the KYAIK PUN PAGODA with its four giant Buddha images, and the ALLIED TROOPS WAR CEMETERY honoring 6,000 war heroes of WWII. You will reach Yangon in the late afternoon. You can relax for the rest of the evening.

Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch,
Overnight stay: In Yangon

DAY 12 YANGON DEPARTURE
Transfer to Yangon airport for your 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.

 

The hotels listed below are just our suggestions offering the best value for this trip according to the hotel category chosen, but Travel Loops also offers more options to cater for different grades, personal taste, and budget. Please let us know if you have any specific choice of hotels, or personal preferences/requirements.

Note: Our choices for each level of accommodation have been highlighted in orange. As mentioned above our selection criteria are based on: prior client reviews, hotel management and staff training, facilities maintenance, location, business relationship and advantages given exclusively to our clients on price and service.