CULTURAL TOURS

11-Day Grand 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. On arrival you can enjoy great views over the surrounding jungle and a beautiful sunset.
Overnight stay in Kyaikhtiyo.

DAY 03          KYAIKTIYO – HPA-AN

After breakfast, depart Kyaiktiyo (120 km – 3½ hour) for HPA-AN, the capital of the Kayin State. En-route stop in THATON, the former capital of Mon Kingdom, enjoy lunch at a simple local restaurant and explore a network of limestone caves extending through the whole mountain range opening to a picturesque lake. En-route to HPA-AN a photo stop at the LAKE KANTHARYAR known for its small island with fascinating rock formation with pagoda on the top.
Overnight stay in Hpa-An.

DAY 04          HPA-AN - MAWLAMYINE

Start your day with a Myanmar style breakfast in one of the local teashops.
Visit the local market and the NATIONAL MUSEUM of Kayin. Proceed to SHWEYINHMYAW Pagoda located at the banks of the Thalwin River.
Drive 1½ hr to the port town of MAWLAMYINE, and check in at hotel on Strand Road among historic buildings from colonial era.
After lunch drive past rubber plantation to THANBYUZAYAT, 70 km (2 hour) south of Mawlamyine was the western terminal of the infamous Burma-Siam ‘Death Railway’. Visit a locomotive dating from World War II, a small museum and an Allied War Cemetery, resting-place for over 3,500 Allied POWs (Prisoners of War). Return to Mawlamyine late afternoon.
Overnight stay in Mawlamyine.

DAY 05          MAWLAMYINE – BILU ISLAND

After breakfast take trishaw tour through the post colonial city. The sightseeing includes MAHAMUNI PAGODA, a major temple site in Myanmar; SEINDON MIBAYA KYAUNG, where King Mindon’s queen sought refuge, the first Baptist church and the Zyegyi Market.
Before lunch board the bustling ferry, full of villagers laden with goods from the market. After a 1½ hour ride you reach BILU ISLAND, where a true Myanmar experience far away from modern civilisation awaits you. By open pick up truck you will discover the serene scenery of paddy fields and quaint villages. Picnic or boxed lunch en route. Visit small wood workshops, typical for Myanmar where walking sticks and pens are produced. Return to Mawlamyine late afternoon to enjoy the sunset from KYAIKTHANLAN PAGODA, known as the Kipling Pagoda.
Overnight stay in Mawlamyine.

DAY 06          MAWLAMYINE – YANGON

After early breakfast, return to YANGON (364 Km – 8 hour). Enjoying passing scenery of rubber plantations and village life. Lunch at local restaurant en route. Upon arrival in Yangon, transfer to your hotel.
Overnight stay in Yangon.

Optional : Experience another colourful way of local transportation. Rise early morning and take the local train (very simple and basic) to Thaton. Learn about your fellow travellers life and be certain having to answer lots of questions once the conversation got started, meanwhile the train rattles through the countryside. Upon arrival in Thaton your driver awaits you for the journey back to Yangon.

DAY 07          YANGON – BAGAN (BY FLIGHT)

After early breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for a domestic flight to BAGAN. After a stroll through the colorful local market 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. Then check-in at your hotel.
After lunch at a good local restaurant, 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. Next you will explore the UNESCO protected MYINGABA GU BYAUKGYI TEMPLE, a temple known for its mural paintings. Complete the day by watching sunset over the majestic Ayeyarwaddy River from a temple top.
Overnight stay in Bagan.

DAY 08          BAGAN – MANDALAY (BY FLIGHT)

After breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for domestic flight to MANDALAY. Upon arrival to Mandalay airport drive to jetty and proceed for a boat trip 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 to Mandalay for check-in at your hotel.
After lunch at a local restaurant, 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 09          MANDALAY - AMARAPURA – AVA – SAGAING - MANDALAY

After breakfast, excursion to AMARAPURA, 15 km from Mandalay to visit MAHAGANDAYON MONASTERY where more than a thousand monks live and study. Time permitting you will have the opportunity to observe the monks having their last meal of the day in total silence. Continue to 200-year-old U BEIN teak bridge, built in 1782 during the era when Amarapura was the Royal capital. Already from the early days the city was known for its silk- and cotton weaving. Visit a traditional hand-woven silk workshop before proceeding to BAGAYA MONASTERY, a compound with a superb collection of Buddha statues.
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 then continue to SAGAING HILLS, a retreat for Buddhist devotees for sunset.
Overnight stay in Mandalay.

DAY 10          MANDALAY – HEHO (BY FLIGHT) - INLE LAKE

After breakfast, transfer to airport for domestic flight to HEHO. Upon arrival, proceed by road to NYAUNG SHWE (32 km – 1:20 hour) and transfer to your hotel on INLE LAKE by boat.
After Lunch at a local restaurant on the lake, 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. 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 Mandalay.

DAY 11          INLE LAKE – HEHO – YANGON (BY FLIGHT) – DEPART YANGON

After breakfast, you will be transferred to HEHO airport (32 km – 1:20 hour) for domestic flight to YANGON. Upon arrival, transfer to restaurant for lunch. The rest of the day is at your leisure for relaxing, shopping or sightseeing until transfer to the airport for your international departure flight to BANGKOK.

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