Our 14 nights 15 days is a fascinating journey that takes us to the Garden City of Yangon, the Cultural city of Mandalay,the amazing Temple on the dry Plains of Bagan , the Buddhist devotional sites of Pindaya and the recreational Inle Lake. Countryside varies from the cooler climate to warmer temperature as we take day ferry boats between two ancient capitals until we then relax on Myanmar’s beautiful beaches to make your vacation a real and unforgettable pleasure!
Arrive at Yangon International Airport. We will meet and greet you with your tour guide at the Arrivals terminal and transfer you to your hotel for check-in. (Accommodation at Hotel Yangon).
After Breakfast, visit to Astonishing SHWEDAGON PAGODA with 76 caret of diamonds encrusted on the top of Main Stupa and estimated 11 tons of gold covering on it. Then we travel out to BAGO for a couple of hours and on the way we stop at HTAUK KYAN, World Cemetery with graves of 6374 soldiers who died in Myanmar during WW II. We will visit to KYAIKPUN Paya, 30 m high seated Pagoda with Budda seated back to back facing to the four quarters around the huge pillar. Then visit to Kanbawzathadi Palace of King Bayinnaung from 1553. We continue to SHWETHALAUNG reclining image. We visit to a local Pottery making village on the way back to Yangon. (Accommodation at Hotel, Yangon.)
After Breakfast, we start to explore in Yangon City. First visit is to CHAUKHTATGYI paya, then we will wander around in Downtown to observe ways of life of Burmese people along the colonial street down to the jetty on the riverbank. We continue to BOGYOKE Market where around 2000 of shops are selling so many different souvenirs collected from different parts of Myanmar country. Later in the day we transfer to Yangon Airport for our flight to Mandalay. On arrival Mandalay we transfer to our hotel for check in. ( Accommodation at Hotel, Mandalay.)
After breakfast, we will make a cultural tour in Mandalay. Visit to SHWENANDAW Monastery, an ancient wooden building with intricate carvings, once the home of King Mindon. Next we visit the KUTHODAW Pagoda which is known as the world biggest book and MAHAMUNI Buddha Image, housing the most revered Buddha image in Mandalay and Upper Myanmar. We can take a short time to view some of the many handicraft workshops adjoining the site.
Then an excursion trip to MINGUIN crossing Ayeyarwaddy River by our Private Boat with a visit to PAHTODAWGYI Pagoda where we can ring the world biggest hanging MINGUIN BELL.
We will enjoy spectacular sunset from U BEIN’S BRIDGE. Transfer back to Mandalay. (Accommodation at Hotel, Mandalay.)
This Morning we make an interesting drive up to MONYWA for about 4 hrs. We visit to Sagaing on the way , admire breath taking views from SAGAING HILL, visit Soon U Ponya Shin Paya, which offers magnificent sweeping views of its surroundings and U Min Thounzeh Pagoda, containing 45 Buddha images lined up in a half-moon shape.
The local people here make beautiful Silverware and we visit to KAUNGMUDAW Pagoda. Then continue our journey to MONYWA, visit to one of the world’s tallest Standing Buddha Images (140 m in height). We see BODHI TATAUNG( 1000 images) : A grove of banyan trees with a Buddha image at the base of each one. Then visit to THANBODHAY PAYA where every spare surface of this temple both inside and out, is covered with thousands of miniature Buddha images (almost 600,000 altogether)- the cumulative effect is spectacularly colorful.
Then then drive back to hotel to relax. (Accommodation at Hotel, Monywa.)
After breakfast we head on to PAKOKKU for about 4.5 hrs interesting drive and we stop to visit HPO WIN TAUNG CAVES and SHWE BA TAUNG on the way. We will have lunch at local restaurant ( to your account but very inexpensive ) and we then proceed to PAKOKKU at around 2 pm. Visit to the town’s landmark Pagoda where you can observe Myanmar’s most beautiful Wood Carvings depicting 10 Jataka stories of previous life of Lord Buddha. We then board our boat to drift down along the majestic Ayeyarwaddy River for a couple of hours and will arrive in Bagan before sunset. (Accommodation at Hotel, Bagan.)
Today, we explore 42 sq km of archaeological sites by bus. We will visit to major highlight temples and Pagodos in Bagan such as Shwezigon Pagoda which is Bagan’s most important reliquary shrine, Gubyaukgyi Temple with its fine stuccowork, Htilominlo Temple , Ananda Paya with a white washed masterpiece of Mon architecture and four standing Buddhas and the adjacent brick monastery from the Early Bagan era with well-preserved murals. We will make a photo stop at the tallest temple measuring 61 meters and then we visit the Lacquer Ware house to see its detailed processing firsthand.
