Bewitching land of Myanmar

Yangon

• Activities:

  Arrive Yangon, airport transfer to city hotel, sunset at Shwedagon Pagoda, welcome dinner

• Meal:

  Dinner]Welcome dinner at Padonmar Restaurant or The Strand restaurant

• Included:

  733,

Welcome to Yangon, Myanmar. Upon your arrival, you will be warmly greeted by our guide and driver at airport then transfer to your hotel for check-in and relaxation. Have your good time then in the hotel after a long flight. When the sun is coming to set, head out to visit Shwedagon Pagoda and experience the wonder of this inspiring pagoda, being left breathless with its vivid color and sacred atmosphere. After that, you are invited to enjoy a welcome dinner at a decent restaurant.
Breakfast and lunch are on your own account. 

Yangon

• Activities:

  Tour around Yangon: colonial buildings, Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda, Bogyoke market, Kandawgyi Lake Park

• Meal:

  Breakfast]

• Included:

  733,

After breakfast, we start a day trip to visit . Next up, we head to Pansodan street and take a walk to to get a sense of Yangon's beauty with colonial buildings and many historical monuments dating back from 19th century before driving to visit Chauk Htat Gyi Pagoda nearby and discover the 70 meters long and 16 meters high Reclining Buddha image. Afterward, we drop by Bogyoke market (a famous market located in the heart of Yangon) for a browse through Burmese beautiful handicrafts and interesting souvenirs. It is also the chance for you to see and feel Myanmar way of life at close. Coming dark, spend your time to chill out at the picturesque Kandawgyi Lake Park where you could take a leisurely stroll along the wooden footbridge across the serene lake and capture spectacle views of the beautiful giant floating Karaweik Palace. This is also the only place in Yangon to enjoy cultural show of traditional dance and music. 

Breakfast and lunch are on your own account. 

Bagan

• Activities:

  Morning fly to Bagan, airport transfer and tour to Nyaung market, key temples, lacquer-ware workshop, sunset at Shwedagon pagoda

• Meal:

  Breakfast]

• Included:

  740,

After having breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for a domestic flight to Bagan. As you arrive, we start to visit Nyaung U market, then move to visit Ananda temple and explore Mon architecture well preserved from 12th century and figure out why it is regarded as the most beautiful temple in Bagan. We also visit the greatest Shwezigon Pagoda, a noticeable huge gold plated pagoda built by the founder of the Bagan empire enshrining Gautama Buddha's relics. Following the winding path passing palm trees, small ruined temples and monasteries, we reach Myinkaba village, a typical bamboo village famous for many traditional lacquer-ware workshops. Get inside one of them, watch the intricate making process step by step and admire the final impressive products of art after the demonstration. Another must see of the village should be Gubyaukgyi temple with striking beauty of mural paintings and sculptures influenced by Indian architecture dating back from 12th century. Conclude your temple tour with a peaceful sunset moment from the upper terrace of magnificent Shwesandaw pagoda. 

Lunch and dinner are on your own account. 

Kyauk Gu U Min

• Activities:

  Morning walk around Minanthu village, afternoon sail up Irrawaddy river to visit Kyauk Gu U Min temple

• Meal:

  Breakfast]

• Included:

  740,

Drive to Minnanthu village and take a stroll and explore real local life and culture. See how the villagers go about their day to day activities like collecting sesame seeds, weaving cloth and spinning cotton. There is also a silversmith shop where they make their own silver jewelry. You are to keep on walking to Lay Myat Hnar complex to experience the layout of brick monastery compound and monastic life in Bagan.

In the afternoon, we will sail down the Ayeyarwaddy River to reach Kyauk Gu U Min, a cave temple with excellent sandstone carvings and giant Buddha images. Splendid natural settings blend perfectly with antique humans' construction, surely an ideal place to enjoy dusk.

Warm notice: From October to March, you can request a hot-air balloon ride which takes you above the charming Bagan plain and the impressive Ayeyarwaddy River to watch sunrise. Remember to get up early.

Mandalay

• Activities:

  Overland travel from Mandalay to Bagan, en-route visit ancient capital of Ava, enjoy sunset by Irrawaddy river

• Meal:

  Breakfast]

• Included:

  741,

After an early breakfast, start your day out with a gentle walk along the majestic Irrawaddy River to explore more about local life of riverine villagers. Then paticipate in a local fresh market full of talkative and funny locals. It would be an off-the-beaten-track feeling to blend in a place where very few tourists might know about. Get back to your hotel after that and prepare for a 5-hour long roadtrip to Bagan by car. En-route, don’t miss the chance to drop by sleepy ancient capital of Ava and experience a fascinating trip back in time by horse-cart through rustic farmland, city walls, monasteries and temples. Arrive Bagan in late afternoon, we will stop by Irrawaddy river bank and capture stunning red sunset over river before reaching your hotel for a good night then.

Lunch and dinner are on your own account.  

