CULTURAL TOURS

10-Day Myanmar Colonial Trails

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DAY 01          ARRIVE YANGON

Upon arrival to YANGON airport you will be welcomed by our guide and transferred to your hotel. Your Myanmar journey begins with an afternoon tour through Yangon’s colonial-style city center. Visit SULE PAGODA, built 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, of hundreds of food, clothes, handicrafts and gems 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 - BAGAN (BY FLIGHT)

After early breakfast you will be transferred to the airport for a domestic flight to BAGAN. Upon arrival, a 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. Then check-in at your hotel.
After lunch, 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 03          BAGAN - MANDALAY (BY FLIGHT)

After breakfast, visit the site of TAYOKEPYAY TEMPLE in Min Nan Thu Village; PHAYA THONE ZU and NANDAMANYA TEMPLES noted for exquisite murals of 13th century; KYAT KAN CAVE monastery, a famous meditation retreat in Bagan. Farming villages around Bagan will give you insight into the lives of the local people.
After lunch at a good local restaurant, you will be transferred to Bagan Airport for domestic flight to MANDALAY.
Overnight stay in Mandalay.

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 04          MANDALAY – PYIN OO LWIN (BY TRAIN)

Very early morning, transfer to the railway station. Board the Mandalay – Lashio train departing at 04:45am. This train used to be infamous black-market train in the past transporting goods to and from China. You will travel past pretty hills and scenery. The train will cross the famous 700m long Gokteik Bridge, built in 1900 by the American Pennsylvania Steel Co. The impressive height from the bridge to the bottom of the valley is nearly 300m. After crossing the bridge the train will stop at a small station. You will get the chance to have a better look at the bridge. Take good note though that it is not permitted to Photograph/video bridges in Myanmar.
Upon arrival at Naung Pain station around noon, get off the train and drive back (approx. 1½ hour) to PYIN OO LWIN (Maymyo), the former British hill station and a delightful small town of colonial-style buildings, markets, and a botanical garden.
On the way stop to visit the PEIK KHYIN MYAUNG CAVES, caves almost as old as the land itself and proceed to PWE KYAUK FALLS, a favorite picnic spot for local people, before retiring to your hotel.
Overnight stay in Pyin Oo Lwin.

Important Information : Trains in Myanmar are not up to international standard and reliability leaves to be desired. However, we will make every effort to provide best available seats on the train. In case of schedule irregularities or delays, which are quite normal we will adjust your itinerary accordingly.

DAY 05          PYIN OO LWIN – MANDALAY (BY LAND)

After breakfast, visit the local market by a horse cart (if available) before returning Mandalay. Drive back to Mandalay.
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 06          MANDALAY - MARAPURA – 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 07          MANDALAY – HEHO (BY FLIGHT) - PINDAYA - KALAW

After breakfast, transfer to Mandalay airport for a domestic flight to HEHO. Upon arrival, proceed by road to PINDAYA (60 km – 2½ hour) and visit PINDAYA CAVES, a unique site housing thousands of Buddha images placed there by pilgrims and devotees over the centuries.
After lunch at local restaurant, continue on a narrow, winding and bumpy road (48 km - 1½ hour) through the Shan Hills to KALAW, a fresh and delightful hill station, on the rim of the Shan Plateau, which is a market center for ethnic minorities from surrounding regions.
Overnight stay in Kalaw.

DAY 08          KALAW - INLE LAKE

After breakfast, drive (62 km, 2½ hour) to Nyaung Shwe for full day excursion by boat on the Inle Lake. See the famous Inntha leg rowers, 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.
Lunch in a local restaurant.
Overnight stay in Inle Lake.

DAY 09          INLE LAKE - HEHO – YANGON (BY FLIGHT)

After breakfast depending on the water level, board a boat 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, you will be transferred to Heho Airport (32 km – 1:20 hour) for domestic flight to YANGON. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel.
Overnight stay in Yangon.

DAY 10          DEPART YANGON

After breakfast, complete your Yangon impressions with a visit to the fascinating YANGON GLASS FACTORY to watch the production of mouth-blown glass in the old-fashioned way. Proceed to admire the 8 meter high Golden Lion Throne as well as the Mandalay Royal Regalia at the NATIONAL MUSEUM. Last but not the least, proceed to the famous Strand Hotel. From here we will take you for a guided walk through Yangon’s old colonial city center (approx. 1½ hour), see the bustling life at the NANTHIDA JETTY and the former British authority buildings between Strand Road and Shwebontha Street (Magol Lan), before relaxing and enjoying the ‘Strand High Tea’. Return to hotel for check out and transfer to airport for your departure flight.

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