Dutch traveller Gautier Schouten who visited Arakan in 1660 wrote: “As we ascended sufficiently high up the mountain we could decry the city of Arakan and the golden roof of the palace, which shone magnificiently in the rays of the sun. Here and there, both on the mountain and in the valleys the eye fell on many pagodas, which made the view most enchanting. To the other side lay our settlement and our Residence, with lakes, fish-ponds, orchards, and country houses. On the opposite side of the mountain was a descent into a lovely country which in the far distance was seen to be encircled by yet other mountains dotted with townships, villages and beautiful fields, indeed, it would be difficult to imagine a more entrancing landscape.”

Brief Itinerary:

DAY 01: Flight to Sittwe. Afternoon sightseeing in Sittwe.
DAY 02: Boat trip to Mrauk U. Late afternoon in Mrauk U.
DAY 03: Sightseeing in Mrauk U and Wethali.
DAY 04: Boat trip back to Sittwe and flight to Yangon.
 

DAY 1 YANGON – SITTWE
Morning pick up from your hotel in Yangon or from an international flight and transfer to Yangon domestic airport for the flight to Sittwe. Afternoon arrival to to SITTWE, a former seaside capital of colonial Burma where the Rivers Kaledan and Lemro meet the grand Bay of Bengal. After enjoying a late lunch at a local restaurant, we visit the following town highlights: the CULTURAL MUSEUM, with an impressive wealth of cultural artifacts representing the Rakhine civilization that dates as far back as 3000 BC; the BUDDHIST NUNNERY, a stately building hailing from bygone times; and the fascinating LOCAL FISH MARKET, at times with thousands of fish on display from the deep Bay of Bengal. You continue to mouth of the RIVER KALEDAN where it meets the Bay of Bengal, and stroll on the black sand beaches amidst a beautiful setting sun

Meals included: lunch, dinner
Overnight stay: in Sittwe hotel

DAY 2 SITTWE - MRAUK U
Early breakfast at the hotel you will be transfer to the Sittwe jetty for a boat journey to Mrauk U. The 70 km upstream cruise on the Kaledan River travels though farming regions and small riverside communities. The travel time varies between 4-7 hours depending on boat size and river conditions. Simple packed lunches are provided on the boat. On arrival at the Mrauk U Pier half a mile south of the town’s central market, we transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, you embark on a journey to the ruins of LOST ARAKAN KINGDOM OF MRAUK U, a seaport at the crossroads of ancient trading routes between the East and West. Mrauk U has inherited a rich cultural legacy, particularly the 700 enchanting temple ruins scattered over misty hills. You visit the fortress-like SHITE THAUNG TEMPLE, a solid structure with thick heavy walls housing some 84,000 Buddhas and reputed to be modelled after Indonesia’s Borobudur. You continue to the adjacent ANDAW THEIN ORDINATION TEMPLE, which houses a stupa believed to contain the sacred tooth relic of the Buddha brought from Sri Lanka by the Burmese King Mindon. Nearby on a hill is HTUKKAN THEIN FORTRESS TEMPLE, with only one entrance, three inner chambers and small windows designed to let the rays of the dawning sun shine directly onto the central Buddha statue in the main vault.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight stay: in Mrauk U in hotel

DAY 3 MRAUK U – WETHALI
After breakfast, you visit the central MRAUK U MARKET to see the typical Rakhine foods and products sold, then drive 30 min/14 km to the ruins of the Wethali. The ANCIENT CITY OF WETHALI (VESALI) was a thriving dynasty from the 4th to 9th centuries, though little but overgrown bushes remain. At the GREAT WETHALI PAYAGYI, we admire the 17-ft high seated Buddha crafted from a single slab of sandstone, set amidst a panoramic view of quaint villages and farmland. We return to Mrauk U for lunch and later in the afternoon, visit the serene PHARAOUK TEMPLE, built in late 1500s and with a solid stupa featuring 29 life-sized Buddha’s seated radially in its wall. Continuing to KOTHAUNG TEMPLE, you visit the most colossal temple of Mrauk U, famed for the 90,000 statues it originally housed. If weather permits, you climb to the SHWEGUDAUNG PAYA, the highest pagoda of Mrauk U to enjoy the captivating views of temples glistening under the setting sun.

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight stay: in Mrauk U in hotel

DAY 4 MRAUK U - SITTWE – YANGON
Early breakfast at the hotel followed by a boat ride to Sittwe. If time permits, you can visit en route a MRO ETHNIC MINORITY VILLAGE, known for intricate designs of the Khami traditional dress hand woven by the local tapet backstrap loom. Lunch is served on board the boat. Upon arrival to Sittwe, you will be transfer to the airport for the afternoon flight back to Yangon. 

Meals included: breakfast, lunch, dinner
Overnight stay: not included

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.