Whilst we cannot promise you will have seen the whole of Myanmar in your 19-day trip we do our best to show you the best of this fascinating country! With the first 15 days packed full of wonderful sites and places to see, including a cruise up the famous Ayeyarwaddy River (Irrawaddy River) you can spend the last few days relaxing on one of Myanmar’s most beautiful beaches.
You will return home having seen the amazing historical, religious and cultural sites, enjoyed the friendliness and hospitality of the people, and feeling relaxed and rejuvinated.
Day 1 Yangon: Arrival and City Tour all day
Arrive in Yangon where you will be welcomed by your local tour guide and transferred to your hotel to drop off your luggage.
After lunch enjoy a tour of the city center featuring the National Museum; Chaukhtatgyi, a colossal reclining Buddha; Karaweik Hall, a Royal Barge on the Royal Lake and Bogyoke (Scott) market with hundreds of stalls selling local souvenirs.
End the day at the world famous Shwedagon Pagoda, one the most venerable places of worship in Myanmar. Enjoy all the gold and gems and watch as the giant golden dome lights up as the sun sets. Join the locals who come every night to make offerings before heading back to your hotel.
Meals included: Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at Kandawgyi Palace Hotel – Superior Room
Day 2 Yangon: China Town City Tour
Enjoy a walk through China Town and on to the National Museum. Here you will discover different displays showing the culture, the language, the religion, the people, the history and the glory of Myanmar. Then visit the Sule Pagoda, located right in the city centre, a refuge from the hurly-burly of life. Savor the twinkling sound emitted from the pagoda’s summit. After lunch visit Thirimingalar fruit and vegetable market to see a true example of the Burmese way of life.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at Kandawgyi Palace Hotel – Superior Room
Day 3 Yangon – Kyaihtiyo (Golden Rock)
Set out early and drive to Kyaikhtiyo, a small Pagoda, insignificant in size but unique in its position. The small stupa sits on top of a massive rock which is completely covered with gold leaf and delicately balanced on the edge of the cliff. Upon arrival at base camp proceed to the next camp, called Yathetaung, by open truck, about an hour’s mountain drive. Take a light trek to the Golden Rock along the twisting footpath through bamboo forests. Stop at the roadside shops to view some unusual products that come from the local jungle. Enjoy a short walk to a small cave which looks like the beak of a crow. Watch the sun set from the hilltop.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at Golden Rock Hotel – Standard Room
Day 4 Kyaikhtipy – Bago – Yangon
Start your day with a drive down to the base camp at Bago where you will have lunch. Afterwards take a look around the town including a visit to the local market; Shwetharlyaung, a 55 meter-long reclining Buddha Image, and Shwemawdaw Pagoda, with a spire that is even taller than that of the great Shwedagon Pagoda. Return to Yangon passing rice paddies and small villages.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at Kandawgyi Palace Hotel – Superior Room
Day 5 Yangon – Bagan
In the morning catch your flight to the ancient city of Bagan where you will spend the day exploring the city. 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, Dinner
Overnight at Thazin Garden Hotel – Superior Room
Day 6 Bagan: City Tour
Float on air as the sun rises with a ‘Balloon Over Bagan’ ride! This spectacular experience will be one of the highlights of your tour. From here you can begin your tour of Bagan with a visit to the 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, and the Palace and Tharaba Gate.
In the afternoon your tour includes the Apeyadana Temple with its paintings of Mahayana, Nagayon Temple, and the Dhamayangyi Temple, a massive temple with some of the finest brickwork in all of Myanmar. Finish the day at Mingalar Zedi, where you can see the sun set over the Ayeyarwady River, followed by an evening cruise on the river.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at Thazin Garden Hotel – Superior Room
Day 7 Bagan – Mt. Popa
After breakfast, head out on a side-excursion to impressive Mt. Popa, an extinct volcano known as the abode of the legendary nats (naughty spirits!); a one hour drive. Here a temple complex sits perched atop the summit where, for the energetic, there is time to climb the 777 steps to the top of the hill or, for the less energetic, an opportunity to join the local pilgrims and participate in the festivities at the base.
Mt. Popa is a natural place to learn about the nat, or spirit, as people traditionally believe that the custom of nat worship started here and it is still practiced here as although Myanmar is a Buddhist country they also practice spirit worship in the belief that it will bring about prosperity.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Popa Mountain Resort – Superior Room
Day 8 Mt. Popa – Bagan
Depart Mt. Popa and return to Bagan, stopping for photo opportunities along the way. If you wish you can stop to visit Salay wooden monastery on the way.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at Thazin Garden Hotel – Superior Room
Day 9 Bagan – Paukan Cruise
Depart Bagan around noon on the beautiful RV Pandaw river cruiser; a replica of a colonial river steamer with all the comforts and service associated with this bygone era. Enjoy watching the river slip by as you lunch in the elegant dining room and then relax on deck as you cruise the river pulling in to the bank for the night on board.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at RV Paukan – Main Deck
Day 10 RV Paukan
Continue on up the Ayeyarwaddy River stopping to explore the villages of Thein Gone in the morning and Yandapo in the afternoon.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at RV Paukan – Main Deck
Day 11 RV Paukan – Mandalay
Arrive in Mandalay around 10am. This morning you will take a sightseeing tour of Mandalay which includes Mahanumi, a lifelike 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, Dinner
Overnight at Mandalay City Hotel – Superior Room
Day 12 Amarapura – Mingun – Mandalay
Drive to Amarapura where you will visit Mahagandayon Monastery and watch as a thousand monks take their last meal of the day at 10am in total silence. Walk across U Bein, a 200 year old curved wooden bridge with beautiful views out over the lake and then visit a local silk weaving shop where you will learn how the Burmese silk weaving industry makes its fine cloth. Here is also where you can find some toddy juice made by local stall owners.
After lunch take an hour’s boat ride to Mingun, a village on the west bank of the river (11km). Tour highlights include the huge, but unfinished, Pahtodawgyi Pagoda; 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.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at Mandalay City Hotel – Superior Room
Day 13 Mandaly – Heho – Pindaya – Inle Lake
Fly to Heho and then 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. Continue on to Inle Lake, the home of the Intha people who live their lives on the water, and check into your floating hotel.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at Paradise Inle Resort – Deluxe Room
Day 14 Day on Inle Lake
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 Jumping Cat Monastery, called that after its trained jumping cats. Also make a stop at a family run business making cheroot by hand.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight at Paradise Inle Resort – Deluxe Room
Day 15 Inle – Heho -Yangon – Ngwe Saung Beach
After nine days of sightseeing it is time to relax! This morning fly to Yangon and transfer to the Ngwe Saung Beach by car (approx: 6.5hr). Once you are checked in to your room time is your own. Relax on the pristine, white sand beach, cool off in the crystal clear water or enjoy the luxury of a massage. In the evening dinner is served on the beach for a perfect end to your day!
Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner
Overnight at Palm Beach Resort – Garden View Room
Day 16 – 17 Ngwe Saung Beach
Enjoy two more days of sun, sand and luxury!
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Palm Beach Resort – Garden View Room
Day 18 Ngwe Saung Beach – Yangon
Drive back to Yangon in the mid-morning after a leisurely breakfast.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at The Governor’s Residence (Orient-Express) – Deluxe Room
Day 19 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 starts at: $5,060 per person based on 2 people traveling
Single Supplement: $3,280
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
