CULTURAL TOURS

14-Day Amazing Myanmar

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DAY 01          ARRIVE YANGON

Upon arrival at YANGON airport you will be welcomed by our guide and transferred to your hotel.
Your journey begins with an afternoon tour through Yangon’s colonial-style city center. Visit SULE PAGODA, dating back over 2,000 years ago; the magnificent reclining Buddha CHAUK HTAT GYI; and after a photo stop at the KARAWEIK HALL, a 'hamsa-bird-shaped' floating barge on Kandawgyi (Royal) Lake, stroll through the BOGYOKE (SCOTTS) MARKET, a compound of hundreds of food, garment, handicraft and gem stores. Complete your first day in Myanmar with a visit to one of the world’s most spectacular monuments, the SHWEDAGON PAGODA.
Overnight stay in Yangon.

DAY 02          YANGON - BAGO – KYAIKTIYO (GOLDEN ROCK)

After breakfast, drive to BAGO (84 km - 1½ hour). Sightseeing starts with the charming and characteristic monastery of Kya Khet Waii, an eminent teaching center for hundreds of monks from neighboring regions to study Buddhism. You will have ample time to observe when the monks walk mindfully in procession for their last meal of the day. After seeing over a thousand years old SHWEMAWDAW PAGODA with its spire taller than the SHWEDAGON PAGODA, you will proceed to the KIN PUN 'base camp' (110 km - 3½ hour).

Lunch will be served at a local restaurant en-route. The tour will continue to one of Myanmar's landmarks, famous for its precarious position and religious importance, KYAIKTIYO the 'Golden Rock' is a huge boulder completely covered by gold leaf and delicately balanced on the edge of a cliff. To reach the pagoda from KIN PUN base camp a steep 11 km road leads to the upper staging point. The journey is made in open trucks. The 'upper area' must be traveled by foot, at present, and the walk is approximately 4 km (1 hour) up a steep path ascending some 500m to the GOLDEN ROCK on top of the mountain range. If you wish to take a more comfortable approach, you can sit back and be carried in sedan chairs by four porters. This will incur an extra cost of approx. On arrival you can enjoy great views over the surrounding jungle and a beautiful sunset.
Overnight stay in Kyaikhtiyo.

DAY 03          KYAIKTIYO - BAGO - YANGON

After breakfast you will return to YANGON (194 km - 5 hour). Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant in Bago and continue sightseeing with the 55-meter long reclining SHWE THA LYAUNG Buddha, which is among one of the country's most impressive images as well as the four giant Buddha images at KYAIK PUN PAGODA. After visiting a 'Mon' weaving and handicraft village producing woven bamboo wares continue to Yangon. Stop en-route by an Allied War Graves cemetery near HTAUK KYAN and a "Nat" tree shrine.
Overnight stay in Yangon.

DAY 04          YANGON – MANDALAY (BY FLIGHT)

After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for domestic flight to MANDALAY. Upon arrival to Mandalay airport, transfer to your hotel.
After lunch, experience the sights and sounds of Mandalay including some of the most revered religious monuments in Myanmar, MAHAMUNI PAGODA; SHWE INBIN MONASTERY; GOLDEN PALACE MONASTERY, a superb example of a traditional wood work and KUTHODAW PAGODA the world’s largest book, made of marble. Mandalay is also a major arts and crafts center. A visit to Kalaga tapestry craftsmen’s shop before proceeding to MANDALAY HILL for sunset viewing.
Overnight stay in Mandalay.

DAY 05          MANDALAY - MINGUN - AVA – MANDALAY

After breakfast, an excursion by boat on the Ayeyarwaddy River to MINGUN, about 11 km (1 hour) upriver from Mandalay. Visit the unfinished MINGUN PAYA, which was meant to become the largest stupa in Myanmar constructed by King Bodaw Paya; one of the world’s largest bells, the 90 ton weighing MINGUN BELL and HSINBYUME PAYA. Return back to Mandalay.
After lunch at a local restaurant, embark for a short boat ride over a river and start exploring the former Royal Capital INWA (AVA) by horse cart. Visit NANMYINT WATCH TOWER, the remains of the ancient palace building, also know as “the leaning tower of Ava“; MAHA AUNGMYE BONZAN MONASTERY, built of brick and stucco; BARGAYAR MONASTERY, famous for its impressive ornate woodcarvings and teak posts. Continue to 200-year-old U BEIN teak bridge, built in 1782 during the era when Amarapura was the Royal capital, for sunset viewing.
Overnight stay in Mandalay.

DAY 06          MANDALAY - MONYWA

After breakfast, proceed to MONYWA (150 km - 4 hour). Visit en route the THANBODDHAY PAGODA; where 845 small stupas surround and rise up to the richly decorated central stupa. The pagoda is built to remind of Mt Meru and has some similar characteristics to Borobudur of Java. Take a walk through the nearby banyan tree grove BODDHI-TATAUNG where thousand Buddha images rest at the feet of the trees. Enjoy the panoramic view from AUNG SETKAYA PAGODA, standing 130 meter high on the Po Khaung hills. Then check-in at your hotel.
After lunch at a simple local restaurant, cross the CHINDWIN RIVER by ferry boat and proceed by pick-up or jeep (40 km - 1 hour) to HPO WIN DAUNG, a network of impressive sandstone caves containing Buddha statues, wood carvings and fine mural paintings, some dating back to the 15th century. Dozens of large and small caves with about 450,000 images are hidden in the area of the Hpo Win Hills.
Overnight stay in Monywa.

