Best of Myanmar – 9 Days

Enjoy the very best of Myanmar in just 9 days on this well-paced itinerary that takes in all the essential highlights, from historic Yangon and its old colonial buildings, via the ancient capital of Bagan to visit cave temple filled with exquisite murals and the magical city of Mandalay. Spend the last days on the magnificent Inle Lake.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Explore colonial and spiritual heritage of  Yangon and observe the influences of other  cultures in the region
• Discover the world famous golden Shwedagon Pagoda
• Visit Bagan and get stunning with its spectacular massive ancient temples
• Visit ancient capitals – Ava, Amarapura and Sagaing
• Cruising the tranquil waters of Inle Lake to see extraordinary floating gardens and ethnic minority villages

ITINERARY

Day 1:  Yangon Arrival, Sunset River Cruise, Night Market
Day 2:  Yangon Circle Train, Walking Tour
Day 3:  Yangon – Bagan Temple Tour
Day 4:  Bagan – Mount Popa – Bagan
Day 5:  Bagan – Mandalay
Day 6:  Mandalay – Mindun – Sagaing – Amarapura – Mandalay
Day 7:  Mandalay – Heho – Inle Lake
Day 8:  Inle Lake
Day 9:  Heho – Yangon Departure

Day 1               Yangon Arrival, Sunset River Cruise, Night Market (D)

Upon arrival in Yangon, you will be met by local guide transferred to your hotel. Yangon, formerly known as Rangoon, is a relatively quiet and charming city with an impressive colonial and spiritual heritage.
 
Having checked in to hotel, take time to refreshing up until late afternoon drive to Botahtaung Jetty, situated on the Yangon River’s northern bank. Here, aboard a little riverboat for a sunset cruise along Yangon’s waterways, experience the beauty of Yangon in the final hours of its sunset. Observe the little-known Lighthouse of the Twante Canal. Witness the Shwedagon Pagoda from a different perspective. And enjoy the amazing glow of lights along the river banks as the sun gently sinks below the horizon.
 
Back to land, enjoy a Welcome Dinner at the local restaurant. After dinner, you can take a stroll along 19^th street and Chinatown and explore the fascinating night market.
 
Overnight in Yangon.

Day 2               Yangon Circle Train, City Tour (B, L)

After breakfast, transfer to the bustling streets of India Town to explore the lively morning market before experience the true essence of local life in Yangon by boarding the “circular railway” to Yangon’s Central Train Station.

In the afternoon, visit Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda, which is home to a 70 metre long reclining Buddha. From here, continue to visit the Shwedagon Pagoda, a 2,000 year old temple is one of the most significant religious sites in Myanmar, and undoubtedly the one most readily associated with the ‘Land of the Golden Spires’. Then continuing the Sule Pagoda, known as the ‘gathering point’ by the city’s residents, the pagoda is one of the city’s great landmarks, and has also played an important part in contemporary Burmese politics.

The rest of the day is free at leisure.

Overnight in Yangon.

Day 3               Yangon – Bagan Temple Tour (B, L)

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for the flight to Bagan. 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 stupa of Shwezigon Pagoda for an introduction in to Bagan’s rich history. Then, visit to nearby Wetkyi-In Gubyaukgyi, a cave temple with exquisite Jataka mural paintings and the elegant Htilominlo Temple noted for its fine plaster carvings and glazed sandstone decorations. 

This afternoon begin 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. From here, travel by horse cart for a tour passing Thatbyinnyu, the highest temple in Bagan, massive Dhammayangyi Temple and Sulamani Temple.

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

Overnight in Bagan.

Day 4               Bagan – Mount Popa – Bagan (B, L)

After breakfast at the hotel, a drive to Mt Popa, an extinct volcano with spectacular views and the birth place of the Myanmar ‘nats’ or spirits. Its shrine is dedicated to animist spirits known as ‘nats’ and you will have time to climb the 777 steps to the shrine at the top of the peak. 

