9 NIGHT ITINERARY
Day 1: Yangon Arrival
Arrival at the airport of Yangon
Immigration and Customs formalities.
Welcome in the arrival hall by your English speaking guide.
Transfer by air-conditioned vehicle to the hotel.
(Note: subject to availability in the morning)
Visit Kyaukhtatgyi Pagoda, home to a 70-meter long reclining Buddha. A visit to Kyaukhtatgyi provides a great overview of Buddhism with murals depicting the life of Buddha, the feet of the statue carved with traditional symbols and often many locals gathering to pay homage and pray.
In tha late afternoon, continue to Shwedagon Pagoda the most revered Buddhist temple in Myanmar. Although the origins of the pagoda are unclear, the local legend states that the original structure was built 2500 years ago then renovated several times until taking its current shape in the 15th century. The 8-sided central stupa is 99 meters tall and gilded with gold leaf and is surrounded by 64 smaller stupas and your guide will show you around the massive complex, explaining why this temple is so revered. Enjoy breathtaking views of the golden stupa from this vantage point.
No meal.
Overnight in Yangon
Day 2: Yangon
Breakfast at the hotel
Orientation tour of Yangon with discovery of the colonial districts on foot and visit of the animated quarter of Chinatown.
During these visits, you will stop in a local tea house, the equivalent of the Burmese bistro which will serve you traditional dishes such as the famous Mohinga, in order to discover an essential tradition in the daily life of the Burmese. (by your own account)
In the afternoon, visit the Bogyoke Market known as Scott Market. Its 2000 shops offer the largest selection of handicrafts and typical Burmese objects from all over the country: fabrics, precious stones (jade, rubies and sapphires), lacquerware, puppets, antiques etc. Free time for a last shopping.
(Note: Bogyoke market closes on Monday and full moon days and holidays)
No meal.
Overnight in Yangon
Day 3 : Yangon – Mandalay
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to Yangon airport without a guide and flight to Mandalay.
Schedule and subject to change: morning flight
Upon arrival in Mandalay, transfer to the city center (about 1 hour) by stopping at a local tea house to discover an essential tradition in Burmese daily life: tea tasting. Choose to have a cup of tea or a local coffee shop and watch the customers, friends or families who meet there to discuss or do business. This place is also unique in the Burmese way of preparing tea: prepare your cameras!
Arrival in Mandalay and welcome by your local English speaking guide.
Mandalay (about 500,000 inhabitants) was the last capital of Burma before the arrival of the British, which made Rangoon the first city of the country. The city takes its name from the hill that culminates at 236 m to the north-east of the former royal palace. It is the most "Burmese" of the big cities of Myanmar, and an important cultural center that perpetuates the artistic traditions of the country, such as the performances of Pwé, famous puppet theater of which you will find beautiful reproductions in the stalls. Nearby are the four ancient cities of Amarapura, Sagaing, Ava and Mingun.
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. Mandalay is well known for its skilled craftsmen and as you tour traditional workshops, you will learn more about the city’s cottage industries. Observe the production of wood carvings, kalaga tapestries, and gold-leaf where the techniques remained unchanged from those used centuries ago to craft items for the Royal Court.
This afternoon, continue your tour of Mandalay with a visit to Shwenandaw Monastery, the only remaining building from the 19th century Royal Palace. This grand teak building is known for its exquisite woodcarving and continue to Kuthodaw Pagoda, whose 729 marble stone slabs of Buddhist scriptures have earned it the title ‘World’s Biggest Book’.
Head to the top of Mandalay Hill as the sun begins to set to enjoy magnificent views of the city and the Royal Palace.
Transfer to the hotel.
No meals.
Overnight in Mandalay
Day 4: Mandalay – Mingun – Ava – U Bein – Mandalay
Breakfast at the hotel.
Stop to observe morning activity on the banks of the Ayeyarwaddy which remains a main artery of traffic for people and the marchandises.
Transfer to the jetty on the banks of the Irrawaddy and embark on a local boat for a morning excursion to Mingun. Former city of Mandalay, Mingun is joined after 45 min - 1 hour sailing.
Visit of the Mingun Pagoda which was built by King Bodawpaya in the early 19th century and which should have been the largest in the world. The death of the sovereign in 1819, then the earthquake of 1838, halted this grandiose project. Another stop is the Mingun bell (90 tons, 4 m high and 5 m diameter).
Return to Mandalay by boat (45 min).
Then, 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. There are many small villages located amid Ava’s ruins and as you travel by horse and cart you’ll get a glimpse of local life in the Burmese countryside. We’ll stop for lunch in Ava before returning to our car.
