DAY 1 -- -- -- Yangon Arrival (Based on morning arrival)
Arrival at Yangon International Airport. Transfer to hotel and start a sightseeing tour including colorful downtown Yangon such as the old colonial-style city center, the gilded
Sule Pagoda. The tour continues to
Chauk Htat Kyi, a colossal reclining Buddha image, followed by a scenic photo stop on beautiful
Kandawgyi Lake and enjoy the sunset at
Shwedagon Pagoda, arguably the world’s most impressive golden stupa, The golden dome of the Shwedagon Pagoda rises 98 meters above its base and is covered with 60 tons of pure gold. Accommodation at hotel, Yangon.
DAY 2 -- -- -- Yangon – Kyaikhtiyo (Golden Rock) (B/L/-)
After an early breakfast, drive north to Bago and then south into the Mon State to
Kyaikhtiyo – home of the famous ‘Golden Rock’ (194 km - 5 hours). Lunch at a simple local restaurant at the camp. Continue to Kyaiktiyo, a large boulder completely covered by gold leaves and delicately balanced on the edge of a mountain and is one of the most revered Buddhist shrines in the country. From Kin Pun, a steep and rough 11-km dirt road leads to the upper staging point, a journey made in open trucks, which can be very crowded. In the afternoon, take a local truck up a bumpy track about half way up the mountain. (Private trucks are available at extra costs) From the "upper area" travelers must walk the final stage (approximately 4 kilometers) up steep paths, which ascend some 500 meters to the Golden Rock. As an easier alternative to walking, visitors can be carried in sedan chairs by four porters at an extra cost. On arrival, watch the beauty of a sunset at this important pilgrimage site. Accommodation at hotel, Kyaikhtiyo.
DAY 3 -- -- -- Kyaikhtiyo (Golden Rock) – Bago – Yangon (B/L/-)
Breakfast at hotel. Morning drive back to Yangon via Bago (110 km – 3 ½ hours). Sightseeing includes the
Shwemawdaw Pagoda, which is over a thousand years old. Its spire is even taller than the one of Yangon's Shwedagon Pagoda. The 55-meter-long reclining
Shwethalyaung Buddha image is among the country's most revered. Lunch at local restaurant in Bago. En route visit the
War Graves Cemetery near Htauk Kyan and a tree shrine dedicated to legendary animist spirits known as "Nats". Accommodation at hotel, Yangon.
DAY 4 -- -- -- Yangon – Bagan (B/L/-)
Breakfast at hotel. Early morning departure from Yangon to
Bagan by flight. Upon arrival in Bagan, transfer to the hotel. A sightseeing tour starting with a busy local market and continuing with visits to a diverse selection of the most important pagodas and temples such as
Shwezigon Pagoda, built by
King Anawrahta in the early 11th century,
Ku Byauk Gyi, a temple with exquisite murals of Jataka scenes,
Khay Min Ga Temple, noted for its spectacular panoramic view of the area's many monuments and
Ananda Temple with four large standing-Buddha images and numerous seated figures arranged around the interior gallery. Lunch at
Sunset Garden Restaurant.
In the afternoon, a visit to a lacquer craftsman's workshop in nearby
Myingaba village. Sightseeing continues with visits to
Manuha Temple, built in Mon style in 1059,
Nanbaya Temple, a unique sandstone monument that is said to have been the palace of King Manuha, and
Myingaba Gu Byauk Gyi Temple, noted for its ancient mural paintings. Accommodation at hotel, Bagan.
DAY 5 -- -- -- Bagan – Mt. Popa – Bagan (B/L/-)
Optional Tour: Balloons over Bagan
After breakfast at hotel, take a short drive to
Mt. Popa, said to have risen from the earth in a volcanic eruption in 442 BC. En route visit a local toddy palm farm. Arrive at scenic Popa Mt. Resort in time for lunch. Return to Bagan for enjoy the sunset in the vicinity of Bagan's ancient monuments. Accommodation at hotel, Bagan.
