DESCRIPTION

Discover Myanmar on a fascinating journey through a land of ancient temples, riverside cities and communities floating on water. Meet the country's friendly people at markets, villages and monasteries, and gain an insight into life in a place largely cut off from Western influence for so long. If you are seeking colonial architecture, awe-inspiring temples, stunning landscapes and welcoming people, this is the trip for you.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Dinner with Puppet Show
• Explore the monastic lives
• Oil Lamp Ceremony at Temple
• Bathe Asian Elephants
• Explore Pindaya Cave and its villages

SUGGESTED ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrival and explore Yangon

Mingalar Bar, you will be welcomed by our Guide at Airport and transferred to hotel.

Start your Sightseeing of Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon. City Tour including the massive reclining Buddha at Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda; the peaceful Kandawgyi Park with its glittering royal barge and Bogyoke(Scott) Market, before visiting Sacred Shwedagon Pagoda. 

Stay overnight in Yangon.

Day 2: Yangon – Bago – Golden Rock

After breakfast at the hotel, start a drive to Golden Rock. On the way, we will stop at Bago,an ancient capital of Mon Kingdom. Take visits to theKyakkhawine Monastery where over 1000 monks are learning Buddha scripture and Mon-style Shwemawdaw Pagoda - the tallest pagoda in Myanmar. Proceed to Kyaikhtiyo(Golden Rock), a well-known Buddhist pilgrimage site in Myanmar. Arrive at Kinmon Base Camp and transfer to an open-air truck to drive up to the mountain. After refreshment at the hotel, we will wander around Golden Rock and enjoy the sunset..

Stay overnight in Kyaiktiyo.(B,L)

Day 3: Golden Rock – Bago - Yangon

Enjoy the sunrise from Golden Rock, top of the mountain.

Midmorning we will return to Yangon via Bago through rice fields and small towns. At Bago, we visit to the massive 55-metre long Shwethalyaung Reclining Buddha. Complete the day by a visit to World War 2 Cemetery for a photo stop.

Stay overnight in Yangon. (B,L)

Day 4: Yangon to Bagan by morning flight and visit Bagan

Today we will fly to Bagan for a comprehensive tour of this beautiful city, one of Myanmar’s premier historical and cultural centres, home to more than 2,000 temples and pagodas..! Our tour includes shrines such as Ananda, Htilominlo, Thatbyinnyu, Dhammayangyi, Sulamani, and Shwezigon Pagoda, plus secular sights such as Nyaung U market and traditional workshops. Complete the day by watching an unforgettable sunset over the plains from Nyaung Lat Phet Hill.

Take part in an oil lamp lighting ceremony at Lawkananda pagoda before dinner and Cultural show.

Stay overnight in Bagan. (B,D)

Day 5: Continue exploring Bagan. Visit rural villages and Elephant Camp

Take a relaxing horse cart ride (or) Tuk Tuk through the less visited temples area, winding your way along the roads past dozens of monuments. Stop at some temples to explore. Then we will visit the rural village where you can see cotton weaving and harvesting of the crops.

Late afternoon we head to Palin Elephant Camp(20 Mins drive) where you will have the possibility to feed, play and bath with the elephants. (Bring extra clothing if you wants to join bathing time with elephants.) Enjoy the sunset view of Irrawaddy River.

Stay overnight in Bagan. (B,L)

DAY 6: Bagan to Mandalay by road. Visit Sagaing & Amarapura

Today leave Bagan and drive (approx 4 hrs) to Mandalay,the last royal city of Myanmar Kingdom. On arrival in Mandalay, we will visit the holy Sagaing Hill, the hub of Buddhism in Myanmar. Take time to visit Swan Oo Pon Nya Shin and U Min Thone Sae Pagodas as well as clay pot making and nunnery to learn the daily life of Buddhist nuns. Enjoy sunset at U Bein, the world’s longest teak bridge stretching close to 1200 meters across Taungthaman Lake.

Stay overnight in Mandalay. (B,L)

DAY 7: Mandalay & Mingun

Embark on a morning boat trip up the famous Irrawaddy River to Mingun (approx 1 hr). Explore the ruins of the vast Mingun Pagoda, the beautiful Hsinbyume Paya and the famous Mingun Bell. Sail back to Mandalay.

In the afternoon, continue the tour of Mandalay with a visit to the Shwenandaw Monastery– noted for its exquisite woodcarvings, Gold Leaf Pounding Workshop and Kuthodaw Pagoda – known for containing the world’s largest book. Then, head to the top of Mandalay Hill as the sun begins to set to enjoy magnificent views of the city.

Stay overnight in Mandalay. (B,L)

DAY 8: Mandalay to Heho by flight and visit Pindaya Cave

Transfer to the airport and short flight to Heho. Upon arrival at Heho, proceed by road to Pindaya. The road to Pindaya cuts across one of the most densely farmed areas in Myanmar – at first glance, the patchwork of fields and hedges could almost be a landscape from central Europe or middle America. Visit Pindaya Limestone cave, unique for the about nine thousand Buddha images placed there by pilgrims over many centuries. Then continue to Nyaung Shwe, the gateway of Inle Lake. Enroute, we stop at a a small family-run umbrella making workshop and Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery.

Stay overnight on the Lake. (B,L)

Day 9: Boat trip on Inle Lake and visit Indein village

Full-day tour of beautiful Inle Lake which is referred as the Venice of Asia, featuring stilt houses and villages, floating gardens, fishermen using ancient techniques such as leg-rowing, and, on the shores, workshops of traditional artisans, e.g. weavers and cigar-makers. We will visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, Nga Phe Chaung Monastery and the local family workshops which feature silversmiths, cheroot making, and weaving by the ‘Ring-neck ladies’.

After lunch, continue your exploration to the western banks of the lake and travel down a small canal to Indein – a Pa-Oh village which is known for its stupa-covered hill with 1,054 stupas constructed between the 17th and the 18th centuries. Spend time exploring Indein on foot, strolling around the village, visiting a local school and making your way to the top of the hill where you can wander amid the weather-beaten stupas and enjoy magnificent views of the lake below.

Stay overnight on Inle Lake. (B,L)

DAY 10: Return to Yangon and Departure

Transfer to airport and fly back to Yangon and connect your departure flight. (B)

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