Coverage: YANGON-MANDALAY-BAGAN-INLE LAKE
Start City: Yangon, End City: Yangon
Duration: 10Days/9Nights
Operational Period: All year round (Balloons Over Bagan is available on request)

BRIEF ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrival Yangon (transfer + sightseeing)
Day 2: Yangon-Mandalay (by flight) (transfer + sightseeing)
Day 3: Mandalay-Mingun-Sagaing-Inwa (Ava)-Mandalay (full day sightseeing)
Day 4: Mandalay-Bagan (the whole day cruising by boat)
Day 5: Bagan (full day sightseeing)
Day 6: Bagan-Mt.Popa-Bagan (by private A/C vehicle)
Day 7: Bagan-Heho (by flight)-Pindaya-Inle Lake (by car)
Day 8: Inle Lake (full day boat excursion)
Day 9: Inle Lake-Yangon (by flight) (transfer + sightseeing)
Day10: Departure Yangon (transfer)

DETAILED ITINERARY

DAY 1: ARRIVAL YANGON (transfer + sightseeing)

On arrival at Yangon International airport, you are welcomed by our tour guide and transferred to your hotel. On the way we visit;

(1) Kyauktawgyi Pagoda (one of the biggest marble Buddha Images in Myanmar with a height of 37ft/11m and a weight of weighs over 600 tons) (You will also see the white elephants at there.) and then proceed to hotel. After refreshment, start on a city tour including;

(2) The Karaweik Hall to marvel at the uniquely decorated “hamsa-bird-shaped” floating barge on Kandawgyi royal lake with a great view of Shwedagon Pagoda.

(3) Chauk-htat-kyi Phaya; a huge life-like reclining Buddha statue surrounded by Buddhist monasteries.

(4) A visit to the magnificent and world famous Shwedagon Pagoda, known for its religious significance and artistic beauty. The massive bell shaped stupa is plated with gold and the tip of the stupa is set with diamonds and rubies, sapphires and topaz - a stunning sight as the sun sets and an unforgettable place to begin your trip in the "Golden Land". Lunch & dinner at local restaurant. Overnight at the hotel in Yangon.

Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon
Meal: Lunch & Dinner

DAY 2: INLE LAKE-MANDALAY (by flight) (transfer + sightseeing)

After breakfast at hotel, you are transferred to Yangon International airport for the morning flight to Mandalay. Upon arrival Mandalay airport you are welcomed by our local tour guide and begin the days’ tour with:

(1) A drive to the ancient capital of Amarapura, the city of Immortality for visits to Bagaya Monastery with a famous collection of Buddha images, local weaving cottage industry of traditional cotton cloth, the two-century old U-Bein teak bridge on the Taungthaman Lake and if there is time, observe the lunch process of thousand of monks who take their last meal of the day at 10:00 am in total silence.

(2) Then, proceed to Maha Muni, The holiest Buddhist site in Upper Myanmar: a Buddha image of great beauty and witness the reverence and worship of the local people.

(3) Mandalay, the last royal capital of Myanmar is the best place to see all the traditional arts and handy crafts workshops such as making of gold leaves, wood carvings, marble carvings, tapestries etc…. .

(4) Afterwards, we visit Mandalay Palace and the nearby, Shwe Nandaw Monastery (Golden Palace Monastery) - noted for its exquisite wood carvings and Kuthodaw Pagoda - known as the world biggest book for its 729 marble slabs inscribed with the Buddha's Dhamma or Doctrine.

(5) We finish the day’s tour by visiting Mandalay Hill to experience a tropical sun-set with panoramic views of the city and the Ayeyarwaddy River. Lunch & dinner at local restaurant and overnight at the hotel in Mandalay.

Accommodation: Hotel in Mandalay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 3: MANDALAY-MINGUN-SAGAING-INWA (AVA)-MANDALAY (full day sightseeing)

Enjoy your breakfast at hotel, today’s tour including;

(1) We go to Mandalay pier, embarking on a private boat upstream to visit Mingun, famed for its huge and incomplete Pahtodawgyi Pagoda and MingunBell; a 90 ton ringing bell and largest of its kind in the world and Myatheintan Pagoda, a representation of the Buddhist universe.

