With its rich diversity Myanmar is not an easy country to fit into a short trip but we have included the “must-see” highlights of this amazing country on this eight-day tour. Experience the wonderful people of Myanmar as you begin in Yangon and visit historic sites and modern markets. Head to Bagan and Mandalay to take in the archaeological wonders and ancient temples, before heading out to rural Myanmar to see the famous Inle Lake with its unique floating villages. In eight amazing days you will experience the wonder of Myanmar – one of the best kept secrets in Southeast Asia!
Day 1 Yangon: Arrival
Catch your flight in Yangon where you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel.
Meals Included: None
Overnight at Sule-Shangrila Hotel – Deluxe 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. Once you have worked up an appetite, your guide will take you to lunch at a local restaurant before exploring 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. Afterwards you will go 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, Lunch
Overnight at Sule-Shangrila Hotel – Deluxe 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
You will be transferred to the airport in time to catch your flight 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 to Inle Lake: Day on Inle Lake
You will be transferred to the airport in time to catch the morning flight to Heho. (Mandalay to Heho flight included) Continue by car for about an hour (30km) to the famous Inle Lake, the residence of the Intha people who live their lives on the water. Check into your beautiful, lakeside hotel before taking a boat trip 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 7 Inle Lake: Indein
Your guide will meet you at your hotel and you will take a boat to Indein, a small village on the western bank of Inle Lake. To get there you pass through a channel, one of the prettiest boat rides on the lake. You can visit some of the village houses to see their day to day lives. It takes about 30 minutes to walk up the hill of Indein Pagoda complex, as you pass through the bamboo forest where you will see the ruined temples under renovation. Return the way you came, by boat, and once again enjoy the picturesque ride. On your way back you will stop along the way to learn and witness some of the local’s distinct handicrafts of lotus weaving, cigar rolling, blacksmithing and silverwares.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at View Point Lodge – Cottages Suite
Day 8 Inle Lake to Yangon: Departure
You will be transferred to the Heho airport in time for your flight back to Yangon, where you will arrive in time to catch your connecting onward flight. (Heho to Yangon flight included).
Meals included: Breakfast
Tour Rate: $ 2,725.00 per person based on 2 people traveling (double occupancy) with a $ 1,495.00 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