DAY 07          MONYWA – PAKOKKU - BAGAN

After breakfast, drive to PAKOKKU (110 km – 4 hour), a port city set south of the Chindwin confluence. On the way you will stop in PAKHANGYI to visit one of the oldest ornate teak monasteries of the country.
After lunch at a simple local restaurant in Pakokku you will visit a lively local market by traditional trishaw bicycle taxis (if available). There is also a possibility to observe weaving process of typical Myanmar cotton blankets. Continue by boat, on the AYEYARWADDY RIVER, to BAGAN where you will arrive in time for sunset. This down river trip takes approximately 2 hour. (Please note: travel time is subject to change depending on the water level) Upon arrival to Bagan, transfer to your hotel.
Overnight stay in Bagan.

DAY 08          BAGAN

After breakfast, stroll through the colorful local market and continue the day with visits to the most significant pagodas and temples of Bagan: including SHWEZIGON PAGODA, built by King Anawrahta in the early 11th century as a religious shrine; KHAY MIN GA TEMPLE, noted for its panoramic view of the area’s numerous monuments and ANANDA TEMPLE, with four standing Buddha images.
In the afternoon learn of manufacturing Myanmar’s most treasured handicrafts and visit a lacquer ware craftsmen’s workshop in nearby MYINKABA village. Later continue to MANUHA TEMPLE, built in Mon style in 1059 and explore the NANBAYA TEMPLE, a unique sandstone monument which according to legends used to be palace site of the King Manuha. Visit ARCHEOLOGICAL MUSEUM housing countless beautiful Buddha images of made of bronze, stone and lacquer. Complete the day by watching sunset over the majestic Ayeyarwaddy River from a temple top.
Overnight stay in Bagan.

DAY 09          BAGAN

After breakfast, embark for visits to TAYOKEPYAY TEMPLE in Min Nan Thu Village; PHAYA THONE ZU and NANDAMANYA TEMPLES noted for their exquisite murals of 13th century and KYAT KAN CAVE monastery, a famous meditation retreat in Bagan.
After lunch, an excursion to farming villages around Bagan will give you an insight to the rural life of the local people. Late afternoon, a colorfully decorated ox-cart will take you through some of the more off the beaten track temple sites. Experience the traditional way of traveling and transportation still commonly used by the rural people of Myanmar.
Overnight stay in Bagan.

Optional : Experience the magic of Bagan and a thousand years of history from the enchanting platform of a hot air balloon, for the first time ever. ‘Balloons over Bagan’ offers visitors exclusive sunrise champagne flights over the ancient pagodas of Bagan from late October to April. (Details see ‘Balloons over Bagan’)

DAY 10          BAGAN – MT. POPA – KALAW (BY LAND)

After early breakfast, a 300 km drive (8 hour) will take you to Kalaw. En-route visit MT. POPA, an extinct volcano with spectacular views. Mt. Popa is a popular pilgrimage destination for Myanmar’s. The local people travel here from far away to worship various animist spirits known as “nats”. 777 steps lead up to the shrine placed on top of the steep Popa peak.
After lunch at a simple local restaurant en route, the journey continues on a narrow, winding and bumpy road through the Shan Hills. You will reach KALAW, a fresh and delightful hill station, situated on the rim of the Shan Plateau, early evening time. Kalaw is a lively market town where many ethnic minority people of the surrounding areas buy and trade their goods.
Overnight stay in Kalaw.

DAY 11          KALAW – INLE LAKE

After breakfast, set out for an excursion on foot (about 6 hour walk) to the TAR YAW village of the Palaung tribe. The animist Palaungs were amongst the earliest inhabitants in Myanmar and have kept to their traditions living with several families in ‘long-houses’, cultivating cash crops and tanapet for Burmese cheroot cigars. Take a walk to their plantations and visit the village before returning to Kalaw.
After lunch, transfer to NYAUNG SHWE (62 km, 2½ hour) and proceed by boat to your hotel.
Overnight stay in Inle Lake.

DAY 12          INLE LAKE

After breakfast, a full day excursion by boat on the Inle Lake will include sights of the famous leg rowers, typical floating gardens, local methods of fishing, village life and magnificent scenery. The visit begins with the local market in the Inle Lake region (Remark : on market days only) and proceed to the Western Shore of Inle Lake, where you will find the beginning of a stair path leading to the well hidden INN THEIN PAGODA complex.
After Lunch at a local restaurant on the lake, you will visit the PHAUNGDAW OO PAGODA, one of the most sacred shrines in Myanmar, dating back to the 18th century; the NGA PHE KYAUNG MONASTERY, famous for its jumping cats trained by monks and the weaving village of INPAWKHON.
Overnight stay in Inle Lake.

DAY 13          INLE LAKE – HEHO – YANGON

After breakfast, transfer by boat to NYAUNG SHWE and drive to Heho Airport (32 km – 1:20 hour) for domestic flight to YANGON. Upon arrival to Yangon airport, transfer to your hotel.
After lunch, complete your Yangon impressions with a visit to the KABA AYE (WORLD PEACE) PAGODA and the MAHAPASANA CAVE, where the sixth Buddhist synod took place. Proceed to Yangon’s oldest Chinese temple and at the riverside located BOTATAUNG PAGODA. Last but not least, see the 8 meter high Golden Lion Throne as well as the Mandalay Royal Regalia at the NATIONAL MUSEUM.
Overnight stay in Yangon.

DAY 14          DEPART YANGON

Breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Yangon airport for your departure flight.

Itinerary is subject to changes depending on flights, road conditions and availability of rooms.