Myanmar’s troubled past has largely kept the country out of the tourism industry until recently, and this delightful country is just waiting to be explore. The people are friendly and welcoming and love to to show off their amazing country. In 12 days you will not only get to see some of the most spectacular sights in Myanmar but you will get to travel to some of the more unusual sites too.
After seeing the impressive sights in Yangon, including the awe-inspiring Shwedagon Pagoda, head to Bagan – an Archaeological Zone World Heritage Area where the number of pagodas and temples is astounding. A quick stop in Mandalay and beautiful Pyin U Lwin, is followed by a visit to Inle Lake, which boasts stunning views and a “lost in time” feel. Explore this fascinating floating world of farms, villages and fisherman who fish using a style unique to this area. Round off your time in Myanmar by exploring the bustling side streets of Yangon and shopping for last-minute gifts in the markets.
When you leave after 12 days, you will know you have seen and experienced some of the best of Myanmar – but you may well start planning your next trip as your plane takes off!
Day 1 Yangon: Arrival
Arrive on your flight in Yangon where you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel.
Meals Included: None
Overnight at Kandawgyi Palace Hotel – Superior Room
Day 2 Yangon: Full Day City Tour
Enjoy a full day tour of the city center, taking in some of the highlights such as the National Museum, Bogyoke Aung San Museum, Chaukhtatgyi (a colossal reclining Buddha), and Karaweik Hall on Kandawgyi Lake. No visit to Yangon would be complete without spending some time at the stunning Shwedagon Pagoda, one the most venerable places of worship in Myanmar. Take in the array of gold and gems which light up around the giant golden dome as the sun slowly sets around you. Watch as the locals come here to make offerings before they return home for the day. Return to your hotel in the early evening.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Kandawgyi Palace Hotel – Superior Room
Day 3 Yangon to Bagan: Exploring the Ancient City
In the morning catch your flight to the ancient city of Bagan where you will spend the day exploring the city. (Yangon to Bagan flight included) Visit Nyaung U Market, Shwezigon Pagoda (the prototype for later Myanmar Stupas), Kyansittha Umin, Wet-Kyi-Inn Gubyaukgyi Temple with its exquisite mural painting from the 13th Century, and Htilominlo Temple. After lunch, visit a fascinating lacquer-ware workshop before continuing on to Manuha Temple, built by the exiled King Manuha, before stopping at Nanphaya, said to have been the residence of King Manuha. You will also visit Ananda Temple, an architectural masterpiece, as well as the Oakkyaung Monastery, which is decorated with multi-colored mural paintings. End the day with some breathtaking sunset views from the terraces of an ancient temple.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Resort – Deluxe Garden View Room
Day 4 Bagan: Sunrise to Sunset
This morning you will begin the day with the extraordinary experience of ‘Balloons Over Bagan’. As the sun slowly rises, you will be treated to spectacular views as you float over hundreds of pagodas, which dot the landscape as far as the eye can see, and most of which date back to over a thousand years ago.
Once you have returned to land, continue your exploration of this unique area.