Returning to the base of the shrine, drive back to Bagan. En route visit Shwe Hlaing Village. This village makes its living by producing various items from the toddy palm trees. Here we will observe traditional production of palm toddy—from the collecting of the liquid to the creating of the drinks and sugars. Then enjoy the traditional Burmese lunch together under shade of Toddy Palm trees.

Transfer back to Bagan. The rest of the day is free at leisure.

Overnight in Bagan.

Day 5               Bagan – Mandalay – City Tour (B, L)

Early this morning transfer to airport for your flight to Mandalay, the former capital of Myanmar’s last dynasty. Upon arrival, begin your sightseeing tour of Mandalay with a visit to Mahamuni Pagoda. This pagoda is home to one of the country’s most revered Buddha images which, over the years, have been covered with gold leaf giving it an almost ‘lumpy’ texture. Afterwards, visit traditional workshops of wood carvings, kalaga tapestries, and gold foil workshop.
 
Afternoon, we visit Kuthodaw Pagoda, known as the World’s Biggest Book because of its stone slabs consisting of Buddhist scriptures. Continue to Shwenandaw Monastery, the only remaining building from the 19^th century Royal Palace.
 
End the day head to the top of Mandalay Hill as the sun begins to set to enjoy magnificent views of the city and Irrawaddy River. 

Overnight in Mandalay.

Day 6               Mandalay – Sagaing – Amarapura – Mandalay (B, L)

After breakfast at the hotel, depart for an excursion around Mandalay to explore the former capitals of Sagaing, Ava and Amarapura.
Cross a bridge over the Irrawaddy River to Sagaing, the town which stretches along much of the Myanmar-India border. Its surrounding hills are covered in monasteries and pagodas, several of which can be visited on today’s trip.

Return toward the city and continue south of the city to Ava, the capital from 14th to 18th centuries, where a short ferry ride will take us across the river to where our horse and carriage are waiting. Visit the old wooden Bagaya Monastery and the remains of the Royal Palace and Fort.

Finally visit Amarapura, a former capital whose name means ‘City of Immortality’. We’ll start visit U Bein Bridge for a walk along this 200 year-old teak bridge. Enjoy a stroll across the bridge and the fabulous views of the surrounding farms and streams.

Overnight in Mandalay.

Day 7               Mandalay – Heho – Inle Lake (B, L)

Morning flight to Heho. Upon arrival, drive to Nyaung Shwe, the gateway town for Inle Lake.  

Upon arrival, embark a private long-tail boat for a half-day of sightseeing. Pass villages built on stilts over the lake, inhabited by the local Intha people. 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. Visit 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 weaving village of Inpawkhone and a cheroot factory, where the typical Burmese cigars are made by hand. Upon arrival at your resort, the remainder of your day is at leisure.

Overnight on Inle Lake.

Day 8               Inle Lake, In Dein (B, L)

After breakfast, cruising to In Dein and Ywama. You will then continue up a narrow canal, as far as a small Pa O minority tribal village. Disembark at the central marketplace and follow the old covered path that leads to a 13th century monastery, and the very impressive ruins of over a hundred ancient pagodas. Upon reaching the main stupa atop a hill, stop to enjoy sensational views of the surrounding mountains, and down the valley to Inle Lake in the distance.
 
Return to the lake and your resort. The rest of the day is free at leisure.
 
Overnight on Inle Lake.

Day 9               Heho – Yangon Departure (B)

Free time until transfer to airport for your flight to Yangon and your onward flight to home.

SERVICE INCLUDED

• Shared accommodation in twin/double room with daily breakfast
• Tours as per itinerar with local speaking guide
• All transfers and transportation with air-con vehicles
• All entrance fees as program
• Meals (B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner) as indicated in the program
• A bottle of mineral water per day tour

SERVICE EXCLUDED 

• Drinks
• Mineral water beyond that supplied
• Tips
• Personal expenses and tips
• Visa to Myanmar
• Airfares (international and domestic)
• Meals (other than mentioned in the program)
• Airport taxes  
• Early check in or late check out
• Insurances
• Optional excursions and activities
• Additional transfer required due to any emergency situation
• Items of a personal nature (Phone calls, laundry, beverages…)
• Peak season surcharges if any
• All not mentioned above