DAY 6 -- -- -- Bagan – Pakkoku – Monywa (B/L/-)
Breakfast at hotel. Leave Bagan in the morning and take a local ferry across the
Ayeyarwaddy River to
Pakkoku, an unspoiled small town famous as a tobacco trading center and for its weaving shops. From Pakkoku, drive across the Sin Phyu Shin Bridge to
Monywa. Lunch at local restaurant. And drive about 20 kilometers out of Monywa to visit
Thanboddha Pagoda. The richly decorated central stupa has no less than 845 smaller stupas around it. Inside the pahto, you will see thousands of Buddha images decorating every wall, archway and niche. The buildings in the compound have interesting jataka reliefs and there is a large Reclining Buddha nearby. Accommodation at hotel, Monywa.
DAY 7 -- -- -- Monywa – Sagaing – Mandalay (B/L/-)
Breakfast at hotel. Early morning visit to local market. Take a local ferry across the
Chindwin River to visit a sandstone cave system in the
Po Win Hills, named after a famous ‘zawgyi’ (alchemist) who once lived here.
Pho Win Taung Cave, numbering more than one hundred, is full of Buddhist statues and murals. These shallow sandstone caves contain many Buddha images and interesting frescoes (paintings) on some of the cave walls. Visit
Shwe Ba Taung, which features unique pavilions cut from the surrounding sandstone and filled with Bubddha images. Continue to catch a local ferry across the Chindwin River to return to Monywa. Enjoy the local lunch en route.
Afternoon continue driving to
Sagaing, visit picturesque Sagaing Hills, where hillsides are dotted with numerous pagodas and monasteries. Continue to
Kaungmudaw Pagoda, which is painted white and has a large egg-shaped dome in Ceylonese style. From Sagaing, drive across
Ava Bridge to Mandalay. Accommodation at hotel, Mandalay.
DAY 8 -- -- -- Mandalay – Innwa (Ava) – Mandalay (B/L/-)
Breakfast at hotel. Start your Mandalay sightseeing tour with a visit to
Mahamuni Pagoda, home to Mandalay's holiest Buddha statue. Stop to see stone carving and, later, to see gold leaf being beaten into wafer thin pieces. Also, visit
Shwe Nandaw Kyaung, an ancient wooden building with intricate carvings, which was once King Mindon's home and the 'world’s largest book', being the Buddhist Scriptures inscribed on marble slabs, at
Kuthodaw Pagoda. Visit
Kyaiktawgyi Pagoda to see a large Buddha statue carved out of a single block of local marble. Lunch at local restaurant.
In the afternoon, take the local ferry to visit
Innwa (Ava), located on an island between the Ayeyarwady and the Myitnge Rivers. You will visit Innwa by horse cart and pass through the ancient city walls to visit a brick and stucco monastery called
Maha Aung Myae Bon Zan. Continue to
Nanmyint Watch Tower – the climb to the top offers lovely views over the river. Accommodation at hotel, Mandalay.
DAY 9 -- -- -- Mandalay – Mingun – Maymyo (B/L/-)
Breakfast at hotel. Boat trip on the Ayeyarwaddy River to
Mingun upriver from Mandalay. Visit the
Mingun Bell, weighing 87 tons and being the world's largest intact bronze bell, the beautiful
Hsinphyushin and the
Mingun Paya building with the intention of being the world's biggest pagoda. After lunch, drive on a scenic route to the cool hill station of
Pyin Oo Lwin (Maymyo) with its lovely lake, waterfalls, national park and colonial era-buildings. Accommodation at hotel, Pyin Oo Lwin.
