Essential Myanmar

Essential Myanmar

Yangon – Bagan – Mandalay – Pindaya – Inle Lake – Golden Rock – Bago – Yangon

11 Days – 10 Nights

Day – (1)                                           Arrival Yangon & Yangon Sightseeing                                          (-)

Upon arrival, you’ll greet by your guide who will accompany and transfer you to your hotel.

Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, is a relatively quiet and charming city. Its impressive colonial and spiritual heritage makes it one of the most fascinating cities in Southeast Asia.

(Early check-in subjected to room availability)

This afternoon, we’ll take a tour around the city center which is filled various historical and colonial buildings partly by car or partly on foot. We’ll first visit to Sule Pagoda which is a 2200-year-old temple surrounded by government buildings and commercial shop. Then, you’ll pass along the way to Mahabandoola Park Where Independent Monument exists. Continue your tour by passing City Hall, a little India and a little china.

From Here, end your day at Shwedagon Pagoda which is one of the wonders of the world. It was built 2500 years ago, and enshrined with hair relics of Buddha and a place where to meet devoted Buddhists meditating and praying. Enjoy breathtaking views of the golden stupa from this vantage point.

Overnight in Yangon.

Day – (2)                                           Yangon – Bagan & Bagan Sightseeing                                            (B)

This morning, you’ll transfer to the airport for the flight to Bagan (NyaungOo).

Bagan, located on the banks of the Ayeyarwady (Irrawaddy) River, is home to the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas and ruins in the world with many dating from the 11th and 12th centuries.

On arrival, your journey begins with a visit an elevated temple from where you will have a panoramic view of the magnificent plains of Bagan.

Continue with a visit to the golden Shwezigon Pagoda, first and prototype monument, which was built in Myanmar style in 1087. Then, visit to Gubyaukgyi, a cave temple @ Wetkyi-Inn Village which is well-known for its exquisite jataka mural paintings and the elegant Htilominlo Temple noted for its fine plaster carvings and glazed sandstone decorations.

This afternoon begins with a visit to a traditional lacquer ware workshop where you can observe the production of one of Myanmar’s best-known handicrafts. Continue to Ananda Temple, an architectural masterpiece and one of Bagan’s most beautiful temples.  Built in the early Mon-style, Ananda contains two unique Buddha images whose expressions seem to change depending on the distance from which the statue is viewed.

From here, you will visit to Thatbyinnyu, the highest temple in Bagan, massive Dhammayangyi Temple, noted for its remarkable brickwork, and Sulamani Temple.

Enjoy an unforgettable sunset over the plains from the upper terrace of one of the temples.

Overnight in Bagan.

Day – (3)                                           Bagan – Mt. Popa – Bagan                                                                      (B)

Take a break from temple touring in Bagan to visit Mt Popa , an extinct volcano standing 1518 metres high. Mount Popa has played an important role in Myanmar culture, religion and history since earliest times. Its shrine is dedicated to the worship of the 37 Nats, the Burmese ancient animist spirits. (Climb is optional!)

In the afternoon, we’ll then begin the drive to Bagan, a one-hour journey. Along the way, we will stop in a local village where the people use the fruit of the palm tree to make wine and molasses. Witness the incredible production process.

Then transfer to your hotel and take time to relax. Overnight in Bagan.

Day – (4)                           Bagan – Mandalay & Mandalay – Amarapura                                           (B)

This morning fly north to Mandalay. Mandalay is Myanmar’s cultural capital. The nature focus of the city is an abrupt hill, rising above a vast moated and walled square.

On arrival, we’ll first visit to Amarapura, a former capital whose name means ‘City of Immortality’. First visit a silk weaving workshop which produces exquisite handmade products and then visit Mahagandayon monastery, when over one-thousand monks reside.

In the afternoon, we’ll visit to Mahamuni Pogada, 13ft-high sated Buddha image which is one of Myanmar’s most famous. Continue your tour of Mandalay with a visit to Kuthodaw Pagoda, whose 729 marble stone slabs of Buddhist scriptures have earned it the title ‘World’s Biggest Book’. Continue to Shwenandaw Monastery, the only remaining building from the 19^th century Royal Palace. This grand teak building is known for its exquisite woodcarving.

Head to the top of Mandalay Hill to enjoy magnificent views of the city and Irrawaddy River.

Overnight in Mandalay.

Day – (5)                                           Mandalay – Mingun – Sagain Sightseeing                                   (B)

Today we’ll explore the historic sites around Mandalay. Visiting to iconic attractions include Mingun’s gigantic stupa stub, Sagaing’s temple-studded hills and U Bein’s Bridge in Amarapura.

This morning we’ll take a short river journey to visit Mingun Pagoda. Then, continue your visit to the world’s largest uncracked bell called Mingun Bell. Across the road, you can visit a Buddish nursing home for family-less elderly folk which is always glad of donations. (donation is own account)

Enjoy your lunch at a local restaurant. (own account)

Return to dry land by boat and take a drive to Sagaing by crossing a bridge over the Irrawaddy River. Uncountable white-and-gold stupas are highlights of Sagaing. Sagaing Hill is widely regarded as the religious center of Myanmar.  It is home to 3,000 monks and 100 meditation centers and you will visit pagodas such as Swan OoPon Nya Shin and U Min ThoneSae. We’ll also visit Sagaing’s local market, a typical Burmese market that few tourists visit. Here you will find a range of items for sale including locally made pottery, silver and other handicrafts. We will also stop at a small pottery village to see the process of making the ubiquitous water pots found throughout Myanmar.