After lunch, we visit to Manuha Paya, Nan Paya that is built in the Mon style with intricate stone carvings and once said to have been Manuha’s Residence. We stop at Myazedi Stupa to see Myanmar’s “Rosetta Stone”, bearing inscriptions written in four languages.
Late afternoon, enjoy a charming half-hour horse-cart ride which will eventually bring you to the Shwe Sandaw Pagoda whence you can enjoy magnificent views over Bagan’s vast temple area and the Ayeyarwaddy River around sunset time.Dinner with the Puppet Theatre. (Accommodation at Hotel, Bagan)
After breakfast at our hotel we transfer to Nyaung U Airport for our departure flight to Heho. Upon arrival we transfer to PINDAYA CAVE for about 2 hrs drive. Most of traveler guide books mention that the Landscaping along the way to Pindaya is the most beautiful in Myanmar and known as ” Myanma’s Switzerland. There are 8094 ancient Buddha images on display inside the magnificent Pindaya Cave. The images are from 16th to 17th century and are all different in style and with different hand gestures. Lunch is in Pindaya. We visit to the local house to see Shan Paper and Parasols Making and then take a interesting 1.5 hour drive to Kalawto see the old British Hill Station Town. (Accommodation at Hotel, Kalaw.)
After breakfast at hotel, visit to Kalaw Tribal Market which draws local people from Palaung, Pao, Karen, Indian and Burmese origins. We take short drive to basecamp and take easy trek for about 3 hrs. We Visit to Beinnebin Village where Palaung hilltribe live. We make a wonderful picnic lunch at Myinka Village where the Danu and Taung yoe people live. Our bus will be waiting for us near Myinka Village. Then we drive to Inle for about 2 hrs or we may jump on Burmese Old clunky train for a 2 hour experience over the Bridge built by the British in 1927. If the train is delayed we continue to take our Private Bus to Inle Lake. (Accommodation at Hotel, Inle.)
After breakfast, we explore the charm of Inle Lake proper. 22 km long and 11 km wide and at 875 m. above sea level, the calm waters of the lake contrast sharp with the surrounding high hills as a backdrop. Apart from offering amateur photographers an exceptional chance to take plenty of great shots, economically Inle Lake has over the years become the vegetable and fruit garden for most of the country.
See the lake’s unique “leg rowers” – the Intha people row standing up with one leg wrapped around an oar, thus they are able to free their hands for fishing and tending to their gardens. The lake’s waters are dotted with floating vegetation and fishing canoes.
Tour to Kela village, one of Inle’s most attractive villages. Watch the many floating gardens where fruit, flowers and mainly vegetables are grown. The 5-day rotational market day in the Inle Lake area has become very popular and especially the floating market of Ywama is unique.
Continue by boat to visit Nga Phe Kyaung, a monastery famous for its “jumping cats”, but primarily of interest for its extensive collection of Buddha images made of different materials, and in various styles and sizes. Next, we visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the holiest religious site in southern Shan State. Its five uniquely shaped, gilded but relatively small images are carried around the lake by boat during the annual Inle Boat Procession usually in the period September / October.
Early afternoon, we travel by long-tail boat to the western shore of the lake. Disembark at Indein jetty and pass a local school, a local market and several shops and stalls to walk up a stairway leading to the hidden and beautiful Alaung Sitthou area of Indein Temple Complex.
Located on the very shore of the lake, this site consists of dozens of small ancient stupas overgrown by moss and greens in a jungle-like setting. This gives Indein a special feel and a very particular ambience. Take time to explore the stupa complex itself. It is a great opportunity to take some exquisite photos of this unusual place. We then return back to Inle.
Time permitting we stop at a few workshops on and around the lake such as a blacksmith and a boatbuilding workshop. Finally, we will visit one of the many silk & lotus weaving workshops, which are produced on wooden hand looms high-quality and colorful textiles, sought after by many, even as far as Yangon and Mandalay.(Accommodation at Hotel, Inle.)
After breakfast at our hotel we transfer to Nyaung Shwe by boat and then drive to Heho Airport for departure flight to Thandwe. Upon arrival Thandwe we transfer to Ngapali Beach by Hotel shuttle bus. Leisure time at beach. (Accommodation at Hotel Ngapali Beach.)
Leisure Day at Ngaapli Beach (B/-/-)
Transfer to Thandwe Airport by hotel shuttle bus. Fly back to Yangon. (Accommodation at Hotel, Yangon)
Visit Chauk Htat Gyi Reclining Buddha image, Bogyoke’s market and we wander around Little China. Enjoy a drink at Old Colonial Strand Hotel. (Accommodation at Hotel, Yangon.)
We transfer you to the International Airport for your departure flight. (B/-/-) Thanks you for sharing your precious time with us in Myanmar .We hope that you share your unforgettable holiday experiences in Myanmar with your friends.