DAY 10 -- -- -- Maymyo – Mandalay (B/L/-)
Breakfast at hotel. Sightseeing in Pyin Oo Lwin starts with a visit to downtown colonial-era buildings and the central market; the rear part of the market is rich with green and fresh seasonal vegetables. Then proceed to the
Candacraig Hotel, built in 1905 in the style of an English country home. Time for a coffee or tea and opportunity to take photos of this classical place. Unique, brightly painted miniature stagecoaches, drawn by lively teams of horses, are waiting to carry travelers to the
National Kandawgyi Gardens, the beautiful botanical gardens of Pyin Oo Lwin. The journey by stagecoaches takes approximately 25 minutes. Visit the botanical gardens. The cooler weather allows many flowers and fruits, commonly found in temperate climates, to thrive here. After lunch proceed to
Peik Chin Myaung Cave. Stop at a winemaking workshop before returning to Mandalay. Accommodation at hotel, Mandalay.
DAY 11 -- -- -- Mandalay – Heho – Pindaya (B/L/-)
Breakfast at hotel. Morning departure to Mandalay Airport for domestic flight to Heho. Start with a scenic full day drive to the Shan State town of
Pindaya, famous for its limestone caves containing thousands of Buddha images. Drive to Pindaya, an interesting drive up into the hills and across the Shan Plateau, through fields of mountain rice. Lunch at
Memento Restaurant.
In the afternoon, visit
Pindaya Caves, where thousands of different types of Buddha images are on display in the various cave chambers. Also visit a small family run Shan umbrella making business and see how these beautiful umbrellas are handcrafted. Accommodation at hotel, Pindaya.
DAY 12 -- -- -- Pindaya – Kalaw (B/L/-)
Breakfast at hotel. This morning, from Pindaya drive to
Kalaw, which was formerly a British Hill Station. Enjoy walking through Kalaw, visiting the local market, the tiny train station and perhaps walking up the hill to see the old catholic church (if open). Check in to your hotel. Lunch at local restaurant. In the afternoon at leisure. Accommodation at hotel, Kalaw.
DAY 13 -- -- -- Kalaw – Inle Lake (B/L/-)
Breakfast at hotel. Scenic drive to
Inle Lake. Excursion by boat on Inle Lake will include seeing the famous leg rowers, typical floating gardens, local methods of fishing and village life. Lunch will be taken at a local restaurant on the lake. Further visits are made to
Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the weaving village of
Inpawkhon and other interesting sights. Accommodation at hotel, Inle Lake.
DAY 14 -- -- -- Inle Lake – Yangon (B/-/-)
Breakfast at hotel. Morning flight to Yangon from Heho and after check-in at the hotel, Yangon sightseeing including a visit to
Chinatown and
Bogyoke (Scott’s) market, a sprawling 79 year old complex filled with Myanmar handicrafts and which is an excellent last chance for a shopping spree. Accommodation at hotel, Yangon.
DAY 15 -- -- -- Yangon Departure (B/-/-)
Breakfast at hotel. Day at leisure or enjoy the swimming pool at your hotel. The car and tour guide remain at clients' disposal until for your transfer to Yangon International Airport for departure.
Inclusion:
- Accommodation with daily breakfast and meals on table basis as mentioned in the itinerary (B=Breakfast, L= lunch, D=dinner)
- All entrance fees for places mentioned in itinerary
- Transfers
and tours with English-speaking locally-stationed guides (or) the same
English (or as specified) speaking local guide throughout (depending on
selected price option)
- All domestic airfares (Bagan - Mandalay - Heho - Yangon) with Air Mandalay, Air Bagan and/or Yangon Airways
- Domestic flight security tax
- Transportation by private air-conditioned car/minibus/coach and boat trips as specified
- Service charges, room tax and baggage handling
- Insurance surcharge on domestic airlines in Myanmar
Exclusion:
- Meals other than specified in the itinerary
- Travel insurance
- Visa fee for Myanmar
- International Airfares
- Sedan chair in Kyaikhtiyo (Golden Rock)
- Expenditure of a personal nature, such as drinks, souvenirs, laundry etc.
- International airport tax in Yangon (US$10 per person)
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Explore all throughout Myanmar and witness the unique cultures, heritages and sceneries of this exotic country. Itinerary includes trekking in the Pindaya hills, a British Hill Station in Kalaw, the famous leg rowers on Inle Lake, a visit to the famous Golden Rock.