After touring this tranquil site, continue to U Bein Bridge, the world’s longest and 200-year-old teak bridge. Enjoy a stroll along the bridge and the fabulous views of the surrounding farms and streams.

Overnight in Mandalay.

Day – (6)                                           Mandalay – Heho – Pindaya – Inle Lake                                       (B)

After breakfast, transfer to Mandalay Airport for a flight to Heho.

From Heho, we’ll take 2.5-hour drive to Pindaya. Along the way, you’ll pass patchwork of fields and hedges, buffalo carts and group of toiling farmers in black Danu tunics and checked Pa-O headscarves.

When in Pindaya, we’ll first visit to famous Shwe Oo Min Natural Cave Pagoda, a massive limestone cavern filled with thousands of gilded Buddha statues. Afterwards, we’ll head to the north to visit Kan Tau monastery, a fine teak monastery, with a large collection of antique Buddha images on ornate plinths. Then, continue your tour with a visit to workshop which produce umbrellas and souvenirs made with Shan recycle papers.

This late afternoon, we’ll leave Pindaya and drive to Nyaung Shwe, the gateway village to Inle Lake. Along the way, stop at the wooden Shwe Yan Pyay Monastery which is an elegant ancient monastery with its oval-shaped windows.

Stay overnight at hotel in Inle Lake.

Day – (7)                                           Inle Lake Sightseeing                                                                               (B)

After morning breakfast, board a private motorboat to head out to Inle Lake, one of Myanmar’s most spectacular sights. Pass villages built on stilts over the lake, observe the leg-rowing fishermen and see their floating gardens built up from strips of water. Visit Phaung Daw Oo Pagoda, famous for the 800 years old Five Buddha statues which are covered in gold leaf.

Explore the local crafts of Inle Lake with a stop at the weaving village of Inpawkhone and a 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.

Day – (8)                                           Heho – Yangon & Yangon Sightseeing                                           (B)

After morning breakfast, transfer to the airport for your flight back to Yangon. On arrival at Yangon airport, you will proceed to visit Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda, which is famous for its huge image of a reclining Buddha and which was built in 1966 to replace the old image built in1907. You will also have the option to visit Kandawgyi Lake and surrounding areas, which offer numerous photo opportunities. Next, you will go shopping at the Bogyoke market (formerly “Scott market”) where you can get a wide range of Myanmar handicrafts, jewelry, fabrics and lacquer ware.

Stay overnight at hotel in Yangon.

Day – (9)                                           Yangon – Golden Rock                                                                             (B)

After breakfast, you will overland drive to Kyaik Hto to go to the Golden Rock (driving hour about 4 hours). One the way, we visit to Htaukkyant War Cemetery. Then proceed to overland driving to Golden Rock. Arrive at pilgrim-village is a starting point to the famous Golden Rock. From our hotel in Kyaikhtiyo we first take a truck and then enjoy the trekking to Golden Rock, it will take about 1 hour up the hill to enjoy the sunset at the Golden Rock. The famous ‘Golden Rock’ is a sacred, massive gold-leafed boulder delicately balanced on the edge of a cliff near the top of Mt. Kyaikhtiyo and it is one of the most revered Buddhist shrines.

Stay overnight at Golden Rock Pagoda.

Day – (10)                                        Golden Rock – Bago – Yangon                                                            (B)

After breakfast, return to the base camp by open-air truck and begin the return journey to Yangon. En route, stop to visit Bago. Bago, also known as Pegu, was the capital of the Mon Kingdom in the 15th century and is a town steeped in legend.

The sites in Bago are spread out around the town and you’ll spend time exploring with your guide, learning about the history and myths of the city. Stops include the 55-metre long reclining Shwethalyaung Buddha, the four seated Buddhas at Kyaikpun and the old palace of Kambozathadi. The Mon-style Shwemawdaw Pagoda is the most outstanding religious monument in Bago. This golden temple stands at 114 meters tall, higher than Yangon’s Shwedagon Pagoda, and can be seen from around 10 kilometers outside of the city. While in Bago we’ll also take time to visit the city’s local sites, including the town market and a Mon neighborhood where the locals once produced woven textiles.

From Bago we’ll return to Yangon this afternoon. Arrive back in Yangon and transfer you to your hotel where remainder of the day is at your leisure.

Overnight in Yangon.

Day – (11)                                        Yangon International Departure                                                     (B)

Today is your leisure at hotel before transfer to airport for your departure flight.

*End of Services*

Included Services

• 10 Nights accommodation with sharing Twin/Double basic
• All the transfers and excursion with private air-conditioned vehicles with drivers
• English speaking station guide (different guide in different city)
• Domestic flights (Yangon – Bagan – Mandalay – Heho – Yangon)
• Private motorized boat for Inle excursion & Indein
• Open truck services up & down at Golden Rock Pagoda sharing with local people
• Entrance fees for visiting places in the program
• Water and refreshing towel in touring days
• Services mentioned in the program

Excluded Services

• International flight in/out
• Porter charges at airports and jetties
• Meals mentioned in the program (L=Lunch, D=Dinner)
• Supplement cost for Christmas and New Year Eve Dinners
• Drinks, tips and personal expenses
• Visa and Insurance fees
• Any other items and services not mentioned in the program

Accommodation in sharing Twin/Double room (3*** Category)

Accommodation in sharing Twin/Double room (4**** Category)

Accommodation in sharing Twin/Double room (5***** Category)