DAY 1: ARRIVAL YANGON (transfer + sightseeing)

On arrival at Yangon International airport, you are welcomed by our English speaking tour guide and transferred to hotel. On the way, firstly 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 alive elephants at this Pagoda compound and then proceed to hotel. After refreshment, start on a city tour with;

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

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

(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 and overnight at the hotel in Yangon.

Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon
Meal: Lunch & Dinner

After breakfast at hotel, you are transferred to Yangon domestic 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 transferred by road to Nyaung Shwe/Inle Lake, and then check in at hotel. After refreshment, start the day’s tour 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) famous for its dozens of Shan Buddha statues as well as the resident cats which have been trained to jump through hoops.

(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 hand looms 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 4: MANDALAY-MINGUN-INWA (AVA) + BAGAN (by late afternoon flight)

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 we 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.

Afterwards we drive to Mandalay domestic (Tada-U) airport for the late afternoon flight to Nyaung U/Bagan. On arrival at Nyaung/U airport, our local driver will pick you up at the airport and transfer to hotel. Lunch and dinner at local restaurant and overnight at the hotel in Bagan.

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

After breakfast at hotel, out local tour guide will meet & greet you at hotel and a full day of Bagan excursion around the Archaeological Zone Heritage Area, and begin a comprehensive the day’s tour 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. Have a lunch at local restaurant.

(5) After lunch, proceed to Minnanthu farmer village and lacquer ware workshops 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 with Puppet Show at local restaurant and overnight at the hotel in Bagan.