Essence of Myanmar

Upon arrival at Yangon International airport, your local tour guide will welcome you at the arrival hall, then transfer you to the hotel and enjoy our welcome dinner at a fine local restaurant. Overnight in Yangon.

Note*: The hotel room will be available at 2:00pm, and in case that you would like to secure an early-check in, an additional charge will be applied.

Meal: Lunch

Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon

Yangon city is a must-see city for tourists who want to see a different Asia. It’s the largest city in Myanmar with a combination of nature and cultures and communities. This city was founded in 1755 by King Alaungpaya and Yangon means “End of Strife”. Taking a close look at the local life of this historical city today by vehicle and partly on foot, we visit the Sule pagoda in the center of the city. Walk around Mahabandoola Park to see the colonial courthouse and the city hall.

Then visit Bogyoke Aung San Market (former Scott’s Market), where the shopper’s favorite place. (Note: the market is closed on Mondays and the gazetted holidays). Later today, fulfill our Yangon City tour by visiting the world-famous golden Shwedagon Pagoda, a breathtaking and colorful sight visited by Buddhists from all over Myanmar. Overnight in Yangon.
Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon

The Golden Rock at Mt. Kyaikhtiyo is a great pilgrimage site in Myanmar. It is a huge boulder covered by gold leaf and resting on the edge of a cliff. There is a small stupa perched atop the boulder and it’s said that the Kyaikhtiyo Pagoda contains one of the Buddha’s hairs. We start our day out today earlier than usual and drive to Kyaikthiyo where we take the open truck to the Golden Rock at the base camp of Kinpun.

Then take light trekking on the summit through the bamboo forest. It’s tough to get there but well worth the effort. Besides the rock, we may see thousands of pilgrims, hundreds of candles being lit up, and a breathtaking view at sunset & overnight at Kyaikhtiyo.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Kyaikhtiyo.

Bago, formerly known as Pegu, is 80 km to the northwest of Yangon, was the capital of the Mon Kingdom of Lower Myanmar in the 15th century, and is a rice bowl of Myanmar nowadays. After breakfast, we have a short walk to a small cave and stop at some roadside shops for rare products of the jungle. Then we drive down to the base camp to take our vehicle back to Yangon.

On the way back, we stop at Bago town, the local market, KanbawzaThardi Palace built by King Bayinnaung, and KalayaniSima (Ordination Hall). Next, visit Shwemawdaw Pagoda and Shwethalyaung Pagoda, the world’s most beautiful reclining Buddha and Wood Carving Industry. Overnight in Yangon.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon

Bagan is a city that visitors can visit all year around. With more than 2,000 Pagodas & Temples dating back more than 1500 years of history, Bagan is one of the most fascinating places for visitors when traveling to this country. This is also an ideal place for beautiful local Art, such as Lacquerware, bamboo works & wonderful locally made cloth. Today we take early scheduled flights to Bagan where a local tour guide waiting and welcoming us at the airport.

Taking the fresh air and meeting new friendly local people at the colorful Nyaung Oo Market, then we visit the Golden Stupa at Shwezigon Pagoda where we will know more about Bagan’s rich history. Later afternoon, we continue to visit the Ananda Temple, one of Bagan’s most beautiful temples with its architectural masterpiece. From here, we enjoy an unforgettable sunset over the plains from the upper terrace of one of the temples. Overnight in Bagan.

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan.

The more relaxing day is when we visit Myinkaba village, a short walking tour to the temples of Manuha & Nan Paya as well as the famous Dhammayangyi Temple & Sulamani Temple. Overnight in Bagan.

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Bagan.

A little bit challenge today for up climbing more than 700 hundred steps to visit Mt. Popa. The view from the top of Mt. Popa is spectacular. It’s a worthy place to visit and someone says it’s a bit like the monastery in Meteora in Greece, where they are built on the top of a rock with no apparent natural way up. On the way, we can stop at a toddy palm juice production plant. Overnight in Popa.

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Popa.

Mandalay is the richest historical landmark and only is a 30-minute flight from Bagan. This is the historical old capital of all Myanmar culture, Buddhist Sasana, traditional arts, and crafts… After breakfast at the hotel, we take our morning flight to Mandalay where we spend a full day sightseeing with Mahamuni Pagoda, Kyauktawgyi Pagoda (a large Buddha image carved out of a single block of marble), Shwenandaw Monastery (Golden Palace) noted for its exquisite wood carving, Mandalay Royal Palace. End of the day, we enjoy the sunset on Mandalay Hill and relax. Overnight in Mandalay.

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Mandalay.

In the morning, you will be picked up at your hotel then drive 30 minutes to Amarapura (15 km from Mandalay). View the famous Buddhist monastery of Mahagandayon, where more than a thousand monks live and study; before continuing to see the U Bein bridge (it is 200 years old and is the longest teak-wood bridge in the world).

