Mesmerizing Myanmar

Mingalabar! Welcome to Myanmar – where the alluring traditional culture comes to life!
Today, greeted by our local guide and driver at Yangon International Airport, then transfer to the hotel for check-in. After settling into your hotel, enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. Overnight in Yangon.

Meal: n/a

Accommodation: Hotel in Yangon

Today will be a long day of driving to Mawlamyine – the fourth largest city located in the south of Myanmar which used to be the former capital of the Mon Kingdom. Along the way, we will make a stop in the historical town of Bago to visit the 55 reclining Shwethalyaung Buddha images, one of the largest reclining Buddha images in Myanmar, housed in the Shwethalyaung temple. After that, enjoy a cozy lunch at a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, continue your scenic drive through the idyllic countryside. Your private car will provide you with a window to the mesmerizing field and rural villages. Upon arrival at Mawlamyine, check in at your hotel, then enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. You can spend some time strolling along Strand Road to gaze out at the unique colonial building overlooking the tranquil river. A highlight for you today: Watch the beautiful sunset while marveling at the bustling street in front of you. Overnight in Mawlamyine.
Meal: Breakfast

Accommodation: Hotel in Mawlamyine

A full day for you to explore the charming Mawlamyine, you will have time to capture a blend of breathtaking scenery and local lifestyles. After breakfast, our driver will take you to the jetty to embark on a short boat ride off the northern coast to Shampoo Island. The picturesque islet sits at the confluence of five rivers where the Mon Kings used to hold ritualistic shampooing ceremonies during the local water festival, Thingyan. That’s why it’s considered a place to rinse away your care. Spend your time exploring the monastery, nunnery, and pagoda on the island.

Next up, embark on the boat and transfer back to Mawlamyine. The next highlight is Bilu Kyun, a stunning island that is home to over 200,000 people. The legend said that this is a hideaway for the nasty monsters. But in fact, it isn’t! Be enchanted by the green color of scenic paddies and lush gardens. After that, visit 2-3 two villages on the island to taste the local flavor. See the making of traditional handicrafts such as pipes, small toys, walking sticks, and chalkboards. Today’s lunch is served in a local restaurant.

In the afternoon, continue your sightseeing on the island to meet and greet more locals. Take this chance and share your own culture with them. Then transfer to the jetty to return to Mawlamyine. Enjoy the highlight of this afternoon at a viewpoint from where you will gain a panoramic view of the town blending its charm with the reddish hue of sunset over the gorgeous view of Thanlwin River and Belu Island. Overnight in Mawlamyine.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Overnight at Mawlamyine

Rise before dawn this morning to enjoy the laid-back morning scene. After breakfast, start the day with a visit to the lively Zeigyi (central market). Wander through dozen of stalls where locals come to buy and sell their wares.
Leaving the market, we head to the downtown streets to visit colonial buildings, mosques, and other landmarks. Then your guide will take you to Kyaik Thanlan Pagoda, the tallest Buddhist pagoda in Mawlamyine housing a hair relic of the Buddha. The 40-meter-high stupa is situated on the top of the hill surrounded by 34 smaller Zegiyan pagodas. Enjoy the panoramic view over the city and harbor before moving to the next attraction.

Follow your guide to the ancient Queen Sein Don Monastery (locally as Yada Bonmyint Monastery). This Monastery is more than 100 years old and is famous for its intricate woodcarving and Burmese crafts inside. It was founded by Queen Sein Tone who had to flee Mandalay at the time that Myanmar’s last monarch, King Thibaw Min, took power. She became homesick and asked the local carpenters to build a monastery in the replica style of her former palace.

Next up, say goodbye to Mawlamyine to take a drive to Golden Rock. In the afternoon, you will travel by open-air truck for 45 minutes to the base camp of Golden Rock, Kyaikhtiyo. The Golden Rock is one of the best-known pilgrimage sites in Myanmar. The site features a 7.3-meter pagoda built on top of a large gravity-defying boulder which is covered in gold leaf paint that has been pasted on by worshippers and appears to delicately hang over the edge of the cliff. The pagoda is said to hold a hair from Buddha’s head, which is touted as the reason the gravity-defying boulder has never toppled over the edge.
The one-hour trek up a paved path to the Golden Rock itself provides great views of the surrounding area. Also, there is an option for travelers to take a sedan chair ride to the top. Upon the top of the pagoda, marvel at the dramatic Golden Rock with a fabulous view over the valley in sunset time. Overnight at the hotel in Golden Rock.
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Golden Rock.

Wake up to the sound of bird-singing this morning to see the beautiful sunrise over the boulder and observe the absorbing moment in the morning when locals gather to make their daily offerings. En route, we visit Bago, which once stood as the capital of the Mon Kingdom in the 16th century. Here you will visit the Shwemawdaw Pagoda which holds a 114-meter-high spire. While in Bago you will also have the chance to visit the city’s local attractions including the town market and take a tour of a local neighborhood.

In the afternoon, make your way back to Yangon. Along the way, stop in Htaukktan Township to visit the Allied War Cemetery – the final resting place for over 27000 Allied Soldiers who perished during World War II. Overnight in Yangon.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Yangon.

Today is a free day for you to venture to the downtown city to explore the fabulous mix of architecture and fantastic sites.
Formerly known as Rangoon, Yangon is a quaint, charming city blessed with a combination of colonial-style buildings and a spiritual heritage that makes it one of the most compelling cities in Asia. The streets are filled with historical buildings many of which have a faded colonial charm, not seen elsewhere in Asia. You’ll start visiting Sule Paya in the middle of downtown. Marvel at the old charm of fabulous colonial architecture as you pass through Strand Hotel, Mahabandoola Garden, and Independence Monument along the way.

Next up, we visit Little India and Chinatown to gaze out at the colorful vendors, temples, and markets. After taking a rest, you’ll end your penultimate day at Shwedagon Pagoda, where your guide will explain the history of the temple while taking a walk around the huge complex and its 65 stupas. Later, our driver will take you to the airport for a departure flight. Trip ends.
Thank you for making your trip with us!
Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: n/a.