This will include a visit to Lawkananda Pagoda, located along the river. Continue on to East and West Phet Leik, which houses clay plaques depicting Jataka scenes, as well as the Thatbyinnyu Temple, the tallest in Bagan. Other notable sites to visit are the Shwegugyi Temple, the Palace site and Tharaba Gate. After lunch and a short rest, continue on this afternoon to visit Apeyadana Temple, which holds some well-preserved paintings of Mahayana. Also stop at Dhamayangyi Temple, one of the bigger temples with some of the finest brickwork in the area. End your day with a peaceful sunset cruise along the Ayeyarwaddy River, before returning to you hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Thiripyitsaya Sanctuary Resort – Deluxe Garden View Room
Day 5 Bagan to Mandalay: City Tour
Fly to Mandalay, the last capital of the Myanmar Kingdom. (Bagan to Mandalay flight included) This morning you will take a sightseeing tour of Mandalay which includes Mahanumi, a life like Buddha image; visiting a gold leaf making center. to see the gold leaf still being made by hand; marble sculpture and tapestry workshops and Zaycho Market. In the afternoon visit the Old Palace grounds; Kuthodaw Pagoda, known as the world’s largest book for its 729 marble slabs inscribed with the Buddha’s Doctrine; Golden Palace Monastery, noted for its exquisite wood carvings; Atumashi Monastery; and Kyauktawgyi Pagoda, where a huge image is carved out of a single block of marble. At sunset enjoy the panoramic view of the city from Mandalay Hill.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Sedona Hotel – Superior Room
Day 6 Mandalay: Pyin U Lwin Day Trip
After breakfast, set off on a 1½-hr drive to Pyin U Lwin (formerly known as Maymyo, named after Colonel May, a veteran of the Indian Mutiny and commander of the Bengal Regiment temporarily stationed here in 1887). Located a good 1000m above sea level, this former British hill station is home to a range of red-brick colonial buildings, and also famous for its delicious coffee. While ascending into the Shan mountains towards this old colonial holiday spot, make sure to stop to enjoy the picturesque views and visit a local vendor selling fresh strawberries and jams. When you arrive you will have the chance to explore the area with its local market and cafes downtown, before continuing on to the nearby Botanical Gardens, founded in 1915 by a British botanist, which cover an area of more than 170 acres of land and 70 acres of water. Stop to have lunch in the garden at December Farms. Make sure to try one of their delicious homemade yogurts, ice creams or milkshake for dessert. After lunch, you will also have the option of riding in a horse-drawn cart to the Thiri Myaing, formerly known as the Candacraig, a beautiful colonial mansion which was built in 1904 by the British Bombay Burma Timber Company for their expatriates. Return back to Mandalay in the early evening.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Snack
Overnight at Sedona Hotel – Superior Room
Day 7 Mandalay: Mingun and Sagaing Hill with Amarapura Sunset
After breakfast, take an hour-long boat ride to Mingun, a village on the west bank of the river (about 11km away). Mingun’s highlights include the huge, but unfinished, Pahtodawgyi Pagoda, the Mingun bell which, weighing 90 tons, is probably the largest ringing bell in the world, and Myatheintan Pagoda with seven concentric terraces at its base. From Mingun you will continue on to Ava, located 30 minutes south of Mandalay, and known in the west as the “Kingdom of Ava”. When you reach the tributary you will cross it on the ferry. Travel by pony-cart around Ava to Nanmyint Leaning Tower which gives a birds’ eye view of the mighty Ayeyarwaddy River, Bagaya wooden monastery, and Aungmyaybonza Monastery made of brick and stucco. Though the Royal Palace has gone, the pagodas, temples and monasteries still remain. Proceed to Sagaing Hill covered with about 600 white-washed pagodas and monasteries. The Hill is famous for meditation, and is home to 3000 monks and 100 meditation centers. Be sure to visit the Soon-Oo-Pon-Nya-Shin & U-Min-Thonw-Sae Pagodas. Finish your journey with a trip to the previous kingdom of Amarapura. Visit the Mahagandayon Monastery and enjoy a breathtaking walk across the U Bein, a 200 year old curved wooden bridge with beautiful views as the sun sets out over the lake
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Sedona Hotel – Superior Room
Day 8 Mandalay to Pindaya
You will be transferred to the airport in time to catch your flight to Heho, where you will be met by your guide. (Mandalay to Heho flight included) From here you will proceed by road to Pindaya (60Km), a small, quiet town, about an hour and a half drive. Visit Pindaya caves famous for its thousands of centuries-old Buddha images of various sizes, some carved into the face of the rock and some deposited in niches in the walls. Next visit a home based paper and umbrella making industry where you will be able to see all of the steps in the process starting with the gathering of local plants to the finished product – beautiful, decorative paper umbrellas. Check into your traditional cottage hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Inle Inn Pindaya – Chalet Room
Day 9 Pindaya to Inle Lake: Day on Inle Lake
Enjoy the drive to Inle Lake which passes through some beautiful scenery. Upon arrival at Nyaung Shwe Jetty, transfer directly to your floating hotel to check in.