Sagaing,Amarapura

• Activities:

  Drive to visit all highlights of Sagaing and Amarapura

• Meal:

  Breakfast]

• Included:

  741,

After a hearty breakfast, we drive out the city to Sagaing region and visit temple-topped Sagaing hill. Here we will access to visit U Min Thonze Cave Temple, a distinctive site with 35 cave entrances so sunlights could easily sneak through and shine out 45 beautiful gilded Buddha images in a crescent-shaped colonnade inside. Take a chance for some amazing pictures if you wish before climbing up to visit Soon U Ponya Shin Pagoda. This is the most important pagoda located at the top Sagaing Hill which also offers a great point to enjoy panoramic view over Mandalay’s stunning landscape and Irrawaddy river. Afternoon we move forward to Amarapura to visit silk weaving workshop (main industry in Amarapura). Next up, enter and witness how the locals respectfully care for the revered golden Buddha in Maha Muni Pagoda, learn about the legend behind and watch the daily closing ceremony at 4:00 pm in traditional music. When it coming to dusk, find the way to catch the unforgettable sunset over the iconic U Bein bridge from a sunset boat.   

Lunch and dinner are on your own account.

Mingun

• Activities:

  Morning boat trip to visit Mingun unfinished pagoda, explore further key sites of Mandalay, sunset at Yankin hill

• Meal:

  Breakfast]

• Included:

  741,

This morning you will be driven to GawWein jetty in Mandalay, and then embarked on a private boat upstream Irrawaddy river to Mingun, an ancient riverside town in Sagaing region. Our first stop in Mingun is the world’s largest unfinished Pahtodawgyi Pagoda which was supposed to become the world’s largest pagoda if King Bodawpaya hadn’t died before it was completed. Even though it was never done, the first constrution is enough massive piece of art.  Let’s get closer and admire the richly decorated entrance and detailed the history of the temple's construction in inscription stone. Leave the pagoda, we will head to Mingun Bell which has a weight of 90 tons, which is believed to be the largest uncracked bell in the world. From here, should you wish, a few minutes walking to the north, we will visit Hsinbyume Pagoda, a beautifully white-washed compound which holds a sorrow story behind about graceful Princess Hsinbyume, who had died during childbirth at very young age. Leave the town, back to your boat for a windy sail back to Mandalay. Get back to your car for a drive to explore Kuthodaw pagoda, frequently known as “The World’s Biggest Book”with great collection of well-preserved 729 marble slabs inscribed with Buddhist teachings. We then stop at Shwenandaw Monastery to witness impressive wood carving architecture as well as daily life routines of local monks. End of afternoon, we move to drive up Yankin Hill, an isolated temple-topped hill with excellent panoramic views from summit. If you prefer climbing to savor the surrounding sceneries slowly, it would take roughly 30 minutes along step stairway to conquer the top. Enjoy the rewarding sunset falling down the vast countryside before return to Mandalay for dinner and night relaxation then.

Kalaw

• Activities:

  Morning fly to Heho airport, drive to Kalaw hill hotel, en-route visit Shan paper and umbrella workshop

• Meal:

  Breakfast]

• Included:

  700,

Say goodbye to the royal Mandalay, we head off the airport for a short flight to Heho airport. Upon your arrival, meet up our team and together we drive along the winding but road to Kalaw. En-route, we stop by to visit a family-run workshop where you can see at close how famous Shan paper and parasols are made out all by hands. After roughly 2 hours, at last you will reach Kalaw, a laid-back hill town with refreshing asmostphere and attractive natural sceneries of colorful plantations on the floor on green hills. After hotel check-in, spend your time to chill out then in between the refreshing ambience at hill hotel.
Lunch and dinner are on your own account.   

Kalaw

• Activities:

  Trek through hill villages of Kalaw

• Meal:

  Breakfast],Lunch]Picnic lunch

• Included:

  700,

After breakfast, start your day with an exhilarating trek up and down the Kalaw hilly routes through beautiful plantation growing a large variety of vegetables, fruits, flowers, teas, etc. It is also a good chance for you to get more immersive experience with hill friendly villagers from Danu, Pa-O, Taung Yo and Palaung ethnic groups. Reaching the hilltop, stop by a guest house for a cup of local tea and enjoy your lunch. If you wish, you are also warmly invited to have a house tour and get to know more about daily activities and practices here. Later on, we trod down hill through another steepy path to initial starting point and connect a car ride back to hotel then. Enjoy your relaxed time then.

Dinner is on your own account.   