(2) Then drive to the Sagaing Hills across the Ayeyarwaddy River Bridge and see the spectacular scenic view on approach to these pagoda-dotted hills. We visit Umin Thonze pagoda and Soon Oo Ponnyashin pagoda from where fantastic views of the pagoda-studded Sagaing Hills and the Ayeyawaddy River are seen.

(3) Afterwards, continue on to the Inwa (Ava) which was the capital of a Burmese kingdom for some four hundred years – longer than any other capital. Once in the town getting around the town may be by horse-drawn cart if that sort of transportation appeals to you. The carts do a tour of sights such as the 27 meter high masonry tower called Nanmyint Tower and the Bagaya monastery which is made completely of teak. Then, drive back to Mandalay and overnight at the hotel in Mandalay. Lunch & dinner at local restaurant.

Accommodation: Hotel in Mandalay
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 4: MANDALAY-BAGAN (the whole day cruising by MGRG Express)

Early in the morning our driver will pick you up at the hotel and transfer to the Mandalay MGRG Jetty, Myo Part Street. Check In time is 6:30 am and the ship will cast off at 7:00 am. The whole day cruising enjoying facilities onboard and sundeck, a place to relax and having sunburn offer the spectacular views of historical monuments and the ways of local livings along the famous Irrawaddy River. Arrive to Bagan (Nyaung U) in the evening (about 4:00 to 5:00 pm). On arrival at Nyaung U jetty, our local tour guide will come and pick you up at the jetty and transfer to your hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Bagan.

Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 5: BAGAN (full day sightseeing)

After breakfast at hotel, start a full day of Bagan excursion around the Archaeological Zone Heritage area with;

(1) A morning visit to the interesting local Nyaung Oo Market where you can buy some cotton clothing or local woven fabrics and souvenirs.

(2) Shwe-Zi-Gon; completed in 1084, noted for its glazed plaques depicting scenes from the Jatakas, the prototype of later Myanmar stupas.

(3) Wet-kyi-Inn Gubyaukgyi Temple with its exquisite mural paintings of 13th century

(4) The majestic HtilominloTemple; built in 1211 AD and one of the largest temples, noted for its fine plaster carvings on the arch pediments and friezes.

(5) In the afternoon proceed to Minnanthu farmer village and lacquer-ware workshop to learn about the fascinating technique of this art

(6) Ananda Temple, 1090AD, a masterpiece of early period temple-architecture with four huge standing Buddha Images.

(7) Manuha Temple built by exile King Manuha (a captured king's impression of life in prison)

(8) Nam Phaya an earliest masterpiece with its fine stone carvings (photo stop at Seinnyet Nyima Pagodas, a temple and a stupa with exquisite design)

At the end of the temples tour, drive to a view mound in order to enjoy the spectacular sunset over Bagan ancient monuments. Lunch & dinner at local restaurant and overnight at the hotel in Bagan.

Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 6: BAGAN-MT.POPA-BAGAN (by private A/C vehicle)

After breakfast at hotel, we leave for Bagan temples and take a short drive to Mt. Popa.

(1) Upon arrival, we join local pilgrims on a 777-step winding staircase ascent of the Mt. Popa and see the Nat (spirit) shrines that line the walkway along with the monkeys that live on the mountain. Mt. Popa is known as the abode of Nats (spirits) - a collection of 37 magical spirits both feared and honoured by some Myanmar people and you can also see the Nat museum, which houses 37 life-size Nat statues sculpted from teak.

(2) On the way back to Bagan we will experience the traditional toddy palm sugar and peanut oil production. We may stop several places for making the photos and knowing the countryside.

One hour before sunset, drive to the jetty in Old Bagan to take a short boat ride for the sunset along the mighty Ayeyawaddy River. Lunch & dinner at local restaurant and overnight at the hotel in Bagan.

Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 7: BAGAN-HEHO (by flight)-PINDAYA-INLE LAKE (by car)

After breakfast at hotel, you are transferred to Nyaung U airport for the morning flight to Heho on the Shan plateau. On arrival at Heho airport you are welcomed by our local tour guide and start the day’s tours including;

(1) We transfer by road to Pindaya (60km) about 90 minutes drive and enjoy the marvelous landscapes of hilly region with vegetables plantation, terrace landing cultivation, etc… We take an excursion to the Pindaya natural cave which houses over 8,000 Buddha Images accumulated over the centuries.

