Honeymooners looking to explore a unique country that is still emerging from years of self-imposed seclusion from the world will have the rare chance to witness this transition first-hand in Myanmar. See the stunning Shwedagon Pagoda in Yangon, explore thousands of Buddhist temples in the ancient city of Bagan by hot air balloon and bicycle, trek through tea plantations and small villages to Inle Lake where you will witness an incredible floating community, and finally unwind on Ngapali Beach where you will relax for your final days in country.
A honeymoon in Myanmar is perfect for couples looking for history and culture.
“There’s something magical about Myanmar that can not be found anywhere else in the world, and words don’t do it justice. It’s truly one of the most visually stunning locations in the world. Myanmar recently opened up and tourism feels a bit new there. With that, Myanmar can feel a bit overwhelming or a bit rough around the edges at times, and thus I recommend Myanmar as a honeymoon destination for couples who are very well traveled and willing to go with the flow – knowing that wifi can go out, service moves slower, things like that. But couples who are willing to put up with the development issues get to experience a country while it’s growing. Get in on the culture, adventure and beautiful beaches now, before everyone else does. If this sounds like you and your partner, Myanmar would be a great honeymoon destination for you.” – April Cole, Journeys Within Honeymoon Specialist
Day 1 Yangon: Arrival
Arrive in Yangon where you will be met by your guide and transferred to your hotel.
Meals Included: None
Overnight at The Governor’s Residence – 1Double Deluxe Room
Day 2 Yangon: 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 The Governor’s Residence – 1Double Deluxe Room
Day 3 Yangon to Bagan: Exploring the Ancient City
In the morning catch your flight to the ancient city of Bagan – (Yangon to Bagan flight included) 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
Overnight at Bagan Lodge – 1Double Villa
Day 4 Bagan: Sunrise to Sunset with Oriental Ballooning
Early in the morning, before sunrise, Oriental Ballooning will collect you from your hotel and take you to one of their carefully selected launch sites which will give you the very best views of the thousands of temples and stupas that litter the plains of Bagan. Climb on board in the hot air balloon basket and rise gently into the morning skies to greet the sunrise. Slowly and magnificently, Bagan reveals its secrets. The breathtaking site of stupa after stupa, in their hundreds, appearing through the delicate mist is quite unforgettable. Once you have returned to land you will be transferred back to your hotel for breakfast. After breakfast, continue your exploration of this archaeological city and its unique sites.
This will include a visit to Lawkananda Pagoda, East and West Phet Leik, Thatbyinnyu Temple, 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 Bagan Lodge – 1Double Villa
Day 5 Bagan: Cycling Tour
This morning you will be met by your guide and will begin your cycling tour of Bagan. Escape the tarmacked roads and set off down the country paths to the temples. Your first stop will take you to the beautiful Ananda temple – considered by some to be Bagan’s finest temple. It suffered a lot of damage during the 1975 earthquake but after careful restoration it still maintains the majesty of its time. Next you will cycle through the countryside until you reach the impressive Thatbyinnyu temple, a stunning white temple which towers over all other nearby monuments.
Continue on to Dhammayangyi temple, the largest structure in the area, and here you can learn more about the history of the King Narathu, also known as Kalagya Min, or ‘’the king killed by Indians’’.
As you make your way around this dramatic landscape, you will have the chance to stop at a local workshop and see how lacquer items are made, as well as taking some time to visit the local Minnanthu Village, an agricultural village which specializes in the production of sesame and peanut oil. Have some lunch at a local restaurant before heading back to your hotel early afternoon.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Bagan Lodge – 1Double Villa
Day 6 Bagan – Heho – Pindaya
In the morning you will be met and transferred to the airport for you inward flight to Heho (flight from Bagan to Heho included) and then proceed by car to Pindaya (60Km), a small, quiet town, about an hour and a half’s drive away. Visit the Pindaya caves, famous for the 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 – 1Double Bamboo Chalet
Day 7 Pindaya – Treking to Monastery
Start the day with a visit to Pindaya market for your basic supplies, before setting out for a three hour walk to Yasakyi village, home of the Palaung hill tribe. Your walk will start with a gradual but steady climb for around an hour to reach the ridge before an easy descent to the village where you will overnight at the monastery.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Yasakyi Village Monastery
Day 8 Trekking – Pindaya – Inle Lake
This morning continue your trekking through the hills, 40 minutes to the village of Danu tribe. The Danu cultivate peanut, corn, potatoes on the hillside. After 40 minutes arrive at Danu village of Lin Lay Inn and continue to Taung Paw Gyi, 1 hours and 30 minutes by trekking mixed this route up and down hills. The path leads through villages, producing Shan Tea in the traditional way. You will see the drying of the tealeaves and pass through the tea plantations. From Taung Paw Gyi descending to Pindaya through the Banyan Trees.Return to Pindaya by early afternoon and drive to Ngaungshwe where you will be taken to your floating hotel by boat.
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch
Overnight at Sanctum Resort – 1Double Cloister Deluxe Room
Day 9 Inle Lake: 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 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 Sanctum Resort – 1Double Cloister Deluxe Room
Day 10 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 Sanctum Resort – 1Double Cloister Deluxe Room
Day 11 Inle Lake to Ngapali Beach
You will be transferred to the Heho airport in time for your flight to Thandwe (Heho to Thandwe flight included) When you arrive in Thandwe, you will be met and transferred to your hotel in Ngapali.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Amata Resort – 1Double Cabana Cottage
Day 12 – 13 Ngapali Beach: Days at Leisure
Enjoy these days at your leisure at the beach.
Meals included: Breakfast
Overnight at Amata Resort – 1Double Cabana Cottage
Day 14 Ngapali Beach to Yangon
You will be met at your hotel for your private transfer to the Thandwe airport, where you will arrive in time for your onward flight to Yangon – (Thandwe to Yangon flight included). Catch your connecting departure flight.
Meals included: Breakfast
PLEASE NOTE
This itinerary is currently in progress and does not reflect hotel room availability. The pricing is not final until the itinerary has been confirmed and booked.
Tour Rate starting at: $ 4,500 per person based on two people traveling
Price includes:
- Air tickets Yangon – Bagan – Heho – Thandwe – 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