The bridge was built in 1782 at the time when Amarapura was the Royal capital. Then visit Bagaya Monastery, with a superb collection of Buddha statues. After lunch at a local restaurant, travel by a short boat trip to the former Royal Capital of Inwa (also called Ava).

Explore by horse-drawn carriage to visit Nanmyint Watch Tower, the remains of the palace building name “the leaning tower of Ava” Maha Aungmye Bonzan Monastery, built of brick and stucco and Bargayar Monastery, this place is famous for its impressive ornate woodcarvings and teak posts. Continue to Sagaing Hill, a retreat for Buddhist devotees for sunset. Overnight in Mandalay.

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Mandalay.

Morning picks up at your hotel by our tour guide and you’ll board a private local boat for a trip up the Irrawaddy to Mingun (45 min each way). Visit the Mingun Bell which weighs more than 87 tons and is the world’s largest intact bronze bell, and the unfinished Mingun Paya (built with the intention of being the world’s biggest pagoda). Mingun’s other highlight is the Hsinbyume Pagoda, a white-washed temple built to resemble Mount Meru.

Throughout Mingun there are small neighborhoods crafting traditional basketry and other artistic items and there is plenty of time to stop and interact with the craftsmen and friendly locals. This evening, enjoy a commanding overview of the city from Mandalay Hill. Then, transfer back to your hotel. Overnight in Mandalay..

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Mandalay.

Today we take a morning flight to Heho then we continue by car and enjoy a scenic drive to Pindaya through the picturesque countryside of Shan State. We then, visit Pindaya’s limestone cave with its maze of chambers displaying more than 8,000 Buddha statues; local handicraft workshops producing Shan Paper made from mulberry bark as well as traditional umbrellas made from the same paper that is used by monks all around the country. Overnight in Pindaya.

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Pindaya.

Whether traveling to Myanmar, tourists never skip the opportunity to admire the beauty and captivation of the Inle Lake – one of the most famous scenic lakes in Myanmar. Inle Lake has ever been selected as one of the five new destinations that tourists should not miss in Asia by the prestigious magazine of Condé Nast Traveler World.

After breakfast, we travel 2,5-hour driving to NyaungShwe where we observe the leg-rowing fishermen and see their floating gardens built up from strips of water hyacinth and mud and anchored to the bottom with bamboo poles.

After that, we visit Nga Phe Chaung Monastery, which houses dozens of Shan Buddha Images, but is more famous for its unique ‘jumping cats’ who jump through hoops in the air! Continue to Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, the lake’s main sanctuary, which contains five sacred Buddha images covered in gold leaf. Explore the local crafts of Inle Lake with a stop at the cheroot factory, where the typical Burmese cigars are made by hand. If time permits, there may be time to enjoy a short walk through one of the lakeside villages. Overnight on Inle Lake.

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Inle Lake.

Visitting Indein village should be a must while traveling Inle Lake. This is a small village and located on Inle Lake’s western bank. The ruined pagodas which hide in the bushes will give us back to the 12th – 13th centuries, very quiet and mesmerized. This mysterious place is at the end of the marvelousIndein creek, which connected with Inle Lake just after the Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda. The creek is narrow with many twists and turns.

Boating along the lake, we also see both sides of paddy fields with farmers plowing and harrowing by water buffalos or the buffalos enjoying themselves in the creeks at their relaxation time. Indein water is not only useful for irrigation, but also for bathing and washing clothes. It is compulsory to see Novice Monk, buffalo boys and village girls wash and swim in the creek. Today we take a boat trip on Inle Lake by boat to visit Indein ancient pagoda and Shan Cheroot making. Overnight in Inle Lake.

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Inle Lake.

We take a morning flight to Thandwe then transfer 20 minutes to drive to Ngapali Beach. Ngapali Beach is lined with a quiet 3- kilometer long white sand beach with coconut trees. The warm, clear water is perfect for water sports such as snorkeling and there are several small islands that can be reached by boat. Overnight in Ngapali.

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Ngapali.

Breakfast at the hotel and a full day at leisure to enjoy the beach. Overnight in Ngapali

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Ngapali.

Breakfast at the hotel and a full day at leisure to enjoy the beach. Overnight in Ngapali

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Ngapali.

Breakfast at the hotel and a full day at leisure to enjoy the beach. Overnight in Ngapali

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Ngapali.

Breakfast at the hotel and a full day at leisure to enjoy the beach. Overnight in Ngapali

Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Ngapali.

Today we take a flight back to Yangon. Greetings and transferring back to the hotel by private vehicle. Overnight in Yangon.
Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon.

We spend our last minutes shopping at Treasure, Gems, and Handicraft shops or at the Bogyoke Aung San (Scott) market before transferring back to the hotel for our departure flight. Trip ends. Thank you for making your Myanmar vacation with us!
Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: n/a.