After touring this site, continue to U Bein Bridge for a walk along this 200 year-old teak bridge. The bridge was constructed of 984 teak posts that were once part of the deserted Inwa Palace. At 1.2 kilometers in length, it is the world’s longest teak span. The visit of the site in the late afternoon is particularly nice at sunset.
No meals.
Overnight in Mandalay
Day 5 : Mandalay – Bagan
Early breakfast in the hotel.
In high season (from October to April):
Transfer without guide to Mandalay jetty. Embarkation on board the local public ferry and departure for a day sailing on the Irrawaddy to Bagan (8 to 12 hours navigation depending on the level of the river).
NOTE: this trip by boat could be replaced by a trip by road or by a flight if the water level is too low.
In low season (from May to September):
Transfer without guide to Mandalay airport and flight to Nyaung U.
Schedule and subject to change: morning flight
Arrival in Bagan in the late afternoon and welcome by your local English-speaking guide.
In the dry plain of central Myanmar, on the banks of the Irrawaddy River, is Bagan, one of the most remarkable archaeological sites in ASIA. The 230 years, from the 11th to the 13th century, when Bagan was the capital of Myanmar, were marked by religious fervor and the construction of thousands of stupas and temples, most of which still exist today.
Transfer to the hotel. Welcome drink (fruit juice) and installation in your rooms.
No meal.
Overnight in Bagan
Day 6 : Bagan
Breakfast at the hotel.
Visit the golden stupa of Shwezigon Pagoda for an introduction into Bagan’s rich history. Afterwards, visit the 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.
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 they are viewed.
From here, travel by horse cart for a tour passing Thatbyinnyu, the highest temple in Bagan.
End of the horse cart ride in front of the temple of Pya Tha Gyi (or similar) where you Enjoy an unforgettable sunset.
No meal.
Overnight in Bagan
Day 7 : Bagan
Breakfast at the hotel.
Visit the picturesque market of Nyaung Oo, then we continue to the village of Shwehlaing for the discovery of the harvest of the "Toddy" palm juice.
Walking through the village of Mynkaba a little further south.
You will have the opportunity to visit one of the small family lacquer ware workshops where you will discover the ancestral techniques of manufacture of this specialty of Bagan.
Then explore the eastern plain and the village of Minnanthu, one of the least visited parts of Bagan. Discovered little visited sites of Payathonzu and Nandamannya before attending the sunset.
No meal.
Overnight in Bagan
Day 8 : Bagan – Nyaung U / Heho – Lac Inle
Breakfast at the hotel.
Welcome by your driver and without guide.
Transfer to Nyaung U airport and flight to Heho.
Schedule and subject to change: morning flight
Arrival at Heho and welcome by your local English speaking guide.
Departure from Heho in the direction of Nyaung Shwe (about 1hr00 by road), gateway to Inle Lake with a stop at the beautiful wooden monastery of Shwe Yan Pyay.
Excursion day in traditional motorboat to discover the main sights of Inle Lake. You will also discover the unique style of the Inle fishermen who row standing by wrapping a leg around a paddle while holding their fish trap in basketry.
Visit the "Nga Phe Monastery", which houses a superb collection of statues of Shans Buddhas and Phaung Daw U Pagoda, the lake’s main sanctuary, which contains five sacred Buddha images covered in gold leaf.
Stops along the way to observe the fishermen and the boats harvesting the algae from the bottom of the lake that will serve as a base for the floating gardens.
In the afternoon you can visit a silk weaving workshop in the village of Inpawkhone, a traditional "cheeroots" factory, the Burmese cigar, as well as the silversmith workshop and a canoe manufacturing in Nampan.
Return to the hotel at the end of the day.
No meal.
Night on Inle Lake
Day 9 : Lac Inle – Indein – Heho / Yangon
Breakfast at the hotel.
Go up a river to the village of Indein, continue down a small canal leading to the Pa-oh village of Indein. Explore the area on foot, strolling around the village and wandering through the beautiful Alaung Sitthou area. Here you can climb the covered stairway to the top of a hill which is covered with picturesque ancient stupas and has magnificent views of the lake below.
Transfer to Heho airport and flight to Yangon.
Schedule and subject to change: evening flight
Arrival in Yangon, and welcome by your driver. Then transfer to the hotel.
No meal.
Overnight in Yangon
Day 10 : Yangon Departure
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to the airport for the international flight.
13 NIGHT ITINERARY
As above, until Day 10 when you will transfer to your beach hotel for a 4 night stay.
Day 14: Yangon Departure
Breakfast at the hotel.
Transfer to the airport for the international flight.