(2) In the afternoon, explore the small quiet town for its famous traditional Shan paper & parasol making cottage industry. We then transfer by road to Nyaung Shwe/Inle Lake.

(3) On the way we visit Shweyanpye Monastery - typical Shan Monastery and proceed to hotel. Lunch & dinner at local restaurant and overnight at the hotel in Nyaung Shwe/Inle Lake.

Accommodation: Hotel in Nyaung Shwe/Inle Lake
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 8: INLE LAKE-INDEIN (full day boat excursion)

After breakfast at Hotel, we start the day’s tours with;

(1) A boat excursion on Inle Lake, a delight to all with a camera ,its calm water dotted with floating vegetation on floating Islands and small fishing boats, to which scenic high hills provide the perfect back-drop. See the “Intha” (Lake-dwelling people) also known as the unique “Leg-Rowers” who use one leg to stand on the boat while the other leg is wrapped around an oar and rows. Observe floating Gardens, with vegetables and flowers grown on them, and the lake way of life at ‘Kay La Village’.

(2) Ngaphe Chaung Monastery (Jumping cat Monastery)

(3) Visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the holiest religious site in Southern Shan State which has five small Buddha Statues so heavily gilded with gold that the original Buddha images are unrecognizable.

(4) Observing the Lake Inle cottage industry workshops such as silk & lotus fabric weaving with wooden handlooms at “Inn-Paw- Kone”Village, traditional ‘mild-cigar –making’ (cheroot Factory at “Se’ Kaung Village” and traditional silver and gold smiths, paper umbrella –making at ‘Ywa-ma’ Village. You will also see Padaung hill tribe ladies (ladies with elongated necks from wearing brass rings around their necks) in that village.

(5) We continue our excursion by motorized boat to the Indein pagoda complex, on the south-west of the lake. The boat leaves the lake and enters a narrow canal to a small Pa O tribal village. From the village, we follow an old path to a 13th century monastery and the very impressive ruins of hundreds of ancient pagodas, some hidden in the vegetation. The main stupa-area on the top of the hill offers breathtaking views over the surrounding mountains and down to the valley and the lake in the far distance. Return to your hotel and overnight at the hotel in Nyaung Shwe/Inle Lake.

Accommodation: Hotel in Nyaung Shwe/Inle Lake
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 9: INLE LAKE-YANGON (by flight) (transfer + sightseeing)

 

After breakfast, we drive Heho airport for the morning flight to Yangon. Upon arrival, you are welcomed by our tour guide and transferred to the hotel. After refreshment, start on a city tour including:

(1) Explore Downtown Yangon where the British colonial influence is still evident with a visit around Sule Pagoda which is located at the heart of the city and proceed to a range of beautiful colonial style buildings such as the City Hall, the High Court, former Immigration Offices and the Independence Monument in the green Mahabandoola Park. Afterwards, proceed to the Central Post Office at Pansodan Street which is famous for some of Yangon’s most impressive colonial buildings and then have a look at busy life of Pansodan Jetty on Yangon River. Take a short tea break at Strand Hotel by own account.

(2) Botahtaung Pagoda, a famous landmark pagoda beside Yangon River, with a walk-in internal a sacred hair relic chamber of Buddha and its wish-granting Bo Bo Gyi and Mya Nan Nwe’s Nat Shrine.

(3) The National Museum where you will see the regalia of Myanmar Kings and the Lion Throne of Myanmar returned from the Albert and Victoria Museum in England by Lord Mountbatten of Britain on Myanmar’s independence in 1948.

(4) Bogyoke Aung San Market (named after the father of Aung San Suu Kyi and formerly known as the Scott Market) to purchase souvenirs and handicrafts if you wish. There are gems, fabrics, lacquer ware, wood sculptures, paintings etc… the range of wares is fantastic and don’t forget to bargain!

(5) Complete the day with an extended visit to China Town, noted for its fruit market, delicious street foods and old world atmosphere. Overnight at the hotel in Yangon.

Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner

DAY 10: DEPARTURE YANGON

After breakfast at hotel, morning is at leisure until you are transferred to Yangon International airport for your return international departure flight.

Accommodation: N/A
Meals: Breakfast

 

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