Today you will have a full day on and around the lake. You will see the unique method locals use to row their boats, fishermen with their own style of fishing, floating farms and gardens and a handloom weaving cottage with its own showroom. You will visit Phaungdawoo Pagoda which houses the five most revered Buddha Images in the southern Shan States and Nga Phe Cheung Monastery, formerly known as the Cat Jumping Monastery, which got its name from formerly teaching cats to do tricks but has hence stopped this practice due to overly worked cats. You can still enjoy the many roaming cats while learning about the Shan style Buddhas at the beautiful mid nineteenth century teak monastery. It is a great location to witness monastery life on the lake, as it is located right on the outskirts of a massive floating garden.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at View Point Lodge – Cottages Suite
Day 10 Inle Lake: Sagar
Set off early by boat and head south to experience the unspoiled culture and traditional lifestyle of the ethnic groups of Pao and Inthas in Sagar (about 3 hours away). Here you will find an array of attractions, from the unique sunken stupas, which are often flooded by water, to the friendly people and beautiful surrounding landscape. This is a hidden gem on Inle Lake which, as of yet, hasn’t attracted many tourists.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at View Point Lodge – Cottages Suite
Day 11 Inle Lake to Yangon: Chinatown Tour with Rickshaw and High Tea at the Strand
You will be transferred to the airport in Heho in time for your flight back to Yangon. (Heho to Bagan flight included) Arrive in Yangon where you will be met and transferred to your hotel.
Today you will enjoy a walk through the busy streets of Chinatown. Here you will find a mix of both Chinese and Burmese food stalls, numerous gold shops and bustling markets selling old and new souvenirs. You will begin with a walk observing the historic colonial buildings of downtown Yangon on your way to visit the Sule Pagoda, which predates the famous Shwedagon Pagoda. This Pagoda serves as a religious refuge from the hustle and bustle of surrounding city life and is also home to antique camera shops and palm readers. Savor the calm atmosphere and the twinkling sound emitted from the pagoda’s summit. You will then have the chance to explore the famous Bogyoke (Scott) Market, home to hundreds of stalls selling local souvenirs.
In the afternoon you will go for high tea at the legendary Strand Hotel. Enjoy some traditional tea and snacks as you take in one of SE Asia’s grandest colonial hotels.
Afterwards, enjoy a ride by rickshaw along the Yangon River and to see some of the beautiful historical colonial buildings in the area. Your rickshaw ride will come to an end at the Botataung Paya, whose spacious riverfront location and lack of crowds give it a more down-to-earth spiritual feeling. Explore the evening fruit and vegetable market, a great place to witness the daily life of the local vendors and consumers. End your day with a walk down the locally renowned 19th street for some delicious BBQ and a well-deserved ice cold Myanmar beer.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Tea
Overnight at Kandawgyi Palace Hotel – Superior Room
Day 12 Yangon: Departure
Your driver will meet you at your hotel for your private transfer to the airport, where you will arrive in time for your onward flight.
Meals included: Breakfast
Tour Rate: $ 3,760.00 per person based on 2 people traveling (double occupancy) with a $ 2,440.00 single supplement
Price includes:
- Air tickets Yangon – Bagan – Mandalay – Heho – Yangon
- Boat tickets as specified above
- Accommodation as specified above
- Air-conditioned car/van with driver
- Licensed English speaking guides
- Tours and admission fees as mentioned above
- Meals as specified in itinerary, including water
Price excludes:
- Personal expenses
- Visa fees
- Airport tax
- Drinks (except water) and meals not mentioned in itinerary
- Tips