Inle Lake

• Activities:

  Train to Shwenyaung train station and connect Nyaung Shwe jetty, boat trip around Inle Lake, visit floating gardens, villages and key religious sites, watch sunset on the lake

• Meal:

  Breakfast]

• Included:

  678,

After a hearty breakfast, you will be brought to Kalaw train station for a 3-hour train ride to Shwenyaung train station, the nearest railhead to connect the iconic Inle Lake – our very next destination. Upon reaching the lake bank in Nyaung Shwe jetty, we step in a private board and start out a fantastic trip around the lake. Upon the tranquil lake, it offers beautiful reflection of floating bamboo houses of Intha people who grow food on floating gardens in addition to fishing. Along the way, observe lake farmers collecting crops on boats or the iconic image of leg-rowing fishermen in their long thin wooden craft catching fish for livelihoods. Sailling further the lake, you will also visit Ngaphechaung Monastery – the oldest and biggest monastery over Inle Lake. It is an attractive wooden monastery famous for unique architecture, impressive collection of Buddha images. From here, we proceed to PhaungDawOo Pagoda, the most important and visited destination of all Buddha believers around the lake where you could also find five 800-year-old golden images well preserved in the center. Our guide will tell you the mysterious story about these precious images.  On the way back to your lake hotel, we stop by Inpawkhon village to explore traditional lotus weaving technique and beautiful textiles in a family-run workshop. If time permits, we will also visit blacksmith and silver smith making workshops before settling in your lake hotel for nice relaxation then.

Indein

• Activities:

  Boat trip to Indein village, en-route participate in 5-day floating market, explore Shwe Indein stupa pagoda, Walk around Sae Ma village, visit Inthar Heritage House

• Meal:

  Breakfast]

• Included:

  678,

In the second day on Inle Lake, we board on boat again and sail toward Indein. En-route, take a chance to participate in a local 5-day market which is rotating between 5 different lakeside villages over 5-day period. The market is a unique culture point for residents all around the lake and nearby mountains to exchange not only a wide variety of colorful typical products but also their indigenous cultures. After having fun time in the vibrant market, we reach with 1- Indein village after another hour boating. Take an easy stroll through a bamboo forest before connecting the walkway up to the hilltop pagoda. After 30 minutes walking, the amazing summit comes to your sight with mesmerizing view of 1054 ruined stupas embracing the Shwe Indein pagoda in the middle. Getting closer to ancient crumbling stupas, some fallen halfly while some overgrown by little trees and moss, you are offered a golden chance to admire priceless legacy of historical architecture and rich culture dating back from 17th cemtury. From the top of the hill, enjoy great views of Indein village and the surrounding landscape before continuing on foot to observe slow pace of life at Sae Ma village. Along the ride back to your lake hotel, do not miss a chance to stop at Inthar Heritage House, a restaurant and an unusual Cat Sanctuary  holding many significant history and culture values of Inle Lake’s native locals. Wrap up the fruitful day trip with fantastic sunset over the beautiful lake. Have a sweet night then at your hotel.

Inle Lake

• Activities:

  Cycle around the lake and enjoy rural landscapes, sunset at Red mountain

• Meal:

  Breakfast]

• Included:

  678,

Ready after breakfast at your hotel, we will go for a cycling venture around the lake. The highlights of the cycling route include passing paddy fields set in the backdrop of Shan mountains, a couple of local villages and Khaung Daing Natural hot spring. Cycling at your own pace on exotic village trails away from the crowds, you will see watch local life passes you by and capture beautiful moments of local farmers in their daily activities. After having a healthy picnic lunch and short break at a local tea shop, we continue paddling back to Nyaung Shwe, drop by Red Mountain Estate where produces the best wines of the country. You will have chance to learn how the wine is made, taste the great products as well as have a fantastic sunset from the mountain also.

Lunch and dinner are on own account.

Ngwe Saung beach

• Activities:

  Morning fly back to Yangon, drive to Ngwe Saung beach, check in and enjoy the beach

• Meal:

  Breakfast]

• Included:

  387,

After breakfast at the hotel, transfer to Heho airport and take morning flight return to Yangon airport. Meet up your guide and driver at the station then transfer to Ngwe Saung Beach. Arrive Ngwe Saung at noon, do check-in and have a lunch break then. Afternoon is your free time to enjoy the beach as your wishes. In the late afternoon, you can enjoy the romantic moment of the sun setting gradually in to the water.

Lunch and dinner are on your own account.  

Ngwe Saung beach

• Activities:

  Enjoy the beach

• Meal:

  Breakfast]

• Included:

  387,

Enjoy full days of leisure in Ngwe Saung beach. It is up to you just simply relax on the beach, soak in the waters or take a cycling excursion to nearby fishing villages to meet local fishermen and observe their daily lifestyles. 
Lunch and dinner are on your own account.  

Ngwe Saung beach

• Activities:

  Enjoy the beach

• Meal:

  Breakfast]

• Included:

  387,

Another day at leisure on beach, take in the sun’s rays and lovely beach waves, try variety of fascinating seafoods or anything at your own preference in between picturesque and unspoiled nature.
Note: The best recommended time to visit Ngwe Saung beach is from October to April. The low season from May to October is not favorable because of unpredicted weather with occasional extended periods of rain.
Lunch and dinner are on your own account.  

Yangon

• Activities:

  Transfer from Ngwe Saung beach to Yangon airport

• Meal:

  Breakfast]

• Included:

Last day on the beach, check out your hotel after breakfast, meet up your guide and driver for a return drive back to Yangon. En-route, if you wish, we could dash into Pathein of Delta Province and visit the famous craft of umbrella. Arrive Yangon airport by afternoon, find the way to catch up your departure flight home then.