Day 1  Yangon Arrival & Sightseeing

Arrive at Yangon international airport where you will be welcomed by your English speaking local tour guide and transferred to your hotel. (If the room is not ready, proceed for Yangon sightseeing.) After refreshment at hotel, enjoy a walk through downtown Yangon where most of the colonial buildings such as city hall, Mahabandoola Park, high court and telegraphic office are holding an elegant beauty of Yangon.  Stopover at the Strand Hotel and feel the warmth and atmosphere of British era. Continue visit to Pansoedan jetty serving locals living across the Yangon River. This evening visit to the magnificent Shwedagon Pagoda of Rudyard Kipling fame and one of Myanmar’s most sacred places. 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 a most fitting place to begin our trip in this “Golden Land”. After visiting Shwedagon pagoda, transfer to you hotel and overnight at the hotel in Yangon.

Meals included: None

Day 2 Yangon- Bagan by Flight

This morning we head for the airport to get the early morning flight to Bagan. Check into the hotel and depart for a sightseeing excursion around the Bagan Archaeological Zone World Heritage Area. A comprehensive exploration of Bagan includes NyaungOo market; Shwezigon Pagoda, the prototype of later Myanmar stupas; KyansitthaUmin; Wet-kyi-inn Gubyaukgyi Temple with exquisite mural painting of 13th century and Htilominlo Temple. In the afternoon, after a visit to lacquer ware workshops; continue to Manuha Temple built by exile King Manuha; Nanphaya, said to have been the residence of King Manuha; Ananda Temple, architectural masterpiece and Oak-Kyaung monastery decorated with multi-colour mural paintings. Enjoy the breathtaking sunset from one of the temple of Bagan. Overnight at the hotel in Bagan.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 3 Bagan- Mt. Popa- Bagan Sightseeing

This morning, we will be watching sunrise over Bagan and back to hotel for breakfast. After breakfast at hotel, we head to Mt. Popa about 48 km south east of Bagan. Mt. Popa, known as the abode of Nats (spirits) – a collection of 37 magical spirits both feared and honored by some Myanmar people and the nat museum, which houses 37 life-size Nat statues sculpted from teak. It’s time to climb for 777 steps to the summit. Proceed to Popa Mountain Resort (1hr drive) for lunch (own account). The restaurant offer a great view to the Popa summit that stands straight from the central plain. After lunch, return drive back to Bagan. On the way back, en route stop at village cottage industry to learn the regional product as well as to watch the collection of juice from the palm trees, and its conversion to brown sugar. Overnight at the hotel in Bagan.

Meals Include: Breakfast

Day 4 Bagan- Mandalay by Flight

After breakfast at hotel, transfer to Nyaun U airport for flight to Mandalay. When you arrive at Mandalay airport, drive to ancient capital of Amarapura, the city of Immortality for a visit to Mahar Gandar Yone Monastery with a famous collection of Buddha images; weaving industries, two-century old U-Bein teak bridge on the Taungtaman Lake and observe the lunch process of thousands of monks who take their last meal of the day at 10:00 am in total silence. Proceed to Mandalay and check in at the hotel. After refreshment, you will take a sightseeing tour of Mandalay which includes Mahanumi, a life like Buddha image. Mandalay is the last capital of Myanmar and that make her to be the best place to see all the traditional arts and crafts. Start visiting gold leaf making work-place and see how the gold leaf is being made by hand in a traditional way. Continue visit the Old Palace grounds; Kuthodaw Pagoda, known as the world’s largest book for its 729 marble slabs inscribed with the Buddha’s Doctrine; Golden Palace Monastery, noted for its exquisite wood carvings and enjoy the panoramic view of the city from Mandalay Hill. Overnight at the hotel in Mandalay.

Meals included: Breakfast.

Day 5 Mandalay- Mingun- Ava – Mandalay

After breakfast, you will be transferred for Jetty for a private boat across the river Ayeywarwaddy to visit Mingun. The dedications of King Bodawpaya such as the unfinished Pathodawgyi Pagoda a brick counterpart of pyramid in Egypt and the Mingun Bell, the second largest bell in the world are the most prominent religious heritages. Then visiting the Myatheintan Pagoda, the best representation of the Universe, will refresh your tiredness and fatigue. Return to Mandalay. After lunch, drive to Ava, 30-minute to the south of Mandalay, was known in the west as the Kingdom of Ava. Stop by a tributary and cross it with a ferry. Travel by pony-cart around Ava to Nanmyint leaning tower which gives a birds’ eye view of the mighty Ayeyarwaddy River; Bagaya wooden monastery; Aungmyaybonza Monastery made of brick and stucco. Though the Royal Palace has gone, the Pagodas, Temples and Monasteries still remain. Return drive to Mandalay and see the silversmith work place on our way back to hotel. Overnight at the hotel in Mandalay.

Meals included: Breakfast.

Day 6 Mandalay- Heho (Inle Lake) by Flight

After breakfast, depart the hotel for flight to Heho on the Shan plateau. Upon arrival, transfer by road to Inle lake. We have a leisurely morning to make our way down into the Inle basin and by “long-tail” boat out across the lake to our Hotel right on the Inle Lake. In the afternoon, we plan to spend the day visiting villages and sampling the spectacular array of traditional handicrafts. You will see the unique method locals use to row their boats, fishermen with their own style of fishing, floating farms and gardens and a handloom weaving cottage with its own showroom. You will visit Phaungdawoo Pagoda which houses the five most revered Buddha Images in the southern Shan State. Overnight at the hotel on Inle Lake.

Meals included: Breakfast.

Day 7  Inle – Indein sightseeing and Yangon by Flight

After breakfast at the hotel, visit floating market which is a 5day rotation market most fascinating to watch the daily life of the minorities and their activities. Continue our excursion by motorized boat to Indein pagoda complex, in the south-west of the lake. The boat leaves the lake and enters a narrow canal with a beautiful natural environment to continue to a small Pa O tribe village. From the village, follow an old covered path to a 13^th 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 boat ride to jetty and proceed to airport for your return flight to Yangon. Check in at airport and fly back to Yangon. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel and overnight at the hotel in Yangon.

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 8 Yangon Sightseeing & Departure

After breakfast at hotel, visit by car to Karaweik, a royal barge for fantastic photo shot along the “pilgrims” causeway across the Royal Lake with stunning views of Shwedagon Pagoda and proceed to visit Chaukhtutgyi Reclining Buddha Image and there you see the sparse pilgrims in silence. Also we will stop by at nearby monastery to learn about the life of Buddhist monk in Myanmar. Continue to National Museum where much of collections are displayed showcasing the culture, the people and glorious history of Myanmar including the Lion Throne. This afternoon, Bogyoke Aung San (Scott) market famous for its colonial architecture and inner cobblestone streets.  It is one of the major bazaars in Yangon and built in 1926 by the British.  You can buy from a simple Myanmar slipper to a jewelry crown there.  This evening, you will be transferred to Yangon International airport for your return international departure flight. (OR free morning until your departure time.)

Meals included: Breakfast

Tour Price